dutch79
Well-known member
'New' Hazet items:
...and the mini-assi (160)!
...and the mini-assi (160)!
Tools from the old world
- Thread starter Monte
- Start date
rune-hammer
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2015
- Messages
- 25
What is the general opinion on Vata tools around here? Since Toptul seems to get a lot of praise, I was wondering if Vata is of compareable quality. I own a 15" breaker bar and some torx precision screwdrivers that I am quite fond of. Taiwan is part old world, right!
hautpot
Well-known member
Never heard of vata until now. They seem suspiciously similar to toptul. I wouldn't say Taiwan is part of the "old world". They do make good stuff, but not as dedicated or refined as Japanese, German, Swiss, or English items.
dutch79
Well-known member
Thanks for the video. That's a pretty awesome tool!
I now use a dremel (mini straight grinder), angle grinder and straight grinder all together. When you do all lot of fast, small cutting different materials, this is a very usefull tool.
Last edited:
rune-hammer
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2015
- Messages
- 25
Yeah, they seem similar in quality too, but they are definitely not the same company. Both do OEM stuff though, just found a local store selling vata screwdrivers under the brand WELL MADE. I think the biggest thing not giving the taiwanese brands the cred they might deserve is that the taiwanese tool industry is so new,these brands have been around a few decades at the most, when the respectable european brands might have been around as long as the automobile industry itself.
sstetsen
Member
What happened with this thread? No post from August till now... Monte?
It's a US date format. Month-Day-Year. So the last post before yours was not 11-august but november-8.
Attachments
FMC1959
Well-known member
Fein ALED flashlight
Pretty cool Monte.....I remember a week or two ago you said you would order one from your dealer and now you have it; does your dealer ship to US or Canada?
Reto
Well-known member
Here some of my favorites:
Facom France Combination Spanners. They are mixed in the sense that they are not from exactly the same series/time period.
Facom France Combination Spanners. They are mixed in the sense that they are not from exactly the same series/time period.
Reto
Well-known member
Dowidat No. 111 15mm
Reto
Well-known member
Facom France Pliers
Honestly, I love Facom France wrenches (I don´t have anything Fracom Taiwan), but I do not like the finish of these pliers. But I do like the vintage packaging, so I am going to keep them...
Honestly, I love Facom France wrenches (I don´t have anything Fracom Taiwan), but I do not like the finish of these pliers. But I do like the vintage packaging, so I am going to keep them...
Reto
Well-known member
Facom France Fractional Wrenches. Don't have anything fractional to work on, so these have not been used so far.
mac_intosh
Well-known member
That is awesome!
Monte
Well done, for Dowidat
Dowidat and belzer had excellent tools.
Some live news from Fein WSG 17-125 P
Laro13
Well-known member
garfieldzzz
Well-known member
Reto
Well-known member
Hello everybody,
I wanted to take a moment to thank everybody on this great forum for all the things I have learned about tools. My father was a mechanic, and sometimes I used his tools when I was a kid, but I didn't know the difference between a Hazet, a Dowidat, a Facom, and a cheap Chinese socket.
It was about two years ago that I wanted to have my own quality tool box (talk about 30 or years later from being a kid). I am a teacher (business, so no expert like many of you). Somehow I (innocently) thought that Craftsman was a great brand, so I started with a $150 kit from Craftsman. Then I discovered the Garage Board, and especially Monte´s Tools from the Old World. That was a live-changing event - especially for my bank account. Since then, I have acquired a good amount of tools from Germany, France, and similar countries, and I have learned a lot about tools. This forum has been amazing in this journey.
My father did let me use any tools, except the Facom combination spanners he had displayed on the wall, so I started collecting Facom because it connects me to my father who passed away three years ago. My reflection on this is that almost all our possession fade away quickly, but these Facom combination spanners will stay there, they don´t wear like clothing and they don´t get out of fashion like your IPhone. Thus, in my future posting, you will see a bias towards Facom. My father was from Switzerland, so guess what other brand is I appreciate... ;-)
I did not want to bore you with this story, but I wanted to share a little bit of my background. The initiator of this thread, Monte, is of course my hero - let´s applaud him for this ongoing journey that is record-breaking when it comes to the number of postings. And let's keep alive the super-friendly and constructive nature of this thread. Keep these **** pics of your tools coming
I wanted to take a moment to thank everybody on this great forum for all the things I have learned about tools. My father was a mechanic, and sometimes I used his tools when I was a kid, but I didn't know the difference between a Hazet, a Dowidat, a Facom, and a cheap Chinese socket.
It was about two years ago that I wanted to have my own quality tool box (talk about 30 or years later from being a kid). I am a teacher (business, so no expert like many of you). Somehow I (innocently) thought that Craftsman was a great brand, so I started with a $150 kit from Craftsman. Then I discovered the Garage Board, and especially Monte´s Tools from the Old World. That was a live-changing event - especially for my bank account. Since then, I have acquired a good amount of tools from Germany, France, and similar countries, and I have learned a lot about tools. This forum has been amazing in this journey.
My father did let me use any tools, except the Facom combination spanners he had displayed on the wall, so I started collecting Facom because it connects me to my father who passed away three years ago. My reflection on this is that almost all our possession fade away quickly, but these Facom combination spanners will stay there, they don´t wear like clothing and they don´t get out of fashion like your IPhone. Thus, in my future posting, you will see a bias towards Facom. My father was from Switzerland, so guess what other brand is I appreciate... ;-)
I did not want to bore you with this story, but I wanted to share a little bit of my background. The initiator of this thread, Monte, is of course my hero - let´s applaud him for this ongoing journey that is record-breaking when it comes to the number of postings. And let's keep alive the super-friendly and constructive nature of this thread. Keep these **** pics of your tools coming
Reto
Well-known member
3/8 and 1/2 Facom France accessories
Reto
Well-known member
Facom France Hex Keys. As opposed to the ratchets, spanners, etc. which are made in Taiwan now, these France-made keys are still available in stores. The same is true for Facom screwdrivers, as far as I know.
I have to admit that if someone asked me for my personal opinion on hex keys, I would go for Bondhus which are, in my opinion, super-high quality at a very good price (I know, they are US and not old world). But you may disagree....
I have to admit that if someone asked me for my personal opinion on hex keys, I would go for Bondhus which are, in my opinion, super-high quality at a very good price (I know, they are US and not old world). But you may disagree....
dede2897234
Well-known member
Reto,
Welcome to the The Garage Journal and to this thread!
Thanks for sharing your interesting and touching story. Please keep contributing because I've so far enjoyed looking at your tool ****!
Dave
Welcome to the The Garage Journal and to this thread!
Thanks for sharing your interesting and touching story. Please keep contributing because I've so far enjoyed looking at your tool ****!
Dave
Reto
Well-known member
Proto Pliers Germany. Bought them recently on ebay (United States) at a reasonable price. The seller seems to have many of them - still available.
Reto
Well-known member
Metric nutdriver set - this one is around 30 years old. Doesn't say PB Swiss - just says PB. They still have the identical design after 30 years - amazing
Cybermike
Well-known member
Hello everybody,
I wanted to take a moment to thank everybody on this great forum for all the things I have learned about tools. My father was a mechanic, and sometimes I used his tools when I was a kid, but I didn't know the difference between a Hazet, a Dowidat, a Facom, and a cheap Chinese socket.
It was about two years ago that I wanted to have my own quality tool box (talk about 30 or years later from being a kid). I am a teacher (business, so no expert like many of you). Somehow I (innocently) thought that Craftsman was a great brand, so I started with a $150 kit from Craftsman. Then I discovered the Garage Board, and especially Monte´s Tools from the Old World. That was a live-changing event - especially for my bank account. Since then, I have acquired a good amount of tools from Germany, France, and similar countries, and I have learned a lot about tools. This forum has been amazing in this journey.
My father did let me use any tools, except the Facom combination spanners he had displayed on the wall, so I started collecting Facom because it connects me to my father who passed away three years ago. My reflection on this is that almost all our possession fade away quickly, but these Facom combination spanners will stay there, they don´t wear like clothing and they don´t get out of fashion like your IPhone. Thus, in my future posting, you will see a bias towards Facom. My father was from Switzerland, so guess what other brand is I appreciate... ;-)
I did not want to bore you with this story, but I wanted to share a little bit of my background. The initiator of this thread, Monte, is of course my hero - let´s applaud him for this ongoing journey that is record-breaking when it comes to the number of postings. And let's keep alive the super-friendly and constructive nature of this thread. Keep these **** pics of your tools coming
Love the pics and the stories.Proto Pliers Germany. Bought them recently on ebay (United States) at a reasonable price. The seller seems to have many of them - still available.
Who makes the Proto Germany? Felo, Knipex, NWS?
Cheers
They're an older style NWS if I recall right. And that eBay deal has been going on for a good half a year or longer. They're great pliers, long as you either need or don't mind the insulated handles. That seller also has Proto insulated Screwdrivers.
chrissalas1
Well-known member
Reto@
Your tools are awesome.The old facoms that you are posting have been ever used or are brand new?
Your tools are awesome.The old facoms that you are posting have been ever used or are brand new?
Dave455
Well-known member
Reto - it's not all bad news!
Although the new pattern ratchets are made in Taiwan, the older patterns, many of which are still available, still seem to be made in France or Italy! I recently picked up a new 3/8 drive 'Palm Control' ratchet and it certainly wasn't Taiwanese!
I know it's different for spanners, as the 40 pattern are discontinued, but where an item is discontinued by Facom, there's often something very similar, and Italian made, from USAG.
Lovers of old Facom are advised to look at their website!
Superbec
Well-known member
those proto pliers look funky to me... like something you find in the discount bin at a store...
View media item 54738
Its got a lot of power once it kicks up, but I really wish it had an LED light, the blower doesn't work that well at low speed either.
Its got a lot of power once it kicks up, but I really wish it had an LED light, the blower doesn't work that well at low speed either.
Reto
Well-known member
I bought them because I found this Proto-Germany combination very interesting, and the price was quite reasonable. Have not used them yet - somebody did and can say something about quality?
Reto
Well-known member
This one looks interesting to me (price was $42.54 at the time I posted this).
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002M84PL8/?tag=atomicindus08-20.
Grainger indicates Italy as COO, but I don´t know if Italy is stamped on the ratchet (I don´t think so). As some other Garage Journal Board members have already indicated, it seems to be part of Facom´s and Proto´s strategy to not indicate COO anymore on their tools...
Thanks for the tip regarding USAG!
Reto
Well-known member
Hi Chris,
Thanks! Most of them have never or almost never been used (I am still at toolbox #1 with the "back-up tools" ;-)
Once I get to toolbox #2, these tools have been used at least sometimes. But I have to admit that I only occasionally work on my motorbike. Still, I feel it makes a difference if you have a high quality tool in your hands, even when you're not a pro. Not sure if it is psychological - but a tool that fits nicely just makes a difference in my opinion.
Reto
Well-known member
Pick your color....
Reto
Well-known member
Some NWS...
Reto
Well-known member
I definitely have not used these yet - no 50 mm or similar nuts on my bike... but they were kind of cheap and I just couldn't resist (3/4 drive)
Reto
Well-known member
From my father´s toolbox (has of course lots of sentimental value):
