Upgrading 1/4" sockets

[BK13]

Wright makes beautiful made-in-USA sockets with large size stampings on the sockets. This is a pic of a 1/2" drive socket, but you can see the size of the stamping and clarity of the stamp:

What are the detents like? I saw some Wright 1/4" sockets locally that didn't have any, and that won't fly....

 

[TXBDan]

My new Gearwrench 1/4" sockets seem better made and snugger fitting than my mid '90s craftsman USA. They also have large size numbers machined into them. The numbers are big but the contrast isnt the greatest being all chrome.

I use them and a long handle flex head 120xp all the time on my car up to 13mm bolts. Which covers a lot of ground on an old BMW.

 

[John in OH]

What are the detents like? I saw some Wright 1/4" sockets locally that didn't have any, and that won't fly....

I can't speak directly to the 1/4" drive sockets as I don't own any Wright sockets in that drive size. However, all of their 1/4" drive ratchets, breaker bars, extensions, spinner handle, etc., all have the "ball" for the detent so it seems very unlikely to me that their 1/4" drive sockets would not have the matching detent divot!! Maybe you were looking at some older design???

This pic is the same 1/2" drive, 3/4" socket I posted above. You can see the detent on the one visible side, but all four sides have an identical detent divot.



Give Wright customer service a call (800)-321-2902 and ask about the detent design in the 1/4" drive sockets.

 

[BK13]

I assume it was old stock. My 3/8" drive sockets are definitely good looking and have normal detents....


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[four.cycle]

awaiting delivery on these. supposed to have been shipped today. hopefully this will help:

 

[four.cycle]

^ after looking at those the size of the numbers stamped on them doesn't appear to be much bigger than most others. here's a KAL/Proamerica set: ( same set HERE: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-America...:g:2fMAAOSwe7BWzOZ9&item=161987305007&vxp=mtr )



thinking about all the different brands of 1/4" stuff I've got, unless I'm mistaken the best socket with the largest numbers on it is going to be the S-K.
and yes... the 3/16" sockets in all of my S-K sets do look a bit rough, but how often do they actually get used? who cares? rest of 'em work just dandy.

Indestro, Duro-Chrome, Giller, Thorsen: all teeny-tiny numbers/letters.

Snap-on: pretty good-sized digits stamped on them.

Walden: medium-sized, but they're spendy as hell for what you actually get. short set right now on Ebay for $30: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-STE...751030?hash=item4d42c5f3b6:g:cw4AAOSwdU1W-AVb

I've got no 1/4" Proto to make a comparison.

 

[Citation]

What about using a Sharpie, paint-pen or stickers to just label the current sockets?

I've got a few different socket types. My ~2 decade old Cman stuff is perhaps slightly easier to read than the laser etched on chrome Kobalt (and one large Cman) sockets I have. The 2 year old Cman and some throw away Bluehawk sockets are the easiest ones I have because the stampings are deep. The only laser etched stuff I found easy to read was the Stanley made black-chrome stuff. Really I would just get some stickers or a marker. You could use a wax/grease pencil to try to fill in the stamped surface.

No personal experience with these but they have decent reviews
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GDOJZ0S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[John in OH]

awaiting delivery on these. supposed to have been shipped today. hopefully this will help:

Are these NEW, NEW OLD-STOCK, or USED?

 

[90zcar]

I have metric snap on 1/4" ones and some craftsman sae ones. Honestly the only reason I have the snap on ones is because I fell into the "everything has to be snap on" trend years ago

Honestly if I would do it again I would just buy a set of gearwrench 1/4" chromes.
If you want a set of metric 1/4" snap on ones let me know I'll sell you mine


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[drink]

I'm slowly replacing my 1/4" drive sockets (from CM). I don't really like the dark chrome, and as I approach 50 it's getting harder to read the sizes, LOL. Not necessarily looking for brand recommendations (though, just for S&G, I'm looking at, in order, KoKen, Hazet, Proto, SK, Williams USA, used SO/Mac/Matco. Wright would move near the front of the line if I could actually check out the detents before buying), just trying to get people's opinions about whether the small sockets need to be high quality because the fasteners are small and therefor delicate, or if you can get away with a more midline option because the fasteners are small and therefor low torque.

Thanks, fellas!

Problems with eyesight can possibly be caused from blood sugar issues. I own a bunch of Craftsman hand tools as well as several other brands. A lot of my Craftsman sockets are the regular old style chrome sockets but I did buy a set of the ETR dual marked Craftsman sockets in 1/4" & 3/8" drive sizes. My regular CM chrome sockets are not the easiest to read but I still use them. As far as I am concerned there is no need to swap my CM's for others but like I said earlier I do own others if needed.

 

[drink]

Years ago I purchased some Armstrong sockets and they have the Eye-D markings on the side. As far as I know Armstrong is either unwilling or unable to ship any orders. Maybe somebody has gotten them to ship something but it seems like everything on their website has been out of stock for quite a while. Armstrong tools are made in USA with high alloy steel.

A few weeks ago I noticed how a tool dealer had changed their website. They pretty much had dropped the APEX lines and had Williams, Proto, and a few others listed as ready to ship.

 

[mdbeck1]

How about just buying some labels?

Let's see if the URL works.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-Sock...hash=item4151dd16f9:m:m1rib8bZMTpaVG4EbD2LOvg

If not look up "socket label" in the search box.

About $4.00 shipping.

 

[BK13]

I appreciate the thoughts of just continuing using my present sockets, but a couple of things... One, I WANT new sockets, LOL. Two, the CM will go to my son's box, as I don't want my Snap On (and the new ones) sockets left out somewhere.


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[four.cycle]

John in OH: those were listed on Ebay a couple days ago as "used", so I have no clue as to vintage - I'm definitely not a Wright expert.

BK13: here's a little set of S-K 1/4" drive metric shallow sockets I got a couple weeks ago. As far as I know, current production looks about the same. (I could well be mistaken on that - I'm not an S-K expert either.)



Snap-on 1/4" deep-wells for comparison:

 

[drink]

I appreciate the thoughts of just continuing using my present sockets, but a couple of things... One, I WANT new sockets, LOL. Two, the CM will go to my son's box, as I don't want my Snap On (and the new ones) sockets left out somewhere.


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Have you figured out how the warranty works on the brands you mentioned? Some tool companies do not provide warranty replacements on tools that wear out. All they replace (if they will) is defective tools in materials and workmanship. Sears had good warranty service over the years but I have heard a lot of people say they have had a hard time getting warranty service.

 

[BK13]

I have only warrantied a couple of ratchets I broke when I was young and still bull strong, and a couple of screwdrivers, so warranty is pretty far down my list of concerns.


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[drink]

I have only warrantied a couple of ratchets I broke when I was young and still bull strong, and a couple of screwdrivers, so warranty is pretty far down my list of concerns.


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Yeah, I grew up with Craftsman tools and very few had to be replaced under warranty. Mostly ratchets were replaced. As time passed some of the tools I bought were not heat treated properly and it was when things were on the way to China to be made. I thought they might have been sweeping tools up off of the floors that were not made right and selling them. Sears replaced them without a hassle. It wasn't until last year a Sears employee gave a hassle on swapping out a brand new defective tool. He went as far as asking for a receipt and refused to order a new replacement. Then it turned into about a couple of months until they called saying my tool was ready for pickup. Fortunately I have had several Sears stores to remain open but most of the Kmarts have vanished. Some people have had either no Sears in their area at all or they were too far away especially if they gave a hassle after driving a long way.

Have you considered any offshore socket sets from Northern Tool? You can buy these for less than $20 each with a coupon.

 

[1foxracing]

What are the detents like? I saw some Wright 1/4" sockets locally that didn't have any, and that won't fly....

They have detents, here is my Wright tool 1/4"

 

[BK13]

Beautiful pics as usual, 1Fox. Thanks for those.