ok so today i ordered a set of long pattern non ratcheting gear wrench combos. I chose them because of the location of stores to make returns. my next purchase is a long handled half inch non flex ratchet. im looking at allen, armstrong and titan. the titan is a northern tool brand but i havent heard much bad about them. i just dont know about a cheap tool on a high torque application. what are your guys experiences with these three tools or brands.
allen vs armstrong
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arkangel06
Banned
ARMSTRONG all the way!!
jvitez
Well-known member
I've got an Armstrong long pattern wrench set I got fro KLars1 here. Gorgeous chrome, very comfortable wider beam thickness, superb overall. Menards sells a lot of Allan branded tools. I've bought some hex sockets when I was down there last. They are good quality, but very plain looking and finished. Very good prices though, and still made in USA.
Scout Driver
Well-known member
We have used a lot of Allen tools over the past few years 
. Excellent quality, especially for the price. Bought most of ours on sale at Menard's and a few at Fleet Farm. The sockets have a great "fit". I have never felt like I was going to strip or round a fastener. The ratchets are very well made. Really like them too. Not a lot of "bling" but they are great tools and do a great job. As far as warranty, the people at Menard's have told me that if I break something, bring it to them, and they will grab me a new one off the rack, no questions asked. So...my vote is for ALLEN.
. Excellent quality, especially for the price. Bought most of ours on sale at Menard's and a few at Fleet Farm. The sockets have a great "fit". I have never felt like I was going to strip or round a fastener. The ratchets are very well made. Really like them too. Not a lot of "bling" but they are great tools and do a great job. As far as warranty, the people at Menard's have told me that if I break something, bring it to them, and they will grab me a new one off the rack, no questions asked. So...my vote is for ALLEN.highland512
Well-known member
Is it just me or does the allen ratchet's and the craftsman ratchet's look and feel the same?
Scout Driver
Well-known member
Yea, they kinda do. I have been told they are basically (or exactly, depending on who I listen to) the same tools. The Allen just looks and feels a little bit nicer to me. If anything, I always thought the chrome plating was much nicer on the Allen tools. Just my 2 cents.
Scott
plinker
Well-known member
Allen, KD, Armstrong, Gearwrench, Matco (and probably a couple I'm forgetting)are all owned by Danaher.
Danaher also makes Craftsman wrenches, sockets & ratchets and Napa tools.
Thats why they are similar.
Danaher also makes Craftsman wrenches, sockets & ratchets and Napa tools.
Thats why they are similar.
woody 73
Well-known member
Plinker is right on the money!
Stay with either the Armstrong or Allen both are very good and very dependable. If push comes to shove and money is tight look for a used set. If money is very,very tight then buy the Titan set.
Hope this helps.
Stay with either the Armstrong or Allen both are very good and very dependable. If push comes to shove and money is tight look for a used set. If money is very,very tight then buy the Titan set.
Hope this helps.
tonydanzah
Well-known member
arn't both armstrong and allen divisions of danaher?
BigK600
Well-known member
Damn, we need to make this a stickey.
Craftsman, Allen, Kobalt(Lowes), KD, NAPA tools, Gearwrench, Armstrong, Matco, are all brands of Danaher Tool Company.
Essentially Craftsman, Allen, Kobalt, KD and some NAPA tools are all the same tool. With some cosmetic differences in each brand to make them "look" like they are different tools. A Craftsman rised panel 1/2'' ratchet is the same a Allen 1/2" just the Allen has a different shape handle and chrome finish, same goes for Kobalt. Allen socket are identical to Craftsman and etc.
Gearwrench is Danaher's Asian line of tools. But they are good quality, IMO.
Armstrong is Danaher's industrial line, which is of higher quality.
Matco is Danahers pro line, highest quality. However some things like impact sockets are pretty much the same as Craftsman's.
With in these 5 or 6 brands Danaher shares alot of the same design and technology( such as x-beam and pinless swivel impacts).
Anywho to answer your question Armstrong is better but Allen tool aren't bad either. If you get that Allen RHFT long handle ratchet at Menards, lots of people on here really like the Craftsman version of that ratchet.
Craftsman, Allen, Kobalt(Lowes), KD, NAPA tools, Gearwrench, Armstrong, Matco, are all brands of Danaher Tool Company.
Essentially Craftsman, Allen, Kobalt, KD and some NAPA tools are all the same tool. With some cosmetic differences in each brand to make them "look" like they are different tools. A Craftsman rised panel 1/2'' ratchet is the same a Allen 1/2" just the Allen has a different shape handle and chrome finish, same goes for Kobalt. Allen socket are identical to Craftsman and etc.
Gearwrench is Danaher's Asian line of tools. But they are good quality, IMO.
Armstrong is Danaher's industrial line, which is of higher quality.
Matco is Danahers pro line, highest quality. However some things like impact sockets are pretty much the same as Craftsman's.
With in these 5 or 6 brands Danaher shares alot of the same design and technology( such as x-beam and pinless swivel impacts).
Anywho to answer your question Armstrong is better but Allen tool aren't bad either. If you get that Allen RHFT long handle ratchet at Menards, lots of people on here really like the Craftsman version of that ratchet.
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Joe H
Well-known member
IIRC Craftsman, Kobalt, and NAPA tools are not owned by danaher. Danaher just happens to make some items sold under these brands. Williams also makes a lot of Kobalt stuff.
Tool Pants
Well-known member
When the first Lowes opened in my area 20 minutes away about 5 years ago I went to check out the Kobalt ratchets and sockets. They were "chunky" compared to Craftsman. There was a stack of brochures, and I took one. Wish I had saved it. It said something like Kobalt was made by a division of Snap-On. I now know that was Williams.
Last month another Lowes opened a few minutes away from my office, and I checked out the hand tools. This time was Danaher stuff for the ratchets. I remember seeing Danaher Tool Group on some stuff. I think Williams is gone as a supplier to Lowes.
Last month another Lowes opened a few minutes away from my office, and I checked out the hand tools. This time was Danaher stuff for the ratchets. I remember seeing Danaher Tool Group on some stuff. I think Williams is gone as a supplier to Lowes.
tonydanzah
Well-known member
kobalt was a division of snap on at one time. Not in many years though.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I agree with you that there are similarities across all branches of the Danaher tool brand tree. However, the only thing in common with Matco and Craftsman regular impact sockets is that they're black. Wall thickness, finish quality, broach depth, available sizes, and even the high vis gold markings are different (Matco marks two sides, Craftsman one) As for the pinless impact swivels, those are as close as you can get depending on vintage. The older Craftsman and Armstrong ones had taller bases than the Matco versions. The current ones are the same size and the only real difference is the markings, the price, and there are many more sizes available under the Matco banner.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Actually, it was that the Williams tool factory in Columbus, Georgia made Kobalt mechanics tools. The brand Kobalt was never part of the Snap on empire. Danaher then got the gig around 2001. Those first generation Kobalt tools were quite good, now not so much....
Joe H
Well-known member
If this is true my lowes must have a lot of old stock. Pretty much all of the wrenches, sockets, extensions, and ratchets said made in usa by williams on them.
sberry
Banned
If I had to start over tomorrow I would likely march right up to Menards and grab up the Allen, its good and the price is right and I dont care if I cant admire myself in the finish.
BigK600
Well-known member
Your right my wording was a little off Danaher makes the tools, doesn't own them. I've never seen any Williams stuff at Lowes
BigK600
Well-known member
I agree with you that there are similarities across all branches of the Danaher tool brand tree. However, the only thing in common with Matco and Craftsman regular impact sockets is that they're black. Wall thickness, finish quality, broach depth, available sizes, and even the high vis gold markings are different (Matco marks two sides, Craftsman one) As for the pinless impact swivels, those are as close as you can get depending on vintage. The older Craftsman and Armstrong ones had taller bases than the Matco versions. The current ones are the same size and the only real difference is the markings, the price, and there are many more sizes available under the Matco banner.
Ok thanks for clearing that up a bit. I've never had an opportunity to compare side by side and I've only ever seen matco impacts like once or twice I was going by what some other people have said on this board.
mooman
Well-known member
Did you get the used military surplus one from a guy in TX.? That's where I bought one from last week.
Scout Driver
Well-known member
I decided this winter to "upgrade" to a full or somewhat full set of tools that were of good quality and were cost effective. Before this point, I had been using some older C-man tools that were passed down to me (great tools!) and some metric tools of low quality that I had won in a "Fear Factor" type contest. Since Christmas time I have been taking advantage of different sales and promos. at Menard's to put together a set of tools to meet my needs. People that have seen my Allen tools have been impressed by the finish and overall quality.
Scott
bought the allen today, used it for removing and replacing a bunch of parts on an auger 80ft up in a silo. im very happy with it. save alot of time over switching back and forth between breaker bar and ratchet. on a side note, man can those old farmers cobble stuff together good enough to make it impossible to work on. just weld everything it will NEVER EVER have to be removed
Scout Driver
Well-known member
sberry
Banned
I bought a set of Allen back, metrics to leave on location. I wanted them right now and all the rest was junk at retail prices off the shelf, made the Allen a bargain and the fit was really good especially in the small sizes, golf cart stuff.