1/2" Impact Sockets: Sunex vs Tekton vs Capri?

[PretendMechanic]

I've been nothing but happy with my sets of Taiwan Sunex 3/8" impact sockets and have been meaning to pick up their 1/2" counterparts in 10-36mm both shallow and deep.

But I now see they have switched over to manufacturing in China? I don't want Chinese impact sockets.

Is it worth tracking down an older Taiwan made Sunex set or should I just accept fate and go with Tekton or Capri (still Taiwan I believe)?

If I recall correctly I remember way back when considering what to buy for my 3/8" impacts Tekton were noted as nothing special and didn't even have the sizes stamped on their sockets (only laser etched). They must have made some update as I now see they are also stamped.

Not sure if Capri was even around back then...

Thoughts?

 

[CGarage]

I like Sunex. They used to be made in Taiwan. I think production recently changed to China. Mine were from Taiwan era. Nice sockets.

Gray Pneunatic is one you should look at as well.
Sadly, they have become popular and GP has begun price gouging (I have seen them near triple in cost versus when they were released a few years ago).

 

[PretendMechanic]

Yeah, I left Grey Pneumatic out becuase of their pricing.

Have some of their stuff, I like them too but too rich for my blood compared to the other Taiwanese options.

 

[AJHD]

Tekton and Capri will have the easiest warranty and availability. Both have improved quality and options, especially Tekton.

My problem with Sunex is they raised prices while changing COO and have both questionable availability and COO.

Unless it's specifically called out, you might get Taiwan, you might get China. If you're able to warranty something Taiwan, it would also likely be replaced by China.

 

[dnschmidt]

Who cares if it's Taiwan or China as long as the quality hasn't changed. It's an impact socket not the space shuttle.

 

[T45]

Who cares if it's Taiwan or China as long as the quality hasn't changed. It's an impact socket not the space shuttle.

I got a couple pairs of pitt pro sockets from HF on closeout, SAE is china and Metric is Taiwan. They weren't the same quality, but the price was right, so the value of the tools outweighed the cost to me at the time. Metrics are the good ones, which was another consideration. The cost of storage/organization is like more than the tool price on some of this stuff...

 

[AEAdam]

What about Icon? I bought a set on sale, SAE for heavy equipment work. Haven’t used them yet, but many here speak highly of them.

 

[PretendMechanic]

Actually I took another look at GP's pricing, and considering the way Tekton has been raising their prices GP isn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

Man I really miss the bang for buck you got with Taiwanese Sunex. All good things must come to an end I guess. My own fault for putting it off.

I don't really care about warranty (and getting a Chinese replacement) as I'm just a heavy home DIYer and will likely never need it. Just looking for a high quality buy it for life product so China is out for me.

I don't have that good of trust in ICON's quality yet as I've noticed a lot of their stuff is hit or miss. Plus they probably don't offer the large range I'm after.

Just looking to complete my major socket sets before more time passes and the only options left will all be China or Snap-On. Thank you Apex tool group...

Who's the go to retailer for best pricing on GP?

 

[PretendMechanic]

Tekton and Capri will have the easiest warranty and availability. Both have improved quality and options, especially Tekton.

Can you elaborate on Tekton's improved quality? Don't see much out there on the topic.

I see their impact sockets are different from their prior offerings as they now have size stampings.

 

[Houe]

I'm interested in this as well. I need hex and torx though. I already have 4 sunex sets (Taiwanese) but won't be buying any more as china is a non starter for my values. Not saying i never buy china, but I do try to avoid it when I can.

 

[u2slow]

Been ordering Sunex (via amazon) regularly at work when we need 1 or 2 of whatever size. Price talks and its strong enough - dont care where its made.

 

[PretendMechanic]

Been ordering Sunex (via amazon) regularly at work when we need 1 or 2 of whatever size. Price talks and its strong enough - dont care where its made.

You've probably been getting Taiwanese sockets.

It's my understanding Sunex China sockets is a new thing.

Older Taiwan made sockets seem to have Taiwan proudly stamped on each and every socket.

Interesting how they decided to leave "China" off the new ones...

 

[mikey03]

Tekton all the way baby

 

[u2slow]

Older Taiwan made sockets seem to have Taiwan proudly stamped on each and every socket.

I havent noticed that at all, but i'll check tmw for trivia's sake.

 

[shibertus]

I have both and find the Tektons a bit nicer. The Capris are chunkier and more bare bones. The Tektons have thinner walls and more machining such as fully stepped shoulders on the deep sockets and a lead in chamfer for the square drive. They are both stamped and laser marked. In practice they both do what they're supposed to and I ended up with mostly Capri due to their better pricing.

 

[shoggoth80]

My experience with all three has been positive. That said, my sample size for Tekton is larger than Sunex or Capri.
I would buy whichever you can get the better deal on. I too have a bit of a chip on my shoulder about Chinese (and Indian) made tools. Unfortunately it's the way a lot of brands have gone. Zero concerns over Taiwanese production.

 

[boom_bap]

I've got Taiwan Sunex sockets for 1/2 and 3/8 impacts. I also picked up a set of metric icon 3/8 deep impacts. If you are particular there are differences. The Icons are noticeably nicer with the shallow broaching (if you like shallow broaching). The bolt will sit futher toward the mouth of the socket which has its procs and cons. I'd happily use either.

It honestly doesn't matter for DIY/infrequent (not all day every day) use. In this day and age I'd wait for a 30% icon sale (if you have access to a harbor freight conveniently near you) and get the ICONs, otherwise if I needed them today I'd probably still get Sunex. If you want reliable stock and warranty maybe look at sunex or tekton. I've seen Capri had some heat treat issues in the past and their sockets were too soft and would deform.

I'll also add you'll see many posts of people buying the cheapest pittsburg impacts and having 20+ years of use on them. I'd definetly consider those if they have the sizes you need.

Buy shiney nice chrome sockets for hand use and get cheaper beater impacts is what I'd do if I had to start over.

 

[PretendMechanic]

Not having fully stepped shoulders has burned me in past, or at the minimum forced me to go grab a chrome or 3/8" drive socket instead.

Learned from my experiences and I often work out of a portable box with limited tools so don't want to deal with that again.

For that reason Sunex is out unfortunately. Also the reason I want to update my Sunex 3/8" shallow/semi/deep sockets to the Tekton sets.

If I only ever worked out of my big home box where I can easily go grab another tool I would be going with Sunex.

Tekton may be be equivelant or superior but I don't have any experince with them, and it's hard to beat Sunex's (Taiwan-made) track record.

Tekton is also CrV steel instead of CrMo which I actually prefer.

Capri steps the shoulders on their deeps but not their shallows. If they did I would have bought their set by now, damn good price. To be honest though I'm not 100% convinced they are on the level of Sunex or even Tekton. Multiple reports of their CrMo being overly soft. I still would have bought their set though because of price.

Icon doesn't have the coverage I need, also I'm not convinced they have their QC figured out yet.

So I've decided to go with Tekton's 1/2" 8-24mm in shallow and deep. I may considering splurging on the 8-38mm for the deeps if I can afford it.

Don't get me started on Indian made tools. Just when you thought Chinese tools were bad...

 

[mikey03]

If I only ever worked out of my big home box where I can easily go grab another tool I would be going with Sunex.

Tekton may be be equivelant or superior but I don't have any experince with them, and it's hard to beat Sunex's (Taiwan-made) track record.

Tekton is also CrV steel instead of CrMo which I actually prefer.

too bad you can’t get Taiwan sunnex anymore and if you lose one you can replace it and if you brake it you get a Chinese one in return

 

[liliysdad]

Who cares if it's Taiwan or China as long as the quality hasn't changed. It's an impact socket not the space shuttle.

A lot of folks care, me included.

 

[Houe]

Who cares if it's Taiwan or China as long as the quality hasn't changed. It's an impact socket not the space shuttle.

Because I want to support freedom.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I am trying to outgrow the old Pittsburgh steel box set (10-27?) and axle nut set. Thankfully, I have freedom from the sizes it skips, and the guilt of chinesium, which feels wonderful.

 

[CGarage]

Because I want to support freedom.

While the Chinese can and do produce some great quality products, I see much more precision and attention to detail with Taiwanese produced products over those coming from China.

 

[CGarage]

Who cares if it's Taiwan or China as long as the quality hasn't changed. It's an impact socket not the space shuttle.

You know tools well and you sold Taiwanese tools from a great company. I am so surprised you would post this.

 

[dnschmidt]

You know tools well and you sold Taiwanese tools from a great company. I am so surprised you would post this.

If China can make an Iphone they can certainly make decent impact sockets. I'm pretty sure all of Milwaukee's impact sockets come from China too as do most, if not all, of their tools. China can make whatever quality of anything that you're willing to pay for.

 

[CGarage]

If China can make an Iphone they can certainly make decent impact sockets. I'm pretty sure all of Milwaukee's impact sockets come from China too as do most, if not all, of their tools. China can make whatever quality of anything that you're willing to pay for.

No disagreement.

That said, overall, Taiwan is vastly superior manufacturing quality to what I see from China- more often than not.

 

[mikey03]

If China can make an Iphone they can certainly make decent impact sockets. I'm pretty sure all of Milwaukee's impact sockets come from China too as do most, if not all, of their tools. China can make whatever quality of anything that you're willing to pay for.

Idk if that’s true. America can produce the best fighter jets in the world and teslas and all sorts of robotics. But you wanna make injection molded plastic marvel comics toys? Impossible. We can’t do it. Don’t got the machines we don’t got the people with the training. Friend of mine owns a comic book store and all the toys come from china and it just isn’t possible to make it here. Make the tariffs 500% they’ll still make them in china.

So can china make good sockets idk but just because they can make iPhones don’t mean they can make good sockets.

 

[PretendMechanic]

If China can make an Iphone they can certainly make decent impact sockets. I'm pretty sure all of Milwaukee's impact sockets come from China too as do most, if not all, of their tools. China can make whatever quality of anything that you're willing to pay for.

CAN and DO are two different things.

I have yet to see a top tier Taiwan tool manufacturer switch over to China and retain the prior quality.

In all fairness, if quality was the same I would gladly buy China.

It just isn't. Good example: GearWrench.

 

[dnschmidt]

CAN and DO are two different things.

I have yet to see a top tier Taiwan tool manufacturer switch over to China and retain the prior quality.

In all fairness, if quality was the same I would gladly buy China.

It just isn't. Good example: GearWrench.

Because Gearwrench wanted to make their **** cheaper because wages are lower in China. Don't blame the Chinese for simply delivering what greedy American corporations and their customers want. I have several Porphis, a Chinese company's, spray guns which are every bit as good as SATA's, Iwata's and DeVilbiss' spray guns all three of which I have in multiples. Porphis wants to make the best spray guns in the world and is willing to spend the money on R&D and the manufacturing equipment required to achieve this goal.

 

[PretendMechanic]

Because Gearwrench wanted to make their **** cheaper because wages are lower in China. Don't blame the Chinese for simply delivering what greedy American corporations and their customers want. I have several Porphis, a Chinese company's, spray guns which are every bit as good as SATA's, Iwata's and DeVilbiss' spray guns all three of which I have in multiples. Porphis wants to make the best spray guns in the world and is willing to spend the money on R&D and the manufacturing equipment required to achieve this goal.

I never blamed the Chinese.

I just don't want Chinese impact sockets.

In my findings, Chinese made impact sockets are inferior to Taiwanese made.

Maybe Sunex China may not be, but I'm not a rich enough man to be that guinea pig.

 

[mikey03]

Because Gearwrench wanted to make their **** cheaper because wages are lower in China. Don't blame the Chinese for simply delivering what greedy American corporations and their customers want. I have several Porphis, a Chinese company's, spray guns which are every bit as good as SATA's, Iwata's and DeVilbiss' spray guns all three of which I have in multiples. Porphis wants to make the best spray guns in the world and is willing to spend the money on R&D and the manufacturing equipment required to achieve this goal.

But isn’t that why sunnex or any tool company moves to china?

 

[liliysdad]

No one moves tool production from the US or Taiwan to China because they make better tools, they do it because it’s cheaper.

 

[Mr_B]

No idea why anyone gives a toss on warranty for impact sockets, they consumable items that going get beat to ****, when too wallowed for impacting duty toss them in a container for hydraulic and swing press duty .
I buy taiwan japan style impacts stamped markings only in whatever brand/no brand best deal . they work/fit great, last as good as anything else and cost is so low you happy use them any way needed to get a task done and can buy extra sets to keep your self warranty replacement sets in stock ready for the moment you require it all for a fraction of the cost or effort of a big brand with long term usable warranty ...

 

[dnschmidt]

No idea why anyone gives a toss on warranty for impact sockets, they consumable items that going get beat to ****, when too wallowed for impacting duty toss them in a container for hydraulic and swing press duty .
I buy taiwan japan style impacts stamped markings only in whatever brand/no brand best deal . they work/fit great, last as good as anything else and cost is so low you happy use them any way needed to get a task done and can buy extra sets to keep your self warranty replacement sets in stock ready for the moment you require it all for a fraction of the cost or effort of a big brand with long term usable warranty ...

And finally we get to the point. An impact socket is a relatively low tech piece of steel. It's not a torque wrench or anything that requires first world companies to manufacture. Whether they admit it or not everybody here has bought a set of Pittsburgh impacts at some time in their lives and damn few, if any, have complaints about them. As is fairly common around here much ago about nothing.

 

[CGarage]

There seems to be a new trend for automotive and industrial workers, that they are skipping chrome sockets entirely and only working with impacts- and using them with hand operated (not electric) ratchets.

This could potentially save young technicians and workers ~ 50% of tool acquisition costs.

I think there is a lot to talk about with respect to impact sockets.

Flank drive vs not flank drive
Thin wall vs traditional construction
Country of origin

All important features that should be discussed.

 

[Beefmaster]

I recently went through the exact same analysis when I needed some larger metric deep impacts. Probably looked at the same sets you are and ended up with the Capri as I thought they were the best value at the time. They did the job just fine-don't know what else to say about them.
I did look closely at the CAT sockets which are reportedly rebranded SnapOn. They were only slightly more but the set didn't have some of the sizes I needed. I do not know if the sale is still going on.

 

[u2slow]

You've probably been getting Taiwanese sockets.

It's my understanding Sunex China sockets is a new thing.

Older Taiwan made sockets seem to have Taiwan proudly stamped on each and every socket.

Interesting how they decided to leave "China" off the new ones...

None of our Sunnex have Taiwan markings. Must be china. Not concerned. They are company/work tools.