Tools from the old world

[pizza]

Bahco 325 ERGO Professional Hand Hacksaw



this is my first time seeing a nice hacksaw. just wow, what a difference. can't wait to use it.
installing and tensioning blades is so nice. pretty sturdy and rigid, too.
made in sweden. says so right on the frame!

my old hand-me-down saw shown above. annoying blade change, hard to tension, doesn't cut straight worth a damn. you gotta fight with it.
it's stamped MADE IN USA, but idk who made it. no other markings.

i was also interested in facom 603F (made in france?), but i've given up on trying to buy facom here. does anyone in the US actually buy facom tools? if so, where? i've never found facom stuff i've wanted at a reasonable price (including shipping).

 

[101% Loko]

Belzer Nut Drivers



Belzer and Bachert Hollow Shaft Nut Drivers

 

[Qualitytools]

Bahco 325 ERGO Professional Hand Hacksaw



this is my first time seeing a nice hacksaw. just wow, what a difference. can't wait to use it.
installing and tensioning blades is so nice. pretty sturdy and rigid, too.
made in sweden. says so right on the frame!

my old hand-me-down saw shown above. annoying blade change, hard to tension, doesn't cut straight worth a damn. you gotta fight with it.
it's stamped MADE IN USA, but idk who made it. no other markings.

i was also interested in facom 603F (made in france?), but i've given up on trying to buy facom here. does anyone in the US actually buy facom tools? if so, where? i've never found facom stuff i've wanted at a reasonable price (including shipping).

I have one with the Craftsman Professional name also made in Sweden, looks almost identical except for the color.

 

[zze86]

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.

The HF torque wrenches work just as well as a SnapOn. Both require calibration and both hold calibration just fine. I think I've actually had to adjust mine a only few times over a decade but I've done the same with my Snappy ones.

The SnapOn has a better finish and the ratcheting mechanism is smoother but as far as torque setting? They produce the same results.

 

[Marc_F]

I bought this old Hazet 430 set on Ebay some time ago. It is not in great condition but the tools are mainly just dirty and have seen some normal use. An interesting detail about this set is that the items partially have the old „Hazet“ logo with the little a, others have the newer „HAZET“ logo and some have both, so little a on the front and large A at the back or vice versa! Does anybody know in which year the logo changed, which should probably be around the time this set was manufactured.
The challenge with this restoration will be to manufacture a new inlay for the tools, as the original one is broken into pieces. I would even be happy with a nicely made wooden inlay, painted in Hazet blue, but also that would not be easy (at least not for me). Any suggestions?
Also, does anybody have an idea how I could strip the paint off the Hazet logo on the box, without damaging the plastic underneath? This may not be possible at all?

Thanks,
Marc

 

[pizza]

gifts for family members from zoro (20% off)

 

[Qualitytools]

I bought this old Hazet 430 set on Ebay some time ago. It is not in great condition but the tools are mainly just dirty and have seen some normal use. An interesting detail about this set is that the items partially have the old „Hazet“ logo with the little a, others have the newer „HAZET“ logo and some have both, so little a on the front and large A at the back or vice versa! Does anybody know in which year the logo changed, which should probably be around the time this set was manufactured.
The challenge with this restoration will be to manufacture a new inlay for the tools, as the original one is broken into pieces. I would even be happy with a nicely made wooden inlay, painted in Hazet blue, but also that would not be easy (at least not for me). Any suggestions?
Also, does anybody have an idea how I could strip the paint off the Hazet logo on the box, without damaging the plastic underneath? This may not be possible at all?

Thanks,
Marc

That is a really neat set to have, good luck with the restoration.

 

[Marc_F]

My new shadowboard from toolbed.com (can really recommend them, not cheap but fully customizable, great quality and service) for my Lista cabinet, including a set of Stahlwille Open Box 13 (5,5-32mm), Facom 467 (7-19mm), Stahlwille Corona (6-22mm) and Facom 39 (3,2-17mm), to complement my Hazet 600N and 630 insert (this shadowboard is a standard one from Hazet) which I have in my Facom tool cart.

 

[Marc_F]

For those who were wondering, the different combination spanners are not redundant The different lengths are very useful to have when working on European cars.

 

[mr.lemons]

Recent purchases.


Unior PH0. Looks to be made by Oplast. The black parts of the handle are soft rubber which make it comfortable and grippy. Cap spins freely.



Unior ratchet spanner. Packaging says 'Made by Unior' SLO/EU (same as all Unior packaging I have seen). Think it's from Taiwan, as I recognise the switch.



Double ring ends makes more sense to me than combination type ratchet spanners. First impression is that it feels a bit cheap, as the 'Stopring' and switch rattle a bit, and the ratchet mechanism is a little rough.

 

[mr.lemons]

Spotted these on Ebay. There is a guy in the UK selling them for £10, so I thought I would give them a try. Think they may be an old design, as they look to come with blue handles now. These are soft rubber. 102.5mm long.



Nice fit and finish. 'Stopper pin' sticking out of the side is functional, but not particularly elegant.



KTC spanner.



I wanted to give KTC spanners a try as I liked the look of the thick edged I-beam. The beam shape is comfortable, but the edges and corners of the open end are far from comfortable when they dig into your hand. Of course, this is nit-picking, but it's the first thing I noticed when handling the spanner.



Compared to Stahlwille who kindly smooth off all the edges and corners for more delicate mechanic's hands.

 

[mr.lemons]

I spent a bit of time today trying out the cheap torque wrench posted earlier. At first, I was getting varying results, until I figured out that you need to use consistent technique with a clicky torque wrench to get consistent results. Basically, you need to slowly and gently push/pull into the click. I found, if I rushed and gave it a good old clunk, it could go up to 30Nm over torque. I'm sure most people already know this (I'm learning), but I have seen tyre guys bounce on torque wrenches, so I didn't know that they actually required a little finesse.

With the wrench set to 140Nm, it consistently reads 136-138Nm on an electronic torque adapter. How long it will stay accurate is anyone's guess.

 

[Steve_P]

Bahco 325 ERGO Professional Hand Hacksaw



this is my first time seeing a nice hacksaw. just wow, what a difference. can't wait to use it.
installing and tensioning blades is so nice. pretty sturdy and rigid, too.
made in sweden. says so right on the frame!

my old hand-me-down saw shown above. annoying blade change, hard to tension, doesn't cut straight worth a damn. you gotta fight with it.
it's stamped MADE IN USA, but idk who made it. no other markings.

i was also interested in facom 603F (made in france?), but i've given up on trying to buy facom here. does anyone in the US actually buy facom tools? if so, where? i've never found facom stuff i've wanted at a reasonable price (including shipping).

I made a similar jump to the 325. I bought mine 5+ years ago and I think it was Sweden made, but it's not marked. I remember that it wasnt US or China.

 

[mr.lemons]

Random observation when comparing long reach pliers.

 

[Marc_F]

.

Nice comparison regarding the hardness of the teeth. I have the same long reach pliers from Knipex since a few months and really saw how useful they can be at several occasions now. Regarding hardness of the teeth, I always found the teeth of my Knipex Cobras to ge very sharp and durable and I believe it was in the new tool presentation video from Knipex you recently posted where they mentioned that the teeth are oil hardened and induction hardened. I don‘t know however if this is standard practice for pliers manufacturers or if it‘s specific to Knipex.

 

[Marc_F]

A nice find of old Stahlwille tools from Ebay, I simply couldn‘t resist Besides the set of Electric 12s and the two small Open Box 16s, which are still available today, the set includes some rare items:

- the set of Corona 23s has the marking „Stronger than any bolt“, which means that they were produced in the 1960‘s or 70’s according to my research
- two tiny offset double ring wrenches Stahlwille no. 17 (4x4,5mm and 5x5,5mm). These seem to be NLA and the „no. 17“ designation has today been reused by Stahlwille for open box ratcheting wrenches. Does anybody have furter information on these old no. 17 wrenches?

 

[TjoFrasse]

So I saw something worrying yesterday. I bought a Gedore 2090-6 150mm 1/4" extension, and it had no Germany marking at all. So perhaps Blue Gedore being mostly German made will start to change also...

I didn't get any pictures of it, stupidly enough, but I did get it on video (as is apparent from the video, the printing can no longer be viewed:

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I do not think you are right about the Gedore 1/4 extension not being made in Germany. I have a Gedore 1/4 extension 2090A-12 and it does not have Germany marked anywhere

 

[TjoFrasse]

Let's hope in only missing markings, but that they remove the marking is also worrying. Their current product picture still have the "Made in Germany" markings on it: https://www.gedore.com/de-de/produk...sel/2090-verlaengerung-1-4--/2090-6---6171210

 

[mr.lemons]

Hosted my own little table at an Autojumble to sell on some tools. Unsurprisingly, I have a few duplicates.

Was a little painful to let my treasures go at autojumble prices, but there is no point holding onto stuff I won't use.

All in all, a fun experience. The other stallholders were very friendly and helpful to a newbie, and buyers were all friendly too. Met some nice people and talked about tools. Most importantly, cleared out two large totes of tools that would have taken hours of packing and many trips to the post office to sell on ebay.

 

[AGD21]

Anyone know where Unior Engineer vices are made ?

Looks like a modern update of the classic Leinen design

Unior d.d.
Kovaška cesta 10
3214 Zreče
Slovenia
http://www.unior.com/

 

[ultgar]

Bahco 325 ERGO Professional Hand Hacksaw



this is my first time seeing a nice hacksaw. just wow, what a difference. can't wait to use it.
installing and tensioning blades is so nice. pretty sturdy and rigid, too.
made in sweden. says so right on the frame!

my old hand-me-down saw shown above. annoying blade change, hard to tension, doesn't cut straight worth a damn. you gotta fight with it.
it's stamped MADE IN USA, but idk who made it. no other markings.

i was also interested in facom 603F (made in france?), but i've given up on trying to buy facom here. does anyone in the US actually buy facom tools? if so, where? i've never found facom stuff i've wanted at a reasonable price (including shipping).

I stock over 4000 Facom part numbers here in the states plus many of the USAG equivalents. The USAG version is the better value and has a US warranty..... https://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=9711

 

[snowblindb]

Some new tools for work.
VDE Cobras and cutters are tethering versions.
Sola mini level has holder with belt clip.
Anthracite Systainer is the ”new” improved version aka Sys 3 and the size is M137.
Finally got Wiha CentroFix bits adapter and screwdriver in to my hands. It’s very nice to see that CentroFix is better than I expected. E6 and C6 bits fits perfectly and there is no loose.

Mini Cobras fit inside the XXS Systainer

There is also some merchandise from Knipex that I won from their survey for KNIPEXpert:
Knipex ”Buff”, two fridge magnets, key fob and notebook.

 

[pizza]

got a bunch of knipex in from azde.
i'm particularly excited about the quick-adjust s-type pipe wrenches.

Pipe Wrench S-Type With fast adjustment
83 61 010 (330mm)
83 61 015 (420mm)

 

[six-point socket II]

Knipex Plier Wrench XS (86 04 100) (Shown alongside Water Pump Pliers Cobra XS (87 00 100) in last two pictures)




Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[zeug]

Ohh very nice... I see your in DE. Did you get these from a stocking distributor or special order? I would like to pick up a pair on my next trip, which is in one week.

XS Pliers Wrench Video

 

[six-point socket II]

I (pre-)ordered them with my (stocking) dealer immediately after I became aware that Knipex would release them. I got them exactly on the date he said I would. I actually have no idea if a lot of the professional hardware/tool or even DIY stores stock them as I don't frequent brick and mortar stores anymore here locally, but I did a quick search and will say that - right now - it seems there is not such a shortage (or maybe demand) as it was back when the Cobras XS were released.

I don't frequent local suppliers anymore because I found an excellent, professional hardware/tool dealer whom I have an exquisite relationship with, many hundred kilometers away, in the southern region of Germany - funny enough it's a brick and mortar type, owner run distributor. But it's all done via e-mail or over the phone and I get 100% reliability from them, starting with always getting correct and up to date information to billing and last but not least down to deliveries via UPS who are my favorite carrier as they are the most reliable in my region besides DHL, who have an excellent driver in my area.

Some additional, maybe helpful, information:

Knipex 86 04 100 BK (Pliers Wrench XS in self serving blister packaging) (EAN: 4003773087298) List price/MSRP: 46,55 Euro (+ 19% VAT)

Knipex 86 04 100 (Pliers Wrench XS in cardboard box with tag) (EAN: 4003773087281) List price/MSRP: 44,95 Euro (+19% VAT)

Knipex 00 19 72 XS LE (Double belt holster for Pliers Wrench and Cobras XS) (EAN: 4003773087335) List price/MSRP: 8,95 Euro (+19% VAT)

Knipex 00 20 72 V04 XS (Knipex Pliers Wrench & Cobras XS with double belt holster) (EAN: 4003773087328) List price/MSRP: 77,85 Euro (+19% VAT)

All of these items should be available for dealers to order with a minimum order quantity of 1 piece. (In Germany.)

Prices should be valid until March 31st 2022.

Another interesting product, for you guys in the US, Knipex released, might be the insulated (1000V) Robertson drive #1 and #2 with tapered/slim blades/insulation. 98 12 01 (#1, MSRP: 9,76 Euro incl. 19% VAT) 98 12 02 (#2, MSRP: 12,20 Euro incl. 19% VAT)



Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[mr.lemons]

Can someone help me with a random and maybe dumb question about Record vices? I've been looking at vintage vices and see that some have jaws that are flush with the curve of the top of the vice, and some have square/rectangular jaws that are not flush. Did they all start out with square jaws, and some have worn flush over time, or were some made with flush jaws?

Example for flush jaws.


Not flush.

 

[Dave455]

Can someone help me with a random and maybe dumb question about Record vices? I've been looking at vintage vices and see that some have jaws that are flush with the curve of the top of the vice, and some have square/rectangular jaws that are not flush. Did they all start out with square jaws, and some have worn flush over time, or were some made with flush jaws?

Example for flush jaws.


Not flush.

As far as I’ve noticed, generally it’s the older vices that have the flush jaws, but the newer ones do not. They were definitely made that way.

I always assumed it was one (of many) ways that Record saved costs over the years - much easier to make! Note how the casting has changed too - less metal on the newer version, which I assume is why the jaws are no longer flush at the edges either.

Some of the patterns never had flush jaws anyway, even on the very old models.

 

[Dave455]

Disregard!

 

[mr.lemons]

Cheers Dave

 

[zeug]

I (pre-)ordered them with my (stocking) dealer immediately after I became aware that Knipex would release them.

Kind regards,
Oliver

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I currently live in the US, but work 20% of my time in Graz, Munich and Frankfurt. It seems on almost every trip, I am forced to check a bag because of tools and such

I'm always looking for great tool stores in the EU.

Best,
Kent

 

[Indexmill]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I currently live in the US, but work 20% of my time in Graz, Munich and Frankfurt. It seems on almost every trip, I am forced to check a bag because of tools and such

I'm always looking for great tool stores in the EU.

Best,
Kent

What do you do that you get to travel the world with tools?

 

[Qualitytools]

A nice find of old Stahlwille tools from Ebay, I simply couldn‘t resist Besides the set of Electric 12s and the two small Open Box 16s, which are still available today, the set includes some rare items:

- the set of Corona 23s has the marking „Stronger than any bolt“, which means that they were produced in the 1960‘s or 70’s according to my research
- two tiny offset double ring wrenches Stahlwille no. 17 (4x4,5mm and 5x5,5mm). These seem to be NLA and the „no. 17“ designation has today been reused by Stahlwille for open box ratcheting wrenches. Does anybody have furter information on these old no. 17 wrenches?

Interesting to see the box ends are 6 points, very nice find.

 

[khFokke]

Anybody recognize the maker of the left wrench? I have several with that mark but have no idea who made them

 

[mr.lemons]

Trying a couple of alternatives to my Victorinox Ambassador as I need a beefier slotted driver/pry tool.

Bantam - Ambassador - Boker Plus Mini Tech Tool 2.



Was very interested to use the Boker. The blade is extremely sharp out of the box, the scales feel nice and grippy, the slotted driver is thicker and more robust than the Ambassador, and the 'belt cutter' looked perfect for cutting strimmer line.



Shame, but the belt cutter turned out to be rubbish at cutting strimmer line. Could only get halfway through. Reviews say it's good for opening plastic packaging.



Trying to resist buying a Cadet and Electrician. Don't want to start buying SAKs.

 

[Dave455]

Trying a couple of alternatives to my Victorinox Ambassador as I need a beefier slotted driver/pry tool.

Bantom - Ambassador - Boker Plus Mini Tech Tool 2.



Was very interested to use the Boker. The blade is extremely sharp out of the box, the scales feel nice and grippy, the slotted driver is thicker and more robust than the Ambassador, and the 'belt cutter' looked perfect for cutting strimmer line.



Shame, but the belt cutter turned out to be rubbish at cutting strimmer line. Could only get halfway through. Reviews say it's good for opening plastic packaging.



Trying to resist buying a Cadet and Electrician. Don't want to start buying SAKs.

You‘re definitely going to end up buying more SAK’s!

I’ve been using them for years, especially the alox handle models, and nothing else is good for the money. The steel is good, the blade grinding isn’t bad, the fit/finish is good and they are very consistent.

Boker were good once. I have a couple that I bought in the 1990’s and they were still good then. Not as good as Puma’s of the same era, but the blades were nicely ground.

I’ve seen a couple of new ones since, and they were not as good, but I took a chance and ordered a limited edition “camp knife” online. Total shite. It was so badly fitted that the cutting edge of the main blade contacted the backspring.

The knife you have is a Boker “Plus”. Boker “Minus” would be a better name! They are outsourced, and I’m not surprised they don’t cut!

 

[mr.lemons]

You‘re definitely going to end up buying more SAK’s!

You're probably right.

 

[Dave455]

You're probably right.

It only gets dangerous when you start collecting the colours…

 

[ukruser]

Anybody recognize the maker of the left wrench? I have several with that mark but have no idea who made them

It is Russian wrench made by https://kzsmi.ru/