Armstrong question

[twertsy]

So I've decided I'm going to cash in a bunch of rewards and get some "good" tools for Christmas. I restore muscle cars as a hobby but have always just bought Husky, Craftsman and the other box store brands. I've gotta ask about Armstrong tools. They seem outrageously priced. Are they worth it? Are they that much better than say SK or Proto or SO? Talking sockets and wrenches here. Thanks,

Todd

 

[mech-tech]

Only tool from them I have used are the ratchets...and them things are silky smooth. Definitely the smoothest I have every felt, including the snap on. I have literally NEVER seen anyone use Armstong wrenches, guess they just not popular around my area. The sockets are almost just as rare. Mainly it's because not many people carry that line except for one industrial supplier in the area, which makes warranty a bit difficult if needed.

 

[Faisal]

muscle cars required muscle tools like craftsman made in usa or snap on

good luck with your project

 

[Fedwrench]

In a word, NO. Now, there are some gems in the Armstrong line like Maxx series ratchets, some ratcheting wrenches, locking extensions (impact & chrome), and long pattern combination wrenches but, not at industrial supplier prices. you definitely want to shop around and look for a sale. Ebay can be your friend.

I don't care for Armstrong chrome sockets. They are basically the same as chrome Craftsman sockets down to the funky double detent on the square drive cut out. I also don't care for their regular 36 tooth ratchets. Although they use a screw retained gear cover, they still have as much slop in ratcheting action as a raised panel craftsman ratchet.

I do not feel Armstrong are on the same level as SK or Proto, and definitely not close to a truck brand but, that's just me.

 

[amolaver]

not sure where you're looking at pricing, but i definitely wouldn't pay truck prices for their stuff. i've got a couple of ratchets, and while the mechanism is nice, i just don't like their handle design. sockets and wrenches - many, many choices for less money and as good or better quality. wrenches, i'm inclined to wright (standard 15 degree combos). ratcheting? gearwrench stuff just flat works and they have a pretty diverse lineup. sockets - throw a dart. imo, the absolute best are nepros (with their parent KTC's stuff also excellent), but a little hard to find (franks tools or levelchrome are the only vendors i've dealt with, both good folks). if you're willing to pay truck prices, all of them are excellent. i'd guess if you were going to buy multiple sets of sockets / wrenches at once, a driver would probably give you some percentage off their online pricing. still mega money.

i've only got a few proto pieces, but all of them are high quality (locking impact extensions are excellent). SK has some die hards here, but my experience has been poor with their chrome stuff. their impact swivels and semi deep impact sockets have served me very well. wright's impact sockets are significantly better, although less diverse lineup (no impact swivels i believe, no semi-deeps). don't think i've got any chrome from them.

ahm

 

[bobcatdan]

In a word, NO. Now, there are some gems in the Armstrong line like Maxx series ratchets, some ratcheting wrenches, locking extensions (impact & chrome), and long pattern combination wrenches but, not at industrial supplier prices. you definitely want to shop around and look for a sale. Ebay can be your friend.

I don't care for Armstrong chrome sockets. They are basically the same as chrome Craftsman sockets down to the funky double detent on the square drive cut out. I also don't care for their regular 36 tooth ratchets. Although they use a screw retained gear cover, they still have as much slop in ratcheting action as a raised panel craftsman ratchet.

I do not feel Armstrong are on the same level as SK or Proto, and definitely not close to a truck brand but, that's just me.

I basically agree to this. Much of line is very similar to USA made craftsman. I have a few pieces of Armstrong. The standard ratchet looks like a nice unit, very SOish in some regards to the design. Total pile of **** in use. The sockets are identical to craftsman, but crappier. Breaker bars use the identical weak *** drive end as craftsman. Matco use to, but redesigned to a much tougher drive, if Armstrong did the same, then their bars wouldn't be paper weights. I would buy SK or Proto any day over Armstrong.

 

[twertsy]

I was looking on Amazon cuz they take reward points. Looks like some good SK deals but like I said, the Armstrong stuff is crazy priced.

 

[sonvolt]

I have Armstrong ratcheting wrenches and a few ratchets. Majority of my hard line tools are SK and Proto so my vote goes there. Armstrong is expensive compared to SK and Proto

 

[Moose364]

I have some older Armstrong ratchets in 1/2 and 3/4 drive they are OK. like someone else said they are about the same as the Old craftsman stuff from the 90s

 

[Loscaldazar]

Their wrenches and MAXX series ratchets are great. Everything else... meh. So many better brands out there (SK, Proto, BlackHawk, Wright).

 

[fivespdcat]

Watch out using your points on Amazon, they don't redeem at a very good level. As for the armstrong stuff, what I have is pretty nice stuff. Don't really have any issues with any of it.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Armstrong ratchets are good. Especially the locking flex heads which are awesome. The wrenches and sockets are just average. Overall SK,Proto,Wright etc are better I think.

 

[wild cowboy]

I have Armstrong locking extensions and they are as nice as any truck brand, in fact, they ARE the Matco truck brand locking extensions!

their ratcheting box wrenches seem as nice as anyone's

 

[the1nonlyjl]

Armstrong torque wrench is a macho!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fivespdcat]

I have Armstrong locking extensions and they are as nice as any truck brand, in fact, they ARE the Matco truck brand locking extensions!

their ratcheting box wrenches seem as nice as anyone's

You're right! Those locking extensions are awesome. Love my armstrong's,

 

[Askme42]

I was a big armstrong fan after getting their ratchets. Was planning on getting wrenches and sockets too. Til I found out they were pretty much usa C-MAN. Sk proto wright Williams usa it is.

 

[wild cowboy]

You're right! Those locking extensions are awesome. Love my armstrong's,

This is my main point, people who try to classify "this brand" is better than "this brand" are dumb - no company is the best in all areas, different companies make certain tools well, and other tools that are mediocre, and this is true of ALL tool brands!

you could name almost any brand of tool out there, and I could find something they make that is nicer than any other brand, even lowly HF has one or two tools that have no equal, like this for example:

 

[lightning02]

Does anyone know where to get Matco repair kits for the Armstrong ratchets? Other then off a truck.

 

[rtole]

Is this the garage journal? I have taken a bit of flack over the years for not caring for Armstrong..........now no one cares to recommend them ?!?!??!?!?!?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have an Armstrong torque multiplier that is awesome and 2 sets of shallow impacts that have been great. Other than their MAXX ratchets, I cant think of anything else that I can't find at a better quality and price point from another manufacturer. As others have said, USA craftsman is often the exact same product (namely sockets and polished wrenches).

 

[rhandwor]

I have a few combination wrenches made in the USA and they are good quality.

 

[twertsy]

Feedback very much appreciated folks. For the most part, I decided to treat myself to a bunch of SK sets and, based on the "tool love" thread, a couple Dual 80 ratchets to go with them.

 

[Tronyadorable]

You already did.

 

[Askme42]

Feedback very much appreciated folks. For the most part, I decided to treat myself to a bunch of SK sets and, based on the "tool love" thread, a couple Dual 80 ratchets to go with them.

If you're getting SK from Amazon just know that their is still pre ideal stock out there. If you feel the quality is lacking just give sk a call.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I do not feel Armstrong are on the same level as SK or Proto, and definitely not close to a truck brand but, that's just me.

I agree 100%. I have been less than impressed with Armstrong.

 

[wrnchtwstr]

My son sent a Military General tool set home from Afghanistan. This set is what is put in the Military vehicles. It has over 250 pcs. of Armstrong tools. It also has a Fluke meter and a Gerber multi tool. The tool box is a dust and moisture proof Pelican tool box. It was an extra set that was going to be left behind so they made him a heck of a deal. Probably cost him more to send it home than what the set cost him. I told him I wouldn't have a use for the set. I have been a mechanic for over 30 yrs. and I have most everything I need. Most all my tools are Snap-On and Craftsman. I did a Google search and found this set cost over $3500. I don't think the set is worth it to me. It would make good road service or field service set . The Pelican tool box is super nice.

 

[shockwave]

I do like there extra long combination wrenches and there universal impact sockets (now gear wrench is making them)

 

[Wamsutta]

Their wrenches are probably ok, but I wouldn't recommend their sockets.

 

[bobcatdan]

Armstrong is not the worse thing out there, its just a majority of their stuff is USA craftsman, Allen or Menard's masterforce clones. I'm sure there is something they make that is stand out, but from what I have picked up, the brand doesn't wow me.

 

[Spyder1gdsm]

I love their Maxx ratchets and their locking extensions but even I wouldn't get a full set for aviation MX.

 

[joebachor]

I have some Armstrong at work and in my shop at home and Ive never been able to break anything from that company even after some hard use. I really like their ratchet wrenches for their smoothness and high quality. don't hesitate to buy Armstrong tools.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Armstrong is just all the USA made Apex stuff under one name. Just about everything has a crossover with Craftsman, Matco, Gearwrench (torque wrenches), and the Danaher/Apex era USA Kobalt.

As others have already said, they have some gems, but for sockets, wrenches, etc. you're hard pressed to beat SK, Wright, Williams (USA or Taiwan), or Proto.

Insane amounts of crossover with the truck stuff and industrial stuff:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249851

Does anyone know where to get Matco repair kits for the Armstrong ratchets? Other then off a truck.

Armstrong, Matco or Gearwrench (can buy them online). 60, 84 & 88 tooth kits will all work in the same head.

 

[zakmartin]

I've never had any problems with my Armstrong tools. Their snap-ring pliers are A+, I like their extensions, wrenches, and their sockets are built to a better standard than Craftsman USA was (and they filled in all the gaps in their sockets and wrenches that Craftsman was missing).

Probably about 3 or 4 percent of my tool hoard is Armstrong. The only Armstrong tool I didn't like was their deadblow hammer, but that's made by Trusty Cook, and I know they have a lot of fans around here. I upgraded to SO with those and never looked back.

I've bought most of my Armstrong tools from Cripe, which is super cheap, so I haven't really thought of them as over-priced.

 

[wild cowboy]

I've bought most of my Armstrong tools from Cripe, which is super cheap, so I haven't really thought of them as over-priced.

This.

 

[Plombob]

I bought a bunch of Armstrong back in the 1980's. Never a problem. I like the ratchets, the fit the hand well.

 

[Toymeister]

My son sent a Military General tool set home from Afghanistan. This set is what is put in the Military vehicles. It has over 250 pcs. of Armstrong tools. It also has a Fluke meter and a Gerber multi tool. The tool box is a dust and moisture proof Pelican tool box. It was an extra set that was going to be left behind so they made him a heck of a deal. Probably cost him more to send it home than what the set cost him. I told him I wouldn't have a use for the set. I have been a mechanic for over 30 yrs. and I have most everything I need. Most all my tools are Snap-On and Craftsman. I did a Google search and found this set cost over $3500. I don't think the set is worth it to me. It would make good road service or field service set . The Pelican tool box is super nice.

"They" did not make him a great deal. "they" stole it. It was probably Government furnished equipment to a contractor (likely) and not on anyones books or had disposition instructions to take it to the DRMO.

Having said that, sure why not send it home. It is a small return on his future taxes to pay for the wasted war. It would have been shredded along with everything else that we have here (I am in Afghanistan). I have seen entire 56" armstrong boxes shredded and yes they were full.

 

[efb16acrx]

pinless impact swivels, yes. ratchets and wrenches debatable depending on what you are using now. If you decide to get their ratchets, I'll get you some 88t kits as soon as allstate pays out my damn claim....

 

[nicksnothereman]

So I've decided I'm going to cash in a bunch of rewards and get some "good" tools for Christmas. I restore muscle cars as a hobby but have always just bought Husky, Craftsman and the other box store brands. I've gotta ask about Armstrong tools. They seem outrageously priced. Are they worth it? Are they that much better than say SK or Proto or SO? Talking sockets and wrenches here. Thanks,

Todd

Are they worth it? To what extent?

It's well made stuff but harder to warranty than snap on if it's not craftsman; actually they don't usually stock the craftsman industrial so could be difficult to warranty in store as well.

I would say that most of the lower tier brands are probably fine. Wouldn't hurt to pick up better stuff but won't make what you're doing any easier. I'm cheap so the extent of my armstrong "experience" is their craftsman stuff that I pick up cheap enough.