1/4 Drive Socket Set

[shoturtle]

Hmm, think is should be decent quality with the napa set. It does give you a fear number of torx bits. But I have only seen the US made napa at their stores. But if it comes form the same factory as GW, they they should be pretty much the same. Not really sure if the GW set is made in taiwan or china though.

 

[stricht8]

I've only played around with the Cman 60 tooth rats in the store. Never used it. I agree that the handle is a bit heavy.

 

[shoturtle]

the hf composite ratchet have a very nice fit to sockets. While their 72t flex wobbles allot. So it is up to the ratchet design. Do you have the US or Taiwan made 60t slim?

 

[biscuit141]

the hf composite ratchet have a very nice fit to sockets. While their 72t flex wobbles allot. So it is up to the ratchet design. Do you have the us or taiwan made 60t slim?

usa.

 

[shoturtle]

It might be the US ones have a slightly smaller mount then your hf ratchet.

 

[pipsters]

If you don't care about COO ANY socket made in Taiwan and most made in China will be great - they will have good chrome, be manufactured well, and be finished nicely.

If you care about COO (US made) Craftsman/Danaher sockets will be the cheapest available, next being SK, and then after that you get into some pretty pricey sets from Proto, Matco, Snap-On, etc.

Let your wallet, and conscious do the talking.

I would not worry about warranty. Why? I put my Craftsman 3/8" sockets to 150 ft-lbs and past that and they are still ticking. I guarantee you that you probably won't ever break a socket. All the sockets I exchanged were done due to manufacturing defects and I did that right after I bought them. These are 1/4" sockets for Christ sakes.

You will lose them however.

 

[powertrip]

bigpasta got banned. Damn that was quick!

If you are unhappy with the Cman just get the gearwrench. It is nice stuff and if they are already made in asia so you know where any future warranty tool will be made at. As much as I like Cman I can't be sure they will be USA in the future.

 

[biscuit141]

The gearwrench also come in nice small plastic cases easy to store and transport. The plastic trays that came with the cmans is flimsey and a huge waste of space.

 

[Ken81590]

You can get an entire blue-point set Metric and SAE, deep and shallow, 1/4"-5/8", with a ratchet and extensions for like $140 tops

 

[shoturtle]

The gearwrench also come in nice small plastic cases easy to store and transport. The plastic trays that came with the cmans is flimsey and a huge waste of space.

Tool chest with socket rails.

 

[concealer404]

Hey concealer here is a 1/2" set for you.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00992633000P?mv=rr

Wonder if that would appease my OCD enough, or if i'd have to swap out my Napas for GW and set them all up as "modules" in my box.

 

[concealer404]

It is a tough spot you are in. But I will say the gw stuff is prettier. The napa will have the same issues as cmans. As it is made by danaher/apex in the USA. The Armstrong sockets are the same way.

I would put the Napa and GW stuff equal. The Napa sets are China COO fwiw, but the quality is easily the equal of the GW stuff i've gotten recently. (Which also happened to be Danaher as well.)

I would NOT say that the Napa stuff will have the same issues as the Craftsmans. And even if it does... it's like 1/3rd the price and carries the same warranty. (Though maybe not as easy to collect as the Craftsman, but i really don't see myself breaking any of these Napas.)

Hmm, think is should be decent quality with the napa set. It does give you a fear number of torx bits. But I have only seen the US made napa at their stores. But if it comes form the same factory as GW, they they should be pretty much the same. Not really sure if the GW set is made in taiwan or china though.

Ah yep, you nailed it.

 

[shoturtle]

Just the USA made napa which is the same as the craftsman. Have not seen a chinese napa first hand, but I am sure they are as nice as the gw stuff.

 

[concealer404]

Just the USA made napa which is the same as the craftsman. Have not seen a chinese napa first hand, but I am sure they are as nice as the gw stuff.

True story. My Napa stuff is China. I'm 100% ok with it.

(That's glare on the ratchet head in the first pic, not a finish defect.)

 

[shoturtle]

I don't doubt you that they are good quality. I do not get caught up with coo as a measure of quality. I measure quality base on quality.

 

[biscuit141]

You can get an entire blue-point set Metric and SAE, deep and shallow, 1/4"-5/8", with a ratchet and extensions for like $140 tops

Link?

 

[biscuit141]

Tool chest with socket rails.

That's how I am set up now, but I may keep this next set in the case.

 

[biscuit141]

Wonder if that would appease my OCD enough, or if i'd have to swap out my Napas for GW and set them all up as "modules" in my box.

I am pretty OCD myself but I would be ok with it. It seems like a nice 1/2 set for the price. You going to pick it up?

 

[concealer404]

I am pretty OCD myself but I would be ok with it. It seems like a nice 1/2 set for the price. You going to pick it up?

Haven't really decided yet... i have another few things that i'd like to pick up first. (The long pattern polished metric combo wrench set for $50.)

 

[biscuit141]

What wrench set do you have now? I have the Cman raised panel and they serve me well. I wouldnt mind the long pattern wrenches but can't justify adding another set just because they are long and shiny.

 

[shoturtle]

Actually it is a good idea to have 2 sets of wrenches. It come in handy at times. And sears has gw long polish on sale for 50 bucks

 

[biscuit141]

I do have a second set of ratcheting gearwrenches in both sae and metric. Not as many sizes as my RPs but the usual ones.

 

[shoturtle]

I have a set of proto ratcheting wrenches. But on really stuck nuts and bolts. 2 box end is a good idea.

 

[Ken81590]

Link?

Dont have a link but I can get you the part number monday when I go into work.

 

[Chamkila]

following////////////////////////

 

[concealer404]

What wrench set do you have now? I have the Cman raised panel and they serve me well. I wouldnt mind the long pattern wrenches but can't justify adding another set just because they are long and shiny.

I have Craftsman raised panels as well. Not particularly fond of them.

 

[biscuit141]

I think I am going to give the GearWrench sets a shot. I just don'l FEEL happy with the Craftsman and buying the Gearwrench will still allow me to use my Sears store credit. I compared the sets to the Napa and all the socket sizes are identical, the only difference is the Napa sets give the extra hex and torx bits. I already have hex and torx set so thats not a deal breaker, plus the Gearwrench sets come with an extra ratchet that the Napa set does not, which will probably be more useful to me. A thumb ratchet for the 1/4" and a stubby for the 3/8" kit.

 

[shoturtle]

If your budget was 150, it is the best value with good quality to go with the gearwrench as you are not happy with the craftsman. You get the ratchet set, and you can get the gw polish long wrench both in sae and metric and be right around the 150 budget. And you get good quality tools to boot.

 

[Ken81590]

^^ I would take the blue-point set over the gearwrench with a 150 dollar budget, any day of the week.

 

[biscuit141]

^^ I would take the blue-point set over the gearwrench with a 150 dollar budget, any day of the week.

I might have as well, but the kicker was that I had Sears store credit that would cover the entire cost, so this in essence cost me nothing out of pocket. If I was paying cash-money I would take a look at the Blue-Point set. Do you have a link or model number anyway?

Just got back from Sears, placed the order at the store for free shipping and was able to use a $10 off coupon. Total out the door was $102 & change. Now I just wait for them to arrive.

 

[Ken81590]

Oh so you already went with craftsman? I have the box with the part number on it at work. I gave it to someone on here before, I'll try to find the page. Give me a minute.

 

[Ken81590]

Part # BLPGSS1462

Pictures

 

[biscuit141]

Oh so you already went with craftsman? I have the box with the part number on it at work. I gave it to someone on here before, I'll try to find the page. Give me a minute.

I had both the 1/4 and 3/8 Craftsman sets, but I just didn't love them. The socket quality was so-so, the ratchets didn't do anything for me, so I went with my gut and returned them. Sears had both the 1/4 and 3/8 Gearwrench sets on clearance for $50 and $55, so I used my store credit and got both sets. We shall see how they compare once they arrive. The Blue Point set is very nice, but I was looking for both size sets, so that would exceed my budget.

 

[Ken81590]

Oh I didn't know you were looking for 3/8 drive also.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I had both the 1/4 and 3/8 Craftsman sets, but I just didn't love them. The socket quality was so-so, the ratchets didn't do anything for me, so I went with my gut and returned them. Sears had both the 1/4 and 3/8 Gearwrench sets on clearance for $50 and $55, so I used my store credit and got both sets. We shall see how they compare once they arrive. The Blue Point set is very nice, but I was looking for both size sets, so that would exceed my budget.

No sure if you have some type of serious fetish problem going on with ya...

 

[biscuit141]

No sure if you have some type of serious fetish problem going on with ya...

I thought if anyone would understand, it would be a tool forum!

 

[Ken81590]

No sure if you have some type of serious fetish problem going on with ya...

What's so hard to believe about someone not liking craftsman sockets and thinking their ratchets are ****?

 

[Harwinton]

I can't speak for their new stuff, but I've used Sears Craftsman wrenches and sockets plenty of times and they are perfectly respectable and get most jobs done perfectly fine. My father and grandfather have a lot of Craftsman stuff and it's held up great for years.

And it's not like you'll be putting real heavy torque on anything 1/4" drive anyways...just about any brand socket from any country should work perfectly fine so long as it fits nice and tight.

 

[shoturtle]

No sure if you have some type of serious fetish problem going on with ya...

To each their own, some like a pretty set of tools, other are not as concern about looks. But either way, GW stuff is good tools the same quality as Cmans. Since he is spending his money, he should get what make him happy.

 

[concealer404]

I might have as well, but the kicker was that I had Sears store credit that would cover the entire cost, so this in essence cost me nothing out of pocket. If I was paying cash-money I would take a look at the Blue-Point set. Do you have a link or model number anyway?

Just got back from Sears, placed the order at the store for free shipping and was able to use a $10 off coupon. Total out the door was $102 & change. Now I just wait for them to arrive.

How do you do the free shipping thing? I've got an order in my cart right now for about... $250 worth of Gearwrench stuff. Shipping is about $27.