HAZET Assistent 179 BIG-1, ever seen one?

[oeyniman]

Dear Readers,

Since when is HAZET's flagship 'Assistent' now promoted?
Since more than a year or so.

The 1st Hazet assi, to come at least next to near to the storage capacity of any of the US-brand toolcraft carriers.

I never came across one of them yet.
Never got next one either.
Never heared of someone own one.
Not here, nore somewhere else or in any shop so far.
Not even on the net there is a picture of any of them in action, just the Hazet tool page/catalogue copied ones.

So, what is it?
Just a tool-unicorn wrenched with by mechanic elves in some garages at the end of the rainbow?

Has anyone seen one yet?
Has anyone experienced one yet?
Is it any good?
Is it worth the hefty € 2350 (bare one) they ask for in Germany?

Eagerly awaiting any comments ( I still can dream to own one, can I?)

 

[Monte]

Fairs/exhibitions are a good chance to see one...

 

[oeyniman]

Fairs/exhibitions are a good chance to see one...

... right, question remains;
Do they sell, or not (maybe too much money/space for the German toolbox taste?) ?
I'd like to talk to s.o. who uses one, not just bought, put on display, not using it, 'cause it's too precious.

BTW, attached is a pic of the one I'm talking about.

 

[j.c.whitney]

As preciou$ as the Hazet 166 Assistent is, the 179 appears to be unobtanium on several levels.

 

[oeyniman]

As preciou$ as the Hazet 166 Assistent is, the 179 appears to be unobtanium on several levels.

Guess what, as a non native speaker, I had to look that one up - and like it.

Seen from an objective perspective, the HAZET Assistent hype is of course not justifyable. Especially, when the square-inch-to-the-buck-ratio joins the equation. Taken into account that a Snap-On K500 out of the 70s, with a top box and a side shelf (not available at that time, but just a thought) will offer just as much storage surface as a 2010 HAZET Assistent 179 BIG-1, it gets even more irrational.
But that's not what it is about, and not in this forum at all.
Just a wild guess from a tool and tool storage nut wonnabe.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I saw one briefly at a VW main dealer here, very nice.

I want one, but no space or money for one.

 

[oeyniman]

I saw one briefly at a VW main dealer here, very nice.

I want one, but no space or money for one.

... makes me cheer in 'short circuit' style: 'BIG-1 is ALIVE

 

[bart1]

I'll try to post a pic of one I saw later...

 

[bart1]

At Porsche workshop inside museum:

VW dealers in Stuttgart like both Hazet and Gedore:

And just a pic from the Hazet catalog:

 

[Flash21]

At Porsche workshop inside museum:

WOW What a workspace!!

 

[Flash21]

The 179 BIG-1 reminds me of a KR7100 which I heard is a super nice toolbox, never seen one myself, but likely built as tough as the much heralded KR1000

 

[oeyniman]

@KLars1

pls. excuse my slow and super late response

... what a great box.
THX for letting me know, as I've neither heard of or even seen one before.
If, one day, I'll be into wrenching on US or older GB cars, this would be my desired box for my 'inch-tools'.
If I'll be able to get hold of one.
If I'll ever be able to pay for one.
If my aunt had a ...
You get the point, I guess.

 

[oeyniman]

... coming back to @monte's post #2:

I went to the 'INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR COLOGNE 2012' fair last week in order to have a look at a 179 BIG-1.

1st pic showing it closed, slightly from the right side:

This one has the optional right side lockable door attached.
My first impression is that it is the box I desire.
Unfortunately, I haven't seen a HAZET 179-W work bench before either, as the 179 BIG-1 is basically a double stacked 179-W with liftable hinged top instead of a wooden top.

The pop-riveted appearance of the 179-range is a little bit of a turn-off, after coming from the GEDORE booth minutes prior.
Not that there is anything wrong with rivetting and I'm sure the HAZET designers know their trade, but it reminds me slightly of a HAZET canti-box 190 L ( a great canti-box, but compared to a tool box with a hefty EURO 2,410.00 price tag, a different kind of mice). There, the main reason seems to be the 2-tone colour scheme (HAZET-blue and black) and therefore the necessety to assemble after the paint job, but here?

Most probably, it is due to the design and production process in their German sheet metal tool box plant, they seem to powder paint at least some of the parts prior to assembly dispite of welding it together completely and then paint. Maybe for the reason of better paint coverage in the areas of double material/folds and touching surfaces? Who knows?

As HAZET, in comparison to brands like GEDORE is mainly biased and targeting the automotive industry, I'm kind of surprised about the use of rivets on the visibly exposed front of the 179-range. Rivetting as an assembly or repair method is often considered 2nd class or semi-professional/DIY style, racer style at best (I know on PORSCHE's 996 GT-2, the wheel arch extensions are rivetted as well, as far as I remember). Airline industry does not count, as they barely use pop rivets, as far as I know.

The right , optional door, is - in order to gain room for tools to hang into the therefore created side compartment - sticking out over the black protective edges. That makes them almost obsolete. First thing, taking any damage, will be the door.

 

[buco]

Anyone know what these cost?

 

[oeyniman]

Anyone know what these cost?

Yep,
as it is - for European standards - so expensive,
they don't show any prices in their HAZET catalogue 2012 (i.e.: WERKZEUG HANDBUCH 2012) anymore.
They only promote the HAZET Assistent 179 BIG-1 in their 'Specials' these days.

As per 'special worldwide 2012 - Industry and Automotive', valid until 28th of Feb, 2013:


HAZET Assistent 179 BIG-1 : EUR 2.410,00 excl. VAT
HAZET BIG-21 (optional side door): EUR 169,00 excl. VAT

Leading to EUR 3.069.00 all in , as shown above, landed cost, at a German Hardware store.

 

[oeyniman]

Couldn't resist:

Bought one

 

[franzdom]

Thanks for the update, pictures please?

 

[shockwave]

Great o cannot wait to see pics I have been wanting one for awhile and the new xxl but sadly shipping to us will be very expensive for me

 

[Monte]

 

[bent0r]

We demand pictures!

 

[nutsandbolts]

Hi Guys, I posted this in the 'tools from the old world' thread and will re post pictures here.

Last year I had an opportunity to ship one to Australia, I was originally looking at the 179 XL. After a bottle of red I thought ...just do it, hence the 179 big.

I built a shed so that I could keep it and after 9 months or so I love it! I've just ordered the door and other accessories.

Here are some pictures when it arrived.

 

[bent0r]

Very Nice, but only small Pictures? (/_\)
An more Pictures with Tools please.

 

[Supe]

Hi Guys, I posted this in the 'tools from the old world' thread and will re post pictures here.

Last year I had an opportunity to ship one to Australia, I was originally looking at the 179 XL. After a bottle of red I thought ...just do it, hence the 179 big.

I built a shed so that I could keep it and after 9 months or so I love it! I've just ordered the door and other accessories.

Here are some pictures when it arrived.

Congrats! Where did you source that from? What was the freight cost on that?