Age of your sockets???

[didit]

Of the everyday used ones, I have a set of 1/2" drive Gray sockets, ratchets, extensions, etc. from the '50s given to me used from my Dad. I bought a 1/2" drive set of deep impact sockets also made by Gray in the '60s. Not real pretty, being old black oxide finish but extremely durable. I also have the usual incomplete mix from across the spectrum of manufacturers in 1/2". The 3/8" and 1/4" drive go to sets are Mastercraft and Craftsman from the '70s. I do have a incomplete set of 1/2" drive made by Longloy as well ( my first set ). I never hear of them being mentioned. They were made in the '60s. I did break some of those being thinner walled. Some of my favorites are Proto's and Snap On's but I never had complete sets of either.

 

[demarpaint]

I have some Craftsman sockets and wrenches dating back to the mid 70's, some older than that.

 

[seber]

I started with Craftsman in 62. By 66 I had broken enough of them to buy a set of SK. I'm still using that set. Warranty isn't much comfort when it stops the job. In the early 80s I filled in with Snap-on.

 

[General Geoff]

Most of my sockets are between 5 and 20 years old, with old USA-made craftsman being the oldest, and some recent Koken sockets being the newest.

 

[lynx40]

Snap-on 3/8th - 1/2" from mid 80's various others Britool 1/2" metric, Draper other brands up till current day. Snap-on and Britool brought as set's various others brought individually as required mainly metric sizes ��

 

[Dakkyz]

Elora, 80s and 90s, snap on 70/80's, some old british made stuff like Britool, and loads more long forgotten british manufacturers.

 

[zmotorsports]

My oldest sockets were purchased in approx. 1990. I started my professional career as an industrial maintenance mechanic in 1988 and for the first year or so I used my Craftsman that I brought into the job.

About a year or so later I started buying quality sockets as I knew I was in for a long career and I could tell the difference in quality. Most of my 1/2" and 3/8" SAE and Metric sockets are 30+ years old.

I then upgraded nearly all of my 1/4" stuff around 2000 so they are about 20 years old along with my 3/4" set that I bought used in early 2000's.

I only have a few newer sockets and they are about 5 or 6 years old but very few.

 

[4 FN 27]

1979 my Mom bought me a 175 pcs set from Craftsman with a small Tool Box for my 16th Birthday. I added to that set from that day forward. I used that set with that additions in my shops over the years.

In 1997 I bought the full Craftsman 1-8 sets adding set #9 in 1998 and a new Professional Series Tool Box. I also added duplicate sets within the sets and in some cases triplicate sets of commonly used tools like Reversible Ratchet Wrenches and Combination Wrenches.

The Set I got when I turned 16 went in to the Race Car Trailer and was hauled around the country for years. More and more was added to that set mostly specialty Tools and some that were modified for working on different areas of the car. That Set is in my Machine Shop area.

The set purchased in 1997 was moved into a Macsimizer 3 Bay Box in 2004 and in 2005 I added the matching upper Box as the set grew. At the time I had an NHRA Pro License and was able to buy them at a 50% discount.

Currently I have added very few Sockets over the years most recently a set of Carlyle Torx and Allen Sockets.

Moving forward the shift might be towards Proto or just bite the bullet and get a Snap-on Master Set. A dream of mine but as I get older I realize the Snap-On set may not be the wisest investment...but a guy has to have goals.

 

[zmotorsports]

1979 my Mom bought me a 175 pcs set from Craftsman with a small Tool Box for my 16th Birthday. I added to that set from that day forward. I used that set with that additions in my shops over the years.

In 1997 I bought the full Craftsman 1-8 sets adding set #9 in 1998 and a new Professional Series Tool Box. I also added duplicate sets within the sets and in some cases triplicate sets of commonly used tools like Reversible Ratchet Wrenches and Combination Wrenches.

The Set I got when I turned 16 went in to the Race Car Trailer and was hauled around the country for years. More and more was added to that set mostly specialty Tools and some that were modified for working on different areas of the car. That Set is in my Machine Shop area.

The set purchased in 1997 was moved into a Macsimizer 3 Bay Box in 2004 and in 2005 I added the matching upper Box as the set grew. At the time I had an NHRA Pro License and was able to buy them at a 50% discount.

Currently I have added very few Sockets over the years most recently a set of Carlyle Torx and Allen Sockets.

Moving forward the shift might be towards Proto or just bite the bullet and get a Snap-on Master Set. A dream of mine but as I get older I realize the Snap-On set may not be the wisest investment...but a guy has to have goals.

Pat, I bought a set of Carlyle 1/2" deep Metrics about 5 years ago and have been very impressed with the overall quality. Curious as to your experience.

The earlier NAPA stuff made by Danaher I think was slightly better but both have been very nice products.

 

[4 FN 27]

Pat, I bought a set of Carlyle 1/2" deep Metrics about 5 years ago and have been very impressed with the overall quality. Curious as to your experience.

The earlier NAPA stuff made by Danaher I think was slightly better but both have been very nice products.

Mike so far the Carlyle Sockets are doing their thing. I stressed a few of them and they seem to be fine.

I forgot to mention I did buy a set of the Carlyle Inverted Torx. Gave a couple of them a turn or 2 on my BIL BMW. Again no issues.

When I asked my local Napa store about failures, chipping chrome, cracking or twisted bits they said they have not had any returns other than neglect and abuse.

So for a non professional, specialty, not in use everyday they are an economically wise choice in my opinion.

Time will tell...

 

[bpjr]

The oldest I'm still using are v code craftsman and sk purchased in the 60s and Klein usa metrics purchased in the 80s. Since then mostly usa craftsman, usa husky, usa stanley and HF pitt pro.

 

[jgromada]

Craftsmen 1981
But i have a lot of newer stuff, Williams, Gearwrench, Icon

In all the years only broke one, i had been using a Craftsmen chrome 14mm socket and used it with an impact. Not their fault

 

[M635_Guy]

1979 my Mom bought me a 175 pcs set from Craftsman with a small Tool Box for my 16th Birthday. I added to that set from that day forward. I used that set with that additions in my shops over the years.

In 1997 I bought the full Craftsman 1-8 sets adding set #9 in 1998 and a new Professional Series Tool Box. I also added duplicate sets within the sets and in some cases triplicate sets of commonly used tools like Reversible Ratchet Wrenches and Combination Wrenches.

The Set I got when I turned 16 went in to the Race Car Trailer and was hauled around the country for years. More and more was added to that set mostly specialty Tools and some that were modified for working on different areas of the car. That Set is in my Machine Shop area.

The set purchased in 1997 was moved into a Macsimizer 3 Bay Box in 2004 and in 2005 I added the matching upper Box as the set grew. At the time I had an NHRA Pro License and was able to buy them at a 50% discount.

Currently I have added very few Sockets over the years most recently a set of Carlyle Torx and Allen Sockets.

Moving forward the shift might be towards Proto or just bite the bullet and get a Snap-on Master Set. A dream of mine but as I get older I realize the Snap-On set may not be the wisest investment...but a guy has to have goals.

A pic of the OG set would be pretty cool. I wish I had a cool story like that (BTW - dig the paraphrased Deming quote in your sig)

For me, I've got a consumer-grade Husky set that I used for years and years until recently. I got a Sunex chrome set and it's been a revelation - I had no idea how mediocre the Husky stuff was until I started using the new set. That lead me to get Sunex 1/2" and 1/4" impact sets that have exceeded my (now much-higher) expectations. I'm 51, and guessing all of those tools will survive me, and the Husky set will probably stick around only as a size-spare and IDGAF set.

 

[David99]

Mostly Craftsman purchased in 1984.
Don't remember breaking any of them.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike so far the Carlyle Sockets are doing their thing. I stressed a few of them and they seem to be fine.

I forgot to mention I did buy a set of the Carlyle Inverted Torx. Gave a couple of them a turn or 2 on my BIL BMW. Again no issues.

When I asked my local Napa store about failures, chipping chrome, cracking or twisted bits they said they have not had any returns other than neglect and abuse.

So for a non professional, specialty, not in use everyday they are an economically wise choice in my opinion.

Time will tell...

Thanks Pat. Similar experiences then. As for professional daily use I have several of our mechanics that have nearly all Carlyle sockets and wrenches and they are holding up extremely well for daily use so far.

While I love my Proto's for the most part, I have noticed that there are a few places where the Snap-on ones really shine due to their thinner wall thickness but those are isolated situations.

 

[bugnut]

In the early 70's I bought Sears Companion 1/4 and 1/2 drive sets, they were more budget friendly than Craftsman. As wages allowed I purchased a set of Sears brand not Craftsman 3/8 drive. I used those for a long time as my go to tools until I upgraded in the 80's and 90's to Craftsman. I still use the Companion and Sears cause they feel familiar when I do. I also have my fathers Walden 1/2 drive set that we used together in the 60's-it mostly just sits waiting to be called on again!

 

[SILVERPLATE]

The majority of my sockets are Snap-On and Craftsman and were purchased new in the early seventies.

 

[PelicanPines]

Age of my sockets?

Younger than my nutts...

Older than the rust on my bolt...

 

[dr_clyde]

I have my Great Grandfathers Snap-On socket set from the late 1940’s. It is my go-to set at the house. I want to say that they date code 1948?

At work, my oldest stuff is a set of Craftsman 8 point sockets that were Grandpas. Date code BE.

Oldest in use that I purchased is Blue-Point I bought around 10-12 years ago to replace my craftsman stuff when I got the job I had at the car shop.

I primarily use my new-ish Snap-on sets bought in the last 5 years though.

 

[ZRX61]

I have some Kamasa sockets from the mid '70's, older SO & Craftsman, everything else is newer.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Most of my sockets, along with my 3/8" drive ratchet, are S-K ............ 50 years old. And they all still work perfectly! Though the ratchet has been rebuilt a couple of times.......

 

[anndel]

I have sockets ranging from 1970's Craftsman sockets to 2018 Snap-ons. Mix bag of Craftsman, Snap-on, S-K, MAC, Tekton and Sunex.

 

[sberry]

Life has gotta **** when the highlight is checking in on the age of sockets some old farts got. Lots of cman,, how exciting. A few Napa which were polished cman.
My stuff is junk. I need to outright toss some pliers. Get some new. 3 new dykes and 3 number 9. The sockets and wrenches I use are fine and if it bothers me will score a couple new HF screwdrivers.
Some tools would be worth parting out, mine is scraping pieces, as a set its almost as good as any, that's it's value. Need 2 new 99E knives yet, bought a new tape measure, 7$ the other day.
I want a couple 20oz straight jaw nail hammers.

 

[4 FN 27]

A pic of the OG set would be pretty cool.

OG Set??? Not following what you are looking for???

 

[sberry]

I went to the well the other day. I need another hf breaker bar but found a couple sockets, 3/4 and 13/16 from the dupes drawer. Was gonna be for a lug nut deal and sorted thru and found a couple heavy duty sockets, I got Sears, same models, different sockets, I don't recall the codes but they were in the same time frame from different sets.

 

[sberry]

In the 80's they had little sales, 9 pc deep 3/8 drive about 10$ maybe. I bought one once in a while and duped up a couple times. Enough to make up a set if I needed. I got a set on another job, I rooted thru it a while back and needed a 11/16 shallow and 13 deep someone lost over the season. I found a couple pieces I need to take. Someone bought a Husky for some of it and I pulled together some Sae in 1/2 enough to get by.

 

[backroad]

Since I work in the Ag industry I rarely make it 2-3 years before some of mine get planted or "borrowed." Right now I'm running a couple sets of Carlyles on rails that I can seem to keep up with easier. When I take a socket out to a piece of equipment I usually just grab the rail. I'll either have all of them or none of them when I get back.

 

[finn]

SK from 1966, and some probably a good five years older.

Craftsman from 1975 through about 1999.

Snap on from around 2000, and Crescent from 2012.

No favoritism among them.

 

[Spokane]

My impacts are all HF. Seem to work OK. Cheap enough that they do double duty on my 20-ton press for bearing and ball joint pushes.
1/4", 3/8", & 1/2" all polished Craftsman and Snap-On. My dad passed the Snap's to me in the 90's he received from his boss. Most from the 60's & 70's. I can tell those ones as well as the wrenches as his boss marked them by grinding a notch in the handle or bottom of the socket. Fun to wrench with 50 and 60 Y.O. tools.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Some are current production SO, some are "V" series Craftsman, some are sets I got handed down from my dad when he was a pup... so I guess the correct answer would be "Yes"...

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have two Tru-Test sets my dad bought in the 70s.

 

[AZ Pete]

I have some Craftsman I was given in 1965 and some Fleet I was given in 1964. Still use the Craftsman.

 

[bobcatdan]

I would say 90% of my sockets are 10-20 years old. The other 10% is a mix of the remaining craftsman I bought as a kid and one or maybe two sets I have bought in the last 10 years.

 

[Wes Tex]

I got my first tool box with a set of Craftsman sockets, ratchets, and a set of open-end box -end wrenches as a Christmas present in 1956. I still have a few survivors after all these years.

 

[Jazz1]

Bought my Craftsman SAE set in 1980, sockets and wrench set. It was 20 years before I relented and had to add a metric set