rusty Hazet 450N wrenches

[clown]

I bought these double open ends from TBS Achen about 2 months ago. I went to use one today and I noticed surface rust forming...WTF??

Has anyone else experienced this?

I have a set of Craftsman USA from about 1992 in the same drawer of the same box and the finish is like the same day I bought them.

I bought a set of Stahlwille Openbox 14 and Stabil double box ends about a year ago and they're perfect. I think these are both outstanding wrenches, very light and strong.

If TBS Achen doesn't take this Hazet set back (I don't think they will) on ebay they go, and I'll buy a set of Wright.

Question: is there any kind of oil I can put on them to prevent it getting worse??


I tried to upload pics, but came back with message stating "security token missing"

How do I upload an image/attachment??

Thanks.

 

[nutsnbolts]

I can't help you with your wrenches; I have never used Hazet tools. As far as the pictures go, I think you need a minimum number of posts before you can post photos here. It is a security feature so that brand new members don't go ballistic with unwanted solicitations.

 

[viikinki]

You can clean them with fine steelwool and petrol or kerosene, or crc penetrating oil can be used too

 

[ryan20021982]

Upload your picture here and post the link
http://imgur.com/

 

[bcexplorer]

I have a bunch of stahlville 14s and after emergency repairs in the snow they always get rust. Still love them. They are 2nd hand very old for what its worth. Ironiclly my cheap mastercraft maximum ones look hardly used after much use.

 

[firworks]

 

[B_Bimmer]

Well, that certainly makes it look easy. Are they hosted indefinitely? Is there an easy method to resize or does that happen automatically?

 

[rk5n]

If you want to resize, put a "s", "m" or "l" right before the .jpg. Usually the m or the l are a good size for this board

 

[clown]

Thanks for your replies.

If TBS Achen doesn't take these back with a full refund, I'll never buy another Hazet tool again. I'm wondering if these were actually made in Germany?? It said on the box "Made in Germany"

I have attached the pics.

Man, these Ernst wrench holders are the shiznit!!

 

[firworks]

They weren't delivered like that? If they rusted after you got them I'm not sure if they will do anything. Is it really humid where you are storing them or anything? I keep a packet of dessicant like comes in a box of new shoes just in case to try to keep my wrenches rust free.

 

[clown]

Thanks for your help firworks.

Yes, they weren't delivered like that. Although I wasn't impressed with the finish.

My point is, I don't think I should have to have dessicant in my toolbox to prevent "Made in Germany" wrenches getting rusty.

This is just my opinion, but I will talk with my wallet. I know they won't return them.

Like I said before, I have a set of Craftsman USA from about 25 years ago that haven't even thought about rusting.

But, I will try the dessicant, thanks for the tip/idea.

Just my .02 cents...and I'm ranting, I'm sure Monte will chime in here.

I went to a local tool store last week and wanted to buy a set of Hazet impact sockets sizes 10mm - 21mm, the price was €380 (about $410) and I asked about the warranty, and he said 2 years...are you freaking kidding me!!

I think German made tools are great quality, but they don't want to warranty them.

I had the same experience with a Hazet torque wrench that I bought...2 year warranty

 

[Monte]

I think it might have to do with ecological friendly chrome plating which is used nowadays ... Using the tools and rubbing them clean with a rag might remove the discoloration.
heré´s their faq: http://www.hazet.de/de/home/footermenue/faqs/
They write they offer "full warranty" beyond the statutory warranty...

 

[Gmonkee]

Use them and wipe them down with the rag that was present during the job. Not a clean rag.

All rust will be held at bay for decades. My tools don't rust no matter where they came from when used often.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Use them and wipe them down with the rag that was present during the job. Not a clean rag.

All rust will be held at bay for decades. My tools don't rust no matter where they came from when used often.

It's always amused me how true this is. Tool users really don't have to worry about rust as long as they take decent care. Tool polishers and hoarders on the other hand face a constant battle. It is the burden we must carry.

 

[Bighead38]

Just clean them and use them. Saying your never gonna buy them again is stupid imo for something so minor.

 

[The Toolest Guy]

No excuse for them rusting like this. The only tools I have that are rusting like this are the 'high quality made in Australia' Sidchrome tools I have. People rave on about how the Australian made Sidchrome was great quality before production was moved overseas. Personally I'll take the new stuff that doesn't rust.
I always try to avoid buying products that are made here in Australia. In my industry we are always having problems with stuff that is made locally....

There really is no excuse for the tools to be rusting like this. Otherwise why bother with the protective coating?

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

It's a little surface rust and really won't affect them other than cosmetically. Put them to use and you won't even notice. You could oil them to prevent further surface rust.

 

[Gmonkee]

Toolest, I am in Mexico and see the same types of failures with import and domestic equally.

I judge each item on its own merits and if they help me get paid. Surface blemishes be damned, did it start and finish the job?

Getting paid matters, not how shiny my tool display is. Some ugly but effective tools make the repairs worldwide and a few are mine.

 

[Coolabah]

It's a little surface rust and really won't affect them other than cosmetically. Put them to use and you won't even notice. You could oil them to prevent further surface rust.

+1 . I was expecting a lot worse from the OP's words but the pictures are not too bad IMHO. You could use a chrome cleaner product , most leave a waxy residue that will help protect them in future. I have the same ones and have not noticed the same, but then I guess I don't clean them too well after using them ... not sure if this helps. It is the quality of the steel that is important to me , if the same spanners/wrenches were made in many typical stainless steels they would not be so inclined to surface rust but would bur and round out ( too soft, you would hate that )

Slightly OT - some of my best knives are made of 1095 steel - awesome to use and sharpen but not at all rustproof- in fact will rust really fast. Still love the steel, and accept the need to wipe over with oil or wax every now and then. Some knives I stick in a lemon for a few days and enjoy the black patina..... YMMV

my priorities with tools:
good steel for the purpose ( wear resistance, strength)
good design/ergonomics
price - bang for buck
rust resistance is a long way down the list except for tools OFTEN used in wet or marine environments. eg my fishing knife is stainless steel.

 

[DBendr]

Pathetic. Looks like an Indian Gedore but not as well finished

 

[Bigplum]

It's not their fault , new regs are in place about chroming, Dig thru this epic link , chrome will have all the rust resistance of a Italian car .
http://www.pfonline.com/articles/impact-of-reach-regulation-on-the-global-finishing-market

 

[Blöckw@rt]

@clown


As long as yours does not look like my old ones........

My newer ones are in perfect conditions !

Send your pictures to Remscheid and let yourself be surprised what they say.

 

[Gmonkee]

Many of mine are unfinished too. Some chromed ones are peeled at the working ends.

And I do not care as long as they fit well to fasteners. Those old European wrenches just hold up as working tools.

 

[SantaAna12]

Yeah.....got it Monkee.

Glad you posted this. If this has to do with new enviro plating methods then it is good to know.

 

[clown]

Thanks for all of your replies.

I wasn't aware of the new "environmentally friendly" plating/chroming process regulations.

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of my tools, just don't want them to rot. I expected better quality from Hazet, but as others said, likely not their fault. As I said I've only had this set for about 2 months and only used once for a wheel bearing job on my car. I've had the Stahlwille sets for almost a year, and had no problems with them.

I'm definitely going with the dessicant in the toolbox tip. I'll also try and oil/steel wool the discoloration/surface rust.

 

[Ratchet.]

Thanks for all of your replies.

I wasn't aware of the new "environmentally friendly" plating/chroming process regulations.

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of my tools, just don't want them to rot. I expected better quality from Hazet, but as others said, likely not their fault. As I said I've only had this set for about 2 months and only used once for a wheel bearing job on my car. I've had the Stahlwille sets for almost a year, and had no problems with them.

I'm definitely going with the dessicant in the toolbox tip. I'll also try and oil/steel wool the discoloration/surface rust.

Definitely looks like itys be related to the new finish, (load of **** those new chroming regs imho.. ban stuff in Europe, yet China and the likes continue to dump toxic waste into the air and ground....) the chrome and finish on my older 450N looks far better, plus its used a lot and still is spotless

The German word 'Verschlimmbesserung' sums it up perfectly..
Guess I'll have to track down NOS European made chrome plated tools from now on...

 

[Monte]

'Verschlimmbesserung'

 

[2oolhound]

I went through a real ordeal a few years ago with some 50 year old rusty Hazet wrenches. After I reached a real crisis point trying to fix the rust I realized I had a Hazet socket and wrench I'd ground down for clearance issues in the 70's which sat unused for 25 of the 40 years I had them and they weren't rusty where they'd been ground down so here's what happened with the last ones I'd bought. Check out post 15545 :

Of note is that now 2 years later they have no rust and have just been wiped with an oily rag occasionally. They sit in an unheated garage in my toolbox. Warning - the 1st part about a new line of wrenches is a hoax as I'm a compulsive joker, can't help it but after that it's all straight goods.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28952&highlight=wrench+test+bahco+hazet&page=778

 

[clown]

I cleaned them off with an oily rag and put desiccant in all drawers of my toolbox.

The desiccant seems to be doing the trick.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Krause]

I use Gibbs Brand Lubricant on just about every steel tool I have immediately after receiving it. I dont live in an overly humid environment but coatings like Black Oxide seem to do **** for preventing surface rust, and certain chrome finishes don't seem to stop it as well as others (and if there is any nick or chip it will rust).

If you have any tools that have formed a small amount of surface rust you can put some oil on them and use grade #0000 Steel Wool on it. You need to use Grade #0000 because its softer than Chrome/Black Oxide but harder than rust, so the finishes you want aren't damaged/removed, but the rust is.

If that happened in transit then that *****, I've even gotten a Snap On wrench direct from their warehouse that had some surface rust on it.