proto lsd vs snap on fd+??

[02saleen143]

Looking to add some larger quality wrenches. 21mm and up. I already have the snap on fd+ 8-19mm. I can swap the snap on for a proto set that goes up to the 24mm i want. Just curious can the proto perform like the fd+

Thanks

 

[B_Bimmer]

They do similar things in completely different ways. Both lock on to the fastener in a manner of speaking, and both are fabulous wrenches. Personally I have both and prefer the proto wrenches. They don't mar and I haven't yet had a time where the snap on's could get something that the proto wrenches couldn't. The snap on open end is slightly thinner. Hasn't mattered yet, but it could someday.

 

[gdocktor3]

Aren't the Proto ASD, not lsd - Anti Slip Design. I have the Taiwan Proto ASD and as mentioned the Proto wrenches do not mar, but I don't think they grip damaged fasteners like the Snappy's do. Once they bite, they're latched on like a python. The Proto's in my experience didn't work well on damaged stuff, but they're still very nice. Especially the ratchet wrenches. If you do a lot of new, custom builds and stuff like that, the Proto's may be better. If you are working on old, rusted beat up ****, I think the Snap On's will work better.

 

[02saleen143]

Dealership tech. Im not sure the fastener damage is something im super concerned with. And i meant asd on the proto. Just something im considering looking into. Are the beams any thicker on the proto? Thats my only complaint with so.

 

[gdocktor3]

Dealership tech. Im not sure the fastener damage is something im super concerned with. And i meant asd on the proto. Just something im considering looking into. Are the beams any thicker on the proto? Thats my only complaint with so.

Actually, if I remember correctly, the beams are thinner on the Proto's. They're almost sharp. Again, my experiences are with the Taiwan made Proto 0 degree offset ratchet wrenches. Here's a pic of the open end with Mac/Proto on top, Matco in middle, snap on on bottom. If you want, I'll take a pic of the beam thickness tomorrow morning.

 

[jlipsky14]

Dealership tech. Im not sure the fastener damage is something im super concerned with. And i meant asd on the proto. Just something im considering looking into. Are the beams any thicker on the proto? Thats my only complaint with so.

If you dont like the thin beam of the SO look at the wrightgrips. They are a similar design to the snap on buy slightly thicker so some people find them more comfortable. I personally like having a set of regular open endeds for fasteners that arent rusted or stuck then have the fd+ design (I like wrightgrips) for the ones where I need it and dont care about marking it up.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I can't say I noticed the beam being painfully thin on any of my wrenches, but then I don't think I've ever been pinched by Petersen vise grips like a lot of people say happens either. As I said before, I have both, as well as the black Taiwan ratcheting wrenches. I work on older farm equipment and older vehicles in Iowa, the DOT loves road salt, everything is rusty. My favorite wrenches are the proto USA combinations. The few times I felt them starting to give on a tight or damaged fastener in the last few months since I picked up the snap on wrenches I have stopped and gotten them. Usually there's still a fresh set of flats, and so far it's never made a difference. I would not count on the open end of the ratcheting Taiwan wrenches to the same level as my US ones, they don't seem as tough and I only consider ratcheting wrenches for lighter duty, repetitive tasks. I haven't tested that in any way though, so they could be every bit as good. On my personal stuff a tore up fastener leads to rust, I'd be pretty passed off if a mechanic left tooth marks on the bolts on one of our two cylinders or on the underside of my truck.

 

[02saleen143]

I havent ever had my fd+ do any real significant damage to a fastener. I read that a lot here and just don't personally see it. I always forget the Wright wrenchs. May have to go that route

 

[espyking83]

Proto ASD's grip is very good, but I didnt much like the hand feel. Did feel a bit sharp in the hand but nothing unbearable. Sold the set and went with Wrightgrips, better ASD and much more rounded beams. Never looked back. FD+ is a nice wrench but not worth the price gap, being that The Wrightgrips performance is at least the same (if not better) than the FD+. The WG's could have a longer pattern tho, my only knock.

 

[Wamsutta]

The Wrights do have a very nice thick rounded beam; their only downfall is the short overall length.

 

[KnurledNut]

I know you asked a specific question, but if you are considering other options, look at the Williams Supercombos.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DO0VHE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[B_Bimmer]

Did either of you have any issues with the chrome on wrightgrip wrenches not being quite as durable? My brother just got them and they look good so far, but haven't been around long enough to judge better or worse. I have some older non wrightgrip ones that have also done fine, but also have one wrench of unknown history that is quite peeled around the open end.

 

[02saleen143]

The Williams look right on the price point im considering.

 

[espyking83]

The chrome on my WG's is still spotless. I will also add/agree that Williams SC's are another safe buy, and if money is a factor I would probably go with them. They were around the same price on Amazon when I bought my WG's, but hard to say now.

 

[KnurledNut]

The Proto have a similar beam to the SO.
Here is a quick comparison photo for reference:

 

[gabrorlandi]

Looking to add some larger quality wrenches. 21mm and up. I already have the snap on fd+ 8-19mm. I can swap the snap on for a proto set that goes up to the 24mm i want. Just curious can the proto perform like the fd+

Thanks

Maybe this'll help you. I perform a test with 4 different wrenches. Bahco, Proto ASD, Snap On FD+. Bahco with standard open end.

With Proto the bolt head is less deformed but it's incrusted in the wrench.

With standard wrench and SO FD+ the bolt head is more deformed.

The SO FD+ really "bites" the bolt.

The order of the picture are

Bahco PU, Bahco 1952, Proto ASD, Snap On FD+



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[KnurledNut]

Gabrorlandi, what size wrench was used?
Thanks for sharing your results.

 

[gdocktor3]

The first pic is Snap On on top, then Matco, Proto Taiwan in middle, Mac long pattern Knuckle Saver, and regular Mac Knuckle Saver on bottom. I apologize for the pic. It is impossible to get them all in one picture and straight on. They are all 5/8" except the Snap On is 17mm. You can see the Proto is the thinnest of the 5, but it is made in Taiwan and may be thinner than the USA version. Perhaps the USA Proto is the same size as the regular Mac KS which is a hair thicker. The Proto and Matco are also ratchet wrenches, but unsure if that affects width. I personally love my knuckle savers and never had a problem. The long pattern KS are my favorite's because of their large, squared necks. Let's be honest, those thin wrenches do hurt sometimes when you're really hanging on them.

The other picture of the open ends has Snap On FD on top, Matco opti-torque middle, and Mac/Proto ASD on bottom. The Matco and Snap On are basically the same and will leave a heck of a bite in the fasteners. People complain about that, but that's what they were designed to do.

 

[matemike]

Not to thread jack...

But how do you know if the proto's are made in USA or not? IIRC the wrenches will say USA on them and the tool boxes will have the proudly posted Made in the U.S.A sticker on the back or side. Websites will usually say Country of origin: USA (country of origin subject to change)

So, most importantly, how do you know before you make an online purchase without seeing the tools in person? You could call the store, but keep in mind that the CS people at big online retail stores only know as much as what the website already says. Therefore they only know as much as we the potential buyer already know; or they sometimes know even less than that.

 

[gdocktor3]

Not to thread jack...

But how do you know if the proto's are made in USA or not? IIRC the wrenches will say USA on them and the tool boxes will have the proudly posted Made in the U.S.A sticker on the back or side. Websites will usually say Country of origin: USA (country of origin subject to change)

So, most importantly, how do you know before you make an online purchase without seeing the tools in person? You could call the store, but keep in mind that the CS people at big online retail stores only know as much as what the website already says. Therefore they only know as much as we the potential buyer already know; or they sometimes know even less than that.

You have to be careful and do your research. It's a gamble sometimes and this is a good reason why you want to by from places like Epstein's and stores like that. Usually you can tell from the price as the USA made stuff is more expensive. Part numbers tell a lot about tools. Williams tools for example will have letters in front of the part number which means it is made in USA. I can't say for sure if Proto's tools are marked like that, but I would hope the part numbers tell the difference.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Proto asd combination wrenches are all US made, it's the ratcheting ones that are cryptic.

 

[Strouty]

The Proto ratcheting wrenches that are made in the USA are the I-Beam design with the offset open ends. They are much nicer than the imported versions. The black chrome are all imported as far as I can tell, they also have imported regular polished chrome that are imported. When you look at them, there is no comparison and they are easy to tell apart. I do not have the imports, but I do have the full sets of USA both metric and SAE. The USA ratcheting wrench part numbers all end in an "A" as well.

 

[Strouty]

Here are a couple quick photos, sorry but I am a bit busy today. All wrenches are 9/16" I know that I am comparing ratcheting wrenches to non ratcheting, but it is all I have. If I see the Snap On guy today, I may get pictures of the ratcheting wrenches he has.

From top to bottom, Wrightgrip, Snap On FD+ XL, Proto USA made ratcheting wrench with ASD.









The open ends are in a different order: Top to bottom...... Proto, Snap On, Wright

 

[gdocktor3]

So the wright grips don't actually have any gripping pattern in the jaw? Like teeth or whatever as the snap on does?

 

[nikonica]

Not to thread jack...

But how do you know if the proto's are made in USA or not?.

The Proto catalog shows a little American flag symbol for the items that are made in the USA, which is almost every single item in the catalog. The ASD combination wrenches are made in the USA.

 

[gabrorlandi]

Gabrorlandi, what size wrench was used?
Thanks for sharing your results.

14 mm

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[02saleen143]

Sounds like I may just buy the asd ratcheting wrenches.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I would love to have the American made proto ratcheting wrenches, they look awesome, the price shocks me almost as much as snap on's list though.

 

[Strouty]

So the wright grips don't actually have any gripping pattern in the jaw? Like teeth or whatever as the snap on does?

They have teeth, but not so clear in my pictures.

 

[gabrorlandi]

14 mm

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Here the pictures



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[arz71]

I like the Proto ASD to me is better than my Snap-On Flanks drive plus wrenches.

 

[02saleen143]

Thanks for all the stellar information guys

 

[Scotty_B]

I'm sure the original poster has long since made his decision, but I figured I might chip in, anyway.

Proto has two lines of ASD USA-made combo wrenches.

The standard ASD line has matte-finished chrome and is more standard in length. Fairly comparable to Wright, but the Wright matte finish is nicer, imo.

The T500 line is fully polished chrome and the lengths are comparable to the same size Snap-On wrenches.

In the photo, the top wrench is a standard ASD 19mm. The bottom is the T500 17mm.

 

[Professional Tool User]

The Snap ones will probably bite down harder as they do mar the fastener. The Proto open end design is better for everyday use as it doesn't dage the fastener.