Bolster
Well-known member
I noticed that HD was selling Urrea (pronounced: oo-ray-uh) screwdrivers, so ordered myself a set of these Vato Locos. They are very reasonably priced; the most expensive of the set you see here was $2.69, the cheaptest was $2.01.
As you may know, Urrea is the Mexican Proto. They used to be a single company, then split apart at some point. (If anyone knows when please let me know.) Urrea continues to put out a lot of "classic" Proto designs, and these are like finding NOS Proto yellow-handles which they called "Bet'r-Grip" as early as 1954. They were produced by Proto through at least 1979, at which time they were unceremoniously called "Plastic Handle." [Edit: No, I see mention of them as far as 1981.] You can still find original Proto yellow-handles at the markets, but all the Philips #2s are thrashed, of course. Here they are, resurrected.
Now, this is probably a good place to pause, and wait for everyone to get their Urrea/urea/yellow jokes out of the way.
(Waiting.)
Done with the potty humor? OK then. Onward we go.
First impressions are very positive. The handles feel excellent, and are a "quality" smooth plastic, they don't feel or look cheap to my hand or eye. They are a hot, glowing yellow, as you can see; should be easy to find. I always liked the feel of the Bet'r Grips (have a number in my classic Proto collection) because they're deeply fluted, but relatively slim. (I don't like fat square grips.) Easy to spin, but also easy to grip. Plus, I often have to work into corners where a fat grip just gets in the way, so slim's generally best for me.
The shafts are nicely satin-chromed, with some sort of anti-slip somethingorother on the tips. On one 'driver it was applied crooked on one side. I felt lucky Urrea offered a square-shank standard, which is my preference. Throw an adjustable wrench on that Ese and crank it good, Mang.
I admit I have a pro-Mexico tool bias (part of my pro-North America bias). Americans treat Mexico like a backwater, but it is (or was recently) the seventh richest large country in the world. [EDIT: Now ranked 11th.] It's wealthier than Canada. It's 3x as wealthy as Saudi Arabia! No reason to think they can't manufacture quality.
Now, do they have good tips, or soft as butter? I'll let you know. Let me put these Vatos to work for awhile and I'll report back.
As you may know, Urrea is the Mexican Proto. They used to be a single company, then split apart at some point. (If anyone knows when please let me know.) Urrea continues to put out a lot of "classic" Proto designs, and these are like finding NOS Proto yellow-handles which they called "Bet'r-Grip" as early as 1954. They were produced by Proto through at least 1979, at which time they were unceremoniously called "Plastic Handle." [Edit: No, I see mention of them as far as 1981.] You can still find original Proto yellow-handles at the markets, but all the Philips #2s are thrashed, of course. Here they are, resurrected.
Now, this is probably a good place to pause, and wait for everyone to get their Urrea/urea/yellow jokes out of the way.
(Waiting.)
Done with the potty humor? OK then. Onward we go.
First impressions are very positive. The handles feel excellent, and are a "quality" smooth plastic, they don't feel or look cheap to my hand or eye. They are a hot, glowing yellow, as you can see; should be easy to find. I always liked the feel of the Bet'r Grips (have a number in my classic Proto collection) because they're deeply fluted, but relatively slim. (I don't like fat square grips.) Easy to spin, but also easy to grip. Plus, I often have to work into corners where a fat grip just gets in the way, so slim's generally best for me.
The shafts are nicely satin-chromed, with some sort of anti-slip somethingorother on the tips. On one 'driver it was applied crooked on one side. I felt lucky Urrea offered a square-shank standard, which is my preference. Throw an adjustable wrench on that Ese and crank it good, Mang.
I admit I have a pro-Mexico tool bias (part of my pro-North America bias). Americans treat Mexico like a backwater, but it is (or was recently) the seventh richest large country in the world. [EDIT: Now ranked 11th.] It's wealthier than Canada. It's 3x as wealthy as Saudi Arabia! No reason to think they can't manufacture quality.
Now, do they have good tips, or soft as butter? I'll let you know. Let me put these Vatos to work for awhile and I'll report back.
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