Beautiful Tools
 

These days whenever I need to replace one of my tools I will order a Proto, usually full polished 6 point for the wrenches.

What a beautiful tool these people make, just a joy to hold in your hand.

The new 3/4 combination wrench I just got, I thought it was bent a little .. then I realized it has this very subtle bend in it to compensate for the angle of your hand, just a couple of degrees that makes it easier to use and to sit flatter on the bolt/nut.

Expensive yes ... but not so bad when you buy one once a month to replace inferior tools.

I always buy Proto tools very hard to find you should check out their air guns. I posted about them in the industry section. https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...d.php?t=829719

Stanley owns them correct?

I have some Proto tools. They do make some very nice stuff. In some ways they may be better than Snap On.

Agree Proto tools are very nice indeed. Yes, Proto is part of the huge Stanley tool group which includes dozens of brand names covering the full quality range. Here is a small list of the Stanley Brands:
Power tools

DeWalt – power tools; B & D acquired in 1960
Guoqiang (GQ) Tools (China) – power tools
Porter-Cable – power tools; B & D acquired in 2004[32]/2005[33]
Oldham Saw Company – circular saw blade and wood router bit products; B & D acquired in 2004[32]
Black & Decker – acquired (via merger) in 2010
Craftsman

Hand tools and storage

Pastorino – carpentry and construction hand tools[34]
Stanley Hand Tools – carpentry and construction hand tools
Craftsman
Irwin Industrial Tools

Fastening and accessories

Bostitch – fastening tools; acquired in 1986
Powers Fasteners – adhesive and mechanical anchors

Industrial
Industrial and automotive repair (IAR)
Cribmaster – tool inventory, storage, tracking and usage/vending management
Expert – industrial and automotive tools
Facom (France) – professional tools; acquired in 2006 (includes Britool[35])
Lista North America – industrial storage; acquired in 2012
Mac Tools – professional tools; acquired in 1980
Proto – industrial hand tools; acquired in 1984
Blackhawk – Mechanic's tools; acquired in 1986
Sidchrome (Australia/New Zealand) – mechanics' tools; acquired in 1990

They are huge.

Proto tools are very costly not sold everywhere and hard to get. I got into them because I use to work for a utility company for 33 years and they bought all are tools and tool boxes for us to use. The funny part or that was in case we got hurt and a tool would break it would be on them not us. I just bought all new air tools after 20 years and Proto they came out with a new air tool line and design. 1260 ft torque and a small and light weight package. Priced much lower then my IR air tools. (in the range of $175- $250I. just love the way they both work 1/2 inch and 3/8 drive
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I'm an AC Mech with the purple tails, we compared several brands of air tools & the IR were the quietest fwiw.

I have a variety of air tools but no Proto Branded ones. My Snap-On 1/2" and 3/8" impacts have a lever you can move to make them quieter. But it greatly reduces the hammer force which is marginal at full power and loudness. In general, I think Snap-On air tools are very overpriced with mid-level performance. This is especially true of the Blue Point line, made in China and just a step or two above Harbor Freight stuff. I have a 3/4" IR impact. Fairly quiet and a real brute. I have never had a fastener it wouldn't either remove or break-off! Very heavy tool though. The Proto impacts pictured look light and compact. AirCat is another brand that has powerful, quiet, light air tools. Some are made in the US, some imported.

I have a 3/8 AirCat gun very nice unit. The Protos are fully balanced and you can stand it upright on its air inlet without it falling over.. Its crazy.

I'm kind of flexible went it comes to where things are made, sort of ... best man wins no matter what to me ... but some of the made in USA tools are just wonderful ... I told my wife I need a "house wrench" to keep on the coffee table because they are so nice to hold in your hand... yep, kind of over the top when it comes to price and finish ... but, jeez, so nice. And that means the US made Proto, Snap-on, Mac, etc.

I know I will never get my money back on them, but just to be able to pass them on some day and know the person that gets them will appreciate the quality is enough for me.

You are right about second hand value for sure. As I get older I think about that more and more. I have over 100K in hand tools from a 40+ year career. I also have several friends in the tool business. As many of us age out and pass away, most family members left with all the tools don't have any use for them or know what to do with them. My Snap-On and MAC tool friends say they will occasionally buy an estate of hand tools but will NEVER pay more than twenty cents on the dollar for them no matter the condition. Power tools, especially cordless ones are worth no more than ten cents on the dollar. They always have dead batteries that are obsolete and the tool is a throwaway. They both say they are lucky to re-sell at 40 cents on the dollar for Mac, Snap-ON Proto and the other premium tools. Non-premium tools have virtually no value used. That's on the re-sale market at least. One of the reasons there are such great deals on tool at pawn shops. I am a tool geek so I enjoy having them almost as much as my old Pontiac's!

My analogy on tools would be my other interest, fitness trainer. You will pay 2-3X more for top gear / equipment, but the difference is huge and once you go to that level it is hard to step down. I see it as amateur / light use grade and pro / hard use grade, same as tools. Use should dictate what you buy. Or if you just want nice tools.

Having sold off the part of my fathers side of the estate I can tell you the older well taken care of USA made tools bring tons of people to a sale. My father was a mechanic, and avid wood worker most of his adult life.

We put an ad on Craigslist and a small ad in the newspaper and had a horde of people that came to buy tools. I didn't overprice anything as I was out in Prescott AZ, and wanted to move everything having limited time. My mother thought I'd want his tools, but most of the stuff that took up a lot of room were his woodworking tools mounted on stands that I had no room for at my house. Plus I'm not as an avid woodworker as my father was. I did go through the tool chest and removed all the better quality hand tools (Snap On, Mac, Proto, etc.), and took them back home with me.

All his hand power tools were corded, really old and mostly worn out, so I had nothing that I saved out of that stuff. Sold the oxy/acetylene torch, hoses, and tanks to some local guy out in Prescott. My oxy/acetylene setup is in much better shape than his was, no sense in carting all that stuff 2000 miles home.

Every time I use his tools I get kind of sentimental because he taught me everything he gained over his lifetime about repairing everything mechanical. Listening to the old timers I found out years ago is priceless, saving you time, and money over the long haul. Dad passed in 2007, I still miss him every day.

Dataway, I don't know if you'd need one or not but head to a Sears Store and pickup the new Craftsman Metric crescent wrench. I kid you not! I needed a 1 1/2" wrench last week and it's all I could find at the Sears store here in Wilmington. Turn it over and you'll see it opens up to 40mm.

I've had guys that needed a metric wrench but they didn't have one big enough for the job at hand. So I'd tell them to go get a metric crescent wrench. They'd look at me with that "are you stupid look".... so I'd tell them to think about it. Finally they catch on after a while. LOL But now it's really on the market. :rolleyes:

When I was a kid in the 70’s most paint was still oil based, but latex was just coming around. Anyway our local hardware store sold latex paint thinner in baby food jars. I remember my brother in law asking them “why would anybody buy latex paint thinner?” They told him that so many people came in asking for it they decided to start selling it!

Now that's funny. But it is proof few read the directions on the can. And shame on the hardware stores for taking advantage of them.

Re Pawn shops, it must be a CA thing, but I never see any good deals there. For example, I have a power tool that I paid $500 for. A pawn shop will have the same one that looks like it’s been used 8 hours a day for 15 years priced at $435. Saw a pair of BF Goodrich tires in the window the other day for $230.

I think they make their money lending, and don’t care if they ever sell anything.

We just found out that our NAPA stores are now dealers for Craftsman tools. We got our first batch in. Not impressed. Hard to believe these are the same tools we bought years ago from Sears. Castings are rough. Look like cheap tools with the Craftsman name. Its gonna be a secondary line for us.

Yes, they are nothing like when Easco tools made them for the Craftsman brand. Easco also made Sparta, SK, Husky and other brands. They were mid-high quality American hand tools. Craftsman branded tools are mostly Chinese low-mid grade stuff now. I would put them in the same quality group with US General stuff from Harbor Freight. (got to love US General, 100% Chinese!)

I have been happy locating pre owned Snap On tools from Carlisle vendors and Ebay. I buy them for a fraction of new and have a local rep that replaces any junk.

My dad was a farmer all his life. He never had the money to buy expensive tools. I keep some of his tools in my toolbox just for the memories. There are two wood handled screwdrivers that I still use for light work, always think of him when I use them.

There is an emotional connection to tools and toolboxes. Tools are associated with "ability" and usefulness - and our value of ourselves, self-confidence, and so on. There is a lot of psychology around it.

I told my family, when I am gone, get rid of everything except the toolbox and the Studebaker.

A friend of mine just moved out of the US permanently, and he said the last thing to go, and hardest to let go of, was his tools, because without them he could not "fix" or take care of things, which he valued very highly. Lots of folks aren't that way, but those of us in the car hobby especially are.

There was a car magazine editorial years ago (probably by Dave Freiburger) who talked about toolboxes having souls. I swear, he nailed it.

I looked at the Proto stuff on Amazon a bit ago.

https://www.amazon.com/Proto-JSCV-20...2290114&sr=8-4

$645.

I'll keep using the dukes mixture of brands I currently have and hope I can get by. :)

My Dad never had much in the way of tools but he could....or at least would try....to fix anything. I watched him soldering something once and it was obvious that the gun had a short in it. It would heat up then, when he went to use it, the tip had cooled enough that it wouldn't melt solder. He monkeyed with it a bit, then I heard him sigh deeply. He held the gun up and looked at it one final time and then in a quick motion he rared back and threw it into the concrete blocks behind the work bench. He said "fixed you" under his breath. My folks divorced about high school graduation time for me and in his later years Dad lived in a house on my little brothers property and rightly, whatever Dad had stayed with him.

The black wrenches are the ones the utility company I worked for would sometimes buy us, They would buy us the tools we used to keep the liability down if we got hurt . We sometimes got the chromed ones also. Ive seen those wenches for around $250 in chrome that's way over priced. The two air guns I posted pictures of were around $250 and that was a great deal they list for over $650. The Blackhawk brand are made overseas and run cheaper. These two on line stores have good prices on their tools http://ToolDiscounter.com/ "ToolTopia.com" Proto tools are very hard to find in the stores. Fastnenal and GRAINGER can order them for you. Most of their tools are bought by Gov, Aerospace and utility's Mac is the ones the sell to shops from trucks Mac Tools USA hardline tools are manufactured in their partner plant of Proto Dallas. Their primary distribution center is located in Hilliard, Ohio, United States. Mac Tools business model is a franchise system with roughly 1500 distributors across North America.

I just replaced an old 3/4" combo wrench with the top of the line Proto, long type, full polish, six point .... for $23. Worth every penny to me.

I tend to do better work when I have better tools ... not because the tool works better, but for some reason I use them more thoughtfully, carefully and don't rush through things.

Craftsman use to make a heck of a tool, back when Blue Point was making most of their stuff ... which I think was originally who made tools for Snap-On. Then I think Snap-On bought them, and spun them off into two lines ... less expensive Blue Point, more expensive Snap-On ... then I think Blue Point disappeared for decades ... I think someone may be making tools with that name on them again.

Up until a few years ago Snap On was still bluepoints lower line of tools. My friend had a Snap On truck. I haven't bought one in about ten years. All my tools are mostly older Craftsman man in the USA the rest are mostly Proto and S&K which was also sold to a different tool maker a few years back.. Cornwell is suppose to be a very good tool, but I never owned one of their tools. I did get their catalog. I only have a few Snap On tools, but not many for sure, maybe because I only worked for a dealer for one year when I was 18 and I never had the trucks come to take my money.

We have a snap on truck that comes every week he has a repo section that you can get some great deals in. Regular price is not cheap but will last forever or be replaced at no charge. Oh and if you want to spend some crazy money look at a snap on tool box.

We used to have a Cornwell tool truck that stopped at the dealership I worked at. The tools aren't as good as Snap On, usually closer to Mac tools in quality, still very good tools and reasonable compared to Snap on. The guy that had the Cornwell truck used to be a Snap On dealer, but had a falling out with them, and went to Cornwell. I still have a lot of Cornwell tools I bought from him about 40 years ago.

Just spotted this, seemed pertinent. :D

https://i.redd.it/acgwigjttav31.jpg

Ahhh-yes, the gas axe wins every time! Except when plastic fuel lines are involved. Be careful. My current hand tool inventory is probably 60% Snap-ON, 10% Mac, 15% Craftsman, 5% Cornwell and 10% everything else. I do love tools.

I have a couple random Proto tools, but I'm more interested in Plomb which is what Proto used to be called until the late 1940s. Old Plomb tools are relatively common out on the west coast (since they were made in Los Angeles) but are hard to find here in the midwest.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...8&d=1572308436

I do have a 1954 Proto catalog as well. :)

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...9&d=1572308439

I think you meant Blue Point is the lower priced line of Snap On...they still are.

I never knew that. I have quite a few "Plomb" tools.

There was a car magazine editorial years ago (probably by Dave Freiburger) who talked about toolboxes having souls. I swear, he nailed it.[/QUOTE]

I remember this article. He also spoke of the stickers on your toolbox.

Plomb Tools got into a trademark dispute with Plumb Tools and lost, so they had to change their name.

As long as we're talking about beautiful tools, vintage Blackhawk tools are some of the nicest I've seen. They had real style. This picture of some Blackhawk ratchets and drivers was borrowed from the Garage Journal forum.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...3&d=1572314823

Very interesting I never new about Plomb tools. You learn something new here every day. Nice Catalog.

Oh no ... this thread is making me want to cruise ebay looking for vintage tools again. Last time I ended up with a half dozen excellent vintage Starrett, Brown & Sharpe and various other mics ... checked them with my standard ...dead on, all in original cases etc. Fraction of the current cost.

Now and then I do some small time metal detecting ... I've dug up Blue Point and various premium brand wrenches that all you had to do is literally wipe them off and they were shiny again after lying in the ground for 40 years. Chrome was that good. Cheaper US tools ... actually still usable ... but don't look so good.

I dont get buying expensive tools when old Craftsaman tools will do the job just as well, function over form is more important when it comes to tools. You could buy a Rolex because it is one of the best watches made but a 20.00 Walmart watch will do the same job. I love tools I have a whole Harbor Freight tool box full of Metrinch, Craftsman, Husky, Napa and cheapy Kmart tools from years past. Most of the tools in the tool box just sit there since my go to tools are in my tool bag that I take to the junkyard. My tool bag is full of Metrinch tools made in Germany, best SAE/Metric tools there are. I also have some of the old metal wrenches that I have found in junk yard cars, just put in some vinegar for a few minutes and rust scrubs off with ease. I cant seem to be able to throw any tools out even the junk yard treasures. It is amazing what old mechanics did with such primitive tools. I also like to buy old tools at estate sales, I bought a old Winchester monkey wrench a few months back as a wall hanger. I dont know about you guys but the most used tool for me is a ratchet and very rarely do I go for wrenches unless area is to tight. Once again function over form is the Harbor Freight ratchet I use all the time. The handle will extend to give more leverage on stubborn bolts, I also have the 1/2 extendable handle. In fact the other day at the junkyard a younger kid came up to me and asked if I had a breaker bar or maybe a long piece of pipe for a stuck bolt. He had a very nice shiny 1/2 ratchet in his hand so I handed him my HF ratchet and told him to try this. He said this thing is great where did you get it and told him Harbor Frieght. :jaw:
http://www.greatplanestrading.com/MS...12_CB088PH.jpg
https://shop.harborfreight.com/media...2/62311_W3.jpg

"Old Craftsman tools" were expensive tools in their day ... that's why they are still around and still useful. An old Craftsman tool isn't a Timex ... it's an old Rolex.

Basically if you go back to the mid 60's there were no "cheap" tools sold in the US. Almost all of them were quality US made tools, and expensive in their day, which is why they got passed down to sons and grandsons. The idea of an inexpensive Japanese or Asian produced tool didn't really exist in the US until the late 60's.

So an old US made tool you get for cheap doesn't mean a cheap tool, it means an old tool you got for cheap because it's still here after 60 years.

Told this story here before.
I found an old Craftsman Phillips screwdriver at an old rental I owned. It was between the window and storm window. I’d estimate from the mid 60’s. That is my BEST Phillips screwdriver. The tip never wears out.
I bought a set of Snap-On screwdrivers off the tool truck back in the 80’s when I wrenched for a living. They always wore out! Midgrade tools at best IMO. I rarely use them as I get tired of running down a Snap-off truck to have them replaced.

I have a pretty good collection of Plomb tools and their catalogs. It was easy to confuse Plomb with Plumb on the East coast, but they didn't make the same kind of tools as each other until about WWII. Then Plomb expanded and offered some of the same types of tools as Plumb. Plomb had never gotten a copyright on their name, so when Plumb sued them Plumb won. 1948 was a transition year for Plomb's name change, but they still had the Plomb name on their tools. "PROTO TOOLS BY PLOMB TOOL CO." They were sued again and had to remove the Plomb name from their tools all together. Basically 1948 was the only year with both names, so they are typically called transition tools. Counting individual sockets, I have over 2000 pieces of Plomb - including over 200 ratchets. The pictures are some of my 1/4" sets, but I have sizes up to 1" complete sets.

The Firestone sets were made by Plomb in 1948. They also made the Craftsman tools sometime in the 40's. The man in the picture is my Dad. It was taken at an open house at the Plomb Tool Company in 1945. He was a tool designer there.