Let's Talk Size. Lol.

[shoggoth80]

Ok, so bigger is supposed to be better right? Sorry, couldn't resist throwing a little silliness out there.

Ok, so seriously now. I am thinking about investing in some 3/4" drive tools. I work on/replace parts on all sorts of stuff, some of which happens to be tow trucks, box trucks, and flat beds. Also, given that I have found that I LIKE working on the larger vehicles, and am considering re-enrolling in tech school for heavy diesel tech...even just the extra oomph given by the beefier tools could come in handy. If things play the way I would like them to, I'll eventually need them anyway. (Along with wrenches in excess of 1"/25mm). I already run into situations where I need larger than 1" wrenches and impact sockets.

I know that HF sells a metric set. Astro and HF have SAE sets. I am told that I'd eventually need both, as newer stuff tends to be metric, some chassis stuff tends to be SAE, and some firms are stubborn and don't switch. Lol. Impacts I have wishlisted up to 38mm in 1/2 drive, and I have a 3/4" adapter for my air gun if I needed to go that route.

But I am thinking about hand tools, sorry for digression. Is there any other company out there that makes a decent starter set? I have an SK 3/4" ratchet on my amazon wish list, but the HF and Astro stuff has a ratchet in there. Just looking for advice? Seems that 3/4" stuff is few and far between? Williams has a set also, but at 3 times the price.

I use amazon for a lot of general browsing, review reading etc. 3/4" sets seem to be kind of obscure.

 

[scaron]

i know wright and S-K make plenty of nice 3/4" drive sets. probably proto, too. once you enter 3/4" drive land, prepare for sticker shock. you are either gonna pay like $100 for a 3/4" set from HF or sears, or $1000 for a 3/4" set from a reputable domestic vendor. you might be best served tracking down some high quality stuff - used - on ebay. i see larger drive stuff on there all the time at a massive discount compared with new.

 

[Deskmechanic]

I see used 3/4 sets on craigslist fairly often. And I buy bits-n-pieces at garage/estate sales. Most of which I pass on to my dad who has a tractor.

 

[BK13]

Curious if anybody has much experience with the USA Craftsman 3/4" ratchet?

 

[Avgas]

Plenty of 3/4" stuff in the classifieds. Wright, Proto, SK, Bonney, I see some on there right now

 

[basspro]

I purchase a set of mixed USA 3/4 drive sockets up to 2" at the local flea market for $35, bought an Allen brand T-bar for $15. Deals are out there, you can get 3/4 drive tools cheap. I only use up to 1 1/2" at work, so I took the rest home.

 

[oldldh]

The HF set was $ 59.95 when I bought it...you get what you pay for...

The Craftsman set is in the $ 280.00 range...

Sticker shock awaits...

 

[shoggoth80]

I know the stuff gets expensive. I just couldn't find much else other than what was listed. I thought I had an SK set on my wishlist, but can't see it now? So, more digging. Lol.

 

[619DioFan]

I have 3/4 inch drive impacts in deep and shallow from HF. I have used them pretty hard and they have held up fine.

 

[92integra]

Check out grey pnuematic. I use and abuse them daily love them and its awsome to see other tech that jave snap on socket come grab my grey sockets

 

[chrisa7164]

I have 2 of the USA craftsman 3/4 ratchets along with an S K and a 3 foot long Snap On. never had a problem with any of them.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Craftsman used to go on sale all the time.

I built a set from USA made old and newer and even new sockets from the flea market, one, two or three at a time. All 12 pt, all non-impact. Some WWII vintage one was brand new Proto, one was taiwan made I think, but very nice, Williams. Generally they were $2 to $4 each, I did pay $5 for one of them. Everything from 3/4 (what do you use a 3/4 hex 12 pt socket in 3/4 drive for?) all the way up to 2 inch.

Charles

 

[davethorik]

I just put together a pretty complete 3/4 drive set, all older usa made, for less than $200. A ratchet, 4,9, and 16 inch extensions, a universal swivel, and a breaker bar plus sockets 3/4 thru 2-3/8.

Ratchet is Bonney, smaller extensions and quite a few sockets are as well. Breaker bar, 16" ext, and quite a few sockets are Wright. Swivel is Indestro Super. There are 5 or 6 Proto sockets, and 3 of the bigger ones over 2" are new never used Craftsman -v- now discontinued. There are some onesies, but you get the idea. It is a mutt set but very complete and all USA made.

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

I have this set but I found it on amazon new for $100
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007U0H9M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[owenst7]

I've had the HF set for several years. They are ugly, but I have no complaints. I have used them to set up a dozen or so light duty axles-mostly GM 10.5" (AKA 14 bolt) and GM Dana 60Fs. They will fit in the yokes on those axles, along with a HP Dana 30 BTW, despite what some claim about the wall thickness.

I did have the original ratchet come apart on me after a few years of banging around in the bottom of my trail tools. The store replaced it no questions asked as usual.

My dad has a set he paid over $100 for at AK Industrial Hardware several years ago. Almost positive it is the exact same set, but it came in a cheaper metal box than the blow-molded HF one (which I cut the lid off and it fits very nicely in my US general mid-chest).

If you have a HF you can go to conveniently, and you aren't planning on using them to make a living, I'd say they're the best deal I've been seen. I tend to shy away from Craftsman these days because the Sears in Anchorage and Reno give me grief sometimes on warranties, even when it's something silly like a broken direction switch on a ratchet. I end up using my non-impact 3/4" sockets on my impact on occasion, so I'd rather deal with a company that I know will take care of me despite that. My 1.5" HF socket is showing some deformation at the base from the anvil, but the square is still in good shape, and that's considering it's set several 14 bolt crush sleeves with my impact.

 

[ol'Red]

I like the grey pneumatic. That being said lots of guys I have worked with have used no name 3/4 dr. stuff and we use 3/4 a lot. I have never seen one split. I know it happens I just don't recall seeing it. If you buy a 90$ cheap set not worth the warranty and you break your 1 5/16 taking off a wheel just replace it with a better quality socket as thats one size you apparently use.

 

[shoggoth80]

I do have a HF near me, that's part of the consideration. Thing is that I work on bigger stuff intermittently. I don't wrench on bigger trucks everyday. Thinking a set of some kind + the impacts from HF would get a 3/4" drive kit off the ground? Could always go with the impacts first, and get a ratchet? I know that there may be areas that the impacts won't fit into though. *Scratching my head* I wouldn't use them all the time, but would use them as needed. I have a fair bit of HF stuff, and the only things I have broken have been U-joints. Lol.

 

[owenst7]

I do have a HF near me, that's part of the consideration. Thing is that I work on bigger stuff intermittently. I don't wrench on bigger trucks everyday. Thinking a set of some kind + the impacts from HF would get a 3/4" drive kit off the ground? Could always go with the impacts first, and get a ratchet? I know that there may be areas that the impacts won't fit into though. *Scratching my head* I wouldn't use them all the time, but would use them as needed. I have a fair bit of HF stuff, and the only things I have broken have been U-joints. Lol.

I work on light duty trucks, so the highest stress thing I wrench on is the 600 ft-lbs kingpins on a Dana 60 (which the 7/8" socket does just fine despite it not being an impact socket). I know medium duty trucks are a different story (maintained a fleet of them growing up, but I try to make a living with easier work these days ). I do know that they will handle everything my Nitrocat will give them using 1/4" automotive fittings and a good air supply over a short 3/8" hose. Not that that's a very destructive test, but it's pretty much all that most guys are going to do in their garage. In fact, as many people ask me to set up gears for them, I think it's probably more than most people put their tools through, despite how simple it is. In that sense, I guess my HF sockets have earned me much more in craft beer than I paid for them in dollars .

Hell, I think I only paid about $45 for my set. They've been worth it just for bearing/seal drivers even if they were worthless as sockets.