Bahco tools

[brightspark]

the lifetime warranty only covers faulty materials not fair wear and tear

 

[Bill Edwards]

I think it's all about the customer service; lifetime warranty and that most garages have a Snap on van every so often.

the lifetime warranty only covers faulty materials not fair wear and tear

Kind of.

Break a socket, it's warranty. Break it and take it in with hammer marks and signs of being used on an impact wrench, it's not (abuse, unless an impact socket which is designed for it and warranty).

Break the pin on the end of circlip pliers, it's warranty. Break the leg off instead due to levering something, it's not (abuse).

Wear out a screwdriver tip, it's warranty. Break it from levering or hammering, it's not (abuse).

Break a breaker bar by putting a scaffold pipe on it, that's fine. Only put the pipe halfway down rather than all the way, it's not fine.

Snap a torx bit, it's warranty. Have hammer marks from hitting it in place, it's not (abuse).


Wear out a file, that's wear/use. Wear out a pair of mole grips, that's wear/use. Snap a stud extractor, that's use. Break a bolt extractor (impact rated) and you're fine.

I could go on. However, with all that said...
If you deal with the same chap and spend a bit of money you find that things can get swapped which aren't strictly warranty. Obviously there are limits still, but you can get looked after.

 

[MattF]

The thing is, when you buy something from Snap on you know it might well be the same quality tool available under a different name elsewhere for half the cost. However, you can be quite confident that there won't be anything better out there and you don't need to do the research and trial and error finding the quality item - you just pay extra and know it'll be good.

Aren't Bahco owned by Snap-On these days? The old Bahco stuff was always top notch, and their adjustables were beyond compare with any other brand. No idea what the new stuff is like though.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Aren't Bahco owned by Snap-On these days? The old Bahco stuff was always top notch, and their adjustables were beyond compare with any other brand. No idea what the new stuff is like though.

I could probably find out for certain from the Snap On chap.

I was told a few years ago that Bahco were producing the best adjustable spanners, which didn't suit Snap On, so they bought Bahco.


New Bahco stuff (i.e the quality) - not sure.

 

[brewdexta]

Definitely snap on

From the link
"The Company behind Bahco




SNA Europe


SNA Europe is the premier pan-European manufacturer of hand tools and saws, part of Snap-on Incorporated."

Also - the "overwhelmingly" word is the get-out clause

"Bahco products are overwhelmingly manufactured in our own factories located across Europe and offered by our partner distributors to the professionals"

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I got some Wiha screw drivers for christmas, really nice to use and decent quality, made in Germany. I got the engineering ones which you can smack the top with a hammer and have a hex for getting more leverage with a spanner

Toolstation are doing the Wera 6 set for £23:
http://www.toolstation.com/m/part.html?p=74844