Proto vs HF quality and value; you decide!

[Vikas]

I purchased Made In USA Proto snap ring pliers set (J380) on ebay.

Frankly, the list price on this is a complete joke. I have seen better quality tools at HF. The plastic case it came in is so incredibly cheap. The inside white insert is even cheaper. The case will crack if you look at it funny. The pliers themselves are not much better than the el cheapo Chinese made convertible that I had. It is better but not by much. There is still play in the joint and the tips do not line up. These usually sell for over $40 (with shipping) but I paid under $20. If you buy them at regular price, you got robbed!

Now contrast that with HF Taiwanese digital vernier calipers. Look at the case it came in. Look at the foamed cutout for the caliper. Feel the caliper. I bought it for $10 with coupon. Compared to the Proto snap ring pliers, this one is order of magnitude better in terms of quality and value.

There is NO CONTEST at all. Proto should be ashamed to sell that snap ring pliers set with Made In USA stamp on it :-(

Please don't tell me I am comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruits Both the cases are about the same size. My first attempt at buying so called "truck like brand" tool is an utter failure.

I am sure some of you are still going to spew "HF is garbage and Proto is great" even after presented with the contrary evidence. You know who you are.

- Vikas

 

[hate2work]

I think HF quality is getting better. Years ago most everything in the store was cheaply made junk, but I think that's changing.

 

[Errtt]

Looking at the pics, the calipers don't look bad at all.
I have had my calipers & mic's for some years now. Most are Starrett (something like that). Some day I'll get around to adding and replacing. None are digital.
Couple years ago I bought another dial indicator for my magnetic base. The one I had didn't hold up being dropped onto the garage floor - oops

 

[daves87rs]

Wow...

 

[meangreen01]

I actually just bought HF's snap ring pliers to clean up my Craftsman ratchets. They're garbage, too. Real flimsy to the point of buckling when compressing a snap ring. Does anyone actually make a good one that has differesnt attachments? The channel-lock one looks good but it's only a straight on style(no 90* or 45* offsets).

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
I actually just bought HF's snap ring pliers to clean up my Craftsman ratchets. They're garbage, too. Real flimsy to the point of buckling when compressing a snap ring. Does anyone actually make a good one that has differesnt attachments? The channel-lock one looks good but it's only a straight on style(no 90* or 45* offsets).


Yeah, Snap-On:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?...amp;dir=catalog

 

[sciphi]

The Irwin snap-ring pliers I got are serviceable. They don't deflect too badly, the tips are interchangeable, and they come in 2 different straight-on sizes.

Big difference between the Proto and HF. That being said, most of the Taiwanese HF hand tools such as sockets and extensions in my collection are pretty good, and got the job done for years before I had the money to spring for a US-made SK fine-tooth ratchet and US-made Craftsman tool set.

 

[The_Jeff]

Use the HF caliper to "prove" the poor machining on the Proto.

 

[JHZR2]

Would rather pay for quality than a fancy package.

And they are apples and oranges... honestly... One is a "precision" instrument, the other is a tool for doing real mechanical assembly/disassembly. Drop the pliers, most likely all is well. Drop the caliper, it is another story.

Like any tool, the packaging fits the task and requirement.

HF does seem to be getting better, but they are also getting more $$$, which then negates the need to shop at HF.

 

[oilboy123]

The digital harbor freight calipers I own sure go thru the batteries quickly. I put one in last year and it won't turn on now. I hardly ever use it, but it is stored in the garage that is normally about 50 degrees 8 months of the year.

Last battery did not last either.

 

[TMoto]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I purchased Made In USA Proto snap ring pliers set (J380) on ebay...

I have seen better quality tools at HF. The plastic case it came in is so incredibly cheap. The inside white insert is even cheaper. The case will crack if you look at it funny. The pliers themselves are not much better than the el cheapo Chinese made convertible that I had. It is better but not by much. There is still play in the joint and the tips do not line up. These usually sell for over $40 (with shipping) but I paid under $20. If you buy them at regular price, you got robbed!

I thought those looked familiar. I own a set of the exact same Proto #380 snap ring plier sets. I've had mine for somewhere around 15 years with no problems.

While I agree the case is brittle and the plastic insert is thin and prone to crack, the pliers themselves work fine. The joints on mine have very little play. Sorry to hear about your troubles with them, but I've generally had good experience with Proto products. Maybe things have changed?

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Please don't tell me I am comparing apples and oranges.

There is a crucial difference: the digital caliper is supposed to be a precision instrument and thus requires significantly more protection.

I'm not taking Proto's side since I don't know enough about them or HF to have an opinion. Just saying you need to find a better comparison.

 

[robshelton]

In the 25 years I've been using them, I've never used a great set of snap ring pliers. Maybe I'm just heavy-handed but they all bend and snap of the tips. Some are better than others but in the end I tear them all up.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

My Trusty Cook dead blow hammer has lasted for years and still hits just as hard today as the day that I bought it. My HF ball joint press snapped into two pieces the first time I used it.

Based upon my apples to apples comparison, All HF tools are junk and fall apart and Trusty Cook tools will never fail you.

 

[Vikas]

Frankly, I expected much more from Proto than what they have delivered. I don't think I will buy another Proto product based on this experience.

I suspect that given Stanely owns the Proto these days, Stanley should be the one taking the blame for this substandard product. It will not be the first time for Stanley :-( I have a feeling that older Proto have been built lot better. I still can not believe that the pliers that I have is NOT built in China.

Some of you have not got the point across. I am comparing a $10 Made In Taiwan tool to $40 Made In USA tool and the results are depressing. If you are excusing the poor quality, you need to share the blame for where we are today.

- Vikas

 

[goodtimes]

The USA made, I would keep and use, what they are they are. Maybe Proto can replace them. $20 or $40 is not a lot of money to buy the materials, fashion the parts, assemble the parts, and deliver. Besides paying taxes, employing workers, paying workers ss, medicare, and benefits. Administrative, sales, offices, office materials, marketing, vehicles, energy costs, on and on.

The calipers I would, for $10 worth of pleasure, bend them in half in a vise and put in the trash, or recycling. It costs $10 to mail them somewhere, let alone make them. I don't know if many people feel like this, but I do.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123
The digital harbor freight calipers I own sure go thru the batteries quickly. I put one in last year and it won't turn on now. I hardly ever use it, but it is stored in the garage that is normally about 50 degrees 8 months of the year.

Last battery did not last either.


Check to see that the foam is not pushing on the buttons when the case is closed. This has been talked about on the firearm forums and is the main reason for battery discharge. Some take a fingernail clippers and clip some of the foam from where the buttons are at.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
The USA made, I would keep and use, what they are they are. Maybe Proto can replace them. $20 or $40 is not a lot of money to buy the materials, fashion the parts, assemble the parts, and deliver. Besides paying taxes, employing workers, paying workers ss, medicare, and benefits. Administrative, sales, offices, office materials, marketing, vehicles, energy costs, on and on.

The calipers I would, for $10 worth of pleasure, bend them in half in a vise and put in the trash, or recycling. It costs $10 to mail them somewhere, let alone make them. I don't know if many people feel like this, but I do.


Do you feel the same about all the chinese goods you use daily?

 

[goodtimes]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: goodtimes
The USA made, I would keep and use, what they are they are. Maybe Proto can replace them. $20 or $40 is not a lot of money to buy the materials, fashion the parts, assemble the parts, and deliver. Besides paying taxes, employing workers, paying workers ss, medicare, and benefits. Administrative, sales, offices, office materials, marketing, vehicles, energy costs, on and on.

The calipers I would, for $10 worth of pleasure, bend them in half in a vise and put in the trash, or recycling. It costs $10 to mail them somewhere, let alone make them. I don't know if many people feel like this, but I do.


Do you feel the same about all the chinese goods you use daily?


I won't answer that, but what I am saying/feeling in a nutshell is this kind of tool for $10 that NO ONE can make in the USA, or any country that people have decent pay, represents dumping goods to take market share. The materials cost more than that. Having worked all my life and enjoyed the laws of 40 hour work weeks, health benefits, social security, medicare, etc, I APPRECIATE other people's lives and work just like I wanted to have. So yes even though this is made in Taiwan not China, I would bend it over in a vise for $10 pleasure.

Goods made in other countries that are fairly priced, manufactured fairly, and sold fairly, that is a different story, no problem with that, that is fair competition. This situation is a deindustrialization of other countries through dumping cheap goods. It is already seen that Chinese goods are going up in price and quality, why, because they have less and less competition as companies close shop. Soon the prices will be the way they were before the dumping, but no more industry capable of competing, and then they have their cake and eat it too.

Actually in my case I buy USA, Japanese, German, or Swiss tools, used or new on ebay, instead.

 

[pottymouth]

If you bought them off eBay, how can you be sure they are genuine Proto? Could they be counterfeit or perhaps some factory seconds that someone rescued from the dumpster?

Before making a judgement on their entire tool line (I own no Proto tools but have heard mostly good about them) maybe you should compare them to a known example from an authorized sales channel.