GOOD GOD! Why are Proto Tools THAT Exspensive?

[MrDeathMachine]

First Post! Glad to be Here on GJ.

Why is the hell are Proto Tools so amazingly expensive? It boggled my mind to see they wanted $2000.00 for a socket set. I joined here just to have that question answered. Does it have something to do with Government Contracting? Are there a bunch of rich people I don't know about?


The wrench set here is $2044.95!!!!!!

 

[woody 73]

Wait for it, Wait for it,...Why buy snap-On? or how I wanted others to pay more for that anvil.

Let the fun continue.

 

[Sebastien]

Is this the set?

http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/04438768

 

[Nortonscustom]

Pretty sure this is just another troll post. But on the off chance its not, the set you pictured goes all the way up to 2-1/2" Those are huge wrenches. That set can be had for much less than the prices on Grainger. And if you're working on something that is held together with 2-1/2" bolts then you have a real job and can afford the set.

 

[Karl_B]

It looks like he's talking about J1200-90ASD, but I'm fairly certain this is some sort of troll post. That set goes up to 2 1/2" and he didn't provide a "reasonable" alternative. My SAE wrenches stop at 1 1/8", save for one 1 5/16" that I got used and cheap.

If the original poster is serious, maybe he can explain what he uses wrenches that size for and what brand he normal uses.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

First Post! Glad to be Here on GJ.

Why is the hell are Proto Tools so amazingly expensive? It boggled my mind to see they wanted $2000.00 for a socket set. I joined here just to have that question answered. Does it have something to do with Government Contracting? Are there a bunch of rich people I don't know about?


The wrench set here is $2044.95!!!!!!

Yes. It is also because the set you have pictured is 31 pcs and goes up to 2 1/2 inches.
http://www.zoro.com/i/G1850947/?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&gclid=CMbpp_ytosECFY17fgodhrAATg

Any US company is going to be around 2k for that many wrenches and in that size. Anything over 1'' or mm equivalent is very expensive. Wright , SK, etc will all be around this price.

 

[MrDeathMachine]

No it is not a Troll post. I did the traditional forum search before i posted the question. I am new to this tool buying and collecting. Forgive me, but it is a serious question.

 

[LB-1911]

First Post! Glad to be Here on GJ.

Why is the hell are Proto Tools so amazingly expensive? It boggled my mind to see they wanted $2000.00 for a socket set. I joined here just to have that question answered. Does it have something to do with Government Contracting? Are there a bunch of rich people I don't know about?


The wrench set here is $2044.95!!!!!!:

You haven't price out wrenches above 1 1/2" very often have you.


Wrench Set, 5/16-2-1/2 in., 31 Pc
Mfr Number: J1200-90ASD


5/16
3/8
7/16
1/2
9/16
5/8
11/16
3/4
13/16
7/8
15/16

1
1-1/16
1-1/8
1-1/4
1-5/16
1-3/8
1-7/16
1-1/2
1-5/8
1-11/16
1-3/4
1-13/16
1-7/8

2
2-1/16
2-1/8
2-3/16
2-1/4
2-3/8
2-1/2

OutsideMachinist

 

[MrDeathMachine]

Outside Machininst, thank you for the answer. I still am taken aback by that price but I am closer to understanding.

 

[Toyota mechanic]

Same as Snap-on, Proto is high end USA made tools. I like Proto, probably the best 'industrial' tool company that exists. That wrench set has very large wrenches in it. That price is about right. I can't afford that either, and my wrenches are less expensive, so don't freak out just buy the best you can afford, and use them.

 

[eborcim]

OP, so how many sets are you going to buy?

 

[OutsideMachinist]

No it is not a Troll post. I did the traditional forum search before i posted the question. I am new to this tool buying and collecting. Forgive me, but it is a serious question.

I doubt you need wrenches up to 2 1/2 inches then. You could get by with a set up to 1'' or so.

This set is up to 1- 1/4''.

http://www.zoro.com/i/G2092921/?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&gclid=CJy31KGvosECFcRbfgodV4YAOw

Blackhawk by proto wrenches are very good as well. They have a set up to 1- 5/16'' for around 150 or half the proto set.

 

[Stuey]

Deja Vu

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183405

 

[MrDeathMachine]

LB-1911 Thanks for the info. No I haven't. I am new to this tool thing. That is why I joined this forum, I am trying to learn by asking the Professionals on here.

 

[MrDeathMachine]

Stuey, I guess I should have phrased my search with more than Proto.

Thanks for your time and information everyone.

 

[larry_g]

Industry where I worked downtime was in the $9-15 per second range. It doesn't take many seconds of down time to pay for that set.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Toyota mechanic]

LB-1911 Thanks for the info. No I haven't. I am new to this tool thing. That is why I joined this forum, I am trying to learn by asking the Professionals on here.

If you are starting out, the best wrenches IMO are these, still USA made

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-12-p...p-00929450000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

Then, get a good set of combination wrenches, in case you need an open end. The long, double box end Craftsman wrenches are staples to me still, just get the USA ones, before they are gone. I use them the most. Your third set might be ratcheting wrenches.

Happy tool hunting... You don't have to spend a fortune to get good, strong tools... You will have to spend a considerable sum...

 

[jjjrmx5]

Outside Machininst, thank you for the answer. I still am taken aback by that price but I am closer to understanding.

If you've ever worked in manufacturing or heavy industry, those prices are not bad considering what you get.

Think of a power plant that is worth Millions to both build and operate. $2k of these in the tool crib insures a good tool that will keep the plant running and your heat on in the winter and the AC on in the summer.

We're not talking automotive repair here.

Food plants, College Campuses with their own heating and power physical plants/substations, Hospitals, Water treament plants, sewage plants, you name it. The list goes on.

None of those above would balk at that price of $2k.

Think bigger when you think of tools, both size and who uses what.
The Grainger and McMaster Carr catalogs are thicker than the King James Bible AND the Quran/Koran for a reason.
LOLOLOLZ.

And welcome to GJ.

 

[Ign]

Apples and oranges and not actually made by Proto (Kastar Lange I think?) but if you want huge random sizes in the Proto old-school ratcheting wrenches Northern still has a few left, altho they've jacked one of them to $30 (inexplicably since these have been on clearance forever and clearly aren't moving that quickly). Several threads here about this, but just search Northern Tool for "Proto ratcheting" and they have

1 7/8" $15
2 1/8" $30
1 3/4" $15
1 9/16" $15

Not exactly on topic but the whole thread doesn't really make sense. Big wrenches that aren't HF cost big $$

 

[SASORacing]

That's a bargain, clearance priced.

 

[Ign]

If you've ever worked in manufacturing or heavy industry, those prices are not bad considering what you get.

Think of a power plant that is worth Millions to both build and operate. $2k of these in the tool crib insures a good tool that will keep the plant running and your heat on in the winter and the AC on in the summer.

We're not talking automotive repair here.

Food plants, College Campuses with their own heating and power physical plants/substations, Hospitals, Water treament plants, sewage plants, you name it. The list goes on.

None of those above would balk at that price of $2k.

Think bigger when you think of tools, both size and who uses what.
The Grainger and McMaster Carr catalogs are thicker than the King James Bible AND the Quran/Koran for a reason.
LOLOLOLZ.

And welcome to GJ.

Good point. And only a handful of places take the time to get GSA certified or listed or compliant or whatever, and once you're talking gov't contracts cost is virtually irrelevant. Ok, I gotta go work to pay taxes now.......

 

[e30bradley]

Like others said big wrenches cost big money. My snap on set of standard wrenches gos to 1" and it was $423
http://store.snapon.com/Standard-Ha...ination-6-Point-11-pcs-3-8-to-1--P633036.aspx

If you want the set that gos to 1 5/8" your looking at $1,709.90

http://store.snapon.com/Standard-Ha...on-12-Point-24-pcs-1-4-to-1-5-8--P633145.aspx


go look at the big sizes here:

http://store.snapon.com/FLANK-DRIVE-174-PLUS-COMBINATION-C629582.aspx


top of the line wrenches are stupid expensive. I have an 8mm S.O. fd+ wrench.. $32 plus tax..

 

[BDT/NWMN]

ProTo offers five 15piece wrench sets in chrome, satin and black finish... Prices range between $175 to $325.. not unreasonable for a set that goes from 5/16 to 1 1/4. or the metric counterpart.. These may be a bit more common than the whopper 31piece set you have pictured; which can be bought for $1899.16...


Go to the ProTo website protoindustrial.com They will show the vendors that stock the tools, and their prices..... it will be worth your time///the price spread amongst the vendors is an eye opener.

 

[Swan]

MrDeathMacine,

Based on your avatar image of a pre-unit Triumph, you should be looking for British Standard Whitworth tools.

 

[Wakefield]

At some point above 1 and 1/2" Wright combination wrenches go above $100. apiece. Williams USA might have huge wrenches called "Supertorque".

 

[ihateminimumwage]

And if you're working on something that is held together with 2-1/2" bolts then you have a real job and can afford the set.

I wish that were true...

 

[sonvolt]

Good quality costs $$ especially when you get into donkey kong sizes

 

[Verg]

At some point above 1 and 1/2" Wright combination wrenches go above $100. apiece. Williams USA might have huge wrenches called "Supertorque".

I have a wright 1-7/16 its about 3x more massive then my C-man Pro 1-1/2 (USA made). The wright is a truly awesome wrench.

 

[beatcad]

1) because they're that good
2) because they're huge

unless you work on large machinery or large trucks or trains you wont need stuff that big.
the largest wrench i own is 1 1/2". i dont even remember why i bought that.
it may have been for the fork top nut on my old BSA, just to bring it back to brit bikes

i will also suggest looking up blackhawk(made/owned by proto/stanley).
blackhawk is tough as nails.

 

[wyo george]

I have a Proto 1-7/16 that I cut the box end off to fit a cheater bar and I've bounced my entire 225lbs on the end of a 9ft cheater bar and the open end has not spread AT ALL despite using it in this manner dozens (if not hundreds) of times.

Yes, I know that's not a nice way to treat tools, but it gets the job done and if the wrench ever breaks I'll buy another and cut it up for more of the same

 

[cat-mechanic]

Yes they are worth it. I only have up to 2 3/8". So I still need to get the 2 1/2"

Yes I use them. Mining trucks are stupid huge.

 

[Fcvapor05]

The other thing is that typically with Grainger, MSC, McMaster, etc, you're paying a fairly large premium for convenience. The customers they cater to, industrial companies that can't afford to wait 2 weeks for tools to show up, are willing to pay a premium because Grainger et. al can have your order in your shop the next morning.

Grainger or MSC are not good barometers for what tools cost.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

The other thing is that typically with Grainger, MSC, McMaster, etc, you're paying a fairly large premium for convenience. The customers they cater to, industrial companies that can't afford to wait 2 weeks for tools to show up, are willing to pay a premium because Grainger et. al can have your order in your shop the next morning.

Grainger or MSC are not good barometers for what tools cost.

^^ That. Grainger owns Zoro and you can routinely find items on zoro for half the price of grainger. Shop around.

 

[Tronyadorable]

All tool companies are hit or miss. I just bought a handful of Proto screwdrivers for $8-$12 each. I've got the alignment bars and some chisels, punches, hammers. I'd never buy their wrenches due to price.
Snappy sockets are a complete ripoff but their ratchets and torque wrenches are tops and not too hard on the wallet.Really no more than any other top of the line Like Hazet, ********, Mac etc.
My idea is if it has moving parts the high end should(and usual does) have tighter tolerances and work better. Any **** with a forge and a proper piece of tool steel can hammer out and machine a wrench or prybar.

 

[Gmonkee]

Proto USA is primarily an industrial brand, they do not cater to the consumer market with their pricing.

The powerplant, mining operation or whatever huge industry thinks little of spending that on a set for the tool crib. Stanley is the homeowner brand line of tools in the Stanley family. Those are more budget priced.
Like here in Mexico a lot of the older ProtoMex stuff has its roots (and original purchase) in an industrial acct somewhere that trickled down into the street markets over the years.
I have 1980's Stanley Workmaster DOE wrenches that were solely marketed at the industrial sector. Very nice tools, very basic finish with surprisingly great fit, even after being well used. If function ranks 80% of a tool's value these rank high.

 

[joel63]

If you are starting out, the best wrenches IMO are these, still USA made

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-12-p...p-00929450000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

Then, get a good set of combination wrenches, in case you need an open end. The long, double box end Craftsman wrenches are staples to me still, just get the USA ones, before they are gone. I use them the most. Your third set might be ratcheting wrenches.

Happy tool hunting... You don't have to spend a fortune to get good, strong tools... You will have to spend a considerable sum...

Excellent advice for a beginner!

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Proto USA is primarily an industrial brand, they do not cater to the consumer market with their pricing.

The powerplant, mining operation or whatever huge industry thinks little of spending that on a set for the tool crib. Stanley is the homeowner brand line of tools in the Stanley family. Those are more budget priced.
Like here in Mexico a lot of the older ProtoMex stuff has its roots (and original purchase) in an industrial acct somewhere that trickled down into the street markets over the years.
I have 1980's Stanley Workmaster DOE wrenches that were solely marketed at the industrial sector. Very nice tools, very basic finish with surprisingly great fit, even after being well used. If function ranks 80% of a tool's value these rank high.

Hey Gmonkee. I have used some of that Urrea Proto stuff you have talked about previously. They make good tools. Beat a 3/4 ratchet with a 10lb sledge. Yeah the handle bent. Ratchet held up fine.

 

[Gmonkee]

The sockets are plain but solid, the ratchets of the Proto style are freakin' torque monsters but those are being phased out slowly now I suspect.
. The wrenches have already morphed into Asain rebrands but at this point solid ones yet. I never did like their screwdrivers much but its a handle preference problem of mine, not a quality issue.

Urrea is going through changes this last year but staying in the game at least. The old styles are where I got to know them, I give a lot of respect to those designs.

Yes Sir, they are good tools and they get jobs out without failures even if the styling is/was dated. Can't argue with that much.

 

[toolmaven]

I saw this at an old industrial supply in PA: Wood handle Proto drivers! Sockets to 1" drive. Most smaller stuff is gone from the old display. They are discounting some of it. I bought some 1/4" drive screwdriver bits (think mini-drag-link sockets) at about $7 each and the micro nut driver set, just because I didn't have one. I think that little nut-driver lists for about $50; $10 each for nut drivers under 3/16". I think Proto runs higher than USA Williams or Armstrong, usually. Professional grade USA isn't cheap from any company these days.

 

[rancherbill]

The other thing is that typically with Grainger, MSC, McMaster, etc, you're paying a fairly large premium for convenience.

Convenience????

No, the customers are spending OPM.

OPM is other people's money. Buying for maintenance departments is a pain and they let the guys buy their own. They buy the best then lose, misuse or steal these great tools.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if these guys had to supply their own tools and were given a $100 allowance for wear and tear.