Bovidix. This brand name was unknown to me until last October, when I received an odd email requesting coverage of the brand. I followed up and received a response I can only describe as having a veiled marketing tone.
Then, a month later, someone reached out to me on behalf of Bovidix, mirroring much of what was said in the “reader’s” email. I followed up, they answered a few questions, and then communication went dark.
Advertisement
What I learned from the brief emails is that Bovidix is a Russian tool company looking to expand operations in the US. According to the second person who reached out to me about the brand, Bovidix is “really pushing to compete with the big hand tool companies, Matco, Snap-On, etc.”
They didn’t answer my question about where the products are made, but according to Amazon product descriptions, at least some Bovidix tools are made in Taiwan.
Both of the people who emailed me mentioned Bovidix’s Multibox System, which actually looks kind of neat, almost like Festool Systainers but sized for mechanics tools and hand tools.
All of Bovidix’s tool sets are modular and it looks like the Multiboxes are designed to lay flat in tool drawers for easier access.
Why bring this up now?
Advertisement
As much as I like USA brands, I also find so much to like about foreign tool brands. Some of my favorites include Grip-on (Spain, locking pliers), Irega (Spain, adjustable wrenches), Facom (France, industrial tools), Veritas (Canada, woodworking), PB Swiss (Switzerland, hand tools), NWS (Germany, pliers)… you get the picture.
I feel that Bovidix’s Multibox storage system and industrial hand tools might be worth taking a closer look at, but am on the fence.
So I have a couple of questions for you:
Have you ever heard of Bovidix before, and if so, what did you hear? Even better, if you’ve used Bovidix tools, what do you think about them?
And for anyone with no experience with the brand, are you interested in hearing more about their tools? I could be convinced to get my hands on a few of their products for review.
It seems that Amazon is testing the waters with a couple of tool sets.
Allen
I see the amazon site lists Tiawan as the COO. I didn’t look everywhere but I didn’t see mention of a warrenty.
Looks similar to the Blue Point line.
Clayton
I have never used or heard of them, but looking at their listings on Amazon, I love that the cases look to be steel and the idea of the multiboxes. I may actually pick up a small set to check out their quality.
Ian
I’ve never heard of them, but I’d be interested in knowing more about the quality of their tools. Some of the stuff I saw on Amazon looks interesting if the quality is good.
Dennis
1) Never heard of them nor used them.
2) What, no mention of Wiha or Wera in favorite foreign tool brands?!?
3) Yet again I just want the cases, why is that not an option? Although I could do without the Buffalo Sabres logo. One would assume a bear or an eagle, but why a buffalo?
4) Russia does have a history of making robust products (read – not always pretty) that just keep on working… So who knows.
5) They certainly are priced like they are a well known European brand, which is problematic to me if the product is made in Taiwan.
Stuart
2) They were left out for the sake of brevity, otherwise I would have had to mention Wiha, Wera, Knipex, Felo, Witte, as I consider these brands about equally. NWS was mentioned because they’re less well known in the US.
3) They are available as separate SKUs. The Bovidix site doesn’t do a good job of showing this, even when it doesn’t freeze up on me. Part numbers: Small 19014445, Medium 28819045, Large 38028890, Extra Large 576380100. They’re all currently listed as sold out on the Bovidix site. When you search for the product number, sort by price lower to higher. Dimensions can be found at http://bovidix.com/how-to-use-multibox-cabinet.html .
fred
Some lesser known (here in the US anyway) European brands also include: Elora, Hazet, Heyco, Klann and Stahlwille.
Altan
Elora produces extreme quality of screwdriver bits, all made in Germany.
Dennis
Small 19014445 – $9.97
Medium 28819045 – $16.87
Large 38028890 – $32.45
Extra Large 576380100 – $60.96
Not completely out of the realm of possibility. The smaller two seem to be very reasonably priced. Get rid of the buffalo and I’m in. Well I would be in if they had some in stock…
Sergey
Dennis, it’s not a buffalo, it’s aurochs — a rare animal from western Russia, so the logo is fitting.
I’ve never heard of Bovidix and I can’t find any references to it in Russian, it looks like their tools are not made in Russia either. Weird. But I’d like to know more about their toolboxes, that modular system looks interesting.
John
Reminds me of the cosmonaut from the movie Armageddon as he hits machinery with a wrench: “Russian components, American Components…. ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!”
Monte
The brand name belongs to a company in the US
Stuart
Some of the tools appeared to be marked Fasangas, which I believe is an Italian tool company. I haven’t yet traced Bovidix back to its parent company.
JeffD
The prices don’t seem bad, especially for their 1/2″ drive sets. I have been looking to replace my GW 3/8″ sockets but I really need to touch these before I make a jump.
On the other hand, if you get a set to review and the review is positive I might be inclined to try them.
Anthony V
in mother russia…. wrenches turn YOU …..
Javier
Not sure about tools but taiwan is known for carbon fiber for bikes such as frames and other parts like rims.
chad
in this link the wrenches say USA
http://www.amazon.com/Bovidix-288301302-Spherical-Combination-Ratcheting/dp/B00APWL99O/ref=sr_1_17?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1364960311&sr=1-17&keywords=Bovidix
Stuart
The wrenches say Bovidix USA, as branding, but it says Taiwan under origin in the product description.
chad
The metal cases look very nice and its something different. plastic cases kind of suck.
JeffD
The metal cases are nice, and I understand their design. But when placing in the cabinet there’s a lot of wasted space.
William
I tried to do some research of the brand after someone mentioned it to me. The Bovidix trademark is registered in the USA. The person who registered it has “Individual Kazakhstan” next to their name which I presume means that’s where they’re from. There is a patent application, US20110073516 A1, registered with the US Patent Office, that appears to be for the Multibox Storage system. The three people I’ve found so far associated with the brand, and the tool box patent, all have the same surname, which seems to be either Russian or Ukrainian. There is a Bovidix Corp. listed in Miami Florida whose address corresponds to one on the trademark. There”s also a Bovidix s.r.o. listed in Prague in the Czech Republic. The company has a Youtube channel were they demonstrate some of the products. The Multibox Storage System actually looks very nice. Some of the tool sets are for sale on both Amazon.com and Sears.com. A number of the products have a US flag on the packaging, despite likely not being made in the USA, which I believe is a violation of Federal Trade Commission regulations. I also saw one of the wrenches was labelled Kabo, so the Taiwanese company is likely doing some of the manufacturing.
ch564
Just received a 40pc tap and die set…very low quality.On the box it says “tools manufactured in china,assembled in taiwan”…the only good thing about it is the case.I think im going to return it to amazon,I pulled the tap handle out and one of the jaws fell out….thats how bad this set is
george
The only true Russian made tool out there is: Delo Techniki., they offer a complete line of mechanic’s hand tools. They are snap-on in quality.
Mark
Buffalo, aurochs (which I thought were extinct), cows, are all bovids. Maybe that explains the name. Now that information is NOT going to help you choose a tool.
Elliott Evans
I think this Bovidix,isnt Russian at all.Looks to me like Asian subcontract for Russian company. Here in Australia, we got a lot of genuine Russian tools in the 90s following collapse of the USSR. They were very cheap,but not a complete range…the steel was very good,I had some cold chisels tested..the sockets sets were also good they had weight to them,and the boxes were real steel not tin or plastic…the surface finish was satin chrome,not polished..There was some roughness in finish,scratches evident under chrome on adjustable wrench face etc. People here bought them just for use as they were cheap sort of thing,…but they worked quite well,in hindsight I should have bought more of them..gave the socket set away last year, still have the number 4 plane,and some wood chisels,and a vernier caliper and a spirit level. There were several different brand markings all in Cyrillic. The socket set and chisels were from H,inside a diamond logo,which I think refers to the big factory in Novosibirsk,as H is the Cyrillic N…All tools were quite similar to other available designs,only satin chrome finish.and plastic handle colours showed the difference…perfectly good DIY quality,maybe been OK for professional use but trades here used Sidchrome,Stanley,Snapon etc Hope this helps Regards Elliott
Alex Genda
I too am from Australia…and I have owned and used a Russian socket set with the label H in a diamond logo. I have used these sockets for over 25 years…never had a breakage or any problems….seem to be unbreakable ! Have owned several cars and 4x4s…my Sidchrome sockets broke and cracked, the Sidchrome ratchets are rubbish…but the Russian set is my favourite. I have even snapped off rusted-in chassis bolts with this set…no problem! IF the new Russian sockets are as good as the old set, I will happily buy some.