1/2'' socket sets: SK vs Armstrog vs Toptul
- Thread starter grawil
- Start date
billymade
Well-known member
What about a Canadian native company: Gray Tools of Canada? A few Canadians on here really seem to like them; ever used them? Check them out here: http://www.graytools.com/
Here is a current promotional flyer with Canadian dollars! http://www.graytools.com/pdf/Picture Perfect Promo 2008 - EN.pdf
Find a dealer near you: http://www.graytools.com/distributors.asp
Here is a current promotional flyer with Canadian dollars! http://www.graytools.com/pdf/Picture Perfect Promo 2008 - EN.pdf
Find a dealer near you: http://www.graytools.com/distributors.asp
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I don't think you could go wrong with either the SK or Armstrong 1/2 dr set. Williams is another set to look at. These all are undervalued on ebay and you can pick up a set fairly reasonably priced. My short metrics are Armstrong and my SAE's are SK 12pts and Williams 6pt. I've used them and have no complaints,
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
All the stuff you have listed above is good, but I also think you should look into Gray Canadian tools as well. The Gray stuff I have is quite good and should be local for you.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I also think that the Sears of Canada tools are fairly low quality imported tools if you have followed this board and read the threads about how different the Canadian Sears tools are to the US Sears tools. I also understand that all the Sears had the same tools until a while ago when the Canadian Sears went their own cheapy route, too bad.
paramudduck
Well-known member
It's all good stuff. I like the one's I have. Just need to get that order done and I'll even have some Toptul.
See if the Grays are in your area, mine are probably 20 years old and still work great.
See if the Grays are in your area, mine are probably 20 years old and still work great.
dirty old man
Well-known member
A few months ago I did an up pipe/down pipe install on a WRX and my SK 14mm socket cracked. My Toptul 14mm socket finished the job. Take that how you will.
Adam McLaughlin
Well-known member
Maybe you broke it loose with the S-K socket, and the little old Toptul just finished the gig?
Adam
Adam
dirty old man
Well-known member
I meant the Toptul finished the rest of the job. IIRC...it was the first bolt I loosened that broke the socket.
russlaferrera
Well-known member
Humm, Guess he straightened us out!!!
paramudduck
Well-known member
I've carped on this one before.
I had a run a while back taking the fan shroud off. One Mac and two Snap on 10mm's cracked finished the job using a Craftsman set I picked up on clearence.
I can't really say any thing on the new SK most of mine are OLD.
I had a run a while back taking the fan shroud off. One Mac and two Snap on 10mm's cracked finished the job using a Craftsman set I picked up on clearence.
I can't really say any thing on the new SK most of mine are OLD.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
All sockets break! Buy the easiest brand to warranty in your area.
In Canada the absolute best prices on top quality Asian tools will be Canadian Tire Maximum line, hands down. You could probably outfit an entire box if you wait for the sales, for far less than $1000. You could probably do better if you stick to their wrenches and sockets and get Snap-on ratchets. If you want top quality made in Canada tools then go for Gray Tools, but they are not cheap and are sold only at industrial suppliers.
The Toptul prices seem very reasonable, but are in US dollars. With all due respect to Toptul, if you want foreign made tools then I could not see the reasoning of not buying the Maximum stuff. Their ratcheting wrenches are all made by Gearwrench.
If you are patient you can get all the Snap-on tools you want from Ebay for reasonable prices, but with the dollar down the deals are not as great as they once were.
The Toptul prices seem very reasonable, but are in US dollars. With all due respect to Toptul, if you want foreign made tools then I could not see the reasoning of not buying the Maximum stuff. Their ratcheting wrenches are all made by Gearwrench.
If you are patient you can get all the Snap-on tools you want from Ebay for reasonable prices, but with the dollar down the deals are not as great as they once were.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
paramudduck
Well-known member
Very true eschoendorff. And my big carp on Snap on. Nice tools pain to replace at times.
With the truck brands you never know how things will go. Stores close and change brands. I have a lot of orphan once life time guaranteed tools.
With todays mess I'm not really sure what would be the best way to go.
With the truck brands you never know how things will go. Stores close and change brands. I have a lot of orphan once life time guaranteed tools.
With todays mess I'm not really sure what would be the best way to go.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Not only that, but for the big $$$ you pay for truck brands, when it comes time for replacement, you might be handed a re-badged import.
As I said, I've had mixed success with their tools. I've snapped a few of their hex sockets removing a friend's rear calipers/carrier, busted a 15mm open end wrench and bent the fork on a mastercraft 1/2'' bar doing some front-end work. I know that all tools can break but I don't like worrying about breaking 1/2'' stuff. Their 1/2'' set is cheap ($79) and replacements are easy to get but I'm otherwise unimpressed. Sears Canada 1/2'' stuff is even worse IMHO. The old craftsman sets that I have are fine, but I generally save up my busted things and drive down to the US when I need replacements.
Thanks for the opinions thus far.
Unfortunately, grey tools is about as costly as snap on.
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
I am biased, but it does help to hold the tools in your hand and work with them. I find the vast majority of people are very impressed with the quality after they get their order from me.
And, this was not meant as a sales pitch whatsoever. Just that the folks that have received tools from me, really like them.
That being said, you do bring up other good brands as well! GGood luck in your quest!
Have a good rest of the weekend.
And, this was not meant as a sales pitch whatsoever. Just that the folks that have received tools from me, really like them.
That being said, you do bring up other good brands as well! GGood luck in your quest!
Have a good rest of the weekend.
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SpiderGearsMan
Banned
where is gray and toptul's foundry located ?
I would say point to the east
I would say point to the east
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
for gray you need to point north
Don't buy Toptul,obscure Taiwan fare,maybe good,but who cares. I don't sell my racing engines on this board, so the Toptul guy is somewhat out of line using this site to sell RARE imports.
Here is an idea for you, you rarely need chrome 1/2 in drive sockets, BUY IMPACT SOCKETS to use on the ratchets and the impact gun. Buy Snap-on, and you won't be sorry 5 yrs. from now if you need warranty replacement. Pay once and be done.
Here is an idea for you, you rarely need chrome 1/2 in drive sockets, BUY IMPACT SOCKETS to use on the ratchets and the impact gun. Buy Snap-on, and you won't be sorry 5 yrs. from now if you need warranty replacement. Pay once and be done.
speed bump
Well-known member
So you pay 5 times as much for the same thing and when one breaks down the road he goes to his local whoever and buys a replacement(making the assumption that TopTul does dissappear). Hes out very little money compared to the initial outlay that the SOs cost. I have been in about 1 situation where we used 1/2" stuff all the time and the Protos and Taiwanese sockets we had held up just fine even with guys who considered it easy to pick up 400lb shovel trunions by hand.
Merkava_4
Banned
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
No flak from me! I knew what I was in for. Funny I didn't see a sponsor for race engines either. But Like I said, no flak from me, I have no ego at all in this.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If he wants to buy Toptul I would say for the price and what I have used so far he will be fine, I have lots of different brands of tools but my S-O ratchets are not my first choice most of the time. Buy brands of tools you like and most of the time you will be happy even if once in a while you have to replace one due to breakage etc.
Merkava_4
Banned
russlaferrera
Well-known member
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
nothing really wrong with them but I really like my thin head classic Proto's and my very smooth acting Cornwell's
Merkava_4
Banned
If you prefer the Cornwell's over the SO's....that's alright by me.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Back to the original topic - I like my Armstrong sockets better than SK... and I have no Toptul.
Mike is a trooper for putting up with some of the negativity on this board. You may not like the tools, but at least Mike is straight-up with us all.
Mike is a trooper for putting up with some of the negativity on this board. You may not like the tools, but at least Mike is straight-up with us all.
Merkava_4
Banned
I'm thinking if Mike is a sponsor of this site, then he should get some kind of placard under his avatar; or in the avatar area. 
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
truly, I think some sort of designation would be wrong. I don't want people to think of me as that salesperson "Herb" in that old show WKRP in Cincinnati. I would be afraid of people thinking that I had some sort of power or responsibility. Also I would want to avoid any implied "stamp of approval" by this site and I am sure they would want to avoid this as well. I think the simple sponsorship is just fine and it was very nice of the admin to announce the sale for me as well. I think that is MORE than enough. ANd I am very thankful for the business that comes from this site so I think it is a win-win so far.
I do like to post on the threads but I will have to do it less so it doesn't appear that I am always out to make a sale.
I do like to post on the threads but I will have to do it less so it doesn't appear that I am always out to make a sale.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
i think you should post as much as you want.......as long as it isn't an infomercial
Merkava_4
Banned
Things are quite different over on the BITOG board: If you're a site sponsor, not only do you have full tenure, but you're also fully protected from negative comments about your product. If anyone speaks ill of Amsoil products, they get banned.
billymade
Well-known member
I think you could contribute much more to the site; their are many things to contribute that are not directly related to selling the TopTul brand of tools....
If not SO sockets, then Cornwell, Armstrong,Craftsman etc.....They are all worth the money. I didn't mean any ill feelings toward "MIke" and his Toptul stuff per say. If Mike remembers WKRP with Loni Anderson, he is at least my age. It surprises me that he sells tools made in Taiwan; since, he is of my generation, or close to. I have a miff, not with Mike, but with the fact we are flooded with Taiwan tool fare as it is.....I wouldn't seek out Toptul,is it better than Gearwrench???I really don't know. I looked at the Toptul site and liked the color contrasts and the way they "merchandised" everything. I saw crimpers with changeable heads on another thread, and would buy those if there was not a USA or German equivalent.
I re-read my post from before and apologize for my comment about Mike's solicitation. I, like many am tired of the whole overseas tool flood and that gets me cranky, but I was wrong to blow a horn that wasn't mine to blow. Wait a couple years and China and India will probably have pro tool lines too. When the USA finally comes back to it's roots, at least it will have some formidable competition. Mike, please accept my apology for wrongly being critical of you tool sales.
that's what I looked like @Advanced Auto when I picked up ALLEN brand tools, that said made in China.
I re-read my post from before and apologize for my comment about Mike's solicitation. I, like many am tired of the whole overseas tool flood and that gets me cranky, but I was wrong to blow a horn that wasn't mine to blow. Wait a couple years and China and India will probably have pro tool lines too. When the USA finally comes back to it's roots, at least it will have some formidable competition. Mike, please accept my apology for wrongly being critical of you tool sales.
that's what I looked like @Advanced Auto when I picked up ALLEN brand tools, that said made in China.wrenhandtools
Well-known member
No apology needed...but gladly accepted. I know full well how hard it is to interpret the written word without the benefit 'hearing' voice inflection.
And the reason someone my age (43) sells tools from Taiwan?? Well I think that in this day and age.....1. It just isn't that hard to make a high quality tool. ( or shouldn't be at least) and 2. I take it as a personal assault on my intelligence on how business works with the price that some of these tools manufacturers charge for their goods. Obviously the internet and world economy has not 'hit' these manufacturers yet. But when someone small like me starts taking them on......it's only a matter of time before I find venture capital....or someone else BIGGER comes along and puts the mother of all hurts on these manufacturers. Frankly I think one of the reasons no one has done so yet is that they think these brands are un-beatable........which is not the point.
Their tools are great most all of the time, but their prices my god man, I make well over 250k per year and I truly wince at the prices. And if it affects me like that I started to think..."hey it must hurt the professional mechanic MUCH worse than me."
And I am not a cheap person....but $1000 for a set of 26 wrenches from Snap On?
$1000 is some real money...at least to me.
SO I found this company at last years SEMA show because I looked at what they had and the quality was WAY beyond ANYTHING I had ever seen from asia. And no one at the whole of the Sema Show gave them much of a look besides me. This is proven by me being the only one (possible idiot) to take a chance..........and being he sole importer/distributor in the US. There is no one between me and the manufacturer. I pay all my own freight and duty. That is why I can be so low on price. Kinda wanted to start "grass roots" just to see if it could be done frankly...sorry to ramble.
sincerely
And the reason someone my age (43) sells tools from Taiwan?? Well I think that in this day and age.....1. It just isn't that hard to make a high quality tool. ( or shouldn't be at least) and 2. I take it as a personal assault on my intelligence on how business works with the price that some of these tools manufacturers charge for their goods. Obviously the internet and world economy has not 'hit' these manufacturers yet. But when someone small like me starts taking them on......it's only a matter of time before I find venture capital....or someone else BIGGER comes along and puts the mother of all hurts on these manufacturers. Frankly I think one of the reasons no one has done so yet is that they think these brands are un-beatable........which is not the point.
Their tools are great most all of the time, but their prices my god man, I make well over 250k per year and I truly wince at the prices. And if it affects me like that I started to think..."hey it must hurt the professional mechanic MUCH worse than me."
And I am not a cheap person....but $1000 for a set of 26 wrenches from Snap On?
$1000 is some real money...at least to me.
SO I found this company at last years SEMA show because I looked at what they had and the quality was WAY beyond ANYTHING I had ever seen from asia. And no one at the whole of the Sema Show gave them much of a look besides me. This is proven by me being the only one (possible idiot) to take a chance..........and being he sole importer/distributor in the US. There is no one between me and the manufacturer. I pay all my own freight and duty. That is why I can be so low on price. Kinda wanted to start "grass roots" just to see if it could be done frankly...sorry to ramble.
sincerely
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I did notice on the Toptul web site their ISO standard is quite high.
I am 37, I don't make 250K, and admit "pro" tools are over the top for price. I know there are great,strong tools made in Asia. Toptul originated in Taiwan, so that's fine. My real big problem is with US companies re-opening overseas and "hiding" behind a previous sucessful name. I won't pay a premium for a Taiwan ratchet wrench; because, Snap-on put their name on it, or Cornwell....
Anyhow, as blunt as I am, I know when I put my foot in my mouth, hence the apology
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I agree 100%, when a company moves off shore because US costs are too high then the price, the name and the cost stays the same you know it is anothe crooked corporation scam to line the pockets of a few at the top. What a load of BS. As far as the Toptul thing is considered I think they are good tool at a fair price. I own mostly US tools and never bitched about paying for US quality. I also know Taiwan is fighting a tough battle against the RED threat so there is a big difference from Taiwan to China.