Long 3/8" bit sockets

[lardy1]

I'm wanting to buy some long bit sockets. Specifically, a Torx set and an SAE hex set. I buy a lot of Tekton items when I can't or don't buy domestic. Considering the prices of domestic and my very infrequent need for them, I'll likely buy Taiwan.

Has anyone used the Tekton's? I read a lot about Capri and Vim bit sockets. Are they pretty comparable or are bit sockets one of Tekton's duds?

I lean toward them because their sockets, screwdrivers, ratchets and wrenches have all satisfied me. Also, their prices and ease of use of their website is convenient.

I have imported short bit sockets I bought from TSC that work for me. That leads me to believe lesser, imported sockets would suffice.

 

[DFB]

I have been flippin the Neiko long ones on my tool table, both star drive (torx) and hex. 3/8" drive chrome sockets. Good enough for my tool box too.

I always had 1/2" drive hex impact sockets for years but no 3/8" But after I bought a 3/8" Milwaukee Stubby I wanted the smaller drive in impact



So also purchased both types of the 3/8" hex impact ones from Neiko. 2-1/4" (60mm) those I really like a lot. And recently and got the 14pc stubby hex bits too after that. Should maybe get the longer torx impact ones too but have a Lisle set from way back of assorted drive sizes for as much as I use them which actually seems to be more and more these days

I also recently purchased all the 1/4" hex shank impact bits they offer for my impact driver. I think they are 3 inch

Man one day we broke 4 of the chrome socket ones at the motorcycle shop on stubborn brake disc bolt.

 

[619DioFan]

I have the long hex sockets from HF in both regular and ball end. not used all the time but worth it when needed. lifetime warranty. I am just a serious DIYer.

 

[bob from indiana]

I bought Tekton long keys U.S., metric and torx for our shop. They have held up well for us. They are around two years old and none of them have broken yet. We build electrical control panels so they are used on new hardware. They look good with nice chrome.
I would not hesitate to buy a set for my personal use.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I have the Taiwan made Tektons. A little bendy/twisty, have broken a couple (they promptly replace, no issues there). I’m looking to upgrade to the VIMs because while the Tektons are decent I need something that will bite and be as strong as possible in the smaller sizes. The problem for me is I am using long hex sockets to remove hydraulic valve covers and when the tiny little bastards strip out, your only chance is To hammer a Torx in and hope it breaks it loose or then you have to remove the whole valve section from a machine and that’s a pain.

Oh and the other issue I have had with the Tektons is they like to slip easily out of the bit socket. There’s a tiny Allen set screw in there that is supposed to hold them in but it has issues.

I can’t complain too much they were only like $30 a set and have gotten me by a few years. I hate Allen head bolts and plugs especially the tiny sizes.

 

[Ralf11]

think about all the extra fun you'll have if you pooch a fastener with an internal head... t=do that thinkin' before you buy

probably safer on the Torx than the Allen's

 

[WinMod21]

I have the long hex sockets from HF in both regular and ball end. not used all the time but worth it when needed. lifetime warranty. I am just a serious DIYer.

I bought Tekton long keys U.S., metric and torx for our shop. They have held up well for us. They are around two years old and none of them have broken yet. We build electrical control panels so they are used on new hardware. They look good with nice chrome.
I would not hesitate to buy a set for my personal use.

I have the Taiwan made Tektons. A little bendy/twisty, have broken a couple (they promptly replace, no issues there). I’m looking to upgrade to the VIMs because while the Tektons are decent I need something that will bite and be as strong as possible in the smaller sizes. The problem for me is I am using long hex sockets to remove hydraulic valve covers and when the tiny little bastards strip out, your only chance is To hammer a Torx in and hope it breaks it loose or then you have to remove the whole valve section from a machine and that’s a pain.

Oh and the other issue I have had with the Tektons is they like to slip easily out of the bit socket. There’s a tiny Allen set screw in there that is supposed to hold them in but it has issues.
I can’t complain too much they were only like $30 a set and have gotten me by a few years. I hate Allen head bolts and plugs especially the tiny sizes.

This ^^^ is what I was just wondering about, as somehow I've gotten by my whole life without owning hardly any hex bit sockets, short or long, except for maybe 1 or 2. But I'm thinking of ordering a set, and was wondering if the long hex bit sockets would ever get used much for typical DIY type projects? Or would a set of the short hex bit sockets, in metric & SAE, likely suffice? I don't do a lot of work on our vehicles; just occasional.

lardy1 — Did you end up ordering a set, and if so which one, and do you like?

 

[TuxThePenguin]

long bits get into recessed areas

short bits are for when you hve no space. I've owned 2 Audi A4s and I did a lot of work on them (well, a lot on one and less on the other). At the time of the first one I had only "regular length" hex bits i.e. like say around 1.5 to 2 inches long or so. For 2 sizes (probably 6mm and 8mm but I don't remember for sure) I wound up having to cut off about half an inch of an allen key and use it with a box wrench to have clearance. You can get short sockets that might avoid this though.


As for the longer ones, lots of parts have recessed holes, even basic things like some covers in some engine bays. Probably most of the time I could get by with a 3" long bit.

But I have a set of the 6 or 8 or whatever inch long ones and sure sometimes they help fit in

No comment on Tekton bits though. I haven't used them.

 

[WinMod21]

long bits get into recessed areas

short bits are for when you hve no space. I've owned 2 Audi A4s and I did a lot of work on them (well, a lot on one and less on the other). At the time of the first one I had only "regular length" hex bits i.e. like say around 1.5 to 2 inches long or so. For 2 sizes (probably 6mm and 8mm but I don't remember for sure) I wound up having to cut off about half an inch of an allen key and use it with a box wrench to have clearance.

Today I'd probably do that with a set of stubbies + a nano socket or something

As for the longer ones, lots of parts have recessed holes, even basic things like some covers in some engine bays. Probably most of the time I could get by with a 3" long bit.

But I have a set of the 6 or 8 or whatever inch long ones and sure sometimes they help fit in
No comment on Tekton bits though. I haven't used them.

Thanks for that info Tux !;-) That's good to know, as it sounds like the long hex bit sockets would be good to have, just in case they are needed.

I'm noticing that the best deals, price-wise, look to be the combo sets of both the short & long hex bit sockets. But most are Taiwan or China. And my occasional use doesn't warrant SO or other truck tool brands.

I was asking because I'm tempted to order a small NOS set of USA made short hex sockets via ebay, but they're only (6) SAE's & (7) metrics, and of course way more $$ than the Chinese Neiko (mentioned abv in 2nd post), and nearly the same price as the 36-Pc set of short & long Tekton hex bit sockets.

My tools are mostly all USA made, but I've been on the fence about ordering the USA made NOS short set, while thinking... Wow, that's a lot of xtra $$ for some sockets that I'll probably rarely use ! But if I need them...? Then again, no longs.

Btw... e.g.:
O'Reilly has a 10-Pc metric short set for $18 (China)
10-Pc Tekton (direct) short hex bit - $24 (Taiwan)
7-Pc HD Husky short hex set - $16 (China or Taiwan?)
Gearwrench 12-Pc short hex set - $39 (China or Taiwan?)

 

[Dave455]

Have you thought about KoKen?

Hopefully “mid price” between the Taiwanese and the U.S. made products, but certainly a step up in quality over the Taiwanese. These are tools that KoKen make very well. Maybe even tougher than a lot of U.S. made bit sockets.

There’s an awesome range on offer too. They offer both one piece and two piece styles, different lengths, and in Torx you can even choose between hex shaft and round shaft...!

 

[WinMod21]

Have you thought about KoKen?

Hopefully “mid price” between the Taiwanese and the U.S. made products, but certainly a step up in quality over the Taiwanese. These are tools that KoKen make very well. Maybe even tougher than a lot of U.S. made bit sockets.

There’s an awesome range on offer too. They offer both one piece and two piece styles, different lengths, and in Torx you can even choose between hex shaft and round shaft...!

Thanks for that suggestion, Dave !;-) Where are they sold? I see that our amaz seems to only have singles.

So far, have only found a 1/2" metric 10-Pc hex set of KoKen, at toolsource, for $308 !:-0

 

[TuxThePenguin]

The way I see it, inner hex and star/torx bits are way more likely to strip than outer hex, just because the diameter on "inner fasteners" is less than "outer fasteners" for the same overall fastener size.

Stripping out a hex bolt in a tough area is going to cost me a lot more than having bought better hex bits that might've been even 5% or 10% less likely to strip something.

But if I'm not using them for high torque and/or they aren't critical then I'd maybe use cheaper bits. Honestly most of what I own right now are what I would call decent stuff, like Vim, but not top-end stuff like Wera (I do have PB Swiss hex and torx bits for my 1/4" hex impact driver though)

On something like a bicycle I'd probably be fine buying a brand like Neiko or whatever other "eh brand" because your bicycle bolts aren't going to be set with crazy levels of torque (lots of people just use L handle or T handle drivers for bicycles)

 

[WinMod21]

The way I see it, inner hex and star/torx bits are way more likely to strip than outer hex, just because the diameter on "inner fasteners" is less than "outer fasteners" for the same overall fastener size.

Stripping out a hex bolt in a tough area is going to cost me a lot more than having bought better hex bits that might've been even 5% or 10% less likely to strip something.

But if I'm not using them for high torque and/or they aren't critical then I'd maybe use cheaper bits.

On something like a bicycle I'd probably be fine buying a brand like Neiko or whatever other "eh brand" because your bicycle bolts aren't going to be set with crazy levels of torque (lots of people just use L handle or T handle drivers for bicycles)

Good to know. Thanks for all your helpful advice.

 

[lardy1]

I haven't pulled the trigger yet. I do already have short hex and Torx. After reading the replies I'm going to hold out until I can get better ones. The length concerns me more as far as breakage. I'd rather get something I don't regret later.

 

[WinMod21]

I haven't pulled the trigger yet. I do already have short hex and Torx. After reading the replies I'm going to hold out until I can get better ones. The length concerns me more as far as breakage. I'd rather get something I don't regret later.

Me too. Thanks for reply. RedneckWelder's post (abv ^) scared me off of ordering the Tekton 36-Pc long & short set a couple weeks ago, thanks also to this thread of yours.

Speaking of Hex keys, I just got a notify that a NOS Craftsman Allen Ball Screwdriver set that I ordered has arrived. Excited to see them. Never had any. May never use them, but hey, they're USA.

Edit: and they're pretty cool !

 

[lardy1]

My girlfriend has a 42 pc. Craftsman bit socket set that's pretty nice. Quite an assortment of usable sizes. No long shafts though. I have Channellock and some other similar house brand from TSC or something. I'm typically not into high torque situations in my home shop. I just want some long ones. You know........just in case.

 

[Dave455]

Thanks for that suggestion, Dave !;-) Where are they sold? I see that our amaz seems to only have singles.

So far, have only found a 1/2" metric 10-Pc hex set of KoKen, at toolsource, for $308 !:-0

I’m starting to struggle now, as I’m in the U.K.

$308 strikes me as outrageous. Part of the attraction of KoKen is that they are (relatively) affordable.

I think some of the U.S. folks buy them from Amazon.jp. I understand that while the shipping isn’t mega cheap, it’s not stupid expensive either, but it is fast, and the .jp prices are pretty keen.

Another option is Franks Tools, an online seller based in Japan who prices in $.

I’ve bought a few things from amazon.jp here in the U.K. and they have been pretty good. In fact all my online shopping experiences with Japan have been good.

 

[WinMod21]

My girlfriend has a 42 pc. Craftsman bit socket set that's pretty nice. Quite an assortment of usable sizes. No long shafts though. I have Channellock and some other similar house brand from TSC or something. I'm typically not into high torque situations in my home shop. I just want some long ones. You know........just in case.

Is her set USA? The going rates for USA on ebay are pretty high, imho.

I’m starting to struggle now, as I’m in the U.K.

$308 strikes me as outrageous. Part of the attraction of KoKen is that they are (relatively) affordable.
I think some of the U.S. folks buy them from Amazon.jp. I understand that while the shipping isn’t mega cheap, it’s not stupid expensive either, but it is fast, and the .jp prices are pretty keen.
Another option is Franks Tools, an online seller based in Japan who prices in $.
I’ve bought a few things from amazon.jp here in the U.K. and they have been pretty good. In fact all my online shopping experiences with Japan have been good.

Ahh, right. I saw frankstools in my bookmarks...but forgot to check there. Thanks for that tip; I'll check-out the .jp and franks. Kinda odd that there's no [Search] function at franks. But I guess they'd be under the 'Hex Drivers, Torx, Misc Bits' section. . . . . Alas, looks like they're a bit out-of-my-league price-wise. Really appreciate the info though. I'll check them out in the future. Cheers

 

[crewchief888]

i have long MM and torx from tekton. i rarely use them, but havent broken one so far wrenching on cost eq.

i have some random long kobalt MM as well

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Is her set USA? The going rates for USA on ebay are pretty high, imho.

Ahh, right. I saw frankstools in my bookmarks...but forgot to check there. Thanks for that tip; I'll check-out the .jp and franks. Kinda odd that there's no [Search] function at franks. But I guess they'd be under the 'Hex Drivers, Torx, Misc Bits' section. . . . . Alas, looks like they're a bit out-of-my-league price-wise. Really appreciate the info though. I'll check them out in the future. Cheers

check Amazon.co.jp also. They'll ship a lot of Koken stuff to the US and is generally about the best price you can get that I've seen.

Can also check palmac.net (I just received an order from them recently), but they don't have that many items listed on their site.

(Note: While I have a singular Koken ratchet, a singular Koken socket set, some extensions and other oddities from Koken - and like them all very much - I can say I have never used their hex or torx keys or bits, so I cannot say much else about that suggestion)