socket comparo snapon craftsman toptul

[DHCrocks]

I thought you guys might be interested in a quick comparison of sockets. All of the pictures left to right are SnapOn - Craftsman - Toptul all are 1/2" 14mm sockets.
I haven't has a chance to put the TT to it's paces yet but the initial quality looks to be up there with the best. The SO is my tried and true goto socket and it's held up well. The chrome on the Cr is not as durable as the SO and is showing it's age even though it gets less use then the SO. For the money TT is a bargain cheapest of the bunch by far and it's much better looking then the Cr, dare I say just as nice as the SO. Time will tell how this new brand holds up.

Finish wise the best would be TT then SO and Cr. The TT has the whitest chrome and is nice inside and out. The SO finish is just as nice as the TT on the outside but the inside looks a bit unrefined. the TT looks like it was dipped in chrome where as the SO is a dull flat raw metal look to it. The Cr is a deeper smoked chrome color.

Size markings (easy to read) best is SO then Cr last is TT.
The SO as a nice deep engraving that is easy on the eyes. The Cr has the largest numbers but the depth of the engraving is shallow so it's a bit hard to read. The TT has very small numbers in a hex symbol which makes it hard to read.

Some Dimensions all in order of the pics (SO Cr TT):

overall height of socket - 37.81mm - 38.18mm - 37.57mm

diameter at drive end - 21.87mm - 22.00mm - 21.87mm

diameter at socket end - 20.42 - 20.63mm - 20.14mm (TT can get in tighter spaces)

minimum thickness of socket (at corners) - 2.10mm - 2.06mm - 1.91mm (SO thickest and strongest?)

depth of socket - 10.45mm - 10.45mm - 14.75mm (how deep a nut goes into the socket TT has the deepest and is the most versitile)

square drive dimension - 0.506in. - 0.506in. - 0.510in. (how tight it fits on ratchet)

size of socket (flats to flats) - 14.07mm - 14.17mm - 14.14mm (SO is tighest fit, I was always amazed at how my SO sockets could remove a nut that was rounded and would just slip with the Cr sockets)

 

[Merkava_4]

Excellent photos!!

 

[Monte]

Thanks !

PS: Do you can make a detail pic of the SO socket with more light so i can see the inside of the square and the 6-point side better ?

 

[Merkava_4]

From what I'm seeing, the SO socket looks like it has some metal shavings in it.

I might have to photograph my SO 14mm and add to this thread ... I'll make sure it's spotless though.

 

[peterbilr98]

the snap on looks much better than the other 2 sockets i have snap on and i have craftsman that beeing sayed when i need more sockets for other set i will be trying out the toptul for sure no more crapsman for me.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

The snap on looks ****......
the craftsman too....
The Topul would look better with out the crome......

 

[oldtools]

Toptul look like it has the best quality. SO drive side does not look very high quality.

 

[Chris Adams]

The snap on looks ****......
the craftsman too....
The Topul would look better with out the crome......

Dunno, I like thick chrome. I have a set of TopTul flex sockets in satin. I think you would like them better.
The satin is their 'normal' socket finish. The thick chrome seems to only be for the US market and it has been said they are ending it.

 

[Monte]

Just to judge the quality from the pictures/looks:

1: Toptul
2: Craftsman
3: Snap-on

 

[The Muffin Man]

Hard to tell because of the lighting, but the Craftsman's chrome is well behind Snap-on and Toptul.

 

[GDA]

Interesting that you are comparing a highly used SO to less used Cr and relatively new (unused) TT and the SO still has the best operating specs for fit. It obviously has not expanded or worn down (looser fit) through use over time.

I will admit the TT stuff sure is nice, quality looking stuff. I am debating getting some of their extension sets. Wren's website is well done.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

The snap on one has to be the best, because it is snap on

Nice photos you make them all look A+!

 

[DHCrocks]

The Craftsman chrome is really crappy when you compare them and it's starting to crinkle up at the corners. The Snapon really looks the poorest when you look at the inside, it looks very rough like it's not finished yet, there is some burrs or casting flashings, but asthethics aside they perform. Yes, Snapon is well used and is holding up, it still looks pretty much new, but the cost is $16.20, the Craftsman is $3.99 and the Toptul is $1.21. Is it worth over 10 times the cost of the Toptul ?

For me I've stopped buying Craftsman a while ago since I noticed a lot of the sockets chrome were peeling and slipping on some rounded fasteners and have been slowly replacing my sockets. I've replaced my 1/4" and 3/8" with Snapon but holyshit that was expensive and to get a replacement set in 1/2" would be insane. I went and got a full set of Toptul in 1/2" from 10mm to 32mm shallow and deep for what it would cost me for just a few Snapon sockets. The price was just too good to passup. I didn't just jump in head first either I did a trial purchase of a few items before I went ahead and bought the complete set. I realize the TT might not be as strong as the SO but if need be I can always use a impact socket on the really stuck nuts. For me 1/2" drive gets used the least so I figured I'd save a few bucks here. I mainly use 3/8" and would no doubt pick SO for this size range and I believe they are the best. But the TT is a nice option out there for those who want something a little better then Craftsman but are on a budget.

 

[Underdog]

I noticed the Toptul socket has relief cuts in the corner of the drive ends. Ala Flank Drive in reverse? Why??

 

[DHCrocks]

I noticed the Toptul socket has relief cuts in the corner of the drive ends. Ala Flank Drive in reverse? Why??

Yeah, I think that's a great idea. look at any heavily used socket and you'll see the corners start to mushroom.

 

[Thedroid]

Why don't you put them on a huge torque wrench a break them, and then see which one is better. Snap on's have the absolute best fit from wrench to extension to socket, to fastener than anything I've tried. What did you pick the crappiest looking SO socket to compare to your brand new Toptul. I have a big variety of sockets, ratchets, extensions, and the works. And for fit and finish, no one comes close. As for strength, I don't break my tools, and I don't buy cheap **** either, so I couldn't tell ya. Toptul, look very nice, and for the price I will buy some of their products to check out. But comparing the quality from a picture of two products is a joke.

 

[dledinger]

depth of socket - 10.45mm - 10.45mm - 14.75mm (how deep a nut goes into the socket TT has the deepest and is the most versitile)

I think that's a trade off - especially on a shallow socket. I am often in a circumstance where that socket might would not work to start a fastener where I can't get my hand. And on the other hand.....there are cases where it would pay off as well.

Different? Sure. Most versatile? I don't think so.

 

[Thedroid]

How old is that SO socket. Mine are not formed the same way as this one, and have much cleaner lines on the inside.

 

[Thedroid]

Never understood the so called useable depth. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've never found I needed any more useable depth. Wouldn't the socket with the most useable depth be the first to split down the side under heavy load?

 

[onecheck]

People theres a reason why people call it Crapsman. Craftsmsn quality keeps getting worse every year. Harbor freight for goodness sakes makes better rachets then Crapsman. Bottom line Craftsman is ****.

 

[Joelfke]

IMHO toptul is the best for the money. snapon is of course one of the best out there but WAY expensive unless you can find them cheap here or on ebay...

as far as quality, im a new tech so ive been borrowing the master tech's tools thats working with me and ive been using toptul/craftsman stuff when i cant navigate through his gigantic snapon toolbox. i beat the **** out of the toptul 1/2 -> 3/8 adaptor because im always using 3/8 sockets and a 1/2 breaker bar, while doing caliper bolts and such...my craftsman stuff is frustrating due to the wear factor...im constantly doing oil changes so my 13mm and 15mm wrenches see major use...within 2 weeks of using my craftsman wrenches and sockets they have trouble turning a worn oil pan drain plug, while my toptul stuff hasnt ceased to be top notch and have no trouble turning anything i throw at them.

 

[Delray]

Never understood the so called useable depth. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've never found I needed any more useable depth. Wouldn't the socket with the most useable depth be the first to split down the side under heavy load?

That's what I was thinking.

I think the outstanding difference is the hex tolerance of the SO which becomes very important when working with less than perfect fasteners.

I know SO's flare nut wrenches fit tighter than any other brands I've used.

I am anxious to try out Toptul's and see if they are as good as they look.

 

[DHCrocks]

Thanks !

PS: Do you can make a detail pic of the SO socket with more light so i can see the inside of the square and the 6-point side better ?

difficult to take but this is the best I could do.

 

[DHCrocks]

How old is that SO socket. Mine are not formed the same way as this one, and have much cleaner lines on the inside.

The date code is 1989, I bought it new from the distribution center. The newer 3/8" & 1/4" drive SO sockets I have are much nicer looking on the inside but the coloration is the same matte gray. This is the only socket I have that has a hex shaped hole in the middle, all of the others have either a circle or square hole.

What did you pick the crappiest looking SO socket to compare to your brand new Toptul.

No what I did was pick a size that I had in all three brands, I didn't purposly pick the crappiest looking SO socket. I have a full set of Craftsman in 1/2" drive but only purchased a single 14mm SO after I cracked the Craftsman on an exhaust bolt a long time ago, so that is all I had to compare.

 

[Monte]

Thank you for the pics DHCrocks !

 

[nissan_crawler]

I think that's a trade off - especially on a shallow socket. I am often in a circumstance where that socket might would not work to start a fastener where I can't get my hand. And on the other hand.....there are cases where it would pay off as well.

Different? Sure. Most versatile? I don't think so.

If it won't start, you put a little paper in the socket behind the nut. Simple and quick.

Never understood the so called useable depth. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've never found I needed any more useable depth. Wouldn't the socket with the most useable depth be the first to split down the side under heavy load?

Actually, this is the exact reason I think SK sockets **** big time. If you're in a tight spot, but need a deepwell socket, the ones with shallow usable depth don't work, because the ratchet moves out with it, jamming it against whatever is in the way.

The socket with deep usable depth will unscrew the nut without moving the ratchet out (at least for quite a while), and is often the difference between working and not. Often in these cases, you have to put the socket on the stud, then put the ratchet on, because you can't get them on together.

This happens to me all the time in aviation. My SK sockets couldn't do half the jobs they needed to. Craftsman, no problem.

I got a ton of toptul sockets today. First glances says they are VERY nice. Although the size numbers are smaller than craftsman, I find them easier to read, because the socket is engraved deeper.

 

[oldtools]

I notice CM socket has quite a bit of slop on a bolt head or nut. Since I don't have SO or Toptul sockets, I don't know how sloppy they are.

If SO charge that kind of price, it better have better quality than Toptul. How long can SO ride on its name?

 

[Merkava_4]

I guess I should break out the camera and shoot a couple of photos of my 14mm SO. I'm thinking it can't possibly look as bad as the one in this thread.

 

[crashbumper]

I love it when people use the macro function to take close up pictures.

Take notes people!

 

[dledinger]

If it won't start, you put a little paper in the socket behind the nut. Simple and quick.

Yeah....I stuff anything I have handy in there...another nut, ball-bearing, whatever...it all takes time though.

I don't typically find it a problem on small sized, shallow sockets. Then again....I very rarely use a 14mm 1/2" drive.


This depth stuff is interesting.

1/2" drive shallow Craftsman, all early 90s vintage unless otherwise noted:

14mm: 9mm
16mm: 14mm (2008)
17mm: 11mm
18mm: 12mm
19mm: 12mm
20mm: 21mm (2008)
21 and up: 21mm

So...the newer 16mm appears deeper. I wonder of they all are?

Also, measuring 6 different Craftsman 14mm sockets, all were much tighter than 14.17 mm across the flats as noted above. Mine all measured 14.05 - 14.07mm.

Strange. I thought maybe the newer ones were sloppy, so I measured the only two I have (16mm and 20mm), but they are tight also.

 

[Merkava_4]

I love it when people use the macro function to take close up pictures.

I'm charging up the battery right now.

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[crashbumper]

Seductive backlighting!

 

[KenS]

A handy feature of the Snap-on socket is the double rows of knurling. The knurling gives greasy fingers a little extra grip on the socket, especially when removing it from the ratchet or extension. Mounting or removing smooth chrome finish sockets like the Toptul can be like picking up wet watermelon seeds if your hands are greasy.

 

[Merkava_4]

Seductive backlighting!

It was a pain in the *** because the camera kept casting a shadow on the exact area I wanted to light up.

 

[DHCrocks]

I'm guessing your socket is newer then mine. Looks like Snapon actually inproved their quality over the years. I guess it's not true that the old stuff is better then new. very nice shots.

What's really interesting is that on my socket circa 1989 the hex end is small in diameter then the drive end and on your's the hex is larger.
I wonder why they changed the design from the hex center to the square center. seems like the old one had more metal in it.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm guessing your socket is newer then mine.

It's like around 1995 or so ...

 

[DHCrocks]

wait a minute, is that a 3/8" socket? I noticed a FSM code. I had a shot of a 1/2" socket. i just looked at my 3/8" sockets and they look just like that one.

 

[Art From De Leon]

A handy feature of the Snap-on socket is the double rows of knurling. The knurling gives greasy fingers a little extra grip on the socket, especially when removing it from the ratchet or extension. Mounting or removing smooth chrome finish sockets like the Toptul can be like picking up wet watermelon seeds if your hands are greasy.

That may be an 'added bonus' feature included at no extra charge, but I was always under the impression that the knurling was just an identifier for metric sizes.

 

[walrus]

I'm guessing your socket is newer then mine..

I'm guessing its never been used