Tools from the old world

[Cantause]

My toolbox, it's the long 5 compartments Facom.

A nice toolbox, I like the locking handles, it makes closing it effortless, there are probably other brands that do that too...
It would be nice if the compartments were wider, it's sometime difficult to get a small wrench out of them, I guess that's also my fault, I put too many tools in it... (the cheap dollar and ebay are guilty too of course )

Closed

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0415.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0415.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom toolbox"></a>

Opened

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0435.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0435.jpg" border="0" alt="My facom toolbox"></a>

 

[Monte]

@cantause:

the Britool deep sockets are made in Taiwan. Heres the info: click
The country of origin of the Britool tools (and others) can be checked here: http://uk.farnell.com

ps: nice Facom tool box and content !!! wow that are a lot of ratcheting wrenches !!

 

[Cantause]

@ Monte

Thanks for the informations, I'll check on Farnell's website in the future!
Do you have an opinion about Britool quality? I've heard that in the past it was top notch quality but some people seems disappointed about how the quality turned.
I only own these sockets and I've nothing to complain about, however I've never used them under high torque....

Some pics from a trade fair for manufacturing technology which i visited last year:

Demmeler welding table

]

Waow, awesome welding table, any idea of the prices?
Probably far too high for my student budget, but it would be a nice way to spend my money when I'll work

 

[y20dth]

@cantause: I don't think you'll be able to buy a welding table like that, even with a job . Check out Bluco: http://www.bluco.com/

I see a lot of ratcheting wrenches in your toolbox, what brand are they? Can you give us a closer look? What's your oppinion?

 

[AutomatiquE]

@monte, nice pics of Fein "high frequency" tools. They really look bullet proof, very impressives !

@Cantause, nice Facom's ! I've got a Facom toolbox, the short 5 compartments. I find it well made/finished and easy to open-close.

 

[Monte]

@ Monte
Thanks for the informations, I'll check on Farnell's website in the future!
Do you have an opinion about Britool quality? I've heard that in the past it was top notch quality but some people seems disappointed about how the quality turned.
I only own these sockets and I've nothing to complain about, however I've never used them under high torque....

we don`t have Britool over here, only shop i know of is Farnell.de . So i cant tell you anything. I`m also only a DIY user so my tools should last longer than others so i also cant tell you how long these tools last in industrial environments. But for DIY use i guess imported tools will work too. Some taiwanese tools are pretty good nowadays, the customer only has to find out which ones.... (brand...)....

Waow, awesome welding table, any idea of the prices?
Probably far too high for my student budget, but it would be a nice way to spend my money when I'll work

the cheapest from "Demmeler" (1000 mm x 500mm) i found was 867.- € + tax. This one from ebay is 2000mmx1000mm click . But you also could buy something like this used click, borrow a magnetic core drill and a 16mm or 28mm drill bit/core drill bit and make it yourself. (a idea I´m always thinking of....)...
You then can use the accessoires like clamps etc. Or fabricate them out of cheapo clamps etc.

ok these things could be more difficult to manufacture yourself (got a mill ? )

@Automatique:
yes they`re really cool....always look on ebay if i can find them cheap

Bosch also has high frequency tools with 3-phase motors:

www.boschproductiontools.com

 

[Hazet]

@Monte: Great pictures, keep it up .

Here are pictures of my latest delivery. There are more tools on the way, but it might be a week or so.

 

[Cantause]

@cantause:
I see a lot of ratcheting wrenches in your toolbox, what brand are they? Can you give us a closer look? What's your oppinion?

Yes, now I realize that I bought many ratcheting wrenches, when I decided to build my toolbox a few months ago, I couldn't decide which ratcheting wrench set I should buy, so I bought them all
I didn't want to stick with Facom, so I tried some American brands which had been reviewed on this forum. I have some Gearwrench, Armstrong and Blackhawk, as they're USA brands, made in Taïwan (Armstrong's are made in USA!), I don't know if this post is the best place to talk about them. I'll make a post to present myself and my tools, but Blackhawk are my favorites!

Here are some closer pics of my toolbox:

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0431.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0431.jpg" border="0" alt="Toolbox L"></a>

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0428.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0428.jpg" border="0" alt="Toolbox R"></a>

Some pics of the Facom ratchet set

1/2, 3/8, 1/4

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0397.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0397.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom ratchets 1/2,3/8,1/4"></a>

1/2

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0411.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0411.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom 1/2 ratchet set"></a>

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0399.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0399.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom 1/2 ratchet"></a>

3/8, J.360 ratchet with rotary handle, I love it, you don't even use it in normal ratcheting as it's so quick when turning the handle.

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0408.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0408.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom 3/8 ratchet set"></a>

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0401.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0401.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom 3/8 ratchet"></a>

1/4

<a href="http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/?action=view&current=IMG_0404.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx39/cantause/IMG_0404.jpg" border="0" alt="Facom 1/4 ratchet set"></a>

@ y20dth

Thanks for the link! I googled a bit Dremmeler and found this promotional brochure with prices: http://www.demmeler.com/pdf/139_ECO_September_2008_ansicht.pdf
it's not cheap but i expected it would be higher, still "affordable" for a small one, I hope I'll earn enough to buy one

@monte

Drilling a plain table seems a good idea, making the clamping tools too, it seems that you can spend much more money in accessories than in the table itself...
Unfortunately I don't have a mill it was at the top of my wish list, should have bought one this summer but I've already spent all my money in my flame spray setup, I'll have to wait one more year ...

Anyway these tables really rock, welding complicated shapes must be so pleasant with that kind of tools...

 

[y20dth]

€2200? Damn, now I want one of those welding tables as well. And wenn you buy the whole set, you even get a t-shirt and a cap .

I saw a price for a relatively big table from Bluco, and it was €20.000

 

[Cantause]

Here's an article and a video of the Bluco table used by Jesse James.
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-table.html

@ y20dth

Prices mentioned in this article match what you said, it's far higher than what you can get in Europe.
In the US they don't even talk about a free cap, a shame...

 

[Monte]

@Hazet

nice pliers !!! Which one do you like better ? Hazet ? Gedore ? Knipex ?


@cantause:
nice Facom collection !!!!! Did you polish the handles of the 1/4" and 1/2" ratchet ?? they look so glossy

You also could lease a welding table 60 month / 101.- €/month
If you seriously want one i would look at a fair or ask for tables which were displayed at a fair etc.

another welding table manufacturer www.siegmund-group.com
Table price starts @ 499.- € - complete set w/ clamps etc. 999.- € ...
promo flyer: click
Siegmund Lastafels Distributor in Belgium: www.welda.be



hmmm a welding table and this: ...*dream*...

and one of these from www.foerster-gmbh.de

 

[MarcSeattle]

My Facom ratchets are that glossy too.

The rubber/plastic handles don't stain but getting grease out of the grooves is difficult. What do you guys use to lube the Facom ratchets? The ratchet mechanism is so small that thick grease doesn't work well, and oil is too thin. I'm using Campagnolo bicycle white lithium currently and it seems about right.

 

[Cantause]

@cantause:
nice Facom collection !!!!! Did you polish the handles of the 1/4" and 1/2" ratchet ?? they look so glossy

Of course I do, every night before going to bed, not you?

As MarcSeattle said they come like that new, I guess a mold release compound... My father's are matt, but they're far older than mines, I'll see how it goes with time.

another welding table manufacturer www.siegmund-group.com
Table price starts @ 499.- € - complete set w/ clamps etc. 999.- € ...
promo flyer: click
Siegmund Lastafels Distributor in Belgium: www.welda.be

Monte, are you a kind of ambassador employed by the german federal ministry of economy to promote german industrial products all over the world ?
If it's the case I hope that they pay you big bucks, you do an incredible job!
Thanks for the link, the basic line seems more affordable, especially for someone who plans to make the clamping tools.

@ y20dth

I started a new thread with all the pics of my tools, I started with the ratcheting wrenches and a small comparison, if you want to have a look: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=921414#post921414

 

[tonydanzah]

So one of my friends recently went to Poland to visit relatives. I asked him to pick me up some polish tools. These are them, but I think they might say made in india? Any info would be appreciated. They have very thick beams, and smooth satin finish. I also don't have wrench this style so score!

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=DSCN2104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/DSCN2104.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=DSCN2105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/DSCN2105.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=DSCN2106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/DSCN2106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=DSCN2107.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/DSCN2107.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[maxipouce]

Wow that 's a funny thing to see, here is their website page about wrenches.
Dedra

 

[tonydanzah]

Wow that 's a funny thing to see, here is their website page about wrenches.
Dedra

thanks

 

[Indy_500]

ok so quick question, is this whole thread more about brands of the "old world" rather than any tools from the "old world"???

 

[Monte]

The rubber/plastic handles don't stain but getting grease out of the grooves is difficult.

almost impossible....hence i bought Hazet fine tooth ratchets...

What do you guys use to lube the Facom ratchets? The ratchet mechanism is so small that thick grease doesn't work well, and oil is too thin. I'm using Campagnolo bicycle white lithium currently and it seems about right.

i used spray grease

Of course I do, every night before going to bed, not you?

sure
I just now polish my Hazet ratchet to take it to my bed

As MarcSeattle said they come like that new, I guess a mold release compound... My father's are matt, but they're far older than mines, I'll see how it goes with time.

can´t remember how mine looked when new.... but they`re dull now..

Monte, are you a kind of ambassador employed by the german federal ministry of economy to promote german industrial products all over the world ?
If it's the case I hope that they pay you big bucks, you do an incredible job!
Thanks for the link, the basic line seems more affordable, especially for someone who plans to make the clamping tools.

yes I´m a ambassador from the german tool ministry
Here the official coat of arms:

no unfortunately not....that would be cool....

 

[tonydanzah]

yes, tools from the old countries

 

[Monte]

ok so quick question, is this whole thread more about brands of the "old world" rather than any tools from the "old world"???

both .... tools + brands

but better is tools from... since there are 1000`s of brands with tools which are not made in the old world

 

[y20dth]

both .... tools + brands

but better is tools from... since there are 1000`s of brands with tools which are not made in the old world

If that is the case, then maybe we should start a thread for quality imported tools. I think I'm not even kidding that much.

 

[maxipouce]

Since people judge each other by the size of their powertools, I'll show you mine

photo1; VAL D'OR morse taper2 drill; absolutely dangerous, 250Nm at the spindle (100% French and sturdy).

photo2;the powertool I use for sharpenning taps .

photo3 and 4 the MAPE brothers, 3 phase 200 and 350mm wheels, (absolutely french except the siemens starter on the small one)

photo5 ADAM drill press ,3 phase, morse taper2

 

[epiphany]

@epiphany:
nice collection !!
why 2 250mm Alligators ?? Because of the larger opening of the new ones ?

No, just needed another plier for home and the 88 01 250 is the bargain beginning plier at the local hardware store. Didn't notice the difference until i compared them. Would like to buy a cobra, a power sidecutter and a radio plier, but they are too expensive.

Pics:

 

[Monte]

I changed the the first post of this thread so basically you can post all tools here from the outside of the US. Also "new world" tools or exotic constellations like these tools from a Australian brand with French roots

new "Sidchrome" pliers:

new ratchet

german "Sidchrome" locking pliers

also interesting "Sidchrome" screwdrivers which look like "Proto" from the USA but made in England IIRC...

"Sidchrome" chisels....... too lazy to change the package ??

So its not that bad that Stanley owns a bunch of companies huh ???

No, just needed another plier for home and the 88 01 250 is the bargain beginning plier at the local hardware store. Didn't notice the difference until i compared them. Would like to buy a cobra, a power sidecutter and a radio plier, but they are too expensive.

nice Wera collection !
ps: Knipex 160mm radio pliers 10,90 Euro , 12,90 with comfort handle@ ebay.de... 200mm slightly more....


@maxipouce:
the hand held electric drill looks nice !!! 250 NM !!! Sounds like 4 speed ??
Do you have a homepage of that company ?? The bench grinders look nice too !!! (what are all the cables in the background for ? Lots of electric tools in your shop huh ?
The drill presss table can be turned 360 degree ??? nice feature !!!

If that is the case, then maybe we should start a thread for quality imported tools. I think I'm not even kidding that much.

Imported to Belgium ??? I can name you a few: Hazet, Gedore, Stahlwille....

 

[otanica]

Except they shut down the Sidchrome factories.

Brad

 

[maxipouce]

The cables?, no it's THE cable, it is a 50m 3phase extension cord, just in case....

Val d'or (also known as Silex and then bought by peugeot in the golden days), MAPE and ADAM are long gone without any kind of eulogy.

I also have standard tools, an old aeg 230 grinder,some bosch and skil drills.. a broken blue bosch 230 grinder (dead pinion set after 23 discs) , I will sort the european ones and show them soon.

 

[Monte]

Except they shut down the Sidchrome factories.

Brad

Thats sad to hear !

@maxipouce:
i thought you have like 40 machines running in your shop
I once saw a red "Peugeot" drill at a flea market.
Post some pics of you electric tools !! (btw: old skil with the grey housing or new with the black ?)

 

[Monte]

some flea market finds:

old VBW wrench

NOS 175mm Dako chisel
Cr-Mo-V Lufthärter (air hardened) -Hartkopf ("hardhead")

Mercedes wrench

"Wir schrauben für Sie bis 24 Uhr" - "We work for you until 12 o´clock p.m."

old Stahlwille wrench. Probably from the 1950`s

 

[epiphany]

ps: Knipex 160mm radio pliers 10,90 Euro , 12,90 with comfort handle@ ebay.de... 200mm slightly more....

yeah, but the shipping costs make the prices nearly equal.

ps: good idea to allow tools from outside europe, now i can share some more...

Wisent "Open Wrench" box. (cheap but interesting):

Another tool picture is hidden under the current:

Inside the ratchet:

 

[mik641]

Monte i have some sidchrome prybars that actually say proto on the label

 

[AutomatiquE]

@Monte, what do you mean by "air hardened" ?

 

[tonydanzah]

yeah, but the shipping costs make the prices nearly equal.

ps: good idea to allow tools from outside europe, now i can share some more...

Wisent "Open Wrench" box. (cheap but interesting):

Another tool picture is hidden under the current:

Inside the ratchet:

is wisent somehow owned by danaher, those look like gearwrench design vortex sockets. Also what is the coo?

 

[TjoFrasse]

Interesting with the Winsent tools. They have a lot of those here at Bauhaus, but a have thought they weren't that good. I'd love some opinions if these are worth looking twice at.

 

[Cantause]

Since people judge each other by the size of their powertools, I'll show you mine

photo1; VAL D'OR morse taper2 drill; absolutely dangerous, 250Nm at the spindle (100% French and sturdy).

you should call it the portable mill

As you're french, maybe you could explain me why so many french tool manufacturers disappeared since de 60-70's, I've never understood why... Germany lost some too but in France it looks like you almost lost them all (except Facom of course )

No, just needed another plier for home and the 88 01 250 is the bargain beginning plier at the local hardware store. Didn't notice the difference until i compared them. Would like to buy a cobra, a power sidecutter and a radio plier, but they are too expensive.

Pics:

mmm... Wera screw drivers looks so well made, are they as robust as they look like?
I Wish I hadn't bought some Facom protwist sets last month (maybe I should throw them away in the same river as Monte's Hazet tools )
So I was thinking about buying some Wera 395 nut drivers, but I've encountered a little problem when I browsed sellers on the net, I've seen 2 "types" of 395 drivers

These in satin finish (only in UK websites):

And those, bright satin (mainly in german websites):

I'd prefer buying the second, just a matter of appearance, I have admit
What's the problem? from what I've seen on the internet, the "bright" finished are almost twice the price (German websites) of the satin finished (UK websites). The worst thing is that there's a shop in the UK which sell the bright finished at 5,1€ (3mm --> 10mm) and 8,7€ (11-->15), quite cheap, of course they deliver in the UK only... In Germany the same "model" range from 8€ to 20€ depends on the size, that makes a big difference on the complete set...

Are the satin finish the previous model? bright finished are the one showed on Wera's website...

Thank you for your help!

 

[Hazet]

you should call it the portable mill

mmm... Wera screw drivers looks so well made, are they as robust as they look like?
I Wish I hadn't bought some Facom protwist sets last month (maybe I should throw them away in the same river as Monte's Hazet tools )

Please tell me where this river is. I will be downstream with a big net looking for a good catch

 

[maxipouce]

Don't kid about tools thrown in a river, the green tube wrench we can see on my drill press picture comes from there...

 

[AutomatiquE]

Cantause, since i'm French i think i can give you my 2 cents about the decline of French tool industry.
Generaly speaking, most of old French famous companies are no more runned by families owners but by managers who are only looking for profits. If they have the opportunity to earn a bunch of money by selling the company to an other foreign group or by delocalizing the factory in Asia, they just do it, they don't care ! It's probably different in Germany where many of old manufacturers are still runned by famillies, sometimes for 3-4 generations. Ask Monte about that, he knows for sure.
PS : oh, btw i consider that we also lost Facom... a long time ago.
Regards.
A.

 

[Cantause]

Cantause, since i'm French i think i can give you my 2 cents about the decline of French tool industry.
Generaly speaking, most of old French famous companies are no more runned by families owners but by managers who are only looking for profits. If they have the opportunity to earn a bunch of money by selling the company to an other foreign group or by delocalizing the factory in Asia, they just do it, they don't care ! It's probably different in Germany where many of old manufacturers are still runned by famillies, sometimes for 3-4 generations. Ask Monte about that, he knows for sure.
PS : oh, btw i consider that we also lost Facom... a long time ago.
Regards.
A.

Thank, it's the reason I was thinking about too...
About Facom I don't know how "old Facom" were, I'm too young, but for sure it lost his "Proudly made in France" before I started buying tools from them...
I don't know exactly which Facom type of tools still produced in France, do you? My dynapact wrench says "France" on it but is it for "Facom France"?...

@ Hazet

Unfortunately I changed of mind
Seriously, I couldn't throw away one of my tools, even the ones of really poor quality that I received here and there at my beginnings. They're not responsible of their quality, when they brake I try to use them in a different way.
When I'll have replaced all of them with new ones, they'll make a nice gift for a young beginner, I hope so!

 

[Monte]

Monte i have some sidchrome prybars that actually say proto on the label

Do you have some pics of sidchrome tools ?


@epiphany
nice set ! Didnt know that Bauhaus has them now. Only knew the 2 Proxxon sets. For how much € do they sell them ?

@Monte, what do you mean by "air hardened" ?

you can harden metal with oil, water or air. i think here is more info: (?) click

is wisent somehow owned by danaher, those look like gearwrench design vortex sockets. Also what is the coo?

"Wisent" is the house brand of the "Bauhaus" home improvement stores (like Craftsman + Sears)

As you're french, maybe you could explain me why so many french tool manufacturers disappeared since de 60-70's, I've never understood why... Germany lost some too but in France it looks like you almost lost them all (except Facom of course )

There are still plenty of manufacturers in France....: SAM, MOB, Gillet, Edma, Fischer-Darex, Muller, Racodon etc. Some companies might not be well known but their products are like Edma products which you also find sold as "Knipex" and "Stanley" or the Racodon punches which you can buy under several names like "KS-Tools", or the Gillet hose clamp pliers etc. etc.

btw.: "Opinel" knives from France are quite common over here...

mmm... Wera screw drivers looks so well made, are they as robust as they look like?
I Wish I hadn't bought some Facom protwist sets last month (maybe I should throw them away in the same river as Monte's Hazet tools )

There are plenty of reviews here on the board about Wera. Most people seem to like them.
ps: I already fished the tools out of the river because of the rising steel prices

These in satin finish (only in UK websites):

i dunno - my guess: the website says finish is "nicromatt" same as the screwdrivers. So i think the pics of the glossy shafts are old versions.
But how about these with hollow shafts ?

(PS: in the UK tool prices are always cheaper than in continental Europe, also Facom and especially also electric tools)

Thank, it's the reason I was thinking about too...
About Facom I don't know how "old Facom" were, I'm too young, but for sure it lost his "Proudly made in France" before I started buying tools from them...
I don't know exactly which Facom type of tools still produced in France, do you? My dynapact wrench says "France" on it but is it for "Facom France"?...

In this thread i posted some informations about the different origins of Facom tools. Some wrenches for example are now from Taiwan, ratchets from Italy etc. You can call the Facom customer service with the part number of a tool and they can look in their computer where the tool is from.

 

[arkangel06]

Wow I wish I could have gone to that trade show!