TheSamba.com :: View topic - For Hazet owners, do you use these tools or for show?

Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:30 pm

Curious, for those that collect all the old 50s/60s/70s Hazet tools to go with their VWs, do you actually use them day to day for servicing your VWs or are they just for collections and show?

I dig the old tools, but wonder if these older tools, including the screwdrivers, are good enough for day to day work or do most of you have more modern tools for your real wrenching fests?

I bet there are a few real cool older tools that are real useful, but I mean the wrenches and screwdrivers, stuff like that.

Just curious is all.

tj

Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:11 pm

I installed front brake drums today and used the correct Hazet wrenches to tighten the spindle nuts. They have grease on them. They stay in my real toolbox.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:34 pm

Tools are to be used, not to display. Every tool I have is to be used.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:41 pm

I use mine.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:50 pm

I use my Craftsman lifetime-warranty-if-I-break-it-so-what tools.

My pristine set of Hazets stay hidden away in the closet.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:23 pm

In terms of the Hazet/VW tools in my roll-up tool kit in my Bus - No I don't generally use those as I carry a small tool bad with me on trips.
If I was on the side of the road and needed to - Yes, I would.

I have some random Hazet and dealer tools I have collected. I use them, including some that were NOS when purchased.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:48 am

amishman wrote: I dig the old tools, but wonder if these older tools, including the screwdrivers, are good enough for day to day work...
Good enough? The few old Hazet tools that I've seen and used are of far greater quality than the majority of the modern tools most people buy. I can see not using old Hazet tools that are in very good condition from a collectible standpoint, but certainly not on the basis of poor quality.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:22 am

Nope,

Almost never used them, disliked them actually.
I've had Craftsman, SK or Snap On since I was a teenager. My dad was a machinist and taught me a love of quality tools.

Before they were collectible they ended up in a box in the garage covered with rust. Who really wants a crummy open end wrench with an excessively wide support around the opening or a wooden handle screw driver? And that roll up bag? Useless. I never had the "fancy" kit that lived in the spare tire so if I had I may have felt differently?
I kept the spark plug / lug nut socket and the round handle for that in the car but other than that I had a small box of "real" tools that lived under the back seat along with a spare head, a spare jug and piston along with other "critical" on the road repair parts. Never had to use them luckily.

Even today, I still despise poor quality tools, Mechanical as well as carpentry. So many are out there like have already been mentioned and so many people purchase based on price alone. Right now I fully expect the anti Craftsman crowd to descend upon me here soon!

Dave

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:12 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: Tools are to be used, not to display. Every tool I have is to be used.

me too. I love my Hazet ring compressors.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:23 am

crofty wrote: Russ Wolfe wrote: Tools are to be used, not to display. Every tool I have is to be used.

me too. I love my Hazet ring compressors.

I do have a few Stahwille tools. In my opinion, they are on the same par as Hazet. I don't care what Jon says.
My first real metric tools, was a factory basic tool set and Williams roll cabinet from VW. I still have most of those tools, including the roll cabinet, 40 some years later.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:25 am

I dont own any but I have seen Jon (Hazetguy) use his.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:34 am

I never like watching another guy use his tool.
:shock:

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:37 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: crofty wrote: Russ Wolfe wrote: Tools are to be used, not to display. Every tool I have is to be used.

me too. I love my Hazet ring compressors.

I do have a few Stahwille tools. In my opinion, they are on the same par as Hazet. I don't care what Jon says.
My first real metric tools, was a factory basic tool set and Williams roll cabinet from VW. I still have most of those tools, including the roll cabinet, 40 some years later.

I'd like to have a lot more of them but they are a little pricey.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:54 am

crofty wrote: Russ Wolfe wrote: Tools are to be used, not to display. Every tool I have is to be used.

me too. I love my Hazet ring compressors.

Yup, I think these kinds of specialty tools like ring compressor, no matter how old, are great to have. I need to get me these ring compressors for future. 8)

I mostly meant the day to day stuff like wrenches and screwdrivers, etc... I always see these 36mm Hazet wrenches that came in those kits and wondered when a VW person that owns Hazet needs 36mm, if they grab that old 36mm wrench 1st or just grab their Craftsman or whatever brand they are pimping at the time and use something more modern, maybe a ratchet & socket, etc...

tj

Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:57 am

amishman wrote: I mostly meant the day to day stuff like wrenches and screwdrivers, etc... I always see these 36mm Hazet wrenches that came in those kits and wondered when a VW person that owns Hazet needs 36mm, if they grab that old 36mm wrench 1st or just grab their Craftsman or whatever brand they are pimping at the time and use something more modern, maybe a ratchet & socket, etc...
On my '55 Kombi, I used to use the big nut generator wrench whenever needed:

Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:59 am

I finally got basically a complete set of the ring compressors.
25hp thru the 92.5mm 1700's.
I much prefer them over the band type. I have worn a couple of those out over the years.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:24 pm

I use my Hazet and Stahwille tools all the time. They are made to work on German cars.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:46 pm

I use my Hazet tools all the time, occasionally I use Hazetguy's too.

Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:11 pm

I have a Hazet assistant that has my specialty Hazet tools in it as well as my snap-on tools. Like Everett I try not to use my tool roles in my vehicles, but would if needed. Something’s like say a Hazet valve adjustment wrench, a early Hazet steering wheel puller or rear end gland nut removal setup are invaluable and where designed for our vehicals.

I really do not collect Hazet tools just because they are Hazet, but because they were made for a specific task. At the swaps if I see a Hazet screwdriver for sale or a combo box wrench I'll just pass on them.

Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:37 am

I use the ones that are in the round spare tire kit. My uncle used them on the beetle that the kit came with, so why not. Age doesn't seem to have hurt them.