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Tools from the old world

mr.lemons

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Oct 24, 2017
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UK
RE:



We're well off the "old world" path here, but the reason I asked was because Spring Tools (Noxon) also makes a spring-loaded pin punch, using the same principle as the center punch.
I was trying to find some information about Spring Tools but didn't get the response I had hoped for from the company, so I was fishing for more information here, as there isn't much information about the company or their products available online other than their own promotional material.
Obviously they hit on an idea that works, based on the huge number of Asian-made knock-offs one can find listed on ebay and Amazon.

Noxon / Noxon, Inc. DBA Spring Tools, 2921 No. University, Spokane, WA 99206 (formerly Thun Enterprises Inc. ?) / http://springtools.shptron.com/ / est. 1993 / patent (?) / TM 86209086 Feb 11 2021 / center punches, nail sets / https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/mar/02/inventor-emory-clarks-swring-finds-therapeutic-app/ /

If you still have the package that unit came in, see if you can find a patent number on it. I hit a wall trying to ferret out the patent information on that device.
Oh, I see. I thought they just made the centre punch and a double end version. Hadn't looked at their website until now. Not sure how well the design would translate to a pin punch. Think I would want more control of the impact, but it's hard to say without trying one.

There is no patent number on the packaging for my punch. :confused:

There are some images of the back of packaging on their website and Amazon that have patent numbers. Have you looked into them?

Patent # D 354,663

 
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four.cycle

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Oct 19, 2015
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Tacoma, Washington
Thanks. I'm not as adept all the time at ferreting out patent information as I'd like to be. Part of the difficulty on this one is that Emory Clark is/was a prolific inventor and holds many other patents, and the Spring/Noxon organization apparently is several different corporations. (Noxon Inc., Thun Enterprises Inc., Spring Line Inc., Stryker Tools LLC)
 
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Jeff

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Dec 10, 2009
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Location
Sonova Beach
Is there a link?
There was only one, sorry.
Wow. How do you do a "deep % Amazon search"?
This is how I do the searches. From a deal site.

  1. Search for an item or product in Amazon’s main search bar.
  2. To see items discounted 50%, add &pct-off=50 to the end of the search link. This will work for any discount amount, and you can also express a range. For example, if you want to see items discounted 50-75%, add &pct-off=50-75.
  3. You might need to play around with the discount amount to catch the best deals. Note that it’s not as seamless as sorting by discount amount, which some other sites offer, since Amazon will pull in best-sellers and full-price items into your results as well. But you’ll definitely be able to find discounted items faster than if you were to scroll through the pages of featured results.
 

mr.lemons

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Oct 24, 2017
Messages
2,191
Location
UK
Two new PB and a used Facom nut driver.

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Comparison between the finish/design of Facom and Witte 5mm nut drivers.

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PB punch looks and feels just like their screwdrivers. Very nice :)

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PB punch is just as flexible (or more) than the Facom punch, so clearly a limitation of being 2mm. PB feels quite a bit heavier. Feels, handle heavy to me, rather than balanced.

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Facom has a flat side, so can be used tighter up against an obstruction.

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Under_Pressure

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May 13, 2014
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113
Location
NE Wisconsin
I don't think it's a big secret- they seem to have been available for around this price for a while- but Amazon has the Stahlwille 10/12 DOE set for ~$88 if someone wanted a nice set of German wrenches. 12 wrenches up to 32 mm for 90 bucks seems like a smoking deal- regular price appears to be somewhere north of $200 from KC Tool and the like. These are sold by "Amazon Global Store UK" though when I ordered them they appear to have shipped out of Spain.

 

isb cornbinder

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Nov 3, 2010
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7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
There is not much more old world than China. Maybe those who went to Harbor Freight to buy tools could post their HF tools.
 

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Dave455

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Mar 19, 2013
Messages
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Location
Sussex, England
I like that vintage style of Facom tools with their orange acetate handles! (y)

FACOM tools with orangish acetate handles.jpeg
They still make those acetate handled drivers. Not quite the range they used to, but still quite comprehensive.

I quite like them too. I hate soft handles, and I find a lot of more modern ones are sized for “maximum torque” which makes the awkward in general use.
 
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JBH

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Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
811
Sola mini level

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Funny...that popped up on US Amazon today as a "special deal" with the belt clip for 17.50 USD and I ordered one on impulse (even though I have the similar Stabila and have no complaints about it).
 

mr.lemons

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Oct 24, 2017
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Location
UK
Asta ratchet spanner, Sourcing Map 1/4" universal joint + a used Laser 3/8" flexible extension.

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Asta tools is located in Nottinghamshire, UK. I see their tools on UK ebay quite a bit. They look to mostly rebrand tools from Taiwan. The label for this spanner states, 'Made in Taiwan.'

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Tried it out today. Really like the protruding box end.

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Sourcing Map universal joint. Very cheap, but hoped it would be good enough for occasional use. It sort of works, but there is no spring force behind the retaining ball, so sockets fall off when not held upright. :rolleyes:

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Laser flexible extension. Impulse buy from ebay.

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It's quite a nice thing, but f-ing useless.

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I've used a 1/4" flex extension on a driver for hose clamps, so thought a 3/8" may also come in handy. Unfortunately, it's both thinner and longer than 1/4" flex extensions, so it buckles and twists into a spiral under very low torque. I tried to measure the torque it will handle on a torque adapter, but it wasn't enough to register a reading.

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Buckled/twisted under finger power on a pre-loosened bolt. Not really sure what it's supposed to be used for. I guess it could be used for inserting spark plugs, similar to using a piece of cut off hose pipe. :dunno:

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Compare to Bahco 1/4" extension.

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Qualitytools

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SOCAL
Funny...that popped up on US Amazon today as a "special deal" with the belt clip for 17.50 USD and I ordered one on impulse (even though I have the similar Stabila and have no complaints about it).
I saw Monte post the level and now with your post encouraged me to pick one up. It should arrive tomorrow and I will give some feedback. Thanks
 

Qualitytools

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Apr 30, 2014
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^ I just received mine today, good quality and clear spirit, very nice magnification. Mine shows in bold letters "Made in Austria" not abbreviated like the one Monte has pictured. Anyone else has some feedback on this little SOLA level?
 
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Vicks

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May 23, 2019
Messages
178
Location
Dubai
Found these craftsman drivers on sale at the local hardware store
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And recently bought some new power tools from the old world
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Unfortunately the cordless angle grinder isn't made in Germany although they do make the corded versions there.
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Qualitytools

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Ordered (pre-ordered) some Twingrip pliers back in September. Since decided I didn't really want/need them, but forgot about the order. They turned up today. :rolleyes: Close, but not quite right.

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I have one with the comfort grip, I use it often and it comes in handy when I am working on my car, especially with small fuel lines and such.
 

pcolbeck

Member
Joined
May 22, 2020
Messages
20
Location
UK
I'm gradually replacing all my old cheap tools with better quality ones. Just bought a set of Stahlwille open box 13s and Facom 440 series ratchet spanners. Now I'm looking at sockets sets. I want to get Stahlwille and as its mainly for working on motorbikes I need 1/4 and 3/8ths.
Unfortunately it seems they only do 3/8th sets in cases with bi-heagon sockets if you want the fine tooth ratchet and I would prefer hexagon sockets. Seems a bit odd, does anyone know why?
 

pcolbeck

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May 22, 2020
Messages
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Location
UK
Vicks I bought a Metabo 18v drill and an impact driver last year. They are great, a bit smaller than Makita or Bosch. Love mine.
 
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Dave455

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Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,796
Location
Sussex, England
I'm gradually replacing all my old cheap tools with better quality ones. Just bought a set of Stahlwille open box 13s and Facom 440 series ratchet spanners. Now I'm looking at sockets sets. I want to get Stahlwille and as its mainly for working on motorbikes I need 1/4 and 3/8ths.
Unfortunately it seems they only do 3/8th sets in cases with bi-heagon sockets if you want the fine tooth ratchet and I would prefer hexagon sockets. Seems a bit odd, does anyone know why?
Most of their sets seem to come with either hex or bi hex sockets as you choose, but you’re right, they’ve been slow to put the new fine tooth ratchets in the sets.

I think that it’s just because the fine tooth ratchets are still relatively new. Give em a while longer and I suspect the fine tooth will be standard, and the old ones will be dropped.

Try just asking your dealer to switch ratchets in a set for you. If they’re both stock items it shouldn’t be a problem. I bought a 1/2” drive set waay back and the dealer switched the ratchet for the steel handle version I wanted.
 

pcolbeck

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May 22, 2020
Messages
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Location
UK
Thanks Dave thats an idea. Or I might buy the bi-hexagon sets and buy the hexagon sockets separately then I would have both. Need to think about it for a while.
 

Dave455

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Mar 19, 2013
Messages
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Thanks Dave thats an idea. Or I might buy the bi-hexagon sets and buy the hexagon sockets separately then I would have both. Need to think about it for a while.
Might be worth waiting a little.

I haven’t seen the 2022 factory deals yet, and these are usually awesome value.

I usually check TBS Aachen to see when they appear. There are some deals, but all last years.
 

littlebean

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Mar 7, 2018
Messages
751
General query for UK people who buy from Europe - does anyone know at what price import duty gets added?
if it's on everything no matter what the cost what % is it?
 
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