Do you think socket brands are a big deal?

[noid]

Forget about no-name stuff. What makes any respectable companies sockets better then the others apart from aesthetics?

Say between something like Stanley (relatively cheap) and snap on (expensive) what makes a snap-on socket so much better... hell even slightly better?

 

[Ben Iv]

To me the only thing that matters is ratchets a socket is a socket, now im shur many would disagree but as long as it has a lifteime warranty its fine. Now im not that old at 26 but ive only broken one socket it was a proto 1/2 drive cracked up the side. I have all craftsman sockets and have used snap-on quite a bit I can say that the snap-on is a better casting and the chrome is of a much better quality but those have nothing to do with how well it works.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

If you have to ask.......

There are a lot of differences between brands starting with the forging, grade of steel, acuracy of the broaching, finish and the fit to the bolt or nut. Add to this wall thickness and the contact areas and location of contact to the fastener, retension of the socket to the extension, ratchet, breaker bar or speeder, how the socket is labeled and how long the labeling will last.

 

[doctorschmullus]

Koken sockets are the best!
You want durable stuff that stands up to impact guns rofl, if you dont care about warranty

 

[sarel.wagner]

Have a look here, some tests showing the socket contact point on the nut, various sockets tested: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73245

Rgrds

 

[Marxx]

From my experience Snap On and Matco sockets are the way to go, they simply last longer and fit better, i even use my chrome sockets, chrome swivels & chrome extensions with my impact guns all the time and barely ever have a problem, i started out using Craftsman and they did a good job but if you like to abuse your tools like i do and use them everyday multiple times, get Snap On or Matco sockets......

 

[sko]

some are better than others, but usually not enough to make that much of a difference, as long as they are not total **** im not picky

 

[FoMoCoPower]

I know I will be acused of being a tool abuser and craftsman basher again,but there is a difference. I have cracked many Craftsman sockets using them exactly how they were designed for,it ***** when it`s midnight and you want to get a job done.

I am slowly switching over to all Snap-On sockets (it`s a long and costly process!).

Everyone seems to swear up and down about how great the HF impact sockets are,but I tried a set once and had 4 shatter within 2 weeks,and gave the rest away. I have a set of old Japan deep impacts that I honestly have zero complaints about,and I had those for like 8-9 years,and a friend had them for about 20-years before that.

I don`t abuse tools,but I do actually use them. I work mostly on older cars/trucks with years of rust on them,cheap stuff doesn`t hold up on old stuff.

 

[crewchief888]

ive had the best luck with SO and matco sockets, they get daily use on construction eq.

home use i have a little of everything,
mainly CM,
quite a few SK,
mac
matco,
SO,
proto,
husky,
kobalt.
and some without even a COO

my least favorite are MAC

 

[redLSJ]

If you have to ask.......

There are a lot of differences between brands starting with the forging, grade of steel, acuracy of the broaching, finish and the fit to the bolt or nut. Add to this wall thickness and the contact areas and location of contact to the fastener, retension of the socket to the extension, ratchet, breaker bar or speeder, how the socket is labeled and how long the labeling will last.

there isn't a . big enough for this post

/thread

 

[Fedwrench]

First off, any tool truck brand is more about truck to you service, pay while you use payments, a wider selection of sizes, and a better made socket (fit, finish, strength, etc.).
Secondly, how hard are you on your tools? occasional use really doesn't need professional level tools.
Back to the brands, some brands have better size markings. Some may have better detent ball cutouts for the drive tools. Some may have brilliant chrome finish, while others are lacking a finish. Some may go tink! as they spit under use while others remove countless fasteners without any issues. Some are only available in sets while others are available individually. Some you may have to mail in for warranty replacement. Some have off corner engagement others don't. Some have thick walls others have thin walls.

 

[kab00m]

I'm an occasionally DIY'er with C-Man and Duralast.

 

[rsieracki]

i have about a 50/50 of SnapOn and CMAN (mostly =V=) with some SK filler in there. All of them are great, sometimes length and OD vary with manufactur and some are therefore a better "fit" for some jobs. as a rule of thumb i generally reach for my SO stuff first as i know if it wont grip right then others wont either. SO make a superior product but im a weekend wrencher and got most of my SO for little to no money (related to a retired lifelong dealer so that means "tool gifts" and some repo'd/engraved stuff but hey it works and cost me very little if anything) ive filled in some of those missing sets from fleabay and the occasional garagesale or flea find. but my cman and sk are great too but the SO stuff i come accross takes precident and replaces 'identical' styled other brands. ratchets however, hands down SO is best but they do mate up to turn other brand sockets just fine