I need help finding hex sockets.

[nissan_crawler]

What did you think of the Wiha socket sets, too expensive?
http://www.wihatools.com/indexes/indx_sockets.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713insoc1_4.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713mmsock.htm

The Wiha's would work, they're a little expensive, but to be honest, I've been doing more research today and keep coming back to them. I like the fact that they're 1/4" shank out to the end, then neck down, much stronger that way.

 

[billymade]

I have been very happy and impressed with all my Wiha tools; I don't own any sockets but the German steel/heat treatment they use on the screwdrivers has been excellent! I would assume the sockets would be great too but I cannot vouch for them with a experience of "real world usage"! I have yet to use a German tool that I did not like or give me poor performance or quality!

nissan_crawler, can you tell us what type of work you are going to be using them for; high torque and usage would push me towards buying a higher quality tool. Spending a little more dough in the long run will probably be worth it; what is the point of a tool if it doesn't do what you want it to do and keep breaking all the time! Hopefully, you can find a good "in-between" tool that is a fair price with excellent quality; wow, thats hard to find these days!

Oh, another option is APEX; their stuff is excellent but I am not familiar with their pricing structure but I think they are cheaper then Snapon! http://www.who-sells-it.com/cy/cooper-power-tools-807/apex-fastener-tools-4510.html
Their catalog is here: http://www.who-sells-it.com/cy/cooper-power-tools-807/apex-fastener-tools-4510/page-1.html

 

[foxx_good]

I dont know if this is exactly what you are looking for but have you tried SK their prices are pretty reasonable and i just got a set of screwdriver bit sockets real cheap on ebay so there are deals to be found
http://www.superiorpaneltechnology.com/category_s/166.htm
there are about 8 pages of SK bit sockets there you can look at. I didnt get a chance to look through all of them but i thought they made some long ones

 

[MAD]

I dont know if this is exactly what you are looking for but have you tried SK their prices are pretty reasonable and i just got a set of screwdriver bit sockets real cheap on ebay so there are deals to be found
http://www.superiorpaneltechnology.com/category_s/166.htm
there are about 8 pages of SK bit sockets there you can look at. I didnt get a chance to look through all of them but i thought they made some long ones

Yeah nissan, what do you think of SK?

Don't pull any punches or sugar coat it now.

 

[billymade]

Uh, oh! I don't think nissan_crawler and SK tools mix!!!!!!! I think he hates them with a passion!!!! LOL!

 

[Merkava_4]

Yeah nissan, what do you think of SK?

Don't get him started!

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

nissan & SK go together like eschoendorff & mac.

 

[eschoendorff]

nissan & SK go together like eschoendorff & mac.

MAC tools. MAC computers and I get along really well. Just a clarification.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

MAC tools. MAC computers and I get along really well. Just a clarification.

Funny, I was going to clarify too, knowing your feelings of mac computers, but I figured most would know what I was talking about.

 

[Merkava_4]

nissan & SK go together like eschoendorff & mac.

eschoendorff likes mac's but he hates MAC's.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Yeahhhhh....no sk tools in my box. I'm pretty set on the Wiha stuff, now I just need to hit the lottery.

 

[eschoendorff]

Yeahhhhh....no sk tools in my box. I'm pretty set on the Wiha stuff, now I just need to hit the lottery.

Huh??? You're an airplane mechanic, right? You make more $$$ than most of us here, dontcha????

 

[nissan_crawler]

Huh??? You're an airplane mechanic, right? You make more $$$ than most of us here, dontcha????

I wish, I make decent money, but not rich by any sense of the word. That goes quickly after school loans, home loan, vehicle loan, home remodeling.

 

[eschoendorff]

I wish, I make decent money, but not rich by any sense of the word. That goes quickly after school loans, home loan, vehicle loan, home remodeling.

Don't I know! We are in desperate need of a home remodel... but there just isn't any $$$$ available for that right now. Right now I am so busy with work, that even if I had the $$$, I just don't have the time.

Oh, and buy the Wiha sockets.

 

[billymade]

If and when you buy the Wiha stuff; I would love to hear what you think, maybe a review and maybe some pics too! I have always felt comfortable recommending their stuff but have never had or used any of their sockets! I have never had a German tool I was disappointed with!

 

[nissan_crawler]

Well, I finally broke down and bought the wiha sockets, can't want to get them.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Oddly enough, WIha mechanic's tools are not available in Germany. Supposedly, for the US market, they are relabeled Hazet. Whether this is true or not, is beyond me, and what grade of Hazet is also beyond me.

I'm also wondering about the quality of the Wera sockets that come with the Zyklop and their interchangeable hex bits. I like that design and bit replacements are cheap. Haven't seen that in the US, really, even with the sockets that have set screws for the bits. Maybe I should get a Zyklops now and get replacement bits for their adapter.

This is the worst part of German tools. So many friggin options.

 

[MAD]

Well, I finally broke down and bought the wiha sockets, can't want to get them.

You may want to check that the set screws are tight when you get them. A few of mine were almost falling out when I got them.


I recently bought a set of the VIM 1/4" stubby hex sockets. They seem pretty good so far, but I have not really had to torture them yet. The extra knuckle clearance in tight spots they afford has been great the few times I have used them.

They are around $25 shipped right now from Restockit through Amazon if you use this coupon for $5.00 off - RSIFREE5

($22.48 - $5.00 coupon +shipping)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002UNOME/ref=pd_luc_mri?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3SKJE188CW5XG&v=glance

 

[zuspiel]

Well, I finally broke down and bought the wiha sockets, can't want to get them.

 

[-B-]

A few tips for from a daily user avoid S&K and any other brand that is pinned or set screwed often time quite shortly after minimal use the bit star to fall out. If you find a set that is good but can only be had too long you can cut down and grind down to desired length. My personally favorites are SO stubbies I only bough the ones I use the most ( 1/4" 4&5 3/8" 5,6,&8 ) The 3/8" set I have is an Kobolt it is ok and easily replaced yearly like my hex wrenches for $20. Allen drive tools are considered disposable to bicycle mechanics most fasteners are over torqued from the factory or seized up from age so these tools take the brunt.

 

[billymade]

I can't wait to see pics and review of the Wiha stuff! Let us know when they show up! That would be cool if they were re-badged Hazet; I think the Wiha are way cheaper then genuine Hazet sockets!

 

[jerk_chicken]

I got that advice in a previous thread, so don't come after me if they're not the same!

 

[nissan_crawler]

I don't care either way, but it would be interesting. The selling point for me on the Wiha ones are that the long ones are a true 6" instead of 4" like many others, and that they keep the bit at a 1/4" right until the end, which is way stronger than having a 6" long bit that's 3/32" the entire way.

 

[burger]

For anyone interested in the Wiha hex socket set, I just purchased the 10-pc Metric set and 8-pc Standard set through Chadstoolbox.com for about 2/3 of the price of going directly through Wiha.

 

[pirana]

Not that it matters to me but I wonder why the bits are American made & the sockets are Taiwanese.

 

[billymade]

burger, how about some pics and how has your experience using them been?

 

[jerk_chicken]

Not that it matters to me but I wonder why the bits are American made & the sockets are Taiwanese.

Guess they're not Hazet.

As an aside, I've found bits in German hardware stores to be made in the US quite frequently.

I checked Chad's and the wiha stuff is CM cheap in pricing on those hex bits.

Me, I'm still deciding between a bigger, slightly pricier Gedore, or a smaller Hazet for my hex bits.

Life is really tough, isn't it?

 

[MAD]

Not that it matters to me but I wonder why the bits are American made & the sockets are Taiwanese.

The bits are made in Germany, not USA.

 

[pirana]

The bits are made in Germany, not USA.

According to the Wiha web site the 1/4" dr. long bits are made in the USA. That's what it says anyway.



http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/771Sockets.htm

 

[Monte]

Guess they're not Hazet.

As an aside, I've found bits in German hardware stores to be made in the US quite frequently.

just out of curiosity: which brand ? Bosch (Vermont American) ?

 

[billymade]

Interesting, here are some other sockets, where they say the bits are "made in germany"; go figure!

http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/761serie.htm

The "normal" sockets, say "heyco" on them in the cat photo:
http://www.wihatools.com/600seri/601_inch_soc1_4.htm

http://www.heyco.de/eseiten/clipgrip.html

 

[FNFS2000]

the WIHA ones are good, you can get them 20%-30% less from dealers online than direct from WIHAtools.com

 

[MAD]

According to the Wiha web site the 1/4" dr. long bits are made in the USA. That's what it says anyway.



http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/771Sockets.htm

That is interesting.

The package from my 3/8" set says "Bits made in Germany", "Socket rail made in USA". There is no mention of the sockets but they are quite generic looking.

There is no country of origin marked on any part of the actual tools.

 

[MAD]

The "normal" sockets, say "heyco" on them in the cat photo:
http://www.wihatools.com/600seri/601_inch_soc1_4.htm

The sockets for the hex bits that I have do not resemble those Heyco sockets at all.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I recently bought a set of the VIM 1/4" stubby hex sockets. They seem pretty good so far, but I have not really had to torture them yet. The extra knuckle clearance in tight spots they afford has been great the few times I have used them.

Does the set include a 7mm bit socket?

 

[nissan_crawler]

I refuse to order from chadstoolbox because the site looks like it was designed by an 8 year old with ADHD, and their search *****.

 

[jerk_chicken]

The German tool sites **** too. Seriously, it#s not 1995 anymore. I can handle more than ten items and their graphics per page. The company they all use ***** and this comes from a guy that has some web experience. Most of their pages are devoted to some sort of advertising within the site, and not functional to what one needs for usability. I'm sure there are other programs out there, but these companies are too cheap to put them up.

 

[MAD]

Does the set include a 7mm bit socket?

Yes it does.
http://www.vimtools.com/product_detail.asp?id=SHM400

 

[burger]

I refuse to order from chadstoolbox because the site looks like it was designed by an 8 year old with ADHD, and their search *****.

So far my experience with chandstoolbox.com has been excellent. I used thier online chat function to answer a few questions. More important to me, I was able to use thier 110% price match garauntee to get the lowest price possible and to also avoid dealing with an online merchant that seemed a little shady (no product in stock, drop shipping product, won't tell you the shipping price until your order ships).

So in short, I will likely make future purchases from chadstoolbox, even if thier website is outdated. Anyway, what's wrong with thier search function? I punched in the Wiha part numbers and the tools came right up.

burger, how about some pics and how has your experience using them been?

Will do. Should have the sets in 2-5 days.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Anyway, what's wrong with thier search function? I punched in the Wiha part numbers and the tools came right up.

The fact that you need the part number for their search is the problem. Try typing in Wiha hex, and look at the **** it pulls up.