Impact sockets & sockets for DIYer?

[HiccaBurp]

Looking to add a set of short SAE & metric impact socket sets. What do you recommend as the best deal? Not cheapest, not most expensive, good quality since i'll be using it for years to come and possible pass it down to my kids. Made in the USA would be a huge +. Sears craftsman?

I also need a set of deep well metric sockets. Recommendations?

 

[Cato]

Sears Craftsman USA would be perfect. Those are hard to find, though. I've had luck at non Sears Craftsman outlets.

 

[btbsandman]

Looking to add a set of short SAE & metric impact socket sets. What do you recommend as the best deal? Not cheapest, not most expensive, good quality since i'll be using it for years to come and possible pass it down to my kids. Made in the USA would be a huge +. Sears craftsman?

I also need a set of deep well metric sockets. Recommendations?

Go to Menards and get the Masterforce Wrenches. Those would be the best bet for you.

 

[HiccaBurp]

Go to Menards and get the Masterforce Wrenches. Those would be the best bet for you.

Are those made in the USA? If not, where are they made?

 

[LXCam]

I just purchased a set of 1/2 drive deep 10mm - 36mm Grey Pneumatic (kit 1326MD) impact sockets that didn't miss a measurement for if I remember right about $130 shipped. So far so good, I have no complaints. And if you do some searching around here there are several discussions about their quality.

 

[raiderhillbilly]

I think these are cool.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-IMPACT-SO...1535662490&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

[bob15]

Have you looked on E-bay and harry epsteins?

Wright and SK are very good.

 

[nieuport17]

Whats your price range? Because HF is pretty good for the price on impact

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

What drive size? I buy all my impacts on ebay as you can usually find deals.

 

[warweapon762]

Anything made with cr-mo steel.. I use the made in Taiwan pittsburgh pro sets which are about as good as it gets in price for a DIYer but not made in USA. Ideally craftsman would fit the bill but its waaaaay overpriced for what you get. All the sets ive seen in stores are made in China.

 

[dpaton]

Wright, SK, or USA made Craftsman if you can find them. Cruise eBay, sometimes sets show up really cheap.

 

[404]

Get the HF deep impact sets and put the rest of the money in the bank to raise and educate your kids.
Leaving them to kids is a nice dream, unfortunately kids have a way of ruining dreams and may not even care about the sockets 50 years from now.

 

[Finky198]

Sunnex or Gray

 

[K-Dog]

Sunnex impact sockets cant be beat bang for the buck.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

As above, the HF "Pittsburgh PRO" ones are GREAT for the money. They are made in Taiwan and are highly regarded by nearly everyone.

 

[stage20]

sunnex or grey if you want to spend money on quality. hf if you want to save money and have decent sockets, but you will have to order a few sockets to fill the set in and have a miss matched set, so to speak. if you go to hf, buy taiwan and make sure they say cro-mo on them.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have complete sets of 3/8" and 1/2" drive shallow and deep impacts, all made in USA (Cornwell, Armstrong, and Craftsman), all purchased in new condition, for a total of $321. I could've gone cheaper with Taiwan and been just fine, but sockets are one thing that I insist on having made in USA. I used to have some Sunex, and they were great, but I ended up needing larger sets so I sold them.

 

[Moose364]

Like said above. until I blow up a HF I have very good luck with them, and mine are close to 4 y/o and have been well worth what I paid for them,

 

[Ign]

Tekton (seriously)

 

[bassbone52]

As above, the HF "Pittsburgh PRO" ones are GREAT for the money. They are made in Taiwan and are highly regarded by nearly everyone.

^^^^ all day.

 

[mrborohachi]

I have a set of SK deep 1/2 that almost strictly use on my 1/2 drive impact gun (since 1998). USA made and I have yet to break one. SK's rebirth has a great warranty.

 

[itsvegas]

another vote for sunex here. hf is good but they skip sizes!

 

[HiccaBurp]

Guys, thanks for all the replies! My budget is not set, just wanted a quality set for decent money. I had to go out and run errands, and stopped at the Sears Hardware store to see these "Chinese" sockets they have now. WOW, I couldn't believe it. My second job when I turned 16(25 years ago) was at Sears. When I left HS and went to work on cars, my first tool box and tools were all Craftsman. I still have those today and use them(not the box). I can NOT buy the Chinese craftsman tools.. it just doesn't seem right.

I will check out some of the brands mentioned. Thank you for the suggestions.

As for HF, I do have their deep impacts. Nothing wrong with them, just wanted to spend $$ on a quality USA tool if I could. The other issue is HF is about 30 min away without traffic.

Sears is about 12 min as is Home Depot. Napa, ADAP, O'Rilleys, Car Quest and Lee Auto parts all within 10 min of my house. Menards is about 20-25 min

ps, I do live about 20 min from Snap-On facility in Crystal Lake, IL

 

[619DioFan]

If COO is not a deal breaker then I can recommend Tekton. no skipped sizes and they have held up well. very good price from Amazon. I also have/use a few sets of sunex impact sockets and again I feel they are a very good quality socket and good prices off of Amazon.

 

[skylinegtr20]

Grey Pnuematic sockets... great quality and very reasonably priced!

 

[Canyon56]

More support for Sunex!

 

[TheRobotCow]

Grey Pneumatic sockets look great too.


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[HiccaBurp]

Those Grey and Sunex look nice. What do you do about a broken socket? Is there a warranty? How do you go about replacing them?

That is what I liked the most about Craftsman tools, I always lived close to a Sears store. Since they are Chinese now, I have no loyalty to them. I was hoping there would be a USA made tool I can invest in without going to the SnapOns/Mac/Matco.. I have had good luck with Taiwanese tools.. they seem to be much better made than Chinese. I just purchased some Milwuakee brand vise grips made in Taiwan and they are much better IMHO than the new Vise Grips(non USA).

 

[Askme42]

Those Grey and Sunex look nice. What do you do about a broken socket? Is there a warranty? How do you go about replacing them?

That is what I liked the most about Craftsman tools, I always lived close to a Sears store. Since they are Chinese now, I have no loyalty to them. I was hoping there would be a USA made tool I can invest in without going to the SnapOns/Mac/Matco.. I have had good luck with Taiwanese tools.. they seem to be much better made than Chinese. I just purchased some Milwuakee brand vise grips made in Taiwan and they are much better IMHO than the new Vise Grips(non USA).

If you really want usa check out sk. Easy mail
In warranty. And they are close to you in sycamore illinois.

 

[dpaton]

Better yet. Berlands is still an SK dealer and they do warranty exchanges in the store. It's not exactly on downtown Wauconda, but it's a lot easier than anything but Sears.

 

[Askme42]

Better yet. Berlands is still an SK dealer and they do warranty exchanges in the store. It's not exactly on downtown Wauconda, but it's a lot easier than anything but Sears.

Sounds like I have a new place to check out next time I'm around Chicago.

 

[stage20]

Given your last post if you want usa buy sk. If napa is conenient heir new carlyle brand is advertised as pro quality. They are taiwan but warranty may be easier than sk. Dough you'll have issues though

 

[lightning02]

I use Tekton and never had a problem. Taiwan made. No size skip. Nice hard case. Very good warranty.

 

[T45]

"Mail in warranty" on a <$5/piece tools is not a warranty....

By the time you pay postage and tracking...

Just sayin.

 

[quattroJoe]

Are you looking for 1/2 or 3/8 drive? Cripe Distributing has a ton of impact sockets at low prices, but I think most of what they have now is 3/8. Worth a look though. They often have NOS Kobalt sets that were made by Williams in the USA. They also have Armstrong singles, but you can easily put together an almost complete set of std and deep 3/8 very cheaply. Fill in the few gaps from Amazon or use your Sears points and order online. Otherwise Gearwrench isn't a bad option, pretty inexpensive but not US made, easy warranty though.

 

[BK13]

Given your last post if you want usa buy sk. If napa is conenient heir new carlyle brand is advertised as pro quality. They are taiwan but warranty may be easier than sk. Dough you'll have issues though

I didn't think Carlyle did impact sockets?

OP: I have some Sunex that I really like, I just bought some Gearwrench that seem nice, and some Kobalt that are pretty fair.

If USA production was necessary, my first two choices would be Wright and SK.

 

[HiccaBurp]

I am looking for:

1/2 drive short impact sockets in SAE and Metric

3/8 deep non impact metric set

 

[eddiemeddiem]

Another vote for HF impacts... Been using them for DIY for about ten years, and haven't had an issue yet!


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[MaineGuide]

For non-USA, if you have a Napa near you, it's hard to beat their impact sockets. They are Sunex sockets rebranded for Napa. Warranty is a cinch.

For USA, you want to make sure that warranty won't be too difficult or costly. If you have a Fastenal near you, they can warranty for you (buy them elsewhere, prices much cheaper other places; then take them for warranty). SK and Wright would also be good choices.

 

[May Pop]

Another vote for Sunex. 2 day delivery from Tool Topia to our area. Reasonable prices.