Tynee
Well-known member
I stopped in at Meier today and looked at several items. The stubby wrenches were MUCH nicer than the HF set I bought several months ago. They probably have a bunch of stuff that’s the same, but not all.
Pittsburgh Pro (HF) vs Tekton sockets
- Thread starter scale
- Start date
I stopped in at Meier today and looked at several items. The stubby wrenches were MUCH nicer than the HF set I bought several months ago. They probably have a bunch of stuff that’s the same, but not all.
JohnDeere1
Banned
Both are equal cheap sockets go with Tekton they look better and warranty is great.
hangfirew8
Well-known member
Upgrade, after the visit to the emergency room? Or before? I guess not before. Tool failure is awful. Besides physical pain, there's returning to a job not done, with time already run out, and options like missing work the next day, finding rides for the kids... screw tool failure. Buy the best you can afford up front. You don't have to pay crazy money.
I'm not slamming HF or Tekton... just Haynes and their bad advice. Honestly, they haven't made a good repair manual in 2 decades. Fuzzy B&W pictures, lack of fastener sizes, lack of specs and measurements, everything ends with re-assemble in reverse order. Honestly, the average blurry, wobbly, over talkative Youtube how-to video from a bumbling amateur is better than Haynes.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I said "the opening pages." Which are sage advice about tool purchases for the intended audience.
Along those lines, if Haynes fails you, upgrade to the factory svc. manuals. I absolutely have paper Helms manuals for older cars. When I need them, I go electronic for newer stuff. And I have absolutely replaced common-use or failed tools with higher-quality/cost versions.
You make a good point; amazing internet info is out there. I doubt there is much on safe tool use like pulling being safer than pushing etc. Good luck with your apparent tool use problems and fears.
jonesg
Well-known member
Yes good observations.
Consider the box end wrench, almost always 12 pt.
They never slip.
The offset geometry of a ratchet handle applying force to the top of a deep socket is the problem.
Or using 12 pt on an air impact tool, not clever.
apollo11
Banned
With all HF tools, I think about what happens if it fails and buy accordingly
Just my opinion here. I have both and think the Tektons are nicer. just last week I broke a HF deep socket. I've had HF tools for 15 years or so and just started buying Tekton about a year ago. But I think the finish and feel of the Tekton is nicer.
hangfirew8
Well-known member
Apparent only to you I guess. Injuries are a very real thing, so I use good tools and set up each hard pull, each jack stand and safety block carefully. A little fear of very real hazards is a good thing. I don't have unreasonable fear, because I still get stuff done.
-HF
I have some of the HF impacts on the truck because them getting broken or lost won't kill me. But to he completely honest the lack of complete size coverage *****. We've got some guys with the tekton/nieko stuff on their trucks and they have more size coverage and donjust as well. If HF ever put up a wall of complete sizes of individual sockets and wrenches the way that the Sears used to be I'd take them far more serious.
thooks
Well-known member
Do you have any HF Pittsburgh Pro sockets from the last 18 months? They are the exact same as the Tektons.
I may be a bit late to this topic but here is my personal experience with Tekton sockets. This is with impact sockets so that will make a difference but I feel it may be useful information.
A while back after starting a new job I needed several impact sockets that I did not have. With a tight budget I ordered the Tekton's 1/2" set in both SAE and metric. I was not impressed with them, a few would crack on the first use while some lasted a little longer. Others seemed to be indestructible to my abusing them. I would replace the broken ones as needed and when the budget allowed I moved onto a higher quality set keeping the old ones to beat on. Now given this is a shop environment I surely put them to heaver use than a home mechanic. I will give five stars to the red plastic case from Tekton though, all these years later they are still holding together nicely and help organize my better impact sockets nicely.
I did purchase a set of 3/8" from Harbor Freight (still talking about impact sockets) because they do have stellar reviews. However the need for them does not come up much and for the most part they've sat untouched in the case. I have talked to a few other techs who use HF impacts and are more than happy with them.
With everything being everything I would say order the set that falls in your budget and replace broken sockets with higher quality ones as needed. After all those are the ones you are using more.
Hope this helps
A while back after starting a new job I needed several impact sockets that I did not have. With a tight budget I ordered the Tekton's 1/2" set in both SAE and metric. I was not impressed with them, a few would crack on the first use while some lasted a little longer. Others seemed to be indestructible to my abusing them. I would replace the broken ones as needed and when the budget allowed I moved onto a higher quality set keeping the old ones to beat on. Now given this is a shop environment I surely put them to heaver use than a home mechanic. I will give five stars to the red plastic case from Tekton though, all these years later they are still holding together nicely and help organize my better impact sockets nicely.
I did purchase a set of 3/8" from Harbor Freight (still talking about impact sockets) because they do have stellar reviews. However the need for them does not come up much and for the most part they've sat untouched in the case. I have talked to a few other techs who use HF impacts and are more than happy with them.
With everything being everything I would say order the set that falls in your budget and replace broken sockets with higher quality ones as needed. After all those are the ones you are using more.
Hope this helps
The HF sets I have are all older, 10-15 years old and have worked well for me.
I did just compare the Pittsburgh Pro 1/2" drive 12pt 'hi-visibility' set to the Tekton version and I still like the Tektons better. They are very similar, but the Tektons look different to me. The points on the Tektons seem more rounded or 'flank drive' than the HF. In larger sizes the Tektons have a rebated base and the size range is more to my liking - 12-24mm skipping 20 & 23mm vs HF 10-19mm no skips. Again this is all my personal perception and doesn't mean that the Tektons are in fact superior to HF. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they are both made in the same plant.
Such is the pain of living a misguided life of avoiding 12 point sockets only to discover I have to deal with 12 point fasteners on a car.
nbpt100
Well-known member
Yea they are out there and seem to be more so with European cars but still found on US cars as well.