Proto has come out with a new line of full-polish ratcheting combination wrenches that feature anti-slip open ends and ratcheting spline box ends. The wrenches feature 72 teeth for a fine 5° swing, I-beam construction for high strength, and a flush direction reverse lever for fewer accidental toggles. Made in the USA.
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Proto also designed the wrenches with a deeper open end offset to better reach round obstacles in tight work areas.
These new wrenches will be available individually and as part of metric and imperial sets via industrial suppliers.
More Info (via Proto)
fred says
Nov 12, 2012 at 1:59 pmI guess auto and engine mechanics tend to buy a lot of open-end and box wrenches. For my part – looking at my tool inventory of Proto, Williams, Armstrong, Martin and Wright tools – most of ehat we have are things like ratcheting flare nut wrenches – like this Proto set:
http://www.amazon.com/Proto-Ratcheting-Flare-Wrench-Ratchet/dp/B000PS1XDU/
The sets we have were made in the USA – but I heard that soem Proto wrenches are now made in Taiwan
Andrew says
Nov 12, 2012 at 4:44 pmLooks like a winner. Pricing? Links?
Stuart says
Nov 12, 2012 at 5:30 pmI couldn’t find them stocked online anywhere yet and am trying to connect with someone at Proto that can provide this info.
Harry says
Nov 12, 2012 at 8:19 pmThe only proto wrenches I know of that are imported are the black ratcheting spline combination wrenches made in taiwan.
The ones above look like a different version of the FACOM 440 series wrench in ratcheting form. Mac tools sells them too but, they are imported.
The Proto wrenches above won’t be cheap, and will face difficulty selling against the likes of gearwrench to the average tool user but, to the hard working tech that wants a US made ratcheting wrench, these will be a great option. Now if PROTO will get their new screwdrivers to market, I’d be happy.
I think MSC is selling the individual ratcheting wrenches now and Grainger has them listed in their new Proto tool catalog but, not available from them yet.
Brian Buehler says
Nov 13, 2012 at 4:43 amI’ve used a Proto spline box end (of the proper size) and found it to be a really loose fit on the fastener. It felt weird using an imprecise fitting box end and made the required swing much greater to get the fine tooth ratchet clicking.
jesse says
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:56 pmWhat kind of fastener(s) were you using it on? The one-size-fits-all tool does not necessarily fit any type of fastener as well as a tool specifically designed to turn it.
Brian Buehler says
Nov 13, 2012 at 3:49 pmI was using a Proto 9/16 fine tooth ratcheting spline box end on a 9/16 nut in a tight area. Half the arc of movement was taking up the slack and the other half got a couple clicks. With a regular fine tooth box end, the task went much easier. BTW, the task was changing lamps in film projectors – something done often enough that efficient tools are much appreciated.
Albert says
Dec 2, 2012 at 9:53 amI can’t wait to find these for sale! Looks like a quality wrench.
Iain says
Dec 16, 2012 at 10:23 amThey look very similar to the newer MAC tools Precision Torque combination wrenches, of which i bought the metric set and am very happy with.
Diesel Dude says
Jun 13, 2014 at 4:54 amDoes Proto offer these in a set? Where’s the best/least expensive place to buy ’em?
Diesel Dude says
Jun 13, 2014 at 6:31 amI just priced a complete set of these in SAE – 18 wrenches in all – at Zoro Tools.
YIKES!!!!
The total is over $800!
Mustkeem says
Nov 7, 2015 at 10:00 amNice tols