3/4 drive socket set recommendation

Scout3918 · May 28, 2018

I'm looking for suggestions on place and brands of decent 3/4 drive sockets and breaker bar set.
I probably won't use it once every 6 months or so. But want it to work.
Price, brand and best place to buy is all appreciated. Thank you

toolman9w · May 28, 2018

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000...words=astro+pneumatic+3/4+socket+set&dpPl=1&d

Musicinabottle · May 28, 2018

I'd look to craigslist for a used American made set. Highest I've seen in my area is $150. I used to erect pre engineered steel buildings for airplane hangers, and the contractor had a Chinese set (I think HF but not real sure on that) that kept shattering sockets and I eventually bought a complete SK set with an exceptionally long Snap on breaker bar, several extensions and sockets from 1 inch to 2 3/8 for $100.

toolman9w · May 28, 2018

Musicinabottle said:
I'd look to craigslist for a used American made set. Highest I've seen in my area is $150.

This is good advice.

tool_scrounge · May 28, 2018

For occasional use

1) buy a used set of proto, Blackhawk, sk, wright, or equivalent us made sockets and ratchet/breaker bar. EBay is a good source.

2) buy Taiwan made sockets set and get one of the above used ratchets/ breaker bars. I am not very impressed with the quality of most import low cost ratchets, especially from China. Usually 3/4" ratchets can be bought used for <$40 × shipping if you shop carefully.

Firebrick43 · May 28, 2018

What work are you doing? I will recommend wright sockets no matter what. They are the best value/strength. SK is good as well. I built my full set to 2-1/2 for under 250. Bought a little used set locally and used eBay to fill in and add quite a few commonly used metric sizes that don't quiet work well with a sae counterpart.

When I am using a 3/4 drive the torque I am putting through it is tremendous. Bud wheel and tractor nuts in the field require a 42" ratchet and a cheater pipe of 6' standing/bouncing on the pipe. I have yet to find a breaker bar that handles this. Only ratchets I have seen stand up is the wright 42" railroad ratchet and the snapon 3/4 ratchet. The snap on has interchangeable handles so you can have either a 24" or a 42". My personal snap on is from 1976 and was used professionally by my father and by me now with rebuild kits every 5 years or so.

The handle has been flexed in a serious arc and never bent permanently. I like the feel and fine tooth action of the sk but have seen many with bent handles when used with a cheater. Craftsman/Armstrong just grenade. Once I had a flat on a truck(class 7) and when the to the local Sears. I had to go back 3 times to replace thier breaker bar as the ears would spread and pivot snap.(no cheater but was standing on it). Got the tire changed however. My wright breaker has been ok but the snap on ratchet is longer and will take more force.

Another thought. Most 3/4 ratchets/breakers are only 24". If you are happy with this length/torque snap ons sll80a ratchet (24") or shlf80a (24" flex head) ratchets will hold up to high torque. I never use 3/4 any more for bolts/nuts under 1-1/2 any more unless they are 12 point high torques. I have had the flex head for three years now(as do all the other mechs in the shop) and we constantly put or full weight through them and none have broke so far. Not even the pivot point. They are simply amazing. Many of the mechs don't own any snap on tools but after seeing others use them they got one.

nelstomlinson · May 28, 2018

What are you using it for? If it's light truck suspension work and occasional duty as a fixture in a press, probably anything would work. If you're going to be working on old heavy equipment, you might want old used US sockets.

Scout3918 · May 28, 2018

Thx for the replies and suggestions. It mainly be used for old tractor and possibly mower. Very limited use.

Strouty · May 28, 2018

Buy a good ratchet/breaker bar, then go to harbor freight and buy the set, toss their ratchet/breaker bar and you should be fine. Then if you decide you need USA sockets, buy used over time. The only time I have ever broken a cheap 3/4" or 1" drive chrome socket was when I used a really big pipe as a cheater or was using them on an impact.

Brand X · May 28, 2018

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000JNA88W/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

$60.00 is a good price.(warehouse deals) I probably will use it similar to what you would.. I have a full set of USA Armstrong Metric sockets, but did not have a 3/4 bar to use them with.. Limited use the bar will be fine.. (IMO) These are China Tektons,so don't expect super quality..Still decent on the sockets..

dtnel · May 28, 2018

I have a chrome and also a impact 3/4 set from Cornwell that I've had 24 yrs and they're great. The impact sockets are a little thick but if the room is there they do the job just as well.

About 28 yrs ago I bought a 1/2 drive set, shallow and deep well standard sizes up to 1 1/2 and I've never had a problem when I'd used them on anything up to class 8 semi trucks and trailers, engine, suspensions and everything in between on them. I have larger ones up to 2 1/2 but that's the ones mentioned in the 3/4 drive size. I use 1/2 impacts, 1/2 to 3/4 adapters to turn the sockets as well. It's alot of torque. I also have a cornwell 3/4 drive ratchet that's worked well even with pipe extensions. The cornwell tools were even cheaper than the snap on , Mac and Matco ones I priced back then and they have the same lifetime warranty.

I own alot of brands of sockets and pretty much anything anymore these days is good except the cheap cheap knock off stuff.

Blue Point, Craftsman, Gearwrench, Titan, Proto, Performance Tool are brands I have in 1/4 and 3/8 sizes metric and standard and they all perform well. Some I use for certain things since I do not only automotive work but I also do household repair (all types) so I've built kits for certain things that way I'm not always grabbing my automotive tools. Otherwise if I don't have separate sets then I have stuff everywhere and we all know how that goes, gets pretty chaotic.......

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bobcatdan · May 28, 2018

If you have a Menards near you, the ones by me still have a set or two of the masterforce 3/4" set which is basically leftover USA craftsman. CL is a good possibility. I have seen complete SK sets list for $35, couldn't call fast enough. Other good USA kits sit on there for awhile for $150 so I bet could be gotten cheaper. Like others have said, find a good ratchet and buy a cheap set.

dtnel · May 28, 2018

bobcatdan said:
If you have a Menards near you, the ones by me still have a set or two of the masterforce 3/4" set which is basically leftover USA craftsman. CL is a good possibility. I have seen complete SK sets list for $35, couldn't call fast enough. Other good USA kits sit on there for awhile for $150 so I bet could be gotten cheaper. Like others have said, find a good ratchet and buy a cheap set.

Menard's also has a lifetime warranty on their in house brand which I believe is Masterforce.

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DFB · May 28, 2018

Though it great to have a good USA brand I have had that Tekton set for years. Its worthy of the money and I prefer the 6 pt over the HF stuff which all 12 pt.

I would also say consider a 3/4" HF impact socket set and one of their big 1/2 breaker bars with and adapter for the money which have been shown to hold their own against similar name brands.

Just assess what sizes you really need I honestly haven't had a big need for or generally used most of the larger sizes over 1 1/2"

CR888 · May 29, 2018

My 3/4" setup (when I get it) will consist of the Facom/Sidchrome dual pawl 120clicks ratchet & Taiwan 12points in chrome. Then with my 6pt 3/4" impacts I should be well covered. Then with a 3/4-1/2 adapter I have a high torque setup I can use 1/2" chrome with too. The Facom sealed head fine tooth 3/4 is a modern style ratchet which is hard to find as many ratchets in this drive are old 24t or 36t designs.

Professional Tool User · May 29, 2018

Find yourself a high end 3/4 ratchet and/or breaker bar used. I went with a SK one because of the high tooth count. Unless you want 12 point chrome sockets (in that case go look for a used high end USA made set) to, go buy a bunch of 6 point impact sockets in 3/4 drive from Harbor Freight. If you can find a beat up 3/4 gun that works and a cheap air system to go with it, your life will be much easier.

Flivver250 · May 29, 2018

Wright tool.

BDT/NWMN · May 29, 2018

If metric sizes are not needed, there should be an abundance of used USA fractional socket sets to choose from. eBay, Craig's list, auction and estate sales, etc.

Older, used USA metric sets are far less common.

Mgdoug3 · May 29, 2018

I found a SK 47170, sliding T-handle, 3 extensions and about a dozen SK and Williams sockets for $75. With a few Chinese sockets from another set I have a set from 7/8" up to 2 1/4". Used USA ratchets are a good bargain.

JBradley500 · May 29, 2018

I have an Urrea (Proto-Mex) set of sockets, and I would suggest looking at them, but what I paid on Amazon warehouse a few years ago to what they are asking today is a crazy difference.

matt_i · May 29, 2018

I went witl El Cheapo 3/4 drive impact sockets until I got some Protos at an auction.

The bar for metallurgy and heat-treatment is much lower on impact sockets, their extra thick wall makes up the difference. That's perfect for occasional use in my mind, the sockets don't care if they are used as hand sockets.

I've used many a pipe handle to break loose tractor bolts. No ill effects except for the times I've slipped off the hex (!)

kythri · May 29, 2018

Strouty said:
Buy a good ratchet/breaker bar, then go to harbor freight and buy the set, toss their ratchet/breaker bar and you should be fine. Then if you decide you need USA sockets, buy used over time. The only time I have ever broken a cheap 3/4" or 1" drive chrome socket was when I used a really big pipe as a cheater or was using them on an impact.

That's what I did about 6-7 years ago (well, I didn't toss anything).

I've got a Plomb/Proto 3/4" ratchet and a Cornwell 3/4" ratchet that I picked up super cheap (one at an estate sale, the other on CL), and then bought the HF sets.

I've used stuff in that drive size all of maybe 5 times, with the intention that if I busted a socket, I'd buy a "real" replacement as needed.

The sockets ain't pretty, but they work.

Al Borland · May 29, 2018

Don't toss the HF ratchet/breaker! Those are your "Loaners".

CR888 · May 30, 2018

Its much more important to have high quality smaller hand tools like sockets & wrenches than larger ones. Good Taiwan 12 points if made to comply with ratings from ANSI and others should be good for many hundred pounds of torque. Putting 200ftlbs through a 40mm socket is a lot less stressful than 40ftlbs through a 4mm socket. So larger drive size socketry you can skimp or cheap out & still have capable tools. I advocate spending $$ on a good nice to use ratchet in 3/4 which is a lot harder to find than the more common drives 1/4-3/8-1/2. Facom has a dual pawl 60tooth so 120 click 3/4 small sealed head ratchet which would be a joy to use over the old low tooth that most tool co's offer.

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · May 30, 2018

Musicinabottle said:
I'd look to craigslist for a used American made set. Highest I've seen in my area is $150. I used to erect pre engineered steel buildings for airplane hangers, and the contractor had a Chinese set (I think HF but not real sure on that) that kept shattering sockets and I eventually bought a complete SK set with an exceptionally long Snap on breaker bar, several extensions and sockets from 1 inch to 2 3/8 for $100.

Around here that would be $250 minimum.

Jim c · May 30, 2018

This one I can answer from experience: go directly to ( can’t believe I am saying it) harbor freight and purchase their 3/4 pro series impact socket set. The deep sad set was 65.00 with coupon and sale price. I think the regular depth sockets were around 50.00 with coupon and sale price. I use mine on the end of my one inch impact wrench with an adapter. I can honestly and proudly ( as an American using Chinese tools) say that I have beaten the tar out of these sockets on my One Inch gun ( expecting them to shatter, wearing goggle and ear plugs) without breaking so much as a single one. Good stuff? For the price, absolutely. Btw the pro series are much nicer than the regular impacts. I might even say that they could get away with raising their prices on those sockets just a bit and they would still be a good deal.

royfromoz · May 30, 2018

Working on farm machinery, we have a bit of use for 3/4 Drive sockets. Have owned a few of the Chinese sets which all look the same. Both the sockets and the ratchets have failed more readily than I would like, but for about Au$150- that's to be expected. Then I bought this set for Au$250-
https://www.ebay.com.au/i/183231060169?chn=ps
and it is outstanding for the money. Far superior quality in all of the components for not much more money. Made in Taiwan. If you can find a set from this manufacturer (no doubt with different branding in your country) I would go for that.

ultgar · Jun 3, 2018

Facom/USAG recently introduced a new series of ratchets (Facom 161B series) which have a ratchet mechanism sealed from dust and work environment contamination. They are 72 tooth like the old ones but are lighter, more compact and still made in Europe. Facom rolled these out in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive. Because they are made in USAG's Gemonio Italy factory, USAG also has them in 3/4" drive. See https://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=8553

Rickster · Jun 3, 2018

If you're not opposed to used tools I'd check out the classifieds here on GJ.

plinker · Jun 3, 2018

Check ebay, CL & the classifieds here and you can find a set or piece one together easily for not a lot of money.

A HF (or similar) set should be decent as well, get a better ratchet as mentioned earlier though.

Mr_B · Jun 3, 2018

toolman9w said:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000...words=astro+pneumatic+3/4+socket+set&dpPl=1&d

That the same china set as tekton and many others .
I would try pick up used or mix used or better new ratchet and t bar with cheaper sockets .
Decent used set best way go as price nice quality nice and it worth pretty much same as you paid for it day want get rid of it.
unbranded sets and china stamped stuff holds no value besides scrap weight .

3/4 drive socket set recommendation

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