Urrea Fascination.

[Bolster]

I'm fascinated with Urrea. (pronounced: oo-ray-uh) People seem to avoid it like it's some sort of plague.

It's the Mexican Proto, as you know. Nowdays it also has some connection with Witte. A quality tool, that came in last place when I ran my favored-tool-brand survey.

I'm thinking it must be the name, which reminds people of urea, the chief component of urine. Or maybe that it's a Mexican tool. Or both.

On ebay, if and when you can find an auction (instead of BIN), it often goes for dirt cheap.

For example, new a 3/4" ratchet, nobody would pay the opening bid of $19.

A 16 pc metric combo wrench set, high polish, new, $13.

Has anybody put in some serious time with Urrea tools, how do they hold up, are they deserving of being spurned?

 

[thk2c]

I definitely read the title wrong.

I thought you were into "urea," the nitrogen containing compound in urine. That would have been weird.

Edit: I just saw in your post that it remind you of urea (urine). I stand corrected. That is weird.

 

[Bull]

I'm thinking it must be the name, which reminds people of urea, the chief component of urine. Or maybe that it's a Mexican tool. Or both.

Yep, that does it for me!

 

[comedyman809]

i have 1/2'' deep impact sockets from 1/2'' - 1 1/8''.

i like them alot,grab the bolt, it turns and torques no problem, no slippage, no broken sockets, overall, great sockets for me!!!

 

[chevy302dz]

I don't know if they're that looked down upon, from what I have seen on EBay they usually go for almost Proto money at least as far as socket and wrench sets.

 

[north]

I contacted Urrea back in 2000 and they sent me a free catalog with courier!
Never got to establish a proper contact with them so I pursued other tools but I'm still looking for Urrea tools on ebay and here. Someday I'll find a good buy combined with shipping to Norway.

Have a nice day.

 

[lauver]

Bolster,

I own no Urrea tools, not because I don't like them or have never heard of them, but because I simply don't run into them in the used tool marketplace. In my mind, Urrea = Proto & quality tools.

And for the record, I like Witte tools. I own several Witte drivers and think they are the "cats ***".

EDIT: I know you know your way around a survey, but the next time you do a brand preference survey, break it down by tool catagory (i.e. socket & drive tools, wrenches, pliers & cutters, screwdrivers & other handled tools, striking tools, specialty tools, etc). This will likely yield different and more representative patterns of brand preferences. Come to think about it, isn't it about time for another survey?????

 

[skipskip]

I have several combo wrenches.

they are fine.

Skip

 

[Joe B.]

I find them kind of interestig too. I can't say as though I have ever actully seen one of thier tools. There really is no reason that a tool from Mexico should not be as good as one from the USA. I think 98% of the worlds junk tools come out of China with the remaining 2% out of India. If it comes from anywhere else, it can't be that bad.

Does anyone have a good online source in the USA?

 

[Bolster]

EDIT: I know you know your way around a survey, but the next time you do a brand preference survey, break it down by tool catagory (i.e. socket & drive tools, wrenches, pliers & cutters, screwdrivers & other handled tools, striking tools, specialty tools, etc). This will likely yield different and more representative patterns of brand preferences. Come to think about it, isn't it about time for another survey?????

Hi Lauv. The survey I did actually was done by category. Collected data from two categories, wrenches (referenced above) and ratchets. Have not done any research on the others you suggest, which would be verrrry interesting.

The deal with the survey, was that I had a client paying for the subscription to surveymonkey, and I could use it for f*rting around. Client finished the survey, and I no longer have access to the nice survey software!

"Gather ye rosebuds when ye may..."

But YOU could run the next survey...!

 

[Bolster]

There really is no reason that a tool from Mexico should not be as good as one from the USA.

In general, top line tools come from wealthy countries.

Mexico is a wealthy country. This shocks most people. Sure, it's not as wealthy as USA but I think it is ranked 11th most wealthy nation in the world.

I get so sick of that "poor Mexico" palaver. Mexico is very well to do, thank you. And I'll bet their tools are top notch.

 

[Bolster]

Yep, that does it for me!

See?!? See?!? I bet that's it! You even get luminaries like Bull admitting to it!!

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

I think Urrea suffers from the same image problem that went with WANG computers....

Kinda like why the NOVA didn't sell well in Spanish Speaking countries...

"No Va" - Rough Spanish to English Translation: it does not go

How did GM miss that one?

my 2 cents...

-BWP

 

[wafrederick]

If you look at any Matco screwdrivers and nut drivers,they are Wittes with the Matco name on them.

 

[pep]

I think Urrea suffers from the same image problem that went with WANG computers....

Kinda like why the NOVA didn't sell well in Spanish Speaking countries...

"No Va" - Rough Spanish to English Translation: it does not go

How did GM miss that one?

my 2 cents...

-BWP

http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

 

[Thumper]

Just the name Urrea.......reminds me of a painful kidney infection

 

[Stick Figure]

I've got a few Urrea wrenches left here. Appearance wise they seem decent, i've never really needed to push them to hard. I don't have much call for SAE sizes with the stuff i'm working on. If your out in the IE anytime soon, or near Long Beach on sunday drop me a PM i'll let you check them out, or even sell them to you for a cheap price to let you decide if you like them.

 

[Fedwrench]

Well, there's another brand which will go up in price now....
Everytime you guys talk about a particular brand, the prices jump.

 

[Tool Pants]

Some Urrea has shown up at the local flea. I have a few things, including a Foy wrench. I found one Urrea ratchet, but it was worn out. Also found a ProMex that I bought.

The name does sound better in Spanish.

 

[Jeff]

I'm thinking it must be the name, which reminds people of urea, the chief component of urine.

Hate to be picky here, but, urea is not the chief component of urine.

Urine is approximately 95% water. The other 5% of normal urine are the solutes that are dissolved in the water component of the urine. These solutes can be divided into two categories according to their chemical structure (e.g. size and electrical charge).

Urea is an organic (i.e. carbon-based) compound whose chemical formula is: CON₂H₄ or (NH₂)₂CO. It is also known as carbamide. Urea is derived from ammonia and produced by the deamination of amino acids. The amount of urea in urine is related to quantity of dietary protein.

 

[mrholeshot]

I have a narrow Urrea I keep it strored safely in my larger tool

 

[Mario]

Kinda like why the NOVA didn't sell well in Spanish Speaking countries...

"No Va" - Rough Spanish to English Translation: it does not go

How did GM miss that one?

Yeah! They missed another one with the Buick Lacrosse.

Here in Quebec, "La Crosse" mean "The ************"...

 

[Bolster]

Urea is ...also known as carbamide.

Imagine how popular Urrea tools would have been if they'd been called "Carbamide" instead.

Sharkin, thanks for the lesson on urine!

 

[wyndycity]

Yeah! They missed another one with the Buick Lacrosse.

Here in Quebec, "La Crosse" mean "The ************"...

Isn't lacrosse a major sport in Canada?

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have a set of SAE & metric flare nuts wrenches, six pieces, I bought at a pawn shop for $15. They are satin finish and look quite nice. Haven't had a chance to use them yet, but looking for more.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Isn't lacrosse a major sport in Canada?

So are we to think that most Canadian's are masturbaters?

TheGrooveking

 

[arkangel06]

So are we to think that most Canadian's are masturbaters?

TheGrooveking

Shhhhhh dont tell anyone.

 

[Cummins_Powered]

So, there are a few 3/4 drive urrea ratchets on ebay. are they good buys for 55 bucks shipped??