Hazet "Assistent" 166N Review

[@machiningbasics1729]

My grandpa had one badged “Volkswagen” and it stands in to corner of my workshop still in use

[@xoscha1983]

Thank you! I recently inherited this toolbox from my father, it's a very old model, and I didn't even know it was from Hazet... I could'nt figure out how to collapse it thank you for all the info, very interesting!

[@stevejackson6427]

Great review, I worked with some German mechanics a few years ago and they all had em been in love with them since. As a Union Millwright this would be perfect to take on the road and do simple conveyor jobs. After watching your video I pulled the trigger and bought the 166C and the mini. I like your idea on the linear bearings which I plan on adding to the 166C. Also I have plans for a charge station/power supply at the bottom for lights on each section.

[@GermanToolReviews]

Yeah there's definitely a lot you can do with these once you restore them. I've even seen one made in to a remote holder for the living room.

[@Krillekris]

That was much more interesting that I first guessed. Thank you for doing good research and an awesome review.

[@271production]

Nice job on the restoration. Because of this review, I just bought one. They are really cheap here, I paid 60 euros for a good one, although repainted

[@GermanToolReviews]

Good deal! Yeah I heard in certain places they are very common and there are deals to be had which is why so many of them have been re-purposed as grills.

[@271production]

Yeah they aren't wanted because they are a bit of a weird concept. Nowadays if you want portability, stackable plastic boxes are a better and lighter choice, and for a proper workshop toolbox drawers are much nicer and sturdier.

[@elwoode8664]

Note from "almost Remscheid" in Germany: In the Disney+ Series "Star Wars The Book of Boba Fett" in Episode 4 you can briefly see a Assistent 160-Series like tool tray. Color matches a Hazet ..so if you have an old rusty one...it may have been on Tatooine :D

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

That's so cool. I saw a photo still somewhere recently. I believe that the Hazet has been in a number of movies, but I can't remember off the top of my head which ones. It usually is in a garage scene obviously.

[@secondopinion6654]

The Bahco 808050P ratcheting screwdriver uses the same brilliant joint as the folding arms.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I was planning on restoring an ancient Assistent and even wrote to Hazet about getting some of their paint to do the job. They initially responded with enthusiasm and said they would send a few pints of of Hazet Blau for free, but then for some reason they rescinded the offer (it may have been when they saw the shipping cost to the U.S.). : (

[@turboslag]

The original early versions have a cult following with VW bug and van owners, as they were standard issue in VW workshops around the world. I've always had a thing for them but not from the VW perspective, I just like innovative tool stuff. I finally managed to get a fairly recent 166C in almost as new condition on UK ebay for £270. They are uber quality, Hazet is a high end tool manufacturer.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

What color was that spray paint you used? It's almost a perfect match for Hazet blue. Btw, when you mentioned linear bearings, do you mean a cylindrical sleeve bearing with ball bearings inside? That would be a huge improvement over the plastic sleeve bearings on the Assistent.

[@thomashartwig5059]

Hi! Where did you get the spareparts? Thx!

[@andreasschmitt5370]

Crazy, how much work you put into this project! I wonder , if the pre-owner recognizes this trolley because of the VW Caddy plate.(Volkswagen model Type 14d) I have an Assistent in use aswell, but the model might be an older cheaper version of yours with fixed arms. I paid 25 Euro for it :-)

[@Alangley345]

I'm assuming the lack of reviews comes from an industrial focus and the price tag of this item. It wouldn't surprise me if many of these "assistents" are hand me downs through several generations like rolling mechanics style tool boxes in the US.

[@Meffigoesout]

Hallo, ich hatte eine Frage, wäre es möglich die Säulen zu tauschen? Also von einer nicht klappbare auf eine klappbare? Aber super video und gutes review👌👍

[@fasousa4798]

you can glue a magnet underneath those indents and thus hold in steel screws nicely

[@GermanToolReviews]

Yeah that is not a bad idea.

[@spp24k]

I have one for my motorcycle which turned out to be ideal. All my special tools fit inside and it's the perfect height when open to grab tools and start wrenchin'. The only downside i have encountered is my 1/2" torque wrench doesn't fit. Other than that, it's a very good design and i can definitely see why it's been around for 60+ years. I've also just recently picked up another one to put all my electrical tools, parts, and supplies in. Seems to be working ok for that purpose as well. Hazet did a wonderful job engineering these things. I wonder why other manufacture's haven't "copied" them? Is the patent still valid?

[@GermanToolReviews]

There are a couple of clones out there. A company from Mexico makes a red version, I can't quite recall the name of the company. Beta also makes a collapsible tool trolley, BC27S, that definitely looks like it was inspired by the Assistent, but has some differences such as sliding drawers.

[@mikaelhafstrommvonhaf]

Thanks. I dosent no how to take it down. It works well now.

[@Papperlapappmaul]

I'm already in love with that catalog. It's clearly been made back when people still used to give a fuck. The spelling and grammar are just meticulous. Today you'd be lucky to find composite nouns longer than ten characters or so in anything other than professionally edited books. In most product related texts those nouns are just ripped apart for whatever reason. Also, the prices for those trolleys are ridiculously high. Even the smallest one is almost a thousand bucks delivered. How do they justify those prices?

[@GermanToolReviews]

They are quite a bit cheaper in the EU/Germany. Probably more expensive elsewhere because of the weight / cost to ship the unit. It is made of heavy gauge steel and can be quite heavy > 25kg/55lb. The one I got came from a guy in Germany who worked on a US military base and got a special rate on shipping back to the states.

[@Papperlapappmaul]

I just looked it up and you're right. In Germany they are much more reasonably priced. Still rather expensive but reasonable.

[@jimbolimbo369]

Wow, I have my grandfathers old Hazet Assistent from the 50s or 60s

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

you should post some pictures online somewhere

[@AirplaneDoctor_]

They would be excellent in aircraft maintenance especially in packed hangers where you can't move your full size toolbox due to wings overlapping.

[@GermanToolReviews]

Yeah I didn't really think about that. I feel like it needs a wagon pole/tongue to move it around.

[@pricelesspits]

+German Tool Reviews On the top where you put the aircraft nuts, I put a magnet on the underside and it helps when you are pushing the assistant.

[@johnfalkenstine8377]

By American standards, it's a small toolchest and the reason is that most German car dealers have a tool crib, so you don't have the "tool empire" that many American Mechanics have. I worked in Germany and had a bulky metal tool chest that still could be carried. I liked this assistent very much but it was difficult to load this into a German passenger train compartment.

[@joeframer9642]

Solid review love the channel 👍

[@MrNealeChidler]

Great review, there is not a great deal of videos of these units,

[@gearloose703]

IMO the only one worth having is the 160 mini because it is small enough to be portable. While overlooked, it is the only one which really works and does things better than any other tool box or cart on the market. The mini has a good handle to carry or lift in the trunk. Fully loaded it still is very heavy of course but just portable enough to carry up short stairs and lift over obstacles. The only good thing about the bigger ones is that they are very easy to sell, but I can not understand why people want them so much. I tried to love one but just had no use for it, but the small one I will pass on to my children.

[@heavydiesel]

I found a vintage yellow Mini Assi on ebay in Germany, was about $250 once shipped to the UK, after replacing some missing rivets and some new wheels its proving useful, I work mobile fixing refrigeration equipment on farms and often there is nowhere clean and dry to put parts or tools as you work. See it at work in the vid below, kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZaWdaCKfM6hgtk

[@defiled3s]

I lold at that Pflegedienststation translation, as it has nothing to do with nursing rather maintenance :D Edit: On that note, what would you call a station thats dedicated to regular maintenance or maybe even care for your cars/truck?

[@GermanToolReviews]

I thought that seemed odd. It wasn't a word that I knew so I looked up Pflegedienst came back as Nursing, should have look at the alternate definitions (cleaning). I am surprised you are the only one who caught that.

[@defiled3s]

Well Im german, Im just stuck at finding a better translation. There doesnt seem to be one. "Service Station" seems to be the closest one so far.

[@sumpfbaer01]

What they meant was some kind of car wash or maintenance stations. Today the term "Pflegedienst" is no longer used for the technical scope.

[@astlan33]

I have a Hazet assistent similar to this. Anyone out there have any idea on what is the best way to sell this toolbox?

[@GermanToolReviews]

There is a group on facebook called "Hazet Tool Assistent" that could join and ask to see if there is any interest. Otherwise Ebay or Craigslist.

[@pricelesspits]

[e-mail]. I'll buy it.

[@astlan33]

German Tool Reviews thank you for the info.

[@astlan33]

pricelesspits my toolbox is not as good as the ones in this video.

[@astlan33]

plus.google.com/102770630470434405417/posts/YUj4TtWLnpP

[@donaldjasoncrunk]

Excellent review, thank you!

[@jcoul1sc]

Try a Ikea desk lamp

[@57WillysCJ]

I saw one on Ebay, but $599.99 + $79.99 is a little steep in price.

[@MikesToolShed]

57WillysCJ I just looked at that exact one and was gonna ask if that was a decent price. Was it the one that looked modded with plywood?

[@57WillysCJ]

Not sure, the price made not look to close.Then I looked at the price of a new at $1365 on Amazon. Be handy though if you worked maintenance at a large factory.

[@MikesToolShed]

It's cool, but not 1300 bucks cool (not my budget anyway) I could see spending like 3 or 4 hundred though for a decent one

[@sunc93]

Very good Review 👍🏻

[@danijel124]

You need to review unior. Unior tools beat these german brands by far

[@chaddles623]

Finally you showed it and how it works, I really like these but holy cow the price is over $1500 New (range from about $1000- $2000)

[@lexel90]

what 1000$ for an assistent? holy cow better buy it an germany and let it ship to you here in germany its around 500€ incl shipping so dont know the fees you have to pay but it should be cheaper

[@GermanToolReviews]

Yeah they are quite expensive in North America. You can find a lot of vintage ones for under 300 Euro in Germany. Shipping would be a killer though as it weights 25 kg, which is probably why they are so expensive outside of Europe.

[@antonovgarage4328]

Great review. And if anyone is interested, I have in my possession vintage Hazet 162N absolutely new, in the original package. I can sell true connoisseurs of this product.

[@scottcarlon6318]

Adding a lamp seems to be child’s play fo a cobbler of your skill level.

[@martinplamondon7303]

I have one if anyone wants to buy it

[@xenonram]

They spelled "assistant" wrong.

[@NirreFirre]

Andrew Delashaw Not if you are a germanic speaking mekaniker 😏

[@GustavoHernandez1]

Andrew Delashaw Naja, if you're speaking bastardized German then they did

[@richardrichard5409]

Obsolete nowadays, nothing seems to fit, rachets, long screwdrivers, torque wrenchs etc

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

The larger 166c is much better for fitting automotive tools.