new sockets...help me decide

[belvedere]

Gonna order a new set of 3/8 drive, metric, 6-point chrome sockets. I had pretty much decided on the Williams USA 20 piece set, when my son and I were looking at Tekton’s site for some other tools. I looked at their equivalent set, and it is $45, vs $93.** being the best price I found for the Williams.

I own sockets from both companies, and both have been good to me. I like to purchase USA- made products when possible, but are they worth 2x the money? I’m really on the fence here...give me a push to one side or the other, would ya?

 

[drtyler]

Yeah, the Williams are worth it.

I am not a fan of Tekton. The tools are fine, but nothing special. But in a way that is good, as most Taiwan imported sockets are good quality now.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I don't have the 3/8 drive Texton or Williams to compare to. I have the SO set but it is more expensive, but compare to my CM professional set from 2002 SO is better but more $$. Not yet convince China or Taiwan is getting better since still trying to save $.

 

[FMB4]

Weekend use, either would do. Daily, or heavy use, I'd go Williams.

 

[JradM]

You could always split the difference: Williams Taiwan

 

[Mr_B]

which do you like more, tekton got decent big stamped sizes and are decent enough quality plus you get 4.5 bucks in rewards to spend so it like 40 bucks for 19pc set .
Buying usa is nice so if can afford it do so but you ain't getting much else as williams/blue-point/snapon never improved things like large size roll stampings or surface finishing features to improve ergonomics .
Tekton warranty also hard fault currently, anything wrong with any your sockets out the box and you get another sent out as quick as physically possible .

 

[richfinn]

I always find really good deals on Ko-ken Japan, great sockets (it's their reason for existing I suppose)

The selection of sockets is massive

Even the packaging is good quality

I guess the price would be between your mentioned options, but worth every penny

 

[m6z]

Toptul

 

[kody1234]

I like the tekton sockets,if you lose one you can buy just one.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I like the tekton sockets,if you lose one you can buy just one.

I've bought singles of USA williams too when I've worn them out.

 

[bob15]

Just curious why you choose Williams over Wright or SK? For me it would be Wright......

 

[RAS61]

I'm a big fan of Taiwan tools, really like my Sunex sockets, and hear great things about Icon. With all that said I get the feeling you'll end up kicking yourself if you don't get the Williams. They'll last you a lifetime, are a no excuses top tool, and the $50 saved is not that much really (a tank of gas in a pick up or SUV). You'll quickly forget where the savings went, but will be reminded of your decision every time you use your sockets - does that help?

 

[RAS61]

Just curious why you choose Williams over Wright or SK? For me it would be Wright......

Can you get a 20 socket set in those brands for that money? I haven't bought in a while, but I'm surprised you can get a good Taiwan set that big for $94 no less a top tier American maker

 

[belvedere]

Can you get a 20 socket set in those brands for that money? I haven't bought in a while, but I'm surprised you can get a good Taiwan set that big for $94 no less a top tier American maker

Bingo! Twenty sockets (5.5-24mm) on a rail. If there is another American-made brand in that price range, please let me know.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Tekton, Capri and Sunex would be my top choices and Craftsman too but don’t know that Craftsman offers anything like that. I know Capri has some big sets but not USA made. If choosing USA I’d probably go with SK as my first choice. Yes we all like USA made tools but those Taiwan ones are nowadays hard to beat for the money.

 

[demarpaint]

I'd go with the Williams sockets.

 

[GeoBruin]

24 piece USA made Blackhawk by Proto for $85.

Blackhawk™ by Proto® 8924MNB 3/8" Drive 24 Piece Metric Socket Set

Full Polish finish. What’s Included: 6 Point Standard Sockets: 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm 18mm, 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm 6 Point Deep Sockets: 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm

www.circlecsupply.com

 

[Fedwrench]

Tekton would be my choice. Sockets are nicely finished inside and out. No skip sizing. Excellent quality for the price. Excellent customer service, if you order from Tekton.com you get free shipping once registered and as others mentioned, rewards points that spend like cash on future orders. The only thing wrong with the Tekton set is that they have a metric set on a red rail

 

[ike]

I have always been a USA made or bust kind of person, but also a buy the best deal for me kind of person, so it's been a difficult balance over the last 15 or so years. I have a set of Tekton sockets in my truck, and they are as good of quality as anything else I've ever owned. There is so much ******** to sort through about everything, but if anyone could post anything that shows how product A made in Taiwan is not as good as product B made in USA, I'd totally tune in, but from my ignorant view on things, Taiwan made tools are just as good as any of my USA made tools, and as much as I hate to say it, the Taiwan made Breman locking pliers I got at Harbor Freight to throw in my car bag, they are better quality than my old USA made Crescent locking pliers. The Taiwan made Tekton sockets have a better finish than my Craftsman USA/Armstrong sockets. I love my older USA made tools, and I have some that are just straight up a collection. But, as sad as it may be, the Taiwan made tools are just as good as any USA made consumer grade tools that were ever on the market and they are a better value.

 

[DerekV]

Most of my chrome sockets are Williams USA and Tekton. They’re both nice but I like the Williams better. Particularly the sockets’ shape and fit on whatever’s driving them. The Tekton’s sit “high” on the ratchet/extension/etc. Chrome on the Tekton’s is better, but all of the other socket features are just a little better with the Williams. My $0.02

 

[lardy1]

I like my SK sockets a lot. I wish I had completed my socket purchasing (yeah........right) while I was still working. I would probably have all SK if I had. But I have Tekton which I find nice to use. Enough has been said already that I agree with about Tekton. I bought some Challenger NOS deep 12 points that are nice but the markings leave a lot to be desired if that's important to you. I know more now but the thing that turned me away from Williams was sorting domestic from imported. I had the means to pay the premium then and SK was affordable and was a sure bet to be domestic.

Just like ratchets........you almost have to throw a dart and get unlucky to end up with crappy ones. You'll end up with nice sockets. Good luck.

 

[boom10ful]

I've bought singles of USA williams too when I've worn them out.

In my case, I had to purchase a 10mm that disappeared for a month old set.

 

[Raineman]

I've bought singles of USA williams too when I've worn them out.

Is Williams not lifetime warranty?

 

[Mr_B]

Is Williams not lifetime warranty?

Limited warranty .

 

[VolvoRyan]

Depends on your usage, really.

For regular maintenance stuff, Tekton is fine. Nice company to deal with, and your money goes pretty far. The tools are nice and will provide years of service.

If you're the type that goes looking for projects (trouble), the SK, Williams, Wright, etc tier is worth it... they tend to be roughly $100 for the standard 3/8" sets.

As mentioned above, it's pretty hard to go wrong with sockets these days.

-Ryan

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Is Williams not lifetime warranty?

Nobody but the tool trucks reliably gives you an infinite warranty. Even then, better hope you have a driver.

Wearing out sockets in commonly used sizes is just a fact of life. No, I dont impact on my chrome's. This 14mm has been used for 24months or so. Corners start to wallow out, and the fit gets sloppy. Eventually the drive end can suffer a similar fate if you're putting them on extensions then hammering them onto rotted fasteners.

 

[bob15]

Bingo! Twenty sockets (5.5-24mm) on a rail. If there is another American-made brand in that price range, please let me know.

I didn't realize cheapest price is the winner in your book.

But to answer your question, Wright's 6-19mm is 95 bucks and I find Wright makes a better product than anything Williams puts out there. If I found I needed anything bigger than 19mm, I can buy the socket or use the 1/2 drive set.

 

[belvedere]

I didn't realize cheapest price is the winner in your book.

But to answer your question, Wright's 6-19mm is 95 bucks and I find Wright makes a better product than anything Williams puts out there. If I found I needed anything bigger than 19mm, I can buy the socket or use the 1/2 drive set.

I've honestly never used Wright sockets. Can you tell me what is better about them than Williams USA sockets? Thanks!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If we are comparing brands, proto is fairly tall for their size. My 8mm proto is maybe 1/4 inch taller than my 14mm William's. Proto has a thicker wall as well.

 

[bob15]

I've honestly never used Wright sockets. Can you tell me what is better about them than Williams USA sockets? Thanks!

I haven't been impressed with the Williams wrenches I own (wrenches spreading on the open end and some chrome/finish issues)....which I have mentioned on GJ many times. The opposite can be said for the Wright Tools I own. Never had any issues with any of my Wright tools....sockets (and accessories), screwdrivers or wrenches. I also like the somewhat large stamped numbers for the sizes which is nice for people learning to use cheater glasses.

 

[BlackLS2]

Go Williams........but the size marking *****.

 

[belvedere]

I didn't realize cheapest price is the winner in your book.

It's not, or I would've gone to Harbor Freight and been done already.

I haven't been impressed with the Williams wrenches I own

I'm asking about sockets here. Like I mentioned in the original post, I already own a set of Williams USA sockets, and they've been great. I thought you were comparing Williams and Wright sockets, but since you don't own Williams sockets and I don't own Wright sockets, I guess neither of us is able to do that.

 

[belvedere]

Thanks for all the input, everyone! Truly appreciated!

 

[M6erfan]

Depends on your usage, really.

For regular maintenance stuff, Tekton is fine. Nice company to deal with, and your money goes pretty far. The tools are nice and will provide years of service.

If you're the type that goes looking for projects (trouble), the SK, Williams, Wright, etc tier is worth it... they tend to be roughly $100 for the standard 3/8" sets.

As mentioned above, it's pretty hard to go wrong with sockets these days.

-Ryan

How are the SK, Williams, Wright sockets better or "worth it" over Tekton?

Genuinely curious.

 

[RAS61]

Thanks for all the input, everyone! Truly appreciated!

This has been an interesting discussion, please let us know your decision and why

 

[RickyPetite]

I have attached images of (from left to right), deep chrome Tekton, SK, Proto sockets. To my eye, the most noticeable difference is the quality of the chrome. It doesn't come out perfectly on the pictures, but on the bottom of the Tekton socket, the chrome edges at wavy and slightly lifted from the surface. I suspect that the chrome will ultimately flake at these points. Other observations:

-Tallest to shortest: SK>Tekton>Proto
-Deepest broaching: Tekton>Proto>SK
-Socket interior coating: The Proto and SK are covered with a metal dusting/paint while the Tekton is coated with a clear coat finish. Not sure how the clear coat will hold up over time. Notice that the coating extends all the way down to the bottom on the SK (right socket in the image with two sockets) while the deepest part of the Tekton is already looking faintly rusty (can't confirm that it is rust but it looks reddish-brown).
-The top edges and wall thickness don't seem all that different
-Tightness on the fastener is comparable. Not sure which will develop slop with prolonged use.

My overall impression is that the SK is the nicest, followed by Proto and then Tekton. Whether the first two are worth double the money is a matter of opinion. I would point out simply, that better tools cost more for a reason.

 

[M6erfan]

I have attached images of (from left to right), deep chrome Tekton, SK, Proto sockets. To my eye, the most noticeable difference is the quality of the chrome. It doesn't come out perfectly on the pictures, but on the bottom of the Tekton socket, the chrome edges at wavy and slightly lifted from the surface. I suspect that the chrome will ultimately flake at these points. Other observations:

-Tallest to shortest: SK>Tekton>Proto
-Deepest broaching: Tekton>Proto>SK
-Socket interior coating: The Proto and SK are covered with a metal dusting/paint while the Tekton is coated with a clear coat finish. Not sure how the clear coat will hold up over time. Notice that the coating extends all the way down to the bottom on the SK (right socket in the image with two sockets) while the deepest part of the Tekton is already looking faintly rusty (can't confirm that it is rust but it looks reddish-brown).
-The top edges and wall thickness don't seem all that different
-Tightness on the fastener is comparable. Not sure which will develop slop with prolonged use.

My overall impression is that the SK is the nicest, followed by Proto and then Tekton. Whether the first two are worth double the money is a matter of opinion. I would point out simply, that better tools cost more for a reason.

Interesting. Appreciate the time you took to post, but there are a ton of posts over the years here at GJ about poor quality SK chrome (as one example). Most responses to those posts are of the nature that 'it doesn't matter' 'won't affect use-ability' etc.

Point is, it's difficult if not impossible to look at any decent socket and deem it "better" than another (unless maybe it's a bottom of the barrel **** socket). I own some C'man USA sockets that are over two decades old. None have failed me, they're not rusted, plating has held up, etc. Same for my Facom, Hazet, OEM Tools, Ko-ken sockets. As far as durability goes, they all seem to be on equal ground. We are spoiled for great quality sockets at many price points these days. It's almost difficult to buy a truly crappy socket.

I'm sure someone will chime in with "yeah well, I cracked a Tekton (or whatever) socket last month". My response would be "yeah? There are posts here about cracked S-o (and Proto, SK, whatever) sockets too. . ." I sent back a Wright socket set that had very shallow or missing detents on many socketsin the set. I sent back an SK socket set that had off center broaching on several and crappy chrome job on others. Does that make me a hater of SK and Wright. Nope. Just saying that **** happens, with all manufacturers. and most posters here have a tiny sample size to judge.

I think the best advice is to buy on features. Made in USA important to you? Have at it, lots to choose from. Ditto with warranty support. Blingy chrome, satin finish, broaching depth, large/deep size markings, knurling, OAL, detents, wall thickness, etc. And last but certainly not least is cost. Everyone has their own unique preferences & budgets.

Just my $.02

 

[bonneyman]

Tekton would be my choice. Sockets are nicely finished inside and out. No skip sizing. Excellent quality for the price. Excellent customer service, if you order from Tekton.com you get free shipping once registered and as others mentioned, rewards points that spend like cash on future orders. The only thing wrong with the Tekton set is that they have a metric set on a red rail

To ease your pain, Ace Hardware has Deep Blue Sea spray paint for $6.99 a can.

OP, if I were starting over, I'd buy Tekton.

 

[VolvoRyan]

How are the SK, Williams, Wright sockets better or "worth it" over Tekton?

Genuinely curious.

It's hard to really define "worth it". In fact, thinking about it, it's probably *not* worth it. I see Tekton as the modern day equivalent of what Craftsman was. Huge value for money, and the tools won't give up on you during a project.

For me, there's two points: Initial tolerances and fit (How "grabby" are the sockets?), and then how do the tools wear over time?

I've done a little bit of testing of fit and satisfied myself that the initial "grabbiness" is there with higher end tools.

I have found that wrenches/sockets at the Tekton/GearWrench price-point do wear a bit more than the next tier up.... there becomes a bit more slop that you just learn to deal with. That takes a bit of the fun out of the jobs, and you work a little harder to do the work.

For me, that's "worth it" for what I do. That being said, I do have plenty of Tekton, Sunex, etc for tools that don't see quite as much use.

-Ryan

 

[M6erfan]

It's hard to really define "worth it". In fact, thinking about it, it's probably *not* worth it. I see Tekton as the modern day equivalent of what Craftsman was. Huge value for money, and the tools won't give up on you during a project.

For me, there's two points: Initial tolerances and fit (How "grabby" are the sockets?), and then how do the tools wear over time?

I've done a little bit of testing of fit and satisfied myself that the initial "grabbiness" is there with higher end tools.

I have found that wrenches/sockets at the Tekton/GearWrench price-point do wear a bit more than the next tier up.... there becomes a bit more slop that you just learn to deal with. That takes a bit of the fun out of the jobs, and you work a little harder to do the work.

For me, that's "worth it" for what I do. That being said, I do have plenty of Tekton, Sunex, etc for tools that don't see quite as much use.

-Ryan

Fair enough. My take is that manufacturing sockets that adhere to standards like ANSI, DIN, JIS is a solved problem, and not difficult or expensive in todays world.

I'd be dubious about claims of initial tolerances (by feel), because, well, tolerances. Both the socket and fastener have their tolerance, catch both on the opposite side of the scale of each other and two sockets from the same manufacturer might seem 'tight' or 'loose' depending on the luck of the draw. OTOH, if you get out your calipers and a socket is out of tolerance, that's a defect.