Proto Tools....are they ****?

[WittHay]

Proto is meant more for industrial use rather than automotive, although there is a lot of crossover between Mac and Proto.

Proto tools that I have chosen over Snap-on or Blue-point as main use tools. Satin finish combination wrenches, antivibe ball-pein hammers, aligning and rolling wedge bars, drift punches and chisels, 15" XL 1/2 drive ratchet, retaining ring pliers, 1/2, 3/4, 1 inch drive impact sockets.

Also have a lot of Mac tools that I have prefer over Snap-on

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I still use the Proto tools bought in 1970, and continue to purchase Proto thru internet retailers. I have a host of tool brands; but Proto remains one of My primary choices.

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

A huge step down from my similar snap on

I'm confused why would you suggest it is a "huge step" down from SO. SO has better offerings agree, but huge step down I disagree. A good ole industrial coarse tooth 1/2 ratchet has its place in every arsenal.

 

[kb1982]

I'm confused why would you suggest it is a "huge step" down from SO. SO has better offerings agree, but huge step down I disagree. A good ole industrial coarse tooth 1/2 ratchet has its place in every arsenal.

I have 3/8 drive 24 tooth like in the picture below. While its not sloppy in the backlash department, and it feels well made, i have as much use for it as the craftaman raised panel ratchets in mybox. Love my other proto tools though.


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[freudianfloyd]

I always get excited when perusing the garage sales and swap meets and find Proto Tools. I have never been disappointed.

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

I have 3/8 drive 24 tooth like in the picture below. While its not sloppy in the backlash department, and it feels well made, i have as much use for it as the craftaman raised panel ratchets in mybox. Love my other proto tools though.


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I find the coarse 1/2 good to beat one and use cheater bars should I want. I would still reach for breaker bar first but once in a while I might break it out. That said I dont think theres too much use but still deserves a place. A 3/8s though I wouldn't give much consideration too.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

I have a fair bit of Proto rebranded for CAT.
All of it has served me well and been used hard. Certainly in my opinion they make a quality tool.

 

[jgromada]

Proto is a fine brand manufactured in the US. I particularly like their pliers.

 

[Real_PhillBert]

Proto is my go-to company for sockets, they make very good tools at prices that are a lot easier on my wallet than Snap-On. They may not be on the same level of fit and finish as Snap-On, but at 1/3rd the price, I'm good with it. Then add in the occasional 25% off coupon code for Zoro and it's hard to do better for the price.

 

[Nineeightyone]

I got a set of the Proto/Blackhawk line wrenches as a wedding gift, and used them to do stainless lines on my AX car. The fit and finish are spot on, and the price tag for a set was far below the Snap-On, and you really don't want a low quality wrench when dealing with brakes.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I would go so far as to suggest that Proto sockets are much better than Snap-Ons, I know, rank heresy, for what they are used for. Machinery. They are little more than chrome plated impacts. My J.H. Williams, Gray and Proto sockets are brutally ugly and nigh on indestructible . When your breaker bar is C shaped , the socket or when you are using the the ratchet breaks and you go flying, you look apon that brand as F ******* garbage .

If you work on a cars, that's different a story. Since you spend more time with your tools than your wife, at least your tools should be pretty.

While I really like the old Plomb finish on my wrenches, my experience has been the clunky old Craftsman -V- didn't spread on that same brake line. I was too young and stupid to know about flare nut wrenches on that old Valiant.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

As said a hundred times, I echo.

Damn fine tools. Old style ratchets **** wind.

Proto's will last the average guy a few generations.

 

[ineedtools]

Their old ratchets are bulletproof though. Havent managed to break one, even with cheaters. I grab others more often, but if I need a "slugging" ratchet, I grab those.

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They are bullet proof, I've stood on the end of a 4" cheater bar with my old 1/2" more times than I've got fingers thumbs and toes and it still hasn't let me down.

 

[racinfarmer]

I make a motion to censure the OP.

 

[IUEC Medic]

In my experience, proto tools are second to none when it comes to reliability, service life, and overall quality.

I’m a mechanic in an industrial trade, which is a rough environment for any tool. I’ve witnessed more tool failures than I care to admit, most of which are caused by misuse or abuse, but in the several-dozen times I’ve seen a tool fail under “normal” operating conditions, it’s never been a proto.

One of the tools I use most frequently is a ratchet wrench... sometimes all day and at least a few times everyday... I’ve seen craftsman, husky, kobalt, and gearwrenches fail while in normal operation, after just a few months of regular use. Not to say these brands are bad, but in my experience they simply don’t ...survive... in the same environment as long.

All of my proto ratchet wrenches are the black, made in Taiwan, cheapest-you-can-get protos, and I just witnessed my first failure. The 9/16 wrench from the first set I ever bought, about 3 years old with the paint worn off the edges, that’s survived who knows how many drops/kicks/hammers, was dropped 40-70 feet to concrete by my apprentice TWICE in less than a month. When I picked it up the second time... it was seized up and done.

And I went straight to Zoro, ordered two more standard size and a stubby one. Not only are they durable, but they’re NICE to use, with a great fit/finish, maybe not chrome snap-on level nice, but at half the price, worth every penny.

Anyone that claims proto is “****” probably doesn’t use tools enough to really know.

 

[mikehaugen]

All of my proto ratchet wrenches are the black, made in Taiwan, cheapest-you-can-get protos

I honestly didn't know there was such a thing

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[KillNThrill24]

I've used and own lots of Proto. I like them a lot.

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[R_einan]

I’ve got quite a number of Proto tools, some old, some ancient, and some new. The old stuff just won’t die, I’ve got a 3/4 drive ratchet that was my dads and it’s still going after 30 years. It’s had an 8’ cheater pipe on the end of it and didn’t quit! As for the new/newer sockets, I would say it’s as nice as snap-on, different design and heavier built, but just as nice on the chrome finish. They are my go to brand when I need something.

 

[skife]

Never had proto but s-k are better

That's a negatorey ghost Rider.

I've had a set of sk hex head sockets for nearly a year, 3 have broken, the other 3 have fallen out of the socket.

Grainger won't warranty them, I don't have an SK guy.

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[Toothaker]

I make a motion to censure the OP.

I second the motion.

Proto was my first real brand of tools, after growing up with Craftsman (Sears) and PowrKraft (Montgomery Wards) tools. I was amazed that there were even better tools than those brands. And I still have my Proto tools.

All this talk about strawberry and vanilla. You guy have no idea what you're talking about! Rocky Road!

 

[sberry]

My helper has a 1/2 set called Fleet, its Proto.

 

[nikerret]

Another satisfied Proto owner. Never an issue, though I’m not a frequent user

 

[laminated]

late reply, Issue with Proto is you have to pay to return it for them to Review it, so the cost of mailing it there , plus if denied ,the way back, will cost you as much each way I found as the item is to begin with. Had two things to return and found that out the hard way.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

late reply, Issue with Proto is you have to pay to return it for them to Review it, so the cost of mailing it there , plus if denied ,the way back, will cost you as much each way I found as the item is to begin with. Had two things to return and found that out the hard way.

I have always wondered what the warranty process for Proto is.

 

[AJHD]

5-year-old thread... My only piece of advice is to be careful of what you buy, I've seen a lot of Proto no longer made or never made in the USA. It's a lot like Williams.

Things change, especially with SB&D on the controls.

 

[four.cycle]

^ where is this Proto that is not made in U.S.A.?
photos?

 

[oldschoolcraft]

^ where is this Proto that is not made in U.S.A.?
photos?

Look in their catalog. If they have a US-flag in the bottom right they are made in the US. No flag, probably Taiwan.

 

[JradM]

The ratcheting Taiwanese-made wrenches are as nice as ratcheting wrenches come.

It's totally valid to complain about the COO if COO is important to you, but this isn't some product Proto farmed out to the lowest bidder.

There's also some Facom in Proto clothing. Someone already mentioned the palm-control ratchets, but there are several pliers too.

 

[AJHD]

Unfortunately, Proto doesn't really disclose COO very well, if at all.
The point I was trying to make is that you might buy a tool expecting USA and get Taiwan.
I know they exist; I've seen them on this forum.

The problem is SB&D owns everyone, so they take tools from a brand they own and brand them as something else they own.
They own Facom too, just like they own MAC.

Speaking of which, good example: Proto/MAC "anti-vibe" hammers. Are they made in the USA or Taiwan? I don't know. They don't say USA on the hammer as far as I know. Their website and catalog don't provide COO. Some websites like Grainger have Taiwan as COO and others may say USA.

 

[AJHD]

Actually, here you go... Question answered... At least for this Proto/MAC tool.

 

[BrandonV]

It's totally valid to complain about the COO if COO is important to you, but this isn't some product Proto farmed out to the lowest bidder.

I'm a big fan of Proto and not very concerned about COO. In every industry I've worked in where Proto tools were heavily used, no one cared about COO. Quality tools were the primary concern. My experience with Proto's warranty service has been good, though I don't like their pliers.

In my opinion, COO is overrated. I don't understand why it's still a major topic. Many companies making tools in the United States produce low-quality products. For example, Klein pliers are a complete disappointment today. Every pair I've picked up recently has issues and doesn't compare to the same tool from three decades ago.

 

[neophyte]

Unfortunately, Proto doesn't really disclose COO very well, if at all.
The point I was trying to make is that you might buy a tool expecting USA and get Taiwan.
I know they exist; I've seen them on this forum.

The problem is SB&D owns everyone, so they take tools from a brand they own and brand them as something else they own.
They own Facom too, just like they own MAC.

Speaking of which, good example: Proto/MAC "anti-vibe" hammers. Are they made in the USA or Taiwan? I don't know. They don't say USA on the hammer as far as I know. Their website and catalog don't provide COO. Some websites like Grainger have Taiwan as COO and others may say USA.

It’s Proto.
Proto is one of the “industrial” brands that Grainger sells.
If you are concerned about COO, look the item up on Grainger’s website.
Grainger may list the entire line from Proto, although I’ve never checked.
The Taiwanese made wrenches have come out very well in the tests by the Torque Test Channel.
The French made pliers tend to be rebranded Facom pliers, and are mostly made using a similar cold forging process to Snap-On, although without the criss checkered jaws that Snap-On gets praised for.
The wide opening rebranded Facom locking pliers are incredibly useful.

 

[AJHD]

BrandonV reminded me, can't believe I forgot.

Some of Proto's adjustable wrenches are not made in the USA either.
In fact, I just passed along to another GJ member a full set of Proto adjustable wrenches (12", 10", 8", 6", 4" and an 8" Click-Stop) that I actually got from BrandonV because I never used them and don't need them.

I still have my listing in the classified including a picture (see attached);

$SOLD

$SOLD

www.garagejournal.com

Here is the 12" on the Proto website, but you can find the rest;

4 in. Satin Adjustable Wrench | PROTO

www.protoindustrial.com

Enough said...

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Speaking of which, good example: Proto/MAC "anti-vibe" hammers. Are they made in the USA or Taiwan? I don't know. They don't say USA on the hammer as far as I know. Their website and catalog don't provide COO. Some websites like Grainger have Taiwan as COO and others may say USA.

If you email Mac they will tell you COO:

[email protected]

 

[AJHD]

If you email Mac they will tell you COO:

[email protected]

I actually did that about 5 years ago. I was asking about the "Precision Torque" combination wrench sets. They eventually admitted it was made in Taiwan, but it took a few e-mails.

There was no COO on the package at the time. Not sure if that has changed, it was 5 years ago, maybe longer.
As I said earlier, Proto (and consequently MAC as well) are not very good at disclosing COO, if they list it at all.
MAC is the same way; their website rarely discloses COO and from what I've seen more recently on the truck some of their packaging still doesn't disclose it either

 

[jabberwoki]

No

 

[gatewaysysop]

I actually did that about 5 years ago. I was asking about the "Precision Torque" combination wrench sets. They eventually admitted it was made in Taiwan, but it took a few e-mails.

Same here, when asking about one of their ratchets, the XL series that came out after the Big Dawg ones. They were very coy about it until pressed, then admitted they were "Made with global components" but wouldn't tell me which parts made where.

Since the fanbois and zealots will otherwise cry foul, here's a pic to back the claim. From back in 2020, so it's not even a recent change to 'Global Components':




If COO isn't a big deal, to each his own. Matters to me and I spent the money elsewhere.

 

[Pexto]

This Proto J5257F ratchet was made in Italy, in the SBD/FACOM/USAG Gemonio factory. I believe all the part numbers on the insert sheet are also made there. It's a very nice ratchet IMO.

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah... I think maybe I wasn't fully awake earlier when I posted that... I guess I forgot all about MY Italian-made J4752F 72-tooth ratchet.

I've been in the process of unloading my entire collection for 9 months now.
This one will be one of the very few that I keep.

I wasn't aware they'd gone to Taiwan for the ratcheting combination wrenches, but it makes sense - their U.S. made models were simply prohibitively expensive and most likely weren't selling at levels they expected, so they made a business decision.

 

[Wamsutta]

I have always wondered what the warranty process for Proto is.

It depends on where the Proto came from. Some places will hold onto it until their Proto rep comes in to look at it.

Some places will hand you a new one and send you on your way. I've never had to warranty any of my Proto stuff.