Im a hot side and cold side equipment tech(restaurants). im looking for a decent set of 6pt 1/4" and 3/8" socket sets, they wont get used much, most of the stuff i work on i use nut divers and screw drivers but want a set in the van for when i need them. i have probably every socket craftsman makes at home but those will stay at home. they may get lost by helpers and other techs but still need to hold up and have a lifetime warranty. i was looking at husky and kobalt, but honestly hf look the same quality, which isnt bad but hf is cheaper. how are the hf extensions and sockets?
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best light use socket set for then work van
- Thread starter mike14_07
- Start date
BillK
Well-known member
Mike,
Why not just get some more Craftsman ones ? Sears probably has them all on sale for Xmas, this would be the time to buy. I have mostly Craftsman stuff at work and have not had to replace one yet.
Why not just get some more Craftsman ones ? Sears probably has them all on sale for Xmas, this would be the time to buy. I have mostly Craftsman stuff at work and have not had to replace one yet.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Metric or sae? Sears had small 11 piece sets for $9.99. I have them and they work just fine. They had both 3/8 and 1/4 metric and sae on sale at than price. I have metric and sae in 3/8 and 1/4 in my road box. No issues at all. Won't help if you need deep well though. I just happened to find the last USA made sets at my local store.
Just snag some Pittsburgh Pros from Harbor Freight. Cheap and pretty darned good quality.
Make sure they say "Pro," though. The difference between Pittsburgh Pro and regular Pittsburgh sockets is like the difference between a good mid-priced frying pan and a piece of aluminum foil shaped into a crude pan shape.
Make sure they say "Pro," though. The difference between Pittsburgh Pro and regular Pittsburgh sockets is like the difference between a good mid-priced frying pan and a piece of aluminum foil shaped into a crude pan shape.
BillK
Well-known member
well sears is about 1.5 hrs, from here
Well then, pick whoever is closest and most convenient for when you need replacements. Just about all of the less expensive sets are going to be the same quality. One thing to look at, especially if you will be using them in tight spaces, is the wall thickness of the sockets. The cheaper ones seem to make up for the lousy metal by making them thicker, and then they will not get into real tight spots.
honestly i have not been impressed here lately with them
What have you not been impressed with ? Have you actually purchased and used any recently to really make a judgment ?
how do the china made craftsman compare to other tool store brands?
The sockets seem about the same as the Chinese Husky to me. I don't care for them. The Taiwanese Kobalts and Pittsburgh Pros feel the same as each other to me, and that's a clear tier above the CMan/Husky.
That being said, if you're barely going to use them, any of the four brands would be fine for your needs, at least as far as sockets go.
HF sockets are great for light duty use. I have the multi colored metric/SAE sets and they have served me well for a good while now.
I do use them in auto repairs also and the only "problem" is that the color wears off. No big deal really. The size range coverage is complete.
They were $7 each set, well within price of a set you could pass to a helper.
I do use them in auto repairs also and the only "problem" is that the color wears off. No big deal really. The size range coverage is complete.
They were $7 each set, well within price of a set you could pass to a helper.
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What have you not been impressed with ? Have you actually purchased and used any recently to really make a judgment ?
yes i have, i meant not as good as my older cman, they work fine, but usually more expensive the others and seem about the same quality imho. that being said craftsman has a pretty complete set of what i need for 49.99, including ratchets, i don't care for there basic ratchets, but they'll work fine for what im using them for. add a couple of extensions and up to 1" deep sockets and it'll work great. but ill throw my premium ratchets in there when i get some gear wrench 84 tooth ratchets for home.
shockwave
Well-known member
Go for a gearwrench set they are sold at most part stores and carry lifetime warranty and have held up really well from what I have used of them even thou they have Asian origin
O RLY
Well-known member
I just ordered a gear wrench 3/8 set for my "go bag". Seems to fit the bill.
I completely agree about this. However, I chose the Kobalt over the HF and I would again given the choice. Often, Lowe's puts socket sets on sale for dirt cheap, I got deep SAE & MM for maybe $20 total, I think they were $8 per set. I got the shallow ones for similar, and the 1/4 (very nice btw, their 1/4 6 pt sockets I think are the best they make) for I think $5/set.The sockets seem about the same as the Chinese Husky to me. I don't care for them. The Taiwanese Kobalts and Pittsburgh Pros feel the same as each other to me, and that's a clear tier above the CMan/Husky.
That being said, if you're barely going to use them, any of the four brands would be fine for your needs, at least as far as sockets go.
I have another mixed set in a box in the car, and it gets a lot of use. This might not matter to you much if you are going to stow it in the trunk and hope to never use it, but I seem to come across situations where my car set gets used about 1-3x per month for something or other.
mrborohachi
Well-known member
I absolutely love my 1/4 dr metric/sae set Gearwrench 120p set. It goes up to 15mm & 9/16in which will cover 90% of what your working in a kitchen.
GearWrench 80300 51 Piece 1/4-Inch Drive 6 Point Socket Set
I got my set from Trident
www.Trident-Supply.com
contact: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/member.php?u=180795
GearWrench 80300 51 Piece 1/4-Inch Drive 6 Point Socket Set
I got my set from Trident
www.Trident-Supply.com
contact: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/member.php?u=180795
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I completely agree about this. However, I chose the Kobalt over the HF and I would again given the choice. Often, Lowe's puts socket sets on sale for dirt cheap, I got deep SAE & MM for maybe $20 total, I think they were $8 per set. I got the shallow ones for similar, and the 1/4 (very nice btw, their 1/4 6 pt sockets I think are the best they make) for I think $5/set.
I have another mixed set in a box in the car, and it gets a lot of use. This might not matter to you much if you are going to stow it in the trunk and hope to never use it, but I seem to come across situations where my car set gets used about 1-3x per month for something or other.
Plus lowes has a ton of open stock sockets in case of a needed size not in a set or you explode one. Plus the Taiwan Kobalt is better quality than many of the choices above. Except their love for 12pt sockets. Husky is making decent stuff nowadays. The new Taiwan made husky ratchets are very nice.
oldldh
Well-known member
+1 On the Gearwrench...
cburnscrx
Well-known member
Plus lowes has a ton of open stock sockets in case of a needed size not in a set or you explode one. Plus the Taiwan Kobalt is better quality than many of the choices above. Except their love for 12pt sockets. Husky is making decent stuff nowadays. The new Taiwan made husky ratchets are very nice.
Yes, they're made by APEX (see Gearwrench), and 72t with quick release. I was debating between the Gearwrench 120xp and the Husky and went with the Husky set because of the quick release. Very thin head too for tight spaces.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Im a hot side and cold side equipment tech(restaurants). im looking for a decent set of 6pt 1/4" and 3/8" socket sets, they wont get used much, most of the stuff i work on i use nut divers and screw drivers but want a set in the van for when i need them. i have probably every socket craftsman makes at home but those will stay at home. they may get lost by helpers and other techs but still need to hold up and have a lifetime warranty. i was looking at husky and kobalt, but honestly hf look the same quality, which isnt bad but hf is cheaper. how are the hf extensions and sockets?
Kobalt taiwan if possible. HF taiwan if cheaper. Will be about the same quality wise.
Usually, the taiwanese stuff from either are built better than the chinese equivalent. My opinion. Depends on what you use them for and how you use them. As far as retail warranties there isn't a whole lot out there with a ton of availability; auto parts in house brands might be an option but it's trending toward china as well.
well i ordered a gear wrench 1/4" and 3/8" 68 piece set from tool topia Sunday, got it today and i must say, best 100 Ive spent on tools in a while.I'm probably gonna get a set of ratchets for the box at home. The sockets are nice, way better looking and feeling than the later craftsman stuff. Another question, whats wrong with the tawain made husky stuff, i have some small stuff from them, a 72t rachet, a few socket, etc.. and have not had a problem seemed the same quality as kobalt to me, even tho lowes selection is tons better.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Nothing wrong with them at all. Pretty good stuff actually. I like some of the Husky stuff. Just bought some Taiwan made ball end long bit sockets. They look exactly like my gearwrench long torx set.