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CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,384
Location
Chicago, IL
Some Proto extensions and a 3/8” metric set of sockets. I’ve been able to slim down my socket sets to just Proto stuff. Gone are the Ko-kens, the Wrights, and the Williams. I may add some more German brands over time as I have some sets in my work box, but that is because I’m a big German tool fan and it isn’t a necessity. I like Proto overall. It’s not perfect but they get the job done and it’s been pretty reasonable prices especially since they will be sitting in my garage.
 

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ChefRex

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Messages
3,711
Location
NJ
First tool I bought because of this forum.
Something I'd have passed over a bunch of times without interest and I don't do a whole lot of HF anyhow but I was getting some organizer stuff and had to grab this after seeing a ton of glowing reviews here.
IMG_20230525_201004141.jpg
Depending on what you do there will be more.
 

CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,384
Location
Chicago, IL
Seems like a slight downgrade??
I think the Proto stuff compares well with the Wrights but definitely not as nice as the Ko-ken or Williams stuff. But it’s in my 5 drawer cart in a detached garage so I don’t mind it if isn’t the bee’s knees. It hits the basics of being chrome, open stock available if anything breaks, and I already had a the 1/2” metric and all sizes of SAE from work which I brought home — I slimmed the work box down earlier in the year.
 

rockettauto

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2023
Messages
745
I think the Proto stuff compares well with the Wrights but definitely not as nice as the Ko-ken or Williams stuff. But it’s in my 5 drawer cart in a detached garage so I don’t mind it if isn’t the bee’s knees. It hits the basics of being chrome, open stock available if anything breaks, and I already had a the 1/2” metric and all sizes of SAE from work which I brought home — I slimmed the work box down earlier in the year.
Oh I see. I guess just the way I read it seemed like you felt the proto was better stuff.
I don't turn my nose up at anything but I was curious if you did have that opinion and was going to ask why.

I mean for me once it's in the top notch the differences become so subtle as to usually be insignificant or switch a lot depending on the exact situation.

I do have a little preference for Wright but I'm from Barberton, OH too so that's the only reason. Except the wrenches...haven't found a better wrench ever.
 

CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,384
Location
Chicago, IL
Oh I see. I guess just the way I read it seemed like you felt the proto was better stuff.
I don't turn my nose up at anything but I was curious if you did have that opinion and was going to ask why.

I mean for me once it's in the top notch the differences become so subtle as to usually be insignificant or switch a lot depending on the exact situation.

I do have a little preference for Wright but I'm from Barberton, OH too so that's the only reason. Except the wrenches...haven't found a better wrench ever.
The Wright sockets fit tighter and are finished way nicer, but for home use now instead of at work, I like the slightly looser fit of the Protos because I can fit the sockets on all kinds of **** fasteners in all kinds of **** conditions. The Ko-kens are sweet. I really treated the Ko-kens more like jewelry because they are so damned nicely finished that I actually felt bad using them. Hence why I went with Proto. I don't feel bad beating on them, I already had some sets from work, and I probably wrench more on equipment than the cars so I don't need the more nuanced Williams or Ko-ken stuff. The members here that are getting those other sets from me will undoubtedly use them and enjoy them more than I would have. If I actually had the time to work on all the stuff I used to I probably would have gone a different direction when I decided to downsize and condense, but my shop is working us hard and I'm usually at work for way too long and weekends are all about playing catch-up with what I couldn't do during the weekdays. I still have some nice stuff at the house, like some Hazet stuff, but it's all 1/4" because I tend to reach for that size sets more than my 3/8".
 

AJHD

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Joined
Jan 4, 2020
Messages
3,014
Location
AZ
It's difficult to take a picture of it, but I picked up a MAC 58" pry bar today. They are on sale for $150 and I had my dealer order a green handle version last week. I couldn't resist the deal, Snap On's 52" bar is almost $300.

According to MAC, it's made in USA. It's massive. Almost as long as I am tall and only 2 fingers can touch one another when gripping the handle.

It won't be a daily use item, but it will give me serious leverage and it will take my hands out of the line fire when I need it to (thereby hopefully preventing any more smashed and fractured fingers in the future).
 
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CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,384
Location
Chicago, IL
It's difficult to take a picture of it, but I picked up a MAC 58" pry bar today. They are on sale for $150 and I had my dealer order a green handle version last week. I couldn't resist the deal, Snap On's 52" bar is almost $300.

According to MAC, it's made in USA. It's massive. Almost as long as I am tall and only 2 fingers can touch one another when gripping the handle.

It won't be a daily use item, but it will give me serious leverage and it will take my hands out of the line fire when I need it to (thereby hopefully preventing any more smashed and fractured fingers in the future).
Sweet Jesus that is all about giving it the beans!
 

Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,521
The Wright sockets fit tighter and are finished way nicer, but for home use now instead of at work, I like the slightly looser fit of the Protos because I can fit the sockets on all kinds of **** fasteners in all kinds of **** conditions. The Ko-kens are sweet. I really treated the Ko-kens more like jewelry because they are so damned nicely finished that I actually felt bad using them. Hence why I went with Proto. I don't feel bad beating on them, I already had some sets from work, and I probably wrench more on equipment than the cars so I don't need the more nuanced Williams or Ko-ken stuff. The members here that are getting those other sets from me will undoubtedly use them and enjoy them more than I would have. If I actually had the time to work on all the stuff I used to I probably would have gone a different direction when I decided to downsize and condense, but my shop is working us hard and I'm usually at work for way too long and weekends are all about playing catch-up with what I couldn't do during the weekdays. I still have some nice stuff at the house, like some Hazet stuff, but it's all 1/4" because I tend to reach for that size sets more than my 3/8".

I have a similar treatment. As you know I love Koken but if I feel the socket is going to get jacked up in any way I'll throw the Tekton on it. The 3/8 master set I bought was so cheap and obviously Tekton will replace any destroyed socket no questions asked.

I'll use the Kokens a lot if it's not a gnarly job and when I turn the ratchet with my right pinky out while sipping on a martini with my left hand.
 

Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,521
It's difficult to take a picture of it, but I picked up a MAC 58" pry bar today. They are on sale for $150 and I had my dealer order a green handle version last week. I couldn't resist the deal, Snap On's 52" bar is almost $300.

According to MAC, it's made in USA. It's massive. Almost as long as I am tall and only 2 fingers can touch one another when gripping the handle.

It won't be a daily use item, but it will give me serious leverage and it will take my hands out of the line fire when I need it to (thereby hopefully preventing any more smashed and fractured fingers in the future).

Good lord, it looks like you photoshopped a katana sword to the side of your box.

I can't imagine ever imagine needed to give something so much hell... but can't wait for you to nerf on something and tell us all about it.
 

AJHD

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2020
Messages
3,014
Location
AZ
Good lord, it looks like you photoshopped a katana sword to the side of your box.

I can't imagine ever imagine needed to give something so much hell... but can't wait for you to nerf on something and tell us all about it.

Yeah, big equipment= big tools.

Definitely not something I ever needed working in automotive. But it will come in handy at my current job.

Beyond more larger wrenches and sockets, hopefully my next "large tool" purchase will be a 12lb deadblow sledge. Yes, we have those in the tool room, but I prefer to use my own tools whenever possible.
 

ChefRex

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Messages
3,711
Location
NJ
Yeah, big equipment= big tools.

Definitely not something I ever needed working in automotive. But it will come in handy at my current job.

Beyond more larger wrenches and sockets, hopefully my next "large tool" purchase will be a 12lb deadblow sledge. Yes, we have those in the tool room, but I prefer to use my own tools whenever possible.
"12lb deadblow sledge." I have one, bought it years ago on sale for $100, not used often but when I do it makes me happy!
 

Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,521
Yeah, big equipment= big tools.

Definitely not something I ever needed working in automotive. But it will come in handy at my current job.

Beyond more larger wrenches and sockets, hopefully my next "large tool" purchase will be a 12lb deadblow sledge. Yes, we have those in the tool room, but I prefer to use my own tools whenever possible.

12 lbs dead blow sledge?

lol, I’d be like that weak kid at the carnival high striker game in the Bazooka Joe comics.
 

milkovich

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2007
Messages
682
Location
Akron Ohio
Summit 52" Rolling Cabinet. This will swallow nearly 25% of all the junk I have in blow molded cases! I guess I only need 3 more of these to get out of the blowmold lifestyle. I'd also point out I've had one of those baby 2 drawer tool boxes like the Kobalt anniversary ones before they were cool lol.


IMG_5960 Large.jpeg
 
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BlackBowtie

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 1, 2021
Messages
86
Location
CA
Top left green organizer is Wright grip set in metric. Green is metric, Black SAE. Rest are Carlyle, then the Icon mountain style set I picked up yesterday with 25% off.

The Carlyle had a few missing sizes that I filled out. Napa didn't send me my 24mm that's missing on the other green organizer. Hopefully they don't give me any **** for their fk up. It shows the 24mm on the packaging slip but no wrench to be found. Lady said they have to contact UPS first :rolleyes:


IMG_5244.jpg
 

Blue Chips

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
199
Location
Maine
I decided to assign my old Makita router to permanent duty in my router table. I do a fair amount of routing for our 'old house' project, and I was getting tired of the disassembly and reassembly whenever I had to remove the router from the router table for hand-held work and then reinstall it in the router table. So I ordered a new Bosch 2.25-hp router with a plunge base attachment and an adjustable edge guide attachment. It has both 1/4- and 1/2-inch collets. I put it through its paces making several pieces of baseboard molding (you can see a couple of pieces in the foreground). It works great, and I just ordered a kit with a couple of additional dust extraction attachments.

new-router-and-fence.jpg
 

rockettauto

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2023
Messages
745
Top left green organizer is Wright grip set in metric. Green is metric, Black SAE. Rest are Carlyle, then the Icon mountain style set I picked up yesterday with 25% off.

The Carlyle had a few missing sizes that I filled out. Napa didn't send me my 24mm that's missing on the other green organizer. Hopefully they don't give me any **** for their fk up. It shows the 24mm on the packaging slip but no wrench to be found. Lady said they have to contact UPS first :rolleyes:


IMG_5244.jpg
It's really tempting to do almost exactly this right now for a box I've been setting up. Wright and Carlyle are my absolute favorite wrenches.
 

vwpieces

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2020
Messages
5,925
Location
Hills, PA
My big $12 spend at Horrible Freight Memorial weekend sale
$2 6in magnetic parts tray
and the 25% off went to this Pittsburgh Swedish style clone pliers.

I tried to get the Pitt Pro rotating head 3/8in drive ratchet with the perpetual, no expiration, $5 off any Pitt pro ratchet coupon but the coupon didn't work anymore.

20230527_145029.jpg
 

Fedwrench

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,952
Location
Valley of the sun
Top left green organizer is Wright grip set in metric. Green is metric, Black SAE. Rest are Carlyle, then the Icon mountain style set I picked up yesterday with 25% off.

The Carlyle had a few missing sizes that I filled out. Napa didn't send me my 24mm that's missing on the other green organizer. Hopefully they don't give me any **** for their fk up. It shows the 24mm on the packaging slip but no wrench to be found. Lady said they have to contact UPS first :rolleyes:


IMG_5244.jpg
Talk to me about the neon green wrench organizers. Brand, source, modular or a rack, etc? thanks in advance :beer:
Black ones look like widgets :dunno:
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,228
Location
MA
Grabbed some needle nose Vice Grips...

20230526_171630.jpg

The two on the left (9 and 6 inch) came from Lowe's. The 4 inch came from NAPA.

The finish is definitely different (the bigger ones aren't shiny). Not sure what that's about...

Mike
 

rockettauto

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2023
Messages
745
Grabbed some needle nose Vice Grips...

20230526_171630.jpg

The two on the left (9 and 6 inch) came from Lowe's. The 4 inch came from NAPA.

The finish is definitely different (the bigger ones aren't shiny). Not sure what that's about...

Mike
Check the COO , Irwin vise grips are made In china, Taiwan, India, etc. I'm sure they come from different mfgs. And it's probably just a difference in a thicker nickel vs chrome over nickel plating.
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,228
Location
MA
Check the COO , Irwin vise grips are made In china, Taiwan, India, etc. I'm sure they come from different mfgs. And it's probably just a difference in a thicker nickel vs chrome over nickel plating.

Oh yes, they're definitely foreign, can't remember which countries. I'll try to look at them later.

Mike
 

bubinga

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2014
Messages
12,744
Location
Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
New 90 tooth long flex head DieHard 3/8” drive ratchet. $23.69 out the door using 1May code and a $10 speed perk. Can’t beat it for that price. Nice stuff. I can see why Capri went with Williams for their new ratchets. I’m honestly liking it better than my long handle Tekton with the detents.
Does Williams make the ratchets for Capri?
 
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