bfm336
Well-known member
Love my SK sockets and LOVE the green cases for organization - GREAT on warranty too.
Best sockets for the money
- Thread starter Pontiac787
- Start date
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I was trying to find you a 6 point metric set.
jgschroeder99
Well-known member
I have mostly Armstrong sockets. They work fine, but since they are really just USA Craftsman, they do have some rust inside the broaching, and the finish under the chrome isn't very smooth. Personally, I think the best bang for the buck would be SK if you want USA, or Gearwrench if you don't have a COO preference.
OP
Pontiac787
Well-known member
Gotcha. I didn't get that far in the search. Has anyone had to warranty the Williams USA stuff? Do you do it by mail?
bcradio
Well-known member
I would love to try Toptul sometime
devildog93
Member
I picked up a set of these for 230 or so. So far so good. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HGKR6O/?tag=atomicindus08-20
No complaints so far. I had a decent chrome set for hand tools, but needed a full compliment of impact sockets at home, so i gave them a shot.
No complaints so far. I had a decent chrome set for hand tools, but needed a full compliment of impact sockets at home, so i gave them a shot.
outdoorspace
Banned
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- Jan 28, 2014
- Messages
- 356
Williams is a good value for hand sockets, just don't expect tolerances and polish on the level of Snap-On. I personally have no regrets with Proto but they are expensive unless you find a good distributor or buy from individuals.
Yes, you will have to warranty Williams by mail. Most industrial equipment suppliers that carry Williams, predominately Motion Industries, will only perform warranty exchanges if you have a record of sale with them similar to servicing Proto tools with Grainger. That said, there are many positive testimonials on the forum for Williams warranty experience by mail.
Yes, you will have to warranty Williams by mail. Most industrial equipment suppliers that carry Williams, predominately Motion Industries, will only perform warranty exchanges if you have a record of sale with them similar to servicing Proto tools with Grainger. That said, there are many positive testimonials on the forum for Williams warranty experience by mail.
bob15
Well-known member
SK, Wright, Bonney, Snap On
I Find with 1/2 sockets you can get away with less than snap on. My 1/2 impacts are cheaper hardware store house brand. With smaller sockets especially 1/4 drive, look for sockets with minimum or no entry angle. That chamfered end is so dumb to me. I'm a professional mechanic and have everything from snap on, gearwrench, usa craftsman and even some oddball husky.
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Farmall450
Well-known member
Fixed it for you; I agree.
Asain sockets tend to have better chrome than domestic, epa laws and stuff.
COO sensitivity may make you avoid them. Then top brands will offer a more consistent product but Willy and SK seem to have odd QC issues where in some CM domestic stuff it's normal to suffer QC problems.
Other than that used is a crapshoot of its own and they all seem to turn bolts.
If the stuff you already have has worked this long look at them to tell you what you like and dislike.
I bought good Asain a decade ago and see no reason to change them. Fit and finish havenot failed me yet.
COO sensitivity may make you avoid them. Then top brands will offer a more consistent product but Willy and SK seem to have odd QC issues where in some CM domestic stuff it's normal to suffer QC problems.
Other than that used is a crapshoot of its own and they all seem to turn bolts.
If the stuff you already have has worked this long look at them to tell you what you like and dislike.
I bought good Asain a decade ago and see no reason to change them. Fit and finish havenot failed me yet.
Farmall450
Well-known member
It is true. Several years ago the older type of chroming operations were shut down for toxic waste issues. It was difficult to legally dispose of them.
The new less toxic process chrome is not the same finish and some makers went back to just nickel plating on lesser lines to keep costs in check.
But they forgot to inform the tool polishers and questions arose. You still get rust resistance but not that shiny glow of old.
They all turn bolts but the desire for man jewelry to be perfect has not gone away. You can still get great finish on domestic chrome but it seems you pay for the special attention.
The new less toxic process chrome is not the same finish and some makers went back to just nickel plating on lesser lines to keep costs in check.
But they forgot to inform the tool polishers and questions arose. You still get rust resistance but not that shiny glow of old.
They all turn bolts but the desire for man jewelry to be perfect has not gone away. You can still get great finish on domestic chrome but it seems you pay for the special attention.
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All my NEW Cman USA have rust inside them. My early 90's Cmans have no rust at all.
outdoorspace
Banned
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Precisely this.
In my understanding, modern trivalent chromium plating results in more uniform coverage with equal hardness to hexavalent chrome but the bathing process demands more controls so production costs are higher despite the throwing power and actual plating rate being much better than hexavalent chromium plating. Early trivalent chromates resulted in a darker, less blue finish that turned consumers off but modern chromates appear identical and are functionally just as strong. Someone in the field can chime in.
Williams USA would be my choice. They have Snap On's designs, which are good. But I think the benefit of high quality 1/2" sockets isn't as great as the benefit of high quality 1/4" drive. I suspect the OP would be happy with any number of 1/2" socket sets.
The Taiwan sockets are generally good. But Taiwan buys over $2B in Chinese steel every year. So you just never know what you might get. But lots of people buy Chinese steel (generally not U.S. tool companies). And the Taiwan tools are generally good.
It might be best to either choose very inexpensive sockets, like HF, or any brand that you feel gives good service, whether it's something from Home Depot or Sears, etc. I would chose Williams for the shallow broach, low height, and inner profile.
The Taiwan sockets are generally good. But Taiwan buys over $2B in Chinese steel every year. So you just never know what you might get. But lots of people buy Chinese steel (generally not U.S. tool companies). And the Taiwan tools are generally good.
It might be best to either choose very inexpensive sockets, like HF, or any brand that you feel gives good service, whether it's something from Home Depot or Sears, etc. I would chose Williams for the shallow broach, low height, and inner profile.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
Gmonkee said:
^ started way back. Cal Custom (formerly in El Segundo, California) was having all of its plating done in Mexico in the 1970s, prior to it being done in Asia.
doesn't apply only to tools.
shockwave
Well-known member
Starting out I would say gearwrench or husky I personally use snap on daily but not the best budget minded but gearwrench is in my road box and never failed me yet
derricksonk91
New member
I love every gearwrench product I touch. I sing their praises.
ultgar
Well-known member
Michaelstover
Member
Hi, I know how hard is to find socket sets for car maintenance. There are many brands out in the market. Hope this tools site will help you to find the perfect set for your need.
Regards.
Regards.
I like the USA craftsman but QC can be a mixed bag. I have never seen rust in them or any junk under their chrome (like the horrible SK stuff I gave away), I have seen messed up detent though. I also sprayed the inside of all my sockets (the ones I store in an unheated garage) with fluid film as a precaution. I have one of the dual marked USA 299 piece sets in my garage for the last four years and no rust.
The best value branded sockets I've ever bought are my tektons. Good price for a set and a lifetime warranty on pretty much everything.
Saying that a socket is a very simple bit of kit. I have loads of no brand sockets off eBay and they've been perfectly fine and get daily use.
Don't spend too much. Spend the money you save on buying expensive sockets and put it into the tools you use them with.
Saying that a socket is a very simple bit of kit. I have loads of no brand sockets off eBay and they've been perfectly fine and get daily use.
Don't spend too much. Spend the money you save on buying expensive sockets and put it into the tools you use them with.
I really like some of the kobalt stuff..been cutting up kobalt wrenches to make wrench heads for my old utica torque wrench..i do like gear wrench as well in fact i just cut up a gear wrencj ratchet for a torque wrench head as well...chrome finish on both those brands seems excellent to me
For sockets we are still using late 50's craftsman and vintage snap on..i still like my vintage armstrong box end set i bought years ago...what really is interesting is jc penny actually sold some decent stuff back then as well..my metric box end wrench set from jc penny has repaired my hodakas and old hondas for years...
For sockets we are still using late 50's craftsman and vintage snap on..i still like my vintage armstrong box end set i bought years ago...what really is interesting is jc penny actually sold some decent stuff back then as well..my metric box end wrench set from jc penny has repaired my hodakas and old hondas for years...
your jc penney is likely made by sk if its fully polished wrenches. they are excellent tools.
dont think ive seen this mentioned, its been a while since i posted in here.
duralast from autozone are some decent tools. the sockets are on par or better than gearwrench and sort of look like blackhawk usa, imo.
the wrenches and ratchets are decent too. all lifetime as well. if i didnt have so many tools, id buy one of their kits that go on sale every now and then for my truck.
duralast from autozone are some decent tools. the sockets are on par or better than gearwrench and sort of look like blackhawk usa, imo.
the wrenches and ratchets are decent too. all lifetime as well. if i didnt have so many tools, id buy one of their kits that go on sale every now and then for my truck.
JuliusPepperwood
Well-known member
I use a mix of harbor freight pro and craftsman sockets for chrome
and my impacts used to be harborfreight but I’ve replaced them with tekton since they don’t skip sizes.
I’m an apprentice diesel tech and in the year ive been at it I’ve yet to break a socket from any of the brands I listed. I will say that I like the feel of my craftsman sockets better but it’s not like they perform better. No other brand will perform better than the other for that matter either.
At home I have a duralast set that I’ve had for about 3 years. Can’t go wrong there either.
and my impacts used to be harborfreight but I’ve replaced them with tekton since they don’t skip sizes.
I’m an apprentice diesel tech and in the year ive been at it I’ve yet to break a socket from any of the brands I listed. I will say that I like the feel of my craftsman sockets better but it’s not like they perform better. No other brand will perform better than the other for that matter either.
At home I have a duralast set that I’ve had for about 3 years. Can’t go wrong there either.
Tekton sockets bit plain and average in my opinion .
Gearwrench sockets nice for sales deals they do and socket design features bit more pro spec. I have some older gearwrench sockets and they perfectly decent even in daily autoshop use .
premier do some decent half satin sockets and napa carlyle sockets are real nice but little pricey unless on flyer deal or online price special. You sure don't need spend crazy money on basic sockets and best spending more money on ratchets and extensions to compliment the sockets .
Gearwrench sockets nice for sales deals they do and socket design features bit more pro spec. I have some older gearwrench sockets and they perfectly decent even in daily autoshop use .
premier do some decent half satin sockets and napa carlyle sockets are real nice but little pricey unless on flyer deal or online price special. You sure don't need spend crazy money on basic sockets and best spending more money on ratchets and extensions to compliment the sockets .
Yes they are fully polished and well balanced....should have bought more
The Fall
Well-known member
USA Craftsman sockets were a steal. They get bashed A LOT -- and I've seen some sets in the wild still at ACE from the end days that have horrible chroming; extensions flaking chrome while still on the racks -- but if you just check the set before you buy them, that's the best deal in sockets by a wide margin. G2 sockets I have are great. The latter -- I think GK -- were real hit or miss. I've broken one Craftsman USA socket. I've abused them and they still keep coming back for more. It's not that I don't believe folks who say they kept breaking them. That's just not my experience with them at all. I wish they still were made in the US. I don't plan to replace my USA CMan sets for the most part. I don't see a reason to.
I've switched to SK and Wright for the remaining sockets I needed with one exception: I have SK's 3/8" set of deep/shallow metric and SAE. Flawless chroming -- I don't care about paint in the socket. The tools get used. Mine are from the Ideal period. Very proud of them. I ordered a set of 1/2" deep SAE SKs two days ago to replace some imported ones (which I sold to a friend).
After CMan went to China, the days of relatively inexpensive American-made sockets left with them. SK and Wright is my answer if COO is a concern for you. You've got to pony up now, but there's certainly a huge gap between SK, Wright and Proto and the trucks.
I've switched to SK and Wright for the remaining sockets I needed with one exception: I have SK's 3/8" set of deep/shallow metric and SAE. Flawless chroming -- I don't care about paint in the socket. The tools get used. Mine are from the Ideal period. Very proud of them. I ordered a set of 1/2" deep SAE SKs two days ago to replace some imported ones (which I sold to a friend).
After CMan went to China, the days of relatively inexpensive American-made sockets left with them. SK and Wright is my answer if COO is a concern for you. You've got to pony up now, but there's certainly a huge gap between SK, Wright and Proto and the trucks.
Parrothead
Well-known member
Tekton
...and in my opinion don’t think it’s particularly close. Good quality and great customer service. Very well priced too. Here’s what $50 gets you...
shallow sockets (6 point): 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4
deep sockets (6 point): 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4
shallow sockets (6 point): 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
deep sockets (6 point): 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
3/8 ratchet (72 tooth)
3” & 6” extensions and a universal joint
* they do sell some of the other size if you need/want them like a 7/8
...and in my opinion don’t think it’s particularly close. Good quality and great customer service. Very well priced too. Here’s what $50 gets you...
shallow sockets (6 point): 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4
deep sockets (6 point): 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4
shallow sockets (6 point): 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
deep sockets (6 point): 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
3/8 ratchet (72 tooth)
3” & 6” extensions and a universal joint
* they do sell some of the other size if you need/want them like a 7/8
I think I would go with Tekton before HF. The quality is good, the sets are more complete and they have great customer service as opposed to how HF conducts business. They are also reasonably priced.
Thet term "best bang for the buck" is too vague to be helpful. SK or Wright is very good, cheaper than SO but far more than HF or Tekton. It all depends on what you need them for. Hoping nobody gets their ******* in a knot but it is not some linear thing that every extra dollar you spend gets you better quality. As somebody recently pointed out, the spread between low end junk sockets and high end has closed up a lot in recent years.
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The Fall
Well-known member
I agree. I'll spend the extra cash to buy USA socket when I can, but Taiwanese sockets -- from what I've seen -- are respectable.
cool. decent sockets for even cheaper.Hahahahaha ive seen duralast at the dollar store
Here is a comparison of 25 year old snap on i bought thru the plant tool program and some very fine metric craftsman i bought at sears...to the touch the craftsman feels jewelry smooth while the snap on has an industrial feel....sad to think what has become of craftsman
Attachments
Specs
Well-known member
Any socket set that hasn’t broke yet... *pokerface*
If your OCD allows, ebay “socket lot usa” and “pound of sockets” or “box of usa socket”
Make a set, sell off rest, repeat.
Black friday, fathers day, memorial day, and 4th of july are the days tools sets are blown out. (Home depot/Lowes) Vintage Mac, Snap on, Cornwell Matco are gonna be the holy grail...
If your OCD allows, ebay “socket lot usa” and “pound of sockets” or “box of usa socket”
Make a set, sell off rest, repeat.
Black friday, fathers day, memorial day, and 4th of july are the days tools sets are blown out. (Home depot/Lowes) Vintage Mac, Snap on, Cornwell Matco are gonna be the holy grail...