Recommendations on hand tools?

azscj · Apr 1, 2018

So after many many years and long overdue, I am looking to replace all my hand tools. Specifically all sockets that I have (impact, deep, 6 point, 12 point, 1/4 , 3/8 SAE, Metric etc etc) and all the ratchets that I have as well. What I have now is old and abused with a mis-match of brand names. I have been looking on Craigslist for the last year hoping to find a complete set but never did. Doesn't seem to happen.

So my question here:
Obviously Snap-On is probably the most common "go to" name, but I would be afraid to price out everything I need and buy in one shot. Any other recommendations for a good quality brand tool? MAC? Craftsman? Cornwell? Something else to consider?

The key is a good quality set of tools and nothing like Harbor Freight quality. Will want to purchase them all at once.

metaldad · Apr 1, 2018

that's is going to be a sizeable investment, whatever you choose.
maybe a less costly option from the truck brands would be the former discontinued USA names from apex, armstrong, kd, allen
alot of cman was USA apex.
a step up would be S-K

patchap · Apr 1, 2018

Going to be hard to justify any one brand, as none are the best at everything.

bob15 · Apr 1, 2018

Scroll through the pages of GJ and you will find pages and pages of what is the "best", with regards to ratchets, sockets, extensions, wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers.....you name it.

For the money you will need to put down on buying a complete set of tools, I would rather see you buy a socket or two from several companies and let you decide what is best. Why spend over a grand on tools based on a single or a couple's peoples personal opinion only? YOU NEED to touchy feely them yourself before dropping serious coin.

Example: it seems that lately, the majority of people on GJ will say you need high tooth count ratchets....but my own preference is: I don't care much for them. So, who is right? Both sides, as it is personal preference.

plinker · Apr 1, 2018

S-K has very nice sets available, Williams is another to look into. Wright is also popular. All are USA made. Most sockets are going to be about the same, more or less, Ratchets are worth the extra money. Gearwrench also has complete sets.

If you're going for impact sockets, Sunex is hard to beat.

CR888 · Apr 1, 2018

I'd buy a Bahco big set with 1/4", 3/8" &1/2" ratchets and sockets. You could get a lightly used set off eBay quite cheap. You would then essentially have 3 X Snap On dual 80 ratchets and 3 sets of sockets with some extensions, universals etc. I'm not sure if Bahco sockets are the same quality as SO but I bet their close. There are so many good options out there for quality sockets these days my best advice would be to be open minded about trying something new.

Fedwrench · Apr 1, 2018

I could never do that as I don't think one brand makes the absolute best of everything. Besides, variety is the spice of life. :lol:

My vote would be Proto though. It would require a significant cash outlay though. Check out the 2nd quarter NAPA real deals flyer set pricing to see what i mean.

Alava · Apr 1, 2018

As a Spaniard I would recommend you EGAMASTER, They are specialized on right what you want: you select a bunch of tools and they organize them for you in a toolbox, trolley...

their website

B_Bimmer · Apr 1, 2018

If I could only have one set and was trying to balance quality, usefulness, and value I would buy the snap on 1/4" set in the plastic box. Proto sockets in all larger drive sizes as needed with proto premium pear head ratchets for everything standard. Snap on ratchets for anything unique, and snap on bit sockets as required. I would also buy them over a couple months on ebay and zoro with % off. If you really want to get it all at once than if money's no object talk to your snap on man, I doubt you'll be disappointed, just a bit poorer. If money is a bit tighter Proto on zoro or SK with a local dealer if you have one.

Fortunately I don't have to only have one so I have examples of all as well as MANY cheap brands. I have also gone from the naive state of mind that harbor fright is acceptable for most people to a healthy respect for the time, bruises, and energy that can be saved by investing in quality tools.

Jsf721 · Apr 1, 2018

I have been considering some Genius tools. They look good and I got one live reference from a diy guy. but I cannot get another soul who has heard of them.

Fedwrench · Apr 1, 2018

Jsf721 said:
I have been considering some Genius tools. They look good and I got one live reference from a diy guy. but I cannot get another soul who has heard of them.

To me genius is hit or miss. Their extra long zero offset boxed end wrenches are outstanding but, their socket & ratchets seem blah to me. :dunno:

isb cornbinder · Apr 1, 2018

I am a retired mechanic, in Canada. I made my living with SK tools. At home I have a collection of miss-matched wrenches and other hand tools in a separate toolbox.. My favorite is HAZET. Some of my Canadian wrenches are up to 80 years old and still work just fine. For the times I need to work on my Ruston Hornsby Diesel I have lots of British Standard Witworth wrenches and sockets.
Unless you are building a collection to impress versus having good wrenches that work, any good wrench will get the job done.
Craftsman tools of more than 50 years ago were possibly the best available. I have lots of Craftsman and I continue to collect vintage Craftsman hand tools.
There are atta-boy points for being able to pick out the good hand tools that work and then being able to defend your choices.
If you are able to buy anything made in North America, I am convinced that this is a better option.

Jsf721 · Apr 1, 2018

Thanks for the feedback. I am setting up a shop at work and needed everything. I’ve been piecing it together as I go. Dropped some money on HF Pittsburg pro and It’s been ok. As I need more stuff I’m looking for alternatives.

In all seriousness the HF stuff has been working ok so far.

Fedwrench said:
To me genius is hit or miss. Their extra long zero offset boxed end wrenches are outstanding but, their socket & ratchets seem blah to me.

BigBoreFan · Apr 1, 2018

I'd look at SK Tools. If you buy full sets their prices are not really that bad for 1/4 and 3/8, as far as chrome sockets go anyway.

Seems there are a lot of choices for impact sockets that is not big money as well.

These are the best prices I've found. http://www.circlecsupply.com/

PNWguy · Apr 1, 2018

Without a budget, this is kind of silly. Also what does "all my hand tools" actually mean - just sockets and ratchets?

I'm not trying to be snarky, but here goes. If you are considering Craftsman, but not Harbor Freight then you are a bit out of date. Craftsman has turned to offshore **** (at the same price as US made stuff) while HF has upped their game and is making hand tools that are actually pretty good considering the price. I'd actually buy HF over Craftsman if I had to start over. Since Sears will no longer exist in a few years, the Craftsman warranty may be useless at this point, but nobody really knows.

In short, a bit more info would be helpful.

Some things to think about:
*Budget?
*Does CoO matter?
*Do they really have to be the same brand (Snap-On ratchets and HF sockets for example)?
*Are you willing to go with a brand you're not familiar with, such as Tekton?
*Are you aware that many brands have different lines of tools? For example, SK makes good stuff, as well as **** (their entry level ratchets are perhaps the worst name brand ratchet I've ever used). What I'm saying is that "SK" isn't a good enough answer, because there are different SK models and some are great, but some of them ****.

azscj · Apr 2, 2018

Lots of good input....thanks for those who made comments. Some other options here to consider I havent thought of.

I think the best idea I am reading is maybe I dont need to go to one brand for everything. For me it was a convenience more than anything. Would be nice to place one order with one vendor or company and have everything delivered at once. Thats a perfect world....but not realistic.

"Hand tools" just means sockets, ratchets and extensions. Thats all.
Budget - a few thousand dollars I am ok with. It's alot of pieces if you look at it all.
USA made would be nice because that to me means best quality. Im done with the cheap tools I have been using.
And I do not know all the details on all the brands. But I have heard about Craftsman quality not being the same it was 20 years ago.

Tallpilot · Apr 2, 2018

Now we are getting somewhere. You have the budget to get some high quality stuff but not enough for it to be all Snap-on.

I would go with Williams USA for most of your chrome sockets (you will have to get the Taiwan version if you want 1/2" 6-point). Toolsdelivered seems to have the best prices but shop around a bit. Note that the USA made sets have letters in the part number while the Taiwan made sets do not. I won't list them all but they are significantly cheaper than Snap-on from which you can buy singles if the need arises.

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-1-4-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-1-4-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets

Consider Snap-on Wobble Plus extensions. It will be in the $500 range for the 3 drive sizes but they are strong and give you the best of both worlds.

https://store.snapon.com/Extensions...ve-Wobble-Plus-reg-Extension-Set-P642335.aspx

Snap-on does make the best ratchets and they come in an insane variety of styles so figure out what you like. You can buy quite a few though with your budget if you follow my recommendation on sockets. I personally would rather have a good socket on a great ratchet than the other way around. It's your money though.

For impacts there is a fight raging over just how soft you want them to be. I won't rehash that here so look at the couple of recent threads about them. Here though let's go Taiwan made. The savings is immense and almost everyone agrees the quality is at least good enough if not excellent.

APS2000 · Apr 2, 2018

Here is a copy n paste. Prices may vary depending on NAPA location.COO mostly Taiwan.

APS2000 said:
NAPA. They offer an extensive product range as well as individual sets, pieces. Having a main supplier migtht make it easier to manage warranty and inventory tools.

You can check out https://www.napaonline.com or http://www.carlyletools.com or download the Carlyle Tool app or the real deals flyer https://realdeals.napaecatalog.com/app.php?RelId=6.2.3.0

Sample of tool sets below:

MTS153 $619.99 vs $527.20 online
• 100 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive tools
• 14 Combination wrenches
• 39 Additional hand and service tools

MTS223 $939.99 vs $791.20
223 Pc. Advanced Automotive
• 146 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive tools
• 22 Combination wrenches
• 55 Additional hand and service tools

MTS329 $1429 vs $1199.20

329 Pc. Medium Duty
• 197 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive tools including impact sockets
• 22 Combination and specialty wrenches
• 98 Additional hand and service tools

MTS433 $1899 vs $1599.20
433 Pc. Master Technician
• 229 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive tools and accessories
• 33 Combination and specialty wrenches
• 143 Additional hand and service tools

amishman · Apr 2, 2018

If good warranty, uniformity, slick looking, good working, well organized tools tickle your fancy, check out TengTools... They are a Swedish company that have been around for some time... from what their website shows the tools are from Swedish design but are made in Taiwan,... and appear to be a decent size tool company in Europe and have offices all over the world, including USA now as of 2017.

http://www.tengtools.com/
http://www.tengtoolsusa.com/

You can buy some master sets that have tons of the basics you need and you can expand from there. Their prices are fair and they do have nice sales every now and then.

What attracted me was how nicely organized the TengTools are designed to be, modular in design so everything has a place, slick satin finish, and seem to have every tool imaginable with TengTool on it... huge catalog hundred and hundreds of pages thick... and cater to real mechanics or the average joe blow, which is me.

I own their nice ratchet sets so far as well as a nice portable toolbox I can easily take with me on the road.

The tools have a nice euro slickness to them and I love the Satin finish.

So far I have been very happy with mine.

TJ

azscj said:
So after many many years and long overdue, I am looking to replace all my hand tools. Specifically all sockets that I have (impact, deep, 6 point, 12 point, 1/4 , 3/8 SAE, Metric etc etc) and all the ratchets that I have as well. What I have now is old and abused with a mis-match of brand names. I have been looking on Craigslist for the last year hoping to find a complete set but never did. Doesn't seem to happen.

So my question here:
Obviously Snap-On is probably the most common "go to" name, but I would be afraid to price out everything I need and buy in one shot. Any other recommendations for a good quality brand tool? MAC? Craftsman? Cornwell? Something else to consider?

The key is a good quality set of tools and nothing like Harbor Freight quality. Will want to purchase them all at once.

MTNSleder · Apr 2, 2018

Dave455 · Apr 2, 2018

amishman said:
If good warranty, uniformity, slick looking, good working, well organized tools tickle your fancy, check out TengTools... They are a Swedish company that have been around for some time... decent size tool company in Europe and have offices all over the world, including USA now as of 2017.

TJ

Sorry mate, got to disagree with you here.

I know Teng are a relative newcomer to the U.S. but they have been around in the U.K. for 20 years plus so I know them a bit better!

Firstly, no way are they Swedish. They may have a Swedish European HQ, but originally they were a Japanese company.

I was told that they were founded by the family who owned Kamasa. Unlike the original Kamasa, who made tools in Japan, Teng were always Taiwanese made. Logo is pure Japanese style, and their marketing ploy was always to pretend they were Japanese.

They were styled to appeal to European users, hence the matte finish, but they're definitely not European made. Sort of 'imitation european'!

Teng made a huge play for the U.K. market, personally I've always found their advertising / marketing to be top end, but the tools to be average Taiwan with a rougher finish! May not even be Taiwanese made now, can't say as their U.K. presence is declining and you only see them in the crappier discount places now.

If you like 'em, fine, but don't pay more than Taiwanese money for 'em, and don't believe any of this Swedish bull!

Don't know about the U.S. but I can get German made tools for similar money to Teng.

Davefr · Apr 2, 2018

azscj said:
So after many many years and long overdue, I am looking to replace all my hand tools. Specifically all sockets that I have (impact, deep, 6 point, 12 point, 1/4 , 3/8 SAE, Metric etc etc) and all the ratchets that I have as well. What I have now is old and abused with a mis-match of brand names.

Do you want to replace all your hand tools or the sockets/ratchets?

What's the problem with "old" and mis-matched brands? The tools don't care if their brethren are marked with different brand names. Old can sometimes be better then new.

Why don't you start with a list of the abused/worn out tools and go from there.

If price is a consideration, I wouldn't necessarily poo poo HF. There are a few gems in their lineup. Their Pittsburg Pro ratchets are really quite nice.

For tool truck quality without the huge dealer markup look at Wright, SK, Proto.

amishman · Apr 2, 2018

Ah sorry, forgot to note the tools were of Swedish design but made in Taiwan... which I personally am fine with. So for for what I have purchased, they seem to hold up really well.

Yeh I do like the Tengu reference.... as I work for a company that sells Tenkara Fly Rods, which is an old style of fly fishing that originated in Japan (uses no reel).... so I am OK with that marketing approach.

Most all my tool collection is from the 80s into early 90s.... Craftsman and Husky, so that is my main collection, but quite happy with the TengTools ratchet sets I now own.

Now if Hazet or other German made tools were cheaper to acquire in USA, I would be all over it, but no, Hazet in USA is rather expensive.

TJ

Dave455 said:
Sorry mate, got to disagree with you here.

I know Teng are a relative newcomer to the U.S. but they have been around in the U.K. for 20 years plus so I know them a bit better!

Firstly, no way are they Swedish. They may have a Swedish European HQ, but originally they were a Japanese company.

I was told that they were founded by the family who owned Kamasa. Unlike the original Kamasa, who made tools in Japan, Teng were always Taiwanese made. Logo is pure Japanese style, and their marketing ploy was always to pretend they were Japanese.

They were styled to appeal to European users, hence the matte finish, but they're definitely not European made. Sort of 'imitation european'!

Teng made a huge play for the U.K. market, personally I've always found their advertising / marketing to be top end, but the tools to be average Taiwan with a rougher finish! May not even be Taiwanese made now, can't say as their U.K. presence is declining and you only see them in the crappier discount places now.

If you like 'em, fine, but don't pay more than Taiwanese money for 'em, and don't believe any of this Swedish bull!

Don't know about the U.S. but I can get German made tools for similar money to Teng.

amishman · Apr 2, 2018

Davefr said:
If price is a consideration, I wouldn't necessarily poo poo HF. There are a few gems in their lineup. Their Pittsburg Pro ratchets are really quite nice.

Yeh, agree. Some of the Harbor Freight ratchets are really nice. Love love the swivel head ratchets. Seems when my hand reaches in my toolbox... I always go for them first. Love how fast they undo nuts. Become a driver device like a nut driver by flicking the handle is great for me,

TJ

Tennessee Cattleman · Apr 2, 2018

SK or Proto for the socket set, spurge on the Snap-on Duel 80 ratchets or at least on one for the size you use most.

Dave455 · Apr 2, 2018

amishman said:
Now if Hazet or other German made tools were cheaper to acquire in USA, I would be all over it, but no, Hazet in USA is rather expensive.

TJ

Yes, despite being being in a so called 'global economy' tools that have to travel a long way are always stupidly expensive!

I doubt I'd own many German tools if I lived in the U.S. mainly because decent domestic stuff would seem so reasonably priced to me.

If you want to feel better, have a look at the prices on the Snap On U.K. website!

PNWguy · Apr 2, 2018

Dave455 said:
Yes, despite being being in a so called 'global economy' tools that have to travel a long way are always stupidly expensive!

I don't think the distance traveled has much to do with the prices. China is pretty far from the US, and there are more than enough cheap Chinese tools available here.

azscj · Apr 2, 2018

For right now its only the socket sets and ratchets I am replacing and things related to that like extensions etc. What I have is old and abused and cant say much quality. Picked them up all over the place over the years.

I have a real issue with buying anything from Harbor Freight and go out of my way to avoid the place. Just dont like the products they sell there and appreciate others have different situations and experiences.

Davefr said:
Do you want to replace all your hand tools or the sockets/ratchets?

What's the problem with "old" and mis-matched brands? The tools don't care if their brethren are marked with different brand names. Old can sometimes be better then new.

Why don't you start with a list of the abused/worn out tools and go from there.

If price is a consideration, I wouldn't necessarily poo poo HF. There are a few gems in their lineup. Their Pittsburg Pro ratchets are really quite nice.

For tool truck quality without the huge dealer markup look at Wright, SK, Proto.

Specs · Apr 2, 2018

I’d hate to say it, but I’d use those tools you’ve collected over time until they break. In all honesty, I’ve only a complete set of 104pc husky, from 2001, and a craftsman 117pc set, and ebayed some high end tool sets for hard to reach places and extra leverage. I still spent a pretty penny for the shortcuts I took. But I always go back to those Lackluster craftsmans, and pieced together tools from sears clearance bins and I did not break any of my tools yet.

S&K, Proto, and Williams are solid staples. Im ruined for Dual 80’s ratchets lol

Davefr · Apr 2, 2018

azscj said:
For right now its only the socket sets and ratchets I am replacing and things related to that like extensions etc. What I have is old and abused and cant say much quality. Picked them up all over the place over the years.

I have a real issue with buying anything from Harbor Freight and go out of my way to avoid the place. Just dont like the products they sell there and appreciate others have different situations and experiences.

Then I think you'd be pleased with SK ratchets and sockets. (Proto, Williams USA and Wright are also good choices.)

The other guy that suggested buying at least one SO dual 80 ratchet is also a good suggestion.

ChevyEFI · Apr 2, 2018

First read the front section in a Haynes repair manual. They have a brief section about buying cheap and replacing with better. It's sensible and helpful for potential over-buying. With that in mind, you should ignore it where applicable (on core tools you'll absolutely use, which is what you're doing) then buy what benefits you.

Your: ease of use and ergonomics. All the raised panel Craftsman stuff many of us grew up with is really bad with regard to handle comfort when used longer periods of time. In contrast, I really like the Facom CPE pliers handles, and the soft grip Snap-On ratchet handles. For wrenches, I think the Facom 440 series are something I will try next. Sockets are less critical. So figure out what actually benefits you. Knurling on sockets can be great, but tough to find. Ko-Ken extensions have neat knurling.

I can't name one brand to suit all your needs, but I prefer buying things separate and wouldn't hesitate to buy separately. You gotta suit you, and the more you read, the more options you'll find.

If I had to make a quick decision, Ko-Ken could easily suit my preferences and needs, but I would need one 1/4" roto ratchet from Snap-On to supplement. They are specifically a socket production company's with very few gaps in their product line. And their Ze-al line is a cool boutique product. I suggest downloading their 300+pp PDF catalog, making a list of your needs, then doing the same with SO, then doing the same with SK. And while you're at it, shoot a message to dnschmidt on here for his price list for Toptul. They are a label name of a major Taiwan manufacturer, and have a broad range of product, possibly with some gaps in SAE that can be overcome. Hope that gives some thoughts that help.

ssdave · Apr 2, 2018

azscj said:
For right now its only the socket sets and ratchets I am replacing and things related to that like extensions etc. What I have is old and abused and cant say much quality. Picked them up all over the place over the years.

I have a real issue with buying anything from Harbor Freight and go out of my way to avoid the place. Just dont like the products they sell there and appreciate others have different situations and experiences.

I like your attitude, that's my feeling when I look at anything in HF. I also recognize that others are in different circumstances; but since I'm not, I can afford the luxury of having better stuff than they offer. Nothing wrong with either approach, but if you want better, I'd heartily recommend you go there.

Since you already have lesser tools that you'd like to replace, I'd not waste money and time buying lower grade tools again. I'd look at Proto and SK for sockets. I have both Snap-on and Proto, and prefer the Proto sockets for most sizes, although I like 1/4" drive Snap-on better. I prefer Snap-on ratchets. If SO, Proto and SK are out of your price range, try Carlyle at NAPA. Easy availability and warranty, but they are Asian made. For Proto, look at Zoro, sign up on their website, and you'll get emails with offers. You can routinely get 20 to 25% off of your order there, and they carry a lot of Proto. I got an email with a 25% off offer this morning.

I know the feeling of replacing old and mismatched and worn out tools with better sets. I did that after using old mismatched stuff for many years, by replacing with SK and then Proto sets. It's nice to both get higher quality, newer design, and unworn all at the same time. Really becomes an upgrade then. I arrived at SK and Proto because those held up the best of the mismatched stuff I had. Later, I also got Snap-on, and also really like them. Whether they are worth the purchase premium they cost is a decision each person has to make. I personally would probably not buy SO retail new in full sets; but I have bought a lot of my Proto new. In my opinion, it's a much better value for my needs. As I said before, I prefer it in most sizes to my Snap-on. I would also not hesitate to mix brands if one set or another better meets your needs. Sockets don't care which ratchets drive them, and there's no advantage to consistency in brands between different sets.

Coach James · Apr 2, 2018

azscj said:
So after many many years and long overdue, I am looking to replace all my hand tools. Specifically all sockets that I have (impact, deep, 6 point, 12 point, 1/4 , 3/8 SAE, Metric etc etc) and all the ratchets that I have as well. What I have now is old and abused with a mis-match of brand names. I have been looking on Craigslist for the last year hoping to find a complete set but never did. Doesn't seem to happen.

So my question here:
Obviously Snap-On is probably the most common "go to" name, but I would be afraid to price out everything I need and buy in one shot. Any other recommendations for a good quality brand tool? MAC? Craftsman? Cornwell? Something else to consider?

The key is a good quality set of tools and nothing like Harbor Freight quality. Will want to purchase them all at once.

Are they all really worn out to the point of needing to be replaced?

Coach

nbruno · Apr 2, 2018

If you're willing to drop the cash, do yourself a favor and buy Snap-on. 1/2" impacts, 3/8 and 1/4 chrome. A long 1/2 comfort grip, 3/8 flex head and 1/4 swivel head ratchets. A set of instinct screwdrivers, a 3pc set of pliers, and a set of flank drive combo wrenches. Irwin vise grips, bondhus hex keys and mid size channellocks. Should be able to cover most of what you need with good quality long lasting tools.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

PNWguy · Apr 2, 2018

I was one of the folks to bring up HF.

My only reason to recommend thinking about it, was that because you also mentioned Craftsman. If you don't want to buy crappy tools sold in depressing stores, avoid Craftsman too.

Specs · Apr 3, 2018

nbruno said:
If you're willing to drop the cash, do yourself a favor and buy Snap-on. 1/2" impacts, 3/8 and 1/4 chrome. A long 1/2 comfort grip, 3/8 flex head and 1/4 swivel head ratchets. A set of instinct screwdrivers, a 3pc set of pliers, and a set of flank drive combo wrenches. Irwin vise grips, bondhus hex keys and mid size channellocks. Should be able to cover most of what you need with good quality long lasting tools.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

This is the shortest and most comprehensive Tool set I’ve never thought of. Its only missing a Propane Torch, Duct Tape, and Zip Ties.

isb cornbinder · Apr 3, 2018

APS2000 said:
Here is a copy n paste. Prices may vary depending on NAPA location.COO mostly Taiwan.

I have looked at the NAPA tool sets and I like what I see. This tool line was not available years ago, If I were starting out in the trade today, I would absolutely buy the NAPA system.
The NAPA toolboxes are among the best in quality and value.

Tonyuk · Apr 4, 2018

Forget attempting to replace all your current tools with new stuff, thats just madness and the road to major debt.

Use what you have, the stuff you use most often invest a bit of money in, replace stuff when it wears out.

Since your looking to invest in the higher end brands i'm guessing you aren't a professional? If so don't bother going with super expensive stuff, good quality can be found at a reasonable price.

Brands i use are;

Facom
Mac
Brittool*
Norbar*
Bahco
SK
Proto
Snap-on
Halfords Pro* (Similar to harbour freight pro)
Beta
Wera
Wiha
Irwin
Knipex
Channellock
Milwaukee & Dewalt
Plenty of eBay brands.

* = Might not be in the US

All of them sell good stuff.

Tallpilot · Apr 4, 2018

I’m not sure all the commenters read his request. He is buying sockets, extensions and drive tools not a whole new shop. Still a sizable investment for sure but I don’t understand why people keep recommending screwdrivers and pliers.

Tonyuk · Apr 4, 2018

If its just new sockets i wouldn't bother at all, sockets are much the same imo and even the cheap stuff is very similar to the higher end brands so long as you pick a decently designed set. If a sockets is worn out replace it with a single off ebay or amazon.

Look into the harbor freight pro ratchets, both the longer metal and composites. They're about the smoothest ratchets straight out the box you can buy with the taiwan 72 tooth design, tough too.

Recommendations on hand tools?

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