Easco / Napa tools relationship??

[64merc]

I have a Napa wrench that is identical to an Easco wrench that I have, except for the item number and an extra size stamping on the Napa. Is this news to anyone else? I was going to post a picture, but I wanted to make sure this was not old news.

 

[DaytonFan]

I believe that danaher also makes tools for Napa!!

 

[64merc]

I just found it odd because I don't recall a Craftsman wrench that looked like an Easco.

 

[DaytonFan]

Ahh I see

 

[PowderKeg]

Sit a raised panel Craftsman next to a similar sized raised panel Easco or Napa and you'll see the similarities - lengths are the same, heads/box ends are the same, finish is the same, only the shape of the raised panel is different. Least that's how it is for the few I have, that I believe are Moore/Easco era (now if I can just find them....).

 

[sjotis]

Yes, Danaher makes the Professional series for NAPA

 

[krusty the clown]

all hatched from the same egg

 

[Uncle Buck]

There was a Napa Easco connection years ago, this is really nothing new.

 

[speed bump]

Sit a raised panel Craftsman next to a similar sized raised panel Easco or Napa and you'll see the similarities - lengths are the same, heads/box ends are the same, finish is the same, only the shape of the raised panel is different. Least that's how it is for the few I have, that I believe are Moore/Easco era (now if I can just find them....).

Yes except Danaher hates Craftsman. My Napa NB41 which should be the equivelent of the normal Raised panel Craftsman feels so nice I wouldn't trade it for a SO F936 but a Craftsman one I would probably trade for a cheap Taiwanese rachet.

I also really like the Napa wrenches so I am slowly trying to transition to them instead of my Protos (easier to warrenty and have one of the best finishes I have found).

 

[64merc]

Yeah, but they both have the identical raised panel styles. Still no news huh? Oh well

 

[speed bump]

Yeah, but they both have the identical raised panel styles. Still no news huh? Oh well

No none of the Napa rachets are raised panels. They only come in smooth or knurled metal handles.

 

[64merc]

No none of the Napa rachets are raised panels. They only come in smooth or knurled metal handles.

Sorry, I'm still stuck on my wrenches.

 

[speed bump]

Sorry, I'm still stuck on my wrenches.

Thats alright. I have only seen Napa wrenches with a small raised panel near the open end and they don't make that style anymore. The new Napa wrenches are Satin finish and look kind of like my Protos but the feel is slightly diffrent.

 

[Fedwrench]

Thats alright. I have only seen Napa wrenches with a small raised panel near the open end and they don't make that style anymore. The new Napa wrenches are Satin finish and look kind of like my Protos but the feel is slightly diffrent.

Those ones with the raised panel towards the open end were made by Easco. The current satin finished Napa wrench is direct copy of the current K-D, Kobalt, or Allen branded wrench since they're Danaher made.
The wrench to get at the flea market is the Napa 1500 professional series fully polished combination wrench. Great smooth bright chrome finish, off corner engagement in the box end, light and well balanced.
I wouldn't buy them new from Napa because they're real expensive with prices close to tool trucks. Napa ratchets depending on the model are the same internally as KD, Craftsman, Allen, and almost any other Danaher brand.

 

[eschoendorff]

In my experience, the current NAPA Pro tools have more in common with the Allen branch of Danaher than the Craftsman stuff. In any case, I would consider a lot of the Napa pro tools to be at least on par with Cman Pro (wrenches, ratchets and sockets at least) and probably as good as Matco (screwdrivers).

This is ever since Easco and all the others got sucked up by the massive Danaher vacuum....