Got some Italian Tools!

[Childiaugz]

After seeing another member's USAG tools (Sorin S.), I was immediately curious about their quality. So I ordered some online, direct from Italy and it shipped in about a week. This is what I got:

(now excuse my DIY knowledge, I only own Snap-on hand tools and never even stepped foot into Harbor freight. So I can only compare it with what Snap-on tools I have)

6-22mm Offset Wrench set.

The USAG have a very similar profile to a Snap-on; USAG have a more satin look to them. I assume they are the same as Facom's wrenches.

Very uniform looking wrenches. I love how they feel and they broke fasteners with ease.

USAG 17mm Offset wrench, broaching looks very similar to Snap-on.

USAG 17mm Offset wrench, broaching looks very similar to Snap-on.

Brand new Snap-on 17mm Combination Spanner

Hammer time

DIN 1041 Standard, 500 grams

Mold lines.

Decent mallet.

Handle.

These are very average, consumer-grade looking, but I used them extensively today after I took this picture and they held up pretty good.

The handles are generic hard plastic, but they feel good. I still prefer my Snap-on files.

Very crude cut end, but works really well on steel.

I will be picking up USAG's 1/2 air impact wrench next, because whoever designed it very likely designed FACOM's, Proto's, and Mac's. Also the price for a USAG 1/2" WITH international shipping right now(USAG $270+30) is still cheaper than everyone else's 1/2" with the same spec (MAC $350, mac web)(Proto $330, Amazon).

I am very satisfied with my purchases. I know they aren't the top of the line in the tool world, but they seem decent to me and the wrenches feel phenomenal!

 

[mattwgrizwald]

Look like some bad hammers

 

[PureLeaf]

Are you sure those are made in italy? I have the FACOM version of that set. Look very similar, even the same plastic tray... they're taiwan made. No COO stamped on the wrench, but ultimate garage confirms taiwan as the COO. Still a nice wrench, but they're not italian.

 

[colin39]

Are you sure those are made in italy? I have the FACOM version of that set. Look very similar, even the same plastic tray... they're taiwan made. No COO stamped on the wrench, but ultimate garage confirms taiwan as the COO. Still a nice wrench, but they're not italian.

I have the hammer n punch set , deffo facom looking

Internet image as on a rest day

 

[F124C]

Broaching doesn't look like 'flank-drive' to me unlike the Snap-On wrench.
Nice enough tools though, thanks for sharing.

Al.

 

[Childiaugz]

Are you sure those are made in italy? I have the FACOM version of that set. Look very similar, even the same plastic tray... they're taiwan made. No COO stamped on the wrench, but ultimate garage confirms taiwan as the COO. Still a nice wrench, but they're not italian.

I can't confirm COO, but it is a high possibility as they resemble the Facom very much and that I didn't pay alot for this lot. I honestly don't care about COO, I got some Snap-on stuff that is all over the globe.

EDIT: you know what, my dad lives in Taiwan and knows quite a few factory owners, I could ask him.

 

[Childiaugz]

Broaching doesn't look like 'flank-drive' to me unlike the Snap-On wrench.
Nice enough tools though, thanks for sharing.

Al.

My apologies, I wasn't referring to flank drive pattern. I was more so talking about the finish.

 

[colin39]

I can't confirm COO, but it is a high possibility as they resemble the Facom very much and that I didn't pay alot for this lot. I honestly don't care about COO, I got some Snap-on stuff that is all over the globe.

EDIT: you know what, my dad lives in Taiwan and knows quite a few factory owners, I could ask him.

Buddy a tools a tool and a nut bolt screw or rivet dont care where the tool is made that is attacking it, as long as its attacking it correctly. You know you got a good deal or you wouldnt have spent the money. Good luck to you

 

[ADSR]

The proto sells for 250 at trident

 

[Dave455]

USAG used to make a lot of stuff for Facom, which might explain why their tools look similar.

Now that Facom are outsourcing more and more to Taiwan, it seems that USAG are making more of an effort to supply direct!

The tools I've seen (and I'll admit it's only a few) have been quite nice!

 

[PureLeaf]

Here are my Facom offsets. Taiwan made.

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[colin39]

Here are my Facom offsets. Taiwan made.

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Ican see image files on reply but cant see em on screen gggrrrrr

 

[F124C]

My apologies, I wasn't referring to flank drive pattern. I was more so talking about the finish.

Sorry for misunderstanding, wasn't getting at you, only saying what I noticed.

Al.

 

[Kirbot]

Broaching doesn't look like 'flank-drive' to me unlike the Snap-On wrench.
Nice enough tools though, thanks for sharing.

Al.

Ermm.....
I'm going to have to disagree there. They pretty clearly have the same "off the corner" fastener fit.

In fact, I don't think anybody has made non flank drive tools for.... At least the past 5-10 years.

 

[Jure]

Ermm.....
I'm going to have to disagree there. They pretty clearly have the same "off the corner" fastener fit.

In fact, I don't think anybody has made non flank drive tools for.... At least the past 5-10 years.

stahlwille double box are still non flank

and hazet 610 used to be till last year

 

[Jure]

pretty sure all stahlwille's are non flank

 

[maico]

pretty sure all stahlwille's are non flank

The 2014 Stahlwille catalogue says all combination spanners and double ended ring are AS-drive (anti-slip) and shows the pressure point on the flank of the nut.

 

[Kirbot]

I stand corrected. I'm more familiar with brands more common in the States.

I stand by the USAG wrenches looking like flank drive though

 

[MadMark]

Look like the Beta tools brand that was clearanced out by amazon about 2-3 years ago

 

[Childiaugz]

Here is another shot of the broaching, I cant really tell if it has the flank drive pattern. I will see if i can get some shots of a wrench on a fastener.

1: Snap-on 5/8" hi-performance
2: USAG 22mm
3: Snap-on 1" combo spanner.

 

[dede2897234]

Here is another shot of the broaching, I cant really tell if it has the flank drive pattern. I will see if i can get some shots of a wrench on a fastener.

1: Snap-on 5/8" hi-performance
2: USAG 22mm
3: Snap-on 1" combo spanner.

Childiaugz,

The USAG wrench follows the inner lobular box wrench design of the two Snap-on wrenches.


Dave

 

[Childiaugz]

. Hence the title of this thread with the exclamation point. If that's true just edit the title of this thread to raed "Re: Got some Asian Tools!"

I am not editing the title just to please you.

USAG is an Italian company, they possibly sourced some of the items I bought. I don't know if these examples were and that isn't why I bought their tools, just because "they are made in Italy".

Alot of people refer to their Mercedes and BMW as German cars, but some of them are built in America. They are merely designed by a German company.

 

[maico]

There a number of USAG factory videos on the tube. You can see Facom torque wrenches being made there. They also forge stuff. My Facom 1/2 flex was made there

 

[Qualitytools]

They (Facom, USAG......) are all owned by Stanley hence the resemblance in manufacturing I have a Facom 440 set of wrenches that I purchased from the Ultimate Garage at a discount because the holder says USAG! I love those wrenches and yes they are made in Taiwan but better than made in China

 

[JonnyMac]

USAG are used extensively throughout the maseratti factory...
nice tools and great pics thanks

 

[bahcoswed]

Yes stahlwille has a "flankdrive system" called As drive! All my wrenches has this! Here they are famous for asdrive because its the only wrench that will work on a rounded of fastener! Not talking about a little damage on the edges, really trashed fastener

 

[ultgar]

Found this old thread and having received my first USAG shipment here in the US, I'm impressed with the pricing, packaging and service. Approx 75% of the USAG line these days are rebranded Facom tools. Plus now we have factory warranty in the US and access to the Factory Promo's.

SD

 

[SnapOnAddiction]

Very sweet I've never seen this brand but have facom and beta and some other Euro tools i found here and there at fleas.

Drool worthy man thanks for showing!

 

[redvalkyrie]

Maybe off topic slightly but how did you go about ordering them straight from USAG/Italy and how much was cost and shipping? If you prefer not to say in public you may PM me.

 

[Matt XYZ]

I lived in Italy for a few years. I saw USAG used by most of the mechanics at dealerships and garages. It seems to be a preferred brand amongst the professional mechanics. I never got a chance to try any of their tools out.

 

[Tonyuk]

Very nice, i have the Facom branded version of these and they work very well. Facoms (and Mac, USAG etc..) version of flank drive is their OGV profile, which imho actually grips better than the snap on box end.

Good tools that'll last.

 

[ultgar]

Maybe off topic slightly but how did you go about ordering them straight from USAG/Italy and how much was cost and shipping? If you prefer not to say in public you may PM me.

You can't buy directly from USAG but there are plenty of dealers in Italy (air freight and customs fees can add up....UPS will bill you separately for duties). I am direct with USAG as a US distributor and have stock orders going in with them 2-3 times per month. Their pricing is typically 10-20% cheaper than Facom, packaging is better and I can provide US warranty support on any of their tools that I sell.

I'll offer the people on this list a 1-time 20% discount on any USAG items I have in stock to take a look at and try their tools. See http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/index.php?cPath=1226 (items will continue to be added to this list). This excludes the Ducati tool box listings as as they won't be in until September. Offer expires on June 30th. US customers only. Actual shipping costs will apply. Here's a page with some of their current promo items....see http://www.ultimategarage2.com/usag/usagintro.html .

SD

 

[diyer999]

pretty sure all stahlwille's are non flank

The older stock might not be. Current stock is AS drive, unless otherwise noted. But that just it, what are you getting if you don't double check. I have looked close at them on the Internet and some of the photos of the box are not AS drive. In fact, I held off buying some just because the seller refused to answer two important questions:

1. Do they have AS drive.

2. Are they made in Germany?

Do they only say Germany, that might mean it is the location of the manufacturer, or do they say, made in Germany, which is clearly a different label, depending of course on what German law says about labeling. You all know what our US congress did by changing the "100% made in USA label law to the "All or Virtually All" labeling law. The f'n lawyers have a field day with that one. Google this: Stanley-Proto FTC lawsuit. FTC caught them twice bringing in **** from China and labeling it USA, and their lawyers were arguing the virtually all clause.

[Parenthetically, our congress has made it the law that if an ingredient in a food item is 5% or less, then it does not have to be listed on the label. 5% of something a person is allergic to can cause a severe reaction, possibly, anaphylactic shock, leading to death]. Why would they do that -- they get successfully lobbied by greedy corporations and industries.

Let me say this. Other than the Japanese, or possibly Taiwan (? not sure), the Chinese are just not Craftsman the Germans, Americans, or the Japanese are. But the world, especially now with global marketing, all it takes is one lawyer, one businessman, one engineer to start a company outsourcing **** from China. I know engineers and talk to them all the time, and I don't ever recall one of them not being concerned about their efforts all being trashed into the China bucket, because of greed, or the inability to compete, because everyone else is doing it.