Craftsman or Harbor Freight socket set for a home DIY guy?

[HandyManny]

Title says all.

Also, I'm thinking of getting 1/2", 3/8" sizes. Are 1/4" impact sockets even needed?

myke

For the home DIY guy I'd say either brand tools will serve you good enough. I think the overall finish on the newer Danaher made Craftsman chrome sockets is piss poor, but I think they are still durable enough to complete any job. Craftsman impacts are nice and seem just as good as other good brands. My only complaint about their impact sockets is that they tend to fit a tad bit loser on the fastener than other brands.

Actually one of two chromed sockets I ever split was a newer Craftsman, but I don't think too bad of that, because the bolt I was removing was tight enough to have likely done the same to any better brand socket.

 

[HandyManny]

That oil is to keep them from rusting (being that they're not chrome). I wouldn't wipe it off. In fact, I hit mine with a coat of WD-40 any time they look a little dry. The chinese sockets look painted. The minute that paint wears, they'll rust too. I'd prefer the oiled black oxide finish.

Trust me, a painted socket will stall rust a lot longer than an plain black-oxide finished impact socket. Black-oxide is a form of rust anyway and tends to wear off rather quickly when used everyday. Paint or lacqor coats seem better to me.

 

[kippieland]

I don't like to go into my local HF...it smells really bad....it stinks like cheap grease. Why is it that everything I have bought their stinks? I don't get it.

Congrats...

 

[HandyManny]

He was probably talking about the Evolv **** line.I think they have impact sockets.

I picked up a 1/2 drive SAE set (Napa Professional Tool line) from Napa for around $50 or so through the real deal flyer.My local Napa has a pretty good variety of impact sockets,might be different else where though. These were made in Taiwan but they also have a USA line for more $$$.I've never had trouble warrantying anything from Napa,and they have a great selection of open stock sockets along with the sets.I would of bought the Craftsman set but they were around $80 at the time.They were down around $50 in the Craftsman club and around $40-50 on Black Friday I believe.I am tempted to go buy the set just to match my Metric selection.

Danaher makes (or made) the NAPA Pro wrenches and sockets, the USA made stuff. It's basically the same quality as the USA made Craftsman Professional wrenches but at a bit higher price. Nice wrenches though, at least they were up to a couple years ago. Haven't seen any of the very recent current stuff.

NAPA also always had a good selection of KD Tools too. Bought quite a bit of specialty KD Tools from NAPA when KD was independent from Danaher. Too bad New Britain went under. NAPA used to be the place to get New Britain hand tools.

 

[DTB]

Danaher makes (or made) the NAPA Pro wrenches and sockets, the USA made stuff. It's basically the same quality as the USA made Craftsman Professional wrenches but at a bit higher price. Nice wrenches though, at least they were up to a couple years ago. Haven't seen any of the very recent current stuff.

NAPA also always had a good selection of KD Tools too. Bought quite a bit of specialty KD Tools from NAPA when KD was independent from Danaher. Too bad New Britain went under. NAPA used to be the place to get New Britain hand tools.

Yeah,the US impact sockets looked (And were priced) about like Armstrong.They were under the Napa Hand Tool line instead of the Pro line.I think they wanted around $140-160 for the set.The set I bought was Taiwan,Same as Sunex I have read from here.I think alot of the Napa hand tools went off shore now.I think alot is now Gearwrench rebrand.They had a set of the Napa Pro wrenches,around $140 for a set I believe,although they weren't as long as the C-man pro series.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I just picked up a pile of individual Craftsman sockets to replace some that I lost. I'm still a bit in shock that I paid ~$5 each for sockets that look like they were made in an indonesian sweat shop. They look awful, nothing like the originals that they are replacing (Craftsman from the late 90s). I can't comment on their strength or working quality yet, but visually, they're trash. The harbor freight stuff looks much better.

 

[HandyManny]

I just picked up a pile of individual Craftsman sockets to replace some that I lost. I'm still a bit in shock that I paid ~$5 each for sockets that look like they were made in an indonesian sweat shop. They look awful, nothing like the originals that they are replacing (Craftsman from the late 90s). I can't comment on their strength or working quality yet, but visually, they're trash. The harbor freight stuff looks much better.

The Chrome plating that Danaher has been doing on the Cman sockets, RP wrenches, and Pro wenches is pretty shoddy lately from my observation. If they are proud enough to stamp USA on them then why not go the extra effort to do a much better plating job on their tools. I mean so terrible as to catch and flake some of the chrome by simply running your finger tip over or along the edges. Terrible.

What they should do is use the Cobalt plating process that Western Forge uses on the adjustable wrenches it makes for Craftsman and others. Very durable and rugged finish there.

 

[BeetleJuice]

I've always had good luck with my Kobalt sets from Lowes. They have a lifetime warranty too like craftsmen and theyre on sale a hell of alot more. I got my 154 piece set for 64.95. Built 2 motorcycles and odd jobs around the garage/house without a single hiccup in the last 2 years

 

[blarf]

What they should do is use the Cobalt plating process that Western Forge uses on the adjustable wrenches it makes for Craftsman and others. Very durable and rugged finish there.

What they should do is step up their QC. But, yes, the Danaher USA finish looks like ***. And, yes, I got some of that high quality American chrome in my thumb.

HF is actively working to improve their quality, Sears is actively looking to lower their quality. Go HF.

 

[pipsters]

For the home DIY guy I'd say either brand tools will serve you good enough. I think the overall finish on the newer Danaher made Craftsman chrome sockets is piss poor, but I think they are still durable enough to complete any job. Craftsman impacts are nice and seem just as good as other good brands. My only complaint about their impact sockets is that they tend to fit a tad bit loser on the fastener than other brands.

Actually one of two chromed sockets I ever split was a newer Craftsman, but I don't think too bad of that, because the bolt I was removing was tight enough to have likely done the same to any better brand socket.

The newer Craftsman impact sockets are an excellent example of high quality US tools still available.

Inside dimension of US Craftsman chrome, impact, and US SK impact sockets

The Craftsman impacts I have purchased, all within the past 6 months, have been the tightest fitting impacts I've used. I have bought the 1/2" and 3/8" sets.

I do agree about the new Craftsman chrome, the nickel plating can be done nicely however they don't finish the sockets very nicely on some of the larger sockets. I have examples of nicely finished chrome and kinda trashy finished chrome.