SK vs Proto

[spencejm]

First of all, I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse. I was just in Sears this weekend and took a real close look at the Craftsman sockets. I was very disappointed. I'm going to need to purchase some new sockets and wrenches soon and have about narrowed it down to SK or Proto. I have an account at Grainger and get around 25 - 28 percent off. Is there a huge difference in the two brands? I've used SK but have never actually used the Proto stuff. I'm leaning towards the Proto since having a Grainger store in town makes it very easy for me to purchase or exchange the Proto tools. I'm not a pro but I do have an 82 911 and really hate the idea of screwing up fasteners on expensive and/or hard to obtain parts.

Snap-on is just a pain in the **** for me besides being really expensive. I've contacted the local guy and he acts like he doesn't want anything to do with me. I did purchase a good set of Snap-on screwdrivers on e-bay since nothing else seems to work nearly as well but I'd like to avoid them if possible.

Thanks for any ideas.

Joe

 

[dxdexter]

First of all, I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse.


I'm going to need to purchase some new sockets and wrenches soon and have about narrowed it down to SK or Proto.

Joe

Don't apologize. We beat dead horses here all the time. If I don't see the same topic every other day then no one is posting.

I have many Proto wrenches and sockets and can say nothing bad about them, except it wouldn't hurt if they polished the wrenches. The sockets and ratchets are top notch.

I don't own any S-K, so I can't comment.

 

[eschoendorff]

S*K is not consistent in their quality. Proto is. If I were buying new tools and the choices were S*K or Proto, I would choose Proto.

 

[MarkH]

Both can be very good. I also would add if you can get it Wrights.

The questions I go through are can I get the items I need, does the dealer stock enough. Can he get the items in a timely manner. The quality between the 3 does not make a great deal of difference. Each has items that are nicer or poorer than the others. That is why we use selected items from all three companies.

We use all three. I do have one thing that is less critical than most of the people on this board. I look less at a flawless polished appearance. After a week on the farm it will look like a turd. Most of the "quality" issues I have seen on SK has been in that area. There have been some times though a few vendors have sold seconds especially through e-bay. The packaging was not the the normal S-K box.

Proto as long as Stanley does not screw it up is good, so is SK and Wright. Would not expect any issues with careful shopping with any of the companies.

 

[mulepackin]

Don't think you can go wrong with either one. I think they have both produced comparable, quality lines over the years. It will probably boil down to the best price in the end. I would watch very carefully where my Proto stuff is manufactured given the current Stanley situation.

 

[eschoendorff]

I would watch very carefully where my Proto stuff is manufactured given the current Stanley situation.

that is the one thing I thought of after I typed my response. But the Proto stuff I currently have is top notch... made by illegals in the good ol USA!

 

[Sack]

I have a lot of 6-10 yr old SK stuff and it's all held up extremely well.

 

[ImportTuner]

The SK stuff are pretty well made, but cosmetically not as nice; the Proto on the other hand are well made and very nice cosmetically ... just my two cents ...

 

[Uncle Buck]

Don't apologize. We beat dead horses here all the time. If I don't see the same topic every other day then no one is posting.

I have many Proto wrenches and sockets and can say nothing bad about them, except it wouldn't hurt if they polished the wrenches. The sockets and ratchets are top notch.

I don't own any S-K, so I can't comment.

Unless something has changed in recent years Proto offers a high polish line of wrenches that are very BLING BLING, but you do pay for the BLING though. Mighty fine looking though!

 

[dxdexter]

Unless something has changed in recent years Proto offers a high polish line of wrenches that are very BLING BLING, but you do pay for the BLING though. Mighty fine looking though!

They used to be called Proto 500. I don't know if they are still offered and they used to only go up to 1" or so as I recall?????

 

[Uncle Buck]

They used to be called Proto 500. I don't know if they are still offered and they used to only go up to 1" or so as I recall?????

I almost included the name 500 as you did but I wasn't sure if I remembered the name right though. Thanks, they were good looking though weren't they!

 

[Merkava_4]

PROTO sockets are -VERY- nice.

Both their chrome and impacts are sweet.

They have nice well machined friction ball receiving detents.

 

[ba614]

I think this is an apple compaired to apple thing. SK and Proto are both top of the line tools. You can buy either brand and have a great set of wrenches and sockets. I would say that Proto is probably the more desirable brand but more expensive. It's really like compairing a Granny Smith apple to a Golden Delicious apple.

 

[MAD]

I think this is an apple compaired to apple thing. SK and Proto are both top of the line tools. You can buy either brand and have a great set of wrenches and sockets. I would say that Proto is probably the more desirable brand but more expensive. It's really like compairing a Granny Smith apple to a Golden Delicious apple.

The recent Proto apple is a carefully selected blemish free waxed and polished apple from a high end grocery. Some of the SK apples taste as good as or better than some of the Proto apples even though some of them are a little scabby looking. Both are generally yummy.I found a worm in a Craftsman apple once or twice but the rest of the bushel tasted good.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The recent Proto apple is a carefully selected blemish free waxed and polished apple from a high end grocery. Some of the SK apples taste as good as or better than some of the Proto apples even though some of them are a little scabby looking. Both are generally yummy.I found a worm in a Craftsman apple once or twice but the rest of the bushel tasted good.

Best today!