Tools from the old world

[mr.lemons]

A while ago I purchased three slotted PB Swiss screwdrivers. The striking caps were different with two having laser-imprinted info and one with the info pressed on it. I contacted the seller and PB Swiss asking them if the imprinted ones are a newer style. Both PB Swiss and the seller replied and confirmed that the new drivers now come with imprinted caps. I was impressed that they replied as I have previously contacted Hazet, Stahlwille and Knipex about their tools and none of them bothered to reply.

The seller said he would send out a new imprinted cap driver to match the others when they came in stock. A few months passed so I assumed the seller forgot but today I received a package.

Hope it's ok to big up the seller 'Only Quality Tools' here as I think they went above and beyond to make a picky customer happy. Not only remembering to send the driver but throwing in a PB Swiss sticker and pen all free of charge.

As far as I am aware there has now been three different style striking caps. The original was blank (thanks to the member who posted the pic on this thread). Then pressed and now laser-imprinted.

 

[Qualitytools]

Great information, are you saying the cap by itself is replaceable or he sent you a whole new screwdriver to match the other 2? Either way exceptionally good service, thanks for sharing.

 

[losvre]

A while ago I purchased three slotted PB Swiss screwdrivers. The striking caps were different with two having laser-imprinted info and one with the info pressed on it. I contacted the seller and PB Swiss asking them if the imprinted ones are a newer style. Both PB Swiss and the seller replied and confirmed that the new drivers now come with imprinted caps. I was impressed that they replied as I have previously contacted Hazet, Stahlwille and Knipex about their tools and none of them bothered to reply.

The seller said he would send out a new imprinted cap driver to match the others when they came in stock. A few months passed so I assumed the seller forgot but today I received a package.]

Hope it's ok to big up the seller 'Only Quality Tools' here as I think they went above and beyond to make a picky customer happy. Not only remembering to send the driver but throwing in a PB Swiss sticker and pen all free of charge.

Ditto about OnlyQualityTools. I only buy from them for PBSwiss and some other brands that I am after. For the rest I shop around but I support small businesses and I think a lot of them sell on EBay. I avoid Amazon where possible...



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mr.lemons]

mr.lemons -lower part is probably made in Slovenia (their sockets are), but I'm not sure about ribe bit itself

Good to know. I would hope that if they made the socket part themselves they would care about the quality of the bit they put in it even if it came from another manufacturer. Maybe wishful thinking.

Great information, are you saying the cap by itself is replaceable or he sent you a whole new screwdriver to match the other 2? Either way exceptionally good service, thanks for sharing.

They sent a complete driver.

 

[Qualitytools]

Good to know. I would hope that if they made the socket part themselves they would care about the quality of the bit they put in it even if it came from another manufacturer. Maybe wishful thinking.



They sent a complete driver.

With such exceptional customer service I too would support such a business and share the great experience so others can benefit. Well done!

 

[RX-KING]

Thats nice looking screw driver, sadlly i can't find PB SWISS in my country

 

[upgrading]

Thats nice looking screw driver, sadlly i can't find PB SWISS in my country

What's the deal ?
Heavy import fees that make it very expensive ?

 

[RX-KING]

What's the deal ?
Heavy import fees that make it very expensive ?

Sure. Even if i bought from ebay, shiping and import tax it's ridiculously Expensive [emoji25]

Sent from my LG-US998 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mr.lemons]

Stahlwille 1/4 Soft Case Socket Set 40/20/4 SCI





The case is made of thick material and has a large zip.



Case is nice but the foam tray inside is a mess. Whoever or whatever cut the holes for the sockets and bits must have been drunk. They are all over the place and not even cut straight down.





Also the ratchet and extensions are a tight fit with no cutouts around them so they are hard to remove. Despite this quote on the box.. 'Extremely easy removal of the tools thanks to the addition recesses in the foam.'





80 tooth 415QR N ratchet.



The direction lever feels a little different than I'm used to in that it does not feel like it's spring assisted. If you let go of the lever half way through it's travel it just stays where it is rather that springing to one side or the other.



Quick release button on the ratchet and extensions.



Every tool including the bits is stamped 'Germany.'



Compared to Bahco.





Despite the above criticisms it's a really nice set. Still think the Bahco set punches well above it's price though.

 

[mr.lemons]

I appreciate that cutouts in foam trays may be a dull topic but I should note that my previous criticism about the Stahlwille ratchet and extensions being difficult to remove from the tray was user error on my behalf as I am used to finger cutouts next to the tools to aid in lifting them out like the Bahco set.

Turns out the cutouts are under the tools.

Pushing on the end of the ratchet or extensions makes them pop up for easy removal just like text on the back of the box explained.

 

[upgrading]

Seems like they would be easier to get out that way.

 

[losvre]

Opinel no.8 Made in FRANCE.

It can be locked in both open and closed position. Very good and very sharp especially for the price.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[losvre]

Stanley blades made in England





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[losvre]

Glass cutter made in Germany



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dave455]

Opinel no.8 Made in FRANCE.

It can be locked in both open and closed position. Very good and very sharp especially for the price.


k

The most important thing about any knife, is how well the blade is ground!

Opinel knifes actually have superbly ground blades. There are many far more expensive knives (especially, for some reason, many that are made for the U.S. market) that have a dreadful grind!

I sometimes wish Opinel would grind a blade to the same standard, perhaps in a more usable shape, and put it in a better handle!

 

[losvre]

The most important thing about any knife, is how well the blade is ground!



Opinel knifes actually have superbly ground blades. There are many far more expensive knives (especially, for some reason, many that are made for the U.S. market) that have a dreadful grind!



I sometimes wish Opinel would grind a blade to the same standard, perhaps in a more usable shape, and put it in a better handle!

I agree they need to have some more options; maybe they have?

It is seriously sharp and as you say it is also because on the grind which I think the Robert Herder has. However the blade of the German is just pressed steel and can only be used carefully otherwise it just bends or breaks for carbon and stainless respectively.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[marcone]

Still think the Bahco set punches well above it's price though.

That Bahco is a steal. Now there is a version that contains shallow and deep sockets. Don't need more than that in 1/4 inch, aside for a lengthier extension maybe.

 

[scubadoober]

Picked up a new perswayer. Halder 3366-070

 

[6PTsocket]

The most important thing about any knife, is how well the blade is ground!



Opinel knifes actually have superbly ground blades. There are many far more expensive knives (especially, for some reason, many that are made for the U.S. market) that have a dreadful grind!



I sometimes wish Opinel would grind a blade to the same standard, perhaps in a more usable shape, and put it in a better handle!

I had this guy lying in the drawer for years. I don't know what # it is. I remember they came in several sizes. I don't see a number.
I don't even remember where I got it. Maybe a camping store. Inexpensive, used to very sharp. It looks like the whole blade tapers right to the edge without a bevel.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[d.mcfarland]

Got a few things from KC Tool for a future collaboration.

Wiha hex set: https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-66992-22-piece-ergostar-magicring-ball-end-hex-l-key-inch-metric-set/

Felo screwdriver set: https://www.kctoolco.com/felo-53693-ergonic-5-piece-slotted-phillips-screwdriver-set/

 

[Dave455]

I had this guy lying in the drawer for years....
...It looks like the whole blade tapers right to the edge without a bevel.

Yep, that’s one of ‘em!

Basically, that’s what a decent grind should look like. The ‘bevel’(called the ‘whetted edge’ in British terminology) should only be minuscule, where the newly ground blade has been given one or two strokes on a stone!

Traditionally, thats how most knives came, and I have numerous examples to prove this. Once purchased, the new owner sharpens the blade at whatever angle he likes, and presuming it’s always sharpened at the same angle, it’s easy to resharpen.

As far as I can determine, knives with a substantial bevel started appearing when cheap stainless steel knives started appearing. The stainless steels were hard to grind, so basically the grinders didn’t finish the job, and put on a huge bevel to disguise the fact!

There are other reasons. I’ve seen cheap knives with inconsistent grinds which use a bevel of variable angle to disguise the fact, and others that I suspect were half decently ground, before being ‘sharpened’ by someone unskilled, using a belt sander!

The sad thing is, that I see so many otherwise decent knives, that are spoilt by being so poorly ground. Such knives are impossible to sharpen without a huge amount of work, and generally disappointing.

Sadly, I find this problem all too often with knives that originate in the U.S. or are destined for the U.S. market, and I’m not sure why this is as I’ve met many very discerning knife users there. I wonder if a lot are sold to collectors? I see the same thing with the crappier British made knives though, such as the ‘commando’ knives made for the tourist trade!

Maybe that’s why the prices for vintage pieces are so high, and why there is so much demand for custom knives, which are often much better ground (but not always)!

 

[tanukiboy]

...and put it in a better handle!

I recall reading somewhere that Opinel uses a beechwood handle because the knife will float if you accidentally drop it in the water. I've never actually tried it with my Opinel #10 though.

 

[davethorik]

I just ordered one of these embossed cast iron Thor hammers with one copper and one rawhide face. Made in Shirley Birmingham England. It is a gift for my dad, who has a thing for Thor. I will get better pics when it arrives.

 

[JBH]

I picked up some Wiha "Dynamic Handle" screwdrivers discussed on the "discontinued tools" thread, SL 3, 4, and 12 (!) mm and PH0:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411474&page=8

Overall I like them. I think the 12mm slotted is my biggest screwdriver. It's massive. The smaller ones actually have thinner finger-spin section than the equivalent Wiha precision screwdrivers, though both are comfortable to use.

The one disappointment is the silkscreening being on the wrong side on the 4mm. The blade is up and down rather than flat. Very un-Wiha.

They also have the 26-in-1 with all the bits on sale, so I added one of those to keep around. It's a great glovebox tool!
https://www.wihatools.com/ultra-driver-26inone-bonus-bits

I have another one of these, and there are some differences between them. The most important one is that the grip surface is a little different. The older one (stamped "16" so I assume made in 2016) is a black rubber like Wiha's "Softfinish" screwdrivers. The new one (stamped "18" so I assume made in 2018) is textured like Wiha's "Picofinish" precision screwdrivers.

Also, the old one is stamped as German-made, whereas the new one is blank on that flat.

Wiha's packaging still claims "Made in Germany," but KC Tool lists them as Polish handle, Vietnamese bits. I find that more likely. Regardless, I like the "Picofinish" style surface on the new one a little better.

 

[mpsmith60]

Yep, the Facom pliers caught my attention, too! Wouldn't mind having them.

 

[mr.lemons]

Visited my Mum and took her to an large antique shop that fills an old mill building in the north west of England.

Forgot to take a general pic of inside so this is from google images.

Not many tools but saw a complete Kamasa 1/2 metric socket set for £28 (Japan) and a German pair of pliers marked Hapewe. The pliers were not very refined. Quick ebay search shows them to be quite common and sellers are saying that they come from German in car tool kits.

 

[mr.lemons]

News from Stahlwille.

https://www.stahlwille.de/en/news/news-detail/news/bit-boxes-with-quick-change-bit-holder/

https://www.stahlwille.de/en/news/news-detail/news/14-mini-fine-tooth-ratchets/

 

[mr.lemons]

Been looking for a locking/quick release bit driver for a while. Wanted to try the Toptul FTBB0824 but couldn't find one available in the UK. Was also looking at a Vessel TX-10 but I think the outer collar on the locking part is plastic which put me off. Just bought a Kennedy which is ok but a bit small and rather tip heavy when a bit is inserted. Also despite the quick release lock the magnet is so strong that the bits are hard to remove with greasy fingers. No COO (Assuming China).

Compared to Wiha. If anyone knows of a locking bit driver that is similar in size to the Wiha please let me know.

 

[KCT_Curtis]

Heyco brake spring pliers and screwdriver set. The screwdrivers are West German so must be old stock

I bought both of these from Amazon.de, and sure enough, about half the wrenches and screwdrivers say W Germany on them. I guess they've been in the warehouse a few years.

These Heyco items were likely new at the time of the purchase and not old stock. We inquired about the 'W Germany' marking several years ago. We were told by Wiha (who distributed Heyco in the US until recently) that the mold for the Heyco wrenches has not changed since German unification and still includes 'W Germany;' same goes for the imprint machine for the spinner/screwdriver handles. They went on to say they will likely stay this way until there is a design change. Hope that helps!

 

[upgrading]

Interesting info.

 

[mrspeed]

These Heyco items were likely new at the time of the purchase and not old stock. We inquired about the 'W Germany' marking several years ago. We were told by Wiha (who distributed Heyco in the US until recently) that the mold for the Heyco wrenches has not changed since German unification and still includes 'W Germany;' same goes for the imprint machine for the spinner/screwdriver handles. They went on to say they will likely stay this way until there is a design change. Hope that helps!

Good info. It's strange that a couple of my wrench sets came with half the wrenches saying Germany and half saying W Germany, despite being the same design. I wonder if they also update the molds as they age and need to be swapped out. A little disappointing that there not old stock, as that would have been cool, but just as interesting that they're still being made from the same molds that were in use over 30 years ago.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[shirk]

Been looking for a locking/quick release bit driver for a while. Wanted to try the Toptul FTBB0824 but couldn't find one available in the UK. Was also looking at a Vessel TX-10 but I think the outer collar on the locking part is plastic which put me off. Just bought a Kennedy which is ok but a bit small and rather tip heavy when a bit is inserted. Also despite the quick release lock the magnet is so strong that the bits are hard to remove with greasy fingers. No COO (Assuming China).

Compared to Wiha. If anyone knows of a locking bit driver that is similar in size to the Wiha please let me know.

What about using the Wiha blade holder and then using longer power bits?

That would fix the tip weighting issues and you get the firm locking Centrofix holder.

 

[KCT_Curtis]

Good info. It's strange that a couple of my wrench sets came with half the wrenches saying Germany and half saying W Germany, despite being the same design. I wonder if they also update the molds as they age and need to be swapped out. A little disappointing that there not old stock, as that would have been cool, but just as interesting that they're still being made from the same molds that were in use over 30 years ago.

Very likely! I tracked down our original inquiry from March 2017. The funny part was we noticed the same thing as you; some individual sizes were still being stamped 'W Germany' while others had been updated to 'Germany.' There wasn't a discernible pattern at the time.

 

[mrspeed]

Very likely! I tracked down our original inquiry from March 2017. The funny part was we noticed the same thing as you; some individual sizes were still being stamped 'W Germany' while others had been updated to 'Germany.' There wasn't a discernible pattern at the time.

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

On a different topic, does anyone know anything about the Bosch Professional pliers? They're currently 15% off on Amazon.de, but I can't find any info anywhere online about them other than the reviews on Amazon.de. Does anyone know who makes these, where they're made, how the quality stacks up to other known German plier brands like Knipex, VBW, NWS, etc.?

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07J2634KH/

 

[upgrading]

Doesn't appear to be available on US Amazon

 

[shirk]

Old world brand but not sure where these are produced now.

USAG 127 PN 19-60 circlipb pliers.

These are the same as the Facom 197A pliers just lower priced.

Sent from my VTR-L09 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[shirk]

I think the consensus is that these USAG 285 wrenches are made in Taiwan same as the Facom 440 wrenches by Toptul.

I got a 12pc set and an extra 17mm and 19mm. The extra 17 and 19 will hang next to my bench top mill as they are the sizes needed to adjust the till on the head and I change this frequently.

Sent from my VTR-L09 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Skin]

On a different topic, does anyone know anything about the Bosch Professional pliers?

One of the reviews says they're made in China.

 

[d.mcfarland]

More stuff from KC Tool:

 

[Lasu]

how the quality stacks up to other known German plier brands like Knipex, VBW, NWS, etc.? ]

I would buy vbw, knipex, gedore.. pliers because the price difference is small.