Ok a few questions, 1.Which series is best regular proto industrial, blackhawk, or challenger? Which series is the best quality? I have a 1/4 drive blackhawk and a 3/8 drive challenger and a 1/2 drive proto ratchet. I aquired these through a pawn shop, I like the challenger the best I am guessing that the challenger series is the predecessor to the blackhawk series? Any enlightenment would be great. Thanks
Proto Tools
- Thread starter Ducroix
- Start date
Challenger was a step under Proto. Challenger has been disco'd as of a couple/few years ago. Blackhawk from 1984 and earlier was made by New Britain. The new Blackhawk is owned by Stanley/Proto and replaced Challenger as their mid-grade line. I believe most of the new Blackhawk stuff is made in Taiwan or China.
I think the Blackhawk stuff from after 1984 until a couple of years ago came from Stanley and was made in the U.S.A.
I think the Blackhawk stuff from after 1984 until a couple of years ago came from Stanley and was made in the U.S.A.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Proto tools are top notch USA made goods. If you can find them, buy them up!
Uncle Buck
Banned
Stick with that Proto label and you won't go wrong!
billymade
Well-known member
Good thing about Proto I've noticed at flea markets and pawn shops; they typically are not priced anywhere near snapon, mac or matco! Most people don't recognize the brand anymore and don't think much of them. So, you can get a high quality tool for really inexpensive in my experience! It seems in certain industries they are respected allot more; people who work in heavy industries (there are copper mines here in new mexico where i live) have had a long history with them and tend to purchase them (in this case, the tools the mines supply to the workers). They say that Proto has a "industrial supplier" account or rep that services them. They also seem to have allot of large sized tools that would favor the really large equipment; in the case here, the large Kubota dump trucks they use at the open pit copper mine. I have also talked to allot of old timers who were "mechanics" (back when they used to call them that) in the 30's-50's; from what they say Proto was right up there with Snap-On! I have quite a few of their impact sockets (older) and they seem really well made; I haven't been as impressed with the ratchets I have seen though. Their wrenches seem to have a rough silvery finish to them but the design looks as good as any others I have seen; they seem to come up with allot of black oxide (industrial) finishes too.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Proto are solidly made tools. They're not fancy but, they have been getting the job done for many years. Many old school mechanics cut their teeth on Proto tools when in school. They were to school tool standard. Older US made Blackhawk tools weren't bad either. The newer Blackhawk tools from Taiwan leave alot to be desired when compared to the older Blackhawk stuff.
old salvage
Well-known member
You can say that again. I got a 3/8" and a 1/2 inch breaker bar for a dollar each. Dont know how old but they are both in really good shape. The 1/2 inch even had a 13/16ths sk socket on it.
Merkava_4
Banned
1. PROTO
2. Challenger
3. Blackhawk
Some of the previous American made Blackhawk pliers are identical to PROTO and MAC; namely those extra long nose pliers.
2. Challenger
3. Blackhawk
Some of the previous American made Blackhawk pliers are identical to PROTO and MAC; namely those extra long nose pliers.
Uncle Buck
Banned
When you start talking about the brands many folks know nothing about so they commonly get sold dirt cheap do not forget Williams, Armstrong, Vlchek and Bonney just to name a few. The great part of buying used is there are just so many of the old brands that folks do not know that makes the pickin just so darned easy!
Merkava_4
Banned
Uncle Buck
Banned
Uncle Buck
Banned
Another great brand Mark caught that I neglected to mention Wright. And Industro also needs mention!
I think you are about to find out that in many cases, USA Proto, Challenger, Blackhawk and Stanley are very much the same...
you can see it in there combination wrenches, the proto satin finished combination wrenches and stanley combination wrenches at wallmart look exactly the same
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default...500&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=85-451
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default...500&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=CATEGORY&CATEGORY=85-451
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billymade
Well-known member
Do you think the PROTO are USA and the Stanley are Taiwan? I've noticed at Walmart all the Stanley hand tools seem to be made in Taiwan.
Homoudont
Well-known member
Just a FYI.. Ollie's which is a bargain store on the east coast had some New Proto tools in their store. I got a 4 or 6 piece impact extension set for $25, and their impact sockets were $2 a piece. I think the inventory came in about 18 months ago at which time I didn't know squat about tools. So what they have left now is limited.
For those not familar with Ollies, its a store that buys out stuff from other stores, then resells them at a steep discount. I imagine they got a bunch of stuff from Stanley, because they have a lot of Stanley, Husky, and some Proto tools in stock at my local Ollies.
18 months ago I had purchased a huge Master Mechanic set from there, had to be 300+ pieces. 1/2 3/8 1/4 a ton of wrenches etc. I know not the best quality but for a weekend mechanic it turned out to be a great deal for $100. Master Mechanic is the True Value hardware store brand, and has a lifetime warranty on their products.
For those not familar with Ollies, its a store that buys out stuff from other stores, then resells them at a steep discount. I imagine they got a bunch of stuff from Stanley, because they have a lot of Stanley, Husky, and some Proto tools in stock at my local Ollies.
18 months ago I had purchased a huge Master Mechanic set from there, had to be 300+ pieces. 1/2 3/8 1/4 a ton of wrenches etc. I know not the best quality but for a weekend mechanic it turned out to be a great deal for $100. Master Mechanic is the True Value hardware store brand, and has a lifetime warranty on their products.
rcm296
Well-known member
Hate to " drum up" old thread. but in my personal opinion, the proto tools with their satin chrome finish is what best stays looking great IMO , where i work.
That matte finish they have holds up to the **** they have to be in every day where i work at(mine in northern Canada), as well as Gray tools, not Grey pneumatic but GRAY CANADA, if i could load up my box full of GRAY & PROTO at reasonable prices I would,SO is awesome tool no doubt, but they don't look so pretty after a few months working in the diff chemicals, concentrates etc etc. If i was a shop mechanic, working HE or autos well nice SO would more then likely be lining my drawers. And for their warranties, well where I live, they don't ever hardly ask questions, just bring into any of the auto parts stores or industrial suppliers, and boom hand you another replacement tool. But as far as pricing go's, proto is so damn expensive up here, very comparable to SO. If anyone has good deals on proto or see good deals on ebay etc etc.link me up please
.......missed out on great deal other day. 1/4"- 1 1/4" proto combination wrench set $113 ebay, "shaking fist"
That matte finish they have holds up to the **** they have to be in every day where i work at(mine in northern Canada), as well as Gray tools, not Grey pneumatic but GRAY CANADA, if i could load up my box full of GRAY & PROTO at reasonable prices I would,SO is awesome tool no doubt, but they don't look so pretty after a few months working in the diff chemicals, concentrates etc etc. If i was a shop mechanic, working HE or autos well nice SO would more then likely be lining my drawers. And for their warranties, well where I live, they don't ever hardly ask questions, just bring into any of the auto parts stores or industrial suppliers, and boom hand you another replacement tool. But as far as pricing go's, proto is so damn expensive up here, very comparable to SO. If anyone has good deals on proto or see good deals on ebay etc etc.link me up please
.......missed out on great deal other day. 1/4"- 1 1/4" proto combination wrench set $113 ebay, "shaking fist"Hate to " drum up" old thread. but in my personal opinion, the proto tools with their satin chrome finish is what best stays looking great IMO , where i work.
That matte finish they have holds up to the **** they have to be in every day where i work at(mine in northern Canada), as well as Gray tools, not Grey pneumatic but GRAY CANADA, if i could load up my box full of GRAY & PROTO at reasonable prices I would,SO is awesome tool no doubt, but they don't look so pretty after a few months working in the diff chemicals, concentrates etc etc. If i was a shop mechanic, working HE or autos well nice SO would more then likely be lining my drawers. And for their warranties, well where I live, they don't ever hardly ask questions, just bring into any of the auto parts stores or industrial suppliers, and boom hand you another replacement tool. But as far as pricing go's, proto is so damn expensive up here, very comparable to SO. If anyone has good deals on proto or see good deals on ebay etc etc.link me up please
Related to rwandor?????
CAT_serviceman927
Well-known member
Related to rwandor?????
At least he is in the right year.
pirana
Well-known member
I had a Proto apprentice set with box back in 1976 when I was going to a GM training center & working at a Chevy/Olds dealership. I thought they were nice tools & I was proud of them. Wish I still had them.
T56 Impala
Well-known member
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Proto tools are top notch US quality, most of the line is made in Dallas, TX. at the factory they moved to after being in Los Angeles . As far as I know there was no other factories after they closed the one in New York and other locals making other branded tools for the Proto family but the Texas factory is still going strong.
Vinko
Well-known member
We have a lot of large 30mm+ sockets and open and box wrenches from Proto that we use for industrial machinery. The stuff doesn't get used often, but for certain maintenance procedures, we use them.
There was a thread a while back on the Proto Master Mechanic tool sets. I have a Proto-Challenger that my father got me in the early-mid 90's. I used it extensively for an auto restoration. And to keep an old 50's GM car running. I loved it. I've grown to appreciate the S-O ratchets, but everything else is great.
And I've warrantied several things from Proto (ratchet, socket, snap ring pliers) and it comes back in the mail pronto.
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mrpowderkeg
Well-known member
I've been using proto tools since I can remember. Pops used them for working on his heavy equipment, most was purchased in the 70s. I've been replacing my cheap tools that I have had for years with proto stuff, I really like the the chrome 500 series wrenches, I have a set in standard but I think I'll purchase a metric set soon. I also like plomb, the precursor to proto, and Indestro tools, I have a lot of indestro as well. I really don't like the proto ratchets though, facom is the ratchet of choice for me.