USA made 12pt sockets

[CGarage]

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?

The U.S. is woefully behind the power curve as far as not having enough domestic manufacturers.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I like the Snap on 12 point sockets shallow 1/2 drive metric

 

[Zewnten]

What application did you have for 12 point sockets?

CAT uses 12 point bolts in a variety of areas, usually engine and hydraulic

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

The U.S. is woefully behind the power curve as far as not having enough domestic manufacturers.

That is something I'd totally agree with overall.

 

[demarpaint]

The U.S. is woefully behind the power curve as far as not having enough domestic manufacturers.

Sad but true.

 

[AJHD]

What application did you have for 12 point sockets?

When I was working in automotive, the only 12pt bolts I found were on driveshafts (Ford 12mm) and mostly internal engine components/assembly (rod caps, head bolts, etc.).

I work on heavy equipment now, and some bolts on CAT equipment are 12pt. But honestly I've only come across a single 12pt bolt thus far and I don't even remember what it was on.

I've noticed a lot of guys in the shop use 12pt sockets for every job, but outside of that Tekton set everything I own is 6pt and I only use 12pt if I have to.

 

[Draftpick1]

Proto and Wright are the only ones I could find in stock, Williams USA is OOS most everywhere, and SK is made in Taiwan now. Proto is your best option right now for new USA.

 

[KnurledNut]

@AJHD
3/4 drive 3/4” 12-point thin wall deep impact for some CAT engines. Detroit and MB too.

 

[roofdweller49]

Proto and Wright are the only ones I could find in stock, Williams USA is OOS most everywhere, and SK is made in Taiwan now. Proto is your best option right now for new USA.

I like to order from suncoast precision tool, but even they're out of stock, often

Looking up proto parts numbers aren't fun either

Wright doesn't really have that wide a selection of metric tools

 

[vssjim]

Wright or Proto, Wright 100 percent US with US Steel and Proto should be but could be with US and global components as with Stanley you don't know until it is in your hand.

 

[alinc100]

1/2" Drive Socket Sets - Sockets Only

www.wrighttool.com

 

[ecotec]

Another option is looking for cheap NOS, but it won’t have Flank Drive.

Here are three NOS sets that I found years ago at a local industrial supply. I spent less than $30 for all three sets combined. It is USA Duro-Indesto and French Facom.

Do you guys consider 12pt non-Flank Drive sockets good enough for work?

 

[AJHD]

@AJHD
3/4 drive 3/4” 12-point thin wall deep impact for some CAT engines. Detroit and MB too.

I haven't personally run into needing that socket yet. They don't let me do any real engine work. But Snap On has one...

 

[Gordon84]

Have a peek here.

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

Armstrong is out of business and SK is apparently full Chinesium now.... If you want Armstrong or SK you must get used or get lucky with NOS.... Craftsman USA can still be found NOS or used.

 

[Callelle]

I haven't personally run into needing that socket yet. They don't let me do any real engine work. But Snap On has one...

I've been at an International dealership for about 4 months and have already seen that pulled out a dozen times.

 

[ChevyEFI]

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

Forgot about that 3/8 drive

Snappy drivers might still have BOGO deals come up. Buy deep, get shallow free, or buy SAE, get metric free?

Second thought is CAT.
In chrome, their old pdf catalog lists:
8-19mm pn 199-9019 deep;
8-19mm on 194-3574 shallow;
3/8-7/8" pn 214-6490 deep;

Impact:
8, 10-22mm pn 271-4654 deep;
8-19, 21, 24mm pn 271-4683 deep;
3/8-3/4" pn 271-4613 shallow;

The trouble is online isn't currently easy, but make a call.

 

[turninwrenches396]

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

My matco dealer seems to only carry and promote their adv line which to me is sunex seldom ever pushes the USA stuff

 

[ecotec]

Armstrong is out of business and SK is apparently full Chinesium now.... If you want Armstrong or SK you must get used or get lucky with NOS.... Craftsman USA can still be found NOS or used.

They made tonnage of all of this stuff… you just need to know where to look for NOS.

After Armstrong went out of business, PTS was selling Armstrong tools really cheap. That was years ago, before Berkshire Hathaway.

PTS had a locked plastic display case of NOS Wright tools in the red metal boxes. They had to look everywhere for the keys. They said nobody else ever asked… I bought a few things over the years.

Kitts industrial has some and used to have tonnage of Facom era SK. I started buying it in 1994. Kitts had tons of NOS Duro-Indestro, too. They still have some of both… from decades ago…

Craftsman doesn’t even give it a wiggle.

 

[ecotec]

I would love to go to Harry Epstein with an overtime check.