10mm Socket Showdown: SK vs USA (90s) CM

[FlushingDIYer]

The primary reason for my switch to SK has been to replace sockets in this kinda shape. You'll notice that this USA Craftsman is worn. It's not too far away from stripping out a 10mm bolt and leaving me in a bind! This socket in particular has been used heavily (well, heavy according to "weekend-DIY" standards). I suppose, in hindsight, the cheapest course of action would've been to either break this and have Sears replace it or to just buy a new USA set off of eBay. I still might buy a new set off eBay and keep that set in the car!

USA Craftsman on the Left, SK on the right:
Craftsman, 43542 G2 (purchased 1995, edit 2000-2004), has tarnished chrome, but none of it has come off. And this socket has probably rolled at least ten miles over the past twenty years up and down the driveway. That's a pretty solid finish if you ask me. It's also a few mm shorter than the SK.

The **** end of the sockets are so different from another. The Craftsman seem to use a double indent feature and to have a wider entry machined onto it. Is this to get sockets on and off easier? I've never really noticed. I've never had a socket slip off my Craftsman ratchet.

And, of course, what really counts... The socket ends! I think it's not really fair to compare something with 20yrs of use to something that's never been used. But the differences are visible. The SK just seems cleaner, sharper. Also, the SK, in this case as opposed to the Duralast I posted earlier, is heavier than the Craftsman socket.

 

[Fedwrench]

In defense of the Craftsman socket, it doesn't look worn to me. The Craftsman surface drive or whatever they call their off corner engagement design, always makes the 6 point socket look worn when in fact, there's nothing wrong with them. Craftsman uses a more curved design on each of the six sides whereas, SK and others radius the corners slightly. I do hate that double detent retention design on the Craftsman's square drive end but, that's just me.
In fact, I think the Craftsman pictured is like new because you can still easily read the size, part#, and date code

 

[General Geoff]

Yeah that Cman socket looks just fine to me. Nowhere close to worn out on the fastener side.

 

[Farmall450]

In defense of the Craftsman socket, it doesn't look worn to me. The Craftsman surface drive or whatever they call their off corner engagement design, always makes the 6 point socket look worn when in fact, there's nothing wrong with them. Craftsman uses a more curved design on each of the six sides whereas, SK and others radius the corners slightly. I do hate that double detent retention design on the Craftsman's square drive end but, that's just me.
In fact, I think the Craftsman pictured is like new because you can still easily read the size, part#, and date code

Agreed. You also say the SK is stronger/thicker, but clearly the Craftsman is where it matters in your last picture...

 

[Infinia]

In fact, I think the Craftsman pictured is like new because you can still easily read the size, part#, and date code

G2 = 2004-08
new USA
start of the double detent years

 

[kwoswalt99]

I wanted to see some busted sockets!

 

[mustangSR70]

As others have said, your Cman socket still has plenty of use. And I thought the early 2000's sockets always had that slightly darker looking chrome, not tarnished. I actually think the Cman looks like the better socket than the S-K, and I like most S-K tools.

 

[gdocktor3]

Is the drive end of the SK larger in diameter?

 

[Skin]

As stated G2 is from the early 2000s onward so its closer to 10 years old than 20.

Chrome isn't tarnished that's how a lot of manufactures chrome began to look when they switched to trivalent chrome which happened around 2000. Only a few manufacturers go out of their way to add additives for a bright chrome luster (Cornwell & MAC+Proto to name a couple).

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Wow, I can't believe I was off by over five years... Memory does go as you get older!!! I could've sworn I was under 20 when I got this set... According to the Craftsman Time Frame link, this can be from 2000-2008... Thanks for pointing that out guys.

As far as the socket goes. I don't know what to tell you. It's loose. I've worn away some metal from the edges... I put some 10mm head bolts in them and they're night and day different. The Craftsman is hella loose. The SK is solid. If I find the time to film a video (shoot even a GIF) of the I'll do it. They're different. The SK feels like the way a socket is supposed to feel around a bolt head.

But yeah, as far as the finish goes, man these CM are great. Like I said, they've rolled around up and down the driveway and nary a smidgen of rust! They're going to be good to have in the backup set.