Empty Pockets
Well-known member
I have a 1/2" drive set of Wright that I bought new in the 70's. They have been used hard, and never a failure.
IMHO you can't go wrong with Wright
IMHO you can't go wrong with Wright
I hate to ask about brand preference, but I will
- Thread starter JimNC
- Start date
JazzBlueRT
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2017
- Messages
- 1,215
For the price of the just a few of the other brands you can get a full 299 piece Craftsman socket set that includes every known size in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. They will fit every fastener just as good as as any other brand, will shine just as nicely and will outlive you, your children and their children if taken care of.
ssdave
Banned
There is a considerable cost savings to the Craftsman, so you're right about the huge quantity you can get of Craftsman for the same price as a few other better brands. However, there is a lot of experience out there that indicates that they DO NOT fit as well as some others (Craftsman have greater dimensional tolerance variance than some better brands) and while they will last if "taken care of", they WILL NOT LAST AS WELL as some better brands if used for normal use.
I have no dispute that Craftsman is worth what you pay for them as they are quite inexpensive. However, if you need to have better fit and better wear/use characteristics, there are several brands that exceed Craftsman. The argument can easily be made that the better brands are not 10 to 100 times as good (which is how much they might cost), and that is true. However, for someone that needs more capability, it might easily be worth paying 10 times more for 10% better performance.
I have long owned Craftsman. I have replaced them with Proto and Snap-on, and have used the Proto much more than i ever used the Craftsman. In addition, I use them much more abusively because they have proven that they can take it without failure. My personal experience is that I have a much, much lower failure rate with the Proto than I had with the Craftsman. They have also worn better; they don't get rounded out inside and stretch as much as the Craftsman did. I have seen a lot of others echo that experience here. I have seen very few people that found that the better brands that they replaced Craftsman with didn't wear as well or fit as well.
Craftsman is a viable, economical alternative. But, it is definitely not as good as the better brands. It may be a better value, depending on your needs.
davethorik
Well-known member
I agree with what ssdave said. In addition, I'm not seeing Craftsman or HF on the poll. Pretty sure the op doesn't live under a rock, knows the difference between inexpensive and expensive, and obviously doesn't want the cheapest offerings out there. For you to recommend Craftsman, you clearly didn't read through the thread. Not like that's a new thing around here, or you're the only guilty party... reading comprehension escapes quite a sizeable percentage of GJ members.
WittHay
Well-known member
Craftsman 1/2" sockets crack or break even for homeowner use. A industrial brand socket is a hair thicker than Craftsman and GearWrench. Not impact socket thick but enough that you notice and feel the weight difference.
I am biased for Proto because I have 3 distributors in my area. Other areas might have Wright or SK dealers so you can see the sockets. The one thing I don't like about Williams USA is that I can see it being discontinued like Armstrong in the future. Too close to Snap-on and the Wiiliams imports are the same as Blue-point
I like Hazet and Koken, but there are probably very few area that you can actually go and see them in person before buying
I am biased for Proto because I have 3 distributors in my area. Other areas might have Wright or SK dealers so you can see the sockets. The one thing I don't like about Williams USA is that I can see it being discontinued like Armstrong in the future. Too close to Snap-on and the Wiiliams imports are the same as Blue-point
I like Hazet and Koken, but there are probably very few area that you can actually go and see them in person before buying
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Proto will say U.S.A. with the dots in between the letters. They're made in Dallas Texas.
MaverickDMD
Well-known member
On your claim, Wamsutta, I checked the images of sockets on the Proto site and although they are stamped Proto Professional, there is no USA. Disappointed.
All the recent ones I have bought say USA on them. It's only on one side though. You can see it in this picture from Zoro
Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk
Wamsutta
Well-known member
They will say U.S.A. to the left of "Professional."
If you click on the socket at the website, when the next page loads, there will be an American flag at the top right; that signifies its origin.
turnthewrench
Banned
I can confirm that.
Don't be, MaverickDMD. They do say USA, with dots and everything
MaverickDMD
Well-known member
Well hell. Thanks guys for your research. Can I change my vote to Proto??
Strouty
Well-known member
Proto are great, but I really can't complain about any of the choices. The offshore williams have some really nice cases, so if portability is an issue, that may be a selling point.
67King
Well-known member
SK is what I chose, and would reccommend.
Codejack
Banned
I've mentioned it before, but my first socket set was Craftsman, and I wound up throwing it away, it was so pathetically poor quality.
I understand that I apparently bought at the very worst time in terms of quality, and that the new stuff is better, but even so, I would, and have, paid more for what I know to be the exact same product just to NOT have the name, "Craftsman," on it. I am still that jaded towards the brand.
I used Williams USA for years, but I really wasn't all that impressed with them.
--------------------------------
My brand preference:
-Gearwrench
-Pittsburgh Pro (Harbor Freight)
Well I bought the Proto (from Zoro with their 20% off sale) but think I'm going to send them back. I know that I may seem like a fickle high school girl, but I was very fond of the old look and these just look cheap. Just my opinion, they are probably as good as ever, and I'm expecting to get flamed, but what would you do? Here is one socket, old vs new.
Attachments
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mmason7764
Well-known member
Jim,
I'm confused. Is the socket on the left the new one?
The socket on the left has rounded points on the inside, a deeper broaching, and much better stamping on the outside.
If the socket on the right is the new one I would unquestionably return.
Mark
zoomieport
Well-known member
Sk, all the way...
Wamsutta
Well-known member
You have got to be kidding. That's a beautiful professional socket with the modern flank drive.
Codejack
Banned
This set is on my "Thinking about it" list for my shop set:
Williams 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" Socket Set, 138-pieces, $265.
Williams 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" Socket Set, 138-pieces, $265.
PeterT
Well-known member
Snap On is the best
General Geoff
Well-known member
SuperCat
Well-known member
I have to agree with JimNC, the new Proto just are not as good looking as the old style Proto, which has it's roots in the original Plomb style. Since I like Plomb and Proto tools, I did not vote in the poll due to my bias. I have sockets from the 1940's that are still good to go, but of course a good 70+ year old socket does not mean today's sockets are just as good. Proto is still in business after all these years, so that must mean something in terms of quality, but again, companies change their level of quality all the time, chasing the Almighty Buck. I don't think you can go wrong with the choices in the poll, they are all very good for the money. I agree with the other folks, perhaps the main consideration should be ease of warranty replacement. After all, good quality tools should make your life easier, not harder, right? We pay more money for better tools and better warranties because the fact of the matter is this: tools break from normal use (for lots of reasons, not including abuse). Get whatever you like, but consider ease of warranty replacement, just in case. Post pics of whatever you decide to get for your permanent set, I would like to see how deep the socket is compared to the length. Some deep sockets are really shallow inside the socket. 
customh
Well-known member
It all depends what you can warranty/get easily close to you. I've gone with GearWrench stuff at work because Fastenal takes care of warranty and will price match whatever I find on amazon or whatever.
Well so I was pondering Wright vs Williams vs Hazet for reasons explained above when an opportunity to purchase snapon shallow sets for next to nothing presented itself, have about $100 total into both sets up to 1-1/8 and 24mm.
Right now deeps are still the old hodgepodge, but the bargain on shorts has reduced the sense of urgency if that makes sense.
Right now deeps are still the old hodgepodge, but the bargain on shorts has reduced the sense of urgency if that makes sense.
lincwelder225
Well-known member
I can confirm that.
Don't be, MaverickDMD. They do say USA, with dots and everything
I recently bought a 1/2 to 3/8 impact reducer, a 3/8 to 1/2 impact adapter, a 3/8 impact extension, and a 1/2 impact extension. The 1/2 inch impact extension was the only USA marked one...the first 3/8 impact extension wasn't marked with anything, I called proto to exchange it and they just sent me another one... Wasn't marked USA, the package it came in said " made in USA with global components"..
Very disappointed in Proto quality control and what I feel is misleading advertising. Their customer service is good though...
Autoguy
Well-known member
PROTO well made tools