Tools from the old world

[anetode]

could be worse, some wiha pliers are made in Vietnam.

Almost all are now. A decade ago, when Wiha established their Vietnam factory, they claimed that they did so because no East Asian supplier could match their quality standards. Of course the decidedly average quality of their Vietnam-made pliers since then casts doubt on that claim. It's likely that they set up shop in Vietnam to take advantage of the low local steel prices and their later designs, like the BiCut and the new Lineman's, appear to try to make up for it by adding unnecessary bulk.

All that said, their Vietnam-made pliers still offer a good value when bought at their rotating discount prices.

 

[Pixel_Rage]

Hello everybody!
This is my first post... I found the site years ago when searching for quality handtools.
Pictures of my last purchase:

 

[Bogdan M.]

The smaller one is for electrical connectors. The bigger one is for the removal of exhaust hangers. I must say that it doesn't work very well because it doesn't have enough leverage.

 

[losvre]

Hello everybody!
This is my first post... I found the site years ago when searching for quality handtools.
Pictures of my last purchase:

Welcome!

Now start uploading photos of the tools you have bought all these years[emoji106][emoji16][emoji482]

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[Pixel_Rage]

Welcome!

Thank You!
My toolbox Sortimo Ls-Boxx 306 and new plier

 

[zeug]

Just got the Wiha 51 Piece Precision Screwdriver set. I needed a good starter set and wanted something that would hold them all together in a drawer. I still need to add a Pentalobe and Triwing set to the mix, but they will have to reside next to this set.

KC Tool has them on sale for $179 and I had a 10% off coupon on top of that. Free shipping over $50. That is cheaper than I have ever seen this set.

The Knipex flush cutter is old, but one of my favorite tools for electronics repair.

View media item 87476

 

[mr.lemons]

Wow that's a proper set of precision drivers

 

[CRTDI]

Monte,

I would like to send you a PM, but your inbox is full.

 

[mrspeed]

Anyone have feelings about Peddinhaus/MOB? Got a good deal on them so decided to try them out.

The Torx driver handles feel really comfortable, but the tips don't seem particularly high quality. They remind me of the Pittsburgh impact sockets, but I would hope these are harder since they're not intended for impact applications.

The case is made of plastic and canvas, not the plastic is so stiff it's hard to open.

The "Zoomer" self adjusting pliers operate nicely, but seem to be made of the same material. I haven't tested their performance yet, but first impression is they're not too bad.

Provided some pictures next to a With micro driver and Knipex Cobras to compare.



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[JDSV]

Knipex tool collection so far.

Hi Bogdan, how do you like the wire strippers?

 

[mrspeed]

Weird, I saw someone ask about the COO for the MOB/Peddinhaus tools, but now the comment is gone.

The answer is, I don't know. What I do know is that MOB is a French company that bought the German Peddinghaus a while back. A comment on this Toolguyd post says they have European factories in France, Germany, and Romania, and I think I've seen the Romanian manufacturing mentioned in these forums as well. But I've also seen this post of a MOB toolset with a sticker saying made in Taiwan.

Neither of the tools I posted had a COO anywhere on the tools or packaging. So if anyone else knows, I'd be interested as well

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[mr.lemons]

Hey. Was me who asked about coo. I try to be careful as a lot of people feel very strongly about coo so I deleted my post incase it was taken the wrong way. Did a bit of Googling and found the same info you did. Their website definitely implies European manufacturing though you would think the tools would be proudly marked to show this. I recognise their locking pliers and the spanners look German.

Pliers have a Wiha look about them. Could just the logo placement on the handle.

Where's Monte when you need him?

 

[mrspeed]

Hey. Was me who asked about coo. I try to be careful as a lot of people feel very strongly about coo so I deleted my post incase it was taken the wrong way. Did a bit of Googling and found the same info you did. Their website definitely implies European manufacturing though you would think the tools would be proudly marked to show this. I recognise their locking pliers and the spanners look German.

Pliers have a Wiha look about them. Could just the logo placement on the handle.

Where's Monte when you need him?

Funny thing is, when I saw it was deleted, I thought, I bet they didn't want to start a COO debate. But I answered anyway, because I love knowing where stuff is made, and I think it's a valid consideration especially in a thread dedicated to tools from a specific region.

From the shape of the jaws in the picture you posted, particularly around the pivot point, they look very similar I think to the Facom/Bost pliers. For example, see the Facom 185.20CPE:

Which seems to be the Bost 114256-200 on page 77 of the Bost catalogue.

It would make sense if they're rebranding pliers from another manufacturer, since MOB is known mostly for their hammers I believe and not their pliers, and it would make sense if it was Bost considering both companies are French.

This is all conjecture though, since I know next to nothing about MOB and their production.

 

[mr.lemons]

Gunson Eezibleed. One man brake bleeding kit. English company. Kit probably not made in England.

Ate brake fluid. Made in Germany.

King **** flare spanner. It better be made in England.

For some reason I thought King **** spanners would be more traditional looking and a bit rough around the edges but they are very shiny.

 

[mr.lemons]

Knipex 95 21 165 SB Cable Shears with Opening Spring. (I believe 'SB' in the part number refers to the packaging).



Thanks to mrspeed in the uk tool deals thread I got these for less than half price.



Cleanly ground and very sharp jaws. Came with a little pitting or corrosion even though they were well oiled.



If you place the pliers down unlocked the spring opens the handles quite wide which initially makes grappling with the pliers a bit awkward. The lock is very simple to use one handed with a flick of the thumb.



Compared to Bahco 2233D-160 (Made in China) the Knipex look and feel higher quality all round. Price on the Knipex is higher.



Trade off in function is that the Bahco has a wire stripper near the tips which is very useful on thinner wires but takes up a portion of the cutting edges so limits the size of wire they can cut.

Standard UK mains cable is about the limit for the Bahco. You have to make sure the cable is seated properly or part of the cable doesn't get cut.



No problem with the Knipex.



Wire stripper on the Bahco.



I mostly use cutters for simple automotive jobs like fitting head units, parking sensors etc which the Bahco design seems more suited to with the stripper and more nimble feel. I think the Knipex excel with thicker multicore cables.

 

[Skin]

King **** seems to of switched to a "Niko USA" sort of situation insinuating a false COO by including a country in the name. Their ratcheting spanners have the same stamping and are made in Taiwan.

 

[101% Loko]

'Belzer' Ratchet (1/4")

 

[mrspeed]

Knipex 95 21 165 SB Cable Shears with Opening Spring. (I believe 'SB' in the part number refers to the packaging).

Thanks to mrspeed in the uk tool deals thread I got these for less than half price. [emoji106]

Cleanly ground and very sharp jaws. Came with a little pitting or corrosion even though they were well oiled.

If you place the pliers down unlocked the spring opens the handles quite wide which initially makes grappling with the pliers a bit awkward. The lock is very simple to use one handed with a flick of the thumb.

Compared to Bahco 2233D-160 (Made in China) the Knipex look and feel higher quality all round. Price on the Knipex is higher.

Trade off in function is that the Bahco has a wire stripper near the tips which is very useful on thinner wires but takes up a portion of the cutting edges so limits the size of wire they can cut.

Standard UK mains cable is about the limit for the Bahco. You have to make sure the cable is seated properly or part of the cable doesn't get cut.

No problem with the Knipex.

Wire stripper on the Bahco.

I mostly use cutters for simple automotive jobs like fitting head units, parking sensors etc which the Bahco design seems more suited to with the stripper and more nimble feel. I think the Knipex excel with thicker multicore cables.

Awesome, glad you got em. FYI, Knipex also makes a version with the wire stripper notch as well. It has a smaller cutting capacity than the non-notched version as you can see printed on the handles, but still slightly more than the Bahco's.

The non-notched version is rated up to 15mm diameter or 50mm2 cross section, the notched version up to 12mm diameter or 35mm2 cross section, and the Bahco's up to 10mm diameter or 50mm2 copper or 35mm2 aluminum cross section. I'm guessing the Knipex likewise can go higher cross section on copper but goes with the smaller number for brevity.

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[losvre]

Gunson Eezibleed. One man brake bleeding kit. English company. Kit probably not made in England.

Ate brake fluid. Made in Germany.

King **** flare spanner. It better be made in England.

For some reason I thought King **** spanners would be more traditional looking and a bit rough around the edges but they are very shiny.

I have had the same bladder and it worked a couple of times before start leaking and being messy.

I have replaced the bottle with a bigger one and sealed all connections with Araldite.

If you want to do a full bleed/ change fluid you need a bottle about 2.5 - 3 lt so you don't worry about quantity and not getting any air in.

I am using the reserve wheel at about 12 psi to pressurize the system.





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[Tonyuk]

The easybleed is a decent enough piece of kit if your only doing a few cars a year, otherwise its a pain messing with a tyre etc.. You can get a proper pressure bleeder for around £40-50 depending on where you shop, much nicer to use.

The king **** spanners are made in England, the chrome is always decent on them.

 

[losvre]

The easybleed is a decent enough piece of kit if your only doing a few cars a year, otherwise its a pain messing with a tyre etc.. You can get a proper pressure bleeder for around £40-50 depending on where you shop, much nicer to use.

The king **** spanners are made in England, the chrome is always decent on them.

I only do my car once in 2-3 years, I.e. DIY pro[emoji482]

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[suresnoi]

Got one, used it maybe 4 times before the bottle cap cracked. It's low quality stuff that works a finite number of times. I'm thinking about a DIY alternative that would be better build.

 

[mr.lemons]

I'm expecting the eezibleed to be a bit of a faff. £14.99 with Halfords trade card so if it works a couple of times without spraying fluid everywhere I'll take that as a win.

King **** seems to of switched to a "Niko USA" sort of situation insinuating a false COO by including a country in the name. Their ratcheting spanners have the same stamping and are made in Taiwan.

Yes I have to agree that it's not good. Instills distrust in the brand.

The non-notched version is rated up to 15mm diameter or 50mm2 cross section, the notched version up to 12mm diameter or 35mm2 cross section, and the Bahco's up to 10mm diameter or 50mm2 copper or 35mm2 aluminum cross section. I'm guessing the Knipex likewise can go higher cross section on copper but goes with the smaller number for brevity.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I know you chaps don't go too far vintage for too long or too often anymore, but I would greatly appreciate some eyes on an antique era (c. 1900-1920's) pocket or autokit type single open end wrench set I found this morning marked "HERCULES WRENCH GERMANY". Many more photos and elaboration in a thread down on the GJ Vintage Board linked here.

Any info or ideas on when or by whom it was made? Was Hercules a company name or a brand? Anyone seen anything like it before? < meaning, Hercules, specifically, not old stamped steel wrench kits.

THANKS

 

[dkroth]

I have had the same bladder and it worked a couple of times before start leaking and being messy.

Got one, used it maybe 4 times before the bottle cap cracked. It's low quality stuff that works a finite number of times. I'm thinking about a DIY alternative that would be better build.

I've had mine for 22 years. No leaks, drips or cracks. *Shrug*

The easybleed is a decent enough piece of kit if your only doing a few cars a year, otherwise its a pain messing with a tyre etc.. You can get a proper pressure bleeder for around £40-50 depending on where you shop, much nicer to use.

Or you can get an inexpensive in-line regulator with gauge from Amazon and connect it to shop air. The tyre thing is a gimmick.





.

 

[mrspeed]

I already have way too many locking pliers, but I couldn't resist the deal on this sales display set of Rennsteig pliers, rebranded from Bollman-Selzer (same as the Knipex locking pliers), all made in Germany.

Came with 20 in all. I'll probably end up splitting them with family members.

One interesting thing I noticed was that one of the pliers seems to be older stock. It has a matte finished instead of polished, a wider lever design, and a spot weld at the back of the top jaw which is then ground down, unlike the others.

Unfortunately it did not come with the display like I thought, but was still a great deal without it. All I would have done with the display anyway would have been to set it all up, take a picture, and then have to figure out where to store it. So it's probably better this way.



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[JBH]

Awesome, glad you got em. FYI, Knipex also makes a version with the wire stripper notch as well. It has a smaller cutting capacity than the non-notched version as you can see printed on the handles, but still slightly more than the Bahco's.[/URL]

Speaking of cable shears, can anyone tell a difference between this one:

https://www.probroadcastsupply.com/trompeter-coaxial-cutting-tool-trp-700-0024/

and this tool:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QJYZ52/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Amazon reviews say the latter is made in Italy. I have the Trompeter-marketed ones, and it is stamped Germany. However, mine is older. I suspect newer ones are, like Knipex and Elora scissors, now made in Italy as well.

If they're the same, the "dog nail clips" are great $10 cable shears for tight spots. I've cut up to 14-4 direct burial speaker cable with them.

 

[mrspeed]

Amazon reviews say the latter is made in Italy. I have the Trompeter-marketed ones, and it is stamped Germany. However, mine is older. I suspect newer ones are, like Knipex and Elora scissors, now made in Italy as well.

If they're the same, the "dog nail clips" are great $10 cable shears for tight spots. I've cut up to 14-4 direct burial speaker cable with them.

Wow, those look like the same thing.

Decided to check out these Unior small pliers. I'm not quite sure what to make of them.

They're small, but they are definitely not precision tools. These are more like clumsier large pliers that just happen to be small. They do seem sturdy at least. Including some comparison shots next to similar precision Knipex pliers.

I'm not sure where they're made, there was no COO on any of the packaging or tools.



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[Tomasz_W-wa]

My pliers with FACOM
New and old design.

New design:
192A-20 CPE / 193A-16 CPE / 185A-20 CPE / 195A-20 CPE








185-20 CPE vs. 185A-20 CPE (Old vs. New design)




FACOM 193A-16 CPE vs. HAZET 1841a-22








192A-20 CPE / 185A-20 CPE / 193A-16 CPE
192.16 CPE / 185.20 CPE / 181A.25 CPE

 

[Ganymedes]

Just got the Wiha 51 Piece Precision Screwdriver set. I needed a good starter set and wanted something that would hold them all together in a drawer. I still need to add a Pentalobe and Triwing set to the mix, but they will have to reside next to this set.

KC Tool has them on sale for $179 and I had a 10% off coupon on top of that. Free shipping over $50. That is cheaper than I have ever seen this set.

The Knipex flush cutter is old, but one of my favorite tools for electronics repair.

View media item 87476

A very nice set of screw- and nutdrivers from Willy Hahn! COO?

 

[Ganymedes]

'Belzer' Ratchet (1/4")

Is this plastic "Belzer" ratchet made in Argentina? It is a flawless replica of a once famous brand, when Belzer made also the ratchets for Snap-On, in the fifties,sixties...........

 

[zeug]

A very nice set of screw- and nutdrivers from Willy Hahn! COO?

All drivers have "Made in Germany" printed on them. Tray does not state COO.

 

[modifier73]

New torque wrench to replace the one I just hate:

 

[Wamsutta]

View media item 87476

Does that set come with a 4mm nut driver?

 

[zeug]

View media item 87476

Does that set come with a 4mm nut driver?

YES. Metric nut drivers go through 5.5mm. Full list of drivers is here: Wiha 51 piece Master Set

 

[101% Loko]

Is this plastic "Belzer" ratchet made in Argentina? It is a flawless replica of a once famous brand, when Belzer made also the ratchets for Snap-On, in the fifties,sixties...........

No COO, but I think it's made in Taiwan.
This set was sold in Brazil between 2000 and 2005 +/- (By CooperTools)

1/4 = 45 theet

Seems 'fragile' but works very well and confortable.

Like to Stahlwille 450

 

[tanukiboy]

Hi guys. Just got some pretty unusual locking pliers -- Facom 506APB.

What makes them unusual is that they open up REALLY wide and also have a hinged lower jaw. The adjustment screw is a knurled barrel on the top handle, and the release trigger is on the lower handle.

Well, rather than trying to describe them in words, maybe it would be better to just show some pictures.

View media item 87722
View media item 87726


Some close-ups of the jaws. As I mentioned, the bottom jaw is hinged. The teeth extend around to the inner surface. The upper jaw has a slot in it, presumably for grabbing nails or bolts?

View media item 87723
View media item 87724
View media item 87725


Here they are opened up. They would actually go a bit wider if you loosened the adjustment screw all the way. The specs say they can handle a cylindrical object up to 100mm in diameter.
The lower jaw has about 5mm of lateral slop in it when unloaded (as you'd expect from the stepped hinge design), but when the tool is clamped down, it's pretty damn rigid.

View media item 87727
View media item 87728
As you can kind of see from the pictures, they are made in France.

 

[target]

Hello..guys my today purchase hand hacksaw Narex-handle and Bahco sandflex saw very very handy is cuting like butter

 

[Bogdan M.]

@Monte: I would ask you by private message, but your inbox is full.
I am searching for a good bench grinder for my shop.
What would you choose between a Bosch - GBG 60-20 (600 W) and a Bernardo DS 200 S (three phase, 1250 W). The price is the same.
Or can you recommend something else?

Thanks!

 

[mr.lemons]

Stahlwille 405QR/4 102mm 1/4 quick release extension.





Compared to Facom R.210RC.



Made in Germany.