Counterfeit Scredrivers?

Yes, I have had very good and absolute rubbish kamasa stuff.

mrcheerful

The message from "Stuffed" contains these words:

Very likely. Why not ask Kamasa?

Kamasa tools are made in Japan, Germany (I think) and Taiwan. Check where they are made. Japanese ones last well in my experience but I can't comment of the other sources. My made in Japan 124 piece 1/2 and 1/4 drive rachet set is still intact after 24 years (21st birthday present). The 1/2 drive rachet failed within the first month so the shop replaced it. I have a hollow handle multibit screwdriver by them, again made in Japan, bought early 1978. Unlike most of the junk you get it's still in fair nick, only the small flat bit has a chip out of one corner, the chubby handle gives really good grip and the cross head bits fit precisely. It's was nice and compact for use on a motorcycle where it spent it's first 7 years undergoing vibration testing.

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Guy King ( snipped-for-privacy@zetnet.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

"We've checked them thoroughly, and can confirm that while they are made out of chocolate, they were genuinely manufactured by us"...

I'm not sure. Older Kamasa stuff was pretty good - especially at the price, but I've heard it said not any more.

Agreed, I still have all of my original 1/2 inch drive set I got 24 years ago, and they've been used on air tools and with extended leavers too.

Later Kamasa stuff doesn't seem so good though.

Probably due to the cheap range of tools they make. Drop forged rubbish. Aimed at the DIY guy bolting his flatpack together. Unfortunately they look almost the same as their better quality tools. The ones made from chrome vanadium. About the only difference is the marking.

I baught a new set of Kamasa chrome vanadium combination spanners about 18 months ago.

IME their top range is as good as ever, but their once good name is undermined by the crap they also produce. Mike.

Aye, that is so. I managed to buy some of their 'pro' tools many years ago. These were matt black in colour, and were superb quality, I still have some of the spanners, and the screwdriver I bought made an excellent chisel for many years use ;-)

I can't believe I typo'd screwdrivers!

I seem to have managed the same, with 2 identically packaged sets of screwdrivers. That can't be right :(

I got this set at the Dorset Steam Fair, where there were people from all over the place buying stuff - Hoped maybe someone had had a similar experience (possibly from the same trader at another do or whatever). Besides which, I haven't spotted an easy contact for Kamasa in this country yet.

I used to hear varying opinions a few years ago, but never had any problems. And the screwdrivers I bought a few months ago were more than excellent, better than some thrice the price. But I might have been lucky, and their stuff is s**te on the whole nowadays.

I had a 1/2" socket set that never failed where far mroe expensive recognised brands failed, quite literally. Scaffold and me hanging off the end didn't pop parts that really should've given up long before. It was that that persuaded me to buy again this time round, figuring they make good stuff.

I'm starting to agree.

I'll chop the end off one of the knackered screwdrivers sometime when I get round to it, and see what it looks like under the plating. Might do the same with the small flat head out the other set, seeing as it's chipped anyway now (after much harder use).

After posting the original message, I tried using one of the set again to undo some woodscrews. OK, they were bloody tight, but the blade twisted round, which seems plain wrong to me. Still, you live and learn :(

The message from "Stuffed" contains these words:

Yes, I spotted that after I suggested contacting 'em.

Others would recommend, Snap-on, Halfords Professional, Proto, etc. All good tools, but IMO far too expensive. The price of a couple of Snap-on spanner sets for example, would probably buy all the tools the average home mechanic needs to do most jobs on a car. All the spanners, screwdrivers you might need, inc a socket set, torque wrench etc.. Good tools, not rubbish. Plus a jack, axle stands, etc etc. Personally all I look for are the words 'Chrome Vanadium' on spanners, screwdrivers etc, when I buy. Using that simple rule I've not been disappointed so far, and baught some surprisingly cheap tools. I'd recommend anyone else who'd like a comprehensive range of tools to do the same. Mike

I got a set of spanners for about £20 from CPC. First time I used the

Gareth

Kamasa brand is now owned by Laser

Oh dear :(

Are Laser tools any good yet? I remember using them years ago, when they were the standard budget type, was never all that impressed.