I'll stay out of the Mac v. Snap On debate. Just a bug in your ear about sizes: Snap On usually offers sets of tools in sizes that make sense and meet customers' needs. Not every tool supplier does that. So pay attention to that. I have a set of impact sockets from Snap On that include 17-19mm, 21,22,24, and 27.
For those of you who are strongly recommending every wrench from 6-36mm, maybe you should qualify that advice with what you are doing with your 20, 23, 25, & 26mm tools. OP- I have heard of guys beating their wrenches onto rusted fasteners- something I would never do (again). The retail prices on these wrenches from Snap On are $50-90. I do not believe there is an active bolt std that uses any of these sizes. (see the sizes thread in my signature line for more information). So I can't recommend these big sets. I would start with 8-19mm, and 3/8-7/8" then see what you need.
Ditto for sockets, be careful about these huge all encompassing sets in a single drive size. I've never found the need for a 6mm socket on a 3/8" ratchet handle. And I've never used 9 or 11mm sockets. You may find these on passenger car brakes, but I use a bleeder wrench for that. I guess my advice is to stick with Snap On's size offerings in their basic sets. I wouldn't rush out to buy 21 and 24mm 3/8" sockets. They may be helpful down the road, but don't rush out for them now.
Last, I like semi-deep over full deep sockets, but get some other opinions, shallow swivels, ratchet wrenches, high performance style wrenches, flex head ratchet handles, and ratchet screwdrivers with interchangeable shanks all to help me access stuff in crowded modern cars.
For normal passenger cars, I don't see much need for 12pt sockets. Any 12pt fasteners I've encountered, I was able to handle with a combination wrench. I do have a set of 12pt 1/2 drive chrome sockets because I encountered some brakes with big 12pt caliper bolts (Land Rover). No knowledge of big diesel stuff so I would be interested to hear what someone who does that work has to say.
For those of you who are strongly recommending every wrench from 6-36mm, maybe you should qualify that advice with what you are doing with your 20, 23, 25, & 26mm tools. OP- I have heard of guys beating their wrenches onto rusted fasteners- something I would never do (again). The retail prices on these wrenches from Snap On are $50-90. I do not believe there is an active bolt std that uses any of these sizes. (see the sizes thread in my signature line for more information). So I can't recommend these big sets. I would start with 8-19mm, and 3/8-7/8" then see what you need.
Ditto for sockets, be careful about these huge all encompassing sets in a single drive size. I've never found the need for a 6mm socket on a 3/8" ratchet handle. And I've never used 9 or 11mm sockets. You may find these on passenger car brakes, but I use a bleeder wrench for that. I guess my advice is to stick with Snap On's size offerings in their basic sets. I wouldn't rush out to buy 21 and 24mm 3/8" sockets. They may be helpful down the road, but don't rush out for them now.
Last, I like semi-deep over full deep sockets, but get some other opinions, shallow swivels, ratchet wrenches, high performance style wrenches, flex head ratchet handles, and ratchet screwdrivers with interchangeable shanks all to help me access stuff in crowded modern cars.
For normal passenger cars, I don't see much need for 12pt sockets. Any 12pt fasteners I've encountered, I was able to handle with a combination wrench. I do have a set of 12pt 1/2 drive chrome sockets because I encountered some brakes with big 12pt caliper bolts (Land Rover). No knowledge of big diesel stuff so I would be interested to hear what someone who does that work has to say.
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