Facom

[king nero]

Every tool I bought 10-20 yrs ago was Facom. Still waiting for something to break or wear down with normal use. Once the Stanley group took over, it was hard to determine the country of origin, and I had multiple ratchets break. Ever since, I've changed to german tools (mostly Hazet, as they are distributed by one of my regular suppliers). Very happy with those as well.

 

[geo9]

@jaceq there is still an s at your https address.

If you remove it you get this (the following are your pics)

No idea about the COO though

 

[Ton ton]

Sweet looking adjustable wrenches.

 

[OMMP]

No idea about the COO though

Guess it's PRC

 

[jaceq]

@jaceq there is still an s at your https address.
If you remove it you get this (the following are your pics)
(...)
No idea about the COO though

Dear geo, many thanks!

Sweet looking adjustable wrenches.

Yes, indeed "sweet" well describes it. Quite opposite to "brutal" Gedore.

Guess it's PRC

Then it is relatively pricey wrench.

 

[Ton ton]

@jaceq there is still an s at your https address.

If you remove it you get this (the following are your pics)

No idea about the COO though

Could you please take a picture of the wrench open the whole way? thanks.

 

[king nero]

Maybe this will help?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I think I've posted this before... But I have all long and extra long wrenches with FD+ open ends. I restore/refurb a lot of machinery and wanted a shorter wrench with a smooth open end. I asked on GJ and researched.

Dutchgray really helped me out. Thanks again, Sir.

I bought the 440 wrench sets up to 32mm and 1-1/4”. They QUICKLY became my favorite wrenches. I have big hands and they handle great. I often put machines together for mock up and then dissemble again times 3. Lots of back and forth and the short 440 wrenches are great for that. (My long Snap ons and Carlyles are like swinging a baseball bat for no reason)

I also bought the 40r quick action wrench sets... Same thing, super easy to wield.

And I bought the Facom super slim wrench set in MM for jam nuts and collets etc. Same awesome quality.

 

[dutchgray]

Glad I could recommend a great product Mohawk Dave.
The 440 combination wrenches are just so nice to actually use and are good quality and are not expensive. I still don't actually have a complete set though, but its only the rare sizes I don't have and I have those sizes in other brands anyway.
Extra long wrenches are great when you need the leverage and everyone should have a set, but they are a hindrance when you don't need that leverage.
I prefer the aviation dbe wrenches for really tight stuff over long combos if they will fit.

 

[Qualitytools]

I have the 440 and I love the size, finish and how they feel in the hand

 

[Ton ton]

Maybe this will help?

Much appreciated.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

That’s super cool! It looks to be in solid condition minus some cleaning like you said. And maybe a bit of touch up paint.

It is super cool which is why I grabbed it up. I just honestly have no use for it and it sits in the corner. I really don't know what to do with it.

 

[jimmyin3D]

It is super cool which is why I grabbed it up. I just honestly have no use for it and it sits in the corner. I really don't know what to do with it.

Dang if I was closer to you I would pick that up in a heartbeat (Even though I’m restructuring my toolbox atm haha).

I’m sure if you threw it up on here someone would gladly pick it up. Or if you have the space just keep it for a project later on. I hate letting tools go for “space” and regretting it later.





——————————————————————-
Check out my for sale listing in the classifieds:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438994

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Yeah I agree I will likely regret it but at the same time if am not using it I don't mind letting it go. Just don't know what it's worth. I'd love to have some more info on it.

 

[superautobacs]

With the Stanley Black & Decker conglomeration .....

We got here a MAC bit set

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49739953412/in/datetaken-public/" title="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49739953412_e5650cbc9e_b.jpg" width="850" height="1024" alt="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>





Open it up and you're greeted with Facom stamped bits and bit holder (some bits are missing from the whole set).

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49739082883/in/datetaken-public/" title="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49739082883_cd0a0e762d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="576" alt="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>





The product development team at Facom always comes up with cool designs when it comes to product packaging. In this instance, on the back side of the shell, there's these tabs that are used to aid in lifting the bits off its holder

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49739082983/in/datetaken-public/" title="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49739082983_d3ca3ba629_b.jpg" width="576" height="1024" alt="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>





Press one up with your finger and it pivots the bit up for easy removal

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ccassan/49739082938/in/datetaken-public/" title="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49739082938_57f910d636_b.jpg" width="576" height="1024" alt="MAC / FACOM Bit Set"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ultgar]

Guess it's PRC

The Facom show China as COO. The USAG version lists Taiwan on the import forms.

 

[OMMP]

Thanks, ultimate garage! So, you could put some insight into corporate relations - i.e. Bost and Facom... How to resolutely distinct France and Taiwan wrenches - french have France? - when are last french adjustables forged there, where does/did Facom make flare nut wrenches... And are there more than few really significant differences between independent and Stanley era, quality wise?

 

[ultgar]

Thanks, ultimate garage! So, you could put some insight into corporate relations - i.e. Bost and Facom... How to resolutely distinct France and Taiwan wrenches - french have France? - when are last french adjustables forged there, where does/did Facom make flare nut wrenches... And are there more than few really significant differences between independent and Stanley era, quality wise?

Quality has been consistent. Finish is a little better on the wrenches coming out of Taiwan than it was on the old 40 series out of France. I track COO by item and list it on my site...see http://www.ultimategarage.com/Facom-Inventory.xls

 

[Qualitytools]

^1 Ultgar: Quality has been consistent. Finish is a little better on the wrenches coming out of Taiwan than it was on the old 40 series out of France. I track COO by item and list it on my site...see http://www.ultimategarage.com/Facom-Inventory.xls
__________________
Vendor - Ultimate Garage, Inc (specializing in Facom/USAG, Prevost, ABA Clamps, Phase Technologies, Nilfisk & Spax) - www.ultimategarage.com

Thanks Steve, good information as always.

 

[Dave455]

OMMP - I generally don’t like Taiwanese tools, but they are getting better all the time.

The 440 series wrench is probably the exception. I really like these, and they are one of the few Taiwanese tools I would buy. In fact I have.

I haven’t used them a lot, so can’t comment on the quality of the steel, but I think they are probably comparable to the old 40 series, which I have in my road box. There are no issues with the finish.

I don’t think the same can be said about all the tools. When they switch to Taiwanese production they tend to change the designs. I have seen a couple of the Taiwanese ratchets and I don’t like them as much is the Italian made ‘Palm Control’ ratchets. Thankfully, you seem to have a choice.

 

[Spanner]

Old Facom catalogue


Tool Junkie!!!

 

[ultgar]

OMMP - I generally don’t like Taiwanese tools, but they are getting better all the time.

The 440 series wrench is probably the exception. I really like these, and they are one of the few Taiwanese tools I would buy. In fact I have.

I haven’t used them a lot, so can’t comment on the quality of the steel, but I think they are probably comparable to the old 40 series, which I have in my road box. There are no issues with the finish.

I don’t think the same can be said about all the tools. When they switch to Taiwanese production they tend to change the designs. I have seen a couple of the Taiwanese ratchets and I don’t like them as much is the Italian made ‘Palm Control’ ratchets. Thankfully, you seem to have a choice.

Most Facom ratchets and torque wrenches are made in USAG's factory in Gemonio Italy. The rotator and maintenance free ratchets are made in Taiwan but if you order the aerospace "fluo" version, these are still made in France.[/ATTACH]

 

[Dave455]

Most Facom ratchets and torque wrenches are made in USAG's factory in Gemonio Italy. The rotator and maintenance free ratchets are made in Taiwan but if you order the aerospace "fluo" version, these are still made in France.[/ATTACH]

I think it was the ‘maintenance free’ I was thinking of. I much prefer the ‘palm control’. I think they are a very underrated design, and yes, made by USAG

I knew the rotator were Taiwanese, but didn’t know about the ‘fluo’. Interesting!

 

[OMMP]

Steve, thank you for infos. I have couple of NOS Facom adjustable wrenches, marked with France, also marks of length, one has B.S.G.D.G. - breveté sans garantie du gouvernement - others have Vanachrome... Do you know when were they produced, when were they discontinued, and were they genuinely Facom products, not some rebrands, though french?

 

[ultgar]

Steve, thank you for infos. I have couple of NOS Facom adjustable wrenches, marked with France, also marks of length, one has B.S.G.D.G. - breveté sans garantie du gouvernement - others have Vanachrome... Do you know when were they produced, when were they discontinued, and were they genuinely Facom products, not some rebrands, though french?

I have some of the old EC series adjustables with Vanachrome and France marked on the wrench. The EC and CP series were phased out and replaced by the 113A's in the early 2000's. The new 101 series adjustables have brought back the quick adjust feature of the old EC/CP series.

 

[scarittagle]

Hey Steve, Are all 40 Series wrenches made in France? I received a 13mm today and seems it doesnt have "France" stamp on either side of it. And it shares the same modern package as 440 wrenches.

 

[ultgar]

Hey Steve, Are all 40 Series wrenches made in France? I received a 13mm today and seems it doesnt have "France" stamp on either side of it. And it shares the same modern package as 440 wrenches.

Facom stopped stamping COO on these around 2005 when SK parted from Facom. As far as I know, all of the 40 series were made in France through 2007 and the new 440 series was introduced in the F08 (2008) catalog. Same thing with the ratchets....early ones had France stamped on them but when they started shifting production between France and Italy, the country was omitted from the tool.

And don't go by the packaging. Here are 5 of the 440 series 10mm wrenches made today....some made in France, some Taiwan and some China. Packaging is the same.

SD

 

[nedsena]

Old Facom catalogue


Tool Junkie!!!

Hey, can I ask is that the catalog from 1978 and cand you share more photos of it, especialy of the screwdrivers? Thank you!

 

[Ralf11]

I like Facom, and have two Facom ratchets. I'd rank them below Snappy Dual 80 and Hazet, ko-ken and Nepros.

 

[Qualitytools]

Most Facom ratchets and torque wrenches are made in USAG's factory in Gemonio Italy. The rotator and maintenance free ratchets are made in Taiwan but if you order the aerospace "fluo" version, these are still made in France.[/ATTACH]

Very Nice, thanks for the tip Steve

 

[nedsena]

What do you think about this one? From which period is it?