Proto Gets it!

[Outlawmws]

I got these replaced under warranty, and the Proto quality is, as expected, top notch!

What really impressed me was instead of the old small and fairly lightly rolled labels and more importantly sizes, these were rolled deeper and with LARGE sizes!

Even the relatively small 3/8 drive swivel had the size in a font 1/4" high and the 1/2 drive deep was 5/16 high.

The pictures really don't do them justice, I'm not too good with getting sharp, well lit pics of chrome without getting a lot of over flash and weird highlights...

About 20% of my sockets and ratchets are already Proto, and If I was rolling in dough, I'd be up for just buying all new sockets from Proto based on these.

 

[billymade]

Frankly, I think Proto has always gotten it; a brand that now is primarily industrial but in the past was sold at automotive stores. While not the sexiest tool around; I think their quality has always been there. I've never cared for their ratchets but their wrenches, sockets are always the underrated and not recognized quality brand at the flea market! Elroy had a thread about the 500 series wrenches... they look awesome! I sometimes get the snapon/proto wrench shapes mixed up a bit; proto professional wrenches look close to snapon!

 

[OEXL16B]

That swivel socket is one of the new ones with the solid pressed in pin. Interesting.

 

[bassbone52]

The 500 series ASD wrenches are top notch products and if you use some Superlube in the ratchets, they get real quiet and very smooth. Proto is very underrated!

 

[Tunger]

Agreed, Proto is very underappreciated. My dad has quite a bit of proto he bought when he owned his shop, but until the last year or so I had none. I love their wrenches,for my use it's either them or USA bluepoint as I prefer the matte finish on my wrenches (I do have some SO wrenches but prefer the others.). The proto 1/2" breaker I bought is overbuilt compared to my old SO. I love me some proto, it has been what I seek at pawn shops and flea markets.

 

[otis66]

The only thing I don't like about Proto is that they are hard to find...Just like Wright. I would love to have some Proto sockets.

 

[Outlawmws]

The only thing I don't like about Proto is that they are hard to find...Just like Wright. I would love to have some Proto sockets.

I was looking some stuff up and was surprised to see that Staples (the office supply store) sells on line, both Proto and Armstrong tools! (Some other brand(s) too but that was what stuck..)

 

[Outlawmws]

That swivel socket is one of the new ones with the solid pressed in pin. Interesting.

I have older Porto swivel sockets and they are solid pin also. Some of the older ones are not only solid, but were pressed then ground flush. Older SO are like that also.

The only non solid swivls I have are 1 Easco, 1 Walden and one "brand X"

SK, Proto, (Older) SO, are all solid, if not solid and ground.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

I have a 12-point metric deep and shallow set 8-19mm, a universal joint, 3/8 ratchet, and 3 and 6 inch extensions in a red metal box. I couldn't get 150.00 locally! I don't think anyone even knows what Proto is. Still for sale if anyone is interested.

 

[bcradio]

The pictures really don't do them justice, I'm not too good with getting sharp, well lit pics of chrome without getting a lot of over flash and weird highlights...

Time to add another tool to your toolbox...

 

[Outlawmws]

SWMBO has the "real" camera gear, (even if I bought most of them for her) including about $1500 in a digital SLR and lenses. (besides all the 35MM cameras/lenses from years gone by, and her collection of vintage/antique cameras, some of which she actually still uses...)

When I really need it I call in the cavalry and let her do it. She has been heavy into Photography since HS, and had updated her knowledge/skills at the local community collage photo classes. 9she had completed them all..) She is actually quite good but lacks the confidence to get aggressive on selling pics or her photo services.

 

[1982fxr]

Staples sells Proto, ummm....never woulda guessed that!

 

[Ken81590]

Do you have to show proof of purchase? Because I have 100's of Proto Impact sockets in my home box.

 

[Outlawmws]

Do you have to show proof of purchase? Because I have 100's of Proto Impact sockets in my home box.

I did not want to even try to deal with Grangers, (two towns away besides...) so I simply mailed them in with a nice letter and my return address.

Two weeks later the new ones arrived. (I even sent in one Challenger, and got back a Blackhawk, which does not have the nice big markings for size...)

Mind you all three were split, and none had impact marks...

 

[astrodoggie3000]

This is my PROTO set...

 

[Elroy]

I got these replaced under warranty, and the Proto quality is, as expected, top notch!

I'd be up for just buying all new sockets from Proto based on these.

The Ellis of Roy would point out that many tools in the Blackhawk by Proto line are worth considering as well:

Elroy loves new tools that come in boxes

It's even better when the box has the correct COO

Full Polish Blackhawks made in the USA by our friends at Stanley:

And you thought your Bonney's and Cornwell's had nice thick beams

The pouch ***** but these box ends are nothing but nice

Elroy told me he had been Jones'in for these and in some respects this thread pushed Elroy into making the purchase. Picked em up today