Bergen Tools

Anyone had any experience with these? I ordered a combination spanner off Ebay just out of curiosity and it turned up today; certainly looks the part I must say, but I was just wondering if anyone's had one that snapped the first time it saw a nut? I know nothing about this make.

Reply to
Al
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The days of tools made of chocolate have largely gone - thanks gawd. Even the budget offerings from Lidl etc are generally very good.

There is a problem with old established brands, though. They've often been sold off and may now just be ordinary, but with a higher price.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

I think my 3/4" breaker bar is Bergen. It looks fairly generically made but has worked well on the few 250/300Nm hub nuts I bought it for.

Like Dave says, things are better. I had a 22 or 24 mm Silverline combination spanner which I expected to be dire but it dealt with some suspension nuts without exploding. On principal I don't buy cheap-make spanners as they just open up a world of pain but had been lent this and was pleasantly surprised.

Reply to
Scott M

That's reassuring to know. Like Dave says, the unquestioned trust we had in the old marques is taking a knock - not just tools, but a lot of manufacturers in other fields have sold out their good names. I saw Britool sets were being advertised and was pleasantly surprised they were still in business, because I have always held them in the highest regard, but in view of the trend in these things, I'd need to do a bit of research before forking out top money on a set of them in this day and age. Sad but true. Perhaps we should have an unofficial ranking here on the merits - or otherwise - of the current makes on offer for comparison purposes out of our personal experiences with them?

Reply to
Al

I'll put a vote in for Halfords pro kit - despite the otherwise dire reputation of the shop, it's good.

Reply to
Clive George

I suspect this is the case with Hilka. 40 years ago they made some cracking pro gear, but currently just peddle run-of-the-mill, totally unremarkable stuff probably made under licence in China.

Reply to
Chris

Britool was sold off a long time ago. IIRC to Falcom - I think a French company - but don't know about now.

I suppose the real difference is with so much being automated, steel quality and fit and finish is easier to be consistent with these days.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Facom including Britool bought up by Stanley Works in 2006

2009/10 merged into Stanley Black & Decker
Reply to
Peter Hill

I can't say the same of a socket set I bought in Homebase a few years ago.

A number of the sockets split, admittedly with heavy use.

Reply to
Fredxxx

It's actually quite easy to split even high quality sockets through abuse.

In future, buy low priced tools from Lidl or Aldi and keep the receipt. They give a 3 year money back warranty. Which seems to mean they specify rather better made tools.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Just bought this set of Hilka offset ring spanners off Ebay:

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Not impressed with the finish at all. Quite rough looking overall and interesting to note that Hilka declined to put their name on them; only the rack. Still, for the price I suppose I shouldn't grumble. It just doesn't really instil me with much confidence. :-/

Reply to
Al

If you want spanners with a high quality finish - that you can check before buying - Halfords pro were a pretty good choice last time I looked. But not at a bargain price.

But in this international world, many do sell under a known brand without actually making them 'in house'.

Remember looking at medium priced bench pillar drills. Counted 6 different brands that all obviously came from the same maker.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Bought a wheel brace for ?1 45 years ago. ?1 was a Pound in those days. I've still got it. It has taken some hammer but has never twisted.

Reply to
Mr Pounder Esquire

Oh yeah. I remember 1972. I bought my first beer back then in a pub. Cost

12p a pint or 6&1/2p a half. That was the going price for cooking bitter. I don't recall much in the way of lager being on offer back then. Skol and Harp were the top names but bitter/mild/pale ale and stout were the big sellers in those days (probably because the lagers were awful) You will no doubt remember yourself, Mr. Pounder. ;-)
Reply to
Chris

The reverse polarity protection is not for safety as such, but to prevent the charger being damaged by doing so.

The usual method is a relay with a diode in series with the coil, getting its volts from the battery. Will normally make with only a few volts. Battery totally flat, no connection.

Reply to
Gordon H

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