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The Facom Tools Thread.

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Dave455

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YesIHaveAHammer said:
I expect the market is quite small - cheap adequate ones for less money, cheap cordless ones for not a lot more.
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Maybe. But I think every mechanic will need a hacksaw at some point.
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Solid but a bit bulky and potentially cumbersome was my impression. Not sure if you mean anything different by clunky.
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That’s exactly what I meant!
YesIHaveAHammer said:
I already have a basic one with a wingnut tensioner, looking for something better. It's not worth my while to hunt around for a good used one. Also we don't really have as much of a tools thing going on in those sources as you seem to in the US.


You know this already, but people don't know what quality looks like, and new things are cheap enough and convenient to obtain.
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That is sadly all too true.
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Ordered some sandflex ones with my 325, based on widespread good things said about them.
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Good luck. It’s possible that they are better now than they were. I haven’t bought any in a while.

But I think that in a hand held saw, the ones I had would not be cutting square, and you would be blaming yourself, thinking you couldn’t cut straight that day, when in reality the blade was off.

I generally have best results buying “surplus “. If you go to an engineering show or good “auto jumble” there is usually someone selling good quality surplus blades. I once found a guy selling Starrett blades at £3 ($4) for a pack of 10. I bought all he had!
 
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neophyte

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F-22 said:
Used hacksaws are quite bad in my part of Europe (ex-yu). I'm very tempted by the Facom, I like the cast design. I must admit the Bahco looks really cool and the lever must be nice for adjustment, but it looks a bit overwhelming for a hacksaw. It is interesting that it seems to be made in Sweden.

Well, in true GJ fashion, I guess I need both.
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The lever on the Bahco isn’t for pressure adjustment, it’s for quickly releasing pressure to swap out blades or change the blades to the angled mounting points.
The pressure is adjusted by a separate screw.
 
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neophyte

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Dave455 said:
Has anybody got any feedback on the quality of the Facom hacksaw blades? I don’t think I have ever used them.

Some folks rate the Sandvik blades highly, but I don’t. I have a mechanical hacksaw that takes regular 12 inch blades. Useful thing, but it soon reveals if a blade isn’t cutting square. Sandvik blades last well, but I’ve found the resulting cut can be waaay off square.

Eclipse and Starrett blades all tend to cut pretty straight, so they have historically been my “go to”.
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Older Facom hacksaw blades were likely manufactured in France, by Ultra.
I think Ultra may have shut down though, or sold or moved their equipment.
Stanley, who know owns Facom, may supply the Facom branded blades from Lennox/Irwin, brands they own, which manufacture quality blades, but you would have to find out current COO for the blades, which I don’t know.
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

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KnurledNut said:
53128402665_596090e8c1_b-jpg.1939605
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605.B Revolver frame hacksaw with sliding blade guide

Still available new old stock here, also some photos. Blocked from my country though.

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YesIHaveAHammer

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F-22 said:
I'm very tempted by the Facom, I like the cast design. I must admit the Bahco looks really cool and the lever must be nice for adjustment, but it looks a bit overwhelming for a hacksaw. It is interesting that it seems to be made in Sweden.

Well, in true GJ fashion, I guess I need both.
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I wouldn't want to put you off buying two versions of a tool you weren't even thinking about a day ago, but what swayed me to the Bahco 325 over the Facom 603F:
  • Not sure if the 110kg unadjustable blade tension is optimal. Stanley has fixed tension models at 136 and 150kg, Eclipse has a conventional tensioning model with a 200kg capable frame. I've no relation for how much any of those numbers mean.
  • It's a bit long, probably makes it more cumbersome than the bulk of the Bahco.
  • It's heavy, but not by much and doesn't really matter.
  • Unlikely to need the two extra blade positions (horizontal, and 45 degrees the other way), or being able to swap position without removing the blade.
  • Unlikely to need the full length/depth cutting capacity.
  • Bahco has quick blade change.
  • Bahco has full rubber grips both ends.
  • Facom is 1.75x the price.
1765309098221.png

I did try to make a ChatGPT edit of her with hacksaws, but it refused due to weapons in the hands of children.
 
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Dave455

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neophyte said:
Older Facom hacksaw blades were likely manufactured in France, by Ultra.
I think Ultra may have shut down though, or sold or moved their equipment.
Stanley, who know owns Facom, may supply the Facom branded blades from Lennox/Irwin, brands they own, which manufacture quality blades, but you would have to find out current COO for the blades, which I don’t know.
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I just checked a reliable website and COO for the hacksaw blades is still France.

I think I might try a couple as an experiment.
 
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dutchgray

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On the hacksaw front, the only ones I have ever been able to cut straight with are the old fashioned ones with the round wooden handles inline with the blade, they are not at all ergonomic so are quite uncomfortable to use but they work for me.
Also if you get one that can take 10" blades, those can be bought new old stock in large quantities extremely cheaply since almost all currently produced hacksaws take 12" blades.

I do however have a 100 pack of the Bacho 12" blades thanks to some Amazon pricing weirdness a while back, they were very very cheap.
 
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Steve_P

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I have the Bahco 325 as do a lot of others here; it's fantastic. It is quite heavy, so not something you'd want to carry around. But it won some type of design award when it was introduced. Yes, it's expensive, but this is GJ and it's so much nicer than the typical $9.95 hacksaw frame.

If you're set on Facom, then I can't help.
 
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f121

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Steve_P said:
Definitely. But that car is just ugly AF; OTOH, I have a lot of old car magazines and Motor Trend, etc, road tested it when it was new and just loved it and raved about how fantastic it was. And it was quite expensive for the time.
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Have you ever seen one in the metal?
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

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Monte said:
Don´t forget these ;) Available in many big box stores throughout europe i guess...
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Also sold as Gedore 407, Eclipse 70-22TR, probably others.

Just misses out to the Bahco due to lack of quick blade change, and the tensioner only being adjustable in whole rotations due to need for alignment with the grip.
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

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Quoting these from the arrivals thread a while back, to contribute to the thread.

Wrench set, ratchet, tees
YesIHaveAHammer said:
440.JP10 8 - 19 mm Combination Wrench Set With Holder (10 pc.)
These are particularly lovely.
P_20250602_203355.jpg

JL.171 3/8" Pear-Head Push-Lock Ratchet
RL.171 1/4" Pear-Head Push-Lock Ratchet
P_20250602_203437.jpg

J.120A 3/8" Sliding Tee Handle
R.120A 1/4" Sliding Tee Handle
The centre pieces are spring loaded so stay put when used as a T handle, which is what the small one will likely be used as coupled with an extension or drive-through spinner handle.
P_20250602_203458.jpg
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Ratcheting wrenches, odd wrenches
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom 65 Metric Angled Head Ratchet Ring Wrenches
I had not seen these in offset type before, I expect I'll reach for them more often. Just my most commonly used sizes, as I do have other options (I'd have got an 8x10 if they did one like Beta do with their 195P).
P_20250609_130156.jpg

Facom 66A.10X13 Hinged Socket Wrench
Saw this type of wrench used by Swedish YouTuber M. Bjoernstroem, they seemed handy, and reminded me of the same type my dad had in his toolbox in the 90s when I was a kid (I actually remember how loose they were). The special 10x13 size is commonly used enough that I had to try one for myself, despite mostly negative sentiment in threads here about these "Saltus" type wrenches which are still popular in the Nordics. The spring tightness is just right, and the sizes are marked around the sockets three times.
P_20250607_140519.jpg

Facom 76.J5PB Angled Socket Wrench bi-hex set
French style "Cles a pipe". Unnecessary, obsolete... maybe, but interesting, and I stumbled upon them relatively cheaply while looking for something else. Think I'll put them on the wall to encourage me to grab them.
P_20250607_140854.jpg
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Socket drive accessories
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom R.209S 1/4″ Drive Wobble Extension Bar 55mm
The Stahlwille equivalent (405W) trades off strength in favour of a wider wobble angle (15deg each way), which was not to my preference.

Facom R.240A 1/4″ Drive Universal Joint
Just because it was a fair bit cheaper than the Stahlwille equivalent (407).

P_20250611_121213 (Custom).jpg
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Drive adaptor
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom ECR.1 1/4" Hexagon To 1/4" Square Drive Adaptor
I didn't care for this when I bought the R.180 ratchet, as I didn't realise until recently that it's especially low profile. The other rebrands of this ratchet do include it.

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Long 6pt wrenches
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom 441 XL OGV Grip wrenches
These have a special design on both ends to better grip damaged fasteners, and are also fine for normal use although they are 6 point. Comparison of the 17mm on such a fastener shows the ring end has about half the rotational play of the standard 440, but the open end actually has half more. Also known as I believe Mac RBRT, USAG X-Grip, and Craftsman Overdrive. More here in the Facom thread.
2 - Copy.jpg
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Hex bit sockets
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom RTM.3/4/5/6GRP Hex OGV Grip bit sockets 1/4"
Because manufacturers of bikes and bike multitools ****. Didn't need them this time, just bought after in case of future trouble with the typical sizes. Unlike the OGV Grip wrenches and sockets, they're specifically for damaged heads rather than general use. Also sold as Grip Edge and Mac RBRT, and also without the sockets by USAG in a small kit.
2 - Copy.jpg
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Big punches
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom Sheath Drift Punch 7.9mm & 9.9mm (249.G8 & 249.G10)
Long and with some hand comfort/protection without being cumbersome. The sheaths are soft and grippy, and the red collar at the top is flat on one side - presumably for access and to prevent rolling away.
2 - Copy.jpg
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More 440s
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom 440 5.5-6-7-9-15 mm
Filling in some gaps, and going smaller. I have things that use the largest 3, the others are for good measure. The range goes down to 5 and 4mm. Notice the 5.5mm is 6 point.
1 - Copy.jpg
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Another 440. No regrets not getting the bigger set; the 10pc covers a lot in a compact well-designed case.
YesIHaveAHammer said:
Facom 440 combination wrench 22mm
For the brushes, although the bevel brush turned out to have an odd 24mm M14 nut. Should have got a 22x24mm double open end.
5 - Copy.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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Dave455

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YesIHaveAHammer said:
Quoting these from the arrivals thread a while back, to contribute to the thread.

Wrench set, ratchet, tees


Ratcheting wrenches, odd wrenches


Socket drive accessories


Drive adaptor


Long 6pt wrenches


Hex bit sockets


Big punches


More 440s


Another 440. No regrets not getting the bigger set; the 10pc covers a lot in a compact well-designed case.
Click to expand...
Facom always makes a good present as it’s just a bit nicer / more stylish than the more utilitarian tools.

My Dad bought me some when I was younger and I quite cherish those tools.

Same applies if it’s a present to yourself!

In honesty, I find that the ratcheting ring wrenches are more use than ratcheting combinations. Most of us have regular combination wrenches with an open end anyway, so no point doubling up.

I consistently find uses for the angled socket wrenches and hinged socket wrenches. Both are great if you don’t want small parts to risk getting lost, so I quite often chuck one in my pocket if I just need to change a battery or suchlike.
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

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Dave455 said:
Most of us have regular combination wrenches with an open end anyway, so no point doubling up.
Click to expand...
I hadn't thought ahead when I bought my 440 combis, but I'm happy with what I ended up with. The 440 set covers a lot of sizes in a compact package for my mobile box, and I have just a few ratcheting ones for the most common sizes. The only thing I'd wish for is that they made a 10x13 as I'll rarely use the 11 and 12. So maybe I should have got ratcheting combis in 10 and 13 instead.

Dave455 said:
I consistently find uses for the angled socket wrenches and hinged socket wrenches. Both are great if you don’t want small parts to risk getting lost, so I quite often chuck one in my pocket if I just need to change a battery or suchlike.
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Used the angled socket wrenches 76 on a roof to fit TV aerial clamps. Less chance of losing the nut, and the excess thread passes through as it's tightened.

With the hinged socket 66A, I only have one (the 10x13, a great combo) so don't tend to remember about it so often.
 
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Dave455

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YesIHaveAHammer said:
I hadn't thought ahead when I bought my 440 combis, but I'm happy with what I ended up with. The 440 set covers a lot of sizes in a compact package for my mobile box, and I have just a few ratcheting ones for the most common sizes. The only thing I'd wish for is that they made a 10x13 as I'll rarely use the 11 and 12. So maybe I should have got ratcheting combis in 10 and 13 instead.


Used the angled socket wrenches 76 on a roof to fit TV aerial clamps. Less chance of losing the nut, and the excess thread passes through as it's tightened.

With the hinged socket 66A, I only have one (the 10x13, a great combo) so don't tend to remember about it so often.
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That’s essentially what I ended up with in my mobile box.

Pretty much a complete set of 440’s. I opted for the wrench roll but otherwise same logic. They are such good value I decided to have a set pretty much without gaps.

I opted for a few 440XL’s in the popular sizes too.

I think I did one job that really needed one of those flex heads (I used flex combination). I was changing a car door and nothing else would fit in. I don’t know how the maker fitted it, but I’m guessing fitting the door first then bolting on the wing (fender?).
 
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boxy30

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Curious if anyone here has experience with the 467BF wrenches?

I really like the 467 non-flex reversible ratcheting wrenches and had my eyes on a set of these for a flex option.

467BF-JP12PB_P2.jpg
 
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Callelle

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boxy30 said:
Curious if anyone here has experience with the 467BF wrenches?

I really like the 467 non-flex reversible ratcheting wrenches and had my eyes on a set of these for a flex option.

467BF-JP12PB_P2.jpg
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I have both the non reversible flex heads and the non flex reversibles in MAC flavor in my cart. Flex heads take the spot of if I need something SAE and the reversibles I just use daily. I enjoy both but prefer having the option to switch directions.
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

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Dilemma for you Facom and Knipex fans - pliers wrenches compared

Pexto said:
Mostly, I find the Facom/Craftsman easier to adjust, especially with one hand. The big pushbutton on the Facom is very easy to depress and has very positive action. In contrast, the Knipex has a much smaller button that has to be pushed in much further. When you push the button on the Facom the surrounding ring helps keep your thumb right there, on the Knipex my thumb sometimes slips off the small button. In addition the button on the Knipex often hangs up or sticks slightly. The Facom doesn't seem to do that.

I have 4 or 5 Knipex Plierswrench in different sizes, and I like them a great deal. But I think that ease of adjustment is where some of their competitors do a somewhat better job. I have a small Hazet (150mm?) that's easier to adjust than the same size Knipex. I also have a 250mm Klein that is easier to adjust than Knipex.

Another reason the Facom is easier to adjust can be seen in the picture showing the back. The Facom has the toothed rack milled into the back of the plier; thus when you push the adjustment button you automatically create clearance. The Knipex has the rack on both sides of the interior slot, thus the pin can hang up or stick on either side.

The Facom has slightly deeper jaws (2mm) than the Knipex, and somewhat greater maximum capacity (6mm more). The Facom is significantly heavier at 545g versus the 467g of the Knipex.

Hope this helps!

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Dave455

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Facom have always been quite innovative with their sets. They have always offered a considerable selection, and they were the first to offer the “nano” sets with ultra compact plastic boxes.

I recently noticed that these sets are available. Unusually, they are based on short ratcheting combination wrenches, with adaptors for 1/4” square drive and 1/4” hex bits.

These sets have a standard box and a foam liner, so not quite as nice as the nano sets, but still a novelty.
IMG_2899.jpeg

By coincidence, I put together my own compact 1/4” square drive set a few years ago, and opted to include short ratcheting wrenches in exactly the same sizes.
 
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CHI_Tool&Die

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Photos from the MAC Tools Fair are starting to make their rounds and these two plier sets caught my eye. I know MAC has an entire plier line made in France by Facom. Any chance these are or are they out of their Taiwanese plant?
 

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Dave455

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CHI_Tool&Die said:
Photos from the MAC Tools Fair are starting to make their rounds and these two plier sets caught my eye. I know MAC has an entire plier line made in France by Facom. Any chance these are or are they out of their Taiwanese plant?
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I don’t recognise these as being a Facom design.

It’s possible it’s a new design, but the other French made tools that get rebranded are fairly obviously Facom designs, so my gut feeling is that they originate elsewhere.
 
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CHI_Tool&Die

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Dave455 said:
I don’t recognise these as being a Facom design.

It’s possible it’s a new design, but the other French made tools that get rebranded are fairly obviously Facom designs, so my gut feeling is that they originate elsewhere.
Click to expand...
I had my hopes up but figured that would be the answer.
 
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lu787a

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Looking at the Facom rachet range. I notice the parts numbers R for Radio, 1/4". J for Junior, 3/8". And S for Standard 1/2".

Why "Radio"? Google Translate says Radio in French means radio.

Screenshot_20260217_192510_Firefox.png
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

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They use the same words on the French website.

Just marketing words I believe. I think it works ok as you can intuitively put them in order from 1/4" to 1".

But not really necessary to have a marketing name for a drive size either.
 
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Dave455

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lu787a said:
Looking at the Facom rachet range. I notice the parts numbers R for Radio, 1/4". J for Junior, 3/8". And S for Standard 1/2".

Why "Radio"? Google Translate says Radio in French means radio.

Screenshot_20260217_192510_Firefox.png
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Most of these names are historic.

Decades back, radio’s were built on a chassis (typically aluminium) and the individual components, or their holders, were bolted to the chassis with small nuts and bolts.

Conventional wrenches were often unsuitable as the components projected from the chassis. A “nut runner“ or nut driver was one solution, but a 1/4” drive set incorporating extensions was another, which was obviously a use that Facom envisaged!

Even when electronic components became smaller, and were simply soldered to boards, small sockets were still needed to attach some parts, and deep sockets for securing controls and switches!
 
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Squankum

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lu787a said:
Looking at the Facom rachet range. I notice the parts numbers R for Radio, 1/4". J for Junior, 3/8". And S for Standard 1/2".

Why "Radio"? Google Translate says Radio in French means radio.

Screenshot_20260217_192510_Firefox.png
Click to expand...

Probably related to Knipex calling certain needle nose pliers "radio pliers."


People here at GJ have bought Knipex needle noses, then tried to twist a cotter point out and have the tips of the pliers snap break? bend? under pressure. I think the standard response is that you need their more burly needle nose pliers, not the ones with the graceful thin tips that that they call radio pliers.
 
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ultgar

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I can remember when those 257.G punches were $35.00ea. Inflation and tariffs have almost tripled the cost. I still have a few left. The 257A punch (USAG version) is still only $45.00 thanks to a promo a few years ago. Replacement tips are available for those.
 

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