bsaint
Well-known member
Is there another hand tool socket and wrenches manufacturer in France for hand tools? I feel like most of Facom is made outside Europe.
French hand tools other than facom?
- Thread starter bsaint
- Start date
There is still loads of tools made in France, just not the chrome stuff. Remember the EU and USA went all nanny-state on chrome around 2005 (or so) alot of the production went offshote. That was the hex/tri valent chrome crossover.
Right now, most of the Facom that is still made is france is pliers, screwdrivers, hex keys hand similar hand tools. Maybe also hammers, punches and chisels.
There are EU versions of some of the specialty pliers that are also very good. Snap On and mayhew import the hose-clamp pliers made in France which are the best in the world. There is also a company that makes Pipe-wrenches for Proto and Facom that is stil made in France.
Lastly, the torque wrench and Hand ratchets are made in Italy by (or co-produced with) USAG. Along with their excellent T-handles in various configuration (super expensive, but best in class).
For chrome tools, the NOS facom and the Taiwan Facom are virtually indisinguisable based on many reports. So if you like the designs, onne can just track down the original versions on ebay or what not. There may be some pre flank-drive stuff in the mix, but there was definitely a window in the 1990s where the OGV drive tools was still EU made.
Right now, most of the Facom that is still made is france is pliers, screwdrivers, hex keys hand similar hand tools. Maybe also hammers, punches and chisels.
There are EU versions of some of the specialty pliers that are also very good. Snap On and mayhew import the hose-clamp pliers made in France which are the best in the world. There is also a company that makes Pipe-wrenches for Proto and Facom that is stil made in France.
Lastly, the torque wrench and Hand ratchets are made in Italy by (or co-produced with) USAG. Along with their excellent T-handles in various configuration (super expensive, but best in class).
For chrome tools, the NOS facom and the Taiwan Facom are virtually indisinguisable based on many reports. So if you like the designs, onne can just track down the original versions on ebay or what not. There may be some pre flank-drive stuff in the mix, but there was definitely a window in the 1990s where the OGV drive tools was still EU made.
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monkeyspanners
Well-known member
![IMG_0222[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/567/567309-942005b6dbf15f92c95c3e44a59df7a1.jpg)
![IMG_0223[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/567/567356-cc5b060e370c1a51067b700082dbaea6.jpg)
There is SAM http://www.sam-outillage.com/
dutchgray
Well-known member
I believe the best hand made rasps and rifflers are French made, there is bound to be small not well known tool makers left.
Facom was the big french tool maker, they no doubt absorbed a lot of smaller makers over their long history.
SAM, I dont know if they make anything themselves, I have some Gedore pliers that are beanded SAM.
Facom was the big french tool maker, they no doubt absorbed a lot of smaller makers over their long history.
SAM, I dont know if they make anything themselves, I have some Gedore pliers that are beanded SAM.
The catalog says they make 60% of their products, dont know what products they are though.
You won't be able to tell the difference...the italtian and the french ratchets are the same and the taiwain and fench sockets are the same...tested HRC on facom taiwain is in line with the best tools (snap on, etc).
COO is nostalgic but not a performance issue. The bigger issues are designs and whether or not you like the ergonomics. In general, Facom has excellent designs and the only better tools out there are the very, very best....Snap on, Hazet, and Nepros etc.
Many if not all of the best european tool companies from france, sweeden, italy etc are no longer making tools locally (exceptions prove the rule of course).
Germany still las local COO and Spain/Portugal has a bunch. Swiss if you really pay up for niche tools like files and PB bauman.
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Firebrick43
Well-known member
The other brands all surrendered.
superautobacs
Well-known member
Speedrill socket at work:
Dutchgray, you must be referring to Auriou files/rasps?
http://www.forge-de-saint-juery.com/
The more common one's I know of are:
Racodon: http://www.racodon.com/
Bost: http://www.bost-tools.com/
Dolex/Roux: http://www.dolex.fr/en/
MOB: http://www.mob-mondelin.fr/
Dutchgray, you must be referring to Auriou files/rasps?
http://www.forge-de-saint-juery.com/
The more common one's I know of are:
Racodon: http://www.racodon.com/
Bost: http://www.bost-tools.com/
Dolex/Roux: http://www.dolex.fr/en/
MOB: http://www.mob-mondelin.fr/
SawtoothJL
Well-known member
The only other brands that I am aware of besides Facom are Format, SAM, and Bost. I recally Format making some sockets and such. Bost makes screwdrivers, however i think they are owned by Stanley Black and Decker now.
jacob_coulter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2006
- Messages
- 333
I have a Bahco pair of pliers that are made in France that I really like. Found it for cheap at a swap meet.
Still, I can't say I would ever go out of my way to specifically buy French hand tools.
Still, I can't say I would ever go out of my way to specifically buy French hand tools.
PBCampbell
Well-known member
Peugeot is still around I think (not the car company).
redvalkyrie
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2006
- Messages
- 423
I know France has someone making screwdrivers for them--or let me phrase it another way. Blackhawk has a set of France made gunsmithing/cabinet screwdrivers.
Is USAG all Italian? I thought was a cooperative effort?
Is USAG all Italian? I thought was a cooperative effort?
superautobacs
Well-known member
Those Blackhawk screwdrivers are made by BOST, a company mentioned earlier in this thread.
Even though KTC isn't part of the Stanley B&D empire, like USAG, Facom, Britool, Blackhawk, etc. are, they offer the BOST made drivers in their lineup. My stubbies, for example:
I got this set back in 2009 for dirt cheap:
This photo isn't mine, but just to show some of the re-brands, including the OEM:
Attachments
mowkep
Well-known member
I have a Seco 3 inch face mill that has France stamped on it. Had it for the 29 years we've been in business. A very good face mill too
PBCampbell
Well-known member
LOL, that's an overly simplistic (I'm being nice here), view of reality and the world.
monkeyspanners
Well-known member
What seems to happen is our (European) companies are bought out by the bigger USA based ones and production moved abroad or to China for profit, and in that move some if not much of what made the companies great is lost.
Dear friends of Garage Journal. Speedrill is in existence. The new web is avalaible with quite a few products and we will be able to order any of their products directly through the web in a few weeks. We can ask for products by telephone or mail so far.
I am a newby in this area, so I am happy to be here and learn from you.
Thank you in advance.
Cynical huckster
Well-known member
Leborgne - https://www.leborgne.fr/
The division of Fiskars group, which produces construction tools and garden tools. Mostly made in France.
The division of Fiskars group, which produces construction tools and garden tools. Mostly made in France.
Cynical huckster
Well-known member
Scell-it - http://www.scellit.com/en/
Manufacturer of hand riveters, air riveters, cordless riveters, nailers, blind rivets, blind nuts, screws etc.
Manufacturer of hand riveters, air riveters, cordless riveters, nailers, blind rivets, blind nuts, screws etc.
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dnschmidt
Well-known member
T45, all of USAG's digital torque wrenches and angle meter stuff is made in Taiwan by Eclatorq.
Facom owned USAG and Bost prior to Stanley. Facom manufactured for decades and their forging plants were antiquated and in dire need of complete overhaul so Stanley chose the cheaper option and closed (2?) factories. They did overhaul the Facom USAG and Bost plants though, the latter of which they kept in France.
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