Resources

Facom & USAG Tools

Facom/USAG - Corporate Overview - Facom (located outside of Paris) is a leading European brand in hand tools, working for over ninety-five years with automotive, aerospace and industrial maintenance professionals. USAG (in northern Italy) was purchased by Facom in 1991 and the two brands today offer many identical products....with a few key exceptions:

• USAG branded products have a US warranty

• USAG branded products have faster delivery times (7-10 days for USAG vs 3-8 weeks for most Facom)

• USAG branded products are typically less expensive

Facom/USAG offer a full range of over 9,000+ products which include the storage product range (trolleys, cabinets, workbenches, portable storage etc.), standard hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers etc.) and specialist tools (Automotive, Electrical, Aerospace etc.) to meet the needs of all repair technicians. I keep an inventory of over 3,500 different Facom & USAG tools for shipment within 24hrs from my Northern NJ warehouse. I also stock many repair parts and accessories for their tools and kits.

Why Facom/USAG - I selected Facom as the primary tool line for Ultimate Garage in 1996 (USAG was added in 2017). I was impressed with their design and engineering....the way the tools felt in my hand. And historically, they've been a great value compared to some of their competitors (eg, Snap-on, Mac, Matco, Beta, etc).  At the end of the day, a tool is only as good as the person using it.  But after all these years, Facom & USAG tools continue to impress and have shown consistently high quality.

Quality & Country of Origin - Facom/USAG are known for their quality and innovative products. With the recent transition to Stanley, management has shifted some production to countries with lower labor rates, notably, Italy, Czech Republic, Taiwan & China. Products are still designed and engineered in Europe and construction quality, finish and aesthetics have not changed.

Approximately 65% of Facom/USAG products are still being manufactured in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, UK, Ireland, and Spain), 30% in Taiwan and 5% in China. These estimates are based on purchases over the past 24 months.

Facom/USAG, unlike their main European competitors (Hazet, Stahlwille, Beta, Wera, etc), are now part of a US company. Worldwide sales of Facom/USAG are consolidated and reported to the Stanley Group and reflected in their corporate financial statements.

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Note - Facom & USAG occasionally update their products or discontinue items without dealer/distributor pre-notification. We try to maintain current photos and details on all products we stock. Ultimate Garage is not responsible for any manufacturer changes in subtle cosmetic details (changes in engravings, markings, knurlings, etc) that do not affect functionality or deviate from the stated product specifications.

ABA Hose Clamps

Why ABA - I've been using ABA's clamps for 20+ years and, in my opinion, they are still the best on the market. The Mini Clamps are great for securing fuel and other small hoses (with an outer diameter of less than 17mm). The Rubber Sleeve Clamps work well at securing air lines along with other piping & hose to walls in the shop. The ABA Original Series Clamps (I only stock the 316 stainless version) with their wide, smooth and rolled bands are the best coolant hose clamps you'll find anywhere.

Quality & Country of Origin - all of the ABA hose clamps that we sell are made in Sweden.  The Facom/USAG flexible drivers are made in France.

Spax Screws & Lag Bolts

Why Spax - don't compromise your project with inferior hardware. Spax screws - high quality European standards at affordable pricing.

SPAX® T-STAR Washer Head PowerLags® with yellow zinc coating designed with low-profile, large diameter head design provides outstanding clamping force and improved aesthetics. The T-STAR drive offers excellent bit engagement without requiring a special driver bit. Available in 1/4”, 5/16”, and 3/8” diameters. Also available in HCR  (green) coating for exterior applications.

SPAX® Hex Washer Head PowerLags® with HCR® coating are intended for wood to wood connections in exterior structural applications. These fasteners are designed with a hex head conventional driver system along with a built in washer for applications requiring superior pull-down force. Often used in high torque applications. These are also available in silver zinc for interior applications although I have not had much demand for those over the years.

SPAX® Multi-Purpose construction screws (Flat head or Pan head) are a versatile multi-material fastener solution for a wide range of interior applications, including wood, concrete, masonry, sheet metal and plastic. Unidrive combination head can be used with either Phillips or square drive bit. Note- I also stock the flat head screws in yellow zinc.

SPAX® MDF fasteners with T-STAR plus trim head are designed for use in interior finishing applications. The tip is specifically designed for use in hardwood trim or medium density fiberboard (MDF) applications.

SPAX® T-STAR plus Wafer Head fasteners with yellow zinc coating are designed for use in multiple material connections. They are designed with a low profile large diameter wafer head which is ideal for installation of cabinetry or where a countersunk head is not desired.

Quality & Country of Origin - all of the Spax screws and lags that I sell are made in the USA or Germany.

Facom & USAG Tool News

Facom/USAG Tool News - photo gallery and commentary for Facom & USAG tool enthusiast, collectors, etc.  New and featured products, "Facom classics" & company history, pricing and trends, tools in action, and tool reviews from my own personal experiences. Plenty of car and shop photos from my past 30 years of designing and outfitting garages and workshops.