Hultafors vs Bahco ?
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quattroJoe
Well-known member
I'm not familiar with Hultafors, but Bahco is owned by Snap On now and a lot of their stuff is no longer made in Sweden. Some has gone to Spain, some even to Taiwan. Still seems to be top quality stuff, and I hear that you can warranty it through the Snap On truck (haven't had to yet so I don't know firsthand.)
RCStocker
Well-known member
I have a spare set of 1/2" drive, 12 point deep sockets. I paid $65 new on E bay about 12 years ago. They are made in the USA. I have tried to sell them and I can't get any bites at $100. They are mint and go all the way up to 1-1/4 including the 1-3/16" I have never used them. I have them in Snap-on in 6 pint and Craftsman in 12 point. I have so many sets I don't even know how many. I have boxes of them on my farm.
I would say they are both good. Swedish steel is some of the worlds best and I would buy them in a heart beat if the price was right and I needed them. Swedish glass is world class as well.
A lot of What Snap-on makes is made in Taiwan now. Most of the Blue Point is form there now including some of their tool boxes.
I would say they are both good. Swedish steel is some of the worlds best and I would buy them in a heart beat if the price was right and I needed them. Swedish glass is world class as well.
A lot of What Snap-on makes is made in Taiwan now. Most of the Blue Point is form there now including some of their tool boxes.
neophyte
Well-known member
Bahco used to be one of Europe's largest tool companies. They owned several different brands of tools that were made in Sweden, and they owned a few other tool producers outside of Sweden as well. Belzer-Dowidat of Germany may have been one of the other companies they owned, and they also were having some of their wrenches manufactured in Argentina, maybe in a facility they also owned. At some point Snap-On purchased Bahco, along with most of the other companies that belonged to Bahco, as well as a several other European tool companies, and set up Snap-On Europe. Since then a lot of the Bahco production has been shifted to countries like Spain, France and possibly Eastern Europe instead of Sweden.
Hultafors as far as I'm aware is a smaller company, though the Hultafors Group does own other brands, and I don't believe all the production is carried out in Sweden either. The tools Hultafors is mainly known for seem to be their measuring tools; i.e.. their folding rules, the Talmeter tape measures, steel rules , etc. They are also known for their axes, and their pry bars. They also manufacture a line of aluminum pry bars and a line of hammers. The hammers, or some of them at least may be manufactured in China.
The Hultafors Group also owns Wibe a company that makes ladders, and the Snickers Workwear brand. Fisco the UK manufacturer of tape measures is also owned by the Hultafors Group.
Hultafors as far as I'm aware is a smaller company, though the Hultafors Group does own other brands, and I don't believe all the production is carried out in Sweden either. The tools Hultafors is mainly known for seem to be their measuring tools; i.e.. their folding rules, the Talmeter tape measures, steel rules , etc. They are also known for their axes, and their pry bars. They also manufacture a line of aluminum pry bars and a line of hammers. The hammers, or some of them at least may be manufactured in China.
The Hultafors Group also owns Wibe a company that makes ladders, and the Snickers Workwear brand. Fisco the UK manufacturer of tape measures is also owned by the Hultafors Group.
neophyte
Well-known member
The USA made Bahco branded Socket sets were supposedly manufactured by the Snap-On JH Williams factory. Except for the level of finish they should be very similar to the Snap-On sockets. I not sure whether those were ever sold in Europe or whether the USA made Bahco wrenches were just offered in the USA. Williams produced wrenches were also sold with the Bahco name, but only in SAE sizes.
and they're almost identical to the Williams SuperCombo wrenches except for the grooves in the jaw and the name stamped on them.submariner
Well-known member
Hmmm.....I'm noticing a trend here, see how American companies buyout foreign tool companies and slowly but surely their quality and repute declines?
e.g. Bahco, Facom, Sidchrome
e.g. Bahco, Facom, Sidchrome
which tools of these companies do you plan to buy ?
neophyte
Well-known member
Hmmm.....I'm noticing a trend here, see how American companies buyout foreign tool companies and slowly but surely their quality and repute declines?
e.g. Bahco, Facom, Sidchrome
Facom was originally a French company that purchased a number of other tool companies including SK tools. After purchasing Facom purchased SK, items were added to the tool line that were made in Taiwan.
Bosch tools purchased Skil and outsourced much of the line to cheap imported tools.
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I picked up a nice Fisco branded measuring tape recently, noticed on the package that they are now owned by Hultafors. Tape was still made in England though.
Hi Monte,
I was thinking of a folding rule from Hultafors as well as some files for my saws from Bahco...
azhatchback
Well-known member
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- Nov 30, 2013
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I'll tell you this much. Where I work we have some really nice USA made snap on adjustable wrenches when SO made their own. We also have SO adjustables made by bahco in both the spain and sweden flavors that are no where near the quality, weight, and precision of the original snap on USA made ones. Both Sweden and spain Bahco versions have poor quality chrome that chips easily. There is no difference in the ones made in spain or sweeden.
If you ever come across some USA made SO adjustables grab them because the bahco ones don't even come close! At home I use USA made craftsman adjustables in 8,10,12,15in. versions so no I am not on the snap-on band wagon. I have just had the opportunity to use both side by side in an industrial environment. We have a crazy USA SO 12in that has some narly teeth vs. flat jaws. Bahco's are easy to spot as they have this weird raised section on the head of the wrench. I will dig up a spain one when i get time and add it to this pic list.
This is the only experience that I have with bahco:
SO made in USA
View media item 40541
SO made in Sweden
View media item 40542
Chipping on the sweeden thin chrome, upper tip
View media item 40543
If you ever come across some USA made SO adjustables grab them because the bahco ones don't even come close! At home I use USA made craftsman adjustables in 8,10,12,15in. versions so no I am not on the snap-on band wagon. I have just had the opportunity to use both side by side in an industrial environment. We have a crazy USA SO 12in that has some narly teeth vs. flat jaws. Bahco's are easy to spot as they have this weird raised section on the head of the wrench. I will dig up a spain one when i get time and add it to this pic list.
This is the only experience that I have with bahco:
SO made in USA
View media item 40541
SO made in Sweden
View media item 40542
Chipping on the sweeden thin chrome, upper tip
View media item 40543
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Hi Monte,
I was thinking of a folding rule from Hultafors as well as some files for my saws from Bahco...
the Hultafors rules are made in sweden it seems, the Bahco files in Portugal, so your buying decisions seem to be ok
