Tool brand/socket set recommendations

[CurlyBen]

Hi guys,

I'm a Brit (temporarily) transplanted to the US and could do with some advice about tools. I have a horribly unreliable Mustang, and at the moment my tools aren't much better!

Back in the UK I have a decent selection of Teng, Bahco, Britool, Halfords Professional and various other brands which don't seem to be widely available in the US. I have some Stanley stuff I bought here a couple of years ago, but a few bits have gone missing and the ratchets are the worst I have ever used - they routinely switch direction almost every time they ratchet. I've now found out I'll be in the US for another couple of years, so it's time to get some better stuff. The only problem is what do I go for? I'm happy to pay for decent tools, but my budget is quite limited and it's mostly duplicating stuff I already have in the UK. First on the list are 3/8" and 1/2" metric and SAE socket sets, I'd like to get both for $100 or so but can push that to $150. I'm not too familiar with most of the names out here, other than the likes of Snap On/Mac who are way out of budget.

I got a cheap Craftsman 1/4" ratchet and really wasn't impressed with that. I was quite interested in some Williams sets, but I wasn't blown away by the quality of the 1/4" set I got (there's more play than I would expect at the socket/extension/ratchet joint). I still might go for the Williams sets, but I want to explore my options a bit.
Another little problem is I'm in Hawaii, so I'm hoping I can find whatever I go for on Amazon! Otherwise shipping is generally 50% or more of purchase price.

I am half tempted to get a set similar to the Teng one posted on the front page of this site the other day (I tried to post the link but I don't have enough posts, not even to link to a different page on this site!). That particular set is probably a bit outside budget, especially with the $100 shipping to Hawaii, but would be more useful when I'm back in the UK.

Anyway, any recommendations of specific sets or just brands would be great! Nice to finally post, I've been lurking here a long time

 

[Wamsutta]

I was bored so I did some copy/paste shopping. These are the best tools available (for the money) in the entire world. They are USA Made and they are the same quality as Snap-on at industrial prices. You will get other recommendations such as Tekton, Harbor Frieght, and Craftsman, but the quality does not hold a candle to Williams USA Made tools.

1. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets

2. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets

3. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

4. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

5. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

 

[Mr_B]

Williams is out of his budget and if it not usa williams it not worth having .
Gearwrench about best option if can get a buy 1 get another drive set free on amazon .
Gearwrench would sell on okay in UK too so no real major loss ...

 

[jonshonda]

No offense OP, but if you have been lurking for a long time you should be well aware of the search functions or have simply just come across dozens of previous threads covering this exact topic. Best of luck, and always remember to search for existing answers before creating new threads, regardless of what forum you visit.

 

[Tallpilot]

I too am a huge fan of USA Williams but if you need both metric and SAE this is probably the most economical option that isn't junk.

https://www.tooldiscounter.com/Item...MIxMT7p4T-3AIVxbrACh2vBwb3EAQYASABEgI6IfD_BwE

 

[Citation]

I'm assuming this is kind of a short term thing. You will use these for a few years then sell/give them away when you leave the states. I would suggest a trip to Harbor Freight and get some roto ratchets when you buy a ticket set. The HF tools are sufficient (there was a thread about a guy starting his pro shop using HF tools). I can think of a few other suggestions that may save a bit of money or get you a somewhat better set of tools but really, for the OP's needs I can't see even paying Williams prices (not that those aren't high value tools).

Another option is there is a Gearwrench 3/8 and 1/4 set for about $100 that is really good thanks to a very complete socket set and no bs tools.

 

[Nineeightyone]

I'm assuming this is kind of a short term thing. You will use these for a few years then sell/give them away when you leave the states. I would suggest a trip to Harbor Freight and get some roto ratchets when you buy a ticket set. The HF tools are sufficient (there was a thread about a guy starting his pro shop using HF tools). I can think of a few other suggestions that may save a bit of money or get you a somewhat better set of tools but really, for the OP's needs I can't see even paying Williams prices (not that those aren't high value tools).

Another option is there is a Gearwrench 3/8 and 1/4 set for about $100 that is really good thanks to a very complete socket set and no bs tools.

I'm a big fan of the HF Pittsburgh Pro line of ratchets, as for sockets I would buy impact and use them on hand tools. I've been using my HF impact 1/2" set for quite a while with no issues, otherwise I've had the same set of Taiwan-made Kobalt 3/8" sockets (6pt, short and long) for a decade and they've never given me issues. With that in mind, keep an eye on CoO, it appears that some of the sets are Chinese and some are Taiwanese, I've not used the Chinese Kobalt stuff to any extent but the Taiwanese stuff has been good to me.

Also, the Harbor Freight impact Taiwanese sockets are suspiciously similar to the Lowe's/Kobalt ones, but at a much lower price point.

 

[M6erfan]

I was bored so I did some copy/paste shopping. These are the best tools available (for the money) in the entire world. They are USA Made and they are the same quality as Snap-on at industrial prices. You will get other recommendations such as Tekton, Harbor Frieght, and Craftsman, but the quality does not hold a candle to Williams USA Made tools.

1. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets

2. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets

3. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

4. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

5. http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

^^^LMAO!

Anyway...OP, I recommend you go for Gearwrench or Tekton sets easily found on Amazon.

 

[BK13]

I cant help but think of what I would do if my situation were reversed from the OP's... an American in the land of tea and crumpets. I'd be loading up on stuff that's either hard/expensive to get here, or completely unavailable. All sorts of Britinsh/German/French tools....

 

[Mr_B]

He in hawaii so HF no good ...
Gearwrench easiest and if don't want keep it will sell easy enough in UK .

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Gearwrench would be a good brand to take a hard look at. I like their 84 tooth ratchets quite a bit. Their sockets are pretty good too.

If you go Tekton, get the newer 90 tooth ratchets. They have a much smaller head design than their previous ratchets.

 

[njc41980]

French tools....

Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the
mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the
Swiss.

Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the
lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.

 

[KDoug]

Here's a deal posted by SweetVictory on his Twitter.

Williams 3/8 Metric Socket Set:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DO2MTE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ptgarcia]

Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the
mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the
Swiss.

Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the
lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.

Hahaha, that's brilliant!

 

[M6erfan]

Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the
mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the
Swiss.

Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the
lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.

Love it!

 

[JiminAZ]

Just to be clear, you want 4 sets - SAE and Metric in both 3/8 and 1/2 drive. For $100 to 150 total?

Not trying to be a jerk just trying to understand your criteria.

 

[5ktq]

I would look at used tools if you want US made and in that budget.

 

[WWheeler]

For what you want I'd go to Sears (there look to be several stores on the Islands) and get the 450pc or 320pc sets that usually can be found for ~ $200 or ~$150 respectively in the 48 states (no idea what the markup there might be) and if you're a ShopYourWay member you can often get an additional discount. Then I'd go to Amazon and look at some Gearwrench or Tekton ratchets to use instead of the Craftsman ones that come with the sets.

 

[Sleipnir]

Have you checked FB marketplace/pawn shops?

Otherwise your best bet for 1/4 + 3/8 is the gearwrench that was posted

How long will you be here, etc?

 

[mowkep]

Hi guys,

I'm a Brit (temporarily) transplanted to the US and could do with some advice about tools. I have a horribly unreliable Mustang, and at the moment my tools aren't much better!

Back in the UK I have a decent selection of Teng, Bahco, Britool, Halfords Professional and various other brands which don't seem to be widely available in the US. I have some Stanley stuff I bought here a couple of years ago, but a few bits have gone missing and the ratchets are the worst I have ever used - they routinely switch direction almost every time they ratchet. I've now found out I'll be in the US for another couple of years, so it's time to get some better stuff. The only problem is what do I go for? I'm happy to pay for decent tools, but my budget is quite limited and it's mostly duplicating stuff I already have in the UK. First on the list are 3/8" and 1/2" metric and SAE socket sets, I'd like to get both for $100 or so but can push that to $150. I'm not too familiar with most of the names out here, other than the likes of Snap On/Mac who are way out of budget.

I got a cheap Craftsman 1/4" ratchet and really wasn't impressed with that. I was quite interested in some Williams sets, but I wasn't blown away by the quality of the 1/4" set I got (there's more play than I would expect at the socket/extension/ratchet joint). I still might go for the Williams sets, but I want to explore my options a bit.
Another little problem is I'm in Hawaii, so I'm hoping I can find whatever I go for on Amazon! Otherwise shipping is generally 50% or more of purchase price.

I am half tempted to get a set similar to the Teng one posted on the front page of this site the other day (I tried to post the link but I don't have enough posts, not even to link to a different page on this site!). That particular set is probably a bit outside budget, especially with the $100 shipping to Hawaii, but would be more useful when I'm back in the UK.

Anyway, any recommendations of specific sets or just brands would be great! Nice to finally post, I've been lurking here a long time

I just bought a couple of 1/4 Williams socket sets. I used mine today and I WAS impressed by the quality. I used them to remove some long lag bolts holding up some cupboards. Worked very well. I have an extra 1/4 M-52EHA and 11 piece 6pt socket set I'm trying to sell in the classifieds.

 

[Tallpilot]

Here's a deal posted by SweetVictory on his Twitter.

Williams 3/8 Metric Socket Set:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DO2MTE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Negative. I like Williams but buying a 36 tooth ratchet in 2018 is like buying a Model A. It’s retro cool but pretty crappy as a daily driver.

 

[Tallpilot]

I just bought a couple of 1/4 Williams socket sets. I used mine today and I WAS impressed by the quality. I used them to remove some long lag bolts holding up some cupboards. Worked very well. I have an extra 1/4 M-52EHA and 11 piece 6pt socket set I'm trying to sell in the classifieds.

I’m thinking he bought Taiwan Williams since he complained about the detents. But we won’t know unless he comes back.

 

[Citation]

Since we want to go Amazon here are a few low buck suggestions. I'm sticking to low buck simply because I'm making the assumption that after 4 years the set will be given away. This also means I'm not selecting things to be "lifetime" rather "sufficient"

For 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets I would suggest one of these two sets
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KE6E1U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWT0NGH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The Stanley set gets generally good reviews though I'm not overly fond of the ratchets. I suspect they are sufficient but not great. Then again, how good do they need to be to last four years of occasional duty?

I don't know much about the EPAuto stuff other than the Amazon reviews are very strong and lots of reviewers.

What I like about both sets is they are very complete for a low buck socket set. The 1/4 drive goes up to 14mm while the 3/8 starts at 10mm. This is something I care about since early on I broke my 1/4" Craftsman ratchet (more than once) since it was the only 14mm deep sock that came with my starter set years back. Looking at the sizes included in either of those sets I'm sure I could do a clutch change or pull the head off any of the early 90s Japanese cars I had back in those days.

If the ratchets are an issue I would suggest looking for a deal on some roto ratchets.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YP1ZI4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I purchased this set off ebay for under $30 shipped. These are the same tools as the Gearwrench models.

As for combination wrenches, I've got to say the Crescent brand wrenches are really nice. I believe they are rebadged Gearwrench wrenches.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YP1ZI4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also might consider heading over to Walmart for some stuff. I have a set of the Hypertough combo wrenches. $10 for a metric/SAE 18 wrench set. I got them to have a wrench set in the house thus they never see hard use. I've been tempted to beat on them just to try them out. They clearly are cheap in terms of finish and the box end is a bit thick. Still, they are probably sufficient if you don't plan on doing any big projects etc.

Of course, if you don't mind spending a bit more then skip the Hypertough stuff. I would still suggest the Crescent combo wrenches.

 

[Wamsutta]

Williams is out of his budget and if it not usa williams it not worth having .
Gearwrench about best option if can get a buy 1 get another drive set free on amazon .
Gearwrench would sell on okay in UK too so no real major loss ...

If he switches to 12 piece socket sets instead of 20 piece sets, they'll be within his budget. All of the links I posted are USA Made Williams.

 

[JiminAZ]

Regarding potential shipping charges - if you can convince the seller to use USPS flat rate boxes you’ll find shipping to Hawaii to be manageable.

I used to live in Alaska. UPS/Fedex only had air service available. USPS is way more economical.

 

[derosa]

Craftsman sets are a decent and reliable value if you look for ones with the better ratchets. I've gotten a couple of sets with the 75t ratchets, while on the heavy side I've been very satisfied with their reliability. They can also be a touch floppy for my preferences though when I compared the one in my minivan set to the tiawan williams in the wife's car set the williams was a little sloppier but not by a lot. Really good is if you get a couple of the craftsman sets with the 84t ratchets, on sale they're an excellent value.

 

[CurlyBen]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! Definitely given me some things to think about.

I checked the Williams set I have and it is Taiwanese, I hadn't really considered country of origin (in the UK it's not something that's really emphasised). To be fair I don't think they're terrible tools, the ratchet feels nice and the sockets seem good. It's just the fit of the drives I wasn't overly impressed by - I actually checked the extension to make sure it wasn't a wobble extension, that's what it felt like.

Originally I was looking at some Williams (Taiwan) sets which were on sale - I think they were the 50663, 50665, 50667 and 50669. They're fairly basic sets but that covers 3/8" and 1/2" in metric and SAE, and I found them for about $100. Shipping pushes that up to about $160, which I still might do, but after my experience with the 1/4" Williams set I thought I'd explore what my other options are. I did ask about getting them sent in flat rate boxes, but the seller said they could only fit one socket set in each box so it wouldn't really work out any cheaper.

I'm planning to take them back to the UK with me when I'm finished here (which will be in about 2 years), a large part of the reason for getting SAE sets is they're much more common over here and I could do with some good sockets in a case for working on a couple of tractors we have back home.

Anyway I'll check out your suggestions and see if I can resist spending my entire pay check in one go

 

[Mr_B]

If he switches to 12 piece socket sets instead of 20 piece sets, they'll be within his budget. All of the links I posted are USA Made Williams.

Still can't see usa williams in budget of 100-150bucks if include extensions ratchets and had sockets deep and standard .
Sockets only possibly yes but even that tight .
His best bet for hawaii and shopping via amazon or eBay is gearwrench probably .

 

[Mr_B]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! Definitely given me some things to think about.

I checked the Williams set I have and it is Taiwanese, I hadn't really considered country of origin (in the UK it's not something that's really emphasised). To be fair I don't think they're terrible tools, the ratchet feels nice and the sockets seem good. It's just the fit of the drives I wasn't overly impressed by - I actually checked the extension to make sure it wasn't a wobble extension, that's what it felt like.

Originally I was looking at some Williams (Taiwan) sets which were on sale - I think they were the 50663, 50665, 50667 and 50669. They're fairly basic sets but that covers 3/8" and 1/2" in metric and SAE, and I found them for about $100. Shipping pushes that up to about $160, which I still might do, but after my experience with the 1/4" Williams set I thought I'd explore what my other options are. I did ask about getting them sent in flat rate boxes, but the seller said they could only fit one socket set in each box so it wouldn't really work out any cheaper.

I'm planning to take them back to the UK with me when I'm finished here (which will be in about 2 years), a large part of the reason for getting SAE sets is they're much more common over here and I could do with some good sockets in a case for working on a couple of tractors we have back home.

Anyway I'll check out your suggestions and see if I can resist spending my entire pay check in one go

williams taiwan is totally overpriced and long way from best taiwan you can get for your money .

 

[Wamsutta]

williams taiwan is totally overpriced and long way from best taiwan you can get for your money .

I got a Williams Taiwan spark plug socket off eBay for $6. The spark plugs themselves cost $7 each. I was surprised my how good the socket is. It fits the spark plug real good and prevents damage to the ceramic insulator. Definitely worth the $6 and that includes shipping.

 

[Beameister]

I’m not sure if there are Advance Auto locations in Hawaii, but I’ve had good luck with my Gearwrench set I bought there. It was listed around $160, but I was able to catch it 50% off. It has all three drive sizes with decent socket coverage. And, if you can get it half off, it leaves room in your budget to fill in any gaps.
I’ve read complaints of difficulty to warranty, but haven’t had anything from that set break. The COO is Taiwan on my set, but some things GW makes in China. I would try to stay away from those as there is a noticeable quality difference.