Tools from the old world
- Thread starter Monte
- Start date
Does anyone know anything about 'Craft-Pro?' Are they Presto's budget (import) range? Spotted this adjustable on Amazon. I'm guessing 'Sheffield' is where the company is located rather than COO.
VBW 180mm Fastgrip
Compared to Cobra
VBW grips are wider and therefore more comfortable than Cobra handles. May not look like much, but the extra width along with being a flatter shape really helps to distribute the pressure on your hand.
Cobra grips are textured. VBW are smooth. Satin rather than shiny.
Cobras open wider and have finer adjustment. I think the finer adjustment on Cobras may sometimes be a detriment as they can be a bit fiddly. I find Cobras can jam up or snag while being adjusted. VBW feel much smoother, and I don't find myself continually re-adjusting them to get a perfect fit.
A possible issue with the VBW pliers is that they have a thicker head that may make them less versatile than Cobras.
I think a Cobra head with fewer adjustment teeth, and VBW handles would be just about perfect.
Dave455
Well-known member
Yes, I think “budget brand” is exactly what those “craft pro” are. Won’t make a lot of difference with an SDS bit but I wouldn’t buy a conventional drill.
Does anyone know anything about 'Craft-Pro?' Are they Presto's budget (import) range? Spotted this adjustable on Amazon. I'm guessing 'Sheffield' is where the company is located rather than COO.
Cobra grips are textured. VBW are smooth. Satin rather than shiny.
Personally I think it’s a stupid idea. Proper Presto tools are very decent, but when you put the name on low quality toot, people who don’t know the difference will buy it, but then think all Presto is shite!
The whole business of putting “Sheffield, England” or somesuch, because it’s where the importer is located, or some other bull, has been proven to be illegal in the U.K. as it’s “misleading”.
I’ve favoured Knipex conventional pliers over VBW for some time primarily for the smooth grips. The textured VBW ones are awful to use. I wasn’t best pleased when Knipex put the textured ones on the Cobra’s, but if VBW are going back to smooth on the Fastgrips , they’ve won another customer! I actually think the VBW design is slightly better quality anyway.
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measuredtwice
Well-known member
The clearance problem was nicely demonstrated but those Record(?) cutters stole the show! Haha!
Snakevz
Well-known member
Yes, they are discounted. I've bought a 6-32 mm set few years back with missing #10 #13 and #16(replaced with No. 120), contacted Unior and they had one spanner left on stock in Singapore, so they couldn't help me... So I guess I'll never complete this setVery nice. Do you know if 130s are discontinued? I cannot find them on the Unior website or catalogue. Cannot really find anything about them anywhere.
I happened to see a couple of 130s on UK ebay. Wrong sizes for you, but maybe you will get lucky if you set a saved search on Ebay. Strangely these don't have polished open ends.Yes, they are discounted. I've bought a 6-32 mm set few years back with missing #10 #13 and #16(replaced with No. 120), contacted Unior and they had one spanner left on stock in Singapore, so they couldn't help me... So I guess I'll never complete this set
UNIOR Set of 2 Cranked Combination Spanners 12mm & 14mm 130 Series | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for UNIOR Set of 2 Cranked Combination Spanners 12mm & 14mm 130 Series at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
King **** spanner.
Really want to give this company a try, just because they are still manufacturing in England. I bought a couple of King **** flare nut spanners a while a go, but only had cause to use them one time, so don't know what the quality is like. 10mm combination spanner should get more use.
A bit short, sharpish beam edges, and the design has not been updated to include an 'off corner' type ring end. Not a lot to love on first look, but going to give it a fair try. Hopefully there will be something to like about it. It is nice and shiny.
Really want to give this company a try, just because they are still manufacturing in England. I bought a couple of King **** flare nut spanners a while a go, but only had cause to use them one time, so don't know what the quality is like. 10mm combination spanner should get more use.
A bit short, sharpish beam edges, and the design has not been updated to include an 'off corner' type ring end. Not a lot to love on first look, but going to give it a fair try. Hopefully there will be something to like about it. It is nice and shiny.
Dave455
Well-known member
I’ve got a few, of varying vintages, but some appear to be almost identical to the one you have. They seem to be just fine.
Historically, King **** were always good durable tools but the finish was never highly polished. On the current tools they seem to have changed that.
I have a good number of ring spanners mostly in the smaller Whitworth sizes. They’ve seen a good deal of use and have worn well, though ring spanners are not as prone to wear as open ends.
Historically, King **** were always good durable tools but the finish was never highly polished. On the current tools they seem to have changed that.
I have a good number of ring spanners mostly in the smaller Whitworth sizes. They’ve seen a good deal of use and have worn well, though ring spanners are not as prone to wear as open ends.
Hi all,
A while back I purchased some Elora (made in Germany) obstruction wrenches that have come in handy. However, I'm missing three sizes:
Elora 146001701000 146-17x17mm Obstruction Wrench
Elora 146001501000 146-15x15mm Obstruction Wrench
Elora 146001401000 146-14x14mm Obstruction Wrench
Link: https://elora.de/site/en/shop/alternativen.php?breadcrumbs=yes&lang=en&id1=4830
Can anyone recommend somewhere that I can pick these up at a decent price? I've googled a couple of places in Europe, but the shipping cost is insane.
I'd prefer to purchase new rather than used. Thanks for any tips!!!
A while back I purchased some Elora (made in Germany) obstruction wrenches that have come in handy. However, I'm missing three sizes:
Elora 146001701000 146-17x17mm Obstruction Wrench
Elora 146001501000 146-15x15mm Obstruction Wrench
Elora 146001401000 146-14x14mm Obstruction Wrench
Link: https://elora.de/site/en/shop/alternativen.php?breadcrumbs=yes&lang=en&id1=4830
Can anyone recommend somewhere that I can pick these up at a decent price? I've googled a couple of places in Europe, but the shipping cost is insane.
I'd prefer to purchase new rather than used. Thanks for any tips!!!
andyvh1959
Well-known member
How can you not like a hand tool named "King ****".
Like the bar in Green Bay named "Richard's Cranium Bar". Just makes me chuckle.
Like the bar in Green Bay named "Richard's Cranium Bar". Just makes me chuckle.
Here's a few recent Swiss made purchases. This is my first Vallorbe file and I wasn't sure what cut to choose. I wanted something relatively fine, so I chose the # 4 fine which is much finer than I expected. Any file savvy individuals know what the rough equivalent grit sandpaper would be? I did a feel compared to 1500, 2000 and 3000 grit sandpaper and it felt closest to the 2000 grit (but is very subjective).
PB Swiss 8128.2,5-50
PB Swiss 8100.0-80
Glardon Vallorbe LA2401 # 4, 200mm length
PB Swiss 8128.2,5-50
PB Swiss 8100.0-80
Glardon Vallorbe LA2401 # 4, 200mm length
Attachments
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Dave455
Well-known member
The choice in Vallorbe needle files is generally 0, 2 or 4. I always go for the 0 for general use, 2 sometimes for fine work. I think cut 4 is “extra fine” and the only tools I have with this are some very small “escapement” files.
Facom sells pliers with jaws, sort of similar to the new Knipex Twingrips. Hadn't noticed them before.
May want to turn your volume down.
May want to turn your volume down.
From what I found online when I was shopping, 0 is 64 TPI, 2 is 79 TPI. I have both and the #2 is almost too fine for my uses.
Dave455
Well-known member
That’s interesting. I only saw actual figures quoted once before, and they were in “teeth per square millipede” or somesuch.
Vallorbe are generally good quality, but they tend to be fine cuts. This is one reason I historically preferred Stubs, as they were more gesred towards general engineering.
I only tend to go for a needle file when I really need something that small, and most of mine are 0 or 2 cut. I’ve never needed finer. Most of the time I use the “Habilis” precision files. They are bigger, beefier, and normally come in 00 cut as standard.
To give an idea of size, here are 140, 160 and 180mm needle files, compared to the 215mm Habilis. Cuts are 2, 0, 0 & 00 respectively.
Spotted some tools branded Gedore 'Solid.'
Thought they just had blue and red ranges.
Thought they just had blue and red ranges.
Cynical huckster
Well-known member
Cynical huckster
Well-known member
Looks like typical Chinese DIY stuffSpotted some tools branded Gedore 'Solid.'
Thought they just had blue and red ranges.
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WHY!Spotted some tools branded Gedore 'Solid.'
Thought they just had blue and red ranges.
The Red line was already lower end tools, how can they crawl below that line... And if even if they do, don't use the Gedore name!
Maybe the 'solid' brand is just for certain markets. Solid tools look to be mostly available on Amazon India. Also, on some websites in Portugal.
Does seem like a bad idea to put their name on generic, cheap tools, but I guess it must be profitable.
Does seem like a bad idea to put their name on generic, cheap tools, but I guess it must be profitable.
Facom 1/2" ratchet. Not sure what these are called. Facom call it an 'Offset Ratchet.' Also see them referred to as 'attachment' or adapter.' Purchased used from Ebay.
Easy to take apart by removing one torx screw.
Familiar Facom heart spring mechanism.
It looks like the internal pin that pushes against the heart spring can be punched out to completely dissemble the ratchet. I didn't risk it.
Rust removed, cleaned out and reassembled. Very straight forward, but frustrating to put back together. Took me a good few tries. Lost the spring twice. It's a replacement for the 24t Sealey ratchet on the left. Facom is 72t. The Sealey ratchet has a three position rotating direction switch which locks out the ratchet in the centre position. The Facom direction switch does not have a defined central position to lock the mechanism. The mechanism does feel locked when the switch is rotated half way, but I'm not sure if it has been designed to be used this way.
Fitted to breaker bar to be used as a long flex ratchet.
Easy to take apart by removing one torx screw.
Familiar Facom heart spring mechanism.
It looks like the internal pin that pushes against the heart spring can be punched out to completely dissemble the ratchet. I didn't risk it.
Rust removed, cleaned out and reassembled. Very straight forward, but frustrating to put back together. Took me a good few tries. Lost the spring twice. It's a replacement for the 24t Sealey ratchet on the left. Facom is 72t. The Sealey ratchet has a three position rotating direction switch which locks out the ratchet in the centre position. The Facom direction switch does not have a defined central position to lock the mechanism. The mechanism does feel locked when the switch is rotated half way, but I'm not sure if it has been designed to be used this way.
Fitted to breaker bar to be used as a long flex ratchet.
Dave455
Well-known member
Very nice! These are usually called “ratchet units” or ratchet adaptors, and in my opinion are very under rated tools.Facom 1/2" ratchet. Not sure what these are called. Facom call it an 'Offset Ratchet.' Also see them referred to as 'attachment' or adapter.' Purchased used from Ebay.
Easy to take apart by removing one torx screw.
Familiar Facom heart spring mechanism.
It looks like the internal pin that pushes against the heart spring can be punched out to completely dissemble the ratchet. I didn't risk it.
Rust removed, cleaned out and reassembled. Very straight forward, but frustrating to put back together. Took me a good few tries. Lost the spring twice. It's a replacement for the 24t Sealey ratchet on the left. Facom is 72t. The Sealey ratchet has a three position rotating direction switch which locks out the ratchet in the centre position. The Facom direction switch does not have a defined central position to lock the mechanism. The mechanism does feel locked when the switch is rotated half way, but I'm not sure if it has been designed to be used this way.
Fitted to breaker bar to be used as a long flex ratchet.
Most of them are much more heavily built than the equivalent ratchet handle, so they seldom give problems, but you can use them in other ways too.
I most commonly use mine with a Sliding T handle as shown. This gives me a tool I can use one handed, but with the ratchet unit I don’t have to keep re locating it onto the fastener.
I was using a similar setup this week, with a KoKen tap socket, to tap some holes in a metal door frame.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
Let us know how the branded gloves compare.
littlebean
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2018
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I'm going to need new gloves soon so I'd be interested in how you get on with them as well
Cynical huckster
Well-known member
Bit embarrassing to post this under a set of Stahlwilles. Cheap torque wrench from Amazon. It was shipped from Germany.
Seems to give very close readings to a cheap digital torque adapter. Low quality, low tooth count ratchet head. Handle does not lock out very well (not sure if this is normal for this type of torque wrench). Very positive click.
Even after checking with two torque wrenches, I still feel compelled to double-check with a breaker bar. It will take a while to trust a torque wrench over arm feel. Stuck in a mind set of turning until tight, and then cranking a bit more to make sure.
Seems to give very close readings to a cheap digital torque adapter. Low quality, low tooth count ratchet head. Handle does not lock out very well (not sure if this is normal for this type of torque wrench). Very positive click.
Even after checking with two torque wrenches, I still feel compelled to double-check with a breaker bar. It will take a while to trust a torque wrench over arm feel. Stuck in a mind set of turning until tight, and then cranking a bit more to make sure.
upgrading
Well-known member
I wonder if that Taiwan company makes the Torque Wrenches for Harbor Freight too ?
Spongebob89
Well-known member
There is nothing like the feel of the old quality plactic handles from gedore... If anyone knows a dealer that have in stock old gedore screwdrivers please tell it. One seller that have stock "[email protected]".
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Spongebob89
Well-known member
Qualitytools
Well-known member
My idea of a torque wrench is that it is a precision instrument, that I would use when care and precision is needed. That being said I would not bother with a cheap or inexpensive torque wrench when you can get a well known brand without spending a fortune. I will recommend NORBAR. But, I am sure you already know that.Bit embarrassing to post this under a set of Stahlwilles. Cheap torque wrench from Amazon. It was shipped from Germany.
Seems to give very close readings to a cheap digital torque adapter. Low quality, low tooth count ratchet head. Handle does not lock out very well (not sure if this is normal for this type of torque wrench). Very positive click.
Even after checking with two torque wrenches, I still feel compelled to double-check with a breaker bar. It will take a while to trust a torque wrench over arm feel. Stuck in a mind set of turning until tight, and then cranking a bit more to make sure.
Going from youtube reviews (I know, not a reliable way to get info), these cheap torque wrenches can be pretty accurate. At least, when new. I think, the problem is, that I'm not convinced that wheel nuts need to be torqued with any sort of precision, so I'm not motivated to spend on a better torque wrench right now. Had never used a clicky torque wrench before, so I'm just getting a feel for it.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The ones I’ve had have been pretty accurate. My Snap-on guy tested and calibrated my Harbor Freight torque wrench and it was in spec.