Snap On vs Gearwrench 1/2 sockets

[FLRover]

Let me first say I LOVE my SO sockets and ratchets, I have always thought they were worth every penny. But I'm needing to pick up some 1/2 sockets, extensions, a ratchet and universai joint. What I need from SO will run about $600 total, if I go with GW its $126. Is their really that big of difference in 1/2 sockets to justifie buying the SO? Seems to me with the bigger sizes the sockets will already fit looser anyway?



Thanks

 

[FLRover]

I should add I need the stuff soon so buying used isn't an option. I've already been searching through the Pawn Shops. I am a paid wrench so I will use often and I would use it as a relationship builder with the SO driver at my new job. Similar thing I'm doing with my Matco flex wrench purchase.

 

[Skin]

Is their really that big of difference in 1/2 sockets to justifie buying the SO?

No. And to add to that for car repair you generally wont touch 1/2" unless its impact anyway.

 

[braol]

I dont recall ever breaking a 1/2" socket of any brand. But ratchets are another story. I have broken my craftsman 1/2" that i keep at home many times, and a Matco that broke the very first time I used it.

 

[Fast LT1]

Ya I've rocked the craftsman 1/2 inch sockets for a while and haven't broken one. But in te past year I've used them maybe 3 times. Just buy impact sockets unless you're a heavy truck guy. Don't skimp on a 1/2 ratchet, snap on or nothing. Matcos are ok but I've broken mine like 4 times now.

 

[bobcatdan]

I would agree, buy impacts. You can get chrome later if you really find a use for it, but in all reality, 90% of the time 1/2" sockets are going to be on the end of an impact. I would recommand sunnex, nice complete sets, pretty cheap and very tough. Spend the money on a good long handle flex, from my experince, SO and matco are pretty on par for strength.

 

[JASTECH]

Look into a Wright set, my rat has been just fine. I do like my Snappy too, so go with your budget. If you can deal with thick wall sockets then get impacts in SK, JH Williams, Wright or maybe C'man if USA and reviews are positive.

 

[Brownsfan]

I just bought Kobalt sockets for 40. 11pc deep metric and standard 19.99 each. I have pretty much all Kobalt sockets. I use them every dayand have not had any break on me. I am not hard on my tools though becauese I usually only work on interiors and electronics. I haveused them on an impact to take out seats with no issues.

 

[Murphy4570]

1/2 inch stuff won't get used if your a regular light duty mechanic, unless you have impact sockets.

Chrome sockets aren't worth buying used unless you are a medium or heavy duty truck mechanic, and then you will be looking at 3/4 or 1" drive stuff.

I just bought two sets of Snap-On 1/2" drive socket sets off craigslist for a steal, but only for that reason. I will rarely need them.

Get the stuff used if you can wait. Or just get impact sockets and call it good.

 

[RAYJAY]

here is a deal on 1/2 gear wrench i buy from them a lot there bogo deals are great

http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/KDT-80700-p-BOGO.html

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have both brands and 1/2 drive stuff is what use most often. (4x4 shop)

Both brands of sockets are on par with each other as far as fitment and durability.

Same for the ratchets. However I do prefer the snappy ratchets, not because they are any better but for personal preference (My snappys are QR ratchets and I prefer this style especially when my hands are greasy/oily)

 

[Skin]

here is a deal on 1/2 gear wrench i buy from them a lot there bogo deals are great

http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/KDT-80700-p-BOGO.html

people are having loads of problems with this site, do NOT buy from them. Check our own hotdeals section, check ripoffreport and reseller ratings.

Tooltopia has the same deals, and is actually an established seller.

 

[jchetty]

Depends what you will be using them for. I recently had to replace my gas tank on an 18 year old car

I had to removed rusted, hard to access bolts to gain access. Even with liberal PB Blaster and an overnight soak, my Craftsman 3/8" drive socket started shear one bolt. I could see the bolt head turning the but the actual bolt wasn't moving

Grabbed my Matco 1/2" drive flank drive sockets, they came out fine. Even got out the one that was going to shear.

So if not Snap-On, maybe something in between if you will be working on rusty stuff. I personally want a Snap-On 1/4" and 1/2" FD+ deep set.

 

[FLRover]

I already have impact deep from SO and Autocrap shallow. The advice from my master tech was to buy chrome in 6/12 point but only a few sizes that I will see. Land Rover LOVES over sized drivetrain/suspension components and I have run into this in the past not having big enough sockets/wrenches laying around. Such as the 27mm lugs and 28mm bolts on the sway bars. I have a love/hate relationship with SO but I will admit their sockets and ratchets are exceptional.

Thanks for the advice, I like my S&K 1/4 sockets I bought for SAE but I am only considering brands that can be sourced locally like CM, GW, Matco, SO and cheap stuff like HF. I like GW a lot also, that's why I have it down between SO and GW.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Sounds like your master tech is on the right track.
A practical solution would be a set of CM 6pt std chrome and somebody's 6pt deep impacts.
Sure you can send more $$$$ but why.... unless you just wanna I suppose.
My last handful of sets of both were CM 50% off sets supplemented by CM/pawn shop singles.

As far as failures I figure I've prolly broken at least one of every brand of socket at one time or another - just me and a ratchet/breaker bar.... no cheater/impact/jumping on/kicking them!
Course I've broken more doing the stoopid stuff mentioned above.
1/2 drv 6pt std chromes seem to have fewer failures than the 12pts.


Ever wonder the real reason 'breaker bars' are called 'breaker bars'? *L*

 

[Toolhorder]

No. And to add to that for car repair you generally wont touch 1/2" unless its impact anyway.

HUH?!?
I use 1/2" all the time in chrome

 

[shoturtle]

For the sockets the gw, cm and kolbalt from local sources are all good. And are well made sockets. It really comes down to personal preference. Same goes for extensions.

The gw ratchet are good, but I like qr ratchets. So I would like at the kolbalt 72t low profile ratchet over the gw one.

 

[Skin]

HUH?!?
I use 1/2" all the time in chrome

thats what you may have gotten use to, but considering the size of most of whats on a car, 3/8 1/4 make more sense. Especially with every manufacturer stuffing more and more **** in places. Only place i really use 1/2" chrome with any regularity is for re-torquing. Other than that my 3/8 and 1/2 impacts do most of the work.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Williams USA. Snap-On sockets with a different stamp, and half the price. ZTSupply from here should be able to set you up with what you need on EBay.

If you're wanting to cut costs and can live with Taiwan stuff (obviously since you were looking at Gearwrench), I'd usually say Williams Taiwan (re-badged Blue Point). Or with the current sale price taken into consideration, Kobalt. I've had NO issues with my recent Kobalt 1/2 drive stuff. Using it daily on diesel equipment, and still no failures.

 

[RCStocker]

HUH?!?
I use 1/2" all the time in chrome

I have used my Craftsman sockets for 50 years and never had a 1/2" break.
The only one I have had break is a 3/8 inch and I had a long cheater pipe on it.

I use 1/2" drive sockets for rebuling everthing. Unless I need a size that I don't have in 1/2"I always use the larger size. That might be why I don't ware out ratchets and don't break my tools. I use the proper size for the job. If I need to go to a 3/8" size I step it down and use the 3/8" extentions and sockets. I still use the 1/2" ratchet when I have the room. For small engines I use 3/8" drive tools.

I now I would never be with out the larger size.
I wold buy impact sockets in the 1/2" size if money was an issue. You are covered both ways that way.

 

[Murphy4570]

HUH?!?
I use 1/2" all the time in chrome

You work on big ****?

I am light duty, rarely see anything bigger than a 1/2 or 3/4 ton truck. Rarely need 1/2" drive chrome sockets. 1/4 and 3/8 drive is what is most commonly used at the light end of the spectrum.

I mainly use 1/2" for impact wrench, and for torquing head bolts.

 

[braol]

I use 1/2" drive sockets about everyday. Axle nuts on FWD cars mostly.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

maybe a craftsman industrial set from Sears outlet.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I've used my chrome 1/2 drive stuff more than my 3/8 working on stuff at home over the years; 62 Thunderbird, 63 F250, 79 F250, 86 F350 Diesel, as well as other folks vehicles. Buy a good 12 point set and you won't regret it for a minute.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Before I had impacts I used 1/2"drive all the time. If its not a tight spot or small bolt I still grab 1/2"drive before 3/8". I use leverage to my advantage so I dont have to work as hard to get stuff to break free. I'd say I use both drive sizes about the same. 1/4"and I rarely use unless its a real small bolt or super tight spot.

 

[FLRover]

I was at Lowes last night and took a peak at Kobalt. Very nice sockets for the $$$. Also went by Sears, CM really has gone to ****. It ashame because my first CM tools were excellent, only thing I never liked were the non-polished wrenches. Now their sockets look worst than Harbor Freights.

Gearwrench is also still in the running. I am leaning hard towards their sockets/extensions with a SO ratchet and universal. Use the left over $$$ to buy a SO shallow impact set to replace my Autocrap set.

I checked Blue Point, they do not have the sizes I need. Being on the truck it adds a lot of value to me but their quality has always been hit or miss in my experience.

 

[6PTsocket]

From their standpoint, you are comparing apples and oranges. Gear wrench/KD is the Apex group's second tier line. It is decent stuff, made in Taiwan . It is most comperable to Blue Point. Apex's premier line is Armstrong. It is made in USA and is every bit as good as Snap On and priced accordingly


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[CutterFarms]

I have snap on 1/2 in in chrome and impact shallow and deep in my shop and mostly use my cheap set of impacts I keep in my truck. Not that I don't love my snap on just others are usually more convenient pretty sure they are sunnex and a few grey pneumatic and I cant complain about how they have held up. But its farm use I'm not in a shop environment every day.

 

[1950mercury]

Depends what you will be using them for. I recently had to replace my gas tank on an 18 year old car

I had to removed rusted, hard to access bolts to gain access. Even with liberal PB Blaster and an overnight soak, my Craftsman 3/8" drive socket started shear one bolt. I could see the bolt head turning the but the actual bolt wasn't moving

Grabbed my Matco 1/2" drive flank drive sockets, they came out fine. Even got out the one that was going to shear.

So if not Snap-On, maybe something in between if you will be working on rusty stuff. I personally want a Snap-On 1/4" and 1/2" FD+ deep set.

That makes no sense. Craftsman snaps off bolt heads but matco and snap on don't? Matco doesn't have flank drive sockets. And snap on doesn't have fd+ sockets

 

[firebox40dash5]

From their standpoint, you are comparing apples and oranges. Gear wrench/KD is the Apex group's second tier line. It is decent stuff, made in Taiwan . It is most comperable to Blue Point. Apex's premier line is Armstrong. It is made in USA and is every bit as good as Snap On and priced accordingly


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Well, OP needed them soon, so I hope he already made up his mind by now.

I'll say this about Armstrong: they're priced like a top-tier brand from actual suppliers (which are mostly industrial suppliers charging top dollar), but there are a lot of places to get awesome deals on it. I got their 2nd largest combo wrench set off ebay, SAE & metric, for something like $150... that's 5/16 to 1" & 7-22mm, no skips, like new but no packaging. They come in plastic bags anyway. I also got a NIB 3/8 flex clicker TW for $100... identical except the handle appearance to Matco.

 

[PJNJ]

From their standpoint, you are comparing apples and oranges. Gear wrench/KD is the Apex group's second tier line. It is decent stuff, made in Taiwan . It is most comperable to Blue Point. Apex's premier line is Armstrong. It is made in USA and is every bit as good as Snap On and priced accordingly


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Three and a half years later, I think the OP has already made his choice. Any tips on who to bet on for the Triple Crown last year?

 

[Murphy4570]

Well somebody was digging around in the graveyard today, that's for sure. Lets me know when I bought my Snappy 1/2" impact sockets though (2012 apparently!).

 

[Fedwrench]

From their standpoint, you are comparing apples and oranges. Gear wrench/KD is the Apex group's second tier line. It is decent stuff, made in Taiwan . It is most comperable to Blue Point. Apex's premier line is Armstrong. It is made in USA and is every bit as good as Snap On and priced accordingly


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Saying Apex has a premier line is like saying Harbor Freight makes professional tools. Armstrong is ok but, it is no where close to snap on quality but that's just me. Armstrong chrome sockets are the same as U.S. made Craftsman sockets right down to that funky double detent retention cut out on the female square drive end. Drink will probably chime in that the Armstrong sockets are made out of higher alloy steel but, I don't think so
KD no longer exists aside from being a prefix for Gearwrench part numbers for some distributors and from closeout places like Cripe Distributing as they were absorbed by Gearwrench more than a few years ago to pave the way for a large Gearwrench expansion.
The other thing you might have missed resurrecting this dead thread, is that Armstrong production has been consolidated into the last remaining Apex Tool Group U.S. manufacturing location in South Carolina so, time will tell how bright Armstrong's future will be.
Lastly, It's hit or miss as to where a Gearwrench tool comes from. Initially everything was made in Taiwan and was really good quality for the price. However, production of some items sold in big box stores and other tools started being made in China, Peoples Republic of, and quality dipped a bit. Now, most of my recent Gearwrench acquisitions like XP120 spline wrenches, 84 tooth ratchets, semi deep sockets have all been Taiwan made
There are tons of options out there for sockets that will do all that you ask of them and serve you well for many years. However, you should judge each tool on its own merits and not try to compare everything to Snap on.

 

[crbnfbr]

May I suggest Carlyle from Napa? Imho they are in the top three of Taiwanese tool manufacturers/sellers. From what I've seen they look to be better than GW, particularly the Chinese made stuff. They're probably more expensive than GW, but you can always just run down to Napa for a warranty.

I've personally been eyeing Carlyle's mid depth sockets and their long pattern wrenches.

Saying Apex has a premier line is like saying Harbor Freight makes professional tools. Armstrong is ok but, it is no where close to snap on quality but that's just me. Armstrong chrome sockets are the same as U.S. made Craftsman sockets right down to that funky double detent retention cut out on the female square drive end. Drink will probably chime in that the Armstrong sockets are made out of higher alloy steel but, I don't think so

I personally think Matco/Armstrong locking flex head ratchets are designed superior to Snap on. The lever by the head on the Apex brands is so much better than a button on the handle. I don't own a Dual 80 ratchet so I can't compare the action to my Matco 88t, but it's the first ratchet I reach for.

It's all a matter of personal preference.

 

[oldldh]

Here's all my Gearwrench sockets and ratchets...

These cost a lot less than your quoted 1/2" Drive SnapOn price...

There's a message there, me thinks...

All were purchased from www.tooldiscounter.com

GearWrench # 80729 and 80730 will get you 64 SAE and Metric 1/2" Drive Shallow and Deep sockets for $179.11...

I really like mine...

P.S...All of mine were Taiwan manufactured...

 

[bcradio]

I would love to try some Carlyle stuff sometime. I need to keep an eye out for the sales.

 

[Loscaldazar]

From their standpoint, you are comparing apples and oranges. Gear wrench/KD is the Apex group's second tier line. It is decent stuff, made in Taiwan . It is most comperable to Blue Point. Apex's premier line is Armstrong. It is made in USA and is every bit as good as Snap On and priced accordingly


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Ehh armstrong is severely lacking in many areas. 88T ratchets are awesome, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers are par for the course (nothing bad but nothing special about them), but the sockets are pretty bad.

 

[Coach James]

Depends what you will be using them for. I recently had to replace my gas tank on an 18 year old car

I had to removed rusted, hard to access bolts to gain access. Even with liberal PB Blaster and an overnight soak, my Craftsman 3/8" drive socket started shear one bolt. I could see the bolt head turning the but the actual bolt wasn't moving

Grabbed my Matco 1/2" drive flank drive sockets, they came out fine. Even got out the one that was going to shear.

So if not Snap-On, maybe something in between if you will be working on rusty stuff. I personally want a Snap-On 1/4" and 1/2" FD+ deep set.

Why would a 3/8 drive socket begin to shear a bolt, but a 1/2" drive would not do so?

Coach

 

[Greg85mcss]

Oldldh did you post a review on YouTube? Pretty sure I've seen one with a marlboro pack used for reference. My 3/8 metrics are my go to sockets unless they won't do the job for some reason. I'd like the 1/4 set in the blow molded case but I have several sets already that are decent enough for me not to be able to justify upgrading. 1/2 I always use impacts.


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[jt777]

I have snap on 1/2 chrome shallows up to 1-1/4 inch. Kind of regret the purchase. Should have got them in impact from something cheaper. Coulda bought a few ratchets from them for the price