Quality of Husky USA Sockets?

[HomeTheaterMan]

I've slowly been building a set of 1/2" metric drive sockets and found some Husky sockets marked USA at a pawn shop. I picked up a few for $.50 each. How's the quality of these? I'm usually pretty happy with Craftsman USA sockets, so I'm just wondering how these compare.

 

[Coach James]

I've slowly been building a set of 1/2" metric drive sockets and found some Husky sockets marked USA at a pawn shop. I picked up a few for $.50 each. How's the quality of these? I'm usually pretty happy with Craftsman USA sockets, so I'm just wondering how these compare.

I have a set of 3/8 Husky USA sockets I bought years ago. They have done many auto repair jobs with no problems. Pretty much the same as my C-man USA sockets.

Coach

 

[sberry]

At that price they are a bargain.

 

[byoungblood]

Depending on how old they are, they could be either of Stanley or New Britain origin. I've got a bunch of the old (I presume pre-Home Depot era) Husky hex and torx bit sockets and they're of pretty good quality.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Reasonable quality from what I have seen. Equivalent to US made Craftsman. The ones I have seen are probably Stanley made. I think they are a good value for the money.

 

[gdocktor3]

Hell, even Chinese made Husky is a deal at that price. USA Husky is good stuff.

 

[sberry]

I agree, even China is good at that cost.

 

[anndel]

Husky used to be an independent company and their tools were contracted out to Stanley or New Britain as previous poster. When Husky was bought or transferred to Home Depot, it went to Taiwan first then now to china.

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Get the rest of the set while still available.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

Interesting. I didn't know they existed before Home Depot. I just assumed that's where they all came from. Is there a way to tell which ones were made by Stanley and which ones were New Britain? Here are a few pictures of one of them.

 

[Al Borland]

New Britain ones were good, the Stanley ones were okay, about as good as the last of the USA Craftsmans. Either way, for $.50 a socket, you will get your money's worth if the sockets aren't too beat up.

 

[Cope]

Back in the 1970s I bought a set of 3/8" drive deep sockets from Penney's. Their brand name was Penncraft, and the 5/8" socket was marked Husky.

 

[lbhsbz]

I can say I've never broken a Husky USA socket. I prefer others due to more clear engraving, but the older US stuff seems to be of decent quality. I used a 18" long 1/2" drive flex ratchet in a dealer environment for 5 years before something went in the ratcheting mechanism...but they'd discontinued the tool so no dice on the lifetime warranty.

 

[LXCam]

I'm not sure who manufactured their stuff in the late 80's early 90's but they were incredible quality. I still have and use both my sockets and wrenches that I made a living with in industrial electrical construction. No broken tools, the chrome still looks great. Definitely a top drawer product back then.

 

[427]

I started buying Husky tools in about 97. The ones I bought came in red metal boxes which is one reason I bought them. I also bought the full polish combination wrench set. I have never broken anything other than two 3/8 ratchets. I returned them to Home Depot and had no issue getting warranty on them.

 

[hedgehog]

I find them average. The crome has come off a few sockets i own from Husky. They were super cheap so i didnt expect the moon

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

 

[mikebaker1129]

Those in your pics are Stanley made. Pretty much the same quality of "Sister" Challenger/ Blackhawk brands. Decent made stuff.

 

[Scooterfish]

Back in the 1970s I bought a set of 3/8" drive deep sockets from Penney's. Their brand name was Penncraft, and the 5/8" socket was marked Husky.

The Penncraft and Husky were made by New Britain in the 70s.

 

[Pitalplace]

I have a 3/8 and 1/2" drive socket from the 1970's and they are my go to tools since the 70's. I love them. A couple years ago I added ratchets to each set and a 1/4 ratchet from eBay. eBay has been my friend to find old USA made tools. Some NOS even.

 

[Rarified27]

As noted above, my USA work just fine and have taken a good amount of abuse. I've replaced the 1/4" ratchet in the set, but never a socket.

 

[Scotty_B]

Figured I might might throw in here. Just yesterday, I was looking for a decent 1/2" 3/8 drive socket at a pawn shop and found a Husky USA and a Stanley USA in the same bin.

They are identical, except one says Husky and one says Stanley. Gotem both, just because.

I hardly have any matching sets of sockets because I can find good quality in pawn shops and I don't have a need to be matchy-matchy.

I got 7 sockets yesterday, and my haul included the above and a Mac, a Cornwell, an SK, a Craftsman USA, and an Easco, all for $2.

 

[mmb617]

The very first socket set I ever owned was a Husky set. I got them around the late 60's and they look different from the ones you posted, but I've never broken a socket.

 

[uncwstudent]

I second the comparison to USA Craftsman. Husky USA has some pretty good stuff but nothing mind blowing. They are what they were intended to be--decently made and reliable. Certainly better than most of the current production stuff you find at Home Depot, Autozone, Lowes, Sears, etc.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Not really relevant, but I was happy to get this "set" on Ebay a while back--said to be 1930s, but still in beautiful condition, and much better than the pics make them look. For $25 I was very pleased. I didn't need them, but wanted them "just because."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/292922201249

 

[rshimizu12]

I bought a Husky socket and was disappointed at the finish. Looks like a cheap Chinese socket. I wish there was a retailer that carried a full line Craftsman tools.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I got a small husky socket set for Christmas in the late 90s and i use them all the time working on rustbelt area vehicles

 

[finn]

Home Depot had a 200 piece socket set on sale (clearance) after last year’s Black Friday for $50.

I bought two sets.

They aren’t Snap on quality, but it’s nice to have a complete set around.

They seem serviceable so far.

 

[Fatboy148]

Home Depot had a 200 piece socket set on sale (clearance) after last year’s Black Friday for $50.

I bought two sets.

They aren’t Snap on quality, but it’s nice to have a complete set around.

They seem serviceable so far.

There is no comparison between the finish on the set that was on sale last year at HD and the Husky tools that I bought between 1975-1978. I had to take two sets of sockets from the sale to get almost one complete set that I could read the sizes on. The chrome finish on the Husky's from the 1970's have held up better that the S&K tools that set next to them in my shop box. The S&K's have earned a lot of rust spots on them.


Having said all that. The HD Husky's were a hell of a deal for the $$$$!

 

[Cgw1984]

I bought a Husky socket and was disappointed at the finish. Looks like a cheap Chinese socket. I wish there was a retailer that carried a full line Craftsman tools.

Are you talking current production husky? If so, ya, thats to be expected. The current production craftsman is just as bad.

 

[RoundedNut]

I have a Husky USA socket and round head ratchet set that I can't remember where I got it from but its at least 20 years old. Its okay, the sockets are corner loading with no special profiles. The chrome is spotty on the inside.

Good enough to maintain my snow blower and lawn mower.