Facom Tools
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R25_GTS
Well-known member
I went today to a local store to check the play and wobble in the Toptul sockets 
. There is even more play than in the Facom set. The 1/4 handle + socket is the godfather of the bells. 
. So please check your tools, all types, from all over the world, and tell me if this is normal or i will go crazy.
Cheers
. There is even more play than in the Facom set. The 1/4 handle + socket is the godfather of the bells. . So please check your tools, all types, from all over the world, and tell me if this is normal or i will go crazy.Cheers
Heyco, Gedore, Matador 1/4" have play, larger (3/8", 1/2") from Gedore + Matador not, so maybe there is generally a problem with 1/4". No problems so far with Hazet in 1/4" (+ larger sizes).
If the Toptul wobble is even more than the Facom ---> trash can
If the Toptul wobble is even more than the Facom ---> trash can
superautobacs
Well-known member
Like the ones Maxipouce referred to, Wera has their Bi-torsion bits, which are shaped just like your 'problem' Facom bit. The bits are designed to be driven under power use so it's not meant for bit holders that rely solely on ring retention (like the Facom one you have), but with bit holders that are magnetized.
Regarding the play with 1/4" drive tools: 1/4" seems to be the drive size that's the hardest for manufacturers to produce under close tolerance. I firmly believe that the Japanese brand, Nepros, sets the highest standard in that area. Even they can't consistently produce 1/4" drive tools with zero play. I've found that the scalloped area, inside the female end, that accepts the ball of the male end, are not always equally machined on all four sides. There's usually one particular orientation that creates the tightest fit, while the other three orientation gives a slight amount of play. The amount of play you're experiencing is unacceptable. It's a product of a factory that doesn't employ quality control, whether it be at all manufacturing stages, or just the final inspection. If the company/factory cared about staying within tolerance ranges, those items should've been caught before final manufacturing stages.
Inspired by R25 GTS i made a short video of different sockets (Hazet, Bahco, Proxxon, ISI, Koken, Stahlwille adaptor) attached to different ratchets (Hazet, Facom, Snap-On, Tone, Bahco, + Hazet spinner handle) and a Hazet extension to check play/wobble.
(Unfortunately you cant always see the brand, i thought the results would be better.....but its my 1st video )
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(Unfortunately you cant always see the brand, i thought the results would be better.....but its my 1st video
)<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2nUsaCVqszA?fs=1&hl=de_DE"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2nUsaCVqszA?fs=1&hl=de_DE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
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R25_GTS
Well-known member
Hi Monte
Thanks for the video, in conclusion which combination has the less amount of play? which is the "stiffer"? .
I have seen in the last few weeks some Facom auction on E-Bay. Something it's strange. People start to go crazy about the Facom items. The prices are getting higher and higher. There's a real battle for them. Many times they final price for a used tool is higher than a new one from the dealer ?? Even on the german E-Bay where everyone looks for Hazet and Stahlwille the same thing, they bid higher and higher for Facom. Do people know something i don't?
Regards,
R25
Thanks for the video, in conclusion which combination has the less amount of play? which is the "stiffer"?
. I have seen in the last few weeks some Facom auction on E-Bay. Something it's strange. People start to go crazy about the Facom items. The prices are getting higher and higher. There's a real battle for them. Many times they final price for a used tool is higher than a new one from the dealer
?? Even on the german E-Bay where everyone looks for Hazet and Stahlwille the same thing, they bid higher and higher for Facom. Do people know something i don't? Regards,
R25
american lockpicker
Banned
Would it be older made in France tools people are paying high prices for?
R25_GTS
Well-known member
No, is any tool from Facom, doesn't matter which is the COO.
Hi Monte
Thanks for the video, in conclusion which combination has the less amount of play? which is the "stiffer"?
i would stay with one manufacturer to make sure that everything fits good, some manufacturers design their tools different, for example extensions don´t have a "stop" built in etc. so i can recommend Hazet. The worst fitment was Bahco.
people are silly
superautobacs
Well-known member
That "stop" you mention is important to me as well.
That positive stop feature is hard to find these days, no matter what the COO might be. My two favourite Japanese brands have them, so I'm happy with them.
R25_GTS
Well-known member
Hello Facom fans
Today I took a look on the Farnell UK website to check the price for a few Facom items. I forgot the fact that Farnell shows the COO for most of the products. So I checked the 440 wrenches of course. And it is .......... what do you think????? Italy. Not Taiwan or Czech Republic. For the SM.161A ratchet is Taiwan, like most of the ratchet wrenches. The regular ratchets are Italy except the small R.161 which is UK 
.
Just look around for the Facom COO, it's really nice to know.
http://uk.farnell.com/facom/440-13/combination-spanner-13mm/dp/1640739
R25
Today I took a look on the Farnell UK website to check the price for a few Facom items. I forgot the fact that Farnell shows the COO for most of the products. So I checked the 440 wrenches
of course. And it is .......... what do you think????? Italy. Not Taiwan or Czech Republic. For the SM.161A ratchet is Taiwan, like most of the ratchet wrenches. The regular ratchets are Italy except the small R.161 which is UK . Just look around for the Facom COO, it's really nice to know.
http://uk.farnell.com/facom/440-13/combination-spanner-13mm/dp/1640739
R25
And it is .......... what do you think????? Italy. Not Taiwan or Czech Republic. For the SM.161A ratchet is Taiwan, like most of the ratchet wrenches. The regular ratchets are Italy except the small R.161 which is UK
The Farnell COO statements are nonsense.
american lockpicker
Banned
Hello Facom fans
Today I took a look on the Farnell UK website to check the price for a few Facom items. I forgot the fact that Farnell shows the COO for most of the products. So I checked the 440 wrenches
Just look around for the Facom COO, it's really nice to know.
http://uk.farnell.com/facom/440-13/combination-spanner-13mm/dp/1640739
R25
http://uk.farnell.com/bost/692271/combination-spanner-13mm/dp/4862259
BOST is French made.
american lockpicker
Banned
If only they would stamp a COO on the products...
In some cases they do...and it still doesn't match what Farnell say.
Emailing Facom seems to work pretty well.
In the USA products must have the COO on the product or package.
ps: here they say Czech Republic
http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?cPath=900&products_id=3755
http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?cPath=900&products_id=3870
Not a chance.
ETA: BOST screwdrivers are French made, but those are Far Eastern and are sold under several brand names including Britool.
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american lockpicker
Banned
Damn, I was about to buy some.
I can confirm mine has the same loose fit and not only that, I tried all the handles in the shop and they were all like that. It didn't look right but I got a good deal on it and since everything else (extension, t handle etc.) were a good fit I bought it anyway.
The only thing I could say in their defense is they might have designed this more or less as a wobble. If you press into the socket it does tighten up, although it doesn't stay there like a true wobble plus would.
1/4 set
the cuplrit - 1/4 handle
good fit
good fit
The only thing I could say in their defense is they might have designed this more or less as a wobble. If you press into the socket it does tighten up, although it doesn't stay there like a true wobble plus would.
1/4 set
the cuplrit - 1/4 handle
good fit
good fit
R25_GTS
Well-known member
I don't know where are the BOST wrenches made, I only know that they are making the screwdrivers for Facom, they are a part of Facom and the screwdrivers are all made in France.
The 440 series are also available from USAG, the model is 285.
In Czech Rep. Stanley owns Tona, so yes , they could make them there. But the same thing can be in Italy. USAG is a part of Facom and the ratchets are made in Italy... I don't know what to believe. Maybe one days someone from "inside" will tell the truth.
R25
The 440 series are also available from USAG, the model is 285.
In Czech Rep. Stanley owns Tona, so yes , they could make them there. But the same thing can be in Italy. USAG is a part of Facom and the ratchets are made in Italy... I don't know what to believe. Maybe one days someone from "inside" will tell the truth.
R25
Can anybody tell me what are the dimensions of the R.2A box? I'm trying to find out if such a set can be stashed under the seat of my motorcycle.
Don't want to pay double the money for the same tools in a smaller box that you get with the NANO.
Don't want to pay double the money for the same tools in a smaller box that you get with the NANO.
204x122x52mm, according the catalogue.
mecpman
Well-known member
I picked up a set of MAC screwdriver bits and they a facom has the logo on them. Also the MAC ratchet heads look alot like the facom as well.
I bought a 1/2" drive metric ratchet and socket set on closeout a few years ago for only 100.00, It goes from 8mm all the way up to 32mm, has a u joint, a sliding t bar, palm control ratchet, and a speeder, in the red metal box.
great deal on great tools, the only thing with their ratchets is the black honeycomb shaped handle can be pulled off the ratchet very easily.
Otherwise I love the action of the Facom ratchet
great deal on great tools, the only thing with their ratchets is the black honeycomb shaped handle can be pulled off the ratchet very easily.
Otherwise I love the action of the Facom ratchet
american lockpicker
Banned
If only the spent less time looking nice and having over the top events and worried more about producing quality... You know Black & Decker once made tools for NASA(http://blackanddecker.com/dustbuster/dustbuster_innovation/default.aspx) now they make cheap **** that is worse harbor freight...
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
Im not a big fan of the ratchets but their wrenches and pliers are a force to be reckoned with.
american lockpicker
Banned
Nice redbull car.
superautobacs
Well-known member
Mofo, thanks for the pictures.
