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HAZET tool fans??

billymade

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I think the tool cart is reflective of the era when it was designed; it may have been from the 20s/30s era; with that in mind... it looks era correct! :)
 
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Monte

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My garage neighbors tool cart. Definitely too small for his collection :D

DSC00002-1.jpg
 

superautobacs

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If that was one of my friend's tool cart, I'd have to dump all the tools out of it and reorganize it entirely....i just can't stand seeing such disarray :D
 
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autoace

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If that was one of my friend's tool cart, I'd have to dump all the tools out of it and reorganize it entirely....i just can't stand seeing such disarray :D

I'll second that, a greasy pile of tools with no organization, is as bad as a dirty, blasted toilet bowl,eeeeeeeeeeeew!
 

reversegear

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Are Hazet ratcheting wrenches made in Taiwan....That would be ok, but not when they want 480.00$ a set...and Gearwrench is 100 bucks!?

They have reversibles made by Lea Way down the street from my house. I don't know if Hazet has the Danaher Chinese made single direction wrenches.
 
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autoace

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I'm trying to find this out too. Seems like a lot of confusion, even for people in Germany on this.

I have the Hazet ratcheting wrenches on my to buy list, but if they are not true Hazet tools, I won't pay the premium...I'll just stick with Gearwrench, some of Taiwan's finest, without the Hazet price tag.
 
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autoace

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Gearwrench are undoubtedly the best value in the DIY market. Best choice for weekend wrenchers.

Do you think there is an advantage for the Hazet/Taiwan ratchet wrenches, and the other Taiwan offerings. Are the Taiwan based manufacturers of the Hazet wrenches better than any other Taiwan tool manufacturer, in your opinion or known fact? I have some Harbor Freight/Pittsburgh Professionals made in Taiwan, that are fine! There must be different levels of quality there, as is here in the USA i.e. Craftsman vs. Snap-on..same country of origin, much different quality. Thanks.
 

Merkava_4

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I have the Hazet ratcheting wrenches on my to buy list, but if they are not true Hazet tools, I won't pay the premium...I'll just stick with Gearwrench, some of Taiwan's finest, without the Hazet price tag.

Looking at their PDF, the wrench part definitely looks to be Hazet. The ratcheting part has a reverse lever similar to GW's....
 

reversegear

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Lea Way uses special forgings specifically for the Hazet wrench shape. For overall quality, Lea Way is probably third or fourth in Taiwan. Hard to say what % of their problems are due to the wonky gear tooth design they are locked into, and what % are in-house control issues.
 

Alfajuj

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Lea Way uses special forgings specifically for the Hazet wrench shape. For overall quality, Lea Way is probably third or fourth in Taiwan. Hard to say what % of their problems are due to the wonky gear tooth design they are locked into, and what % are in-house control issues.
reversegear, Since you are in Taiwan too,
Who would you say are the top four Taiwanese hand tool manufacturers?
Like who is supplying Facom with their sockets and wrenches?
What is the best Taiwan-made brand which you can buy on the market here in Taiwan?
Sorry, I'm a bit off topic...
 

Hawk321

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Could be...most germans don't like chrome handles. But anyway, Hazet has some ASIA stuff...and wouldn't spend so much money for that. Gearwrench is my 1st choice.
 

reversegear

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Sorry Alfa, it is almost 5:00PM and Friday afternoon. I'd rather give a considered answer than something off the top of my head before I run out the door, so I'll try and catch this thread again tomorrow morning. Let me just say for now that the two companies I know of that Facom buys from are Rotar and Hi-Five. Snap-On buys from Cendai and Hi-Five.

Weekend is here. Later, guys.
 

jerk_chicken

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Wow, really, that's got to **** to spend so much on Hazets, only to find a question about their origins.

I was experiencing this over the last 15 or so years in US, with the decline of quality in OEM German parts, particularly Bosch. Generally, the stuff from the factory was ok, and lasted forever, and generally German. If I needed a fuel pump, after running the original 300k miles, the replacement came from the Czech Republic, was noisy out of the box, and lasted 30k. The Slovakian parts Mercedes and VW are doing now are lovely. Speaking of which, I passed a Tram on the way bringing parts in from Slovakia to the VW Glaserne Manufaktur (VW Transparent Factory) nearby my home so they can make their $100k Phaetons.
 

Alfajuj

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I have noticed with my Hazet stuff, that if it is made in Germany, it will definitely say "Germany" somewhere on the tool. Each socket has "Germany" on it, even the 1/4" sockets and extensions in tiny letters. But I looked at my new 900 series (1/2") socket set and found that the ratchet doesn't say "Germany" anywhere on it. I don't think that they just forgot...
Sometimes saying nothing is saying a lot...
The question is, where does the ratchet come from? Czech? Taiwan? Anybody's guess.

Now I love my Hazet but, truth be told, this is a strong ratchet, but the mechanism is just plain clunky. It can't hold a candle to my Ko-ken for smoothness.

My 3/8" ratchet is new old stock, probably from the 80's and is marked "Made in W.Germany" and the action is way nicer. I know it's not fair to compare 1/2" to 3/8" but still...
Is the mighty Hazet in decline?:wtf:
 

Monte

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@ Reversegear:
Do you know who makes this mini ratchet and this type of ratcheting screwdriver ?
The ratchet says "reverse gear" on the head and the screwdriver "reverse gear" on the silver metal part. Since your name is "Reversegear" is there a "Reverse gear" company which do you work for ? A lot of companies seem to offer the screwdriver (Bluepoint, SK, Bahco, KS-Tools,i saw it in japan too) and the mini ratchet or similar ratchets with handle (KS-tools, japanese companies, Gedore, Bahco...) so i wonder if they have more products because i like the quality. Maybe you can give me some insight.

1592060-large.jpg

loadImage.aspx


@alfajuj:
Where the Hazet ratchets are made you can see here in these videos

http://www.hazet.de/de/download-service/film-archiv.html

some pics of a hazet and Walter schröder plant tour:

http://www.werkzeug-news.de/news4/meeting/index.html


The Hazet salesman which i asked at a exhibition here told me that the ratcheting wrenches are made for Hazet to their specifications. Not everything is made by Hazet the same goes for almost every manufacturer so they can offer everything from one supplier. Because it dont pay off to make them on their own (not enough sales) or because of patent rights are another reasons. But most of the stuff is german made (pliers, screwdrivers from witte/felo ,pullers from Baldur/gedore etc.) some other stuff they buy outboard but from the original manufacturers like the "Turtle-jaws" hose pinch off pliers from australia (PBT) , some locking pliers from Grip-on etc. so you always get the good stuff.

The US prices of these particular "Hazet"-wrenches are a little bit steep because of the exchange rate but if you look into the list prices of Beta or Facom , they want the same $$$ and they are also from taiwan...
 

billymade

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Thats the same german dude with the whiskers, who is in the video; I wonder who he is in the Hazet company? Looks like his name is Walter Schröder. Maybe a PR guy?
 
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superautobacs

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Walter Schroeder is the name a german screwdriver manufactror.

Here's their URL: http://www.robert-schroeder.de/drehteile_uk.html
I know them for this:
28k0710s1.jpg

28k0710v3.jpg


@ Reversegear:
Do you know who makes this mini ratchet and this type of ratcheting screwdriver ?
The ratchet says "reverse gear" on the head and the screwdriver "reverse gear" on the silver metal part. Since your name is "Reversegear" is there a "Reverse gear" company which do you work for ? A lot of companies seem to offer the screwdriver (Bluepoint, SK, Bahco, KS-Tools,i saw it in japan too) and the mini ratchet or similar ratchets with handle (KS-tools, japanese companies, Gedore, Bahco...) so i wonder if they have more products because i like the quality. Maybe you can give me some insight.

1592060-large.jpg

loadImage.aspx



Monte, either from this thread or another, you provided this link (http://www.cens.com/) that directed you to a pool of tool manufacturers in Taiwan. In my little quest to find out who makes those ratcheting screwdrivers, I spent some time searching through the different manufacturers websites and I did find out some interesting things....among other facts....that Gearwrench (Danaher) is made by Lea Way Hand Tool Corporation http://www.cens.com/cens/html/en/supplier/supplier_home_7753.html

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the OEM for the SEK/Bahco/SK/Facom/Britool/etc. brands. Perhaps Reversegear can chime in on this!

This is already getting off topic but, I did purchase SEK's reversible 1/4" bit ratchet similar to that Bahco pictured above.
 
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Monte

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There are 2 Schroeders: http://www.walter-schroeder.de/ and www.robert-schroeder.de . Walter Schröder produces the Robert Schröder screwdrivers and also the "Connex" brand which you see in the plant tour pics. Back in the days they produced the "Belzer" blades for the Bahco-Belzer company before production left to spain. This seems to be not a good decision since a lot of distributors/dealers here stopped selling them because of inferior blade quality.

@superautobacs:
thats what I want to know from reversegear :)
I couldn`t find the OEM either. There must be a secret taiwanese company who makes all the good stuff ... Maybe they hide the factory somewhere so no competitor can spy on them and find out how to make good ratcheting screwdrivers and this litttle teeth for the 1/4" ratchet :D :D

ps: i bought this Bahco set for about 25$,.. very nice..... PS: the sockets, bits and bit holder are for sale :D only 25$ :D
 

superautobacs

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Looking closely at this picture, 'Reverse Gear' is a registered trademark?
sek_rachdoraXX1a.jpg

Perhaps there IS a close connection between our GJ member and the OEM :eyecrazy::headscrat

EDIT: wow, interesting, Monte....I was just finding the above picture only to find out that you posted a message already!

Good find! :bowdown:
 
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jerk_chicken

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The schroeder's mech externally looks a lot like the Craftsman ratcheting screwdriver I have. It's got a patent number, but I'm posting from the bathroom right now, so I can't get it:

craftsman 41796. It uses a silent, non-ratcheting clutch or sprag mech.
 

jerk_chicken

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Nope, the 41796 says "Made in the USA" on the tag, as well as "USA" in yellow lettering on the handle. It's also molded "Made in USA" on the other side of the handle in the rubber.

Here's the US patent:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=WnQgAAAAEBAJ&dq=5265504

Patent number: 5265504
Filing date: Dec 1, 1992
Issue date: Nov 30, 1993
Inventor: Hermann Fruhm

It apparently contains as part of it, the integral bit holder and the rotational aspect of it.
 

-B-

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Deferentially cool tools and the assistant can not be beat there use to be a bicycle mechanic on the circuit here in the states that had one back when 16 passenger vans were allowed. It was a ting to behold most guys in the state then were using old small machine tool boxes and bad cases. I better never get sent to Germany I will try to send back over loaded pallets of tools as bicycles.
 

reversegear

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Ha ! i found the company who makes the small ratchets (and a lot of others) www.newtools.com (Hi-Five Products)
Since the trademark/word-mark "Reverse Gear" is registered by Hi-five they also should make these screwdrivers or have someone who makes them for hi-five !?

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=searchss&state=op96mf.1.1


***Note to Self: The next time you want to keep the company you work for a secret on an online forum, do not use a login name that is the same as a trademark owned by your company. Idiot.***

Monte, your outstanding German intellect and persistence has outed me. You too, Superautobacs. My name is Karl, and I work for Hi-Five.
 

Monte

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Karl Smith from Florida ?? :D Hello !! :D So you make the Bluepoint/KS-Tools/Bahco/SK/suekage (etc.) ratcheting screwdrivers and wrenches for Gedore, KS-tools etc. etc. . The Facom driver too ?? (looks a little bit different (the bit holder and the metal part)) What about the dozen and dozen of other taiwanese/chinese manufacturers of ratchetig wrenches which i found in the internet ? Do they have a license to make them or are they copycats ? I heard there a 2 different patents for the wrenches ?? Tell us a little bit more :D
 

reversegear

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You have me at a disadvantage Monte. Tell me who you are, and more interestingly: how do you know my last name and that I am from Florida? Then maybe I can discuss further the *ahem* Intellectual Property situation as regards Taiwan tool manufacturers.
 

reversegear

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Though now that I think of it, if you read my tirade against Massachusetts' drivers in the Free Parking forum, you could probably deduce the Florida part...
 

Monte

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I studied together with you in florida from 1985-1991 !

:D just kidding !! :D

Another note to yourself ! :D you said "my name is Karl, and I work for Hi-Five"
What do you think i did ?? just typed "HI-FIVE PRODUCTS DEVELOPING karl" into google search of course :D :D :D google is my friend :D:D

so now we can talk ;-)
 
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autoace

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If the gearwrench was founded in Taiwan then.................We have no right to complain about USA and German wrenches having those Taiwan parts do we?
 

superautobacs

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Holy ****! These guys are the original designer of the Gearwrench? Read about the founder here: http://www.newtools.com/about.htm Maybe this should go in the "whats the tool situation in Taiwan?", thread! :)

Perhaps Bobby Hu is the inventor of the gear wrench style wrenches, but it doesn't seem like he's the creator of GearWrench (which is a registered TM as well).

In a previous post, I pointed out that Lea Way Hand Tool Corporation is the maker of Danaher's GearWrench tools:
http://www.cens.com/cens/html/en/supplier/supplier_home_7753.html

This thread is way off topic now, but it's very interesting! :bounce:
 
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