need help building a socket set

[DaftCun7]

Hello i am new to the forum. I am an apprentice electrician and i have pretty much maxed out my electrical tool inventory so it's time to switch gears on the type of tools i'm buying.

I can post pics later if you guys want to see but i guarentee I have more tools then any 2nd year electrician you have seen lol but its time to start buying some high quality wrenches sockets etc to work on my car over the winter.

Anyway before i was planning to just order thing in sets but after looking it seems like a lot of the socket sizes overlap and i don't want to get duplicates of a bunch of the same thing if I don't need to so I'm wondering what you guys recommend for drive size vs socket size like at what point would you switch to half inch i'm guessing 19mm is the point id switch to half inch drive and get the rest in 3/8?

thanks for your help ill post pics later of all my electrical tools.

 

[MrGiggles]

I like to have 3/8 sockets up to 21mm and 1/2 from 13-32mm.

All my 1/2 drive sockets are impact. Only in very rare cases will you find an impact socket's thick wall to be obtrusive.

You will run into 14mm engine bolts that are easy to remove with 3/8 tools and 14mm suspension bolts that require a 1/2 breaker or impact to loosen. Some overlap is necessary because of that.

 

[DaftCun7]

ok thanks for your reply. im ordering tools off the gray tools website right now lol

 

[KMdef9]

^Yup, you'll find with more experience there's a need for overlap. 3/8 is good for tight places and obviously 1/2 for high torque.

Are you using impacting tools or all hand tools?

Are you looking to buy all at once? What's your budget? Why do they have to be "high end"?

 

[KMdef9]

ok thanks for your reply. im ordering tools off the gray tools website right now lol

Burning a hole in that pocket huh?

Definitely one way to learn.

 

[DaftCun7]

well i don't want any crappy tire i've had enough problems with them and i can show you guys the tools i already have for work are all expensive so i might aswell continue getting good quality stuff i really have a grudge against Canadian tire like take a torpedo level for example my klein one was about 50 machined out of a solid piece of aluminum vs the husky or mastercraft there really is no comparison lol so i assume you get what you pay for when it comes to automotive tools aswell also mastercraft number 8 screwdriver lasted me about 3 months before the tip rounded off and my wera number 8 still kicking strong after 2 years i think its worth investing a little extra money now instead of buying **** ill end up replacing down the road

 

[jumbojak]

Just something to keep in mind, but every dollar you spend on building a complete socket set to work on your car is a dollar you won't have to spend on specialty tools to work on your car. Having complete sets is nice but having what you really need is much more important. If your car is loaded with torx and Allen head fasteners a complete hex socket set will be less useful than a more modest set that also includes the oddballs you might encounter. The same goes for things like slide hammers, crows feet, flares, presses, etc. Sockets and wrenches will get you pretty far, but only so far depending on the sort of work you plan to take on yourself.

 

[DaftCun7]

i have a half inch milwaukee impact driver so i was planning on starting off with all half inch impact sockets and ill probably get regular chrome for all my 3/8 sockets

 

[DaftCun7]

Just something to keep in mind, but every dollar you spend on building a complete socket set to work on your car is a dollar you won't have to spend on specialty tools to work on your car. Having complete sets is nice but having what you really need is much more important. If your car is loaded with torx and Allen head fasteners a complete hex socket set will be less useful than a more modest set that also includes the oddballs you might encounter. The same goes for things like slide hammers, crows feet, flares, presses, etc. Sockets and wrenches will get you pretty far, but only so far depending on the sort of work you plan to take on yourself.

the car i will be working on is a 2002 acura tl type s that i crashed in a high speed chase mechanically the car is perfect but the front bumper front quarter panel and hood is smashed and the headlights so im going to fix that to atleast make it so i can drive it without the cops pulling me over but i would also like to upgrade the suspension and exhaust. just project for me to work on over the winter now that i am starting to accumulate a bit of extra cash and want to get back into my hobbies.

 

[DaftCun7]

^Yup, you'll find with more experience there's a need for overlap. 3/8 is good for tight places and obviously 1/2 for high torque.

Are you using impacting tools or all hand tools?

Are you looking to buy all at once? What's your budget? Why do they have to be "high end"?

I am going to start off with a complete socket set for now to get me started probably around 1000 is my budget

 

[jumbojak]

Acura? In that case... 10mm... 12mm... 14mm... 17mm... 19mm... that'll get you a long way!

I have a 98 Integra and it's nice how uniform things have been so far. They seem. To be good cars. Best of luck to you.

 

[DaftCun7]

k so im basically planning on ordering a full line of half inch impact sockets should i go with deep sockets?

 

[R_einan]

IIRC you need an impact driver to get the front rotors off to do any major work to the front end. Been a few years since I worked on an import though.

 

[DaftCun7]

IIRC you need an impact driver to get the front rotors off to do any major work to the front end. Been a few years since I worked on an import though.

i have a half inch Milwaukee impact wrench

 

[MrGiggles]

k so im basically planning on ordering a full line of half inch impact sockets should i go with deep sockets?

Shallow and deep. You'll use both quite a bit, neither will do all.

 

[CarsonConcepts]

For home DIY work I'd recommend the Gearwrench 3/8" Chrome set with free 1/4" set, along with the Sunex 2569 Master Metric 1/2" Impact set. Great sockets and for under $250 a very complete setup. Can add the Sunex 2568 SAE master set as well if you have the need.

http://www.cpooutlets.com/gearwrench-80550f-57-piece-3-8-in--drive-6-point-sae-metric-socket-set-with-free-51-piece-1-4-in--sae-metric-standard-deep-socket-set/kdtn80550f,default,pd.html?cgid=automotive-hand-tools-impact-sockets-and-sets

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MPQ88RY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DaftCun7]

thanks for the reply after pricing out gray it comes to over $700 just for the sockets shallow and deep

 

[DaftCun7]

amazon canada is such a rip off ill have to figure out a better website to order sunex from

 

[DaftCun7]

ended up going with gray tools just ordered 13mm-30mm deep sockets 13-32 shallow sockets 5" extension 10" extension and a universal joint