What Do You Think Of J.H. Williams???

[shaunwhite11188]

just wondering what every body elses oppinons about jh williams is compared to proto,snap on, mac, matco....

[krusty the clown]

williams has always been a good tool. you have to watch the newer stuff though, since they are starting to import. at least they have the decency to plainly identify them in the catalog.

[old salvage]

I'm still kicking myself for missing the 3/8" b-52 Superratchet that Rickster posted in the classifieds.

[mulepackin]

The older vintage stuff is top quality. A neighbor borrowed, then promptly lost, our old Williams 3/4" breaker bar. He "replaced" it with a Craftsman:(.

[billymade]

That wasn't very nice; I woud rather have a Williams over a Craftsman any day!

[iamhistory]

I recently got some Williams mini-pliers (made in China) that are not much better in appearance and fit/finish than the 3.99 set of orange handle mini's at Harbor Freight. And that's no joke. They do operate better than the HF set, but they look about the same......kind of crappy actually. I was disappointed when I received the package.

I have some Williams flare nut wrenches (made in USA) that I really like. So far they seem to be good.

I also have an SAE set of Williams stubby wrenches that I absolutely LOVE. They look good, feel good and so far they work well. For what I paid, I practically stole them. As cheap as the cheapest stuff at HF, but way better looking, better fit/finish and feel better in the hand too.

I like Williams stuff.......imported or not. As long as the quality keeps up of course. If that takes a dive, it could have Snap-on or MAC stamped on the tool and it would still be a piece of crap. Name or no name, no matter where's it is made........the core quality is the important factor.

[Nealcrenshaw]

What Krusty said!!

[B.O.V., Norway]

I'm still kicking myself for missing the 3/8" b-52 Superratchet that Rickster posted in the classifieds.
Lol, I'll show you a picture when I get it. :D
Know the feeling though. Going through some of the older classifieds from before I started to frequent this forum and seeing all the cool stuff offered... :(

Have a nice day. :)

[TheToolMan]

i have a ton of real old williams stuff that i need to clean up to sell. I cant believe how thick some of these wrenches are

[eschoendorff]

williams has always been a good tool. you have to watch the newer stuff though, since they are starting to import. at least they have the decency to plainly identify them in the catalog.

What he said. Old Williams is good stuff. New Williams is a crap-shoot.

[old salvage]

Lol, I'll show you a picture when I get it. :D


Tool porn is always good.:thumbup:

[v8garage]

williams has always been a good tool. you have to watch the newer stuff though, since they are starting to import. at least they have the decency to plainly identify them in the catalog.

I have a new Willliams crescent wrench. It was made in Sweden. Looks to be decent quality. At least it's not Chinese.

[krusty the clown]

I have a new Willliams crescent wrench. It was made in Sweden. Looks to be decent quality. At least it's not Chinese.


bahco........

[speed bump]

I have a new Willliams crescent wrench. It was made in Sweden. Looks to be decent quality. At least it's not Chinese.

Its a bahco and they kick ass, the Bahcos with the reversible jaw that you can use as a pipe wrench are probably one of the best made crescents out there.

As far as other stuff goes. I recently sent in an old b-51 and a 1/2" breaker bar. The breaker bar I got back was top notch, extremely heavy duty and well made. The ratchet they sent back was a B-52EHA and compared to the B-51 I sent in it was a piece of crap, after one use I gave it away.

[Rickster]

I've got a set of Williams 1/2 drive sockets that are great. They have that quality heavy-duty feel to them. I like the Williams & Armstrong brands because they're a high quality tool that I can find cheaply and/or reasonably priced on ebay and at estate & garage sales.

[bushhawg73]

I just won this off ebay. It is kind of hard to go wrong with an extension so I though that I would give Williams a try.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=270322933072

[Coach James]

The older vintage stuff is top quality. A neighbor borrowed, then promptly lost, our old Williams 3/4" breaker bar. He "replaced" it with a Craftsman:(.


How does someone lose a 3/4" breaker bar? My dad has a Bonney 3/4" inch breaker bar and I'd have to be blind to misplace that thing. It would be comparable to saying "Damn it! I just put that PTO shaft down and now I can't find it."


Coach

[CAT_serviceman927]

I have some of the CAT branded combination wrenches. They are very nice. The new USA made ratchets are nice as well. They have the guts from the Snap-On 936 series ratchets in them.

[charlie_nj]

I have two Williams adjustable wrenches, a 15 inch and a 6 inch. They seem well made, I could not tell you where I got them but I've had them for a long time.

[davestlouis]

Old Salvage, I have a B52 and 2 B52A's. I may be agreeable to parting with one if you have anything interesting to trade.

[vssjim]

Bahco invented the adjustable wrench as we know it today. Williams was top notch stuff when on their own and even when TRW owned them noe with Snap on ownership not to good.

[old salvage]

Old Salvage, I have a B52 and 2 B52A's. I may be agreeable to parting with one if you have anything interesting to trade.

Dave. I dont have much to trade right now.
Thanks for offering though.

[davestlouis]

Well, it never hurts to ask...

[Major Ramifications]

I just picked up a bunch of liquidated Williams tools for the store where I work. I hope to get them up on our website soon. It's all U.S.A. stuff and our prices are about 88% off list. The quality is good, and I bought a bunch for myself, naturally.
About 25 years ago, I bought a 12" adjustable wrench at a garage sale for $2, and it is a J.H. Williams. I took it home and asked my dad, "Is J.H Williams any good?" He said, "HELL YEAH, Williams is good stuff and it's been around for a long time". I still use that wrench regularly, and it still feels good and works well.

[mulepackin]

How does someone lose a 3/4" breaker bar? My dad has a Bonney 3/4" inch breaker bar and I'd have to be blind to misplace that thing. It would be comparable to saying "Damn it! I just put that PTO shaft down and now I can't find it."


Coach

That was kind of our response Coach. As I recall, he was working on a piece of farm equipment out in a field. Probably just left it, fired up the tractor and drove off. You would have to know this guy too. He has probably lost a PTO shaft as well. Our 1 in. ratchet and most of our 1 in. sockets are Williams too. That ratchet is a beast. I'll try to get a pic of it some day.