Best DECENT quality deep sockets

[Sanderguy777]

I just bought a new tool chest at HF, and I'm looking through all my sets of tools to see what pieces are missing and what I need to replace.

I am ending up keeping a 150 or 200pc Craftsman set from 2010ish. It has plenty of the cheap bits (3/16 to 3/4 in 6 and 12pt, 4-18mm in both, etc).
The main issue is the 1/2" drive part only came with a ratchet and 12 sockets (one of which had a factory defect that didn't allow the fastener INTO the socket ). Based on that and the 8 deep 3/8" drive sockets they let me have, I am in the market for some good sockets to supplement the few pieces they gave me.

I DON'T want or need and can't afford Snap On. Even Tekton is a bit too much, but I also dont want the trash Stanley and Craftsman sell now.

1.) Is there a good quality, all inclusive set of 3/8" drive deep sockets around $50 for SAE AND metric? 30ish pieces maybe?

2.) Are 1/2" drive Pittsburgh impact sockets good, or do they blow up so there arent warranty claims? LOL

I'm not a pro, just a guy that likes working on old woodworking machines. I think the HF impact sockets would work for the 1/2" things, but what about the 3/8" drive deep sockets?

 

[Sanderguy777]

I don't need a huge set, the rest of that Craftsman set is fine. I just need to get a good set of metric and SAE deep sockets, and some impact sockets in 1/2" drive.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I don't need a huge set, the rest of that Craftsman set is fine. I just need to get a good set of metric and SAE deep sockets, and some impact sockets in 1/2" drive.

I am a professional mechanic and after having my HF chrome and impact sockets as my main sets for the 5 years I have owned them I have had absolutely no issues so I don’t think you would either now the Craftsman you have listed is good also Kobalt makes a heck of a socket I use their sockets too for fill in sizes and they are great


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[Negen]

Tekton makes good stuff not too pricy either.

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[seber]

Other than Craftsman, I've never had any real problem with any name brand sockets. On the other hand, I've never tried HF or Stanley.

 

[sberry]

The Stanley is very good. Good QC, Walmart is not interested in being a claim center 5 minutes after the sale.

 

[619DioFan]

I have multiple sets of HF pittsburg pro sockets in both chrome and impact. The impacts have stood up to both my earthquake air tools and my big milwaukee fuel impact.

 

[Sanderguy777]

Blake the car guy: perfect. Sounds like they are a good deal.

Negen: they aren't bad for what you get, but $120 for 2 sets of regular impact sockets is out of my price range. I would LOVE to have them, but it is just not gonna happen for a while.

Balloo: Ok, I'll look into them, they sound pretty good.

Seber: Yeah, the only issue I have had with Craftsman was with this "newer" set and their newer power tools from about the same time frame. The issue with the socket set was with one or two sockets that made it past QC unable to fit over their designated size of bolt and the 1/4 AND 1/2 ratchets' mechanisms feeling gummy or something. I replaced the ratchets with Pittsburgh composites and haven't looked back LOL

Sberry: Really? I might keep that set of their deep 1/4" drive sockets then....

619diofan: then it will probably live through my Ridged impact driver! LOL

Thanks guys! I'll look at Stanley at my local Walmart and Kobalt online. If I can't afford them, I'll head over to HF and pick up whatever they offer.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Blake the car guy: perfect. Sounds like they are a good deal.

Negen: they aren't bad for what you get, but $120 for 2 sets of regular impact sockets is out of my price range. I would LOVE to have them, but it is just not gonna happen for a while.

Balloo: Ok, I'll look into them, they sound pretty good.

Seber: Yeah, the only issue I have had with Craftsman was with this "newer" set and their newer power tools from about the same time frame. The issue with the socket set was with one or two sockets that made it past QC unable to fit over their designated size of bolt and the 1/4 AND 1/2 ratchets' mechanisms feeling gummy or something. I replaced the ratchets with Pittsburgh composites and haven't looked back LOL

Sberry: Really? I might keep that set of their deep 1/4" drive sockets then....

619diofan: then it will probably live through my Ridged impact driver! LOL

Thanks guys! I'll look at Stanley at my local Walmart and Kobalt online. If I can't afford them, I'll head over to HF and pick up whatever they offer.

Honestly if you are just a DIY guy any of the options listed here will work for my home sockets I have a variety of HF, Snap-on, Kobalt, Husky (not the greatest quality for Husky anymore) and Craftsman and Stanley and whatever I have found at Pawn Shops I recommend any of those for what you described especially the Harbor Freight and Kobalt I have had nothing but great success out of those only split one Kobalt one time but it had a defect and I didn’t know it took it to Lowe’s and replaced no question asked.


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[Citation]

If you can wait, see if HD runs these for $59 again.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...-Drive-Socket-Set-200-Piece-H200MSS/207186810

 

[WinMod21]

~ Thanks guys! I'll look at Stanley at my local Walmart and Kobalt online. If I can't afford them, I'll head over to HF and pick up whatever they offer.

A guy, @Woody1320, just posted these impacts over on the Powerbuilt thread yesterday.

With regards to HF & Kobalt . . . after Lowe's made the contract with Stanley Black+Decker (SBD) to stock Craftsman, and their Kobalt in-store stock started dwindling downwards to its current state, a Lowe's tool dept employee told me that the OEM factory in (I think) Taiwan was—due to the lower demand/orders from Lowe's—obviously, in his opinion, manufacturing the 'Quinn' line of tools for HF. As, said he, "if you look at them closely, they look identical."

Says I, "Oh Really?" So I drove over to HF, and since I just happened to have some Kobalt sockets in my travel toolbox that day, I put a couple in my pocket, walked into HF to compare, and low and behold, they looked identical to me too...[Wait, I'm just realizing that there's prolly been a thread or two on this.]...well anyways, I couldn't see any differences btwn the Kobalts and the HF Quinn's; not just due to the same blue & red paint stripes around the metrics & SAE, but they looked identical in every aspect.

Bought a set of the Quinn's for approx 1/2 the price of similar Kobalts at the time. And they've been working great...as an inexpensive travel toolbox set.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=quinn socket set

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

A guy, @Woody1320, just posted these impacts over on the Powerbuilt thread yesterday.



With regards to HF & Kobalt . . . after Lowe's made the contract with Stanley Black+Decker (SBD) to stock Craftsman, and their Kobalt in-store stock started dwindling downwards to its current state, a Lowe's tool dept employee told me that the OEM factory in (I think) Taiwan was—due to the lower demand/orders from Lowe's—obviously, in his opinion, manufacturing the 'Quinn' line of tools for HF. As, said he, "if you look at them closely, they look identical."



Says I, "Oh Really?" So I drove over to HF, and since I just happened to have some Kobalt sockets in my travel toolbox that day, I put a couple in my pocket, walked into HF to compare, and low and behold, they looked identical to me too...[Wait, I'm just realizing that there's prolly been a thread or two on this.]...well anyways, I couldn't see any differences btwn the Kobalts and the HF Quinn's; not just due to the same blue & red paint stripes around the metrics & SAE, but they looked identical in every aspect.



Bought a set of the Quinn's for approx 1/2 the price of similar Kobalts at the time. And they've been working great...as an inexpensive travel toolbox set.



https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=quinn socket set

Yep I remember when the Quinn first came out they are great too just like the Pittsburgh however if you watch videos about the Icon tools that they offer at HF now they are not the greatest under a lot of stress or at least that’s in the videos I have seen and they try to mimic Snap-on which I don’t like. And honestly the Kobalt are really nice see the problem with HF is they don’t sell individual sockets except the really big ones so if you split one sometimes you have to bring in the whole set or they will break open a set and give you the replacement then clearance the rest of the set at least that is what they done for my friend so that’s really the only downside of HF.


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[Al Borland]

The HF chrome sockets are Taiwan and inexpensive, the basic Pittsburgh ones are "color-coded", the Quinn are decent.
The Pittsburgh Pro impacts have nicer blacking than the basic Pittsburgs, which look sooty.

 

[Iowafox]

I suggest going on Home Depots website and looking for there 200 piece husky sockets
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...-Drive-Socket-Set-200-Piece-H200MSS/207186810
But wait till they go on sale or clearance. Around Christmas and after is the best time. I paid $50 for mine and while there not the best quality on everything. You can take back what ever sockets and replace them for better ones. They have a Forever warranty.
Mine have held up to some impact use and alot of testing them abuse. I love them and would / will get another set down the road.

Harbor Freight impacts now I have there Pittsburgh Pro 1/2 metric shallows and LOVE them CR-molly. The only downside is there not stamped just laser engraved. I also have there regular Pittsburgh cr-v impacts there 3/8 & 1/2 38 piece I think kit and no issues there either.
I also suggest Tekton deeps I have there deeps and have used them hard for 2 almost 3 years now and highly recommend them.

I think personally the best bang for the buck on impacts are Harbor Freight's options there just as good as Snapon and any others from my experience.

 

[Sanderguy777]

I'll keep my eyes open for sales. I just got a metric set and SAE set of deep 3/8" Pittsburghs. I almost got the Quinns, but I didnt see the reason to spend the cost of another set to get red and blue plastic bands... from now on, I may get Quinn knowing they're made by Kobalt, but Pittsburgh is good enough for what I do.

By the way, I just mess around with old woodworking machines. I may change my oil or brakes some day, but the worst bolt I ever encountered was a 3/8 diameter set screw rusted into its hole on an old rotary mower. (It broke a non-impact slotted bit and didnt come out with my bolt extractor. After 10 minutes or soaking it with WD40, it came right out with my HF freebie screwdriver lol).
So no professional stuff or anything too difficult.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Last year I bought some Sunex impact sets. Been happy with them so far.

 

[Citation]

If you can wait, see if HD runs these for $59 again.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...-Drive-Socket-Set-200-Piece-H200MSS/207186810

Not $60 but $130
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...-Drive-Socket-Set-200-Piece-H200MSS/207186810

At $130 this is still a great value but keep an eye on it to see if the price keeps dropping.

 

[vga]

Williams

 

[speed88]

Williams

+1 USA made and won’t break the bank. Pretty much Snap-on quality for a quarter of the price.