Need a good 3/8 drive socket set and maybe 1/4 drive set too

[snippits]

Been searching for a good 3/8 drive socket set, and maybe a 1/4 inch too, and often my searches lead me to this site, so I might as well join.

Have not bought any socket sets since the mid 80's because the USA made Craftsman worked just fine, but that set of sockets has gone missing, so I need to replace it. In particular, I have to get a decent set of 3/8 sockets, and I will probably need a 1/4 drive socket set too. I have never used the 1/4 drives that much except on the interiors of cars.

Right now I am looking at 49 Piece 3/8" Drive 6 Point Fractional/Metric Socket Set SK Tools SKT 94549 on Ebay for $155. It's a little pricey for a DIY, but I do have a few SK tools especially a 3/8 drive swivel that has held up when others have all broken.

And the other set is Bostitch 174-Piece Socket Set (1/4, 3/8, 1/2), BTMT72262 at Walmart for $118. It looks to be a really good set, and it's made in Taiwan I think. Not sure about the quality, but it is loaded with sockets, ratchets, extensions, and swivels. Could use some opinions on this set.

Anyway, I am good on wrenches since I have a vintage 80's full set of standard and metric Craftsman plus I just bought a 20 piece Gearwrench set of ratcheting wrenches. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks

 

[AndrewV]

Since it's for diy.
If you're thinking the bostitch, i would suggest gearwrench insted. Warranty is better, and can warranty in most retail stores, that carry them. I still have yet to brake one.
Cost is key in your case. gearwrench set here

 

[bob15]

SK or Wright

Both high quality, US made.

 

[snippits]

Since it's for diy.
If you're thinking the bostitch, i would suggest gearwrench insted. Warranty is better, and can warranty in most retail stores, that carry them. I still have yet to brake one.
Cost is key in your case. gearwrench set here

I looked at that set too. The 3/8 is all full house 12 points, so that's a no go for me. Thanks anyway.

 

[cotjocky]

If you have a Northern Tool near by and don't care about COO, their "Klutch" brand are pretty decent sockets and sets are cheap! Warranty is fine too that I know of.

I'm a bit OCD and can't stand skips. Harbor Freight will leave you with skips. Northern Tool has a multitude of sizes. 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 - 6 point, 12 Point - Deep and Short.

They also sell some sets that include ratchets, extensions, etc…

If you don't have one near by, might not be as good of a deal.

Sears/Craftsman and Lowe's/Kobalt are probably best know for those multiple piece sets for reasonable prices if that is what you are looking for.

SK is higher, but is USA Made if that matters to you.

 

[espyking83]

Nobody beats SK's 1/4" set. Nobody. 3/8" is a toss up.

 

[jim1987]

I can hook you up with some good USA tools. Pm me if your interested in buying used. Maybe we can work out a deal. Just throwing it out there

Or for new, id also look at Napa for Carlyle. If warranty is ever needed, it could be there that afternoon or next morning.

 

[premierplayer]

Still plenty of USA Craftsman available on ebay, new and used.
All a DIY'r would ever need.

 

[snippits]

If you have a Northern Tool near by and don't care about COO, their "Klutch" brand are pretty decent sockets and sets are cheap! Warranty is fine too that I know of.

I'm a bit OCD and can't stand skips. Harbor Freight will leave you with skips. Northern Tool has a multitude of sizes. 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 - 6 point, 12 Point - Deep and Short.

They also sell some sets that include ratchets, extensions, etc…

If you don't have one near by, might not be as good of a deal.

Sears/Craftsman and Lowe's/Kobalt are probably best know for those multiple piece sets for reasonable prices if that is what you are looking for.

SK is higher, but is USA Made if that matters to you.

I guess I am in the same OCD club, because I saw all those skips at Harbor Freight too. Their India made wrenches are cheap, but they are also too short for a standard length wrench. My Craftsman 10 mm was right at as long as their 13 mm. I did buy the 1/2 in drive Pittsburgh Pro torque wrench for $9.99 during the recent tent sale.

I do have a Northern Tool near me, so I will go take a look. I totally forgot about them.

And yes made in USA does matter since I am old and grumpy, and hate seeing the life sucked out of this great country.

 

[d.mcfarland]

All the Wright drive tools I have are great! I give them a thumbs up if you are looking for well priced quality USA tools. Hell, I have a 1946 ratchet that still can take a beating!!

 

[Brownsfan]

The SK set you linked. If I didn't still have all my USA Craftsman and was starting over I would be buying all SK for sockets. I love those sets in the green cases. For USA made and high quality SK all the way, here is the sets I would buy if starting over.
http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-94549.aspx
http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-91860.aspx
or
http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-91848.aspx

 

[mrobins297aaa]

advanced auto has this gearwrench 1/4 drive set on sale for 39.99 until march 26
i picked one up looks like a nice set.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...0300/25984314-P?searchTerm=gearwrench+1/4+set

 

[Tuscani2718]

I recently purchased the SK 3/8 set and could not be happier with the quality of the sockets. Definitely one of my best tool purchases.

 

[92integra]

grey pnuematic duo socket master sets

 

[Deskmechanic]

I really like SK, there isn't much that compares in that price range. Maybe USA Williams, but they are harder to find.

 

[bentpushrod]

I lost my shop to fire last summer, been replacing tools. Hard to beat SK, majority of my sockets are now SK.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Since it's for diy.
If you're thinking the bostitch, i would suggest gearwrench insted. Warranty is better, and can warranty in most retail stores, that carry them. I still have yet to brake one.
Cost is key in your case. gearwrench set here

Explain...

 

[BK13]

SK or Wright

Both high quality, US made.

Doesn't Wright have goofy detents on their 1/4" sockets?

Anyway, my $.02, SK or USA Williams

 

[MattPersman]

Buy something you can actually warranty locally probably not SK. I don't think I have seen sk anywhere in the 2 states I have lived in. I'm sure they are nice and all but the statement that no one beats sk 1/4 set that's funny would take the snap on set in a heartbeat over sk. I'm sure most would.

Not much realistic us made local sets. Most is gonna be import which ever is easiest husky, kobalt, HF, Stanley, craftsman, gearwrench, dura last, Carlyle, whatever doesn't really matter for very occasional use. If craftsman was good enough back in the day most brands will be good enough now.

 

[snippits]

Thanks for all the input.

I have my choices narrowed down to two now:

The SK 3/8 set. http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-94549.aspx

Gearwrench 3/8 set. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NICEVW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Opinions welcome on the Gearwrench 3/8 set before I take the plunge. Thanks

 

[getahammer]

Menards has a 90 pc. 3/8 & 1/4 " drive set in a case for $39.00. Its U.S. made, (Allen) I think . Their Masterforce brand. Looks like a great DIY set

 

[MattPersman]

Between the 2 the gearwrench all the way it's nearly half price. That set was over 100$ just in January so it's a great deal right now at that price according to camel camel camel. http://camelcamelcamel.com/GearWrench-80550-Piece-8-Inch-Socket/product/B000NICEVW

Plus I really dislike sk ratchets. Remind me of a cheap china ratchet I would have gotten as a kid for Christmas

 

[Pumpman1968]

If buying Craftsman USA on ebay is of interest to you (there is still a LOT out there), check out cripedistributing on there or cripedistributing.com. The Kobalt USA stuff they have is made by Williams.....which is Snap-On. They don't have a pile of stuff left but what they do have can be gotten pretty cheap.

7 piece stubby metric combos USA $28.00 plus shipping

3 piece set USA ratchets $14.00 plus shipping

If you do want to spend the bucks, S-K will make you very happy!

 

[fhemm20]

grey pnuematic duo socket master sets

+1

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=GRY81659CRD

 

[espyking83]

I lost my shop to fire last summer, been replacing tools. Hard to beat SK, majority of my sockets are now SK.

Damn. Sorry to hear that. I hope you had insurance and they are making the process of replacing your tools easy on you.

 

[alinc100]

Thanks for all the input.

I have my choices narrowed down to two now:

The SK 3/8 set. http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-94549.aspx

Gearwrench 3/8 set. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NICEVW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Opinions welcome on the Gearwrench 3/8 set before I take the plunge. Thanks

If I was in your position I'd opt for the Gearwrench set and with the cost savings over the SK set you can buy the Gearwrench 1/4" set at Advance Auto and still have money for breakfast. That being said SK makes great sockets,as does Williams,Wright,Proto etc. I think SK ratchets are workhorses but they are not silky smooth like some others.
And if you are patient and like to shop Ebay has great bargains from time to time.

 

[bentpushrod]

Thanks Espyking, no insurance, I'm an idiot. Someone commented on disliking SK ratchets, everyone is entitled to their opinions. I prefer SK ratchets, nice feel to them, we'll built, same design for decades.

 

[snippits]

All these tool set choices are making me dizzy.

Alright, got my eye on one more 3/8 drive set. It's $72.00 plus shipping, and I think it's Snap-on's Taiwan stuff. What you guys think?

WILLIAMS 47 PIECE 3/8" DRIVE SOCKET AND TOOL SET, SAE/METRIC, 6/12 POINT, #50666

http://www.industrialsupplydenver.com/wi47pi3drsoa.html

 

[jake00]

I've got the sk set and LOVE it. Snapped the ratchet housing this week, they're replacing it free of charge.

 

[snippits]

Tired of looking and time to start buying. SK is going to get my money with the SKT94549 3/8 49 piece set. Any suggestions for a reputable seller?

 

[bentpushrod]

Tooltopia is good.

 

[CJM8515]

Depending on your usage and how much you want to spend Id highly recommend you go to your local home depot and take a look at the husky stuff. The ratchet especially appears to be made by gear wrench EXCEPT it has a push button vs snap on like the GW.

For what its worth: For about 8 years now I have been a road mechanic for an AAA shop. I mostly drive a service truck going out and changing batteries but I also repair trucks on the road if need be. I bought a cheap set of stanley sockets (and their husky counter parts when stanley made them) and I have yet to break anything but the ratchets after repeated use (and Im not easy on them). Not one single broken socket and I use 1/4 drive sockets on a 1/4-3/8 adapter mostly. Have both a deep and shallow 1/4 and a shallow 3/8 set as well as some very cheap looking stanley wrenches (dull chrome wrinkled type finish). Think i got 75 bucks into it all maybe less.

If I was to buy some nicer stuff SK or GW is my choices.

 

[FiendFX]

who makes the shortest 3/8 socket sets that are made in usa?

 

[PnHmech]

A lot of guy I work with are buying kobolt from lowes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GSMotorrad]

A lot of guy I work with are buying kobolt from lowes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Anyone know of any 6-point sets that aren't redundant? That 300 piece from Craftsman is a ****-shoot whether they'll be USA or Chinese, and if you need to warranty any, they'll be replaced with Chinese. It also has a lot of redundant sizes, in both 12 and 6-point.

Any sets out there either Taiwan or US that are all 6-point, without redundancy? I also need a 1/2" drive set that goes way larger than 21mm.

I'm thinking about selling off all these Craftsman tools and boycotting them from here on out. The only nice C-Man tools I might miss are the Armstrong/Danaher long-pattern wrenches.

Is eBay the best way to sell used tools, or the classified here? Thanks.

 

[smoking stroker]

Thanks for all the input.

I have my choices narrowed down to two now:

The SK 3/8 set. http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-94549.aspx

Gearwrench 3/8 set. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NICEVW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Opinions welcome on the Gearwrench 3/8 set before I take the plunge. Thanks

id get the gearwrench. I personally have that set and like it a lot, but that is not why iam saying to get it.. tooltopia is having a sale on that right now buy that set and get the 1/4 inch set for free. even if sale is still not going on the gearwrench is still a great deal

 

[n8n]

No opinion on the sockets but people seem to like the Gearwrench ratchets.

On the flip side, I am still using my grandfather's SK ratchet/socket set, and it doesn't seem that their quality has significantly declined over the years as is the case with e.g. Craftsman.

they really both seem like excellent choices.

 

[n8n]

here, let me confuse you some more

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009PJPH28/?tag=atomicindus08-20

that set has the GearWrench "120XP" ratchet which was highly recommended in a recent thread I started asking about inexpensive but good quality ratchets. I ended up buying some vintage Williams dual pawls instead, just out of curiosity, but a lot of people spoke well of these.

 

[oldldh]

One word for you---

GEARWRENCH---

 

[ihateminimumwage]

As you narrowed it down; SK, Gearwrench & Williams Taiwan (Blue Point) will all do you well. I have a good amount of GW and Williams (USA & Taiwan) and have no complaints from either, and SK has always been a quality US brand.

As far as a 1/4" drive set, here's the best deal for the quality out there right now:
Napa 56pc 1/4" Drive Deep and Shallow set (SAE & Metric).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400679436278?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

All 6 point sockets according to this thread:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242059