Proto tools

[Jtrux]

I've been buying Proto lately to replace worn our Cman or just to buy new tools that I was in need of in the first place.

 

I have some Snap On stuff that I've picked up over the years. Electric impact, impact sockets and extensions, a few ratchets and chrome socket sets, etc, but lately Proto has been my go to purchase.

 

We used Proto a lot when I worked at Union Pacific and it held up to serious beatings. I have an old 1/2" ratchet and recently purchased a 1/4" ratchet to replace the Cman piece of crap I've been fighting with for the last several years.

 

Here's a pic I just snapped to quickly compare the two.

 

The tooth engagement is like 45 or something odd like that but it feels very nice and solid, unlile that Cman POS.

 

 

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[DirtyComanche]

I have their the full set of both standard and metric 12 points in 3/8 drive.  And maybe a few other odd things.  I can only get it through Grainger so it's not exactly cheap.

 

I've got some old Plomb hydraulic wrenches, which I believe were absorbed into the Proto brand.  I need to try to track some more of those down actually.

[Jtrux]

I was looking at Grainger's site the other day and their prices didn't seem to be anymore than the online prices.  I think Proto sets the prices BUT I could be wrong.

 

I've used Amazon and Grainger for Proto purchases.  I will probably be buying Proto pretty much exclusively from now on.

[Minuit]

I absolutely can't stand Craftsman ratchets. Not enough teeth, the handle digs into my hand, and they've got a nasty habit of switching directions at the worst possible moment in my experience. My main ratchets are the Gearwrench 120XP flex heads, and I'll never go back. I have not treated them kindly in the past 3 years, and they're still good as new. The molded handles do get grungy after some use. I've got some Proto stuff here and there, no complaints.

 

I will say that for wrenches, the set of Wright combo wrenches I have blows everything else out of the water. I keep meaning to pick up a set of their flare nut wrenches...

[Alexia]

I absolutely can't stand Craftsman ratchets. Not enough teeth, the handle digs into my hand, and they've got a nasty habit of switching directions at the worst possible moment in my experience. My main ratchets are the Gearwrench 120XP flex heads, and I'll never go back. I have not treated them kindly in the past 3 years, and they're still good as new. The molded handles do get grungy after some use. I've got some Proto stuff here and there, no complaints.

 

I will say that for wrenches, the set of Wright combo wrenches I have blows everything else out of the water. I keep meaning to pick up a set of their flare nut wrenches...

The Craftsman direction switching started after they switched to the Chinese made mechanisms. My 3/8" Craftsman became nearly useless after I had to get it rebuilt. My Pittsburgh ratchets from Harbor Freight are better, but I hate that the lever direction is backwards from the direction it engages.

[whowey]

You are comparing consumer grade tools made by the lowest bidder to professional grade tools aimed at people that use them everyday. It's little wonder they look and feel different.

 

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[Jeep Driver]

Proto is made by Stanley/Black and Decker/MAC, nothing profession grade there. In fact, not even USA made any more, Chinese junk like all the rest. 

 

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/06/ftc_stanley_works.html

 

 

Snap-on is not even marked USA anymore. 

 

 

Nothing wrong with Craftsman, get the older ratchets, 15-20 years older or more. 

 

 

Hate to break it to you all, but, most is mass produced and private labeled anymore, elsewhere. 

[DirtyComanche]

Proto is made by Stanley/Black and Decker/MAC, nothing profession grade there. In fact, not even USA made any more, Chinese junk like all the rest. 

 

 

Proto is the actual industrial grade tool line, and is equal or higher quality than Strap-On.  No, it is not made in Chindiawan.

 

Strap-On has removed the "Made in USA" from many of their products to "better represent their global market."  I do not know what that actually means regarding COO.  The wrenches, sockets, and ratchets are all still USA made.

[cody4359]

I have a 1/2" drive and a fine tooth 3/8" as well as a few bars. I'm done with craftsman. I get close to 50% discount for proto using my works corporate account. They aren't my first choice but I'm cheap. I did however break a fee teeth in my 3/8" and tacoma screw warrantied it for me and gave me a new one. For wrenches I want SK, wright, or USA John deer.

 

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[Minuit]

I have a 1/2" drive and a fine tooth 3/8" as well as a few bars. I'm done with craftsman. I get close to 50% discount for proto using my works corporate account. They aren't my first choice but I'm cheap. I did however break a fee teeth in my 3/8" and tacoma screw warrantied it for me and gave me a new one. For wrenches I want SK, wright, or USA John deer.

 

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SK is a great choice too, and USA made.

[Jeep Driver]

 

Proto is made by Stanley/Black and Decker/MAC, nothing profession grade there. In fact, not even USA made any more, Chinese junk like all the rest. 

 

 

Proto is the actual industrial grade tool line, and is equal or higher quality than Strap-On.  No, it is not made in Chindiawan.

 

Strap-On has removed the "Made in USA" from many of their products to "better represent their global market."  I do not know what that actually means regarding COO.  The wrenches, sockets, and ratchets are all still USA made.

 

You are free to believe what you want regarding companies removing the USA to be 'global friendly', 

The reason companies stopped stamping tools USA is because components, materials, or portions of the components are made/produced outside the USA. I suspect this is the case will all tool makers today. 

 

I have a full chest, 90% of which are Craftsman, with a splattering of Snap-on, MAC, and a full set of GP impact sockets (which I prefer over the Craftsman and Snap-on sets I have). I agree that the Craftsman current line of ratchets are crap, I have a polished 1/4 that has been replaced several times, my older ratchets have never been a problem. Nor have a I ever broken a Craftsman tool while using it properly.

 

 

Below are three Snap-on screwdrivers, I've had these for nearly 25 years, the two long ones have been replaced, the black one is broken again. Try to get Snap-on to replace a tool when you do not work at a shop and have an account, absolute PITA. They work great when they are not broken, but then, at $90 a piece.....................

 

[Jtrux]

I've got a few things I need to get replaced and it is very difficult to track a truck down and all that crap.

 

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[Dzimm]

All this talk about these expensive tools breaking and not worth a damn.. I'll stick with my Harbor Freight goodness. Even if/when a tool breaks, they have lifetime warranty like all the "high end" brands.

[DirtyComanche]

HF tools (or PA here) can't do what a lot of the higher end stuff does.

 

I can not physically fit most of the import tools into places on the stuff I work on.  To tear an engine down I might be removing several hundred bolts with 7mm 12 point heads, and many of them are in places you can't get a conventional socket or wrench on them.  So you're using a swivel socket, or dropped box ends, or long flat box ends, etc, and the only stuff that will actually fit and not round off is the high end stuff.  Plus you need a plethora of line wrenches to get at all the inconveniently located B nuts.  I still have a bunch of stuff that's been bent, ground, or milled, but there is no avoiding that.

 

Working on a truck, meh, lots of the stuff isn't gonna matter, just have a backup for when it breaks.

 

I won't go back to cheap ratchets though.  Or screwdrivers.  And I'll admit I have some Snap-On impact sockets at home because I got them cheap.

[dasbulliwagen]

Craftsman was recently bought from Sears by Stanley. Just FYI. And there are several grades of Craftsman wratchets. The nicer ones are obviously more expensive.

[Jeep Driver]

Craftsman was recently bought from Sears by Stanley. Just FYI. And there are several grades of Craftsman wratchets. The nicer ones are obviously more expensive.

That's interesting, I didn't know. 

 

http://wtop.com/business-finance/2017/01/stanley-black-decker-buys-craftsman-tools/

[big66440]

 

I have a 1/2" drive and a fine tooth 3/8" as well as a few bars. I'm done with craftsman. I get close to 50% discount for proto using my works corporate account. They aren't my first choice but I'm cheap. I did however break a fee teeth in my 3/8" and tacoma screw warrantied it for me and gave me a new one. For wrenches I want SK, wright, or USA John deer.

 

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SK is a great choice too, and USA made.

 

Agreed,,,, this is way too similar to the " Garage Journal " threads which happens to be my 2nd home :yes:

[whowey]

Craftsman was recently bought from Sears by Stanley. Just FYI. And there are several grades of Craftsman wratchets. The nicer ones are obviously more expensive.

Maybe they did. They made an offer, it was accepted. The boards have not voted on the deal yet and if sears slides into bankruptcy the judge may throw the deal out as it actually lasts 15 years.

 

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[Guest]

Proto is pretty good. Have limited experience with their tools though; mostly from some of the guys I've worked with in the past that had a few ratches and the like made by them. Seem pretty good for what they are. 

 

I'll say this; good USA made stuff is getting hard to find. I don't mind using whatever it takes to do a job, but I like to buy USA when I can to support the hard working folks who make them here in the 'states.

 

Speaking of which, I recommend checking out RTR's (realtoolreviews) youtube channel for the occasional cool thing he reviews. Made some good purchases from some of the stuff he's done (currently setting some dough aside for more Aircat tools and a set of Proto's ASD ratcheting wrenches).

[Automan2164]

Try to get Snap-on to replace a tool when you do not work at a shop and have an account, absolute PITA. They work great when they are not broken, but then, at $90 a piece.....................

Call the customer service line and they will ship them out, most of the time only requiring pictures. My municipality uses some Snap-on, but we don't have a servicing dealer (Even though the truck stops across the lot). We just don't buy enough to make it worth his while. Matco gets most of my (and the City's) business because he shows up every week.

 

Our "Industrial" salesman stops by once every couple months and has been good luck with the "I just inherited this load of tools, you interested at 1/3 the price?" the City has fared very well with this, including a bluetooth borescope and a HD truck scanner.

 

TL:DR

 

Snap-on takes care of their customers (even though I am still not a fan). Call the customer care line, take some pics, and they will send you out some new stuff.

Rob

[64 Cheyenne]

Good mechanic doesn't really care what name is on the tool, just that he gets desired results from it. Wouldn't be the first time that the "cheepo" got the job done when the high$$$ stuff couldn't....All day long, in my job, all I do is fix stuff, from steel to plastic to rebar, cars or electrical whatever it might be just another situation needing a different tool, sometimes the "high dollar tool" is just a BFH....git er done!