Best value in sockets?

[Zebu Fellenz]

Thanks for all the replies.

Right now I am debating between the Craftsmen and the Wright sockets, I have sets of both in my box already and the Wright sockets do seem to be better quality, I'll have to price both out and see if I can justify getting the Wright sockets.

I will be posting a WTB in the forum to see what that turns up.

Thanks!

 

[Deskmechanic]

I have some new wright too, also bought on ebay cheap. They are very nice but at regular retail they are pretty expensive. Not worth the premium over c-man, IMHO.

And a couple of sets of SK bought on sale too. Just added 1/4 drive mid-deep SAE for $35 shipped.


Just shop around.

I forgot to add Kobalt to my list of decent sockets above also Napa pro sockets are the same. So Kobalt-craftsman-armstrong-kd-allen-matco-Napa professional are all USA made, all cheap and all easy to get.

PS if you decide to buy used don't buy anything except Snap-on. Nothing else will have any value, and SO sockets are very easy to warranty simply by sending back to them. I generally only buy used SO and I only buy SO used.

 

[lipadj46]

Proto professional are nice also, keep an eye on ebay

 

[Deskmechanic]

Funny I have some of those too. Very nice sockets.

 

[back2class]

Proto professional are nice also, keep an eye on ebay

I adore Proto professonal sockets, they seem the best made of any brand of sockets. But best bang for buck is Craftsman. Say what you will, these are a high quality item that give up nearly nothin to the Snap-On and Proto level stuff.

 

[Deskmechanic]

I adore Proto professonal sockets, they seem the best made of any brand of sockets. But best bang for buck is Craftsman. Say what you will, these are a high quality item that give up nearly nothin to the Snap-On and Proto level stuff.

Yes to both. Proto pro (aka Mac, in some cases) are very nice.

Craftsman are hard to beat though. Some guys here hate on them but I have mostly c-man sockets and I love them. Sometimes they are a little thick, especially the 6-pointers, but they work well and last a long time.

And if you break one the sears is never more than a few miles away.

Just depends on what you want - new or used, retail or online, cash or credit!

 

[King Bojack]

~Stuff about tool trucks~

I've never heard of a tool truck rep. being "right there right now" unless your ratchet falls apart on the day he/she shows up.

 

[RetroJim]

Sears by far has the best value for hand tools . life time guarantee and no hassle exchange . I usually find the great deals on them at yard sales and pawn shops . I love to get the broken screwdrivers and wrench's at yard sale for next to nothing . Then I take them to my local Sears store and get new tools for next to nothing . I also find Proto , Williams , SK , Snap-on , MAC and Blue-Point at yard sales and Pawn shops too . I like to look through all the cheap overseas tools to find the one or two lonely good tools mixed in for $0.25 . I have so many dupes of hand tools but I just can't turn down a good deal on great tools ! You can also get some good deals on Craigs list too .

Jim

 

[redLSJ]

On a side note, if you are able to go used, look for a Matco set. Excellent quality and warranty.

I picked up a 12 or so pc metric shallow set with rail for around $50 shipped last year.

 

[RetroJim55]

I have used C/man tolls for ever and the sockets are still the best value for the money . Yes I have broken some and have rounded out the teeth in the 12 points but that was because I used them as Impact Sockets ! Didn't matter , i took them back and they gave me new ones with no questions asked either ! They stand behind their hand tools no matter what .

Jim

 

[Ford12508]

I have used C/man tolls for ever and the sockets are still the best value for the money . Yes I have broken some and have rounded out the teeth in the 12 points but that was because I used them as Impact Sockets ! Didn't matter , i took them back and they gave me new ones with no questions asked either ! They stand behind their hand tools no matter what .

Jim

So a company lost out on money because you knowingly misused a tool?

 

[Skin]

a lot of people use chrome sockets as impacts, its been said here 1000 times. Either someone just doesnt feeling like rooting around for the right socket when they have the chrome one in hand or they need something with thin walls. Its done a lot.

I'm sure the vast majority of tool warranties in general are due in some part of abuse.

 

[a390st]

The Sears where I used to live used to tell you to use the chrome sockets as impacts, as they didn't like to fool with the impact sockets. They had the chrome sockets in singles and the impacts only in sets. I shook my head, but I saw it happen several times.

I have lots of different sets of sockets, and I will say that the old Wright made Matco chrome sockets were extremely heavy sockets. They were very noticeably heavier than most any of the other sockets of the same size. I have sets of CMan and Kobalt, too, as well as SO, and will say that if you find them on sale or used, the Kobalt sockets aren't bad.

 

[Deskmechanic]

The Wright 1/4 drive set I have is quite heavy too. They are nice but hard to find.

 

[a390st]

My cousin was a Matco dealer for years and has several sets of each size, but otherwise, I have seen very few sets of older Matco chrome sockets.