Suggest a mid level 1/4" socket set

[soulstryke]

As the title says, I am currently shopping for a good deal for a 1/4" socket set. Pref with a Ratchet, SAE+Metric shallow and Deep set. Best i could find so far was a Williams set on Amazon and a used Proto set on Ebay. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

As for Price point, like the title says Mid level.

 

[scaron]

harry epstein's has the S-K 91844 for around $120; that's what i'm using nowadays; i'm really happy with it.

 

[gtermini]

Williams USA 6pt and be done.

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/14-Inch-Drive_c_2647.html

Greyson

 

[BJ42LX]

SK 91848

http://www.amazon.com/SK-91848-Fractional-Universal-48-Piece/dp/B000MANQCW

 

[Applesauce]

Honestly? Get whatever socket set you want or can afford.

But for the ratchet, get the one with the lowest drag. I'd recommend a Dual-80 or Koken, but I'm pretty impressed with my new Cornwell. Don't worry about tooth count much. Just know that with 1/4"-ratchet-sized fasteners you're not going to be able to rely on the fastener much to induce drag on the ratchet.

Also keep in mind you might like the drive size enough to start using it with hex and torx bits, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Honda guy]

More of a low, mid level: Gear Wrench. Quality is on par with some of the better brands. Price isn't bad. Warranty policy is so so.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Great deal on a NOS NAPA set for $26 on Cripe (Have to go through the ebay store since the site is still down).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Napa-56-pc-..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item4d15d49642

Order a few extra things and ask for actual shipping cost, always WAY cheaper than what they list (and an additional 10% off for GJs)

 

[d.mcfarland]

Wright would be another suggestion to look into.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

More of a low, mid level: Gear Wrench. Quality is on par with some of the better brands. Price isn't bad. Warranty policy is so so.

LOW to mid?

Gearwrench has definitely been stepping up their quality in recent years. Their Taiwan made chrome and impact sockets, ratchets, and the USA made torque wrenches are all top notch. Not Snap-On quality, but easily equal to what Matco & Blue Point are putting out there. Even a lot of the misc KD re-badged tools are excellent.

Some of their homeowner grade Chinese stuff... yeah, maybe low.

 

[Wamsutta]

JH Williams MSM-30HF
JH Williams WSB-32FTB

 

[Aquaticbob]

LOW to mid?

Gearwrench has definitely been stepping up their quality in recent years. Their Taiwan made chrome and impact sockets, ratchets, and the USA made torque wrenches are all top notch. Not Snap-On quality, but easily equal to what Matco & Blue Point are putting out there. Even a lot of the misc KD re-badged tools are excellent.

Some of their homeowner grade Chinese stuff... yeah, maybe low.

From what I've experienced of Gear Wrench this is what I would say. I've been picking up more and more of their stuff recently.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009PJPGR4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's a 120 tooth great little ratchet, and they have good sockets too

 

[daparrothead]

I just got the Gear wrench 120 xp ratchet kit from Trident, smoking deal and probably the most complete set with sae & metric shallow & deep sockets with extensions, swivel and a very nice case.

 

[Askme42]

No love for armstrong?

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

Gotta think that Wright would be the right choice. American made and a no hassle warranty.

 

[soulstryke]

Great suggestions so far. I have heard of wright but never checked out their stuff, mainly because i am Canadian and i believe only suppliers are online. Ill have to price them out as well.

 

[Ruger_556]

Great suggestions so far. I have heard of wright but never checked out their stuff, mainly because i am Canadian and i believe only suppliers are online. Ill have to price them out as well.

Wright tools are awesome... A lot of hardware stores carry them.

 

[Brownsfan]

SK all the way. I have the Craftsman USA 49pc build a set module instead. This was when they were on sale for $50 last year. If I didn't get all 3 drive size sets for the price off the 1/2 drive SK set I would have all Sk. I will note that had they been the china made set I would have bought the SK. These craftsman sets were great and pretty much identical sockets to my buddies Armstrong for far less

 

[92integra]

my vote is grey pneumatic duo sockets

http://www.gpsocket.com/index.cfm?event=setview&productsetid=22191&id=4546

 

[BajaBound]

Blue point/Williams Taiwan is a great set.

 

[DieselSaves]

One more vote for SK. Older Craftsman stuff is good too.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

If you dont mind buying Asian made tools the Gear Wrench stuff is tough to beat. Out of principal, I would buy one of the American manufactured sets mentioned above. 1/4" drive stuff is usually pretty cheap on ebay.

 

[General Geoff]

SK 91860, includes pretty much every size 1/4" hex socket you'll ever need, along with two extensions, a universal joint, 3/8"-1/4" adapter and 1/4"-3/8" adapter. Included ratchet is pretty smooth too.

 

[ATC]

By reading all the horror stories on here about SK's warranty problems...I'm surprised you are even suggesting them.

I vote for Gearwrench. They are a great value! My box has A LOT of GW tools in it.

 

[Rickster]

If I remember correctly, the SK deep have a shoulder on them that allows you to hold a nut in place near the tip. Some prefer this and others prefer the deep socket be broached all the way through. Either way, I'd get a set to your liking. The SK's feel a little heavy. The Proto and Cornwells are nice. I'd go with an SK standard ratchet and a Snap-on swivel head for drive tools.

 

[Dave455]

Loadsa choices!

Mid level to me means better than Chinese or Taiwanese, but cheaper than Snap On!

Doubt you will find anything better than Ko Ken for the price, and I know they are available worldwide! In the U.K. they are 1/3 to 1/2 the price of Snap On but there is very little difference in quality! Very consistent quality too!

Here in the U.K. I would also consider something like Beta, but Facom or even Hazet regularly turn up on promotions for little more!

In the U.S. then S.K. or Wright would seem sensible! I have a few SK tools and they are fine!

 

[BFHtime]

I would suggest getting a Snap-on ratchet, as that is the part you will interact the most with. I would think you would prefer it over any others.

Next I would give the U.S. made craftsman professional a try. They look really nice and if I was apprehensive about spending alot on a ratchet, I would give them a try. You could probably try it in the store to see if you like it. Duh, I should do that myself. I have itching to try them. I guess I will next time I go to Sears. They are not cheap in price.

Some people really like the Matco 1/4" too.

The one place I would not try to save would be the ratchet. Try some different ones to see what you like. It really is a personal thing. Plus some tools fit a person's hand better than others. 1/4" is small though so I would expect that they seem kind of dinky in the hand.

 

[ChevyEFI]

The SK sets have been good for me for over 10 years.

 

[quattroJoe]

Great deal on a NOS NAPA set for $26 on Cripe (Have to go through the ebay store since the site is still down).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Napa-56-pc-..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item4d15d49642

Order a few extra things and ask for actual shipping cost, always WAY cheaper than what they list (and an additional 10% off for GJs)

Word? Wish I would've known that earlier, just ordered a whole pile of stuff from them a few days ago. You just message them after committing to buy or what?

 

[cotjocky]

Online with BHFtime's comment…

If you can't afford and expensive set. I'd personally go with a quality ratchet first and foremost. That is the most important IMO. I'm a big fan of my long, flex head, comfort grip Snap-on 1/4 ratchet, but I'm sure their are other quality brands and styles of 1/4 ratchets.

I'd like to say go with a quality extension set too, but you can only spend what you can afford. I'd try to get knurled extensions. It makes life so much nicer when you have oily hands/fingers.

Sockets are what usually get lost so if you go with a cheap set, then it won't be so much of a loss when one does disappear. I personally prefer sockets that have a stop. Other wise greasy nuts have to be fished out of the socket.

I guess it's my OCD, but I don't like buying all these "Old Style", or "discontinued" sets. When I end up breaking one later on and know I will never be able to get a exact replacement, it ruins the whole set for me.

Guess this all depends on the use. Is this a home set and something you plan on having forever? Is this just a get by set until you can afford nicer? Do you turn bolts daily?

Their are a lot of factors to consider depending on your use and needs.

 

[fhemm20]

All the brands mentioned are good calls. But I defenantly agree with buying the best ratchet that you can afford. A smooth, strong 1/4" ratchet is worth it's weight in gold.

One brand of socket that I didn't is Huskey, which is a Stanley brand (along with Proto, Blackhawk and Mac). I have used mine every day for a few years now (often in an 18v impact) with no problem. Very affordable and have a good warranty (though I have never had to use it).

 

[RRmech]

Decent quality American-made KD/Allen 1/4" drive sets are still affordable, and actually down-right inexpensive, IF you carefully shop around.

 

[Harrison2]

gearwrench from advance, got mine for $65. I'd go for those or napa eBay rebrand

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Word? Wish I would've known that earlier, just ordered a whole pile of stuff from them a few days ago. You just message them after committing to buy or what?

Yeah, you just commit to buy and then send a message to request the actual shipping cost. While the website is down, they offered a 10% discount to GJ members that order through the ebay store.

I have a huge 'watch list' on ebay full of Cripe stuff, so hoping to get another order in to them soon.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have a couple. The green is sk and around $125. The red and black are snap on and around $175. I have a ton of sockets on racks to fill in any gaps or for specialty stuff, but these are nice grab and go sets.

The sk set is more of a mid length set with sae and metric. The snap on's are short and one is metric and one is standard. Sk makes a large 1/4 set which is similar to the snap on one, but at a 1/3 of the price. If you want a large set go with sk91860 for a little under $200 from amazon. If you think the mid length set I have will work it is sk91824 and is on amazon as well.

 

[MattPersman]

Gearwrench, Williams, blue point, silver eagle just get a set that goes to 15 mm if you are buying metric. The craftsman sockets not that great IMO

 

[oldldh]

I've got GearWrench, and, for the money...

They can't be beat!!!

 

[Lowbuck Hotrod]

I bought the Gearwrench full 1/4 set for $71 and I love it especially the 120xp ratchet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Item #7441 - 41pc 1/4" Drive Close Quarter Spline Socket Set
http://www.astrotools.com/default.aspx?keyword=1/4 socket

 

[tyndall]

For 1/4", SK wins. Great sockets with nice thin walls. I wouldn't give mine up for any other brand at any price. Never had to use the warranty.

Wright is good too but the sizes are more limited.

 

[Deskmechanic]

For 1/4", SK wins. Great sockets with nice thin walls. I wouldn't give mine up for any other brand at any price. Never had to use the warranty.

Wright is good too but the sizes are more limited.

I have sets of both of these 'mid-price' brands and I agree 100%. I love my SK mid-length sockets. The Wright deeps I have are thicker, and are fine but not as nice as the SK. One set I have is pre-Ideal, the other is post-Ideal and they are both good. Of course I didn't get out my loupe and check for chipping paint on the inside of each socket - instead I put them right to work and got them greasy.

Snap-on is good if you can find used, the Williams USA too, but really hard to find (mail-order only).