Socket Warranty

[Downwindtracker 2]

I know I'm a heretic, but why worry about it ? I've broken two , maybe three 15/16 1/2 drive sockets over the years. 5/8th bolts rusted solid on log decks will do that with a flex bar and snipe. Smaller than that, the bolt always broke first.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Depends on a few factors, but yes, for hand use socket failure is generally uncommon. For the non-pro, "self warranty" is the way to go. Buy something decent, and use it.

 

[CloseEnough]

I know I'm a heretic, but why worry about it ? I've broken two , maybe three 15/16 1/2 drive sockets over the years. 5/8th bolts rusted solid on log decks will do that with a flex bar and snipe. Smaller than that, the bolt always broke first.

This is how I feel about pretty much every hand tool. If it breaks I just go buy a new one.

If I break something its either because I was too hard on it and don't deserve a free replacement. If it wasn't from that then it's probably a piece of junk and I don't want another one. Haha!

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have broken VERY few sockets in nearly 40 years. Those that I have broken, were misused or abused. They went into the scrap bucket and were later sold for a few cents per ton.

IT WAS EASIER TO BUY A NEW ONE.

 

[Wamsutta]

Some guys don't care about quality. If it has a lifetime warranty, they're happy. If the socket costs 40 cents and they have to replace it everyday, they're happy.

 

[Shane6377]

Warranty is low on my list when buying sockets. I've broken a few chrome sockets over the years and it was nice to get a replacement but I had more than gotten my money's worth before the sockets broke and if I had to buy new it wouldn't have bothered me at all.

I buy sockets based on quality not warranty and won't pay a premium for that warranty.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Parrothead]

I won’t buy sockets unless there’s a warranty. Why? You pretty much have to try to find any without one. I’ve broken sockets, and warrantied them. No issues. In some cases they’re sitting in the box until I replace them later. My father has a broken Wright socket that has to be 30 years old. At some point he’ll replace it. Haha.

 

[Mr_B]

as a professional user i got no major benefit to warranty on basic hand tools and it a minimal concern to buying them .
Quite simply don't mess enough sockets up to have any benefit/need of a lifetime warranty .

 

[WittHay]

Used to have a collection of broken 1/2 drive sockets from 9/16 to 15/16. The two in the picture are 9/16. Cracked Armstrong deep socket and split in half Gray. Also there were broken old USA Williams and some chrome Proto. The Proto impacts would split

The Craftsman and vintage Snap-on sockets were warrantied. I dont remember ever breaking a Canadian made Snap-on 1/2 drive socket

It seemed by the time a socket broke, the local places quit selling that brand. For some reason Acklands-Grainger didnt want to warranty the broken Proto impacts

In the present day with cordless and more powerful air impacts, the last 1/2 drive socket i have warrantied was a Mastercraft Maximum shallow 3/4" about 4 years ago

 

[Mikeske]

I have a similar background as Empty Pockets in post #4 and similar attitude with sockets and tools. If they have a lifetime warranty nice but not a requirement as I originally bought my hand tools 35 plus years ago and the company went out of business. No warranty. If anything broke I simply did without until I got a chance to grab a replacement from my home tools and bring in the next day. The broken items were very few and since I had no warranty I simply threw the broken socket in the recycle bin.

 

[cherrybomb]

I buy quality sockets ,With good features,competitive prices.These outweigh the brands that feature warrenty,where guys carry as much back as they carry out.When I lean on a socket,I would like to have confidence in the product to do what its designed to do.A bargain price is not the only factor when I purchase.

 

[Mr_B]

As pointed out above, good features, good quality and sensible pricing main areas of concern .
Only sockets I be a bit more interested on for warranty is swivel impacts and bit sockets but even that not big deal unless tool truck doing something you like at a deal price . too many decent german, japan and taiwan options at very competitive pricing that self warranty best warranty and best price to warranty cover you can get .

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I picked up a rather neat old socket set at the fleamarket, a SK from the '58 to '63 period. He had broken the 7/8" and welded it back up. Odd size to break, I've rarely used mine.. They all had impact tracks, BTW. I suspect one of the reasons we have rounded corners on sockets is to avoid stress points.

Lost sockets, were a different story.

 

[measuredtwice]

If they broke all the time then long warranties wouldn't be so common. Haha.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Sockets are one of those things don't break often unless you are fighting seized fasteners, and even then, not that often. And my chances of losing a socket are as high as breaking one. However, warranty still matters to me. It's a test of the brand's customer service and their willingness to stand behind their product.

 

[bwringer]

Some people obsess over warranties. I don't.

 

[patchap]

Some stuff warranties are important. I wear out 18mm impact swivels pretty often,couple a year.

 

[bobcatdan]

I don't break stuff everyday, buy I do break stuff. Currently I have a 1/4" snap on ratchet in need of a guy kit, cracked 10mm deep and a blown apart matco 3/8 drive impact swivel.

 

[CR888]

Generally warranties that are actually usable and good are reflected into the retail price. If you want good warranty you will pay for it. Some things warranty is very important, chrome hand tool I don't see the value.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Ratchets/breaker bars, ratcheting wrenches, bit sockets, and sometimes universal sockets I like to have a usable warranty on because I have torn several of those items up

Most of the rest of stuff seems durable