Stanley?

[doctorschmullus]

Stanley!
Its poor mans proto, or sidchrome depending on where you live!
I just thought it was ****, wal-mart or big w stuff, but lately im just not sure,

A workmate just started buying alot of it, he reckons it is the same as proto. I dont think it is, but what do you reckon, also does anyone know if australian stanley and american stanley sells the same products?

 

[Jononon]

Nothing wrong with Stanley in the applications they've traditionally been good at. The European Fatmax screwdrivers, made by Facom in France, are excellent (never seen the US offerings in the metal, but people seem to like those, too). On the other hand the socket sets (China) are awful.

Do your Fatmax screwdrivers look like this:

Or like this:

?

If it's the former, you get the US market tools, if it's the latter the European market.

 

[mrholeshot]

Stanley makes pretty good tools and a real good price. It's not Proto though. They are very well made and nothing wrong with them. Stanley is the biggest tool maker in the world. The wrenches, sockets, ratchets and related products are pretty nice.

 

[JayL]

I recently acquired some NOS Proto and USA Stanley Punch and Chisels. IMO the difference in quality is like night and day.

 

[Monte]

saws, measuring tapes and knives is what i probably would buy from them from their recent production.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I bought some Stanley branded sockets at a pawnshop 2-3 weeks ago. They are 1/2" drive, metric, 12 point, and chrome. They are marked USA. Sizes 21, 22, & 24mm. Paid $1 each. Haven't used them yet, but was surprised to see USA. Expected Chiwanese.

 

[londonsteve]

Stanley may not be Snap On or Proto but I have never had any of their tools fail and when grabbing a screwdriver I usually go for the Stanley before Snap on.

 

[mrholeshot]

One of my Carpenter sons Bought a set of Stanley tools (mechanics tools) back about 10 years ago. He works on his cars constanly and he uses this set everyday (like a 200pc set) and although he has lost a few peices he has yet to break a single one. He's the poster child for tool abuse. His Stanley ratchet has hammer marks on the handle end and being used as a hammer on the ratchet end. They get the job done, what more can you ask of a tool?

 

[dede2897234]

Jononon,

Can you please be more specific on why you feel the Stanley socket sets made in China are awful?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[arkangel06]

They get the job done, what more can you ask of a tool?

Pro grade and not made in asia.

 

[Jononon]

Jononon,

Can you please be more specific on why you feel the Stanley socket sets made in China are awful?


Thanks,

Dave

Small print: I am in the UK, the items were bought in 2006. I cannot assert that they're the same as current production or those sold in the US.

The sockets themselves are fine, in fact they're mostly still being used, but I broke two ratchets and had one of the replacements arrive DOA. The quick release appears to attract dirt, then stick 'open'. They were 3/8", in a non-hostile environment, doing a fairly light job (opening up the cases on electrical equipment). As well as that problem, the extensions were very rough, sometimes leading to sockets sticking and then pulling off chrome chips when released.

The Clarke replacements (hardly a premium item), bought in '08, are still in daily use.

 

[back2class]

Stanley is great. Very fair prices and while not ****, their hand tools have constantly been found to be quite usable by this bloke. They are not disposable tools. More in line with Craftsman quality, though lacking some of the rebadged USA made Craftsman gems. But alot of the Tiawan made stuff is much nicer in finish than the Craftsman stuff and some of it is the same as MAC, with simply a different brand. You will find a good amount of Stanley stuff that is the exact same item as Proto or Mac. As best as I can tell, the Blackhawk (low level proto) is mostly the same as the Stanley line in regards to mechanics hand tools. A few years back ALL Stanley, proto, mac and other USA made wrenches by stanley were made to the same specs in the same plant. This is not the case any longer.
One item I did find quite poor by Stanley is the cheepie screwdrivers, formerly USA made and now China made.

 

[Scout Driver]

I really like the Stanley screwdrivers. The classic clear yellow handles with the red stripe. Would like to find a set of nut-drivers with the same handles.


For those keeping score, yes, I've used this same basic reply 3 times in two days on 3 different threads.

Scott

 

[Indy_500]

I love the old stanley screwdriver hard handles, the ones with black and yellow stripes.

 

[back2class]

I love the old stanley screwdriver hard handles, the ones with black and yellow stripes.

If those are the ones I think you are talking about, you desprately need to get your hands on some good or even just ok screwdrivers. If they are the much less common semi-transpartent 100-plus series then indeed they are fine quality drivers.

 

[Indy_500]

If those are the ones I think you are talking about, you desprately need to get your hands on some good or even just ok screwdrivers. If they are the much less common semi-transpartent 100-plus series then indeed they are fine quality drivers.

i know everybody laughs at me for liking those, but what i like is the deep grooves in em. You can turn a screw harder with these due to the deep grooves

 

[arkangel06]

100plus FTW!

 

[doctorschmullus]

If those are the ones I think you are talking about, you desprately need to get your hands on some good or even just ok screwdrivers. If they are the much less common semi-transpartent 100-plus series then indeed they are fine quality drivers.

the yellow and green semitransperent ones are sold in ausralia, everyone swears by them but stanley are phasing them out i think

 

[Thumper]

Stanley ?? Where is he?....sumbitch still owes me 20 bucks..!

All BS aside, I have some Stanley pieces and they have held up well.

 

[Skin]

i have one of those 201pc sets that i use on the go since its so convenient. Excellent quality as far as i'm concerned. The ratchets look and work great, no chrome issues, well formed and clean sockets. Cost me about $62.00 shipped. Wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Walmart had them on clearance at one point last year for $40 which is criminal.

Its since been updated from the looks of the pictures as the format of the case is completely different and the ratchets look to be round heads instead of pear but if they've maintained similar quality [mine had a COO of mexico, no idea about the newer ones] its definitely a good bargain for the do-it-yourselfer.


Its not the same as Proto, at least so far as where its made is concerned. Pretty sure most all their hand tools are from Mexico or Asia.