jose's garage
Well-known member
Found this article on line today.
http://toolguyd.com/usa-wrenches-ra...ehid=CE9AF77BFE3509E11950DA697C21D1A23B4F457A
http://toolguyd.com/usa-wrenches-ra...ehid=CE9AF77BFE3509E11950DA697C21D1A23B4F457A
Top five brands?
- Thread starter jose's garage
- Start date
QwikKotaTx
Well-known member
I am a big fan of Proto tools.
James-W
Well-known member
I have a few Wright tools and I like them.
rburke65
Well-known member
I have a few Protocol hand tools. I have 2 Protocol torque wrenches that I really like. A 1/2" drive and a 3/8" drive.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
My thoughts:
Armstrong: The 88t ratchets are great, but the rest of their products aren't anything to get excited about. About the only product I have from them that I think is stellar is a torque multiplier, which may even be made by someone else. Their impact sockets have treated me well, but their chrome sockets are not what I would consider high end.
Proto: One of my favorite tool brands. I've never been disappointed with a Proto product, and I own a bunch. I even think their Blackhawk line was the best kept secret in hand tools prior to them going to Taiwan (still good tools). Proto isn't cheap when new, but can be had at great discount on ebay as your avg. Joe hasn't heard of them. If I had to chose my favorite brand of tools it would be hard for me to chose between Proto and SnapOn.
SK: I think SK is the most overrated tool company on this board. I just don't see the obsession. Their ratchets are Okay, but nothing to get excited about; SnapOn and Wright round heads are far better in my opinion. Their sockets work, but aren't stand outs. Their wrenches are decent, but don't excel compared to other brands. Their pliers and screwdrivers are definitely nothing to get excited about.
Williams: Right now I think Williams is the best deal in hand tools. You often get SnapOn quality at a far lower price. Their sockets and wrenches are fantastic and their ratchets are the same as the prior generation from SnapOn. Their screwdrivers are hard to beat in quality at any price point if you like hard handles; especially their ratcheting screwdriver. Their USA pliers are a cut above Channelock in my experience and can be had really cheap.
Wright: Simply put, Wright's sockets, round head ratchets, and wrenches are as good as anyone's. I can't comment on their other products.
Armstrong: The 88t ratchets are great, but the rest of their products aren't anything to get excited about. About the only product I have from them that I think is stellar is a torque multiplier, which may even be made by someone else. Their impact sockets have treated me well, but their chrome sockets are not what I would consider high end.
Proto: One of my favorite tool brands. I've never been disappointed with a Proto product, and I own a bunch. I even think their Blackhawk line was the best kept secret in hand tools prior to them going to Taiwan (still good tools). Proto isn't cheap when new, but can be had at great discount on ebay as your avg. Joe hasn't heard of them. If I had to chose my favorite brand of tools it would be hard for me to chose between Proto and SnapOn.
SK: I think SK is the most overrated tool company on this board. I just don't see the obsession. Their ratchets are Okay, but nothing to get excited about; SnapOn and Wright round heads are far better in my opinion. Their sockets work, but aren't stand outs. Their wrenches are decent, but don't excel compared to other brands. Their pliers and screwdrivers are definitely nothing to get excited about.
Williams: Right now I think Williams is the best deal in hand tools. You often get SnapOn quality at a far lower price. Their sockets and wrenches are fantastic and their ratchets are the same as the prior generation from SnapOn. Their screwdrivers are hard to beat in quality at any price point if you like hard handles; especially their ratcheting screwdriver. Their USA pliers are a cut above Channelock in my experience and can be had really cheap.
Wright: Simply put, Wright's sockets, round head ratchets, and wrenches are as good as anyone's. I can't comment on their other products.
OP
jose's garage
Well-known member
Are these Internet items or are they sold in stores?
LordPsychon
Well-known member
A lot of these are "tool truck brands" which means you won't find them in most stores. You might run across them in Fastenal stores and certainly in pawn shops/consignment stores. The internet is your best friend for these guys.
malykaii
Well-known member
One thing that bugs me about a lot of these articles is, most readers don't even understand what the difference between brand and producer is. Craftsman is a brand, harbor freight is a brand, Wright is both a producer and brand, kabo is a producer.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Craftsman Industrial didn't make the list ? 
na..it was a joke about tool list i have made,it should look like this
worst 5 brands :
1. pittsburgh pro
2. Globemaster
3. Gedore india
4. BGS
5 Hardman
top 5
1. stahlwille
2. Hazet
3. Gedore
4. french made facom
5 toptul and unior
speaking of snap-on,well cant say nothing about it,since i have only used 1/2 socket and that's only snap on tool i have ever touched
and speaking of cars,yea in europe you cant see much V8's on the road...since gas price went sky high $5.8/us gallon
toddoky
Well-known member
na..it was a joke about tool list i have made,it should look like this
worst 5 brands :
1. pittsburgh pro
2. Globemaster
3. Gedore india
4. BGS
5 Hardman
top 5
1. stahlwille
2. Hazet
3. Gedore
4. french made facom
5 toptul and unior
speaking of snap-on,well cant say nothing about it,since i have only used 1/2 socket and that's only snap on tool i have ever touched
and speaking of cars,yea in europe you cant see much V8's on the road...since gas price went sky high $5.8/us gallon
Glad to hear you were just kidding around, I was going easy on you as guys have different reasons for picking their preferences. I like some non-V8 cars to...like Porsches or anything with a turbo on it.
Askme42
Well-known member
It's the top 5 American made tools for homeowners. I can't even think of another brand.
The only one toolguy may be missed is their is a mid level. Masterforce?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
AV tinker er
Well-known member
I agree 100% with you about Proto. If they had trucks delivering Proto tools to mechanics the other truck companies would be shaking in their boots (my opinion, many will disagree). Old Challenger by Proto is another great option, much like Blackhawk. Proto's ASD wrenches have served me well and I got my metric set at a fraction of the price I paid for my SAE FD+. (To tell the truth I did buy my FD+ set off the truck and the ASDs were an eBay new but open box special, but I got nearly twice the wrenches.) Anyway, we all have our preferences and there are other great tool companies out their besides Proto that make an excellent product as well. M2C.