Facom Tools
- Thread starter ~UB~
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This is my Facom paradise!
It started with the jet 8xl in 2011( first picture)
The rest is how it is now!
Really Nice!
This is my Facom paradise!
It started with the jet 8xl in 2011( first picture)
The rest is how it is now!
That is a nice setup!
I guess by the "Mekonomen" branding that you are scandinavian?
ultgar
Well-known member
I import quite a bit of Facom for sale here in the US. Facom appears to be moving production of many items back to France from Taiwan. Many bits, hammers, and sockets that had previously been labelled as Made in Taiwan have arrived in the last 2 weeks with labels saying "Made in France". I hope this trend continues. SD
Hey Steve.... I have to say all the Taiwan made Facom tools I have got are every bit as
good as the Italian and French made tools I have, but it's nice from a European perspective
that manufacturing jobs will be safe.
I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall during the meeting between Facom Execs
and Stanley Head Honchos when that desicion was made...
ultgar
Well-known member
Hey Steve.... I have to say all the Taiwan made Facom tools I have got are every bit as
good as the Italian and French made tools I have, but it's nice from a European perspective
that manufacturing jobs will be safe.
I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall during the meeting between Facom Execs
and Stanley Head Honchos when that desicion was made...
No problems with the Taiwanese quality (I do have issues with some of the Chinese lockgrip pliers). There are still a lot of people focused on COO and its nice to see this production being pulled back into Europe. Facom did have some problems with one of their Taiwanese facilities 4Q2013 which caused extensive delivery delays. SD
Interesting... perhaps new 440s made in France will be worse and people will pay me millions for my now collectible Taiwanese 440s ^_^
Jokes aside, Steve (ultgar), I wanted to ask you:
Have any 440s you have received been the new thinner open-end 440s?
If so, any feedback from clients as to which is better between the thicker original and the new ones (I believe) with the thinner open end?
Jokes aside, Steve (ultgar), I wanted to ask you:
Have any 440s you have received been the new thinner open-end 440s?
If so, any feedback from clients as to which is better between the thicker original and the new ones (I believe) with the thinner open end?
ultgar
Well-known member
Haven't had any comments regarding changes to the 440's.......the ones that came in last week were the new style ones without any indication of country of origin (could be France, Taiwan or even Italy). The clip holders for some of the 440 sets are used for Facom, Mac and USAG branded wrenches. The set pictured below is Facom branded and packaged with a USAG clip holder. SD
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Thanks, Steve. FYI, I find it odd that a non direct distributor has been selling me the newer thinner versions via ebay. bigredtoolbox UK to be exact.
Why are the authorized distributors like you and Primetools UK still receiving and selling the "older" versions? I asked Prime and they werent even aware of newer thinner versions...
Why are the authorized distributors like you and Primetools UK still receiving and selling the "older" versions? I asked Prime and they werent even aware of newer thinner versions...
John in OH
Well-known member
This is my Facom paradise!
It started with the jet 8xl in 2011( first picture)
The rest is how it is now!
Very nice!! I like how all the individual tool storage trays fit snugly in the drawers. I assume that is a feature of Facom's tool storage design wherein everything fits together so well ?
ultgar
Well-known member
At least Julian at Prime has a Facom UK sales contact to alert him to "special offers" and production changes. I've got no one here in the US.
I was not aware of the wrench changes until I read about it here. I didn't even notice the packaging changes until this morning. I should have known something was up when I got an email last November that "..Series 44 and 440 are blocked due to a technical reasons. None of the items below are available for sales at this time....." . This sales freeze was likely due to the production change. SD
SD
thank you!
yes that´s right, it´s a feature called modules, where you get different modules for what kind of facom box you got, it´s very easy to hold it clean, and also very nice!the modules i got, is plastic, but you also get foam!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
ultgar
Well-known member
thank you!
the modules i got, is plastic, but you also get foam!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Facom is now adding more Foam modules to its product offerings.....trying to bring more of those the US.
Some of the module sets are cheaper by assembling the kits yourself......find a deal on the tool set and buy the tray separately. I probably have close to 1000 trays in stock at this time, foam and plastic.
SpannerMonkey
Well-known member
As I understand it:
The 40 series is the old style which has been replaced by the 440 series.
The 40 High Torque is the long version of the 40 series. This has not been replaced.
The 40 series is the old style which has been replaced by the 440 series.
The 40 High Torque is the long version of the 40 series. This has not been replaced.
Stuey
Well-known member
I LOVE these wrenches. I only have 3 in the SAE sizes I use most often, but wouldn't give them up. Might eventually buy a full set.
ultgar
Well-known member
So far, that's what I am seeing.........the 6 digit numbers that were etched on the wrenches last year do not appear on any of the new stock.
ultgar
Well-known member
ultgar
Well-known member
They will probably move production back to Taiwan at some point. The new 440A series are currently being made in France.
I think there might have been some problems with one of the Taiwan mfg locations last year which is why I'm currently seeing a lot of items being re-assigned for mfg in France.
Steve, thanks for all the info btw.
What exactly are the 440As?
Do you know if all newer and thinner regular 440s are from France?
I should note that, for the most part, COO isn't really that important. We aren't in the 1980s anymore, and the strength and popularity of the Taiwanese 440s prove that at least the Taiwanese have figured out steel. However, it would be a cool surprise to know that the thinner 440s I've had for a little while now are actually from France.
What exactly are the 440As?
Do you know if all newer and thinner regular 440s are from France?
I should note that, for the most part, COO isn't really that important. We aren't in the 1980s anymore, and the strength and popularity of the Taiwanese 440s prove that at least the Taiwanese have figured out steel. However, it would be a cool surprise to know that the thinner 440s I've had for a little while now are actually from France.
ultgar
Well-known member
The 44 Series and 440 Series were pulled from production last year. The new 440 (unofficially the 440A series) are now available and appear to be mfg in France for now. Many other items are coming in with Made in France labels that were previously Taiwan and Italy.
SD
gti
Well-known member
Seems my Dexter tools are not up to the task, anyone knows a good store, in Europe (!!), with good prices so i can have a decent toolbox with tools that last more than four screws (that is what my dexter screwdrivers lasted, so pissed right now).
I wanted to go and see them in a store, but here in Portugal that seems to be almost impossible, at least close to me.
I wanted to go and see them in a store, but here in Portugal that seems to be almost impossible, at least close to me.
gti
Well-known member
Luke M
Member
Anyone know what the Facom 161 pear head ratchets are like? I've been on the brink of buying a set of them lately.
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I have 2 half inch pear heads and two 3/8th round head and two 1/4 and they are all crackin ratchets I compare these to the snappy ones as equals, I also use a set of blue point which I rarely reach for as I think they feel cheap. And one of each flavor in britool blue handle, which I prefer to the bluepoint.
gti
Well-known member
Seems a good possibility, already contacted them to make sure i can go there and see the FACOM stuff.
tkz!Luke M
Member
gti
Well-known member
Seems they don't send tools to Portugal