Going from late year Craftsman sockets to…

[UglyViking]

So I got a pretty large mechanics set of Craftsman tools when I turned 16-18 (can't recall the exact age). The tools seem to be all made in the USA and are all listed as G2 for the sockets. As I've gotten more into cars, and especially after I bought a house, my tool collection has steadily grown. Primarily with power tools (Milwaukee) but with a collection of hand tools from HF and Lowes/HD. I have been using the Craftsman tools for general maintenance for years and have noticed an increasing amount of "slop", especially in certain sockets and some of the wrenches. I don't know if this slop has always existed and I just never noticed, or if it's grown over time. I also recently picked up a 3/8 Tekton flex head because I wanted to try a flex head, get a ratchet with a shorter arc, and because I can't stand the whole "quick disconnect" button on the back of the ratchet. (Sidebar: I don't know if it's just because I press my finger on the back of the head where the button is or what, but it drives me nuts)

Ok, so as I started diggin into what the replacements were I figured I'd start with what I've got to make sure that I don't go downstream. I realized that apparently the G2 sockets I've got are the first year of the double detent, which explains why getting the sockets off certain tools without the "quick disconnect" can be so tough. So I know that I don't want that in my next set.

Anyway, I've not been impressed by the Kobalt stuff at all, as the quality just seems like absolute garbage. My pops has a whole toolbox of them and I can't stand them. The ratcheting wrenches are especially terrible due to how thin they are. The Husky stuff I recall being good as a kid, but it seems like the quality has taken a serious dive as well.

Lastly, and I'm ready for the likely flame this will bring on, I really want my tools to "match". I know this is probably the most vain thing ever, but if I'm being honest with myself, I really really enjoy those snap on toolbox videos on youtube, or the Icon ones when they released their tools and boxes. I really also like the idea that I can pick a brand, and start building a collection, probably with a pretty large purchase at first, then over time with additions. I completely understand how silly this is, but if I'm being honest with myself, it's important to me.

Made in the USA is also nice, and would prefer that, but it's not an exclusive selling point. I am interested in seeing what SBD does with Craftsman when their USA stuff comes online end of the year, same with Milwaukee. Taiwan is a close second for COO. (I don't know enough about the European options)

It's also worthy to note that I'm a weekend warrior who enjoys working on his bike, truck and rebuilding cars when I've got the time (currently in the final phases of planning a garage, and I'll have more questions on that soon). My point here is that I don't need Snap on quality tools, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want them.

So, my question to you all, as I've been having a hard time figuring this out, what is the general vibe on the G2 craftsman sockets and wrenches? Are they generally considered mid tier, mid-high, low? Furthermore, I'd be very interested if anyone has compared that generation of sockets/wrenches to Icon, or others.

This is a little long winded, so just kinda interested in a discussion overall to see where these sockets/wrenches rank. If the G2 stamp mark is a bit of a known lower quality batch, then I can base my next decision on that. If they are seen as high quality (a step down from tool truck brands) then that's gonna put me in quite a pickle. The main reason for upgrading is that I feel like I'm often rounding bolts with these things. I generally am not, although a few times I have, they always feel sloppy. Like the bolt isn't a 10mm, and isn't a 11mm, nor is it a 3/8" or a 7/16". I feel like I'm generally picking something that is either impossible to get on, or is pretty loose. (I get that span is large, just an example) Perhaps sockets just generally feel looser than I expect? I'm almost tempted to pickup a set of standard metric Snap-on sockets just to see the difference, but I'm also worried if I do that I may never go back…

Idk, maybe this will be an interesting convo.

 

[Next]

So, I'm starting over basically with my tools and am going with Made in US where possible, but trying to get maximum bang for buck as well.
I wanted matching as well, but reality is no one make the best of everything and Snap On is useless for me since I'm not a pro.

Icon tool box, unless I can find a great deal on a used US made one

Wright wrenches
Tekton impact sockets
Tekton/Koken sockets
Snap On ratchets
Knipex and ChannelLock Pliers

 

[Jtels85]

G2 sockets are just fine for the weekend warrior. I’ve been using mine since 2005 and haven’t cracked a single one. I would put Craftsman USA sockets from the 2000’s above most of the brands on the market today, except maybe Tekton.

 

[autobon7]

In my opinion the G2 stuff was painfully average at best but for a weekend diy kind of person they are ok. Id take a look at Tekton and Proto.

 

[GrantCee]

So I got a pretty large mechanics set of Craftsman tools when I turned 16-18 (can't recall the exact age). The tools seem to be all made in the USA and are all listed as G2 for the sockets. As I've gotten more into cars, and especially after I bought a house, my tool collection has steadily grown. Primarily with power tools (Milwaukee) but with a collection of hand tools from HF and Lowes/HD. I have been using the Craftsman tools for general maintenance for years and have noticed an increasing amount of "slop", especially in certain sockets and some of the wrenches. I don't know if this slop has always existed and I just never noticed, or if it's grown over time. I also recently picked up a 3/8 Tekton flex head because I wanted to try a flex head, get a ratchet with a shorter arc, and because I can't stand the whole "quick disconnect" button on the back of the ratchet. (Sidebar: I don't know if it's just because I press my finger on the back of the head where the button is or what, but it drives me nuts)

Ok, so as I started diggin into what the replacements were I figured I'd start with what I've got to make sure that I don't go downstream. I realized that apparently the G2 sockets I've got are the first year of the double detent, which explains why getting the sockets off certain tools without the "quick disconnect" can be so tough. So I know that I don't want that in my next set.

Anyway, I've not been impressed by the Kobalt stuff at all, as the quality just seems like absolute garbage. My pops has a whole toolbox of them and I can't stand them. The ratcheting wrenches are especially terrible due to how thin they are. The Husky stuff I recall being good as a kid, but it seems like the quality has taken a serious dive as well.

Lastly, and I'm ready for the likely flame this will bring on, I really want my tools to "match". I know this is probably the most vain thing ever, but if I'm being honest with myself, I really really enjoy those snap on toolbox videos on youtube, or the Icon ones when they released their tools and boxes. I really also like the idea that I can pick a brand, and start building a collection, probably with a pretty large purchase at first, then over time with additions. I completely understand how silly this is, but if I'm being honest with myself, it's important to me.

Made in the USA is also nice, and would prefer that, but it's not an exclusive selling point. I am interested in seeing what SBD does with Craftsman when their USA stuff comes online end of the year, same with Milwaukee. Taiwan is a close second for COO. (I don't know enough about the European options)

It's also worthy to note that I'm a weekend warrior who enjoys working on his bike, truck and rebuilding cars when I've got the time (currently in the final phases of planning a garage, and I'll have more questions on that soon). My point here is that I don't need Snap on quality tools, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want them.

So, my question to you all, as I've been having a hard time figuring this out, what is the general vibe on the G2 craftsman sockets and wrenches? Are they generally considered mid tier, mid-high, low? Furthermore, I'd be very interested if anyone has compared that generation of sockets/wrenches to Icon, or others.

This is a little long winded, so just kinda interested in a discussion overall to see where these sockets/wrenches rank. If the G2 stamp mark is a bit of a known lower quality batch, then I can base my next decision on that. If they are seen as high quality (a step down from tool truck brands) then that's gonna put me in quite a pickle. The main reason for upgrading is that I feel like I'm often rounding bolts with these things. I generally am not, although a few times I have, they always feel sloppy. Like the bolt isn't a 10mm, and isn't a 11mm, nor is it a 3/8" or a 7/16". I feel like I'm generally picking something that is either impossible to get on, or is pretty loose. (I get that span is large, just an example) Perhaps sockets just generally feel looser than I expect? I'm almost tempted to pickup a set of standard metric Snap-on sockets just to see the difference, but I'm also worried if I do that I may never go back…

Idk, maybe this will be an interesting convo.

Let me get this out of the way before the Craftsman apologists get here: CM was always a homeowner grade tool. That’s all they were ever meant to be; the occasions when the vendor they selected produced something a little better were simply happy coincidences. The majority of what they sold was just “okay”, and some of it was awful. There is no indication that SBD is going to be any more ambitious with the brand, regardless of the hopes, dreams, and rosy nostalgia of their customer base.

Now that I’ve made everyone mad…

Snap-On isn’t the only high-quality tool brand out there, but they do have what is probably the most complete line available. If you want absolutely everything to match, they’re really the only game in town. If you can tolerate a little mismatch (for instance, your socketry and screwdrivers being from different makers), then you have substantially more flexibility in terms of quality level, features, and cost.

I think that's the first thing you need to nail down before trying to wade through the choices everyone is going to throw at you.

 

[m6z]

What's your budget and what all are you trying to buy with that budget?

Tekton if you're trying to be cheap.

Carlyle would be my pick if I had to pick ONE brand for chrome sockets/ratchets/wrenches.

I've got some Toptul stuff too and it's really nice for the money, but you can't reliably find everything you want if you're in the USA.

The new V-series Craftsman stuff is nice, but somewhat limited in sizing.

Facom has a nice complete line, but some of it's quite expensive and shipping can be pricy.

Proto is nice if you've got the money to spend.

Koken and KTC are made in Japan and they've got some really nice stuff as well.

Sunex/Astro/Capri are good budget options for impact sockets.

 

[lardy1]

Proto and Gearwrench both offer a wide range if you want to stay brand specific. Two different price ranges, typically different COO and both relatively easy to acquire. I am not a person to recommend Gearwrench but their range will check a box for you.

 

[vjquan]

I realized that apparently the G2 sockets I've got are the first year of the double detent, which explains why getting the sockets off certain tools without the "quick disconnect" can be so tough. So I know that I don't want that in my next set.

I've got G1 sockets in both standard and double detent. I even have a G with double detents. Neither have given me any issues and I really can't tell the difference getting either on or off with non-quick release ratchets. I also haven't seen any other manufacturer try to adopt this double detent nonsense, so I'm pretty sure anything you buy will be of the standard variant. I'd just stick with what you've got assuming they're all 6 point because all sockets will exhibit some bit of slop.

 

[seber]

For most people, Craftsman sockets are fine, but on the ranch I busted almost the entire set working on farm equipment. They were all replaced with SK. If I were trying to single source everything with a reasonable budget in mind, I would look very hard at Williams. Spending more, Wright or Proto. But really, the best solution is don't get stuck on a single brand. The companies that make great screwdrivers are not the same ones that make great pliers. And in many cases, Taiwan is as good as it gets.

 

[Ohmthis]

I am more than a weekend warrior. I work in industrial maintenance and really put my tools to work. My sockets (metric and standard) are all craftsman. I have broken some, but they’ve mostly held up fine. I replaced the broken ones with Proto. The Proto are much better, but the nuts and bolts don’t know, nor do they care. I use Snap On and Proto ratchets and recommend upgrading to nice ratchets. If when you break a tool replace it with a better one. I know people are OCD about matching and all of that, don’t worry you’ll get over that. I say you keep what you have and build around them. Imagine, you can buy new sockets and wrenches. Or you can buy and new battery impact, impact sockets, pry bars, and a meter.

 

[Komet]

Don't see a reason to replace good Craftsman USA gear if it's not breaking or rounding bolts. The old coarse tooth ratchets, sure but the sockets are solid quality. Small amounts of slop aren't going to hinder you from completing the task at hand, and it's desirable for nasty swollen rusty junk. Grab a selection of SAE and Metric next time and just choose whatever fits on tightest if that's what you want.

Embrace the concept that no one manufacturer creates the best everything, and the ideal toolbox for you is the one curated for your preferences with what you like from each brand. Matching sets are for suckers and fanboys.

 

[Jim C.]

I like my Craftsman sockets. As a serious DIYer, they’ve been better than good to me over the years. That‘s just been my experience. A couple years ago, however, I needed a set of Whitworth sockets. Snap On sockets were virtually unaffordable, and pretty much unavailable. It was then that I discovered Koken sockets. I bought a couple sets. I found them to be very good quality sockets that were priced at the higher end of reasonable. Again, that was just my experience. Maybe give Koken sockets a look.

Jim C.

 

[kdeboy]

Let me get this out of the way before the Craftsman apologists get here: CM was always a homeowner grade tool. That’s all they were ever meant to be; the occasions when the vendor they selected produced something a little better were simply happy coincidences. The majority of what they sold was just “okay”, and some of it was awful. There is no indication that SBD is going to be any more ambitious with the brand, regardless of the hopes, dreams, and rosy nostalgia of their customer base.

Now that I’ve made everyone mad…

Snap-On isn’t the only high-quality tool brand out there, but they do have what is probably the most complete line available. If you want absolutely everything to match, they’re really the only game in town. If you can tolerate a little mismatch (for instance, your socketry and screwdrivers being from different makers), then you have substantially more flexibility in terms of quality level, features, and cost.

I think that's the first thing you need to nail down before trying to wade through the choices everyone is going to throw at you.

+1 on the Snap-On recommendation, at least for ratchets and sockets. I'm not a tool snob, but when I retired last year I decided to get a set of Snap-On ratchets and sockets. I've handled most of the big box store brands (what the heck, it's free), I own a set of Husky, and a friend owns a set of Mac tools. The Snap-On ratchets just feel "right". For OP, they offer them with and without the quick release button (I prefer WITH). Their wrenches are nice too. Slim and not bulky like some other brands. I don't like their pliers, etc. though b/c the grips feel sticky.

 

[UglyViking]

So I appreciate the feedback from everyone, and I understand that Craftsman holds a special place in their hearts. I'm only 34, so I didn't even see the Sears heyday but I remember the weekend trips to Sears with my pops to get some new tool for a project. Almost always Craftsman and everything seemed to be great quality.

That said, I'd stick with Craftsman even today if their tools were half decent. I don't consider myself a tool snob by any means. I wish Snap-On was more affordable, because I'd get their catalog and make my list and happily pay a premium. That said, I'm not sure I'm willing to spend the insane price they seem to hold too, especially because I'm a hobbyist. I have wanted to try some of their sockets though, because I hear nothing but good things.

I guess my issue is mainly that I've had some issues with my Craftsman, and I'm not sure if it's just because of age, or if it's because the quality wasn't there like everyone remembers (everyone remembers the brand fondly, but I don't know how real it is).

My issues currently are that I feel like I'm getting more slop out of the sockets and wrenches than I expect to have. I've founded a few bolts due to them, but perhaps it's my own lack of skill (again, hobbyist not professional. If the sockets didn't feel sloppy and I could more easily get them on/off the ratchets I wouldn't even be asking the question.

Perhaps my next step should be trying a few socket sets and seeing which ones meet my needs. I don't need to have everything a matching set, but every time I see a youtube video with all the snap-on or icon stuff, and every time I walk into a Harbor Freight and see all the matching icon line, well I'd by lying if I said I didn't want to just buy them all.

 

[Cruzan80]

Are you sure you are using the right size? For example, an SAE wrench on a metric bolt, etc. They can be "close", but feel sloppy. Or if the bolt head is rounded, it can feel different, depending.on off-cornet geometry. Maybe pick up a few sizes new from the HW store, so you can check it against a new bolt for slop.

While not G2, I can say that almost all thr =V= stuff I have feels no different than the SK, wright, Proto, etc for basic sockets (no real slop). The ones that are worm are visbly worn differently. Wierd flex crowfoot etc is where some brand shine. Ratchets may be starting to wear, and would be something I would highly suggest upgrading instead of sockets.

 

[ForrestT]

I’ve been where you are. My dad gave me a nice craftsman socket set (upside down G series when I was high school in the early 90’s. He also gave me some SK sets. Here’s my advice and what I did: for 3/8” I ditched the the craftsman and went SK. Better chrome quality and overall quality. For 1/4” I ditched the craftsman and went gearwrench. 3/8” and 1/4” are my most used. SK is quality stuff. Buy used on eBay or better yet at flea markets. 1/4” is cheaper and gearwrench chrome is much better than craftsman. I also wanted detents in 1/4”. My upside down G craftsman didn’t have Detents. I bought gearwrench from advance auto when they had sales. Chrome on my craftsman was average at best and generally failing on all of them. You made a great choice with Tekton flex ratchet. No better ratchets for the price in my opinion. Go with what I did if you like my thought process. I’m happy with what I did. If I didn’t go this route, I probably would’ve gone Tekton for all sockets. For 1/2” I use my old craftsman and a mix of others, but I can also see the point in just using impacts for 1/2” drive sockets and saving $ there. I don’t use 1/2” all that often. If I so, it’s usually on a dewalt impact wrench.

 

[UglyViking]

Are you sure you are using the right size? For example, an SAE wrench on a metric bolt, etc. They can be "close", but feel sloppy. Or if the bolt head is rounded, it can feel different, depending.on off-cornet geometry. Maybe pick up a few sizes new from the HW store, so you can check it against a new bolt for slop.

While not G2, I can say that almost all thr =V= stuff I have feels no different than the SK, wright, Proto, etc for basic sockets (no real slop). The ones that are worm are visbly worn differently. Wierd flex crowfoot etc is where some brand shine. Ratchets may be starting to wear, and would be something I would highly suggest upgrading instead of sockets.

It seems that there are major differences in "generations" of Craftsman sockets, wrenches, and ratchets. I often wonder if my kit were a few years earlier if I'd feel differently. Either way, I think picking up a few bolts and potentially a few singles might be an interesting test.

I think I may be nerding out on this a substantial amount more than justified, but hey that's why we are on here right? I saw a youtuber measure a bunch of sockets and it was interesting to see the variation between the brands (link if interested). I don't think the initial measurements mean as much as the measurements after a few years of use though.

 

[Cruzan80]

Possibly, re different generations, but I.havent noticed a ton (EE being the major exception, usually due to peeling chrome/rust issues).

Maybe get a set of a different mid-level brand, and when you feel slop in your CMs, try the same size with the "new" one? That would give you a more objective idea, rather than a subjective "feel" to it.

Re. The Youtube video, I would be surprised if most sockets/wrenches were off by a substantial amount, enough to impact the bolt itself from any decent brand or above. However, everyone likes new/shiny, so if that is what you want, go ahead. Just pointing out you may not actually find a difference, even if you "feel" you do.


For input, I have Indestro, SK, CM (mostly =V=, but everything from BE to G2), JH Williams, Wright and Proto in my socket box (and roughly same for combo wrenches). Dont really find a major difference between them for 6/12pt. SnapOn are Flare Crowfeet, weatherhead, etc, where a little bit can make/break it.

 

[M635_Guy]

Firstly, I understand the desire to have brands match, but generally I'm trying to get the best tools for the money. That's resulted in a mix that ranges from MiUSA truck tools (mostly bought used) to European brands like Knipex, Hazet and Wiha to HF brands from Pittsburgh to Icon. And as a fairly-serious DIY'er, I'm very happy with the tools I have chosen. This place has been a big influence on what I have, directly and indirectly. If I had to choose a single brand, it would probably be Icon, but thankfully I've overcome my desire to have a pretty drawer with a single brand, and what I've wound up with is mongrel drawers full of tools I'm effective with.

As far as chrome sockets, I have a big set of Tekton (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sets), a pieced-together set of SK in 1/4" and 3/8" (meaning I've picked sizes I use often, so there are some skips, plus strange things like 1/4" 18mm and 19mm and 3/8" in 7mm and 8mm), and an Icon 3/8" set (8mm-19mm). I like having two sets of 3/8 and 1/4" so I can run the same sizes on my electric ratchet and my hand ratchets, or same size on two different hand ratchets, etc.

I'm happy enough with all of them, but if I were limited to two brands I'd go with the pieced-together SK, full sets of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" from Icon. That's not to say I've got any issues with Tekton. It's mainly that they share more blanks and it works out to make smaller sockets longer than they have to be. I just popped in my garage and took pix of 10mm and 14mm sockets from all three and measured them.

The difference isn't huge at 14mm (and gets even closer at 15mm and beyond, though it's not as useful in the bigger sizes anyway):

So it's Tekton at 30mm, SK at 27.85mm and Icon at 25.68mm (over 4.3mm less than the Tekton.)

At 10mm, the difference is more noticeable (and more useful)

Here it's Tekton at 30.0mm (shared blank - the 11, 12 and 13mm will also measure out to 30mm), SK at 26.47mm and Icon at 23mm.

That shortness - 14% smaller for the 1/4" and well-over 20% for the 3/8" - has come in awfully handy over time in some tight spots.

They all seem well-made and they've all been used a fair bit. The SK feels the beefiest - I didn't weigh them.

If warranty matters, they all have lifetime warranty, but that's not really the description. Tekton is legendarily easy to deal with - contact them and you'll have a replacement on the way immediately. It's at the speed of mail - so a couple days at least, but not huge for me since I have spares. I've got four HF's within 30 of me, so I feel pretty confident I could get replacement as easily as a round-trip to one of them. SK... I'm not sure about SK in their current transition and beyond, but I'd guess I'm least likely to need anything from them.

As for ratchets, I have a ton of them (relatively-speaking), and my favorites outside of the Snap On are generally my Icon ratchets, especially the rotos. I have a couple Tektons, and for the money they're great. They feel a bit less beefy and the gear is a bit smaller, which feels a little puny to me compared to the SO/Icon ones. I'd have no issues if I had to standardize on Tekton though. The Icons compare very well for me with my Snap On for mechanism feel and handle-comfort.

I also have a box-set of Sunex sockets and ratchets I got as a travel set. I chose it because I liked my Sunex Impact sockets so much. But the chrome set is consumery stuff I'm not in love with, and the ratchets are complete and utter garbage. Buy Sunex impact, avoid Sunex chrome.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Perhaps my next step should be trying a few socket sets and seeing which ones meet my needs. I don't need to have everything a matching set, but every time I see a youtube video with all the snap-on or icon stuff, and every time I walk into a Harbor Freight and see all the matching icon line, well I'd by lying if I said I didn't want to just buy them all.

If you want to grab a bunch of Icon or whatever that all matches... and you can afford to do it whats the problem? Are you looking for justification? Feeling the need & purpose for new **** is fine. Move the old Cmans to backup status... maybe even get a new box for that?!

Probably most here have multiple & mixed brands with lots of duplicates scattered about. Certainly none of my stuff matches and it doesn't bug me. That's also reflective of how my rig has grown over the years... it wasn't all purchased in one shot. Add here & there as needed.

I do have cman sockets & wrenches i bought newin the 90s... honestly never really had fitment issue with any of it. And even if you have worn some? I kinda doubt entire sets would be sloppy...

Very little of my old Cman sockets & whatnot is frontline gear today. Not because it's failed but more because it was lost.. missing/skip too many sizes. Easier & cheaper to buy new sets.

 

[UglyViking]

If you want to grab a bunch of Icon or whatever that all matches... and you can afford to do it whats the problem? Are you looking for justification? Feeling the need & purpose for new **** is fine. Move the old Cmans to backup status... maybe even get a new box for that?!

Probably most here have multiple & mixed brands with lots of duplicates scattered about. Certainly none of my stuff matches and it doesn't bug me. That's also reflective of how my rig has grown over the years... it wasn't all purchased in one shot. Add here & there as needed.

I do have cman sockets & wrenches i bought newin the 90s... honestly never really had fitment issue with any of it. And even if you have worn some? I kinda doubt entire sets would be sloppy...

Very little of my old Cman sockets & whatnot is frontline gear today. Not because it's failed but more because it was lost.. missing/skip too many sizes. Easier & cheaper to buy new sets.

I'm not really trying to justify anything. I feel like I could go buy whatever I wanted and the only person I need to justify it to is myself, well… that and my bank account.

I am mainly trying to see how others felt about the G2 Craftsman sockets and wrenches, to see where they stood. Not all of my sockets or all my wrenches give me problems, but I can never remember the ones that do. Perhaps I should go out and measure them all and see where they stand, and anything that is outside of spec I can replace. (I hadn't thought about that till this moment to be honest)

The other part was that I was looking to potentially buy some new stuff. I picked up a flex head Tekton 3/8 drive, and I love the mechanism but hate the semi fixed head. Easy enough fix I'd think. The bigger issue is how hard the sockets come off. It wasn't something I noticed before as I didn't have a non-quick disconnect ratchet, so they all just worked. My experience may be unique, but from what I read online those double detent sockets pose a real problem to non-QD ratchets. It's not end of the world or anything, but it's becomes annoying.

So, since I'm looking to upgrade my main sockets, ratchets and wrenches, I wanted to see where the G2 Craftsman line fell in terms of overall quality/consistency. If the G2 was held in high regard, then I'd sort of question why I'm experiencing these issues of slop and rounding bolts here and there (again, maybe it's me, or maybe the bolts are over-torqued or just poor quality). I placed the desire for matching set because as I upgrade I would sort of like to stick to the same brand, although it's not a hard and fast requirement.

I figure if I do upgrade my primary sockets and such, then I can move the Craftsman set to a tool roll or such and keep them in the truck. So they aren't lost by any means.

 

[Terra Nova]

Best bang for the buck on USA made sockets is Proto IMHO. Get them through Zoro with a 20% coupon and they're a great value.

SK are nice, have a couple sets and am a bit of a fan boy myself, but their future is a little murky at the moment.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I upgraded to SO ratchets, sockets, and wrenches from basic CM hand tools over the last 25 years, power tools Dewalt, Makita, Porter Cable. Need various tools for home repairs as well.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have tons of all the generations of Craftsman tools. The G2 I think definitely look the best they seem to be the most shiny. Personally haven’t had any fitment issues with them. A few of them I use on a daily basis the ones I have at work. Not huge on the double detent but it’s not a huge deal breaker. I haven’t had any quality issues with them either. I love Craftsman tools best tools of their time. But I’ve also had great luck with Kobalt sockets and impact sockets too lol. Their ratchets just like Craftsman ****. There are lots of good brands out there to consider these days. I have tons of brands and like them all pretty well. My preferred is Snap-on, Matco, Capri, DieHard, Duralast. And many others just that’s the top ones on my list.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Ok... realistic question is hopes of gaining perspective?

Do you have any other chrome besides the old Cman? Or have you been working with the same stuff for the last zillion years?

I find it hard to imagine there's any real differences among things when new. Global standards & all that... 10mm is 10mm in Japan, France, USA... Africa...

And all these tools are machine made. Nobody is carving wrenches by hand...

 

[UglyViking]

Ok... realistic question is hopes of gaining perspective?

Do you have any other chrome besides the old Cman? Or have you been working with the same stuff for the last zillion years?

I find it hard to imagine there's any real differences among things when new. Global standards & all that... 10mm is 10mm in Japan, France, USA... Africa...

And all these tools are machine made. Nobody is carving wrenches by hand...

All my sockets, and 3 of my 4 ratchets are from the same CM set. I purchased a single flex head Tekton ratchet last year and have purchased a few Pittsburg Pro impacts. The wrenches I have are also CM from the same set, although I also got a hand me down set of Kobalt ratcheting wrenches. I rarely use these to torque anything down as they are so sharp on the edges they hurt my soft girly keyboard hands (I poke fun at myself).

So, I've been using the same set for, idk 15 years give or take? I don't feel like it's that long to cause any serious wear. Primarily general maintenance on my trucks, installed a few bolt on lift kits, brakes and rotors, basic engine work (replacing fuel and water pumps, headers, heads, suspension parts, etc.), nothing crazy.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

No one in this thread is telling you the cold hard facts. Late model usa craftsman tools are terrible. If you send yours to me in the mail I will do you a favor and dispose of them free of charge.

 

[UglyViking]

No one in this thread is telling you the cold hard facts. Late model usa craftsman tools are terrible. If you send yours to me in the mail I will do you a favor and dispose of them free of charge.

Extremely kind of you, but I don't want to put you through that.

 

[Professional Tool User]

All my sockets, and 3 of my 4 ratchets are from the same CM set. I purchased a single flex head Tekton ratchet last year and have purchased a few Pittsburg Pro impacts. The wrenches I have are also CM from the same set, although I also got a hand me down set of Kobalt ratcheting wrenches. I rarely use these to torque anything down as they are so sharp on the edges they hurt my soft girly keyboard hands (I poke fun at myself).

So, I've been using the same set for, idk 15 years give or take? I don't feel like it's that long to cause any serious wear. Primarily general maintenance on my trucks, installed a few bolt on lift kits, brakes and rotors, basic engine work (replacing fuel and water pumps, headers, heads, suspension parts, etc.), nothing crazy.

If you haven't broken anything so far and haven't tossed out anything because of obvious signs of poor quality, then your current tools are good enough for your needs. If you want to spend the extra money, spend it on stuff like ratchets where it's going to make a significant difference. Wrenches don't break that often. Even cheap made in China sockets these days can take a significant amount of abuse. It took me two years of dealing with a lot of seized bolts in a shop environment to finally break one of my Canadian Tire impact sockets.

 

[GrantCee]

I'm not really trying to justify anything. I feel like I could go buy whatever I wanted and the only person I need to justify it to is myself, well… that and my bank account.

I am mainly trying to see how others felt about the G2 Craftsman sockets and wrenches, to see where they stood. Not all of my sockets or all my wrenches give me problems, but I can never remember the ones that do. Perhaps I should go out and measure them all and see where they stand, and anything that is outside of spec I can replace. (I hadn't thought about that till this moment to be honest)

The other part was that I was looking to potentially buy some new stuff. I picked up a flex head Tekton 3/8 drive, and I love the mechanism but hate the semi fixed head. Easy enough fix I'd think. The bigger issue is how hard the sockets come off. It wasn't something I noticed before as I didn't have a non-quick disconnect ratchet, so they all just worked. My experience may be unique, but from what I read online those double detent sockets pose a real problem to non-QD ratchets. It's not end of the world or anything, but it's becomes annoying.

So, since I'm looking to upgrade my main sockets, ratchets and wrenches, I wanted to see where the G2 Craftsman line fell in terms of overall quality/consistency. If the G2 was held in high regard, then I'd sort of question why I'm experiencing these issues of slop and rounding bolts here and there (again, maybe it's me, or maybe the bolts are over-torqued or just poor quality). I placed the desire for matching set because as I upgrade I would sort of like to stick to the same brand, although it's not a hard and fast requirement.

I figure if I do upgrade my primary sockets and such, then I can move the Craftsman set to a tool roll or such and keep them in the truck. So they aren't lost by any means.

There are any number of reasons to upgrade tools short of breakage, including “because I want to”. I tend to only upgrade for specific reasons, but my reasons don’t necessarily coincide with others.

For instance, comfort is (I think) a perfectly valid reason to replace any tool. I’ll gladly change tools to get rid of sharp edges or uncomfortable handles; for others, getting more readable size markings is a similar concern. Personally, I like all of my sockets to be from the same maker, because I know where to expect those markings (and a physical sizing consistency helps me to more easily spot sizes relative to each other when they’re in use.)

Performance is another reason. Take combination wrenches as an example: I won't own a wrench whose open end doesn't have some sort of enhanced geometry to help grip the fastener. Older wrenches without it have a tendency to round off corners and make the situation worse. In fact, one of my first upgrades was to get rid of my old CM raised panel wrenches in favor of Wright “WrightGrip” wrenches. One of the best things I've done.

The same goes for sockets that don’t have some sort of off-corner engagement geometry, such as “Flank Drive”. Just about everything made in the last decade has it, and if I had older sockets that didn’t I’d replace them immediately (which, again, I've done.) Another example would be going from 12-point sockets to 6-point to take better advantage of that feature. (I no longer have any 12-point sockets, and won’t if I can possibly avoid it.)

Of course, there are certain operational features you might want. In ratchets, getting higher tooth count might be a priority, as is (in your case) getting rid of the quick release feature (I hate ‘em too!) Getting a flex or roto head may be another.

Finally, one of the dumbest comments you'll see on GJ is the statement “the bolt or nut doesn’t care what’s turning it”. While true, it’s not the bolt or nut who is using the tool — it’s the human who wants the bolt or nut to come on or off. Some tools make doing that easier and/or less annoying than others, and I’m personally all about making my job as pleasant as possible. If a tool upgrade does that, I think it’s money well spent.

Though I'm far from wealthy, I’ve never regretted spending money for better tools.

 

[M635_Guy]

Though I'm far from wealthy, I’ve never regretted spending money for better tools.

Agree, though I'm not as loyal to a brand as I am to efficacy, usability, function and value. Sometimes that means investing in better tools, other times it means doing the homework to get the best value-for-money.

Over the last few weeks, I've been getting a lot of good use from my tools. It's a good feeling to know you have the right tools to do what you need to do.

 

[Citation]

I started with Cman stuff towards the end of the made in USA time. I never really cared for the ratchets but found they were sufficient. I really prefer most of the other, pro-summer grade stuff to the old raised panel 32T Cman stuff. I feel the 72T Husky ratchets are quite good for the money.

As for sockets, I have been happy with the Cman ones I've got but if I were inching for something better I would really consider some Williams Industrial USA stuff. They are basically SnapOn but not off the tool truck.
https://www.protorquetools.com/6-19mm-williams-3-8-drive-deep-socket-set-12-pt-14-pcs/
So about $70 for a 6-19mm deep socket set.

I will also say, having watched a mechanic friend of mine, it seems like the quality stuff is more likely to be needed when dealing with odd ball sizes/fastener types vs the typical 10mm bolt. I can think of a few times when I felt like a tool might have let me down but it was almost never when I was turning a basic bolt with my socket wrench unless I was trying to get at the fastener from a bad angle. That's when things like flex head/roto head ratchets and ratcheting wrenches come into play.

 

[xkrfan]

I'm attempting to fill out a 6 pt. metric set of G2's from 2004-2008 that have flank drive. I was wondering if there is any difference between regular G2 or what's called inverted G2 (which is what I have) or are they both the same thing. It seems that the two upper end companies that feature their flank drive technology these days, Snap On and Wright Tools, give the impression that their version is proprietary and superior. The rest of the features of the socket aside (quality of metal, durability, etc, aside) does anyone think their versions actually work better than say, Craftsman's version, which I read somewhere is called HeadLock.
It was interesting to read here about your experience with the double detent on the G2's. I just bought a new Tekton set of 1/4 drive, 6pt. sae and metric. The set is beautifully made for the price and the sockets are single detent. I did notice that they are sloppier than I would like but what folks are saying here, no one else makes double detent and I agree that sockets getting stuck on them would be a drag.