Armstrong Quality Control / Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Sets

[catalytic]

I just received a new Armstrong #28-900 SAE 7-piece reversible ratcheting wrench set from Harry Epsteins. The edges of the open ends look a bit off to me, and so does some of the chrome around the open ends. Am I being overly critical, or what do you guys think?

Every one of the wrenches has open-end edges a bit off. Here are pics of 4 wrenches that have it the worst:










Here's 1 additional pic showing a 9/16 wrench (top of the 2 in pic) with the ratcheting end possibly broached a bit close to the edge for comfort:

 

[Kirbot]

For what they cost.. Yes, that would bother me.

If Husky can get it right for $20 a set, Armstrong shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[Givl Reggin]

They ain't jewelry!

 

[twertsy]

Hell, that don't even look forged! They're not jewelry, but with those defects on the outside finish, what does the inside look like Theyd go back if it were me. Scratches....meh, dimple flaws......not for a new wrench.

 

[1950mercury]

Those were made on monday morning

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I'm not one to ***** about finish, but those have some obvious defects on the open ends.

 

[1foxracing]

Those look like ****! I almost bought the metric set, really glad I didn't now. Think there is another thread where someone purchased these and 1 snapped the first time he used it.

 

[SMKS]

Those look like ****! I almost bought the metric set, really glad I didn't now. Think there is another thread where someone purchased these and 1 snapped the first time he used it.

That was a Proto wrench that broke on the first use, not Armstrong.


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268460

 

[sonvolt]

That open end is unacceptable send them back

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

For what those cost I would be pissed. Scratches aren't a big deal but those are unacceptable flaws

 

[1foxracing]

That was a Proto wrench that broke on the first use, not Armstrong.


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268460

Oops, my mistake. The broken Armstrong was on the ratcheting side.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269450

 

[1950mercury]

I just picked up the armstrong double box set that one side is ratcheting. They are flawless id send those back.

 

[thesilverone]

those look like rejects

 

[ADSR]

For what they cost.. Yes, that would bother me.

If Husky can get it right for $20 a set, Armstrong shouldn't have any trouble.

Agreed!

 

[bsaint]

My armstrongs look a lot better than that.

 

[franzdom]

They ain't jewelry!

No, they are certainly not up to the standard of man jewelry.

 

[Ign]

When I was in school my machining instructor woulda said the dreaded two letters: S.O.

Start Over

 

[jim1987]

My armstrongs look a lot better than that.

My craftsman evolve wrenches look better then that.

 

[jdelrizzle]

That was a Proto wrench that broke on the first use, not Armstrong.


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268460

I bought a set of proto angle wrenches and the 13/16 wrench is bent! Bad! I called zoro tools up and they sent me a new one!

 

[Hpozzuoli]

You gotta think how that passed QA. Then you gotta think how it passed thru the retailers QA or at least inventory. I bet a few eyes passed them along. Scratches, uneven edges, and the ratcheting mech so close to the end of the box. Not the best example of "well made". It happens.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

They ain't jewelry!

**** that! These are red flags! What do the internals look like. I'd want my money back , MEATLOAF STYLE!

 

[twertsy]

For some reason, the QA comment reminded me..................I remember driving hundreds of miles surrounding where I lived to buy every new Fleer box of BB cards I could find back in '89 just to ****** up all of these. Talk about QA failure!

 

[Brownsfan]

Im pretty sure i have this card from my youth. I remember the craze trying to find it. I got one by.chance

 

[Fedwrench]

Poor Epsteins!! They just got done with pages of SK chrome/finish issues from SK daze and now comes Armstrong

Does a tool manufacturer from Taiwan need to visit Armstrong and SK to instruct them on quality control?

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

Not to change subject but later after cards were made and sent they started printing bill ripken card with the letters blocked out. Witch is worth more being there is less of them.

 

[catalytic]

*** UPDATE ***

I tried ordering a set from a different supplier (Amazon) to compare the quality. The new set that arrived is just as bad. Interestingly, the same size wrenches have the same problems in the same areas... So it looks like this may be a problem with Armstrong's machine tools.

Here's the new 9/16 wrench (in my earlier pics, the old set's 9/16 had the ratcheting end broached really close to the edge of the wrench). Same too-close-to-the-edge broaching on the new set 9/16, and additionally it's off center (visible from the back of the wrench). One new problem also became apparent: the 7/16 wrench is missing the notch in the open jaw for off-corner engagement (top wrench in the bottom pic). One of the other wrenches has a crooked, angled notch. All of the new wrenches have defects on the edges of the open jaws like in the old set.

What happened to Armstrong? You guys who say you have these wrenches in SAE (set 28-900 or 28-901) and have none of these problems, when/where did you buy them?

The top wrench in this picture is the new 9/16 with the same too-close-to-the-edge broaching as the 9/16 from the old set:


The top wrench in the following pic is the new 7/16" missing the notch in the jaw:

 

[espyking83]

I'd send them back. I think its a HJS issue and not Armstrong, I would imagine that HJS got them at a discount to pass the savings on to you. Love the Armstrong ratcheting wrenches but wouldnt pay over $50 for a set like that

 

[catalytic]

^^ actually, the set in my original post was from HJE... the one pictured right above your post is from Amazon. The two sets have almost identical problems in the same places on the same wrenches.

 

[SMKS]

I'd send them back. I think its a HJS issue and not Armstrong, I would imagine that HJS got them at a discount to pass the savings on to you. Love the Armstrong ratcheting wrenches but wouldnt pay over $50 for a set like that

Did you not notice that the OP bought a second set from a different seller (Amazon) and had similar issues?

The ones Harry Epstein were selling probably weren't seconds or closeouts. They sell lots of non-closeout tools.

 

[rednotch]

Did you not notice that the OP bought a second set from a different seller (Amazon) and had similar issues?

The ones Harry Epstein were selling probably weren't seconds or closeouts. They sell lots of non-closeout tools.

amazon could still be close outs or seconds, Amazon because of FBA mixes inventory with resellers some times, that's why a lot of companies will not honor warranties on stuff bought from there.. I Don't have that set but Have got other armstong tools that you could tell where seconds but never listed as such. If they work I use them if not warranty them threw armstong not the sellers.

Maybe contact Epstein's and see if other sets they have show the same defects? Tools are made in batches, it may be a tooling issue that they didn't catch right away.

 

[Farmall450]

I'm not one to ***** about finish, but those have some obvious defects on the open ends.

+1, going into this thread I didn't expect anything near what I saw.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think it's an Armstrong issue. Armstrong made many of Matco's ratcheting wrenches and it's fairly common for some ratcheting wrenches to made broached close to the edge of the wrench.

With many manufacturers making their wrenches in lots by size, I venture to say that every Armstrong set on the market today will have the same issues with the same sizes. Probably need to find a NOS set on ebay.

On a side note, in the first set of Armstrong metric ratcheting wrenches I bought, the 18 mm wrench was missing the ratcheting mechanism. It was just a wrench body with a nice round hole for the boxed end. How can that slip by QC?

 

[Ign]

The 1st pic in post #26, the distance from hole to selector switch looks reasonable, so it looks less like it was broached too close to the outer edge and more like the blank just didn't have sufficient meat to begin with.

 

[ibedayank]

being armstrong is owned by Apex tool group why does this surprize anyone?

 

[catalytic]

*** Update ***

So I just received a third set of these wrenches. The last 2 sets were #28-900, whereas this set is 28-901 (28-901 = same wrenches, but no vinyl case -- I thought maybe this would come from a different batch). What arrived is actually worse. Take a look at the 3/8" wrench below

set #3 3/8" wrench (wtf?):


set #3 5/8 wrench (same jaw defect as in other sets):


Strangely, the 1/2" wrench in this set is significantly thinner than the 1/2" wrenches in the other 2 sets:

 

[Kirbot]

I think it's time to call it quits and get a set of Gearwench, or maybe Proto.

I'm looking at one of my Apex made Husky ratcheting wrenching (the 5 piece flex set was on sale for $15 a few weeks ago) and it's perfect.

I'd really love to know why Chinese Apex is finished 10x better than American Apex.
The QC guys at the Armstrong factory should be downright embarrassed.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have to ask, why do you keep buying these sets? After two showed up with the same issues from different vendors, why a third? One is a fluke, two shows a major quality control problem. There are many other mamanufacturers making similar wrenches in the same price range; I would move on.

 

[amolaver]

Jeez, three sets, all terrible. I'm not particularly picky about appearance (of tools ), but that is likely to be a functional problem. I've got probably 10 sets of gearwrench ratcheting wrenches, and I don't think I've seen a flaw 1/2 that bad on any of them.

Send them all back. Not sure what brand to suggest if it has to be us coo, but clearly is not Armstrong's strong suit. I wish Wright made modern ones (72t+) because their 'normal' combos are, by far, the nicest wrenches I own, and every bit as nicely finished as any truck option. Short of that, the gearwrench are, imo, excellent. I don't own any proto wrenches, but based on their other tools, I'd guess them to be well made as well. Are they(proto) us coo (ratcheting specifically)?

ahm

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I don't own any proto wrenches, but based on their other tools, I'd guess them to be well made as well. Are they(proto) us coo (ratcheting specifically)?

ahm

Their black spline ratcheting wrenches are Taiwain, but very nice. Their chrome I-beam style wrenches are USA and also very nice. A member posted up a month or two ago about one of the USA wrenches breaking a jaw off the open end on its first use. Most of us figured it was a fluke deal, but the thread turned into the usual Garage Journal COO cluster f&$%.

 

[CNGsaves]

When I was in school my machining instructor woulda said the dreaded two letters: S.O.

Start Over

Yep . . . . or RB . . . . Reject Bin.

At plastic injection molding company where I previously worked,
. . . . the line operators had FUB . . fawk-up box !
(thus, lots of re-grind that later got mixed with virgin to make new product)