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German Hand Tools

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OilyRascal

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El Dorado, Arkansas
My wife and I plan to travel to Germany in a few months and stay for a couple of weeks. I'd like to go on a tool sale venture while I'm there, but I'm not really educated on German tool brands and their quality. I'm most interested in nut driver, torx driver, screw driver type hand tools - but only because I perceive those to be higher quality - I have no experience.

Any advise/experience with German hand tool brands - words of wisdom on what I could count on being of quality if I picked it up? Any "GOLD" finds I should really keep my eye out for?

Thanks in advance!
 
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canuckian

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check the old world tools thread. lots of ideas on there. my list would include Hazet, Stahlwille, NWS, Wera and I'm sure a few others that i'd recignize when I saw them. My wife and I are planning a trip to a few select countries in Europe within the next couple years and Germany is #1 on both our lists. Great Cars, tools, food, beer and (from my experience) great people.....good times!! have fun!
 
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OilyRascal

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Thanks Canuckian! That gives me a starting place to research. I did catch that "old world" thread - great reading!

My wife is from Germany - she's lived here in the states only a few years. We travel there annually, but never occurred to me that I should go tool shopping.

Let me know if you need a stateside English speaking German to give you ideas/direction on your trip.
 
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HandyManny

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The few german hand tools I own are pretty nice. Not sure why Americans precieve German stuff to be what we precieve it as though :headscrat.

Maybe if most of us had Chinese lineage or ansestory then most would not have a problem with Chinese made tools either.

That being said, certain German made products are pretty high quality, but no better than what's being made in Japan to be honest.

Have to ask yourself who's making all that German stuff? It certainly isn't made by most of the Germans. Germany is about as German anymore as Britain is British, and that's not saying a whole lot. German made stuff should say "Made in Germany by Turkish immigrants" or "Made in Germany by former Comminust block refugees". It's like one German friend of mine told me once about 12 years ago - "if the Germans don't start having children, then in the next 100 years the Germans will be extinct and the country ovetaken by immigrants"

You should have a good time though. Don't worry about not speaking German, a great many Europeans are bilingual with English being one of the more common languages. Unlike here where many people resist learning a second language.
 
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shoturtle

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If you go to the german big box stores, Hornbach carry wiha tools and kipnex and BGS. Obi carry rebrand falo tool in their screwdrivers and higher price cutters and pliers and some taiwanese tool, like their adjustable. Bauhaus carry wera and wiha and kipnex and matador. Bauhaus also carry a dutch/japanese brand wisent.

To find the hazet tools you will petty much need to find a tool store for the other high end items. The big box stores carry bosch, but they carry a green line made in china mostly meant for the consumer market. They are not as good as the pro blue line tools.
 
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alfazer

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I have some CK tools and they are excellent, but never see them getting a mention on GJ forum? Maybe they are only UK market?

Cheaper than Stahwille and hazet.

They say Germany on them. My side cutter stripper pliers were priced just below Knipex but similar quality in my opinion.
 
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shoturtle

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alfazer said:
I have some CK tools and they are excellent, but never see them getting a mention on GJ forum? Maybe they are only UK market?

Cheaper than Stahwille and hazet.

They say Germany on them. My side cutter stripper pliers were priced just below Knipex but similar quality in my opinion.
Click to expand...

CK is in the german market, but you need to go to a tool store to find them. Pretty much like all other brands. They have a mix of German made tool, but have other EU made tool, and some taiwanese tools.
 
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shoturtle

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You are allow to bring 800 dollars worth of stuff back free of duties pre person, this does not include alcohol or tobacco products.

But if you are going to get that much tools, you might go over your check bag weight, and have to pay for addition cost. 25kg pre bag, if it goes over you pay.

Outlawmws said:
Don't forget to check into what Customs will want to let things like that across he border...
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shoturtle

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HandyManny said:
Maybe if most of us had Chinese lineage or ansestory then most would not have a problem with Chinese made tools either.
Click to expand...

Some of us do have chinese lineage, but I have no problem with taiwanese tools, but I have an issue with chinese tool. I have broken a bunch of chinese husky ratchet and other chinese made tools from various US name brands. It really ***** to bust your knocks when you are working on something from a tool breaking, when it should not. Not like I put a cheater bar on them. Or with and adjustable that opens up by itself as you are working with it. And always have to re tighten. That really ***** form couple of the chinese adjustable I have used.
 
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64merc

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Are the premium German tools really that much cheaper to buy in Germany versus buying online from the US? I am really curious.
 
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shoturtle

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Yes it is, my were zykops 3/8 inch ratchet is 44 euro about 52 US dollar with the exchange rate, vs 89 dollar online in the US. My wera impakator bits set of 30 with extension is about 55 US dollars with the exchange rate vs 90 online in the US.

And here is the nice part, if you go to a store that is in the tax free shopping for tourist programs, and you have your passport with you. You get 10 precent of the VAT tax back at the airport if you do zoll aka german custom inspection at the airport. They will stamp your tax fee certificates and you can get US dollars right at the airport, or you can mail it in when you get back and they will refund your CC. When you check in, tell the agent you have tax free shopping, they will tag your bags and you just need to go to the zoll counter and give them the paper work and show them the items. They will take your bag there. No need to bring it back to your airline.
 
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shoturtle

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PS

If you were a frequent traveller to Germany, and you do business with a trusted tool shop. And they have export documents. You do the same thing at the airport with the zoll, but you do not go to the global refund booth. You hold your document, and bring them on your next trip. And you all 19% of the VAT back. But you need to be a frequent traveller.

Either way, you are getting a tool that is sold for 90 dollars in the US for either 50 or 45 dollars depending on that vat you get back. That is a huge savings.
 
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