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Need external torx sockets

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malibu101

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
3,909
Location
Walnutport PA
I need to purchase a set of external torx sockets.
I've been needing them a few times recently. Mostly for removing "small" studs and on some Mopar cars.
Again today I had a need for one and had to to stop mid-job to run ~10 miles round trip (plus BS time) to borrow one from a buddy. I knew he had it as I've borrowed one from him a few times before.
Borrow once, ok. That's what good friends are for.
Borrow twice, you should think about getting one for yourself.
Borrow third time, you're wearing out your welcome and need one for yourself.

I will not be using these often but want them to work when needed. I don't mind paying the price for quality either. But I am torn by the choices out there.

My son is in the SO SEP program, and I didn't look to see if these are part of it, but list price for SO is $127. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=674842&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Craftsman is $34. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-7-pc-external-torx-socket-set/p-00934570000P

OTC on eBay is $20. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HT6TUE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I really don't want to go HF for impacts for $10. http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-14-in-38-in-drive-external-impact-star-socket-set-67898.html

I swear I am NOT trying to start a brand war. Just wondering what you guys have that is working well for you.
If you had to buy an e-torx set again;What would you get (or not get) between $10 and $127?
The guy I've borrowed from has a Craftsman set that has worked fine for him and me.
I know I can't go wrong with SO, but the OTC and Craftsman choices are very tempting.
 
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Brownsfan

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Apr 16, 2012
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5,977
Location
Cleveland Ohio
I have the snap on set(older) it's a more complete set. But if the craftsman covers the sizes you need then go there. Most are still USA made at stores especially sears hardware. It's funny I bought them about 10 years ago. I needed one size and the snap on guy happened to be there while I was working on the car. He wouldn't sell me the one out of the set. So I bought the set. It was $80 10 years ago. I have only used them a few times since but they are one of those tools you can't not have.
 
M

Midnight_America

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
228
Location
Northern Illinois
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-5900A-Piece-Master-Square/dp/B000YOVIIU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385266569&sr=8-2&keywords=master+torx+set
If you don't already own the other bits in the above set, you may as well buy it for the best bang for your buck. The quality is excellent. With the addition of these bits
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-5905-Piece-Tamper-Resistant-Socket/dp/B004CGKQNO/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1385266813&sr=1-2&keywords=OTC+torx+plus
You're ready for most any automotive fix involving Torx.
 
O

outdoorsman310

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Joined
Aug 23, 2013
Messages
915
Location
DE
get your son to call his sep rep and get the price for that set. the reps can get alot more stuff than online.
 
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M

malibu101

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Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
3,909
Location
Walnutport PA
Brownsfan said:
I have the snap on set(older) it's a more complete set. But if the craftsman covers the sizes you need then go there. Most are still USA made at stores especially sears hardware. It's funny I bought them about 10 years ago. I needed one size and the snap on guy happened to be there while I was working on the car. He wouldn't sell me the one out of the set. So I bought the set. It was $80 10 years ago. I have only used them a few times since but they are one of those tools you can't not have.
Click to expand...
All the sets I listed would cover what I have run into so far.
I am seriously leaning towards the Craftsman even though it is a 7 piece. Just like OTC and HF.

But the shiney chrome of a 10 piece SO set is tempting me. :evil:
What if I need one of the other 3 down the road. :dunno:
That's when I'd be kicking myself for cheaping out. :willy_nil

BUT $20-$34 is very tempting compared to $127. :eyecrazy:

EDIT- Yes outdoorsman310. He will be doing that on Monday! :thumbup:
 
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9

928'er

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Messages
756
Location
Wine Country, CA
I got the GearWrench set on sale though Sears (I think) for ~$18 shipped a couple of months ago.

So, keep your eyes open - they do pop up on sale.
 
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Fastbird

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
694
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
I have the Craftsman and Snap On sets. At work the Craftsman covered everything I ran across. The Snap On set was bought because it was a package deal, and I needed an E4 to be able to disassemble optisparks, which the craftsman set doesn't have. If you don't need really large or really small, the craftsman is a good set for the cost.
 
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nicksnothereman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
3,608
Location
In the Mojave
malibu101 said:
I need to purchase a set of external torx sockets.
I've been needing them a few times recently. Mostly for removing "small" studs and on some Mopar cars.
Again today I had a need for one and had to to stop mid-job to run ~10 miles round trip (plus BS time) to borrow one from a buddy. I knew he had it as I've borrowed one from him a few times before.
Borrow once, ok. That's what good friends are for.
Borrow twice, you should think about getting one for yourself.
Borrow third time, you're wearing out your welcome and need one for yourself.

I will not be using these often but want them to work when needed. I don't mind paying the price for quality either. But I am torn by the choices out there.

My son is in the SO SEP program, and I didn't look to see if these are part of it, but list price for SO is $127. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=674842&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Craftsman is $34. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-7-pc-external-torx-socket-set/p-00934570000P

OTC on eBay is $20. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HT6TUE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I really don't want to go HF for impacts for $10. http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-14-in-38-in-drive-external-impact-star-socket-set-67898.html

I swear I am NOT trying to start a brand war. Just wondering what you guys have that is working well for you.
If you had to buy an e-torx set again;What would you get (or not get) between $10 and $127?
The guy I've borrowed from has a Craftsman set that has worked fine for him and me.
I know I can't go wrong with SO, but the OTC and Craftsman choices are very tempting.
Click to expand...

Even though I commented that external torx were the one tool you'd need but never knew you'd need I don't own a set. I have "universal" stuff but generally not enough to hit the smaller e-torx (in my car the knock sensor is mounted with one).

I was planning to buy a set a while back but I just didn't do it. If you don't use em too much might just want to get a throwaway set from ebay. If you do you might want to get a higher quality set. There are sets on ebay from about 12 bucks shipped. That's probably where I'd go when I run into an issue that I didn't plan for.

Depends on what you want. If you want store return then get a store brand (kobalt also has an e-torx and torx set but it's fairly expensive around 35 bucks(?) in their line).

If you use them (or plan to use them) that much you might want to get a quality set from a tool truck or sk but remember the outlay might be something like 5-7 lower quality sets for 1 set of those. If money's an issue you probably shouldn't go that way.:willy_nil
 
P

purplezr2

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Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
5,300
Location
Central MN
I have the 10 pcs snap on set that I will be looking to sell. Let me know if you are interested.


They are nice, I have the 13 pcs set and the impact one too.
 
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PavelK313

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Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
207
If I were you, i had buy Craftsman. Due to the ease of warranty and good quality to begin with (if USA made). I personally have Lisle set that I purchased from Sears years ago, works great for me, never had problems with it.
 
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illmatyk

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Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
778
Location
Yigo, Guam
I was in your shoes a few months ago or so but couldn't justify the prices I was seeing here in my area, $100+ for a Napa brand I recall. One day I went to a local parts store and they had a set that I bought for $10. It does the job and has done so many times. If I was to upgrade, it'll be either OTC or the Gearwrench set. I wouldn't mind the SO set either.

:beer:
 
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MattPersman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
1,656
Location
Indiana
I suggest a chrome set with drive sizes small as possible meaning mixed drive like the snap on where the smaller ones are 1/4 sometimes the smaller ones are in a super tight and 1/4 drive will save your *** over the chunky 3/8. Deep well set is nice on occasion too. The tighter the e Torx fasteners the better the set you wish you had. :)
 
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malibu101

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Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
3,909
Location
Walnutport PA
I narrowed down to SO, SK, or GW due to them being a bigger set.
There is no worse thing than knowing you have a set of what you need, going to it and then the 1 size you need is not in there.
The SO set is 10 or 13 pieces while the SK and GW set is 13 pieces.

The pricepoint of the GW is really nice too.
Tomorrow my son is calling his SO rep for sizes and prices available to him.

THANK YOU all for opening my eyes to what is out there and for your real world experiences!
 
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dudutzu905

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Joined
Sep 19, 2011
Messages
374
with student discount the SO set will probably be just about the same with SK, so I'd go with SO 13 pc set
 
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turdferguson13

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2013
Messages
195
Honestly I've been fine using the harbor freight e-torx sockets for a couple years now. I bought a 1/2" E18 from Snap-On because it does not come with that set. But if I had access to SEP pricing I would get a full Snap-On set.
 
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nicksnothereman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
3,608
Location
In the Mojave
malibu101 said:
I narrowed down to SO, SK, or GW due to them being a bigger set.
There is no worse thing than knowing you have a set of what you need, going to it and then the 1 size you need is not in there.
The SO set is 10 or 13 pieces while the SK and GW set is 13 pieces.

The pricepoint of the GW is really nice too.
Tomorrow my son is calling his SO rep for sizes and prices available to him.

THANK YOU all for opening my eyes to what is out there and for your real world experiences!
Click to expand...

Honestly...if those are your choices go SK because the gearwrench set is probably made in china. Makes no sense to buy if you can get a taiwanese set for about 5 bucks more or a chinese set from another manufacturer for 5 bucks less (craftsman evolv or others). Don't get suckered into the brand identity, it means nothing at this point unless it has a retail store warranty.
 
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