looking for a decent socket/wrench set

[matt chard]

Ive been looking everywhere and cant seem to find a good socket set, snap on is way to much for me along with mac, i have been looking at sk sockets but even thise are a bit high in price for me....so what ive found was northern tools, dewalt, craftsman, or JH williams.
But I heard theirs two diffrent JH williams brands and ones garbage!

Any suggestions on a decent socket set?

 

[djcslice]

Costco sells a nice 6pt craftsman set for a good price. It looks like there is not too much filler. It would need an extra set of wrenches to be complete.

Gear wrench makes some decent ratchet/socket sets as well.

 

[matt chard]

Could you put up a link? And craftsman does have way to much screwdriver filler stuff

 

[djcslice]

Costco craftsman set- http://slickdeals.net/f/4734294-Cra...instant-rebate-B-M-Costco-Membership-Required



Gear wrench set(s)- http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/ratchets_and_sockets/ratchets/full_polish/

 

[matt chard]

Does gearwrench have a lifetime warranty?

 

[djcslice]

http://www.gearwrench.com/warranty.jsp

 

[wb2vsj]

Check out the Lowes Kobalt stuff. Don't pay full price - wait (if you can) until they go on sale.

They had a nice small 3/8 set for sale that was the same price as buying the ratchet alone a while back. (~$24 iirc)

 

[matt chard]

Gearwrench seems to have some good options without all the filler

 

[Dusty61]

the harbor freight sets are ok...good for the money. try stanly, i had stanly tools for years and they held up fairly well being used all day every day. JH williams is the best of the brands you listed, look at amazon and read the reviews. I have a few SAE sets of JH Williams stuff since i am not paying full retail for snap on SAE. don't use it enough.

 

[matt chard]

I read on another article that theirs a cheap JH williams tools and a nice USA made JH williams set!
Im not sure if its true though

 

[Hootbro]

If you are just the once in a blue moon weekend wrench, the Craftsman stuff will do you regardless if it is USA made or import.

 

[mrjaw14]

If it were me I would look into the following:
(price goes up the farther down the list you go)
1. Lowes Kobalt - as others have said wait til it's on sale. quality isn't pro, but ease of exchange if you break something makes up for it.
2. USA made craftsman - usually only available now in socket sets, not as individuals
3. SK Hand tools - all kinds of good sets, USA made, lifetime warranty
4. You could get some Wright sockets, and some Armstrong ratchets. Armstrong is OEM for Matco...rebuilt kits are interchangeable, heads are similar, only the handles are different.

 

[BK13]

As far as I can tell, even the Tiawanese JH Williams stuff is pretty dang good

 

[sberry]

You are way overthinking this the same way the rest of the golden arms do. Forget all this, get some affordable stuff and use it, forget warranty and which is better. A set of 20$ Stanley sockets from Walmart is near world class, can be replaced at any time 24/7.

If you are really starting from 0 them march down and get a Sears set, I am a fan of the 309 pc set, I would go to Walmart or a HF if it was next door and buy a set of specialty bits every time I ran across the need, all of them under a 20$ bill.

Then there are a few tools worth picking off by brand and style, mostly trade level proved pieces, the number 9 hi lev side cutter, a 8 inch hi leverage ****, a 12 inch channelock, a couple pairs of 6R and 10R vise grips straight jaw, most of the rest of it a guy couldn't tell the difference in a blind test and its not worth the cost.

 

[toolstools]

Duralast. I swear their sockets. I bought a 3/8 metric.set deep and shallow I think 8-19 4 years ago and have used them hard for a diyer. Great finish and excellent fit. No hassle warranty with all the singles hanging if you ever need them. I've never even chipped a duralast socket. Also have their ratchets wrenches and have held uo outstandingly.

 

[sberry]

A guy came in to my shop the other day, said, how much you got in tools? My reply was,,, not as much as you might think and for 1 reason. there are not a couple 10K tool boxes sitting around shoved full of 90K or more chrome everthing they ever invented the last 40 yrs.

I have seen guys 64 still spending a hundred a week on a truck, still trying to explain to me how this will pay off big. A couple the best I know seemed to make it a career and you could carry all their hardline in a 5 gallon bucket, aint worth a grand at a great sale.

 

[sberry]

I agree with the duralast and some of the other house brand spec tools. The ATD stuff is good too. Bought a couple sets of adjustables and some extensions in hard line, perfect and some specialty stuff is super generic but it works just fine.

I bought a 2 qt paint pot and gun with every intention of cannibalizing it, disposable. It worked so well I took care of it, still got it 15 yrs later. Done a dozen major jobs wit the thing, works out to 10$ tool investment per job.

 

[sberry]

A neighbor just bought some hi dollar scan tool. waste of time. 99% of the problems we see are broke ****, 3 of them fuss over it for 2 days, they still got to come ask the dumb farmer who has the service manuals wtf,,, well, its broke. Brakes falling off, ball joints ragged. muffler shot and I aint fussing around with the check engine light that has been on for years. I got enough stuff I can do to someones car instead of fukking with fussy drivability ****, I will put some plugs and wires on but take that **** to the dealer.

 

[sberry]

I like that Kobalt too, I wouldn't feel robbed buying most anything of it, the sockets and wrenches have a nice finish, can buy or replace it off the shelf, the stores are open long hours.

The thing I like about the 309 sears is I think they are full size sets? That Costco thing is a bargain but is a girls kit.

 

[djcslice]

I have the craftsman 309 set and half of the set is filler/repeats. Don't waste money on a set that has a ton of filler.

 

[matt chard]

I was thinking of buying smaller socket sets from craftsman instead of a big kit from craftsman with filler

 

[matt chard]

I was thinking of buying small craftsman sets instead of a bigger craftsman kit full of filler

 

[djcslice]

If thats the case, I would recommend buying the individual socket rails (6-12 sockets on a plastic rail) along with cman 60 tooth, cman 84 tooth, gear wrench 84 tooth or gear wrench 120 tooth ratchets. These socket rail sets are about the best way to store sockets in a tool chest and you can cut out the filler.

Cman's bit drivers, allen keys and standard ratchets all ****.

 

[matt chard]

I was thinking of buying smaller kits from craftsman insfead of a big kit with filler

 

[sberry]

It may be filler but its cheap and has so many big pieces that it is still cheap. There is nothing in there that is really useless, a dozen pieces but when you paid less than a dollar wtf/

Every set comes with a 11/32 socket in a couple lengths including a set you paid several hundred for but no one seems to notice they paid 35$ for a socket they rarely use from the truck but sears charges 60 cents for an allen wrench and you are getting robbed?

 

[sberry]

Go buy a dozen sockets from the truck and see how far that 200 or 249$ goes? Sears is a steal.

 

[matt chard]

I was thinking of buying smaller socket kits from craftsman instead of a big kit with filler

 

[djcslice]

Go buy a dozen sockets from the truck and see how far that 200 or 249 goes? Sears is a steal.

It is a steal but why buy a 309 pc. set if you're only going to use 50 of them.

 

[ajchien]

I read on another article that theirs a cheap JH williams tools and a nice USA made JH williams set!
Im not sure if its true though

There is a made in USA line which usually has model numbers that have mixed letters and numbers. There is also an imported (I believe Taiwan made) which has model numbers made purely of numbers, no letters.

 

[matt chard]

Well im stopping into sears today to take a look at what they have in stock for craftsman and any reviews on dewalt sockets?

 

[d.mcfarland]

I was thinking of buying smaller socket kits from craftsman instead of a big kit with filler

Go to Sears or eBay and find USA made Craftsman sockets. Will others work? Yes, probably just fine. But from my experience and many others, the USA Craftsman sockets and raised panel wrenches are the best "deal" out there. EBay prices are very reasonable even including shipping.

 

[LB-1911]

This is a Catalog/Online item only
Craftsman 145 pc. All Steel Easy-To-Read Mechanics Tool Set

Number of Extensions: 3
Number of Quick Release Ratchets: 3
Number of Sockets: 125
Number of Wrenches: 14

PARTS LIST FOR 145PC. LASER MECHANIC’S TOOL SET ALL STEEL #34142 @
http://c.shld.net/assets/misc/IL34142.pdf


Craftsman 145 pc. All Steel Easy-To-Read Mechanics Tool Set @
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00934142000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[ex-x-fire]

Hit the flea markets, swap meets, pawn shops, & yard sales.

 

[Coach James]

Around here, pawn shops charge like new for used tools or more than new. Yard sales have nothing but toys, old dishes, clothes and paperback books and flea markets charge as if they are boutique stores.

Between my friends and I, we have Craftsman from anywhere, Harbor Freight, Kobalt, Gear Wrench, SK, Stanley, Duralast, Husky, Auto Craft and a few pieces of truck stuff. None of us are pros and none of us abuse anything and it all works for us. It will work for you too.

Coach

 

[J HAV]

You can pick up some craftsman USA socket sets off eBay brand new, and cheaper than buying them at sears. I use these and their (USA) impact sockets every weekend. They take everything I throw at them

 

[J HAV]

Go to Sears or eBay and find USA made Craftsman sockets. Will others work? Yes, probably just fine. But from my experience and many others, the USA Craftsman sockets and raised panel wrenches are the best "deal" out there. EBay prices are very reasonable even including shipping.

X2

Hit the flea markets, swap meets, pawn shops, & yard sales.

Estate sales as well! Just be the first in line though...

Around here, pawn shops charge like new for used tools or more than new. Yard sales have nothing but toys, old dishes, clothes and paperback books and flea markets charge as if they are boutique stores.

Between my friends and I, we have Craftsman from anywhere, Harbor Freight, Kobalt, Gear Wrench, SK, Stanley, Duralast, Husky, Auto Craft and a few pieces of truck stuff. None of us are pros and none of us abuse anything and it all works for us. It will work for you too.

Coach

You sound just like me and my friends

 

[archirelic]

Maybe I missed it, but did you ever say for what you were going to be using these tools for? Home use, professional use, etc. etc.?

I'd echo the sentiments of snagging a Craftsman set and even the Stanley tool sets that Wal-Mart sells. If you're going to be just a diyer, neither of those sets will let you down and are definitely easy on the wallet.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Maybe I missed it, but did you ever say for what you were going to be using these tools for? Home use, professional use, etc. etc.?

I'd echo the sentiments of snagging a Craftsman set and even the Stanley tool sets that Wal-Mart sells. If you're going to be just a diyer, neither of those sets will let you down and are definitely easy on the wallet.

Another echo from here.....J.Q. Homeowner will do just fine with these tools which are marketed with his crowd in mind...

 

[ilovevocs]

I was thinking of buying smaller socket kits from craftsman instead of a big kit with filler

If I were to take that approach I would wait for the craftsman modules to go on sale. Sberry is right though, good value in that kit.

 

[ATC]

I'd go for a Gearwrench set myself. Buy the socket sets on rails from AdvanceAuto and use the coupons. Comes out pretty cheap when you do that...