Let's compare sockets!

[drink]

Have you ever taken the time to compare sockets to try to figure out what makes then different? You might say, "a socket is a socket; they are all the same!" Sockets do have their differences.

Here is a set of Armstrong 1/4 inch drive sockets on a socket rail. One of the first things I noticed was how all of the laser etchings with the sizes lined up on the side of the rail where you can read them. Also the socket rail was just large enough to hold a 20 piece set. They say Armstrong sockets meet or exceed ANSI and ASME standards and meet government spec. The Armstrong sockets are made out of high strength steel also. The price tag on Armstrong tools is high compared to some of the other brands but sometimes I find better deals than some when I shop.


Can any of you post pictures of your brand of sockets and compare them to the Armstrong sockets? Do Craftsman easy to read sockets line up the same way? Show us your sockets!

 

[drink]

I have a rail of Craftsman chrome sockets without the laser etchings. These were made in the USA. Craftsman sockets are not priced as high as some of the other brands and they are made out of alloy steel.

 

[drink]

Which would you rather have or which of these sets is a better value to you?

The first is a 15-199 Armstrong SAE & Metric 1/4" drive socket set with case. It is on sale at NAPA for $119 plus tax.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...ket-Set-Deep-Standard/_/R-AIT15199_0006556306


The second is a 934827 Craftsman 73 piece 6 & 12 pt. Standard and Deep 1/4 in. Dr. Socket Wrench Set. It is on sale at Sears for $79.96 plus tax.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-73-p...0934827000P?prdNo=35&blockNo=35&blockType=G35

 

[BFHtime]

I think some better questions would be related to dimensions of the sockets. Inside, outside, height, width, for clearance, and tolerance of fit on different ratchets. Sometimes a different brand socket fits better than the one you are using, same with wrenches and other tools. One more reason to have more than one brand of tools.

 

[Tenex]

I'd rather have the Armstrong set because (1) it's American made and (2) I want nothing to do with 12 point sockets. If I need them I'll buy a separate set. The Armstrong ratchet is undoubtedly better than the Craftsman.

 

[Fedwrench]

I own the Armstrong set linked. I got it from cripe for less than half of what Napa wants for it now. The only thing the set has going for it over US made craftsman stuff are the knurled extensions and wider socket size selection. A craftsman thin profile ratchet would basically be the same ratchet. The Armstrong sockets have that funky double detent cut outs on the female drive end just like craftsman sockets have and the same off color chrome too. If I was in the market for a fairly complete 1/4 drive set, SK would probably be the best bet followed by gearwrench. However, if I wanted a bargain, I'd grab one of these sets off ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAPA-56-Pc-...:g:hVIAAOSw5VFWK~pv&item=111851642059&vxp=mtr

 

[drink]

I think some better questions would be related to dimensions of the sockets. Inside, outside, height, width, for clearance, and tolerance of fit on different ratchets. Sometimes a different brand socket fits better than the one you are using, same with wrenches and other tools. One more reason to have more than one brand of tools.

Do you mean dimensions kind of like these?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I own the Armstrong set linked. I got it from cripe for less than half of what Napa wants for it now. The only thing the set has going for it over US made craftsman stuff are the knurled extensions and wider socket size selection. A craftsman thin profile ratchet would basically be the same ratchet. The Armstrong sockets have that funky double detent cut outs on the female drive end just like craftsman sockets have and the same off color chrome too. If I was in the market for a fairly complete 1/4 drive set, SK would probably be the best bet followed by gearwrench. However, if I wanted a bargain, I'd grab one of these sets off ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAPA-56-Pc-...:g:hVIAAOSw5VFWK~pv&item=111851642059&vxp=mtr

Thanks for the info on the double detents... That is one question I had about the Armstrong sockets.. A short time back, I ordered a few Armstrong extensions from Cripe that had the double detent.
Plan was to hold off on buying that same 1/4 drive set from Cripe until I knew whether or not it had the goofy double detents..

Again, Thanks for answering my unasked question.

 

[drink]

Thanks for the info on the double detents... That is one question I had about the Armstrong sockets.. A short time back, I ordered a few Armstrong extensions from Cripe that had the double detent.
Plan was to hold off on buying that same 1/4 drive set from Cripe until I knew whether or not it had the goofy double detents..

Again, Thanks for answering my unasked question.

What brands of sockets do not have the double detents? Does anybody have any other brands to compare? Do you have any SK or Proto to compare and do they have detents?

 

[drink]

I own the Armstrong set linked. I got it from cripe for less than half of what Napa wants for it now. The only thing the set has going for it over US made craftsman stuff are the knurled extensions and wider socket size selection. A craftsman thin profile ratchet would basically be the same ratchet. The Armstrong sockets have that funky double detent cut outs on the female drive end just like craftsman sockets have and the same off color chrome too. If I was in the market for a fairly complete 1/4 drive set, SK would probably be the best bet followed by gearwrench. However, if I wanted a bargain, I'd grab one of these sets off ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAPA-56-Pc-...:g:hVIAAOSw5VFWK~pv&item=111851642059&vxp=mtr

Is there something wrong with double detents? Do they create a disadvantage?

 

[king nero]

Not mine!

 

[jerseykat1]

GearWrench




GearWrench vs Snap-on couldn't get the focus how i wanted with my phone. The SO socket is not tapered going into the hex portion of the socket, Making it a better socket for shallow head fasteners. A nice touch that I didn't notice before. However the GW socked is broached further in than the So socket do there is an advantage there for high torque small head sized fasteners (they often have taller heads)


Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[jerseykat1]

You can tell that SO put some engineering into the design of there sockets. The shallow broach is good for starting nuts onto studs, and flat tip is good for shallow bolts.

GearWrench just made a good socket that will get 95% all jobs done. Just don't try to remove a partially Rounded shallow head bolt. That taper in the tip of the socket may take away some of your gripping surface. You could put them on a belt sander to remove that slight taper. But the taper actually helps to slip into the bolts easier.

Both brands grip your average faster very precisely. I don't notice any slop using either brand. I do prefer GW 8mm over SO though just feels like it grips better, never tested. GW is my goto sockets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[mjoekingz28]

Is there something wrong with double detents? Do they create a disadvantage?

What IS detents? Is it for the ball from the ratchet to slip into to lock into place? I noticed my newish Craftsman sockets have alot of 'stuff' going on where the drive mounts the socket.

Why two detents? Does that mean you cannot just place the socket on the drive tool without thinking? ......making you have to study to adjoining so it will work properly?

 

[Fedwrench]

What brands of sockets do not have the double detents? Does anybody have any other brands to compare? Do you have any SK or Proto to compare and do they have detents?

No other brand uses the double detents aside from the sockets made by Armstrong and the sockets Armstrong made for other brands Craftsman, etc. SK, Proto and other brands do not use the double detents. They use a nicely machined cut out for the retention ball

Is there something wrong with double detents? Do they create a disadvantage?

Perhaps. If you use a different brand drive tool/extension with the socket having the double detent, it often hangs up or is difficult to remove

GearWrench just made a good socket that will get 95% all jobs done. Just don't try to remove a partially Rounded shallow head bolt. That taper in the tip of the socket may take away some of your gripping surface.

I disagree. The slight taper at the socket opening on a Gearwrench Socket in no way affects its gripping performance. The taper is very slight and is only there to ease fastener engagement. Gearwrench sockets feature off corner engagement and will work fine on partially rounded fasteners. use your tools more and you'll discover this quickly

What IS detents? Is it for the ball from the ratchet to slip into to lock into place? I noticed my newish Craftsman sockets have alot of 'stuff' going on where the drive mounts the socket.

Why two detents? Does that mean you cannot just place the socket on the drive tool without thinking? ......making you have to study to adjoining so it will work properly?

Yes, a detent is a shallow cut out in the female square drive area that provides a place for the spring loaded ball on the drive tool to go thus, securely attaching the socket to the drive tool.
To me the double detent requires no extra thought to use. You may need to press down on the socket more to ensure it's full engaged. To me it's a cheaper way to form the socket retention. Basically, it's a small notch placed on the outer edge of the square drive end with another notch slightly further inward. The outer notch is supposed to guide the ball on the square drive into the socket but, it doesn't and the inward notch is too shallow to be very effective. As I said before it's only an issue if you use different brands of drive tools/accessories with your double detent sockets.

 

[drink]

What IS detents? Is it for the ball from the ratchet to slip into to lock into place? I noticed my newish Craftsman sockets have alot of 'stuff' going on where the drive mounts the socket.

Why two detents? Does that mean you cannot just place the socket on the drive tool without thinking? ......making you have to study to adjoining so it will work properly?

Good question! Actually I am asking the same thing like you. What you are asking sounds like what they are saying. Maybe they mean something about how simple it is to remove a socket or keep it from falling off. I took the time to take pictures of some Craftsman, Craftsman Industrial, and Armstrong sockets to compare and they all have what you might refer to as a ball detent design. My old Proto impact sockets do not appear to have a detent.

 

[drink]

Back in the early to mid 1970's I purchased a small set of Proto impact sockets from a tool store. Currently these are the only Proto sockets I can find quickly to look at the features of them. I was helping to rebuild a piece of equipment that had a lot of small hex bolts holding it together with a large diameter gasket that needed to be replaced. My impact wrench made short work out of it. Take note of the hole in the side wall for the ball to go in.

 

[drink]

Do any other brands of sockets have the markings to line up like the Eye-D socket sizes do on the Armstrong sockets when they are placed on a socket rail?

 

[drink]

Here's some Craftsman Industrial sockets I have. A 12 point is compared to a 6 point. The I showed the bottom and side. The markings on these sockets were not made very deep and I was challenged at times to be able to read the markings under certain lighting conditions.

Maybe somebody else has some of the same brand to compare their markings to see if these were not stamped as good or if all of them have light markings. These are made in the USA if you want to have a good set of Craftsman sockets. The Craftsman Industrial brand is the only way I know of currently to purchase made in USA Craftsman brand sockets.

 

[drink]

Who has some SK, Proto, Wright, Williams, and other brands of sockets to compare the differences? Who has the best warranty, price, features, quality, strongest steel, etc.?

 

[jerseykat1]

No other brand uses the double detents aside from the sockets made by Armstrong and the sockets Armstrong made for other brands Craftsman, etc. SK, Proto and other brands do not use the double detents. They use a nicely machined cut out for the retention ball



Perhaps. If you use a different brand drive tool/extension with the socket having the double detent, it often hangs up or is difficult to remove



I disagree. The slight taper at the socket opening on a Gearwrench Socket in no way affects its gripping performance. The taper is very slight and is only there to ease fastener engagement. Gearwrench sockets feature off corner engagement and will work fine on partially rounded fasteners. use your tools more and you'll discover this quickly


Yes, a detent is a shallow cut out in the female square drive area that provides a place for the spring loaded ball on the drive tool to go thus, securely attaching the socket to the drive tool.
To me the double detent requires no extra thought to use. You may need to press down on the socket more to ensure it's full engaged. To me it's a cheaper way to form the socket retention. Basically, it's a small notch placed on the outer edge of the square drive end with another notch slightly further inward. The outer notch is supposed to guide the ball on the square drive into the socket but, it doesn't and the inward notch is too shallow to be very effective. As I said before it's only an issue if you use different brands of drive tools/accessories with your double detent sockets.

Your correct the taper helps engage a nut easier as i mentioned. But it also Hinders SHALLOW bolt head grip. I use my tools every single day as I'm a professional auto technician. Correct the taper is slight but it will still effect grip on SHALLOW head bolts. I'm aware of the side drive on the sockets. Almost every socket has this feature nowadays. The edge still goes to SO when it comes to SHALLOW headed bolts. But IMO the price difference isn't worth it.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[jerseykat1]

I'm also in NJ I deal with rusty corroded old vehicles not just cars at a dealer. I've seen it all doing this for over 15 years.

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[iScream]

So your criteria for judging socket quality is just how the size marking lines up when on a rail?

 

[dirtydogintex]

chicom sockets typically have more legible (deeper, broader) size marking than 'good' sockets.... but that doesn't mean the chicom sockets are better, does it?

regardless laser socket size markings are a PITA once in the mud and the blood and the beer....

 

[drink]

So your criteria for judging socket quality is just how the size marking lines up when on a rail?

Of course not.......let's compare sockets means to talk any and everything you can think of to compare them. Any brand, any size. Show us what you have and compare the differences. I just started off with the Eye-D markings lining up. Do any other brands have it?

 

[AmishFury]

just for shits and giggles and the fact that i have 2 different taiwan made sockets handy

both are 13/16" 3/8" drive shallow

Steelman:
height 1.177"
outer diameter 1.098"

Pro-Grade:
height 1.025"
outer diameter 1.097"

across the whole set (5/16-13/16) the height of the steelman sockets are roughly the same (range of 1.175-1.194")

the pro-grade set (3/8-7/8) is also about the same (1.014-1.030" range)

the outer diameter maintained a fairly consistent trend of the sets being within .003" of each other across the same sizes

 

[drink]

After looking around a while I found one of my sets of Allen sockets. I don't know about everyone else but I like the Allen brand hand tools. From what I understand they are the same as the Armstrong "A-Line" sockets. When I compared a deep Allen with a deep Armstrong there appears to be a difference even though they share some of the same features. It looks like an Allen deep socket can go way down on a fastener to tighten or loosen it.

 

[drink]

Then I opened up the storage area in the set and pulled out a rail of 1/4" drive sockets. The storage area is a nice place to add a couple of rails of 1/4" drive deep sockets that can really be a big help to making the set more useful.

The sizes stamped on these sockets did not appear to line up on one side where they could all be read easily. However, I was able to read what was stamped on the sockets without a lot of effort.

 

[drink]

If you like the Allen set I found one listed in new condition. The picture is wrong because the set doesn't include the wrenches, 1/4 drive ratchet, or either of the sets of hex keys shown. It does include a 7 pc hex key set and it costs about $50 plus shipping.

http://www.philspawnshop.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=295

 

[mjoekingz28]

I like your Allen set. That bit driver looks real nice. On the Apex website it doesnt show them making tools anymore, just hex keys.

Real nice set you have there!

 

[drink]

I like your Allen set. That bit driver looks real nice. On the Apex website it doesnt show them making tools anymore, just hex keys.

Real nice set you have there!

Thanks man! You can find real bargains on Allen hand tools. I usually use it along with an Allen 19210 set of 1/2" drive sockets, and both the SAE and metric deep rails of 1/4" drive sockets in the storage area. They don't work on everything but they usually do what I need them to do.

 

[drink]

As far as I can remember I was actually introduced to Snap-On tools by my dad. When I was really young I discovered his Snap-On ratcheting box end wrench and somehow I have held on to it my entire life along with some other stuff of his.

At a certain point I put a few more tools with them to assemble a small set of Snap-On. The Snap-On sockets I have are in sort of rough shape. You can tell from the looks of his ratchet the tools are old. I wonder if Snap-On would replace them.

Anyway, I pulled out my Allen 19210 socket set and compared them to my Snap-On sockets. Talk about a difference.