blinn
Well-known member
I have socket wrenches but missing various sockets. Who has the best price on full sets of sockets? Amazon seems decent on Craftsman stuff. Is there another that I should look at?
Best price to buy socket sets
- Thread starter blinn
- Start date
crewchief888
Well-known member
ive bought 3 or 4 sets from tekton recently. some for home use, some for pro use.
reasonably priced and fast shipping direct from tekton.
from what ive seen mentioned here on GJ, warranty isnt an "issue"
reasonably priced and fast shipping direct from tekton.
from what ive seen mentioned here on GJ, warranty isnt an "issue"
bwringer
Well-known member
Bang for the buck, Tekton on Amazon.
John in OH
Well-known member
Your question, as presented, is really difficult to answer as it is quite open-ended.
First question would be "what are you going to be working on with these sockets"? If you only want to work on your kids' bicycles or change oil in your car, then a set of sockets from Walmart might meet your needs. But if you are working on farm equipment or diesel trucks, then you'll want a better quality set.
Next question is "what is your budget"? "IN GENERAL" you get what you pay for in quality.
Next question is "do you care about COO"? The answer to that question will help guide responses.
So, if you can add the answers to those three questions, you'll get a lot better and more useful feedback.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
The craftsman stuff on amazon is 99.8% china
Musicinabottle
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2016
- Messages
- 3,371
Same with ebay.
Well, more of a weekend warrior use although I'm getting ready to start a '65 Mustang Fastback rebuild/restomod. I built a FFR Cobra, built the motor from a short block, etc. I'll rebuild the motor in the Mustang for sure and will do a more modern suspension, I'll paint it myself.
COO is important but not a deal breaker if the price isn't unreasonable.
COO is important but not a deal breaker if the price isn't unreasonable.
+1. Google is your friend.
plinker
Well-known member
S-K has very nice sets available, Gearwrench as well. FWIW, if you have any plans of using impact tools, air or battery, an impact set would be a better buy, Sunex or S-K.
It pays to shop around for deals as well. Amazon does not always have the best price, check these sites as well.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/
Tooltopia.com
https://www.jbtoolsales.com/
It pays to shop around for deals as well. Amazon does not always have the best price, check these sites as well.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/
Tooltopia.com
https://www.jbtoolsales.com/
Parrothead
Well-known member
Yep, I agree! Sockets and ratchets are made in Taiwan
four.cycle
Well-known member
John in OH said:
^ this.
Are you going to be working on your 10-speed bicycle and the lawnmower? Or a track-driven bucket loader?
You want 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", or 3/4" drive? SAE? Metric? Just the basic stuff? Or do you need 1/8" up to 2-3/4"? You want brand new? Used? US-made only? Or will made in China be good enough?
Give us a hint.
All kinds of socket sets out there. Need to know a starting point.
nutsnbolts
Well-known member
In my opinion, the best prices on sockets are from Harbor Freight. They are cheap and cheaply made. They will work for most jobs.
The best quality sockets are from Snap On, Mac, Proto, and a few others. They are all relatively expensive. They are also high quality and well machined, and built to last.
These are the two ends of the spectrum. Most tools are somewhere in between. I haven't used Tekton but I have heard a lot of the same about them, that they are a good tool for the money. Personally, I like to buy American when I can, and I have found SK tools to be an excellent value for being American made.
If you are willing to take your time and search, you can get good deals on higher end used tools on Craigslist or Ebay. All of my 3/8 socket sets are older used Snap On sets that I bought on Ebay, for around $60 - $80 a set. To me, that is a great set of tools that will last me a lifetime and nowhere close to retail, so that's a bargain. Others might call it a ripoff. To each their own.
The best quality sockets are from Snap On, Mac, Proto, and a few others. They are all relatively expensive. They are also high quality and well machined, and built to last.
These are the two ends of the spectrum. Most tools are somewhere in between. I haven't used Tekton but I have heard a lot of the same about them, that they are a good tool for the money. Personally, I like to buy American when I can, and I have found SK tools to be an excellent value for being American made.
If you are willing to take your time and search, you can get good deals on higher end used tools on Craigslist or Ebay. All of my 3/8 socket sets are older used Snap On sets that I bought on Ebay, for around $60 - $80 a set. To me, that is a great set of tools that will last me a lifetime and nowhere close to retail, so that's a bargain. Others might call it a ripoff. To each their own.
If want usa and affordable the sk about only choice new .
Tekton okay if want cheap yet half decent plus decent warranty currently, only real cheap in the full sets, not greatest fan of tekton socket design and better is available from taiwan, chinese gearwrench and craftsman best avoided, older gearwrench taiwan was decent stuff and bargain at sale deals .
Tekton okay if want cheap yet half decent plus decent warranty currently, only real cheap in the full sets, not greatest fan of tekton socket design and better is available from taiwan, chinese gearwrench and craftsman best avoided, older gearwrench taiwan was decent stuff and bargain at sale deals .
kythri
Well-known member
GearWrench and Craftsman Chinese-produced sockets work just as well as everything else. If they're cheap, grab 'em.
maybe not as shiny but they still work.
nutsnbolts
Well-known member
This is like telling a bicycle racer that a Huffy is just as good as the top of the line Trek. Yes, they are both bicycles and both work. That's where the similarities end
kctyphoon
Banned
Gearwrench promo set.. full 6 point sets in 1/4" and 3/8" drive, shallow and deep, with ratchets and no junk filler - like $110 shipped.
Check page 2 for pics.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321931
Check page 2 for pics.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321931
kythri
Well-known member
Still have yet to see this issue, and I own a LOT of GW.
kythri
Well-known member
Parrothead
Well-known member
Thats an option for sure, but I’d be inclined to save some money and get the made in Taiwan Tekton vs. the Chinese made Gearwrench. I have both brands and neither are bad but for the difference and the better customer service I’d go with Tekton. Neither GW or Tekton have filler.
$107 vs. $85
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RCYX4WI/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RCYX504/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Tekton must be the new Harbor Freight. I don't see anybody recommending HF anymore.
No, the 1/4" and 3/8" sets I purchased recently are made in Taiwan.
four.cycle
Well-known member
are we really two pages into this thread and we haven't heard back from the OP yet?
So here ya go - 1/4" and 3/8" drive, SAE and METRIC - covers all the bases without having to shell out a lot of dough -
$13 bucks shipped! even comes in its own little box!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Great-Neck-4D-Piece-Rachet-Socket-Set-PSD40/272322115322
what more could you ask for?
So here ya go - 1/4" and 3/8" drive, SAE and METRIC - covers all the bases without having to shell out a lot of dough -
$13 bucks shipped! even comes in its own little box!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Great-Neck-4D-Piece-Rachet-Socket-Set-PSD40/272322115322
what more could you ask for?
turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
Bang for the buck, Proto on Zoro.
https://www.zoro.com/proto-socket-set-metric-38-in-dr-12-pc-j52212/i/G1310251/
https://www.zoro.com/proto-socket-set-metric-38-in-dr-12-pc-j52209/i/G1197192/
Hard to beat that quality for that price (compare to Snap on).
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ actually... there have been a whole mess of brand-new (and almost-new) Proto socket and wrench sets listed on Ebay recently that have been well under Zoro. check the "ebay hot deal" thread entries during the last week or so.
(there's also been a glut of used/slightly used S-K socket sets that have been listed just during the past few days. no idea what that's all about - more than what is "average".)
(there's also been a glut of used/slightly used S-K socket sets that have been listed just during the past few days. no idea what that's all about - more than what is "average".)
turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
I will check. Usually, I buy from Zoro for the free shipping > $50.00.
Thanks
Thanks
jgromada
Well-known member
For the impact sockets i really like Harbor Freight. They are clearly not as finished as a premium brand but i haven't had a problem yet after some hard use.
Rustypigeon
Well-known member
I can confirm that. I have bought several Gearwrench ratchets and socket sets in the last year. They have all been Taiwan.
The ratcheting combination wrenches are the only thing that I am aware of that are Chinese.
Proto sockets on Zoro are another good deal as someone previously mentioned.
some things china some taiwan, if these sets taiwan it will be printed on the retail box so confirm it before buying.
got be careful on images for GW too as some show old style deep sockets and china ones changed parallel step down depth, few people been annoyed by this .
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turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
Not that many in stock on Zoro. Toolsdelivered.com is the place to buy Williams USA. And yes, they're a great value as well.
Parrothead
Well-known member
My bad guys, I know the ratcheting wrenches were transitioned to China, and I would have sworn I saw the individual sockets were China as well. I appear to be wrong. Whoops!