Help with Sockets

[marctheprop]

So-my road box wasn't quite as safe in storage as I thought (very long story). So-now I'm moved and have my garage/shop almost organized and I want to get the road box put together. I've got everything covered except for sockets. I'm looking at all/most of the usual suspects. I'm not going to splurge for SnapOn or Mac or Matco or... unless I can find a deal on Craigslist or that auction site. I love me some SK-didn't like Armstrong's sockets. Who else do I need to look at? I wouldn't be above buying a set in a plastic box complete w/ratchets and extensions if that's the best option money-wise. I would prefer to go USA made but I have no problem buying foreign if the quality is there. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to get this done in the next week or 10 days because if I put it off I know I'll need it and will not be ready.

 

[Askme42]

Wright and Porto for USA made.


Gearwrench,koken, non usa

 

[Fedwrench]

For US made the SK blow molded master sets are hard to beat.

Gearwrench and Carlyle offer nice sets too that are Taiwan made. The most bang for your buck would be a buy one get one Gearwrench special.

If you use the search function, socket sets have been beat to death over the last couple of weeks.

 

[KnurledNut]

Check out Williams USA offerings.

 

[Negen]

Koken is my new favorite

Sk for American made.

I was looking for a road set a few weeks ago and went with the koken-z series full set.

These are a few sets I was looking at for a road set.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002O18Z8C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAOQVC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UUF1LA/?tag=atomicindus08-20


http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/4991644219056/
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/4991644213566/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_en
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/i-tools/item/4991644239023/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_en

 

[PJNJ]

Buy the SK boxed sets. They are very hard to beat and the more inclusive sets of the 1/4 and 3/8 will have the thumbwheel ratchet which is fantastic IMO.
Link for 3/8 on Amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAOQVC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you don't have the ratchet side locked up yet I would recommend the Armstrong locking flex 88 tooth MAXX ratchets.

Here's the 3/8 on Amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1WG26/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Amazon may have the 60 tooth version. Epsteins has the 88 tooth version however. Bought the 3/8 a few months ago and it is great.

 

[engineer031]

I have Proto always been good to me

 

[BK13]

I think any further sockets I get will be Wright, KoKen, Hazet, or SK.

 

[BK13]

And Matco/Armstrong/Craftsman impact pinless swivels.....

 

[Rock Hound]

I don't think it is worth having extra nice tools for a road box. The likelihood of items getting stolen, lost, damaged, et cetera is pretty high. I have been satisfied with both Gearwrench and Dewalt, both of which can be found inexpensively on sale.

 

[Askme42]

And Matco/Armstrong/Craftsman impact pinless swivels.....

Add Gearwrench to that list

 

[Askme42]

I don't think it is worth having extra nice tools for a road box. The likelihood of items getting stolen, lost, damaged, et cetera is pretty high. I have been satisfied with both Gearwrench and Dewalt, both of which can be found inexpensively on sale.

You know the dewalt socket sets on sale would be a great choice.

 

[oldldh]

GearWrench makes some whiz-bang Ratchet and Socket Sets...

At a very reasonable price...

I own all the 1/4" / 3/8" / 1/2" drive sockets they make, as well as, their FlexHead 120 "Tooth" ratchets...

The GW #80700P 1/2" Drive SAE/Metric Set is $133.85...

The GW #80550P 3/8" Drive SAE/Metric Set is $83.86...

The GW #80300P 1/4" Drive SAE/Metric Set is $74.87...

All prices are from www.tooldiscounter.com ...

All sets are equipped with 120 tooth Ratchets...

You would get 3 ratchets, 1 thumbwheel ratchet, 3 universal joints, 6 extensions, 142 SAE/Metric sockets, and three fairly stout blown plastic carrying cases...

All for $ 292.58... (Plus freight...)

Nice tools, at a nice price...

What's not to like???

SK prices for the "same" sets would be $ 594.80...Price is from Amazon, but they do have "Free Shipping"...

And the SK ratchets are 60 tooth, I think...HMMM...Twice as much money, and half as many teeth...3 degree swing, versus 6 degrees...HMMM...

 

[BK13]

Add Gearwrench to that list

Yeah, those, too.

 

[Rock Hound]

You know the dewalt socket sets on sale would be a great choice.

That's what I haul around in my truck. For the price, it would be hard to beat them. I very much like the fine knurling on the sockets, quite honestly, they are some of my favorite sockets.

I do prefer Armstrong Maxx and Gearwrench ratchets over the ratchets that came with the Dewalt sets. However, the Dewalt ratchets are very comfortable in the hand.

 

[tomwmn]

Might consider Blackhawk, made by Proto in US

 

[marctheprop]

Thanks everyone for the input-I hadn't really looked at the foreign stuff much. There's an SK set on a local Craigslist that I am going to see this afternoon. If not that I'll probably buy new online. Also, my apologies-as Fedwrench said I could have searched the threads and not had to post. I was lazy and posted first thing before looking around.

 

[bobemmerich]

For a good set made in Taiwan, its hard to beat the Stanley socket sets. My particular favorite is this one:

 

[HanShotFirst]

For a portable tool box, I like to keep things inexpensive as I'm always worried about theft (been there, hated it!!). So that's where the tools that I find at garage sales or Craigslist go. For sockets, personally I'd guy Harbor Freight/Pittsburgh Pro. HF really has it together on the Pittsburgh Pro sockets and ratchets; they're damn good.

If buying new and buying US, I'd be looking at Williams or SK. But I would be sick if I had brand new Williams or SK stolen out of my truck.

 

[BK13]

Do you just have this post saved In a Word document that you capy and paste?

Just kidding ya. I like the GW stuff I have...

GearWrench makes some whiz-bang Ratchet and Socket Sets...

At a very reasonable price...

I own all the 1/4" / 3/8" / 1/2" drive sockets they make, as well as, their FlexHead 120 "Tooth" ratchets...

The GW #80700P 1/2" Drive SAE/Metric Set is $133.85...

The GW #80550P 3/8" Drive SAE/Metric Set is $83.86...

The GW #80300P 1/4" Drive SAE/Metric Set is $74.87...

All prices are from www.tooldiscounter.com ...

All sets are equipped with 120 tooth Ratchets...

You would get 3 ratchets, 1 thumbwheel ratchet, 3 universal joints, 6 extensions, 142 SAE/Metric sockets, and three fairly stout blown plastic carrying cases...

All for $ 292.58... (Plus freight...)

Nice tools, at a nice price...

What's not to like???

SK prices for the "same" sets would be $ 594.80...Price is from Amazon, but they do have "Free Shipping"...

And the SK ratchets are 60 tooth, I think...HMMM...Twice as much money, and half as many teeth...3 degree swing, versus 6 degrees...HMMM...

 

[magicrat]

Williams usa.....can get from a number of retailers. Best bang for the buck of ANY tools in my opinion.

 

[AmishFury]

Might consider Blackhawk, made by Proto in US

and 13pc 3/8" metric set is available on the mac tools closeout page for $22 free shipping

 

[oldldh]

Do you just have this post saved In a Word document that you capy and paste?

Just kidding ya. I like the GW stuff I have...

Nope, I just wing it...

I'm too old to learn how to cut and paste...

So I spend about 15 to 20 minutes writing these posts each time...

I'm glad someone reads them...

 

[PJNJ]

Nope, I just wing it...

I'm too old to learn how to cut and paste...

So I spend about 15 to 20 minutes writing these posts each time...

I'm glad someone reads them...

Actually probably a lot us read them.

 

[kctyphoon]

if you dont want to spend alot of money - id look at Tekton if your wanting to just buy socket sets... if you would rather a complete set - its hard to beat any of the Craftsman sockets sets that come in the travel cases, esp that 3 drawer box with the removable drawers as organizers.. the Dewalt stuff is always going on sale too.. also - for a complete set of tools that you wont worry about getting beat up or lost, - the HF tool kit has about everything you would need, and actaully does get great reviews.



thats hard to beat 301 pieces for the $$$.. on sale for $199.. w 20% off thats $160... or $0.88 a tool... all with a lifetime warranty and a chain of stores to replace anything that gets lost or broken... thats the big downside of buying a Dewalt set, or some of the others.. most people that actually own the HF sockets and ratchets have nothing but things to say about them.

 

[Rico.]

Most people that actually own the HF sockets and ratchets have nothing but things to say about them.

Is that called an inverse Freudian Slip....

 

[kctyphoon]

Is that called an inverse Freudian Slip....

ha.. nothing but GOOD things to say about them..

 

[Zeroek]

I got a soft spot for Gearwrench sockets and ratchets. Very nice stuff for the price.

 

[beatcad]

new kent VA, huh?
if i remember that somewhere between richmond and VAB.
and more important thats the town that philbates junkyard was.
its been years since i've been there(philbates) but there was so much cool old stuff there. i heard/read(online) that they shut down.

anyhow, i'm sorry your tools got lost in a move or stolen.
both have happened to me when i was younger.

i may have what you're looking for.
for next to nothing
if i can help out a young gun or a fellow wrench twister i will 'cause other/older guys did the same for me.
hit me in a PM and we'll see what shakes out.

 

[NorCalWrenchin]

I'll second Sunex. I've got the complete 3/8s set SAE and metric, longs and shorts. Affordable, and not a single problem in ~5 years. I've even adapted them onto my MG725 1/2" and beat the snot out of them. No problems.

 

[kctyphoon]

can we be honest here.. its not like theres a "big brand" of sockets you need to avoid cause they just dont work. im not saying they are all "equal" to each other.. but ive never heard of, or read a thread where anyone said they NEEDED to go out and buy a new socket set cause the old ones stopped working. its all a matter of what you want, and your own level of whats "acceptable" in your eyes...

 

[regguy1]

Sunex

 

[beatcad]

i didnt think of this last night when i responed.....
what do you mean by "road box"
by that i mean what is your road box used for?
are you a roadside assistance mech? a mobile repair mech? a tow tuck driver?
a mech that makes house calls?
or just a regular guy or mech/tech that has all the tools at work or in the garage and just needs a small tool box to keep in the car "just in case"?

 

[marctheprop]

Thanks to all for the input. Beatcad I used to trap beaver for Geo. Philbates back in the day-There was a big creek across the property and they kept backing water up in his yard. He was something else-I think he was on a first name basis with every piece of metal he owned. I'm not sure what's going on with the business.
I ended up with an SK set off of Craigslist-nice old guy who was cleaning up and downsizing.
My "roadbox" is just a set of tools to throw in the truck instead of robbing my good stuff out of the big box. We closed down a construction business awhile back and I am fairly knowledgeable about old stuff/antiques/junk as well as woodworking tools so I'm often breaking down big stuff so I can move it by myself or with one helper. I got a great deal on a Powermatic 1150 Drill Press the other day-You should have seen me loading that top heavy sucker by myself.