Proto wrenches - are these casting flaws normal?

[asw456]

Hi all - first post but love the forum.

I'm from New Zealand - just bought a set of Proto wrenches off Ebay as it's the only way to get them here as far as I know.

Pretty excited to have a 'high end' wrench set for the first time.

One or two of the wrenches have some casting flaws as shown in the photo.

My question is - is this 'normal' or did I get a fake set, or factory rejects?

Proto customer service doesn't want to know and won't even comment on the casting.

Thank you all

 

[GrayFlattop]

I doubt they are fakes.

The wrenches will be fine.

And finally, these are not cast, but rather forged. There was likely some contamination in the forging die - or perhaps a piece of scale remained on the blank before the forging.

 

[Wamsutta]

That's not normal. It probably landed the wrong way in the collection bin while it was still soft.

 

[JradM]

I have the black chrome ones - no flaws with them.

That looks very strange to me. Proto is Snap-on quality.

On the other hand, is there enough market demand to support fake Proto wrenches?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I doubt they are fakes.

The wrenches will be fine.

And finally, these are not cast, but rather forged. There was likely some contamination in the forging die - or perhaps a piece of scale remained on the blank before the forging.

I have second line wrenches for modifying or lending. It is not uncommon for these tools to have "flaws".
I milled the name off one large eastern import adjustable wrench. It may have been local humor that inspired the name, squirrel, after associating it with nuts.

 

[asw456]

Thanks for the cast/forged distinction

I'm not worried about the dings themselves - as long as the metallurgy, hardening etc is the same as any other Proto set.

Just hopeful that the scale or whatever happened in the forging prior to the plating can happen with a genuine set.

 

[Wamsutta]

Proto is Snap-on quality.

They are but I'll get a ding ever so often in my Snap-on wrenches too. They fall into a collection box after they're forged. They land on the other wrenches while they're still glowing red hot and soft. Any kind of small surface area like the top edge of a box end will be vulnerable to collision with the other wrenches.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Thanks for the cast/forged distinction

I'm not worried about the dings themselves - as long as the metallurgy, hardening etc is the same as any other Proto set.

Just hopeful that the scale or whatever happened in the forging prior to the plating can happen with a genuine set.

At the end of the day, it is a tool made by man. As we are are far from perfect, yeah mistakes happen. Even 100% inspection is never 100%.

The important part of the wrench - metallurgically speaking are the engagement surfaces and the adjacent portion of the wrench. You don't want the open end to spread under force.

If the wrench fails in use, then Proto will replace it.

​

 

[Wamsutta]

Like I said earlier, they get dinged up when they land on each other after exiting the forge press.

 

[brabank]

I’ve had many, many sets of 500 series Proto wrenches. These are not the modern T-500 but 70’s version that come in a leather wrap. I have never seen any forging flaws in any of them. Look for a set - you’ll love them. About $500 on eBay.

 

[dnschmidt]

Call Proto and show them your photos. True these flaws are cosmetic but you're paying high dollar for Proto wrenches and you should get what you paid for. To me this would be acceptable in Craftsman not in MAC or Proto.

 

[Steve_P]

Call Proto and show them your photos. True these flaws are cosmetic but you're paying high dollar for Proto wrenches and you should get what you paid for. To me this would be acceptable in Craftsman not in MAC or Proto.

He's in New Zealand and evidently already contacted Proto- see the OP. If Proto doesn't sell their products in NZ, I personally don't think it's reasonable to expect them to ship him a replacement. It'd be similar to expecting free warranty work on a new vehicle that you imported and isn't sold in that country.

 

[Rinspeed]

He's in New Zealand and evidently already contacted Proto- see the OP.

Actually, he wasn't real clear on that. I have had very good customer service from Proto the couple times I needed it. I'm on the fence whether I would even bother wanting a replacement but I can certainly see someone wanting one after paying a decent amount for high quality wrenches.

 

[AEAdam]

That is a defect. That wrench is probably a second. Technically, the defect is structural, not cosmetic, but you will probably never have a problem with it. If you paid full price, you should send it back.

Wrenches are a little like beams in bending, like a floor joist. Flaws in the extreme fibers/edges are structural stress risers (concentrations). If that was an airplane part, I'd have the flaw depth measured, I'd check the stress analysis, then order a blend operation over an area 20X the depth of the flaw. (10 to 1 each side).

 

[liliysdad]

. If that was an airplane part, I'd have the flaw depth measured, I'd check the stress analysis, then order a blend operation over an area 20X the depth of the flaw. (10 to 1 each side).

It’s not an airplane part, it’s a wrench.

Roll with it….won’t hurt a thing.

 

[Rinspeed]

Wrenches are a little like beams in bending, like a floor joist. Flaws in the extreme fibers/edges are structural stress risers (concentrations). If that was an airplane part, I'd have the flaw depth measured,

No, not even close.