Are SK Bit Sockets any good?

[KLars1]

Hey guys - I bought these bit sockets because of the price and because they fill a lot of gaps in the ones I have (cman). I haven't opened them yet but I did notice that it looks like they use some sort of retainer set screw.

What is the concensus on these? Good or not? Better than cman or not?

I have the cman mid-length ball hex sockets - they look VERY similiar to the SK construction.

Does SK make these for cman?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942606000P?keyword=42606&sLevel=0

I can still return them...If they are no better than cman they I can probably spend a little less and finish out the gaps I have in cman.

Thanks for the advice

Kevin

[billymade]

The consensus here seems to be SK makes the Craftsman bit sockets; if you want a strong set go with the pro brands (Snapon, Mac, Macto etc.) If you are doing heads or something special for European cars; Hazet makes some nice socket/bits for those applications. Apex makes awesome bits and according to others on this site so does Zephyr.
http://www.cooperpowertools.com/brands/fastening/index.cfm
http://www.zephyrtool.com/iproducts.html
http://www.samstagsales.com/hazet.htm

[MAD]

Hey guys - I bought these bit sockets because of the price and because they fill a lot of gaps in the ones I have (cman). I haven't opened them yet but I did notice that it looks like they use some sort of retainer set screw.

What is the concensus on these? Good or not? Better than cman or not?

I have the cman mid-length ball hex sockets - they look VERY similiar to the SK construction.

Does SK make these for cman?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942606000P?keyword=42606&sLevel=0

I can still return them...If they are no better than cman they I can probably spend a little less and finish out the gaps I have in cman.

Thanks for the advice

Kevin

SK makes those mid length ball hex sockets and the Craftsman tamper proof Torx bit sockets. The rest of the Craftsman square drive bit sockets are Danaher products as far as I can tell.

[KLars1]

SK makes those mid length ball hex sockets and the Craftsman tamper proof Torx bit sockets. The rest of the Craftsman square drive bit sockets are Danaher products as far as I can tell.

I would confirm that - the mid length ball hex sockets and the rest of my Cman bit sockets look to be of different construction. .

[billymade]

I guess the real question is are they any good and can they stand up to regular use? I have bit sockets (phillips, regular), tamper proof torx and hex; while they work they don't strike me as being particularly strong.

[KLars1]

I guess the real question is are they any good and can they stand up to regular use? I have bit sockets (phillips, regular), tamper proof torx and hex; while they work they don't strike me as being particularly strong.

cman? or sk?

[MAD]

As for quality, I have not used SK bit sockets enough to judge. I had some Craftsman SAE hex bit sockets a few years back that seemed to be on the soft side and the tips rounded over after less use than one might expect.They were not horrible, but not what I would consider top quality. Recently though, I bought a metric set of Craftsman hex bit sockets and they have held up very well after heavy use. So I really don't know what to say about the Danaher made Craftsman bit sockets.:dunno:

[mastiff]

I have had a set of the SK bit sockets I purchased back in 99 if memory serves me correctly and yes the bits them selves are soft and are less than desirable for most people.
However the bit sockets themselves have been very good with no problems. The soft bits weren’t that big of a deal to me as we have apex brand replacement bits as free stock at work so I simply just swapped the soft bits out for more durable bits.

[Merkava_4]

Nobody has mentioned the price: $49.99 for six C-man hex bit sockets; a fair price?

[Fedwrench]

Nobody has mentioned the price: $49.99 for six C-man hex bit sockets; a fair price?

Yeah, but if you're patient, they often go on sale for either $29.99 or $39.99.

I haven't had good service from SK bit drivers. I've broken both the chrome bit holding sockets, and the bits.

[eschoendorff]

Jime (Kartracer 55) had addressed this issue a couple years ago (IIRC). S*K, Craftsman Kobalt all seem to be quite similar in terms of design, construction and durability. I personally have Craftsman and have been quite satisfied. For torx sockets, I have really liked my OTC.

I would go with whichever brand you a) find at the best price and b) can warranty the easiest. BIT SOCKETS WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK. You need to understand that up front. If you spend a little more for S*K and have a harder time warrantying them than say, Craftsman, then you're not really ahead of the game at all....

OTOH, if you have a Snap On dealer that stops by rather close (closer than Sears), it might be a better idea to buy a set from him. You won't have to travel as far when one of them breaks.

Just my .02...

[RPH]

Yet I have both the metric and sae versions for over 8 years now and use them on the job with out any issue what so ever.

[Kevin54]

Yet I have both the metric and sae versions for over 8 years now and use them on the job with out any issue what so ever.

Chances are new ones aren't as good as the older ones. I have Craftsman at home that have held up very well. I also have a couple of Ampro that has held up well. At work I have Proto that are not worth a crap. I twisted a 5/32 and a 1/4 right off the get go. I got another 1/4 and the hex came loose out of the socket at the starting line. One bolt each and trashed. I picked up a set of Stanley's and have abused the hell out of them with an air ratchet.

[eschoendorff]

Chances are new ones aren't as good as the older ones. I have Craftsman at home that have held up very well. I also have a couple of Ampro that has held up well. At work I have Proto that are not worth a crap. I twisted a 5/32 and a 1/4 right off the get go. I got another 1/4 and the hex came loose out of the socket at the starting line. One bolt each and trashed. I picked up a set of Stanley's and have abused the hell out of them with an air ratchet.

See, that's odd... problems with a Proto where a Stanley works. :headscrat HTF does that happen????

[pirana]

I've been looking at a set of Wiha bit sockets that also have the set screw retainer. Pretty decent price on em too. The Apex ones look nice too.

[Kevin54]

See, that's odd... problems with a Proto where a Stanley works. HTF does that happen????

I know what you are saying, but it's what it is. I always figured that Proto would be of a higher quality than the Stanley even though both basically the same. I have other Proto sockets and ratchets and like them really well, but the hex bits are not worth a darn in my estimation. The 1/4" Proto hex bit, aside from coming loose in the socket also seemed soft. The end rounded off rather easily before slipping in the cap screw. I would have figured a Chinese cap screw would round out before the hex bit would. When I pulled the bit out of the socket, the socket end was not rounded off. I could see if it had, then that would be the reason for pulling out. I have other Allen wrenches and Bondhus hex wrenches that I have used for 25+ years and still in great shape. The twisted Proto lasted less than two days.

[eschoendorff]

I know what you are saying, but it's what it is. I always figured that Proto would be of a higher quality than the Stanley even though both basically the same. I have other Proto sockets and ratchets and like them really well, but the hex bits are not worth a darn in my estimation. The 1/4" Proto hex bit, aside from coming loose in the socket also seemed soft. The end rounded off rather easily before slipping in the cap screw. I would have figured a Chinese cap screw would round out before the hex bit would. When I pulled the bit out of the socket, the socket end was not rounded off. I could see if it had, then that would be the reason for pulling out. I have other Allen wrenches and Bondhus hex wrenches that I have used for 25+ years and still in great shape. The twisted Proto lasted less than two days.

That sucks. I always liked Proto...

[cruiser808]

Never had any problems with my Proto's after 18 years of hard use. The bits are the old style, however, connected to the socket by roll pins. I understand the newer styles are pressed in bits.

[Lightning]

It was mentioned in this forum recently that the Snap On torx socket bits were prone to shrearing but had excellent wear resisitance. This makes sense because harder metals are more wear resistant but more brittle. The goal is to get the optimium hardness with optimium strength. It will not have the best wear resistance nor the best strength but a good combination of both.


The hex socket bits do not have teeth and can be very hard without failure risk.