McMaster hand sockets brand?

[porcupine73]

Does anyone know what brand or brands you might get if you order hand sockets from McMaster.com? I'm looking to replace some individual sockets from here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#drive-sockets/=8w52j4 but was wondering what brand they have.

I have ordered individual impact sockets from them a couple years back and Proto brand is what they shipped.

 

[skehn63]

It has been a long time since I have purchased tools from McMaster-Carr. Back in the day most of what they shipped was Proto. I have received Proto, Wright, Williams and Armstrong. If you want to know what you are going to get, I suggest MSC Direct, they are a similar supply company.

 

[porcupine73]

Thanks for the info. I'll check out MSC. I kind of forgot about them. I used to be able to get my employer's price for personal purchases from them and Grainger but I'm not sure if they're still honoring that.

 

[jhn9840]

I bought some individual impact sockets from McMasters within the last month. They were all Williams had USA stamped in them.

jhn9840
John

 

[TheGrooveking]

I bought 1/2" drive Metric std and deep impact sets from them a few months ago and they were USA stamped Williams. I've called them many of times for brand and they are not very willing to give up the info, they do however offer to get you any brand you want as a special order though.

TheGrooveking

 

[Vinko]

I've gotten Armstrong in wrenches and hex sockets.

What you can do is say: look, I've bought several wrenches from you of this type. I was sent this brand. If I order a few more to fill in a set, will they be the same brand? You can get the info from them sometimes. I'm not sure they always know it.

The other thing I do is sometimes I need to spec out a certain brand. It's essential I have that brand, or sometimes just that Country of Origin.

Another like about them, is that when they get you something special order, you can return it if you need to. I've had them order direct from the manufacturer for below list, and though they take a bit longer, the order is perfect everytime, and it's easier ordering from them. Esp. if I'm not in a hurry.

 

[porcupine73]

Thanks for the info. I have always had great service from McMaster in the past. I need to replace a few sockets that have gone missing and add a few certain sizes I don't have such as 22mm 6pt deep, so I thought that might be a good way to go rather than buying an entire new set. I would be pleased with any of those brands such as Armstrong, Proto, Williams, etc.

 

[thesilverone]

I ordered some wrenches from them recently and they were Martin.

 

[porcupine73]

Thanks for the info. I just ordered up some individual sockets and a few other items so I'll be excited to see what I get!

7/16" 3/8" standard and deep sockets
10mm and 12mm deep and standard sockets in 1/4" and 3/8" drive
10mm 6 pt ratcheting wrench
10mm 6 pt box end wrench
3" oil filter strap/metal band wrench

These are mainly to replace a couple MIA sockets, and the 10mm and 12mm stuff is what I use the most so I'm getting extras/better quality than what I have now for those items.

and I got a 12mm stubby and 7/16" regular ratcheting GearWrench wrenches off Amazon.

I can't get special pricing through MSC anymore; they discontinued the personal purchase program for employees where I work. But even at the discounted rate the prices seemed the same as McMaster, and I've always had good service from McMaster in the past so I went with them.

Grainger prices looked good on Proto stuff, but on some items they only had their own store brand Westward, which after reading reviews on here i didn't want to pay the premium price for that stuff, so I passed on Grainger.

 

[mooman]

I've received Proto sockets and a Snap On TORX socket.
Whatever it is, it'll be good stuff.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I ordered some wrenches from them recently and they were Martin.

What type of wrenches were these? Combination, box end, open end, etc...or are they the large thin head single-ended open end wrenches?

TheGrooveking

 

[NAYLOR]

You can call them and they will tell you exactly what brand they are.

I got sockets from they a few months ago; I got Proto's.

 

[porcupine73]

Sweet. I will be happy with Proto. I'll see what I get for the wrenches. McMaster's regular price is very competitive with even my work's Grainger price for Proto sockets. I kind of like not knowing the exact brand I will get but knowing it will be something good, it's kind of like getting a Christmas present.

 

[thesilverone]

What type of wrenches were these? Combination, box end, open end, etc...or are they the large thin head single-ended open end wrenches?

TheGrooveking

double open end wrenches: 1/2" X 5/8", 1/2" × 9/16" and 9/16" × 5/8"

 

[porcupine73]

Woohoo McMaster WIN! The tools arrived today and I am very happy.

All the individual chrome sockets were Proto. Price seems good reasonable.

10mm 6pt combination wrench was Armstrong, I like it very much
10mm ratcheting combination wrench was Armstrong. It feels very solid. The ratchet mechanism feels very substantial.

The oil filter wrench is a Lisle, I like their stuff.

 

[Vinko]

10mm 6pt combination wrench was Armstrong, I like it very much
10mm ratcheting combination wrench was Armstrong. It feels very solid. The ratchet mechanism feels very substantial.

I've got ratcheting wrenches from Armstrong, they do feel substantial.

Also like their 6 pt. combos

 

[Vinko]

McMaster's regular price is very competitive with even my work's Grainger price for Proto sockets.

This is what I've found. Unless you get a hefty discount from Grainger or MSC, McMaster's everyday prices are very competitive.

I don't know why they have the reputation of being "expensive". I've priced out probably over 100 product from them, and found they were almost always the best price unless I got a really good discount from a competitive. And then even then it was close. Sometimes so close that in hindsight, I wasted way too much time pricing out competitors against an item in McMaster.

 

[porcupine73]

I have ordered a fair amount of stuff from McMaster over the years. I love their huge selection, good quality products, and good prices.

I'm not sure why they have the reputation they do. Some things I find interesting about McMaster is their marketing strategy. Do they advertise anywhere? I don't think I've ever seen a print ad for them and they don't seem to send marketing e-mails.

I think they don't offer discounts to any companies. They are a 'prohibited supplier' where I work, which usually means they failed to negotiate any discount. Whereas with Grainger and MSC the negotiated discount varies by product line but usually around 25%.

 

[Boiler]

I've been told that I specify parts from Mcmaster Carr too much at my work. I'm told their pricing is too high. I usually specify specific washers / fasteners, pins, knobs, hardware in general. We also order a fair amount of plastic and sometime short run metals from them. Their metal prices are pretty high, and I guess their fastener prices are too.

Their website is top of the line in my opinion. So easy to navigate and get spec sheets and drawings from. Thats why I go there. I could search all over creation trying to get all the information I need to set up a new part. In 15 minutes I can search, find, and document a part from Mcmaster where it might take me hours and several phone calls / emails from other places.

Best thing is that you nearly always get what you order the next day, and they are really easy to deal with. I'll continue to use them for personal business.

 

[Art From De Leon]

I'm not sure why they have the reputation they do. Some things I find interesting about McMaster is their marketing strategy. Do they advertise anywhere? I don't think I've ever seen a print ad for them and they don't seem to send marketing e-mails.

An interesting point, I only found out about them from being bored and borrowing the catalog from the rig mechanic to have something to read.

I never saw a catalog of theirs in the Halliburton shop, but Halliburton's supplier of choice seemed to be Grainger, and I used to get the Grainger flyers once I bought from them.

I like McMaster much better, the customer service has to be the best of any company I have ever dealt with, and they treat my $5 purchases of a bag of high strength stainless Spirallock pins, with the same professionalism as if I were spending a million, and their shipping and speed of delivery cannot be beat. Gempler's will take 3 weeks to ship an order, McMaster will have it at the house within 48 hours.

If it is made McMaster will have it, and if they don't have it, it has NOT been made. I would look thru the catalog and wonder why we would have to dig thru the trash skip, and work like an African, when here was a page of tools that would do the job, instead of having to beg, borrow and steal to get r done.

But to get a copy of their catalog, I have NO idea, I got mine on eBay.

 

[Vinko]

We also order a fair amount of plastic and sometime short run metals from them. Their metal prices are pretty high, and I guess their fastener prices are too.

I have found this to be true, in most cases. I've priced out 10 single pieces of bar stock in the past year that I need for one offs. About 7/10 were too expensive compared to local suppliers for the same thing, or as near to the same thing as I could get.

Fasteners, I haven't priced out there. I've bought fasteners from them, and every order has been perfect. I've become a very big fan of McMaster over the years. Like you said, their website is easy to use. I find it and the catalog both intuitively easy to navigate.

MSC has their 40% off sale from time to time, but I've never compared McMaster v MSC on fasteners.

 

[redwrench60]

Bump to the top for current information. I need some 1” drive impact sockets for work. Website says United States for COO. Any guesses what I’ll get?

 

[Tools4Me]

Bump to the top for current information. I need some 1” drive impact sockets for work. Website says United States for COO. Any guesses what I’ll get?

I recently purchased some 1/2" drive 8pt impact sockets from McMaster. The socket specs shown on their site prior to ordering, matched the socket specs shown in my downloaded Proto tool catalog. They didn't match Williams or Wright at all. I received Proto.

If you are buying 1" drive 6pt standard depth impact sockets, the McMaster specs match perfectly with my tool catalog specs for Wright sockets in terms of nut engagement depth, overall length, and retaining ring size used (the only three parameters which can be cross-referenced). Proto and Williams specs are both quite different.

 

[Oil leak]

Bump to the top for current information. I need some 1” drive impact sockets for work. Website says United States for COO. Any guesses what I’ll get?

Usually Wright, but a chance for Proto also. The last couple I ordered were Wright.

 

[LeeG]

You can always call their customer service and ask for the brand for any item.

 

[redwrench60]

I definitely won’t complain about Proto, Williams or Wright. Lately I’ve been ordering Wright. I was wondering if Armstrong stock was still floating around there. Have to see when it gets here.

On a sidenote I love McMaster. From click to in my hand in less than 24 hours. I’m pretty sure it’s voo-doo black magic.

 

[redwrench60]

Well that was quick. Looks like Wright it is.

 

[metaldad]

Ordered some larger impacts, back in July or so. Received proto from them

 

[freudianfloyd]

I order from McMaster Carr almost daily through work. I have never had an issue getting them to tell me what brand an item was, or even the original part number so I can research them before I buy. I usually just send them an email and will get a response in an hour or so. Of the sockets we have ordered, it seems to be mostly Proto, with some Williams mixed in once in a while.

I did however order a complete set of impact sockets and they were Wright.

 

[metaldad]

i love mc master. 99.9% of the time, its in stock. unlike grainger
i usually order at least 1x a week, and pick up at will call.
i pass the elmhurst location on the way home