3/4 Drive socket set.

[avig70]

Hello all,
Looking to expend my toolbox with a new set of 3/4 drive metric socket set to accompany my 40" long, 1" drive breaker bar, I just need the sockets, not that I mind buying a ratchet, extension and the rest in a nice box but I figured since I'm on a budget ($100 or so) I should try and get only sockets and save a bit on what I don't really need, I prefer non impact sockets for better clearance and since I don't own an impact wrench, just hand powered tools for me... 6 point sockets for added strength and overall durability. I found these Teng Tools socket set but if I have them shipped over their price doubles... I really like Koken for sockets but their way out of my price range. SO doesn't have 6 point metric 3/4 non impact, neither does Craftsman and Williams. Read some bad reviews on Harbor Freight 3/4 socket set regarding breakage and bad manufacturing.
So guys, any other recommendations?
Thank you

 

[fflintstone]

There are dozens of threads here about 3/4 drive sets.
do a search....
Try to find sockets made in Taiwan rather than china.

 

[biscuit141]

I'm no sure how many 6 pt sets you will find. Seems most are 12 pt in 3/4" drive.

 

[N.I.]

There is nothing special about Teng tools. They are made in Taiwan (as far as I know).

There is also nothing wrong with them, but I wouldn't go an pay a premium for them.

If you are looking for quality but don't like the price, then look on ebay.

I recently bought a full, hardly used 3/4 Gedore set for £67 shipped. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow.

 

[plinker]

With larger 12pt socket's the 6pt. vs 12pt issue get's to be a moot point due to the size of the contact area given the socket/fastener contact area size. I have also found that unless you have a very limited clearence area an impact socket generally always fit's.

I have only run into a couple times where the socket would not fit, one, a hydraulic pistion nut (shop has modified sockets for it) and truck rail gear coushin pad bolts where a 1/2 drive chrome socket wont even fit

If your not in a hurry, watch ebay/classified's/craigslist and you can find a deal. I would buy Taiwan made and avoid china made as well.


FWIW, If you are going to using the 3/4 stuff a lot, I would consider buying a 3/4 impact w/ matching socket's.

 

[avig70]

Thank you all for the kind advice.
I know Teng is a Taiwanese based company. Also a few reviews I read complain about their finish as being weird so I guess they are manufacturing their own sockets, probably a good thing.

Other then that I think I'll try to wait on a good deal on a used set.

67 pounds for a 3/4 geodore is incredable!!!

 

[Conductor562]

Here you go. Tekton 21 piece Metric 3/4" set for $109. May even shop around and find it cheaper. Comes with Ratchet, Breaker bar, extensions and 19, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 41, 42, 45, 46, 48, 50mm sockets.

Tekton 1100

Tekton has become my go to for tools when I need a cheap solution. They carry a lifetime warranty and their customer service is top notch. No warranty hassles or reciept ******** to deal with, you just call them and they send out the replacement. Additionally, one of their development guys is a member here (DaveR) and routinely communicates regarding any issues.

 

[N.I.]

Thank you all for the kind advice.
I know Teng is a Taiwanese based company. Also a few reviews I read complain about their finish as being weird so I guess they are manufacturing their own sockets, probably a good thing.

Other then that I think I'll try to wait on a good deal on a used set.

67 pounds for a 3/4 geodore is incredable!!!

There is nothing wrong with the finish on Teng. It is identical to the finish Gedore currently use on their sockets and wrenches. Only difference is that Gedore tools are shaped better and they mirror polish certain areas to make them look slightly better.

It is just personal preference - you either like the rough chrome or you hate it.

The Tekton posted above sounds like it suits you needs, and looks well priced.

Broken link fixed below :-

Tekton 1100

 

[RCStocker]

There is a Proto set on E bay and it is under $200 right now. It looks new and has the ratchet and all. The listing has 2 days left. I am high bidder and have a bid in at $200 with the shiping. I am not going to go higher. If you want an expensive set cheap I would get it. Look at all the size sockets that come with it. All the way to 50mm
I am not a dummy and I will not bid you up over $200. I have already place my bid at $200 including the $53 shiping. I was going to see if I could get it just to make money on it in my second hands store. I thing someone will get a great deal. I don't think I will get it and if I do send me an E and you can have it for 10 percent over what I paid and I will have it shipped to you.

 

[sberry]

I know way more than one guy that bought a china set from a tool truck sale and it has done everything they asked. I have seen a lot of the sockets that managed to hang around in the oil field from cheap sets. My big Sears set had 3 raulty sockets out of the box, that is out of 20 maybe?

In todays world would shp for something if it was a hobby and I wanted to collect, if I needed it now wouldnt be scared to buy almost the cheapest set and from a big auto parts store would be great if warranty was a real deal. I would just take my chances if it wasnt a life threatening application. My bud paid 40$ from someone for a never used china set, probably used it 20 times in that many years if that but it always worked and the sockets double as drivers. Worth it for that alone.

 

[jeffk14]

Hey, sberry; You'll never get through to the tool polishing "metros" around here.

From the background that I grew up in, I know that loggers, pulpwooders and farmers can F***ing VAPORIZE an anvil with a feather!

No flat-rate automotive environment comes close to abusing tools or equipment like those disciplines do.

I've read enough of your posts to see that you are someone who uses tools as a means to an end. As it should be!

Carry on!

 

[N.I.]

Hey, sberry; You'll never get through to the tool polishing "metros" around here.

From the background that I grew up in, I know that loggers, pulpwooders and farmers can F***ing VAPORIZE an anvil with a feather!

No flat-rate automotive environment comes close to abusing tools or equipment like those disciplines do.

I've read enough of your posts to see that you are someone who uses tools as a means to an end. As it should be!

Carry on!

Ahh but, sometimes sberry makes me wonder ?

He is full of sensible advice and he generally acts as the voice of reason about here.
(and in this case I would agree with him. My dad bought a fairly cheap draper 3/4 socket set about 15 years ago and it has been through hell and we have only broken one socket as far as I can remember. The T bar has seen better days and the ratchet is terrible, but the sockets are very heavy and well made. If they are still made like that, then the cheapies are a no brainer.)

But on the otherhand, sberry keeps posting pictures of that spotless workshop. Even in the corners and around the edges of the shed it seems to be just far too clean.

I have yet to come across another farm with a workshop that clean!

Obviously not keeping livestock helps, and he must have an excellent climate considering the strawberry growing, but shirly there must be some muck about?

 

[Haveblue]

"No flat-rate automotive environment comes close to abusing tools or equipment like those disciplines do."
I disagree with that statement. A flat rate tech will push his tools,and equipment much harder than a tech paid by the hour. This is where the "means to an end" comes into play. Labor times are low, sometimes hard to beat. When time is running out, plan A goes in the shitcan, and its time for plan B, more time lost because plan B didnt work, now its plan C. This doesnt mean shortcuts should be taken, and the work should be shoddy...It means that some tools are going to get pushed hard!

 

[liliysdad]

"No flat-rate automotive environment comes close to abusing tools or equipment like those disciplines do."
I disagree with that statement. A flat rate tech will push his tools,and equipment much harder than a tech paid by the hour. This is where the "means to an end" comes into play. Labor times are low, sometimes hard to beat. When time is running out, plan A goes in the shitcan, and its time for plan B, more time lost because plan B didnt work, now its plan C. This doesnt mean shortcuts will be taken, and the work will be shoddy...It means that some tools are going to get pushed hard!

He is right. There is not an auto tech on the planet, hourly or flat, that treats tools like roughnecks, farmers, or loggers. They arent mechanics, they are folks who have to fix their own **** or they arent making money.

 

[catsteve]

There is a 1" Wright set selling through GJ classifieds at the moment.
If you have a real need for 3/4 sockets then this would be a nice overkill.
I'd buy it in a flash. its a steal at that price. and made in the USA.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197012

 

[jeffk14]

He is right. There is not an auto tech on the planet, hourly or flat, that treats tools like roughnecks, farmers, or loggers. They arent mechanics, they are folks who have to fix their own **** or they arent making money.

Thank you. And nobody who has never survived under those parameters can ever have an idea of what I was trying to convey.

 

[Haveblue]

He is right. There is not an auto tech on the planet, hourly or flat, that treats tools like roughnecks, farmers, or loggers. They arent mechanics, they are folks who have to fix their own **** or they arent making money.

I can see your point, now that I think about it. I did spend a couple of years in the oil patch...and I grew up on a farm, tools get really abused. By the same token, on flat rate, if im not fixing things whithin a certain amount of time, IM not making money, and neither is my customer...plus they are paying for a repair.

 

[Scout Driver]

I take offense to people saying that farmers abuse tools. We work on pieces of equipment that can push a half million dollars or more in value. Our shops will rival any dealers shops as far as amenities, tools, size and comfort. Farming is a highly technical profession that requires great skill. Sorry to rant, but I just wanted to let everyone know how I feel.

Scott

 

[basspro]

I take offense to people saying that farmers abuse tools. We work on pieces of equipment that can push a half million dollars or more in value. Our shops will rival any dealers shops as far as amenities, tools, size and comfort. Farming is a highly technical profession that requires great skill. Sorry to rant, but I just wanted to let everyone know how I feel.

Scott

Thats a fact for sure! Amen!

 

[Haveblue]

Farming is the profession I respect the most. Noone else does as much for this world, or economy as a farmer does.

 

[sberry]

Actually I am not spotless but I try to keep picked up, lots of dirt in the corners. I have good cleaning equipment, my hot pressure washer gets a lot of use, its really rare for something to come in dirty.

I dont have any half a million pieces, (all mine puut together isnt worth half that) my newest small tractor is 1976, everything I have is old. It is so generalized and I run stuff way beyonf its intended service life, my shop makes this possible. About half our stuff is auto related anymore, our roads are rugged.

Most of my tooling is part time, many pieces used a couple days a year, really low hours, some slightly specialized and cant buy new. Even my tractors see low hours, a couple of them 200 and one 3 or 4 but I replace a lot of manpower with innovation where I can and my place is not quite a pit stop pace but convenience is everything especially when you are in a hurry.

 

[avig70]

I'm quite hesitant to buy a new complete 3/4 set for $100 shipped, even the best tool manufacturers make compromises so a $100 set like that, they had to make tons of shortcuts just to put enough steel in the box, that's my personal opinion, I would love to hear good reviews on them.

As for the wright set, that's a great price (although out of my reach) but it's standard and not metric like I need

The Proto set took a little searching but I found it, would be glad to pay that 10% for this set if the price is right so I'm not going to try and outbid you.

As for the rest of you fellow mechanics, it depends on each of our characters that determines if our garage looks like a pharmacy or like it was visited by the masters of disaster, even the masters need their tools

 

[sberry]

I'm quite hesitant to buy a new complete 3/4 set for $100 shipped, even the best tool manufacturers make compromises so a $100 set like that, they had to make tons of shortcuts just to put enough steel in the box, that's my personal opinion, I would love to hear good reviews on them.

They weigh the same as the others. The only issue may be some QC but in many cases that isnt even an issue. Not all but a lot of tools run off the same line, same blank anymore. So much cheaper to make one socket even if they have to give away 10 cents a piece than make 3 different levels of quality, you can give it an extra buff or finish, change the box, the brand and the price point,,,, same socket essentially. There used to be big differences in steel cost, not so today.

One guy here says they tooled up a rugged class 8 truck shop with HF sockets and couldnt recall breaking one,,, I got a whole pile of Cman busted without any effort, go figure.

 

[Dave455]

Can't in honesty advise anything Taiwanese. They can get the job done, but the quality's never there and there's never any pleasure in use. You can pay a lot of money for some Taiwanese, but it never seems to be better than the cheaper stuff!

I've got a set by Beta. Italian made (and very nicely too)! They often tun up in the 'Beta Action' flyer they put out, and at serious discounts!

Not Snap On quality, but not bad! Used 'em on hub nuts and suchlike and seem durable!

 

[jeffk14]

I take offense to people saying that farmers abuse tools. We work on pieces of equipment that can push a half million dollars or more in value. Our shops will rival any dealers shops as far as amenities, tools, size and comfort. Farming is a highly technical profession that requires great skill. Sorry to rant, but I just wanted to let everyone know how I feel.

Scott

Thats a fact for sure! Amen!

Well, I sure as hell wasn't trying to offend any farmers. It was more of a compliment, really. Aimed at people like sberry.

Sometimes in the farming/agricultural/logging industries, the end-users must, by default, become their own mechanics.

As a result, **** gets the hell beat out of it, modified, improvised, used/pushed (by necessity) beyond design limitations, etc.

My only point was that those professions/industries were quite naturally more demanding on tools and equipment than the automotive industry and certainly more so than aviation (my field).

 

[biscuit141]

I was just at a local pawn shop and they had an Armstrong 3/4" drive impact rated metric set. Had it marked $240, said best price was $180 out the door but that was without any haggling. Didn't look to close to see all the sizes but I think the biggest was 42mm and I believe it was 6pt. If you are interested I could stop again on my way home from work I drive right past it. It was sockets only though no ratchet. Let me know.

Sockets looked just like this. Not sure what sizes and how many though. It was a complete set in a blow mold plastic case.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004WBU7

 

[sberry]

I think the ratchets in the cheap sets have got better by a pinch. I saw a couple that when new had the head sat in engine oil overnight, they worked quite a while, way beyond what any diy small garage would ever use them. Even small farmers. Its really a rare day I use a 3/4, I could skid by with a cheap set in all reality.

Like a lot of guys I have shopped both ways, on demand and opportunity,,, opportunity to duplicate a few things that could be sat on considering the price and the chance of using it. My stuff isn't monster,,,,, its what I call a class up from an auto shop, between it and a truck shop, etc.

Only real reason to have a few more things than the bottom line for me is a propensity to contract in the past, it could come up on occasion today, I will never got to buy but a couple replacements again, the money I would get from it would be minimal and if I needed to tool up a gang it would be pretty easy without shaving skin off my ***.

For myself about 99% of the time I use big drive its impact, its rare to use a chrome socket, my stuff sits a lonely life. Its in the "I am the shop and got to have it" class of tool. I don't care about the finish, I want to park it out of sight so I don't trip over it the other 99.5% of the time.

I want to get another 1 5/8 (would trade 1 1/2) it seems every once in a while I got to walk out to the service truck which I keep most of the 3/4 on, dont even keep the gun in the shop. I got a few misc things I rarely use in a drawer, use is so sporadic that I dont even bother to orgainze it, its out of the way.

 

[biscuit141]

Soooo, more out of curiosity than anything, I stopped by the pawn shop to take a look at the socket set. Armstrong, 15 piece, 17-46mm with skips, 6-point, impact rated. From looking at the the pawn shop price code they paid less than $100 for the set, so I think they would take less than their $180 "best deal" price.

 

[biscuit141]

Hey Avig70, you interested in this set at all?

 

[jteck75]

I'm an industrial maintenance tech,formerly a heavy equipment tech. Get the cheapest set you can find,and if a socket/ratchet fails,replace them with a better quality unit,on a piece by piece basis. I bought a set of Great Neck 3/4" dr sockets at Auto Zone almost 20 years ago,when I first got in the buisness,and after having the devil worked out of each and every one,I haven't had a faliure yet. Just my .02,good luck!

 

[Lacota]

Here you go. Tekton 21 piece Metric 3/4" set for $109. May even shop around and find it cheaper. Comes with Ratchet, Breaker bar, extensions and 19, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 41, 42, 45, 46, 48, 50mm sockets.

Tekton 1100

Tekton has become my go to for tools when I need a cheap solution. They carry a lifetime warranty and their customer service is top notch. No warranty hassles or reciept ******** to deal with, you just call them and they send out the replacement. Additionally, one of their development guys is a member here (DaveR) and routinely communicates regarding any issues.

I'm liking the tekton 27pc 3/4 impact socket set, metric & SAE up to 2" and 50mm I think.
About 150$
Q. Do you happen to know if these are mid deep? Or the inside depth.
Thanks for any response.

 

[DFB]

I'm liking the tekton 27pc 3/4 impact socket set, metric & SAE up to 2" and 50mm I think.
About 150$
Q. Do you happen to know if these are mid deep? Or the inside depth.
Thanks for any response.

I cant speak specifically about that 27 pc set (do you have a part # or link) but I will assume its similar to the Neiko 02499A

I do have an older Tekton (MIT ) SAE 21 pc chrome set 1115 ($83.99 Amazon $67.19 TSC) along with some standard 3/4 drive shallow impacts both generic import and Sunex.

The chromed Tekton (MIT) vary in depth from around 1 1/4" on the small end to 1 3/4" at the larger end of the socket range 2" where as the impact grade 3/4 inch are all the same @ approx. 1 3/16" deep and 1 9/16 is the largest size in those that I have.


Wow this a pretty old thread that has been revived here and just as an FYI to some of the earlier postings I also work in agriculture daily and have done plenty of forestry work too. And I can say too my tools are well used but not abused.

 

[Cope]

I have this set. 22-50MM. $97.99 shipped Made in Taiwan.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Performance...hash=item20d6d90787&item=141043500935&vxp=mtr

 

[toolaholic]

A job smart http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/jobsmart-20-piece-diver-3-4-in-socket-set?cm_vc=-10005 and tekton(online only) http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...-4-in-drive-jumbo-socket-set-sae?cm_vc=-10005. are at tractor supply

 

[MDK22]

I guess people in the Big Rig field are harder on sockets then most seen all the cheap sets fail. Even twisted the head off of Extensions more then once.

 

[cliftonbros89]

If I were looking for a 6 point set. It'd probably have to be impact. It may be over the $100 budget but I'd look at a Williams set or Sunex. They both make good sockets. Plus have a warranty. From what I've experienced from their impact sockets they're not too bulky either. So they can still work in tighter spaces. They both make good metric sets in standard and deepwell sets.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[a52-830]

Here you go. Tekton 21 piece Metric 3/4" set for $109. May even shop around and find it cheaper. Comes with Ratchet, Breaker bar, extensions and 19, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 41, 42, 45, 46, 48, 50mm sockets.

Tekton 1100

Tekton has become my go to for tools when I need a cheap solution. They carry a lifetime warranty and their customer service is top notch. No warranty hassles or reciept ******** to deal with, you just call them and they send out the replacement. Additionally, one of their development guys is a member here (DaveR) and routinely communicates regarding any issues.

i have that set. it is worth the money. as you say, tekton is great about dealing with it.

it is at amazon for about 86$. if you dont care that the case might be damaged, they are selling a "used" set (return or warehouse damaged) for 60$

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JN6EBM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DFB]

Just to note TSC has free to store shipping up to 12/18/16 on the different Tekton sets they offer. And obviously the cheapest place around for some 3/4 stuff would probably be at HF. With 20% off their 20pc would only be $48. But their chrome sets are all 12 point sockets and not 6pt. A set of shallow 3/4 drive 6pt impact sockets alone no breaker bar/ratchet or drive extensions would only be about $32 with a 20% coupon but those top out at 38mm on the metric and 1 1/2" SAE

All depends what you want or need I guess

 

[Lacota]

Two sets of harbour freight vs this combo set.
I like the clutch set kind of a mid deep, no combo and more $. I may try these in pic and give a review in time.

 

[DFB]

I for one would look forward to hearing a good user/purchase review on the newer impact rated imported 3/4 inch drive offerings and figuring if you pay more you should get more with sets from Klutch, Neiko or Tekton.

I have had a Klutch brand 59PC 1/2 and 3/8 combo set sourced from NT for maybe 15 years to augment some earlier impact socket purchases and overall have been satisfied with them. Nothing has broken or got really deformed but they do scratched up pretty easy but Cr-Mo was only on the larger sizes in my set (just so you know that) The rest were stamped CrV plus my storage case is different from what NT shows online nowadays.)


I also have had decent opportunity to handle most all of the more common chromed 3/4 drive sets on the market for different jobs. The MIT/Tekton brand, the old Speedway series and HF, plus I get to sell certain ones too at my flea mkt tent. None are totally great but they do work in many applications and of course the general overall finish on any of them would make most tool polishers cry. I've also seen all these break before too the swivel breaker drives, the ratchet heads and most especially the smaller sized sockets in the sets spit open trying to loosen lugs with an added cheater bar. At the farm job we often use a 30" length cut piece of PTO shaft tube for added leverage when needed

Now just remembering that my ex FIL back on his farm has a SAE 3/4" drive Craftsman set bought years ago. Boy would I like to get my hands on that. I'm thinking it was around $200 new back 35 years ago Pretty much not wrenching his own at his age I would think now though but not out the business either and just bought a TN 75 not long ago to hay and log with )

I just hope a sweet set like that that isn't just rusting away in his rollaway in a year round unheated garage.