Proto USA reversible spline wrench broke first day of use

Tarheelgarage · Nov 10, 2014

I had been lusting over a full metric set of the PROTO USA made reversible combination spline wrenches for a few months and finally saved up the $s to order them early last week.

They arrived last Friday and I proudly took them to the shop today for all to admire and lust over as well; after all, they are USA made and are not cheap by any means.... :bowdown:

My admiration was shorted lived when the first time I used the open end of the 13mm; it snapped the end clean off like a prezel stick... :wtf:

I was loosening the bolt on a valve cover; not like I was even cranking down on it...

Looking at the broken pieces, looks like PROTO is using recycled bath tubs to make their USA wrenches. :shocking:

So much for trying to support USA tool manufacturers when they build ****** tools, charge high $s and then try to pass them off as a premium product.

I have gone back to using my Taiwan made Gear wrench combination wrenches which have served me well for about 10 years :rocker:

Rant over.

Ign · Nov 10, 2014

Ha! If it were HF people would go on & on. USA made, here come the excuses.

wagon · Nov 10, 2014

was it a metric bolt or SAE bolt?

madcrisis · Nov 10, 2014

That looks like a manufacturing defect in the tool. Id try wrenching on the other ones to see if they hold up. I understand the frustration but defects in the metal can happen in any factory. Could have been a contaminate in the metal.

Very sorry to hear about your pride being diminished. Id warranty though and give it another chance.

Dust Devil · Nov 10, 2014

I would be pissed.

Those wrenches are $$.

Buckgnarly · Nov 10, 2014

Get rid of them, ASAP....if one is bad, they ALL have to be bad!

Let me know if you want to sell them cheap!

Ign · Nov 10, 2014

Oh and hey hey HEY....old bathtubs last a long time! Old claw foots are sought after!!

bcradio · Nov 10, 2014

wagon said:
was it a metric bolt or SAE bolt?

who cares, it broke anyway.

sorry to hear about it though

Dust Devil · Nov 10, 2014

Oh those must be the new re-branded wrenches from Snap-.................Off.

Ruger_556 · Nov 10, 2014

Mail them to me :hellobye:

I'll give them a good home...

sac02 · Nov 10, 2014

Sorry to hear it, that *****. Proto will replace it I’m sure, but I can definitely empathize with you - the disappointment in having your pricey, shiny, new tool that was supposed to be high quality break on the first use is more than the monetary value of the wrench, if that makes sense. But on the other hand, every brand occasionally has a dud, or one that slips past QC. Fortunately you don’t hear of too many of those with Proto.

Any chance we could get a clear and well-lit pic of the fracture surfaces? (both sides)

Kickstart · Nov 10, 2014

I'd be interested in how the warranty process works out

Sam'sAutoParts · Nov 10, 2014

Man that *****.

It would be interesting to hear how the warranty is handled. I have had good luck with them in the past. Very quick turn around, although I should think an email with pictures should be enough for them to send you a new 13mm wrench.

Herod · Nov 10, 2014

Terrible terrible terrible terrible

Tronyadorable · Nov 10, 2014

Next time mr winkie fails you cut that thang off :shocking:

!
It's mass manufacturing. Problems arise ( or don't

) Proto makes great tools and will cover you with a quickness.

Tarheelgarage · Nov 10, 2014

sac02 said:
Sorry to hear it, that *****. Proto will replace it I’m sure, but I can definitely empathize with you - the disappointment in having your pricey, shiny, new tool that was supposed to be high quality break on the first use is more than the monetary value of the wrench, if that makes sense. But on the other hand, every brand occasionally has a dud, or one that slips past QC. Fortunately you don’t hear of too many of those with Proto.

Any chance we could get a clear and well-lit pic of the fracture surfaces? (both sides)

More pics of fracture area; my picture taking *****... :bounce:

Buckgnarly · Nov 10, 2014

Is that rust? Preexisting crack perhaps?

Hiball · Nov 10, 2014

I wonder sometimes if the Membership has a clue to the Perils that sometimes happen when using tools. Yes.. Tools do Break, They Wear out and occasionally you will find defects so Astronomical that its a wonder it stayed together in the shipping package. Anyone who thinks that a Defective tools represents a specific Brand, $$$$ Point or its COO as a Whole is foolish IMO or.. They just want to stir the pot.

In Regards to the OP, No Doubt I would have disappointed to spend the Cash on that Set only to have it completely break out of the box. The True Measure of a Company or Retailer is How they handle the problems when they arise, Plain and Simple.

@OP Keep us updated on How Proto responds.

bob15 · Nov 10, 2014

That crack was already there (the rust). You just finished it off.

I would send the pictures to Proto, they might be interested in seeing that rusty crack on a new wrench......

NotStock · Nov 10, 2014

Buckgnarly said:
Is that rust? Preexisting crack perhaps?

Yep, thats what I'm thinking too. Looks like that crack existed before you ever got to turn the wrench.

Dust Devil · Nov 10, 2014

You can see an inclusion. That thing was doomed from the get go.

Dust Devil · Nov 10, 2014

bob15 said:
That crack was already there (the rust). You just finished it off.

I would send the pictures to Proto, they might be interested in seeing that rusty crack on a new wrench......

FOr sure they do, they is a MFG defect all day long.

just a noob · Nov 10, 2014

Looks like a ductile fracture. There should be beach marks leading to where it started

Dust Devil · Nov 10, 2014

just a noob said:
Looks like a ductile fracture. There should be beach marks leading to where it started

Would you agree that it looks like the crack was in the billet prior to forging?

1950mercury · Nov 10, 2014

Every tool brand has defects. I wouldn't write off proto unless you get screwed on a warranty. Who uses an open end on valve cover bolts?

rlitman · Nov 10, 2014

Dust Devil said:
Would you agree that it looks like the crack was in the billet prior to forging?

I'd guess the crack happened during broaching. Certainly before plating though.

The location (at the corner) just seems like it is too coincidental to be something from the billet.

sac02 · Nov 10, 2014

just a noob said:
Looks like a ductile fracture. There should be beach marks leading to where it started

No, beach marks are from fatigue. And that is brittle fracture, not ductile. Noob! (relevant username!

)

Leadberry · Nov 10, 2014

I love how everyone is saying "every brand has defects, give them another chance!" If that were an Asian tool, people would tell you it's your fault for buying crappy foreign tools. Amazing what a COO label can do...

Buckgnarly · Nov 10, 2014

Leadberry said:
I love how everyone is saying "every brand has defects, give them another chance!" If that were an Asian tool, people would tell you it's your fault for buying crappy foreign tools. Amazing what a COO label can do...

Yeah, too bad people make those stupid antagonistic COO posts that clog up the useful stuff on here........ :headscrat

sac02 · Nov 10, 2014

I also see an inclusion/void mentioned previously. The dark metal (including rust) is where the metal was already cracked prior to your use; the shiny metal is what broke when you used it. I don't know enough about the forging/broaching process to say for sure where the crack came from in this case, sorry.

I also see clear evidence that the crack was relatively large (certainly visible to the naked eye) before the chrome process, see pic 1 where you can see the corner where the plating is inside the crack by at least 1mm.

SantaAna12 · Nov 10, 2014

Dam Tar, that *****. Especially on a new set like that!

I like your choice in tools though.

I would be interested too in hearing how Proto handles it.

just a noob · Nov 10, 2014

sac02 said:
No, beach marks are from fatigue. And that is brittle fracture, not ductile. Noob! (relevant username! )

Hey now, I've only recently had to start dealing with failure analysis

'71 VW 1302 · Nov 10, 2014

My thought is hydrogen embrittlement, as a consequence of improper heat treatment after plating.

sac02 · Nov 10, 2014

just a noob said:
Hey now, I've only recently had to start dealing with failure analysis

Sorry, not trying to be mean, just a bad attempt at humor that didn't translate well in text.

rlitman · Nov 10, 2014

'71 vw 1302 said:
my thought is hydrogen embrittlement, as a consequence of improper heat treatment after plating.

rotfl.

just a noob · Nov 10, 2014

sac02 said:
Sorry, not trying to be mean, just a bad attempt at humor that didn't translate well in text.

I kind of figured, didn't take offense to it

nieuport17 · Nov 10, 2014

If warranty is good, then i wouldnt worry about it too much.
Keep us posted : )

neonlazer · Nov 10, 2014

Warranty and give proto the pics, they will salivate over them. Haha

Hiball · Nov 10, 2014

Buckgnarly said:
Yeah, too bad people make those stupid antagonistic COO posts that clog up the useful stuff on here........

No doubt..

sac02 · Nov 10, 2014

'71 VW 1302 said:
My thought is hydrogen embrittlement, as a consequence of improper heat treatment after plating.

Well, plating happens after HT, but hydrogen embrittlement is still a possibility for a high strength steel that is heat treated and plated, though I don't find it likely here.

I don't think we have to search for things like hydrogen embrittlement to weaken the wrench, I think it's the simplest and most likely scenario that the cracking appeared during forging or machining (again, not familiar enough to pick), and at that point the wrench was doomed no matter what.

As I mentioned, that cracking was almost certainly visible to the naked eye before plating, Proto production QC really should have caught that one. Unless their QC warranty department is inept, I'd imagine that they will want to recover that wrench ASAP and get as much info from OP as possible (mainly anything that would aid traceability).

Proto USA reversible spline wrench broke first day of use

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