Multi Hammer patent and multi wrench

[american lockpicker]

I found these on Toolmonger and thought it was interesting...

http://toolmonger.com/2008/11/03/wacky-patents-adjustable-hammer-wrench/#more-14934

http://toolmonger.com/2008/11/04/an-adjustable-wrench-with-teeth/

[american lockpicker]

Multi-File
http://www.generaltools.com/Products/3-In-1-Multi-File---Limited-Quantities__473.aspx

[duckman1975]

The adjustable hammer wrench looks usable.

[SteveRacer]

I have a Bahco screwdriver set that my Mother, of all people, bought me probably 25 years ago.  It's a brand that's virtually unheard of in the States.  Typical Swedish stuff.  Quality, but a bit bizzare.  Having owned several Volvos, it's just something you won't understand unless you've experienced Swedish engineering (or perhaps are a Swede!) 

I still have the screwdriver set in my bazillion dollar Snap-On tool battleship.  They have ergonomic oddly-shaped handles, special high-vanadium shafts and vapor-blasted specially treated tips.  They really fit the hand nicely.  The largest screwdrivers have two handles, so you can grip them with both hands for really tight breaking torque.  Imagine a screwdriver with an extra handle cut off and glued to the first handle.  Again, neato ...  but weird.

Don't use them very often.  The handle plastic is cheap (although still fine after 2 1/2 decades).  But occasionally they are exactly the tool I need, when no other fits the bill.

Facom is another example; they have some oddball stuff as well.  I don't like Facom so much because they are [were] French.  Now I think it's part of the Stanley empire along with SK.   

Sorry for the ramble ...    but check out Bahco tools if you're a tool freak like me.  Some really innovative stuff.   

http://www.bahco.com

[donvito]

Bahco looks nice, the saw with different blades caught my eye need more time to check out other tools. thx.

[Sea Monster]

You'll also note Bahco shifters "scroll" backwards to every other shifter in the world. (a bit like Victorinox backwards Linerlocks)

It is a reasonably common brand in Australia, owned by the Snap-On group.

[AndyTiedye]

I have a Bahco screwdriver set that my Mother, of all people, bought me probably 25 years ago.  It's a brand that's virtually unheard of in the States.  Typical Swedish stuff.  Quality, but a bit bizzare.  Having owned several Volvos, it's just something you won't understand unless you've experienced Swedish engineering (or perhaps are a Swede!) 

I still have the screwdriver set in my bazillion dollar Snap-On tool battleship. 

I recently bought a Snap-On adjustable wrench, which turns out to be made in Sweden.
Does Bahco make those for Snap-On?

[SteveRacer]

The only relationship that I'm aware of is that Stanley/SK tools bought out Facom.

I had no idea that Bahco and Snap-On were related until Nomad suggested it.  I have a lot of experience with Snap-On, but I don't think they typically "buy" smaller companies ... but they do arrange a lot of sweet deals for certain product lines, and set up contract manufacturing.

Toolboxes are made by Waterloo, but to Snap-On spec.  Many electric power tools are made by Black&Decker/Dewalt (yes, they are the same company) but to special Snap-On specification.  Welders and plasma cutters have been made by Hobart et. al.

Snap-On typically leverages other manufacturers to make "their" tools.  However, most of the time they are branded Snap-On and differ quite a bit from the contracted OEM's product line.  When dealing with a high breakage or high abuse tool, they avoid their "lifetime" warranty by offering tools branded under the "Blue Point" line/brand.

Individual franchises (i.e. the guy that drives the truck) are allowed to sell anything, even Chinese junk, but Snap-On doesn't warranty such things and the liability stops with the franchise.  Snap-On is fairly careful about what is allowed to carry the Snap-On brand.

However, times are changing, and I see more and more foreign stuff creeping into otherwise sacred brands.  Craftsman is a typical example, as their quality is erroding and their warranty constantly changing.  Rigid is another example; they used to own the HVAC/plumbing brand but now has become a puppet of Home Depot ... and their tools show it. Porter Cable another issue.  Bosch is one of the few that have held their own -- but I suspect they manufacture for others on the sly.

-steve

[Sea Monster]

I had no idea that Bahco and Snap-On were related until Nomad suggested it.

I'm not terribly up on the truth of the matter myself -

This might shed some light

http://www.snaeurope.com/

I like "SP" Tools myself

[american lockpicker]

The Frog Tool 15

http://toolmonger.com/2008/11/07/the-frog-tool/

http://www.gatcosharpeners.com/product/premiums.mgi

[appletree_man]

I love tool talk like this, Bahco, Sykes Pickavant, Britool, Proto and Facom are all dear to my heart