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looking for a good 3/4 socket set

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CR888

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When talking 3/4", knowing how much you're prepared to spend will help recommendations. Big 3/4 kits can cost what you have spent on the 3 smaller drive sizes combined. Not many update this drive size often so fine tooth ratchets are rare. Facom makes a well priced dual pawl 120click ratchet, I would buy one of them and then a cheap set for the sockets/extensions & universal. That would be a few hundred.
 
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sk farmer

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how soon do you need/want it?

if you have time used 3/4 socket sets can be found or pieced together far cheaper than new.

for occasional or moderate use a hf or similar cheap set will do but just know the ratchet is the weak link. adding a better ratchet makes the sets quite usable.

a new, quality set from a name brand mfg will set you back some coin though. a small set will cost you hundreds and a comprehensive us made set will more than likely involve a number the will be at or over 1000 dollars.

the real question is how good of a set? how soon? and how much do you want to spend?
 
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sk farmer

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i see your location as australia. the same advice applies but your sources may be more limited and hf or northern tool obviously are not found there.
 
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Rico.

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If I lived Down Under I would probably buy Sidchrome. All part of Uncle Stanley,
so allot of tools are rebranded Facom, USAG and Mac. So top shelf stuff for
(What I think) are reasonable prices.

Bunnings Warehouse have the metric, A/F and combined sets available...


17 piece Metric set for... 562 Aussie Dollars
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sidchrome-17-piece-3-4-metric-drive-socket-set_p0027976

19 piece A/F set for... 549 Aussie Dollars
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sidchrome-19-piece-3-4-a-f-socket-set_p0027977

32 piece Metric and A/F set for... 799 of your fine Aussie Pesos
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sidchrome-32-piece-3-4-metric-af-drive-socket-set_p0027975


Seem a nice balance of high quality and not stupid money... Good luck. :thumbup:
 
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RandyRanderson

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Richmond, Kentucky
I'm going to need a 3/4 set pretty soon. I'm just going to pick a reasonably priced Asian set on eBay, toss the ratchet, then buy a decent U.S. ratchet. Whatever socket I end up breaking (if any) will get replaced with better. I may only need it 3 or 4 times a year, no point in spending too much.
 
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Mgdoug3

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RandyRanderson said:
I'm going to need a 3/4 set pretty soon. I'm just going to pick a reasonably priced Asian set on eBay, toss the ratchet, then buy a decent U.S. ratchet. Whatever socket I end up breaking (if any) will get replaced with better. I may only need it 3 or 4 times a year, no point in spending too much.
Click to expand...

Keep an eye out on Craigslist or FB market place. I found almost a full set of SK and a few Williams sockets with a SK ratchet, breaker bar and three extensions for $75 in Versailles a month ago or so.
 
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seanb02

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When I needed a set for my service truck I went with SK brand. I use it quite often and have been happy. However if I wasn't using it regularly I wouldn't get too caught up in the brand and country of origin because they are very expensive for large sets. Being that you are in Australia I'm not sure exactly what is easily available to you.
 
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Chris_the_wrench

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Chinook Pass
I have a pretty full set of Snap-On 3/4" drive sockets, cost me quite abit, that I use with a SK sliding T-handle wrench, and I've filled in socket sizes as I needed with the Carlyle brand from Napa. Overall the three brands are very similar in quality. If I did it again I would have just bought the Carlyle at my local Napa. I love my Snap-on tools, but the driver is only out in my area once every two weeks, if I have an issue that can be a LONG time vs Napa is 10 minute drive.

-Chris
 
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CR888

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Elvie84 said:
i seen a snap on 3/4 set go for $500 but been looking at either brands.
Click to expand...

There is a virtually new 32pc TTi set on eBay now for $350 both sae/metric. But you could probably do much better if you look around for a bit. But definitely consider the dual pawl 120 click Sidchrome (Facom) sealed head ratchet. Good value @$175 new with lifetime warranty.
 
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zmotorsports

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A set of 3/4" sockets isn't cheap so if you are looking at occasional use I would look on ebay or keep an eye open locally for a used set. If you will be needing them daily they're a little easier to justify the expense of a new set.

I had a cheapie import chrome set many years ago and had one break setting up a pinion on a truck, barely missing my face. I vowed right then and there to never buy junk ever again. I searched for several months locally before finding a full set of 3/4" drive impact sockets. This was a Danaher set that was marketed through NAPA that was in nearly new condition that I paid a couple hundred bucks for compared to nearly $1k new. I don't use my 3/4" set every day but enough to justify a good quality set.

I have a lot of 1/2" drive Proto sockets and can vouch for their quality as well so if a Proto set became available I would have no issues. I cannot comment on an SK set as I have no first hand experience with their sockets.
 
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Professional Tool User

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If I were you, I would spend the money on a decent 3/4 ratchet and just buy some impact sockets unless you're looking for 12 point sockets. For the ratchet, try to avoid something with a low tooth count and see if you can get a good deal by buying used.
 
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DFB

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If you have a real need for 3/4 drive get the impacts,

If want the hand tools/ extensions that go with it get something like the Tekton/Neiko impact set IMO

Why your not intending using like a cordless high torque impact tool to loosen most big stuff anyhow is beyond me anyhow especially for the price of top of line 3/4" drive chromed hand tool set set
 
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WWheeler

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DFB said:
If you have a real need for 3/4 drive get the impacts,

If want the hand tools/ extensions that go with it get something like the Tekton/Neiko impact set IMO

Why your not intending using like a cordless high torque impact tool to loosen most big stuff anyhow is beyond me anyhow especially for the price of top of line 3/4" drive chromed hand tool set set
Click to expand...

It depends on what you're working on. A 3/4 dr ratchet or breaker bar, even the cheap ones, can turn a LOT harder than a Dewalt DCF899 / IR W7150 / Milwaukee 2763 can muster, and when you can't budge it you can't put a cheater on an impact. If you need something that's always ready to go in the field to work on heavy equipment, and you had to choose one or the other, you're better off to have the hand tools.

BUT, this is GJ, so the correct answer is get both!
 
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Sugarfryz

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I have hf 15/16-1 1/2 deep and shallow. Have worked just fine and come in around 80 bucks for both. Never had an issue
 
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WWheeler

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DFB said:
:lol_hitti

That's right with all the money saved on the impact set you buy the 2764 3/4 drive wrench :D
Click to expand...

The 2764 is not really much (if any) stronger than the 1/2" 2763, and certainly not as strong as one can get on a 3/4 breaker bar, especially with a cheater, and regardless which you get you still need the sockets. You can get a whole brand new decent 3/4" set, ratchet, breaker, & sockets for less than a 2764/2763 bare tool. Most importantly, when you need it it's ready to go. Don't have to worry about a battery being dead.

I'd recommend getting a 3/4"dr craftsman set for ~$200 or less and then later on look for a better ratchet and breaker bar, perhaps used.
 
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Tynee

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For the couple of KY guys I saw posting up the page, there is a Blackhawk 3/4 ratchet, T-bar, and 8 sockets posted in St Albans, WV right now on CraigsList. I drive through there 2 or 3 times a month, and would be happy to mule them back here for you if it would help get the deal done. Seems like a good deal on a quality set of tools.
 
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2ndGearRubber

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What sizes are you in need of? 3/4 stuff is super expensive, it may make sense to buy high quality stuff as singles, or find them used as singles.

I only work on passenger cars/trucks, and have found basically zero use for stuff that large. If you can't budge it with 1/2, 3/4 isn't going to fit. Although I have PUNISHED my 7.99 harbor freight breaker bar, I've become a believer in buying high quality stuff in the bigger sizes. Imagine the force involved, then imagine bar/ratchet/socket failure. And you know 3/4 is born for cheater pipe use. :lol_hitti
 
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WWheeler

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2ndGearRubber said:
What sizes are you in need of? 3/4 stuff is super expensive, it may make sense to buy high quality stuff as singles, or find them used as singles.

I only work on passenger cars/trucks, and have found basically zero use for stuff that large. If you can't budge it with 1/2, 3/4 isn't going to fit. Although I have PUNISHED my 7.99 harbor freight breaker bar, I've become a believer in buying high quality stuff in the bigger sizes. Imagine the force involved, then imagine bar/ratchet/socket failure. And you know 3/4 is born for cheater pipe use. :lol_hitti
Click to expand...

Mid-80s or thereabouts I picked up a generic 3/4dr set, bought it in a hurry for ~$30 at a thrift shop while working out-of-town in south-western VA because we needed it right then to work on a skidder we had broke down in the bottom of a ravine. No brand. It just said 'China'. We used that set a LOT for the next 10-15 years or so. It came with a ratchet, breaker bar, and a sliding T bar, and both the breaker and slider got bent pretty good from lots and lots of cheater abuse, but otherwise the set held up just fine. I wound up selling that same set not very long ago, 1 or 2 missing sockets, surface rust, bent bars and all, for the same $30 I bought it for. Was the very first thing that sold within 5 min of setting up a table during our yearly city-wide garage sale day. Unlike almost everybody else for everything else, the guy who snagged it didn't even try to haggle with me.

I'm just saying. Even the cheapest 3/4 drive is pretty darn forgiving, a LOT more so than smaller drive sizes. I'm much more likely to spend the extra money for a tool truck brand on a 1/4 tool than I would a 3/4.
 
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DFB

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WWheeler said:
The 2764 is not really much (if any) stronger than the 1/2" 2763, and certainly not as strong as one can get on a 3/4 breaker bar, especially with a cheater, and regardless which you get you still need the sockets. You can get a whole brand new decent 3/4" set, ratchet, breaker, & sockets for less than a 2764/2763 bare tool. Most importantly, when you need it it's ready to go. Don't have to worry about a battery being dead.

I'd recommend getting a 3/4"dr craftsman set for ~$200 or less and then later on look for a better ratchet and breaker bar, perhaps used.
Click to expand...

You make all valid points Wheeler and I'm not here to argue about it with ya

So if wanting bust your nuts with breaker bars go for it :beer:



But honestly dead batteries are a pretty lame arguments IMO :lol_hitti

Have a good one pal :D

I agree on the Craftsman set though my ex FIL had one for the farm nice set.

I'm thinking it was 12 point? :headscrat: Cant really remember it been at least a decade

As an FYI I have the old MIT Tekton set nothing to really rave about but got the job done. The ratchet mechanism broke almost right away did get replacement, breaker bar bent slightly, 6pt sockets seem to be fine.

And just for me to do it again I would be interested in this set

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008MTOLLA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The ratchet is different than most

The Neiko has both metric and SAE.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E8MB8J8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And although it CRV seems to have good reviews

I have flipped HF stuff on my summer tool table wasn't at all impressed with them
 
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