Mid Tier Socket Set Suggestions

[PackEng]

Background:
I'm a mechanical engineer with a set of tools at work. They don't get used hard daily, but I depend on them multiple times a week in the office and on service trips. So I would say medium duty use.

I'm looking to upgrade my sockets. Right now I'm working with everything that came in the giant Kobalt 300+ piece set that I bought fresh out of college.

I don't want HF and I'm currently torn between Tekton and Gearwrench. What other brands or suggestions are there that I might be missing?

I'm looking for all three drive sizes (1/4,3/8, & 1/2) in both metric and SAE sizes. If ratchets are included that's a bonus, but I can always buy those separate. I'd like to keep everything between $300-$400 total if possible.

Annnnddd....go!

 

[dirtydogintex]

Are your Kobalts old enough to be made by Williams?

Williams, Proto, Wright, S-K, Blackhawk, Blue Point, CM (US) are fairly common, some are US made others are Korea/Taiwan/China.

You'll need to shop prices as they can be all over the place...

 

[56Safari]

I just purchased the 3/8" and 1/2" kits by SUNEX, and I'm very happy with them. I think I paid around $115 per set NIB on ebay.... Only downside is the black finish.

 

[Mr_B]

oem tools is another option on sockets with good design.
the set ratchets not so good but I would buy sockets only then add ratchets to my liking, tekton 90 tooth if want keep low cost .
The tekton sockets with the 72 tooth ratchets nothing special, supposedly new socket line is coming which hopefully big improvement .
Gearwrench gone down hill, the 84T ratchets half decent so a bonus in sets and at sale prices not too bad .
If you not needing blow moulded case then easier and can mix and match what brands do best and what design spec you like best .

 

[shelteredV]

I am a Snappy guy, but just bought some Tekton sockets and ratchets and I have to say they are really nice for the money.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Sometimes a 'black' finish is preferable to chrome as chrome has been known to chip/flake off... and that's the last thing one wants inside an engine or gear box...

 

[PackEng]

I'm not sure when my Kobalts were made. I bought the set in 2015 if that matters. I'm not getting rid of them, they are just going into a truck kit.

I don't need the blow molded cases, those will probably get tossed. I'm transferring my whole kit into a Pelican 1560 case. It will be a combination of canvas bags and tool foam to organize everything. Sockets will probably be on rails.

Black finish might be an option? I work in the packaging industry, so everything is pretty much 304 or 316 stainless and usually wet (beverage packaging). Would be nice to have some color contrast to spot tools faster.

I have Tekton torque wrenches (all three major sizes) and dig them a lot. The only thing I don't really like about the sockets is that there is no clear marking difference between the metric and standard (knurling, colored stripe, etc...). I wish I had more info on when the new ones are coming out and what new features they are going to have.

 

[Mowerdoctor]

Napa Carlyle are good sockets for the money. Usually on sale too if you don’t mind made in Taiwan


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[Brownsfan]

There are a couple industrial tool distributors in the greater Cleveland area. They sell brands like Wright , Proto, Williams, SK. My favorite being Lake shore Tool in Lorain/Elyria. They are a great family owned company. They will cut you deals if paying cash or buying a lot of stuff. They sell SK, Wright, Proto ,Klein Gearwrench among others. Where about in Cleveland are you located?

 

[Nineeightyone]

Depending on CoO of your Kobalt, it *might* be rebranded Tekton anyway, if my suspicion is correct. I'm a big fan of the Taiwan Kobalt stuff, if if it's not Taiwan/USA I would definitely recommend Tekton for a good price point to value ratio.

 

[PackEng]

There are a couple industrial tool distributors in the greater Cleveland area. They sell brands like Wright , Proto, Williams, SK. My favorite being Lake shore Tool in Lorain/Elyria. They are a great family owned company. They will cut you deals if paying cash or buying a lot of stuff. They sell SK, Wright, Proto ,Klein Gearwrench among others. Where about in Cleveland are you located?

Independence area, but I work on the East Side (Willoughby).

 

[Yarpo]

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=KDT80550P

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI92QW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

With 200 dollars left, you could update individual sets, buy other tools or certainly spend more. I really like my GW sockets and not sure you'll find much better in terms of value for the money. Certainly nicer and certainly worse sockets out there however.

 

[PackEng]

With 200 dollars left, you could update individual sets, buy other tools or certainly spend more. I really like my GW sockets and not sure you'll find much better in terms of value for the money. Certainly nicer and certainly worse sockets out there however.

Yup, that set has been on my radar too.

 

[Tallpilot]

Mid tier is USA Williams from Toolsdelivered.com. Go nuts with sets then add individuals. Tekton and GW are nice but not really a significant upgrade from your Kobalts.

 

[belvedere]

Napa Carlyle are good sockets for the money. Usually on sale too if you don’t mind made in Taiwan

Yes, they're at least worth a look. Carlyle makes nice tools.

 

[Blind1]

I think there are 3 tiers:

3. Chinese and Indian made: no name brands: questionable metal. Basic homeowner grade.
2. Taiwan made. For the most part, decent quality. Think oem, Tekton, older gearwrench, Carlyle, duralast,etc... more than non-pros will really ever need, and if we are being honest with ourselves, they’d do most pros very, very well.
1. USA, and other premium brands, think snap-on, mac, Matco, Proto, etc... I would include premium Japanese and euro brands here as well.

 

[Negen]

Koken is what I would recommend.
Tone would be second.
wera would be 3rd ( sae kit was 67$ new)
Proto
S-k
Teng tools
Toptul
OEM tools
Milwaukee sockets look good.

Mid range is really high end if you shop with garage journal some of the best tools can be had at fraction of retail.

Asses what you need vs what you want. With the right ratchet 3/8th is fine for up to 1" but opinions will vary on this. Bacho has a really nice set that looks very complete. I use 5.5 - 22mm in shallow and deeps. Mainly but with metric. I would make sure to get a complete set of metric and sae in deep mids and shallow in 1/4 &3/8th drive. And maybe just normal depth in 1/2" drive. With partials in deep.

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[TwoInch]

Mid tier is USA Williams from Toolsdelivered.com. Go nuts with sets then add individuals. Tekton and GW are nice but not really a significant upgrade from your Kobalts.

Williams USA are top tier if any are. Some don't like to admit such, but they are as top tier as a socket gets...

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[M6erfan]

If I were in your shoes, railed sets from Carlyle (Napa) would be my choice. Nice design and very good quality (Taiwan), and on sale they are a great value. Carlyle has some very nice ratchets too.

Between Tekton and GW... GW has a better design so of the two I'd go with them.

 

[Tonyuk]

I've always liked the look of those gray penumatic do sockets, don't know how much they cost over there.

 

[bcradio]

Williams USA are top tier if any are. Some don't like to admit such, but they are as top tier as a socket gets...

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I was going to say the same thing.

If Williams USA sockets are mid tier, I am very curious to hear what top tier would be.

I think Taiwan sockets would be a good choice for value for the money for OP.

 

[thooks]

I'd be picking up one of the sets on holiday display at Home Depot right now.

Tens of thousands of pipe fitters, welders and other skilled industrial craftsmen have the Husky brand tools in their job boxes. They use them, beat on them and work them hard everyday and they hold up. If they didn't, they would be buying them and Husky would be trash by now.

I know this because I see them on virtually every job site. Why Husky and other HD tools? Because HD is convenient and most contractors go there now to get stuff.

I'm not a Husky fan, just an observation.

 

[JD3020]

IMO when on sale Carlyle is the best bang for your buck tools on the market. Lifetime warranty at any Napa store, albeit most things will have to be ordered in but my stores get everything next day. I picked up a set of mid-depth chrome sockets last month and absolutely love them, haven't used my deeps or shallows since i got them. Picked up a pair of 72 tooth comfort grip ratchets early summer and love them as well.

 

[bob15]

Have you thought about buying used? There are a lot of higher quality stuff out there if you look at used. at a fraction of list prices......

 

[TwoInch]

I was going to say the same thing.

If Williams USA sockets are mid tier, I am very curious to hear what top tier would be.

I think Taiwan sockets would be a good choice for value for the money for OP.

Its always been odd to me that guys think that industrial customers would be accepting of lesser quality tools than auto techs. They do not. But bean counters don't fall for flashy marketing, bright colors, and chrome hype. There is no culturally ingrained competition/pressure over who has what brand this tool and that tool..

The company charges what the customer is willing to pay...

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[Dakkyz]

I've always liked the look of those gray penumatic do sockets, don't know how much they cost over there.

Like £200-400 $150-250

They're not sold by proper stores just random resellers who can charge what ever they want so I wouldn't bother.

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[PackEng]

IMO when on sale Carlyle is the best bang for your buck tools on the market. Lifetime warranty at any Napa store, albeit most things will have to be ordered in but my stores get everything next day. I picked up a set of mid-depth chrome sockets last month and absolutely love them, haven't used my deeps or shallows since i got them. Picked up a pair of 72 tooth comfort grip ratchets early summer and love them as well.

Not a bad idea, but we don't really have a lot of Napa stores by us. Mostly AutoZone and Advanced Auto.

 

[PackEng]

Mid tier is USA Williams from Toolsdelivered.com. Go nuts with sets then add individuals. Tekton and GW are nice but not really a significant upgrade from your Kobalts.

I think Williams is what I am going to go with. I can get everything I need from Amazon and have it in two days.

Thanks guys.

 

[dirtydogintex]

AZ has already started their holiday savings on Duralast sets.

 

[PackEng]

I'd be picking up one of the sets on holiday display at Home Depot right now.

Tens of thousands of pipe fitters, welders and other skilled industrial craftsmen have the Husky brand tools in their job boxes. They use them, beat on them and work them hard everyday and they hold up. If they didn't, they would be buying them and Husky would be trash by now.

I know this because I see them on virtually every job site. Why Husky and other HD tools? Because HD is convenient and most contractors go there now to get stuff.

I'm not a Husky fan, just an observation.

I mean, that's basically what I started with, except Kobalt instead of Husky because there happened to be a Lowe's closer to my office at the time. I have Husky screwdrivers and picks in my kit now and they do fine.

I'm still keeping those tools/that set, they are just going into a truck kit. My work tools get used more hence why I want to upgrade them to something better.

 

[Brownsfan]

Independence area, but I work on the East Side (Willoughby).

Damn near neighbors. Im in Brooklyn heights. Williams is a great choice. Now be aware they are a mixture of Taiwan and Usa. Part numbers with letters amd numbers is USA. Only numbers is Taiwan. The USA Williams are basically Snap on sockets at a fraction of the cost

 

[C.L S2000]

Have you seen the Astros Nano sockets ? I have the metric set of these and love them (love the cool blue rail they come on too)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBK1FHG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[TwoInch]

I think Williams is what I am going to go with. I can get everything I need from Amazon and have it in two days.

Thanks guys.

Like brownsfan said, watch the part number. You can tell them apart visually also. The taiwan sockets are okay, but you can do better on price with a different brand.

Williams are basically Snap on sockets at a fraction of the cost

I've been off GJ for a while, have most finally accepted this to be true? Back years ago it was quite the debate.. Most felt that if they charged more for snap on, obviously they must be better sockets. No real reason to think that other than the substantial mark up price... Evidence and common sense would lead one to believe looks Like a duck, quacks Like a duck.. well you know..


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[PackEng]

Damn near neighbors. Im in Brooklyn heights. Williams is a great choice. Now be aware they are a mixture of Taiwan and Usa. Part numbers with letters amd numbers is USA. Only numbers is Taiwan. The USA Williams are basically Snap on sockets at a fraction of the cost

I'm cool with either as long as they aren't Chinese.

 

[Tynee]

A couple folks have mentioned Carlyle above. i’ve bought a set of deep 3/8’s and a couple of their long locking flex 90t’s recently, and I’m really impressed with all of it. In my opinion, the finest of the Taiwan, CLOSE to high end USA made stuff, but MUCH more reasonable. Large, very complete sets. Not sure the differentiation between Metric and SAE, might not be any? If that’s a big hangup, I think Channellock sockets would compare pretty favorably with your current Kobalt as well as newer Tekton, and have blue stripe around the metric stuff.

 

[Tallpilot]

I'm cool with either as long as they aren't Chinese.

The USA versions are fully necked down from the drive end. The Taiwan ones are not. I won't venture to say if there is a quality difference, just that design difference. They don't do 6pt 1/2" drive chrome in USA so it's either 12pt or Taiwan.

 

[TwoInch]

The USA versions are fully necked down from the drive end. The Taiwan ones are not. I won't venture to say if there is a quality difference, just that design difference. They don't do 6pt 1/2" drive chrome in USA so it's either 12pt or Taiwan.

The quality difference is huge. For taiwan sockets, better deals can be had with other brands. We are talking snap on sockets compared to duralast sockets. Literally.

The 12pt in 1/2" drive shouldn't be an issue. Especially in sizes one would use 1/2" drive for most..

12pts are fine in box end wrenches, they are fine in sockets. They contact the same part of the fastener as a 6pt.

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[TwoInch]

As I stated above, you can do better with another brand. For the money, the Taiwan Williams are not a great deal.

I'm cool with either as long as they aren't Chinese.

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[M6erfan]

Agreed, go Williams USA if you go Williams. Their Taiwan sockets are nothing special and better can be had from Taiwan for much less money.

 

[Dookie2122]

Another vote for Carlyle. great quality and frequently on sale...love their mid-depth sockets.