USA made 12pt sockets

[Jeeper75]

Looking to add 12pt short and deep sae and metric sockets to my set for square fasteners and some 12pt fasteners and whatever other occasion. All of my other sockets are snap on, dont want to fork over the money for snap on when they will be used occasionally. What are some recommendations for other US made sockets that are pretty good quality that I can pickup online? Thanks

 

[GeoBruin]

What drive size?

 

[Shop-hound]

I’d go Williams USA

 

[demarpaint]

I’d go Williams USA

+1

 

[Jeeper75]

What drive size?

Forgot about that 3/8 drive

 

[Jeeper75]

I’d go Williams USA

Are all Williams USA? I saw some on Amazon and eBay but they don't always say.

 

[Etchase]

Are all Williams USA? I saw some on Amazon and eBay but they don't always say.

They aren’t always, and you can check on the Williams or Zoro sites. Amazon isn’t always accurate. Proto is the way to go, and they need the money apparently.

 

[ecotec]

Maybe look at Wright. They are made in USA (Barberton Ohio) by a family owned business… not a conglomerate with majority ownership by a mutual fund…

 

[Shop-hound]

Are all Williams USA? I saw some on Amazon and eBay but they don't always say.

They are not, good question. The all numbers part # are taiwan, and alpha numeric (letters and #s) are the USA. You can also tell by the necking down of the deep socket. The USA (close to clone of Snap on) necks right down to the base, and the taiwan go about mid way.

 

[KnurledNut]

Pretty sad how few USA remain...

 

[infinite97]

I have 3/8” drive proto 12 point chrome swivel sockets in SAE. My metrics are snap on.

 

[Shop-hound]

Agreed. Price be dammed (to a reasonable extent!) there’s something about having your core hand tools being made on the same soil. When mine get passed onto my kids I hope they get the same use and feeling of pride from them that I do

 

[I teach stuff]

Have a peek here.

Best American Made Sockets List | Side-by-Side Chart

 

[Marvin Berry]

I love my Proto 3/8 impact sockets.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Looking to add 12pt short and deep sae and metric sockets to my set for square fasteners and some 12pt fasteners and whatever other occasion. All of my other sockets are snap on, dont want to fork over the money for snap on when they will be used occasionally. What are some recommendations for other US made sockets that are pretty good quality that I can pickup online? Thanks

It sounds like You wish to use 12 point sockets on square headed fasteners? Common Four-point tap sockets work for some of the square heads on set screws, but a set of 8 point sockets would be a more popular choice. 12 point sockets work on 6 and 12 point fasteners, but are not the proper tool for square headed fasteners. Once in a while a 12 point socket will sort of cobble fit on a square head fastener, but cobble fit is what it is. The geometry of the 12 point socket simply does not proper match the square heads.

 

[Dave455]

The British term for “12 point” sockets is “Bi Hexagon”, and it’s a more accurate reflection of what the sockets are - which is two superimposed hexagons.

Although I know some folks do use these on square fasteners, the angles of the corners are wrong so you’re risking damage to the fasteners and the socket.

If you want to use these primarily on square fasteners, you might be better off getting proper square or bi square sockets.

I have sets of these in both 3/8” and 1/2” drive and use them a good deal.

 

[lardy1]

I got my 12 points from SK when it was still domestic production and I love them. There are NOS SK and Challenger socket sets on Ebay from time to time, if that helps. Proto and Wright have both been mentioned.

 

[ecotec]

I use a 12pt 3/8” drive 3/8” socket to tighten the 4 sided set screw on beam clamps.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Proto. Last I checked Zoro still had the 12pt SAE on sale. Plus you can find a coupon here to add to your order. If you want to match your Snap-on go with Williams. Personally I’m done with the Williams out of stock and wait times and gave my Williams sockets away to another member. Wright is just too expensive even if they are really nice sockets.

 

[CGarage]

Agreed. Price be dammed (to a reasonable extent!) there’s something about having your core hand tools being made on the same soil. When mine get passed onto my kids I hope they get the same use and feeling of pride from them that I do

I guess we got what we voted for.
The last vestiges of an empire in its death-throes…..
The U.S. will share the same fate as the U.K. as regards tooling and industry.

 

[bonneyman]

I started looking in earnest for a spare S-K set when I heard they had been sold. Have found good, used sockets and managed to build 2 sets, including the boxes. Shallow and deep SAE and shallow metric. The deep metrics have been a challenge. But I keep my eyes open wherever I go, picking up a loose piece or two here and there.

 

[dnschmidt]

I guess we got what we voted for.
The last vestiges of an empire in its death-throes…..
The U.S. will share the same fate as the U.K. as regards tooling and industry.

We didn't vote. Wall Street did and they ALWAYS win. Sort of like Putin in Russia. Of the remaining three Williams, Proto and Wright I'd go with Proto

 

[bonneyman]

Aren't Matco's USA made? Seems like some of their recent offerings look pretty good.

 

[CGarage]

We didn't vote. Wall Street did and they ALWAYS win. Sort of like Putin in Russia. Of the remaining three Williams, Proto and Wright I'd go with Proto

We did vote. And so did Wallstreet. True. And yes, Vlad always wins.

 

[Jeeper75]

Looks like im going to go with Proto, going to order from Zoro. Trying to find a coupon code.

 

[LXCam]

Maybe this helps:
RSBK20AN423N0

Most all my 12 points are SK, but older stuff. You might also try HJE and see what they got in stock.

The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation

The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation

www.harryepstein.com

 

[Jeeper75]

Maybe this helps:
RSBK20AN423N0

Most all my 12 points are SK, but older stuff. You might also try HJE and see what they got in stock.

The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation

The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation

www.harryepstein.com

Thank you!

 

[CGarage]

Aren't Matco's USA made? Seems like some of their recent offerings look pretty good.

I thought Matco used a third party and then rebranded them……

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Maybe look at Wright. They are made in USA (Barberton Ohio) by a family owned business… not a conglomerate with majority ownership by a mutual fund…

Did not know that Wright is in Barberton. About 30 years ago, when I got married, my wife and I bought our first house in Norton, right next to Barberton. Only big name I knew in that area was Babcock and Wilcox; they make nuclear boilers.

 

[danski0224]

Pretty sad how few USA remain...

Very few want to pay the retail price.

Then there are those pesky factory employee wages. Stupid stuff like OSHA compliance, ADA compliance.

Oh, and that pesky environmental ****.

Much easier to ship manufacturing to a place without all of those nonsense rules and regulations. The lower retail price and 100%+ markup is a bone-us.

 

[KnurledNut]

easier

...Isn't always better.

 

[danski0224]

...Isn't always better.

Just based upon my work experience, 99% of the people I have worked with will choose easier* over better, every time.

*Actually easier, or perceived easier, makes no difference.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Pretty sad how few USA remain

It seems about the same as most other countries. We have three or four big players and I think Germany and Japan are the same way. I would rather have fewer stronger companies than many weaker ones. But sockets, man, it’s one of the few hand tools that so many non-US manufacturers are good at. Proto will always in my box, but Stahlwille, Gedore, Wera, KTC, Ko-ken, Toptul, Icon/HF, Facom, Tekton…I mean they are all good stuff. It’s not like wrenches or ratchets where feel/form matter as much as function.

 

[CGarage]

It seems about the same as most other countries. We have three or four big players and I think Germany and Japan are the same way. I would rather have fewer stronger companies than many weaker ones. But sockets, man, it’s one of the few hand tools that so many non-US manufacturers are good at. Proto will always in my box, but Stahlwille, Gedore, Wera, KTC, Ko-ken, Toptul, Icon/HF, Facom, Tekton…I mean they are all good stuff. It’s not like wrenches or ratchets where feel/form matter as much as function.

Did you bother to consider the size of the U.S., geographically, compared to Germany and Japan?

If you want to look at industrious peoples, look no further than those two. Amongst the top leading global economies and at a fraction of the land area of the U.S.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Did you bother to consider the size of the U.S., geographically, compared to Germany and Japan?

If you want to look at industrious peoples, look no further than those two. Amongst the top leading global economies and at a fraction of the land area of the U.S.

I’m confused. Are you praising the Germans and Japanese but alluding to their small geographical area as their benefit? Or are you saying the US should have more power players because of its size? Or is the US not going to be on the same level because of its size?

 

[johninct]

It sounds like You wish to use 12 point sockets on square headed fasteners? Common Four-point tap sockets work for some of the square heads on set screws, but a set of 8 point sockets would be a more popular choice. 12 point sockets work on 6 and 12 point fasteners, but are not the proper tool for square headed fasteners. Once in a while a 12 point socket will sort of cobble fit on a square head fastener, but cobble fit is what it is. The geometry of the 12 point socket simply does not proper match the square heads.

I just want to add, If a 12 point socket is Flank Drive, it will not be that good for square nuts.

 

[finn]

We didn't vote. Wall Street did and they ALWAYS win. Sort of like Putin in Russia. Of the remaining three Williams, Proto and Wright I'd go with Proto

We voted with our pocketbooks.

Tools have always been commodities for most of the consuming public. The few aficionados out there aren’t a large enough part of the consuming population to make a difference. Wall Street just reflects, and acts on consumer demand.

The original proposition was in two parts. The first was: I want cheap. The second was : I want USA.

The two are mutually exclusive. Most tool consumers prioritize cheap over USA, and Wall Street acted accordingly.

 

[CGarage]

We voted with our pocketbooks.

Tools have always been commodities for most of the consuming public. The few aficionados out there aren’t a large enough part of the consuming population to make a difference. Wall Street just reflects, and acts on consumer demand.

The original proposition was in two parts. The first was: I want cheap. The second was : I want USA.

The two are mutually exclusive. Most tool consumers prioritize cheap over USA, and Wall Street acted accordingly.

There is another part to this that you are forgetting.

“International Standards”.

The “cheap” tools made in (for example, Taiwan) from most quality manufacturers get tested and manufacturing and materials meet the industrial standards that their “expensive” western counterparts have to meet.

 

[AJHD]

I thought Matco used a third party and then rebranded them……

Honestly I'm too lazy to look, but some of their older offerings were USA, I don't know about their current inventory. Also you're looking at tool truck prices, so if the OP doesn't want Snap On, Matco probably won't work either. I haven't looked at current prices.

Anyway... They are not USA made, but Tekton has a complete SAE and Metric 3/8" set both shallow and deep all 12pt. I bought the set for work because I don't use 12pt everyday and didn't want to pay tool truck prices either, but I needed to have some 12pt on hand. Almost all my metric sockets are Snap On, my SAE are Capri (again, they don't see daily use and I'm not paying tool truck prices for SAE either).

 

[CGarage]

Honestly I'm too lazy to look, but some of their older offerings were USA, I don't know about their current inventory. Also you're looking at tool truck prices, so if the OP doesn't want Snap On, Matco probably won't work either. I haven't looked at current prices.

Anyway... They are not USA made, but Tekton has a complete SAE and Metric 3/8" set both shallow and deep all 12pt. I bought the set for work because I don't use 12pt everyday and didn't want to pay tool truck prices either, but I needed to have some 12pt on hand. Almost all my metric sockets are Snap On, my SAE are Capri (again, they don't see daily use and I'm not paying tool truck prices for SAE either).

What application did you have for 12 point sockets?