Gearwrench or HF hex bit sockets

[signcrafter]

I want to pick up a set of metric hex bit sockets mainly for drain and fill plugs on ATFs and diffs and other things. I'm just a home mechanic so they probably will be used very little. I can get the gearwrench from advance for about 21 bucks using a discount code, http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...36-p?searchTerm=metric+hex+sockets#fragment-2. Or I can get the HF set for about 12 bucks after 20% off, http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-drain-plug-socket-set-94961.html.

I have a few other gearwrench sets and really like them. I have a 3/8" drive metric swivel socket set and an etorx set from them and for the price they are pretty nice tools. The HF has a few more sockets but not sure I'll need the square sockets. Any advice on which one you would get?

 

[CWP1616L]

GearWrench gives you a really cool socket holder with the set.

 

[chadsy]

the hf set has served me well for this type of job. just make sure you get a good seating and maybe soak it in pb blaster before hand with these tools.

 

[Skin]

VIM is probably the cheapest i'd look for. Reasoning is simple, steel quality and quality control of the bit. HF is notorious for selling subpar tools which is how they can price them so cheap. Its not hating on import tools, because there are good ones (see VIM), its just a fact that HF sells some of the worst. The last thing you want to have happen is a stripped out plug especially if that internal hex was your only hope for removal (some drain plugs have an internal and external torx/hex).

MechanicNamedJohn is a big proponent of HF and even he posted that their hex bits were terrible.

Actually heres one of his posts about it that my googlefu found.

I had HF's, long story short... The HF 6mm was actually 5.92mm (or 5.91, can't remember, anyway) I rounded off 3 bolts on a BMW, took about an hour plus to get them out. Called my Mac dealer that day he was over in less than an hour, I purchased the Mac/VIM set and love then. FYI, Mac's 6mm is 6mm.

If I remember right he had them swapped once or twice at HF before resorting to MAC and they all were undersized.

 

[Applesauce]

Small (<10 mm) and cheap do not play well when it comes to hex bits. Big ones (17 mm, for instance) for low torque spots like drain plugs I've found are usually fine. But cheap 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm bits have ruined a lot of days around my bike shop, where metric hex tools are used more than anything else by 10 to 1.


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[ChevyEFI]

I have a few other gearwrench sets and really like them. I have a 3/8" drive metric swivel socket set and an etorx set from them and for the price they are pretty nice tools. The HF has a few more sockets but not sure I'll need the square sockets. Any advice on which one you would get?

The 94961 set you linked says its finish is beadblasted.

This set includes 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm hex sockets and 7mm, 8mm, 11mm, 13mm, 5/16"and 3/8" square sockets.

I've not run across a 5/16 square drive plug in years nor a 9mm allen ever. For 3/8, I just use an extension. The sizes of the 67880 set better match import vehicle use AFAIK because that's what SO & Ko-Ken package in their hex bit socket sets. If you are in the store, take your caliper and measure a few. If they're still **** like mech.named.john experienced (see: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165813 ) buy somewhere else.
http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-38-and-12-drive-metric-hex-bit-socket-set-67880-html.html

3/8 in. drive: 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 10mm; 1/2 in. drive: 12mm, 14mm, 17mm

A second set is the cheapest backup option. The most solid option would be Apex replacement bits for the common sizes, once you figure out which ones you're using regularly.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

The 94961 set I bought a couple months back is completely covered in shiny chrome, not bead blasted. The sockets are all one piece, where the Gearwrench are 2 piece (a bit pressed into a socket). My HF set looks exactly as pictured.

Can't attest to fit though because I haven't gotten around to using them yet.

 

[Fedwrench]

Vim makes an excellent one piece set out of S2 steel that has a lower profile than a two bit set which offers improved access to many drain plugs. Of course they cost more than harbor freight or gear wrench though.


http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-vi600.aspx


http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-vm600.aspx

 

[cburnscrx]

My hex bits are Stanley I bought at Walmart. They are very good especially for what I paid...BUT, mine are older and look different than the China version they sell now. They might work and hold up just as well, but I can't verify this.

 

[cburnscrx]

Vim makes an excellent one piece set out of S2 steel that has a lower profile than a two bit set which offers improved access to many drain plugs. Of course they cost more than harbor freight or gear wrench though.


http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-vi600.aspx


http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-vm600.aspx

And they're impact bits...Dooh

 

[03protege]

I have been eying some of the new Husky bit sockets at home depot, I believe they are made by Apex (china) but they would be the easiest to warranty out in the event of a failure.

 

[pfctblu]

Recently I picked up the Import Williams set after shopping GW and HF for them (actually returned the HF ones). They are pretty nice, especially considering the price and the vendor claims they are supposed to test out to 85% of strength and wear of the USA versions. The whole set was $45 (got it from ToolsDelivered).

 

[chris6278]

I have been eying some of the new Husky bit sockets at home depotieve they are made by Apex (china) but they would be the easiest to warranty out in the event of a failure.

I picked up some awhile back and so far have been really impressed with them and they are reasonably priced

 

[mech-tech]

Honestly, I have had great luck with my Duralast set from autozone. And I've put some torque on them with a long handled 3/8 ratchet and they never twisted or broke working on heavy equipment.

 

[signcrafter]

Thanks for all the advice from everyone. Right now I'm leaning towards the gearwrench set just because I can just add them to my next advance order and use a discount code. I've been happy with all my other gearwrench purchases so far and they have all 5 and 4 star reviews on amazon. Plus I think if one was to break I can just take it to advance and exchange it. I also like the gearwrench rails the sockets come on.

 

[mrborohachi]

if your a Toyota solid rear axle guy like me (86 Corolla's , Starlet, Previas, Trucks of course) My first ever Snap-On on truck purchase was a 6-pt 24mm short chrome socket.
Toyota welds a ring around the differential drain plug in the event that you hit the drain plug it's a 1st line barrier that protects the hex faces. I had a CrapMan set that came with a 12-pt 24mm socket that was rounding drain plugs. It's the only on truck purchase that I never looked back on and felt I spent too much

 

[Skin]

Plus I think if one was to break I can just take it to advance and exchange it.

Be careful there as it very much depends on the store. First, do they have open stock so they can even exchange 1 socket? If not do they stock the sets and will they swap them out in their entirety or do they insist on ordering the 1 socket?

Half the convenience of buying tools at a B&M is on site warranty service or you may find your job halted by a five dollar bit socket. If they don't offer that on site warranty then that's a pretty worthless consideration.

If on site warranty matters you're far better off buying a good house brand like Napa Carlyle, Lowes Kobalt, or AutoZone Duralast, even if it means you have to spend a little more.

 

[mrborohachi]

Half the convenience of buying tools at a B&M is on site warranty service or you may find your job halted by a five dollar bit socket. If they don't offer that on site warranty then that's a pretty worthless consideration.

If on site warranty matters you're far better off buying a good house brand like Napa Carlyle, Lowes Kobalt, or AutoZone Duralast, even if it means you have to spend a little more.

hence my love for the Duralast ratcheting wrenches even tho I have yet to need to warranty one yet. I've had them since day one of them coming out.

 

[signcrafter]

For fun I went to gearwrench's website to check out their warranty and they state that "•Tool Boxes, Bits, Bit Sockets, Taps, Dies, Files, Torque Products" are exemptions to their lifetime warranty. So I guess bit sockets don't have a warranty, http://www.gearwrench.com/warranty. Although on amazon it says they have a lifetime warranty, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NICFKW/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

So I guess they don't come with a warranty. Kind of funny all the contradicting info out there. I guess I'm not to worried about the warranty too much. For my limited use and how these should be a pretty low torque application I shouldn't be breaking any of them. If I do I guess I'll have to upgrade.

 

[jmm]

For fun I went to gearwrench's website to check out their warranty and they state that "•Tool Boxes, Bits, Bit Sockets, Taps, Dies, Files, Torque Products" are exemptions to their lifetime warranty. So I guess bit sockets don't have a warranty, http://www.gearwrench.com/warranty. Although on amazon it says they have a lifetime warranty, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NICFKW/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

So I guess they don't come with a warranty. Kind of funny all the contradicting info out there. I guess I'm not to worried about the warranty too much. For my limited use and how these should be a pretty low torque application I shouldn't be breaking any of them. If I do I guess I'll have to upgrade.

I have some Gearwrench bit sockets. They're quite nice, but are definitely not the best. I broke a 4 mm once, and had no problem swapping it out with advance auto. That said, I'd definitely recommend them for your purposes.

 

[SMKS]

I would trust the GearWrench website over an Amazon description. But as posted above, you're local Advance may swap them because they don't know the bit sockets are excluded from the lifetime warranty.

I have some HF bit sockets. They're the newer made-in-Taiwan style and I've been happy with them. They're the extra-long allen sockets.

 

[CWP1616L]

If I remember right he had them swapped once or twice at HF before resorting to MAC and they all were undersized.

What I'd be worried about is the company that makes them for HF might be making them for other brands as well, and then not knowing what those other brands are...

 

[Exceller8]

I would pass on the HF set. Not that I'm a hater or anything, but I just didn't have good luck with them.

 

[signcrafter]

I have some Gearwrench bit sockets. They're quite nice, but are definitely not the best. I broke a 4 mm once, and had no problem swapping it out with advance auto. That said, I'd definitely recommend them for your purposes.

Does the local advances carry open stock for bit sockets or do they open a package to replace the one broken? Most of my advance shopping is done online and picked up in store, I'll have to take a look next time I'm in there to pick up an order. Will also check out what the gearwrench package says next time I'm in the store.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

If you are willing to spend a little extra... These are worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002SW9OA0/ref=pd_aw_sbs_1?pi=SS115

And if I had to pick, I'd probably go with the Gearwrench since it seems to be popular with everyone.

 

[xxsidiusxx]

I have a few different brands of hex sockets that I use for work. I have a set of standard and metric westward that I bought in a huge tool set. The 4mm broke pretty easily.

When that broke I bought a set of metric craftsman hex sockets. The 10mm broke but I got that replaced.

I bought the Pittsburgh set from HF mainly for the 14mm for my job, but that only gets used once in a while.

Then I bought the Duralast SAE and metric sets. The ONLY thing I do not like about these sockets is that they do not have that little dent or whatever on the inside where the ratchet goes, so they come off pretty easily. I have some quick release ratchets that they will stay snug on, but sometimes I need to use an extension.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Bumping this older thread to ask how people are liking their lower priced hex bit sockets like the Duralast.

 

[stage20]

A tip you will need to use a discount code with gearwrench is add some blue shop towels nd then it will apply the discount. Done this several times when it wouldn't take it on just gearwrench

 

[signcrafter]

Bumping this older thread to ask how people are liking their lower priced hex bit sockets like the Duralast.

I have the gearwrench long ball metric hex and also the gearwrench metric hex 1/2" drive set and have been happy with both. Used the long ball set to change an oil pan on a jetta and worked great. So far haven't broke any and I've been happy with the sets, especially since I get them using discount codes.

 

[MagnumForce]

The HF ones are absolute ****, have had so many ball heads replaced, free but hf is an hour away so not free. And I don't abuse them either.

Meanwhile my Craftsman ball heads are rock solid.

 

[jonti48310]

It may be worth checking out the craftsman set as well. Their website is a pita so do a search in the Hot Deals thread, if I'm not mistaken they had a good deal on them not too long ago. The ones I got in my 299 piece tool set have served me well. I'm sure they're overseas tools now but still decent for the $$$.

 

[stage20]

It may be worth checking out the craftsman set as well. Their website is a pita so do a search in the Hot Deals thread, if I'm not mistaken they had a good deal on them not too long ago. The ones I got in my 299 piece tool set have served me well. I'm sure they're overseas tools now but still decent for the $$$.

I made a thread not to long ago asking about the crafftsman because the master set was on sale for cheap and there are a few pages saying they are junk. Nothing good to say about them so I passed. Old stock usa stuff is what you need if you can find them

 

[MagnumForce]

I have Chinese Craftsmans, they are really good, regular shank and ball head long. The HF ones that I have for a second set are total ****. Basically all the bolts in our plant are hex head and I am betting my hex wrenches get a lot bigger work out than someone working in automotive would give them.

 

[d.mcfarland]

It seems like the consensus is that some hex bit sockets don't have the best tolerances. Anyone have this problem?

 

[MagnumForce]

Not that I have ever noticed even on the HF ones. With a ball head you are already giving up a bit. I have duralast large hex sockets and have not had a problem with those either. My hex keys are allen and bondhaus and I see no difference between them and my Craftsman, HF and Duralast sockets other than the aforementioned problems with the hf ball heads.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

I have HF hex sockets and impact hex sockets. They work fine. The ball end ones are junk as mentioned. I dont have any issues with them. If it is something really stubborn I use a hand impact/impact screwdriver anyways and dont have issues really. That said the bondhus ones are better and not much more expensive. Never tried the GW ones myself.