Question about good value sockets.

[utking]

Hi all, i have just recently started to upgrade my tools!
the stuff i had was ****, and i broke my ****** 1/2 ratchet the other day, aswell as my 1/4 ratchet.

I have been reading around here for some time now, and found some great tools to start with, i bought a craftsman 1/2 ratchet, a new snap on F80 for 40$ and a used f80 for 32$, lovely ratchets btw, and a craftsman 1/4.

I'm currently looking for a dual 80 1/4 aswell as an 1/2 dual.

Anyways, now i need some sockets, i don't need inches only metric.

But the problem is, what brand should i look into? the snap on's seems nice, but a little bit pricey for me.

I live in Norway so shipping and customs are steep.

Is there anything special you would recommend? warranty is a issue, as there isn't any local shops i could swap them out if they break.

Any help is highly appreciated!

Oh, sorry about my ****** english

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Craftsman sockets are honestly a damned good set, especially for the price. I'd imagine a lot of people will recommend Hazet and Facom since you're in Europe, but from what I've seen they're not priced significantly lower than Snap-On.

 

[utking]

Hmm, i could go as high as 80-90$, don't know if i could get a snap on socket set for that though.

Does the craftsman sockets crack easily? and do they have the round corner thing?

Also how much better are the snap on in terms of quality/price?

 

[pipsters]

How do you ship to Norway? I'm not sure how you'd end up ordering, do you buy from the US and then the business ships to you?

Just wondering. Also, something to consider, if FedEx/UPS/USPS goes to your address you might be able to save a significant amount of money using paypal's gift option and having a GJ member ship it to you.

 

[soob]

I got a set of Gearwrench 3/8 sockets recently for about $60. Very comprehensive. Nice finish. Taiwan made though.

http://www.waltcotoolsinc.com/gearwrench63pcsaemetric38drive.aspx

Was posted in the "hot deals" section here.

 

[north]

You could contact craftsmanverktoy in Norway. Also check out Smarttools for Facom tools.
Harry Epstein is of course a nice place for SK and Wright sockets. Mind that the Wright sockets have one hole in them instead of four detents to hold on to the ball on the ratchet square.

But if you are on a budget I think Craftsman will suit you well. Don't forget that you can put up an ad in the 'wanted' section. You might score some quality stuff for less $$.

You can send me a PM if you'd like to discuss in 'norsk'.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[utking]

How do you ship to Norway? I'm not sure how you'd end up ordering, do you buy from the US and then the business ships to you?

Just wondering. Also, something to consider, if FedEx/UPS/USPS goes to your address you might be able to save a significant amount of money using paypal's gift option and having a GJ member ship it to you.

I've been bying the stuff from ebay, and politely asked the sellers to send it as gifts

You could contact craftsmanverktoy in Norway. Also check out Smarttools for Facom tools.
Harry Epstein is of course a nice place for SK and Wright sockets. Mind that the Wright sockets have one hole in them instead of four detents to hold on to the ball on the ratchet square.

But if you are on a budget I think Craftsman will suit you well. Don't forget that you can put up an ad in the 'wanted' section. You might score some quality stuff for less $$.

You can send me a PM if you'd like to discuss in 'norsk'.

And welcome to the forum.

Nice, cool to see another one from Norway here

Yes i am on a budget, but if i could be so lucky and get a snap on socket set from ebay for 80$ i would buy it, but how much better are they then the craftsman? And you who are from my country, how much better is craftsman sockets than "biltema"?

Thx for all help guys!

 

[Outlawmws]

I have yet to ever break a craftsman socket, and I've managed to break more than my share of tools in my day. Personally I like the older craftsman better than the new stuff for quality; some are not always made in the USA or to the standards they used to have, particularly for the screwdrivers.

One primary advantage Craftsman has is when you by them in the larger sets, they get incredibly inexpensive. I ( about 10 years ago) bought a complete 99 piece set of metric tools to carry in my Samurai (my first foreign car...) and it was right at $100. A buck a tool is a great deal. These were only sockets, ratchets, and one set of combination wrenches. That was all, but very complete with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 sets, both deep and short.

I added another set of combination wrenches, and a few other things (Screw drivers, pliers, etc...) and its a complete road box. Pretty hard to beat, and it all fits in the same box... I can tell at a glance if anything is missing, so nothing has gone missing...

Ratchets It depends on what handle it has. one thing I like about Snap On ratchets, (and wrenches) is that I can pull on them harder without hurting (And sometimes bruising) my hand. Some of the new ratchets and wrenches from Craftsman and other co's are much better than the older models from 30+ years ago for that, but I don't have those, and I'm not likely to replace what I have since I don't work on cars near as much as I used to back in the day.

 

[utking]

I have yet to ever break a craftsman socket, and I've managed to break more than my share of tools in my day. Personally I like the older craftsman better than the new stuff for quality; some are not always made in the USA or to the standards they used to have, particularly for the screwdrivers.

One primary advantage Craftsman has is when you by them in the larger sets, they get incredibly inexpensive. I ( about 10 years ago) bought a complete 99 piece set of metric tools to carry in my Samurai (my first foreign car...) and it was right at $100. A buck a tool is a great deal. These were only sockets, ratchets, and one set of combination wrenches. That was all, but very complete with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 sets, both deep and short.

I added another set of combination wrenches, and a few other things (Screw drivers, pliers, etc...) and its a complete road box. Pretty hard to beat, and it all fits in the same box... I can tell at a glance if anything is missing, so nothing has gone missing...

Ratchets It depends on what handle it has. one thing I like about Snap On ratchets, (and wrenches) is that I can pull on them harder without hurting (And sometimes bruising) my hand. Some of the new ratchets and wrenches from Craftsman and other co's are much better than the older models from 30+ years ago for that, but I don't have those, and I'm not likely to replace what I have since I don't work on cars near as much as I used to back in the day.

Nice, thanks for great feedback! Hmm, now i'm not afraid of buying craftsman sockets Will lurk around on ebay for some snap on deals though, i got myself a new F80 for 35$ that was nice!

Would you say this is decent set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0Q...QQsspagenameZSTRKQ3aMEWAXQ3aIT#ht_2549wt_1259

Thanks again all!

 

[Outlawmws]

That is a fair deal but not great. Look at this. Not exactly what you are looking for, but when on sale, like this, it's a great deal (It comes to almost .50 a tool...). And if you wait, they always come on sale eventually, and the larger the set, the bigger the savings. (I bought this set or one like it as my son's starter set for his 18th B-Day a few years back)

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933200000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

 

[north]

I've been bying the stuff from ebay, and politely asked the sellers to send it as gifts



Nice, cool to see another one from Norway here

Yes i am on a budget, but if i could be so lucky and get a snap on socket set from ebay for 80$ i would buy it, but how much better are they then the craftsman? And you who are from my country, how much better is craftsman sockets than "biltema"?

Thx for all help guys!

I don't know if Craftsman is better than the Biltema sockets with a 10 year warranty, haven't used either enough to say, but I think both will serve you well. Here and here are some sets that are below the 'moms' limit and have a fair shipping price. Better to have two shipments to avoid 'moms' and fees. Would have bought those sockets myself if I hadn't come across a nice SK set from Harry Epstein.

But by all means, if you can find some Snap-ons for a fair price, go for it. I have some Snap-on myself that I bought new from a dealer here in Norway about 10 years ago. Very expensive and probably way overkill for my DIY use but I wanted it just because.
Btw. How the **** did you manage to score an F80 for $35??? I am envious.

That is a fair deal but not great. Look at this. Not exactly what you are looking for, but when on sale, like this, it's a great deal (It comes to almost .50 a tool...). And if you wait, they always come on sale eventually, and the larger the set, the bigger the savings. (I bought this set or one like it as my son's starter set for his 18th B-Day a few years back)

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933200000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

Except you can't buy Craftsman from Sears from a norwegian address since Craftsman have an official importer in Norway. Need help from an insider there...

That set btw. can be had from Steinar Stolen for NOK 1995.

 

[magnusk750]

Hello, Sweden/Estonia chime in. A swedish, despite the name, brand with a good price/quality rate is Kamasa. I dont think they are maufactured in Sweden though. Sold by KG Knutson company, I think their retail shops must be called Autoexperten and be represented also in Norway. In Sweden they are considered proffesional quality, though lower priced than Bacho. I had a 3/8 set for many years that I loved, until a nasty thief took them together with my ESAB welder. May he burn forever...

You can also check Jula, think they are also in Norway. They have lots of **** but also some Bacho stuff at good prices.

 

[utking]

I don't know if Craftsman is better than the Biltema sockets with a 10 year warranty, haven't used either enough to say, but I think both will serve you well. Here and here are some sets that are below the 'moms' limit and have a fair shipping price. Better to have two shipments to avoid 'moms' and fees. Would have bought those sockets myself if I hadn't come across a nice SK set from Harry Epstein.

But by all means, if you can find some Snap-ons for a fair price, go for it. I have some Snap-on myself that I bought new from a dealer here in Norway about 10 years ago. Very expensive and probably way overkill for my DIY use but I wanted it just because.
Btw. How the **** did you manage to score an F80 for $35??? I am envious.

Except you can't buy Craftsman from Sears from a norwegian address since Craftsman have an official importer in Norway. Need help from an insider there...

That set btw. can be had from Steinar Stolen for NOK 1995.

The question then is, should i get the biltema which i could exchange if it breaks, or craftsman which i cannot? I live 5 min away from nearest biltema too.

That is why i wanted something better than biltema, so it wouldn't have to break

I think i might go for snapon then, if i can score a low price like the F80

Oh, i would be buying stuff from ebay, so moms wouldn't be a problem, as most sellers agree on sending as a gift

Oh the F80 yes, i remembered wrong. It was 39 for a new one, and 36 for a barely used. +15 usd for each in shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0Q...6QQsspagenameZSTRKQ3aMEWNXQ3aIT#ht_854wt_1165

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0Q...6QQsspagenameZSTRKQ3aMEWNXQ3aIT#ht_1888wt_939

Hello, Sweden/Estonia chime in. A swedish, despite the name, brand with a good price/quality rate is Kamasa. I dont think they are maufactured in Sweden though. Sold by KG Knutson company, I think their retail shops must be called Autoexperten and be represented also in Norway. In Sweden they are considered proffesional quality, though lower priced than Bacho. I had a 3/8 set for many years that I loved, until a nasty thief took them together with my ESAB welder. May he burn forever...

You can also check Jula, think they are also in Norway. They have lots of **** but also some Bacho stuff at good prices.

Hi mate! i've heard of Kamasa, and heard they are quite good i will check out some snap on, and if not i might look into it!

Thanks for input guys!