Proto 3/8 Socket Set???

[jeremy7654321]

Hi All!

This is my first post here on the fourm and i wanted to get some feedback if anyone has any, or just some comments. So ive finally decided to go out and buy my own tools instead of using the father/grandfathers collection of all Snap-on, Mac, and S-K tools and venture out and buy my own. I first went to buy a set from GEDORE at gedoretools it was there 3/8 set ( D 30 GAU-10 ) they had it priced at $61 on the website so i instantly purchased it, but then 3 days later i get an email saying the pricing was a mistake and thanks for "trying to purchase" the set so they could fix the price back to $551. Needless to say i called them up and fought and they offered a 50 percent discoount and free shipping off the 551 price but i declined. Seems even germany tool companies dont have USA customer service skills and i probably will never purchase a gedore item. I still might even write to the german manager a nice letter for holding my money for nearly a week and never getting anything to show for it...

Well now after my rant heres the point of my post. I purchased a Proto #J52218 set off of Harry Epstien (found out about them from here). I want to know some reviews of the set or Proto tools in general.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[shoturtle]

I doubt you will have much luck if your brought from snap on or matco off a webpage mistake on a 550 dollar item, and wanting them to let you have it for 51 dollar. Good luck trying.

Now with the proto kit, it is a good kit but I believe that set is 12pt. You really want a 6pt kit to start with. Proto ratchets are great, very strong good corse tooth ratchet.

 

[shoturtle]

PS

I am a big fan of proto tools, as they make some of the best industrial grade tools out there. I have their big dawg series ratchet, and they are great. They very strong, and good for high torque situations. I deal with industrial tools at work allot, and proto, wright and wiliams are the big three on major construction sites.

I also have their wrenches and they are great, they have a flank drive open head, that you really can torque a fastener without rounding. And they are very hard, not going to spread on you.

 

[cbracer]

After searching and thinking about my own socket collection, I'm buying Proto stuff. By far the best quality of US companies of which you can find discounts on. I looked at Wright, Armstrong, SK, CM, basically anything that wasn't priced out of reach of the non-professional. Those being Snap-On, MAC and MATCO. The US made Williams was considered but they don't offer all the sizes as product differentiation is required by the company to attempt to lure people into spending more money. I looked at Blackhawk but same problem as Williams which is limited offerings compared to the big boys. There were some asian made tools that looked great but distribution in the US was not that great. And some Japan like Koken and Nepros which are gems and not overly expensive. But distribution is lacking in the US. I have had some luck finding Proto stuff on ebay, Zoro Tools or Toolup which seem to have good prices on them.

I don't think you have to start with a 6pt set, I'm doing 12pt in my 3/8 and 6pt in my 1/4 drive. One thing to note, CM ratchets won't work well because the detent ball is too small for Proto sockets.

 

[shoturtle]

If you are going with just 12pt, be careful not to exhort to much torque on worn and rusted fastener. They are the ones that will round out with 12pt.

 

[flathead74]

I really like Proto tools and have quite a few. The only thing I might add is to use your lube of choice on your new ratchet. All the new Proto ratchets I have had were bone dry when I got them.

 

[btbsandman]

Proto Tools are IMHO the best made in the USA products.

 

[TwoInch]

I don't think you have to start with a 6pt set, I'm doing 12pt in my 3/8 and 6pt in my 1/4 drive. One thing to note, CM ratchets won't work well because the detent ball is too small for Proto sockets.

as long as you are working on newer, clean fasteners you will have zero problems with the 12pts. its when you start working on stuff that isnt new where problems come in, and when you work on stuff that someone else worked on previously and buggered up fasteners. 6pts are a must if you plan on working on anything other than new, or indoors type stuff.

i would flip flop what you are doin, get the 6pt in 3/8 and 12pt in 1/4... actually i would just buy both in both drives, but hey, im a tool junkie.

 

[cbracer]

I'm actually getting standard length 3/8" in 12 point (just ordered) then the deeps might change to 6 point. Practically all 12 pt fasteners I've seen never required a deep.

12pt in the smaller 4-8 mm range scares me. There just isn't much surface area in the smaller sizes. Though I understand how 1/4" drive would typically be used with less torque than the 3/8".

 

[HandyManny]

I've always been a fan of Proto hand tools. I have too many. Been using them since the early 1960's. I remember when you used to be able to buy them at local autoparts stores.

 

[Mickey O]

Coincidentally, I had some Gedore sockets for sale in the classifieds here (link) someone offered to buy them, but didn't follow through, no big deal but the bone head tells me he sent the money, here's the quote: "Okay the money has been sent, and the address on paypal is the correct one to send to." (why would you say you paid if you didn't?)

Of course the money was never sent and the perspective buyer had zero posts leading me to think it might be a scammer trying to collect paypal accounts and hack them so I change my paypal log in. I notified an Moderator in case he was trying to scam others.

Coincidentally, it was the guy that started this thread, be careful dealing with him, he's either a scammer or someone that makes stuff up for no reason.