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Since I cannot link the site here due to a filter, I will copy/paste the thread. Now this is not an end all be all thread, this is just me snapping some pics showing some differences.
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Alright I seem to remember reading a complaint that no one ever compares/shows "good" sockets. Well I guess I can give it a go. So here we go.
I have two sets here, 1/2 drive 1 inch deep sockets in Wright, US Craftsman, TW Craftsman, and a 3/8 Williams 1 inch for good measure. Then I have 3/8 drive 5/8 deep sockets, in Williams, US Craftsman, TW Craftsman.
First up the 1/2 drive sockets:
First up the Wright - everything about this socket is nice, chrome, stampings, detents, etc. As you can see its a full depth socket.
Next up is the US Craftsman. Overall its a nice socket, the stamping is a bit lite and harder to read then the others and the chrome seems a little thinner if that's the right word for it. I also has the sharpest edges of the bunch.
As you can see here, its not a full depth socket, but it does leave plenty of room for a bolt.
This seems to be the detent style everyone hates?
Next up is the TW Craftsman, as Craftsman in Canada are made in Taiwan (as far as I can tell). Overall a very nice socket with a couple of issues. Chrome is nice, broaching is nice, BUT it has a small hole inside for bolt clearance so it will cause some issues on some bolts (see below). It has softer edges all around.
Here is the downside, that smaller hole there will not allow a 1/2 bolt through let alone one that a 1 inch nut fits, it may not be a huge issue but you lose about 1/4 inch of length due to it.
Detents are normal:
Last we have a 3/8 Williams, 1 inch socket, I had it on hand so why not. Very nice socket. Overall on par with the Wright.
Not a full depth socket:
Detents:
Any of these sockets will do the job asked. As you can see my 1 inch sockets do not get much use, well that and the Wright and Williams are brand new Christmas gifts
Okay lets give the 3/8 drive sockets a go, I have a brand new Williams, a TW Craftsman thats about 2 years old, and a US Craftsman I have had since around 1988.
First up Williams, again a very nice socket, as it should be for the price, it is the shortest of the 3:
It has the shallowest broach of them all:
Nice detents and chrome throughout:
Next up is the US Craftsman, this one has some miles on it but has handled anything I have thrown at it through engine builds/teardowns to some "lite" impact work when required.
The chrome is a bit worn and off color, which I think was pretty common for these years. Stamping is lite, making it harder to read if there is any dirt/grease.
Full depth:
Normal detents:
Last up is the TW Craftsman: Nice quality, good chrome, though it is showing a bit of rust in the drive end. Nice stamping, again has the soft edges all the TW craftsman seem to have.
Mid depth, you cannot see it but this also has a smaller hole inside that will cause the same bolt interference issues as the 1/2.
Detents are normal, showing a bit of rust:
Thats all I have. I am sure I could have done a more in depth comparison with calipers, and measuring and of course the "I yanked on it real hard" test, but dammit its -20 in the garage, you are luckily I took the pics!!
****
Alright I seem to remember reading a complaint that no one ever compares/shows "good" sockets. Well I guess I can give it a go. So here we go.
I have two sets here, 1/2 drive 1 inch deep sockets in Wright, US Craftsman, TW Craftsman, and a 3/8 Williams 1 inch for good measure. Then I have 3/8 drive 5/8 deep sockets, in Williams, US Craftsman, TW Craftsman.
First up the 1/2 drive sockets:
First up the Wright - everything about this socket is nice, chrome, stampings, detents, etc. As you can see its a full depth socket.
Next up is the US Craftsman. Overall its a nice socket, the stamping is a bit lite and harder to read then the others and the chrome seems a little thinner if that's the right word for it. I also has the sharpest edges of the bunch.
As you can see here, its not a full depth socket, but it does leave plenty of room for a bolt.
This seems to be the detent style everyone hates?
Next up is the TW Craftsman, as Craftsman in Canada are made in Taiwan (as far as I can tell). Overall a very nice socket with a couple of issues. Chrome is nice, broaching is nice, BUT it has a small hole inside for bolt clearance so it will cause some issues on some bolts (see below). It has softer edges all around.
Here is the downside, that smaller hole there will not allow a 1/2 bolt through let alone one that a 1 inch nut fits, it may not be a huge issue but you lose about 1/4 inch of length due to it.
Detents are normal:
Last we have a 3/8 Williams, 1 inch socket, I had it on hand so why not. Very nice socket. Overall on par with the Wright.
Not a full depth socket:
Detents:
Any of these sockets will do the job asked. As you can see my 1 inch sockets do not get much use, well that and the Wright and Williams are brand new Christmas gifts
Okay lets give the 3/8 drive sockets a go, I have a brand new Williams, a TW Craftsman thats about 2 years old, and a US Craftsman I have had since around 1988.
First up Williams, again a very nice socket, as it should be for the price, it is the shortest of the 3:
It has the shallowest broach of them all:
Nice detents and chrome throughout:
Next up is the US Craftsman, this one has some miles on it but has handled anything I have thrown at it through engine builds/teardowns to some "lite" impact work when required.
The chrome is a bit worn and off color, which I think was pretty common for these years. Stamping is lite, making it harder to read if there is any dirt/grease.
Full depth:
Normal detents:
Last up is the TW Craftsman: Nice quality, good chrome, though it is showing a bit of rust in the drive end. Nice stamping, again has the soft edges all the TW craftsman seem to have.
Mid depth, you cannot see it but this also has a smaller hole inside that will cause the same bolt interference issues as the 1/2.
Detents are normal, showing a bit of rust:
Thats all I have. I am sure I could have done a more in depth comparison with calipers, and measuring and of course the "I yanked on it real hard" test, but dammit its -20 in the garage, you are luckily I took the pics!!
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