Baum Tools?
 

considering buying a Baum Tools brand spring compressor for $300.

I know i can get an chinese-made Ebay special for about $160 but I don't mind paying a little extra for the quality difference if there is any.

Looking at that front suspension spring coming off the wrong way gives me the shivers.

Question--is that brand pretty good? the retail for the spring compressor is $695

I usually prefer to buy a better quality of tool if I am going to use and reuse and reuse. I don't like to buy a good quality tool just to use it once and probably never again. This is one of those cases that I think is best farmed out so you don't have another piece of metal in the garage sitting and gathering dust.

If you only need it one time, why not rent it from one of the members?

Or, if you have a good floor jack and good jack stands, you can do without.
Get the car high enough to allow the control arm to fully lower. Then put the floor jack in place and remove the hardware that holds the arm. Then slowly lower the arm till no tension is left. Worked good for me on my W124.

By the time the arm is fully lowered there is not much tension left. Easily controlled with the floor jack the rest of the way.

I bought a number of MB-specific hand tools from Baum when I bought my MB 16 yrs. ago.

First rate in my opinion, but as stated above, "made in China" might work if needed only once. If you're going to go low, look at Harbor Freight. Their quality has improved.

I had a lesser version break one of my fingers, get the quality tool.

I agree with Murrell. While I don't frequent Harbor Freight on a regular basis I do shop there now and again.

Their quality has come up over the last twenty years, and some of their tools are close to top quality.

But perhaps you could shop Ebay for such a tool, use it, and then sell it again. I know a Video Producer who uses this method to secure equipment, and he tells me it is not only cheaper than renting but he sometimes turns a small profit during the resell.

This is one item I would not cheap out on. The possible consequences of it's failure are too severe. The good tool is probably forged steel. The lesser tool may not be. Coil springs can kill.

For the amount of times an average owner uses one rent it.

Wouldn't it be easier to farm this one out so you don't have the hassle of reselling it or waiting for the right priced one to come along or keep a tool you will probably never use again? For a commercial application perhaps but toils get expensive for a one time use.

I have several baum tools. but they aren't the baum tools you might be thinking
of. :D

Don't think he is looking to borrow your BUM TOOLS.

NO!!!! Baum® Tools.

Thee Baum® tools I have are specialty tools for the Baum paper folding machine.

Before buying I would contact Baum Tools and ask them where the Spring Compressor is Made.

On eBay
Mercedes Klann coil spring compressor tool - NEW! W123 W124 W201 W202 W203 R129

This spring compressor set is made by Klann for SPX Tools. It is the real deal, made in Germany spring compressor, not a cheap Taiwan copy. It is identical to the Klann KL-0025 in every way except the name stamped on the side. These are brand new, never used!

$599 with free shipping
Mercedes Klann Coil Spring Compressor Tool New W123 W124 W201 W202 W203 R129 | eBay