More Gray tools Canada!

[jt777]

As a canadian i was interested in getting more gray tools as they are canadian made. I looked on here and found a small detail on current quality of their tools. I took a leap of faith and bought a 3/8 deep and shallow set of metric sockets from 8 to 19mm and a 1/4 and 3/8 set of wobble extensions.

First impressions
Chrome rivals snap ons current chrome.
Fit of the sockets was really close to snap on also. Way better fit on fasteners than cheaper sockets.
I do find it a bit hard to read the sizes stamped in the chrome but it will get easier once they are filled in with black greasyness. Or at least my older gray stuff(15+ yrs old) is easy to read.
The deep sockets are all the same height unlike snap on. This is nice sometimes. Othertimes it gets in the way. This is purely personal preference.
The big thing i couldn't find on here was the entry angle on the sockets. It is very low which is good cause you get more flat to flat contact. I can't stand sockets with crazy entry angles i have to grind down.
The extensions i haven't used yet but you can feel the quality in you hand.
I picked up the metric deep and shadows plus a 3 pc. 1/4 inch wobble set and 4 pc. 3/8 wobble set for 287 bucks tax in. This was with the extensions on sale and with a 15% off coupon code with free shipping.
I'm a professional mechanic so they will see alot of use. I will keep this updated.
I will post pictures when i get a second one day at work.
If you have any questions post them up.

 

[maxcarp709]

What are some of the common brands available in Canada? Are any others Canadian made?

 

[ADSR]

Chrome rivals snap ons current chrome.

This is Garage Journal, to make a claim like that without pictures, might cause some problems with the Kool-Aid drinkers.

 

[jt777]

This is Garage Journal, to make a claim like that without pictures, might cause some problems with the Kool-Aid drinkers.

I know. I'll take some pictures when i have time at work one day

 

[jt777]

What are some of the common brands available in Canada? Are any others Canadian made?

As far as tool truck quality. We have mac and snap on around here. Never seen a matco truck. But we can get many other good brands online

 

[Sine Swept]

I know of a Matco truck that comes to a friend's shop

 

[buckwheat_la]

Gray is great value and quality. Not sure they are SnapOn quality but they are very good. Bolt supply house is a distributor for them

 

[jt777]

Gray is great value and quality. Not sure they are SnapOn quality but they are very good. Bolt supply house is a distributor for them

I agree with you. They are top notch but still a rung below snap on. For what i paid for deep and shallow sockets plus 2 sets of of extensions, i would have got one set of deep metric sockets from snap on (I'm talking brand new retail prices). I'm not hating snap on. I have my 3/8 and 1/2 drive standard sockets from snap on. I was just looking to save a few bucks and still get professional tools.

 

[rmsg0040]

Clark Industrial Wholesale carries Gray Tools, walked into the store in Brampton and saw a whole wall full of Gray Tools

 

[Jazz1]

I have never broken any of my GRAY tools. Their tool boxes are also first rate and priced accordingly. My 1/2 GRAY is very vintage,,,was surprised they could still supply a rebuild kit for the ratchet
http://toolarchives.com/sites/default/files/1936 Bonney Gray Catalog.pdf

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I need more gray stuff. Their Allen keys are somehow better than everyone else. Hard to explain they just feel nicer a d fit better and don't seem to round off as easy as the competition.

Oh and there is a local Matco truck in the town I live in.

 

[ADSR]

Where is their plant?

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Where is their plant?

Brampton ontario

 

[jt777]

Yeah they are true canadian made tools. I am loving using their sockets everyday.

 

[MikeF2316]

Markham Industrial on Woodbine Ave just north of Steeles has Gray in stock too.

 

[BK13]

Any place in Vancouver sell them? If I ever make it back up there I might have to look some up....


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[Techie1961]

Just chiming in. I have a few Gray tools and been using them for 40+ years. They have always been very good and seem to be stepping up their game along with the other quality brands. Their snap rings pliers are great as well. I haven't used their pipe wrenches and stick with Ridgid for stuff like that.

 

[rmsg0040]

Some of their pliers are made in Germany, I think by Orbis, quality is very good and the price reflects that, around $40/plier

 

[jt777]

I know their pipe wrenches are made by ridgid. So they will probably just be rebranded

 

[R-Savage]

I love my Grays, they feel like old school snappy's to me. They are high quality and so easy to order from. I'm currently building a couple new wrench sets for my box. They have an excellent assortment of sockets pliers, screwdrivers etc... I will be ordering more Grays as time goes on. High quality, and great value, and great looking and feeling tools.

Shopgraytools.com

 

[R-Savage]

Gray is great value and quality. Not sure they are SnapOn quality but they are very good. Bolt supply house is a distributor for them

I would put a Gray tool against a snapon anyday not dissin snapon here they are fantastic tools. I would say that Grays will b onpar with Mac, snapon, etc. They are great tools.

 

[Kula]

I have some Gray wrenches and they seem good, but not as good as Snap On. I like my old Bonnie wrenches the best. I got the Gray wrenches for such a good price though, and would gladly buy more of their tools because they are robust and fairly priced. (I am not a Pro) I have been in their factory once when I worked on a show called Venture. Glad they are hanging in.

 

[R-Savage]

Here is a pic of a 3/8 gray combo wrench at the top and a old school snappy on the bottom. We need some Gray Tools Pics.

 

[buckwheat_la]

I would put a Gray tool against a snapon anyday not dissin snapon here they are fantastic tools. I would say that Grays will b onpar with Mac, snapon, etc. They are great tools.

The thing I have noticed about Gray is that they miss on some of the details/features. Their wrenched are solid but not as long or thin profile as others. Their ratchets are coarse tooth (60 tooth I think). But where they shine is price. You won't find quality as close to snap-on at their prices anywhere (in North America at least)

 

[lutter94]

The thing I have noticed about Gray is that they miss on some of the details/features. Their wrenched are solid but not as long or thin profile as others. Their ratchets are coarse tooth (60 tooth I think). But where they shine is price. You won't find quality as close to snap-on at their prices anywhere (in North America at least)

60 tooth is coarse? What do you consider fine?

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[buckwheat_la]

60 tooth is coarse? What do you consider fine?

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Comparing them to Snap-on though. And a lot of their rachets are still 36 tooth.....

 

[R-Savage]

1/4 inch drive is 36 tooth
3/8 drive you have a choice between 20,32, and 40
1/2 inch drive same as 3/8 in tooth choice
3/4 drive is 32 tooth
1 inch drive is 45 tooth.

I just thought I would look them up

However their combo ratcheting wrenches are 72 tooth

 

[jeremyillingworth]

For the last year I've been slowly buying Gray wrenches and sockets, building a small collection to cover just what I need to work on my vehicles. I love their smooth chrome and the fact that they have six point wrenches, which I prefer.

jeremy

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[jt777]

1/4 inch drive is 36 tooth
3/8 drive you have a choice between 20,32, and 40
1/2 inch drive same as 3/8 in tooth choice
3/4 drive is 32 tooth
1 inch drive is 45 tooth.

I just thought I would look them up

However their combo ratcheting wrenches are 72 tooth

They make round head ratchets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive that are 72 tooth with the hard handle

 

[jt777]

This is just a quick pic i took at the shop today. Both 3/8 drive. 14mm gray vs. A 1/2 snap on. Chrome is very comparable. Notice though that the insides of the socket on the gray have a different chrome from the outside.

 

[R-Savage]

They make round head ratchets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive that are 72 tooth with the hard handle

I didn't notice them on the online shopping site. Might have to take another look. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[jt777]

I didn't notice them on the online shopping site. Might have to take another look. Thanks for the heads up.

The round heads just don't have the direction change the same. It's one of the Annoying ones that you have to turn the whole head.

 

[GForceJunky]

I've got a bunch of old Gray stuff from my grandfather - mostly 1/2" stuff as well as some wrenches,punches, and what-not as well. Quite a few extensions, old breaker bars, nice old ratchets, etc.

I don't use them much (not the ratchet anyways) as it's pretty coarse tooth but everything is top-notch and quality. Never had an issue with any of their stuff and would gladly buy more of it if money allowed. Wish they had more selection in terms of ratchets as I need a new, quality ratchet set that is fine tooth.

 

[R-Savage]

The round heads just don't have the direction change the same. It's one of the Annoying ones that you have to turn the whole head.

Found it. It's funny I never saw those on the website.

 

[MikeF2316]

Markham Industrial on Woodbine Ave just north of Steeles has Gray in stock too.

I just visited them yesterday. 55 mm, ¾" drive.

And with a beer can...

They didn't have this in stock, it had to be ordered. But I ordered it on Thursday, they had it Friday morning.

 

[R-Savage]

I just visited them yesterday. 55 mm, ¾" drive.

And with a beer can...

They didn't have this in stock, it had to be ordered. But I ordered it on Thursday, they had it Friday morning.

Nice. The largest I have is a 2 3/ 8 but not in a Gray. I did buy a 13/16 and a 7/8 in 3/4 drive. Nice Sockets. But that thing is sweet.

I need to buy some deep sockets for my 3/4 drive.

 

[jt777]

What do you work on that you need 3/4 drive deep sockets?

 

[R-Savage]

It's frivolous really. I was feeling that a 7/8 deep socket would save me using an extension for an accurate torq reading on the vehicles lug nuts. Right now it's a 7/8 with an extension then with a key. It would be nice to get a torq without the use of the extension.

 

[jt777]

Oh i understand. Little ocd things like that cost me thousands sometimes. But i can justify it by saying tools don't lose all their value

 

[R-Savage]

Oh i understand. Little ocd things like that cost me thousands sometimes. But i can justify it by saying tools don't lose all their value

Not a necessity but would be a nice to have. Looks like gray doesn't make a 7/8 deep socket for 3/4 drive. Oh well no big deal.