Decent 3/4" socket set?

[zimm17]

I asking for a 3/4" socket set for Christmas. Mostly for light duty work like large sized nuts on motorcycles (clutches, axle nuts, etc). Needs to handle 1/2" impact gun to remove, tightening torques from 35-150ft/lbs. I need sizes between 1"-2".

Northern Tool has a "Klutch" brand impact set for $199 for 7/8" through 2" with wrench, breaker bar, and two extensions. Looks like a great deal. Wonder how it compares to HF or Craftsman.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

Personally, i bought the HF sets with 20% off coupon for 40 bucks each, both sets come with all the size ranges, breaker bar, ratchet, extension and case. ive used them for removing the large bolts on rear ends of jeeps and trucks, never had a problem. I also have a press and sometimes use the sockets to "help" press bearings. no problems here, plus if you break one for any reason, guaranteed to replace. but you gotta have a lot of torque on them to snap one of those suckers. ive also got snap ons, macs, c-mans, williams, but i have complete sets of the HF's

its all dependant on how much you are going to use them and how much you want to shell out

 

[wornoutoldman]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310478470965?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

ships free too!

 

[JASTECH]

I have a Snappy, Williams and 1 set that was ordered that was suppose to be USA but arived China. Would have sent it back except shipping cost was same as I paid so I'm stuck with it. It's in yard sale stuff somewhere.

 

[4x4gearhead]

If you can get your hands on US made craftsman youd be in style for the money. Thats what I started with and I have never broken any of it (even with some impact use) *whistles*

 

[Mickey O]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310478470965?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

ships free too!

That set is made in Taiwan.

I'd watch eBay and keep an eye on the Sears website and their outlet store, they've had some great deals. Maybe craig's list or the flea market.

I've got S-K, Armstrong a few MAC, Matco and misc USA made ones, all good but I don't use them all that often anymore. I use them more for driving seals and bearing races than as sockets these days. Unless you have a real need maybe just buy the individual sockets you need and a decent ratchet and a few extensions.

Cripe has a good deal on SAE USA Kobalt:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kobalt-3-4-...109?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3588eb4d

 

[RCStocker]

I would look on Craigslist. They come up for sale all the time for under $150. I see a lot of Proto sets for that. I picked up a Wright set a month ago for $100. It went all the way to 2 inches. It had the ratchet and breaker bar with one short extension. It is like brand new and my grandson will love it for a Christmas present.

I see a lot of them on Craigslist in Indiana, California, Michigan and AZ.

I have a 25 % off of HF tools and still could not bring myself to buy them. They are fine and I like their impact sockets and have been using those for 24 years now. If you are only going to use one or two sizes for one bike then I would go with FG and save your money. You are not going to break them on a motorcycle.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

3/4" drive HF metric socket set... My ratchet was junk and wouldn't turn.. The interior teeth looked like they had been formed with a waffle iron... HF replaced that; no problem... Cheapo set for cheapo price..nothing to bragg about.


For first choice: with a 1/2" impact, I would favor getting 1/2" IMPACT sockets of the size you need.. When using an impact wrench; I avoid adapters and extensions whenever possible.

I have at least three sets of their 3/4" and one inch drive impact sockets.. These get used on large equipment and semi-trucks... I have no complaints;for the price...... I would look at these, and an impact adapter for second choice..

Hand drive sockets used with an impact is something I really frown upon and discourage..

 

[creativecars]

I had the same need. I went with the HF for the price. The sockets are thick, but you usually have space when working with the big sizes anyway. I dont mind grinding on one for clearance issues if needed. I would hate to do that with a $40.00 SO socket. I have never broken one... even after grinding. I also grab the ratchet and a 1/2 adaptor and use it as a 1/2" ratcheting breaker. I dont use it every day, but it has done well for the last 5 years.
I was raised on Craftsman... but they aint what the usta be...

 

[fflintstone]

I don’t know if they still do but menards carried a basic ¾ drive Allen set that was USA made for $199.

If you’re not going to buy USA stuff you might as well buy a crappy HF ¾ set.
I buy a fair amount of HF stuff, but there ¾ set is crappy quality. Doubt you will break it though.

 

[zimm17]

I think the 3/4" socket set without wrench will work for me. I have a 1/2 => 3/4 adaptor to use my torque wrench and impact on. I'll look into that Kobolt USA set on ebay.

 

[creativecars]

Don't forget to check out local pawn shops. Alot of people dont use them enough and they are too heavy to lug around so they will pawn them. My local shop wants almost new prices, but you can talk them down...with cash.

 

[balane]

Every time I come across a decent set of 3/4" drive tools at estate/garage sales they are outrageously overpriced. And this is when everything else is priced fairly. A couple weekends ago I saw a set of older Craftsman tools in 3/4" drive; a ratchet, two extensions and maybe 12 sockets plus a sliding T handle. They had a paper on it that said $350 FIRM.

Sellers combine the larger size with the low frequency they've personally seen them to equal some exponential value based on perceived rarity without even considering demand. I've tried a reasonable haggling process on two occasions but neither seller was willing to listen. So, I'm also still looking for a nice, older USA manufactured set.

Fortunately I don't need them that badly and my 1/2" drive has sufficed nearly all of the time. (The one or two times I needed larger I just borrowed from a good friend.)

.

 

[fflintstone]

ok now its rebranded to masterforce but its made by Allen

USA goodnes for $200

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...ional-12-pt-standard-set/p-1503283-c-9159.htm

I bought an old williams set a long time ago and paid $100 for it
I never see deals on them used either.
all my 3/4 metric sockets are Taiwan.

 

[crewchief888]

ok now its rebranded to masterforce but its made by Allen

USA goodnes for $200

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...ional-12-pt-standard-set/p-1503283-c-9159.htm

I bought an old williams set a long time ago and paid $100 for it
I never see deals on them used either.
all my 3/4 metric sockets are Taiwan.

co-worker of mine picked up a new 3/4" dr set at a pawn shop for $45

if i need a 3/4" dr socket (that i dont already have) i'll usually grab a CM. most of my other 3/4" dr chrome sockets are SO, impacts are matco

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I was selling a 3/4" socket set with all the standard sizes and decent ratchet, made in Taiwan. Took me about two years to get the $75 selling price I wanted. And they were like new, most of them never used.

 

[peterbilr98]

I'm down with the hf set had my 3/4 and inch drive for 15 years no problems my inch set I've used on inch drive impact guns to take off seized yoke nuts on eaton and Rockwell rears never broke one yet.

 

[wornoutoldman]

For the USA purists: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WRI...248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416e4ed890

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Menards has a 3/4 drive set thats USA made http://menards.com/main/tools-hardw...ional-12-pt-standard-set/p-1503283-c-9159.htm

I just looked tho. it doesent go all the way to 2 inch like you needed

Is there anything wrong with craftsman. I bet there is plenty of USA made craftsman 3/4" drive stuff left to go around

 

[Scout Driver]

Another vote for the Allen set from Menards (or Masterforce). Very well-made set for the money. If you really need a 2" socket, buy it separately. I've used the Allen set for a few years and have been very happy with it.

Scott

 

[woody 73]

Funny thing but for a long time someone in my area of town was trying to sell their snap on 3/4 set on CL; I think they were asking $2800.00 for the set in very nice condition. I don't see the ad anymore so I am guessing they must have found a buyer for the set.

I am sure that must be a good deal for someone but still seems like a boat load of money to me...

 

[zmotorsports]

I asking for a 3/4" socket set for Christmas. Mostly for light duty work like large sized nuts on motorcycles (clutches, axle nuts, etc). Needs to handle 1/2" impact gun to remove, tightening torques from 35-150ft/lbs. I need sizes between 1"-2".

Northern Tool has a "Klutch" brand impact set for $199 for 7/8" through 2" with wrench, breaker bar, and two extensions. Looks like a great deal. Wonder how it compares to HF or Craftsman.

My full-time employer supplies anything larger than 1" so I hadn't had the need for a 3/4" set until about 12 years ago when I started working on larger trucks and RV's at my home shop. Going against my better judgement I bought a HF POS set that included sizes 1"-2" plus a breaker bar, extension and a ratchet. What a mistake.

I had several sockets break on me but one in particular scared me when a chunk hit me in the shoulder one night while working on our motorhome. I went searching for a better quality set and ended up with a NAPA 17-piece 3/4" impact socket set. The set is made by Danaher and is excellent quality. I would highly recommend it and the set was a lot less expensive than Snap-On, Matco or Cornwell brands. I have had the set for four years now and use them quite a bit more than I thought I would when I first purchased them.

Mike.

 

[bcradio]

My full-time employer supplies anything larger than 1" so I hadn't had the need for a 3/4" set until about 12 years ago when I started working on larger trucks and RV's at my home shop. Going against my better judgement I bought a HF POS set that included sizes 1"-2" plus a breaker bar, extension and a ratchet. What a mistake.

I had several sockets break on me but one in particular scared me when a chunk hit me in the shoulder one night while working on our motorhome. I went searching for a better quality set and ended up with a NAPA 17-piece 3/4" impact socket set. The set is made by Danaher and is excellent quality. I would highly recommend it and the set was a lot less expensive than Snap-On, Matco or Cornwell brands. I have had the set for four years now and use them quite a bit more than I thought I would when I first purchased them.

Mike.

Yes I would definitely be leery of the HF 3/4 sets of yester-year. The new ones are much better quality and as you can see on here, nobody has really broken them. Also the impacts from HF are far better quality than the chrome, so you'll want those anyway as you said.

 

[Murphy4570]

Funny thing but for a long time someone in my area of town was trying to sell their snap on 3/4 set on CL; I think they were asking $2800.00 for the set in very nice condition. I don't see the ad anymore so I am guessing they must have found a buyer for the set.

I am sure that must be a good deal for someone but still seems like a boat load of money to me...

Those sets go for $3,300 new.

There is a brand new one up for sale on my local CL right now, with a price of "make an offer".

I'd make a $1,000 offer, but I'd be scared that he would accept it!!!!

Snap-On stuff is nice, but when you get into the 3/4" range, it gets stupid expensive, even for me.

 

[David W]

My dad has an old Craftsman 3/4" drive socket set that he used occaisionaly. While he never totally broke any sockets, some of them had gotten deformed to the wrong size over the years due to no doubt abuse of some sort or another (Not an impact, he never had one). A 10 foot cheater is a more probable cause. This set is from the 60's back when Craftsman was a good product.
Just something to look out for when buying used.

 

[camarotoolman]

I got a c-man set off cl, when I ment the guy to pick up, they were new!

 

[bobcatdan]

I have sunnex 3/4" impact sockets. A little spendy for imports, but I have great luck with all the sunnex impacts I own. Napa carries them under a different name, possibly the evercraft name.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Funny thing but for a long time someone in my area of town was trying to sell their snap on 3/4 set on CL; I think they were asking $2800.00 for the set in very nice condition. I don't see the ad anymore so I am guessing they must have found a buyer for the set.

I am sure that must be a good deal for someone but still seems like a boat load of money to me...

I can't imagine anyone paid close to that, Woody. He either had an unrealistic idea of what it was worth, or he thought he had some gold. Either way, I bet he sold it for a small fraction of that price, or he still has it.

 

[camarotoolman]

Picked up a new looking MAC breaker bar and ratchet this am, will take $225 for both.

 

[Strouty]

I buy HF sockets and get craftsmen ratchets, you can have a real nice set for less than $200 that has SAE and Metric.

 

[Lkdelta]

The wright socket set

A bit pricey ($500+), but this looks like the set we have at work

http://www.jdindustrialsupply.com/wrto62dr22pc.html

 

[Sureshot]

I bought one of the cheap sets from Princess Auto(Canadian for HF) and have removed yokes and other big stuff over the years. Had an old IH that we had to use a floor jack on the end of the breaker bar to get it moving. For what you need it would work fine.

I also have a set that came off some equipment I bought and parted out. I may sell it if you are interested. Not sure where you are for shipping. It may be cheaper to buy a new set.