SK vs Proto combination wrench set help me decide

[Southern Forester]

I have a set of government surplus SK wrenches as well as GI Proto anti-slip wrenches. They both seem to be good quality wrenches. One set I keep in the back of the old Ford pickup. The other as loaner tools (I have Wrightgrips and Williams Supercombos for regular work as those are full sets).

Davis

 

[PJNJ]

meh. usually it does.

even high quality brands have dumbed down some features in the past 30 years.

sometimes the purpose of engineering improvements is cost cutting...

a/k/a/ profit max

Without testing it's still just your opinion. I might even accept a significant amount of anecdotal evidence of failures. But according solely to his visual inspection, Proto now makes socket extensions that are inferior to what they made decades ago. Nope, the argument (it's really more just a conjecture) doesn't hold water.

 

[Loscaldazar]

meh. usually it does.

even high quality brands have dumbed down some features in the past 30 years.

sometimes the purpose of engineering improvements is cost cutting...

a/k/a/ profit max

So Snap On when they moved from a 13/16" handle diameter in 3/4 drive ratchets to 15/16" was because they started using cheaper steel in their tools too?

Or maybe they made it thicker so it was stronger. Same thing with the proto extension.

This forum is hilarious sometimes. The same person (not saying you, T45) will say "They made it thicker and that's bad. They must be using cheaper steel" and then also say "They made the new ones thinner and that's bad. They must be cheapening it out by using less steel." Doesn't matter what a company does at that point, they can't win!

 

[HanShotFirst]

I have both, prefer the Sk, but the Proto is outstanding as well...You could blindly flip a coin and you'd be pretty happy with your new combo wrenches.

 

[WittHay]

The thickness of the extension doesn't tell you or I anything about the quality of the steel used to make the original or replacement extension. It is just conjecture on your part without testing.

Snap-on increases the thickness of their 3/8 drive extensions in larger lengths 18" to 36" long. I imagine Proto does the same.

I actually prefer the Proto satin ASD wrenches over the chromed Snap-on for HD equipment work.

The only Proto item that seems to have gone done in quality is their bolt extractors. The older ones from decades ago were less brittle.

 

[SignalZero]

Stanley Proto sure looks bright-n-shiny. I'm used to old school Proto E.g. satin finish on the shanks and polished heads, I wouldn't throw either of em out of the box. As soon as you hold on to a S-K long pattern the decision is over in that instant. IMO you can tell a lot about a tool when you pick it up, sadly the internet cant help you there.
bids ending today http://www.ebay.com/itm/Proto-15-Pi...777598e&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=252897038754

That's a nice set, but being NOS I feel like those are more display/conversation pieces at this point, since the roll and box are so cool. I'd feel bad putting them into regular service.

You can get the newer Proto T500 wrenches in satin or polished(satin being more affordable).
Just for comparison, I placed one along side an older Proto Professional wrench I picked up for 50 cents at the flea market. The new ones are long pattern and you can see the beam is wider. You can also see the difference in the jaws due to the flank-drive style("anti-slip") design.

 

[Local]

Not sure of the length of the sk wrenches but the protos are a good length.

 

[T45]

This forum is hilarious sometimes. The same person (not saying you, T45) will say "They made it thicker and that's bad. They must be using cheaper steel" and then also say "They made the new ones thinner and that's bad. They must be cheapening it out by using less steel." Doesn't matter what a company does at that point, they can't win!

NO Offense, but I can definitely tell when companies use crappier tool-steel in their products. If you can't tell, then thats your problem.

The proto extension situation has been looked into before, and the general consensus was the newer one were lower quality.

 

[doogdoog]

The thickness of the extension doesn't tell you or I anything about the quality of the steel used to make the original or replacement extension. It is just conjecture on your part without testing.

My Dad bought me a 3/8" drive socket set with extensions when I was about 14yrs. old. I still have the set and it is way over 50 yrs. old. The thicker one is bulky and heavier than the Proto and the Proto must have been made of better quality metal so added thickness wasn't necessary. Who wants a thick, heavy extension? Ask anyone who has that old extension and see what they have to say.

Mahalo,
doogdoog

 

[PJNJ]

NO Offense, but I can definitely tell when companies use crappier tool-steel in their products. If you can't tell, then thats your problem.



The proto extension situation has been looked into before, and the general consensus was the newer one were lower quality.

Good to hear you have the amazing ability to visually evaluate tool steel alloys. I'm sure Snap On and other companies will want to hire you so they can close their testing labs and save tons of money.

My Dad bought me a 3/8" drive socket set with extensions when I was about 14yrs. old. I still have the set and it is way over 50 yrs. old. The thicker one is bulky and heavier than the Proto and the Proto must have been made of better quality metal so added thickness wasn't necessary. Who wants a thick, heavy extension? Ask anyone who has that old extension and see what they have to say.

Mahalo,
doogdoog

Why yes, it must have been since you say so. I bow down to your wisdom as I do to T45. You two should open a your own visual testing service. It'll make a million.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I have examples of both over 60 years old and not broken, I don't really see it as a problem.

 

[derosa]

That's a nice set, but being NOS I feel like those are more display/conversation pieces at this point, since the roll and box are so cool. I'd feel bad putting them into regular service.

Couldn't imagine not using it if I bought it, they're just a set of wrenches that doubtfully will ever be worth more then they were when new so why not save money over the newest new and use them the way they were meant to be?

 

[Cope]

Stanley Proto sure looks bright-n-shiny. I'm used to old school Proto E.g. satin finish on the shanks and polished heads, I wouldn't throw either of em out of the box. As soon as you hold on to a S-K long pattern the decision is over in that instant. IMO you can tell a lot about a tool when you pick it up, sadly the internet cant help you there.
bids ending today http://www.ebay.com/itm/Proto-15-Pi...777598e&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=252897038754

That's a pretty good deal.

 

[T45]

Good to hear you have the amazing ability to visually evaluate tool steel alloys. I'm sure Snap On and other companies will want to hire you so they can close their testing labs and save tons of money.

Why yes, it must have been since you say so. I bow down to your wisdom as I do to T45. You two should open a your own visual testing service. It'll make a million.[//quote]

people own tools and use them. thats called experience.

Its also called a/b testing. its not that hard a concept to grasp.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Regarding anti-slip wrenches.

For a professional mechanic, I can't imaging not having a set in my tool kit. For a home mechanic, the need is less...perhaps.

I work mostly on motorcycles where the fasteners are often within eyesight. So I specifically don't want the type of AS wrench that will actually leave teeth marks in the fastener. For motorcycle work I really prefer the SK long pattern wrenches, and I personally prefer them when I work on my cars too.

That said, I think for a guy like me the Proto AS wrenches are the absolute best of the best. Because the design is such that it gives you that feature (admittedly not as aggressive as WrightGrip or FlankDrive), without leaving marks on the fasteners.

I have some Proto reversable ratcheting black chrome spline anti slip combo wrench. (say that 3 times real fast)
Basically this wrench

The only "flaw" I can find in this wrench (if you can even call it a flaw) is that it's not a long pattern wrench. The length is the same as a US made Craftsman raised panel...which isn't exactly short, but it's not as long as the SK long pattern wrenches.

If I were buying today, I would honestly pick the set I could get cheapest. If Proto makes a long pattern and it's the same or longer than the SK then I personally would be quite happy with those...I really like long pattern wrenches...but that's a VERY subjective thing; may not be all that important to you.

I have had a set of the SAE SK long pattern wrenches for the past 25 years and while they're a dated design, I would gladly buy them again today; I absolutely love them. If price were the same, I'd buy the wrench that is longest; I really don't care about anti-slip feature, it's not important TO ME, but you may be different.

If the Proto were at least $30 cheaper, even if they were shorter, I'd buy the Proto. Because they're both VERY good wrenches. No they're not as good as SnapOn but then again they're WAY cheaper. A 13 piece long pattern set of SK's can be had for under $200 and that's a decent price for a wrench I just love.

 

[JoJoSnap]

Anyone know that dewalt reversable ratcheting wrench set and pricey proto black rrw manufactured THE SAME DESIGN SAME ANTI SLIP ALL SAME SAME SAME A TO Z by same company, only diff is I got Dewalt for PEANUT 29 bucks each sae and mm from sears outlet.


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[PJNJ]

Why yes, it must have been since you say so. I bow down to your wisdom as I do to T45. You two should open a your own visual testing service. It'll make a million.[//quote]

people own tools and use them. thats called experience.

Its also called a/b testing. its not that hard a concept to grasp.

Give the bs a rest. A/B testing has nothing to do with tool evaluation. Sheesh. I withdrwaw any (sarcastic or otherwise) claims about your wisdom. You have none. Let the posters talk about wrenches as this thread originally had to do with.

 

[JoJoSnap]

Proto US, Proto Taiwan (smooth black finish), and Dewalt have the same Anti Slip Design in wrench open ends with ASD.

I think Proto Taiwan and Dewalt ratcheting wrenches are made by Hi-Five but I have no way to check that.

[emoji1360][emoji481]


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[T45]

proto and facom are both owned by stanley, both made in taiwan, and likely share more than passing similarity as a result

[The usa proto are different than the taiwan proto, however, for people keeping score]

 

[cherrybomb]

Proto

 

[cherrybomb]

I have some Proto Spline Combos with the ASD on the open end.The finish is outstanding and they work really well.You won't be disappointed.

 

[928'er]

This thread is over 7 years old.

The OP has probably made up their mind by now....