Complete mechanics socket set sources.

[kilgorq]

I am looking into redoing my socket set. I have been looking at several manufacturers, and I am finding it to be so frustrating. There are so many "Used to Be Good Brands" that are not anymore. I cannot afford wright or snap-on. I am looking at spending 500 to 700 for a complete set of sockets. The main stipulation is that they Must have replacements available.

Most of these come close to my price point. But so far I have not found one that ticks all the boxes.

I want a set that matches and will fill every slot in my holders. That way I know I that if I see an empty slot that I am missing a tool.

I used to really like Craftsman and Kobalt, but they both have issues with ratchets that jamb. I have one of each that are less than a year old, and they both jamb when working upside down. I went out and bought a (Stanley) Proto ratchet, and it is great, but they are out of my price point.

The competitors at this point are
Ares:
Pros: Excellent Reviews
Cons: Could not find a source for individual sockets. Appears to be sets only.
Craftsman :
Pros: Local supplier, Replacements readily available, Decent inexpensive tools
Cons: Have to piece the set together, Not sure about reliability since they are no longer a US Based company. Concerned about quality.
Titan:
Pros: Pretty good reviews, Local tool shop highly recommends them for middle of the line tools, I have a couple of the ratchets and they are great.
Cons: No local source for replacements, finding it difficult to find a good set that even has most of the tools.
Capri:
Pros: Pretty good reviews, Nice sets that get me most of the way to my full set with a few stragglers I need to buy
Cos: Not Local, Most of the set have been out of stock for a while now.
Gear Wrench:
Pros: Good Reviews, Local supplier has some stock,
Cons; Price is on the higher end of what I want to spend, The only set that I have seen had chrome peeling on 2 of the sockets and one of the ratchets.
Husky:
Pros: Decent Reviews. Local Supplier, I have used some with good results.
Cons: Review appear to be getting worse. It looks like the quality has gone way down recently. Local supplier fights you on anything that you have to return.
Kobalt:
Pros: I have a lot of them and they have been pretty good. I have been happy with them
Cons: Quality is going down hill, Replacements for lost or damage are never in stock. They appear to be getting phased out.
Dewalt:
Pros: Excellent reviews, 2 Local suppliers. One keeps replacement sockets well stocked.
Cons: Expensive, Sets are very limited, Some socket sizes are not available, Nice set for a go box but probably not the shop.
Proto:
Pros: They are my favorite. I bought a proto ratchet and it is wonderful.
Cons: Way too expensive.
SK:
Pros: On My favorite list. Have a set of the metric ratcheting end wrenches and they are great.
Cons: Price, Not sure of what I am actually getting. Some say china, some say USA. But the small socket set my son recently bought was not on par for SK.

Still looking into Duralast, and Power Torque.

I am pretty sure Duralast and Husky are made by the APEX.

Any Recommendations of suppliers to look at. Or additions to my pro and con list. Please do. Help me make up my mind. Or Not

 

[f121]

What sizes are you meaning when you say ‘complete set’? 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4? Metric and sae?

 

[kilgorq]

6 point and 12 point, deep and standard 3/8 Metric 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 3/8 SAE 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1

6 point deep and standard 1/4 Metric 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 1/4 SAE 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8

6 Point deep and standard 1/2 Metric 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 1/2 SAE 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1, 1-1/16, 1-1/8, 1-3/16, 1-1/4

I should have been more specific.

 

[sponfit]

I know it’s a bit of a cliche around here but, what about Tekton?

 

[kilgorq]

Too funny. I am looking at them right now.

It looks like there are 4 sockets that they do not make for this set.

1/4 Drive 6 Point 1/8" Deep
1/4 Drive 6 Point 1/8" Shallow
1/4 Drive 6 Point 5/8" Deep
1/4 Drive 6 Point 5/8" Shallow

Very uncommon sizes. I do deal with 1/8 nuts and screws sometimes.

1/4, 3/8, 1/2 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket and Ratchet Set | TEKTON

212-piece set includes 5/32 - 1-5/16 inch (SAE) and 4 - 32 mm (metric) shallow and deep 6-point sockets and accessories with cases. No skipped sizes. SKT95304.

www.tekton.com

 

[Jure]

Toptul

 

[kilgorq]

Toptul

I Couldn't find SAE anywhere. Also, only found one USA distributor. Ant the selection was very limited.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I've never broken a socket, since I've learned that I prefer excellent-made sockets and tools. I did the same thing and went with Koken, except I don't care about the warranty as much. when the tool is well made it wont fail often. I understand tho, so I would go with Tekton/Craftsman/gear wrench as those fit the criteria you looking for well. I own all and many other brands, almost all are good for the price.

 

[Dave455]

A couple of points stand out.

Firstly, all the “brands” you list are just that. I don’t think any of them actually make the tools they sell, they are I think all made in China or Taiwan.

Within those constraints, you are far better off looking at Taiwan made rather than Chinese, but you will get better value by buying from a manufacturer.

For 3/8 drive, you have requested deep and standard, both 6 and 12 point. There are very few occasions when I‘ve really needed a 12 point socket, and when I have it’s almost a specialist tool, specific to one job. You might be better served by less tools, but from a better maker. KoKen are the stand outs here I feel. Made in Japan, probably 90% of Snap On quality for a fraction of the price.

The range of sizes you have requested is comprehensive, but that might be worthy of consideration too. You requested 3/8 drive up to 20mm, but not one of the existing standards use a 20mm nut, which is why most sets don’t include it.

You also requested 3/8 up to 1 inch, That’s a rare size too, but more importantly, are you really going to use it? Even a 3/4”, torqued to average specs, is probably going to be too much for 3/8“ drive. I don’t think I’ve ever used 3/8 drive much above 17mm or 11/16”

 

[Wamsutta]

Williams Taiwan or Toptul for sockets.

Williams USA for ratchets.

 

[mike93lx]

If you are considering stuff like Dewalt, husky, craftsman, and Kobalt, I strongly believe that if tekton doesn't have it you don't need it

 

[Jtels85]

Tekton.

Don't waste your time with Craftsman. Stanley Black & Decker's Craftsman brand is more interested in selling you screwdriver bits and hex keys in your mechanics sets than actual tools that are useful.

 

[Fedwrench]

For the cost, I don't think you'll find a wider selection of sizes across three drive sizes with open stock available than Tekton.
Excellent customer service, free shipping over $25 once registered, and you get 10% back in rewards points that spend like cash if ordered from Tekton.com

 

[lardy1]

Like a broken record: Tekton. Buy them as you need them or in sets. The ability to add and/or replace sockets was attractive to me when I was still buying sockets. You won't find an easier company to deal with.

 

[Zewnten]

Your champagne taste needs to compromise with your beer budget. Tekton and buy the odd ball sizes in a different brand and live with the difference slight difference, oh the humanity. Or pony up for professional brands and get the specifics that you want.

 

[rust in the eye]

Second hand pro brands is the way to have your cake and eat it too.
Skip phobia is pernicious around here for no good reason. When was the last time you used a 20mm socket?
I agree with your idea about not wanting empty slots as a means for quick inventory. Even if not all in the correct spot you'll at least know if one is missing. My solution is to use rails where the pegs, clips, whatever may be removed or added to suit what you have. This way even if I don't possess that 20mm socket there is no empty spot for it to give me a twitch.

 

[four.cycle]

TIATA
(Tekton is always the answer.)

If you're dead set on having both 1/8" shallow and deep and 5/8" shallow and deep in 1/4" drive, then you're looking at Snap-on, Wright, or Proto, because nobody else makes all that stuff in all those drive sizes and size ranges.
Tekton is going to get as close as you're going to get within the constraints of your budget, and as already mentioned, they make a first-rate product and are pretty easy to deal with.

@rust in the eye -
RE: "Skip phobia is pernicious around here for no good reason."

Only after joining GarageJournal.com eight years ago was it brought to my attention that I was missing all kinds of sizes of sockets: I didn't own any 1/4" drive 14mm sockets, or any 1/8" 6-point deep-wells, or any 4.5mm shallow sockets.
Eight years later, I'm still wondering what I am supposed to use these sizes on.

 

[shibertus]

I know it’s a bit of a cliche around here but, what about Tekton?

Too funny. I am looking at them right now.

It looks like there are 4 sockets that they do not make for this set.

1/4 Drive 6 Point 1/8" Deep
1/4 Drive 6 Point 1/8" Shallow
1/4 Drive 6 Point 5/8" Deep
1/4 Drive 6 Point 5/8" Shallow

Olsa makes 1/4" drive sets with 1/8" and 5/8".

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091ZK5Y74?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091ZND3VC?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[cgrutt]

First off I'm not a mechanic so take this for what it's worth. I get that you want to fill your holders/rails with matching sets from same brand. But what are you actually working on where you actually need and will use multiple sets of essentially same sockets (functionally) in both metric and SAE? You have listed just in 3/8 eight full sets (unless it's 16 for chrome and impact? Or is it 32 sets because you need standard and universal sockets as well?) When I started buying tools nearly everything I worked on was SAE so that's where most of my money went. I haven't used almost all of that in many years, either because there is a close alternative in my metric set (19mm for 3/4 as an example) or because the vehicles that had been almost exclusively SAE are now using metric fasteners. I also rarely use any shallow sockets almost always grab a deep rail. In fact probably 80% or more of what I work on I just use either 1/4 or 3/8 6pt deep sockets. I have several sets of 12 pt fasteners but can only think of actually needing two sockets a 12 mm for some driveline fasteners on my F150 and 34mm (or was it 36mm?) for rear wheel bearings on my son's BMW.

You haven't even mentioned specialty sockets which may be needed and much more useful on certain vehicles. What about torx sockets? E-torx (female torx) found all over Mercedes and BMW as I'm sure others. What about Hex sockets? Impact sockets? Universal sockets? I'm sure whatever you're working on will need to grab those than say your 12pt shallow SAE rail.

Personally I would suggest narrowing down and eliminating what you won't really need or can easily substitute with another socket for example use a deep instead of a shallow which will work almost every time. I'd use the savings towards better brands or what you really want (eg those Protos on your wishlist). For me I'd choose Snap on almost every time although I have a lot of old Craftsman USA from when I first started buying tools and more recently ICON because they're just more affordable. I'd also look into a set of larger sockets if you plan to do any kind of suspension work.

Good luck!

 

[milkovich]

Most of the brands you listed buy from the same handful of manufacturers in Taiwan so I would look at the availability and warranty.
Personally, if I were to start over and I wanted a super-master-ultra set, I'd probably buy Carlyle from Napa.

 

[bcradio]

Glad it's settled. Post pictures of your new Tekton sockets when they arrive OP. You'll love them.

 

[mike93lx]

Too funny. I am looking at them right now.

It looks like there are 4 sockets that they do not make for this set.

1/4 Drive 6 Point 1/8" Deep
1/4 Drive 6 Point 1/8" Shallow
1/4 Drive 6 Point 5/8" Deep
1/4 Drive 6 Point 5/8" Shallow

Very uncommon sizes. I do deal with 1/8 nuts and screws sometimes.

1/4, 3/8, 1/2 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket and Ratchet Set | TEKTON

212-piece set includes 5/32 - 1-5/16 inch (SAE) and 4 - 32 mm (metric) shallow and deep 6-point sockets and accessories with cases. No skipped sizes. SKT95304.

www.tekton.com

1/8" socket? Shenanigans

 

[rust in the eye]

Olsa makes 1/4" drive sets with 1/8" and 5/8".

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091ZK5Y74?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091ZND3VC?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not sure of your reasons for wanting 1/4 dr 5/8 but remind you that that size head ostensibly belongs to a 7/16" bolt that in most cases requires tightening(not to mention loosening) beyond what is practical with a wrench that is perhaps 5" long. If you are indeed encountering these situations where small tools are required* you'd be well served to buy very good drive tools.
*I've seen lots of 1/4" drive tools used in the tight confines of open wheel racing cars. Those guys usually have fat wallets to buy the best.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Tekton.

Don't waste your time with Craftsman. Stanley Black & Decker's Craftsman brand is more interested in selling you screwdriver bits and hex keys in your mechanics sets than actual tools that are useful.

That's why you buy them in separate sets. I'm done buying blown molded cases or Complete/ultimate sets, they always have compromises and extra garbage. I own the Taiwan craftsman set in 1/4 and 3/8 both are just as good as the Tekton, I also got them for cheap.

 

[kilgorq]

Second hand pro brands is the way to have your cake and eat it too.
Skip phobia is pernicious around here for no good reason. When was the last time you used a 20mm socket?
I agree with your idea about not wanting empty slots as a means for quick inventory. Even if not all in the correct spot you'll at least know if one is missing. My solution is to use rails where the pegs, clips, whatever may be removed or added to suit what you have. This way even if I don't possess that 20mm socket there is no empty spot for it to give me a twitch.

I used a 20 mm 3 Days ago. I have the rails with clips, and the whole rail gets misplaced. I looked into

First off I'm not a mechanic so take this for what it's worth. I get that you want to fill your holders/rails with matching sets from same brand. But what are you actually working on where you actually need and will use multiple sets of essentially same sockets (functionally) in both metric and SAE? You have listed just in 3/8 eight full sets (unless it's 16 for chrome and impact? Or is it 32 sets because you need standard and universal sockets as well?) When I started buying tools nearly everything I worked on was SAE so that's where most of my money went. I haven't used almost all of that in many years, either because there is a close alternative in my metric set (19mm for 3/4 as an example) or because the vehicles that had been almost exclusively SAE are now using metric fasteners. I also rarely use any shallow sockets almost always grab a deep rail. In fact probably 80% or more of what I work on I just use either 1/4 or 3/8 6pt deep sockets. I have several sets of 12 pt fasteners but can only think of actually needing two sockets a 12 mm for some driveline fasteners on my F150 and 34mm (or was it 36mm?) for rear wheel bearings on my son's BMW.

You haven't even mentioned specialty sockets which may be needed and much more useful on certain vehicles. What about torx sockets? E-torx (female torx) found all over Mercedes and BMW as I'm sure others. What about Hex sockets? Impact sockets? Universal sockets? I'm sure whatever you're working on will need to grab those than say your 12pt shallow SAE rail.

Personally I would suggest narrowing down and eliminating what you won't really need or can easily substitute with another socket for example use a deep instead of a shallow which will work almost every time. I'd use the savings towards better brands or what you really want (eg those Protos on your wishlist). For me I'd choose Snap on almost every time although I have a lot of old Craftsman USA from when I first started buying tools and more recently ICON because they're just more affordable. I'd also look into a set of larger sockets if you plan to do any kind of suspension work.

Good luck!

I have the Specialty, Torx, Hex and the larger sizes that I am not replacing.

My Plan is to replace the core socket set. I am handing down my core socket set to my son. He actually uses them more than I do now. He does the work and I show him how to do it.

I also have considered just narrowing it down to a really nice 3/8 socket set from Proto, And just keep my cheaper 1/4 and 1/2 Drive sets. Then upgrade those later.

I have a ton of the old Craftsman and the chrome is pealing on a bunch of them. Some of the Craftsman sets I have are 25+ Years old.

I need deep and shallow. I work under the hood and run into a ton of places where deep sockets just will not work. Also, I need 12 point occasionally.

Currently, I have 3 Rollers and 2 Top Boxes full of tools. I am trying to narrow that down. I am trying to get everything to fit into 2 Rollers. Starting with the core socket set that used to take up 5 drawers. Which is down to 2 drawers now. When I went through and put everything into the holders. I have several open slots and tons of duplicates. I had at least 5 partial sets of everything. The issue is a lot of them were Pittsburgh and you cannot get just one socket. So if one got lost or broken, I would have to replace the whole set. This happened a couple of times before I changed over to Kobalt. Then the issue was that they never had the one I needed in stock. Broken Sockets are uncommon. This has been over the course of 20 years. I started with a Craftsman set about 35 Years ago. It is unfortunate that they are not made like they used to be.

 

[kilgorq]

That's why you buy them in separate sets. I'm done buying blown molded cases or Complete/ultimate sets, they always have compromises and extra garbage. I own the Taiwan craftsman set in 1/4 and 3/8 both are just as good as the Tekton, I also got them for cheap.

The local shop tells me that the stuff made in Taiwan art the better budget sockets, But from what I have been seeing the latest Craftsman in chinesium.

 

[kilgorq]

Not sure of your reasons for wanting 1/4 dr 5/8 but remind you that that size head ostensibly belongs to a 7/16" bolt that in most cases requires tightening(not to mention loosening) beyond what is practical with a wrench that is perhaps 5" long. If you are indeed encountering these situations where small tools are required* you'd be well served to buy very good drive tools.
*I've seen lots of 1/4" drive tools used in the tight confines of open wheel racing cars. Those guys usually have fat wallets to buy the best.

I am just being nitpicky about open slots in my socket drawer.

 

[cgrutt]

@kilgorq sorry missed that you were redoing established set. I thought you may have been starting out. I've been telling my son he's got a great set of tools since he was little but he still manages to show little interest in any of it and has me doing the hard work lol. At one point I think I had about 15 boxes I'm currently down to three, well four if you count the Craftsman bench with drawers, but I'm totally out of space with lots of stuff stored in rough necks, five gallon buckets and storage cabinets (no drawers). Amazing what we can accumulate good luck with your project!

 

[rust in the eye]

I am just being nitpicky about open slots in my socket drawer.

end of the row is easy enough to establish "Open slot" for 5/8" implies one also for 1/4"dr. 11/16"

 

[kilgorq]

How can I delete one of my posts.

 

[kilgorq]

end of the row is easy enough to establish "Open slot" for 5/8" implies one also for 1/4"dr. 11/16"

I thought about 3d Printing a slug for the empty slots.

 

[kilgorq]

@kilgorq sorry missed that you were redoing established set. I thought you may have been starting out. I've been telling my son he's got a great set of tools since he was little but he still manages to show little interest in any of it and has me doing the hard work lol. At one point I think I had about 15 boxes I'm currently down to three, well four if you count the Craftsman bench with drawers, but I'm totally out of space with lots of stuff stored in rough necks, five gallon buckets and storage cabinets (no drawers). Amazing what we can accumulate good luck with your project!

My 3-Car garage has walkways now. I need to free up some space, so I can actually use it. Or sell and get a bigger house. Which will not happen. I am too old to start over on house payments. Ideally, I would love to just compress everything into a cart. I just don't see that happening. But Eliminating 1 top and bottom box is doable, I hope.

 

[shanny19]

Have some fun with it…….I decided a few years back to fill out a brand new complete 6 point set across all three drive sizes, in shallow, mid (where available) and deep, SAE and Metric. I think it was 16 individual sets, I didn’t try to source 1/2 drive mids. And I went with 16 individual brands, for fun, and for learning. US, German, Taiwan, Japan.

Learning part: Since completing that project, I have purchased more sets of: Koken, Hazet, Snap On, Blackhawk USA, Proto, Carlyle. The one brand of the 16 I will never try again: Williams Taiwan.

 

[drtyler]

Learning part: Since completing that project, I have purchased more sets of: Koken, Hazet, Snap On, Blackhawk USA, Proto, Carlyle. The one brand of the 16 I will never try again: Williams Taiwan.

Just curious, but why is this?

 

[bigjeff94]

I think the Pittsburgh Pro 301 piece set has a very comprehensive set of sockets for the money.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

OP I also upgraded from basic skipped CM USA set to Snap on took many years spreading the $. Took the easy way out.

 

[M6erfan]

Only after joining GarageJournal.com eight years ago was it brought to my attention that I was missing all kinds of sizes of sockets: I didn't own any 1/4" drive 14mm sockets, or any 1/8" 6-point deep-wells, or any 4.5mm shallow sockets.

14mm in 1/4" drive is very common. I use mine often.

Eight years later, I'm still wondering what I am supposed to use these sizes on.

Not to be a smart ***, but I generally use 14mm sockets on 14mm fasteners . They're everywhere, on what I work on.

An old rule of thumb is not to exceed 2x the drive size, so that would be up to 13mm socket in 1/4", 19mm in 3/8", and 24mm in 1/2". I pretty much stick with that, except I do use 14mm in 1/4" drive like I said, and 1/2" drive up to about 32mm. In modern day, using impact tools takes a lot of the work load off hand ratchets.

I know in Europe it's pretty common to use 1/4" drive and 1/2" dive for the most part and 3/8" drive isn't used as much. I too have kind of migrated that way over the years, despite 3/8" drive being very popular in the U.S.

 

[shanny19]

Just curious, but why is this?

It is a 1/2 drive SAE shallow set, and the chrome on several was peeling upon unpacking. The 1 1/4 socket had no detents for anvil balls, just a square shaft broached in. Pretty disappointing.

For 3/8 drive SAE shallow I bought Williams USA, and they are beautiful.

 

[cherrybomb]

When you look at that list,you have a rather large over lap.I would think of the time you used that socket,especially large 1/4 and small 3/8,If you can,rethink it.Also in 1/4 I find my intermediate height way more valuable.I also don't need 1/4 12points.What my point is that you can maybe stay in budget and hit Proto or Williams USA,thats just me,but Tectron would do you well also

 

[Andres26tnt]

The local shop tells me that the stuff made in Taiwan art the better budget sockets, But from what I have been seeing the latest Craftsman in chinesium.

Regular Craftsman has 2 version one made in china the other Taiwan. Both aren't bad, the Taiwan is slightly better.

Craftsman aimed at pro mechanics(V line) is all made in Taiwan/France/Italy and has the best finish of them all.