who makes an affordable 3/4 in. drive socket set?

[kenfain]

I'm trying to find a decent socket set in 3/4 inch drive. I don't think I'll get much use out of it. As I only need two of the sockets, to use for my compressor maintenance. But you never know when you'll need that huge socket set. So what I'm thinking is, get an inexpensive set. Don't know where I might find a kobalt, husky or something like that. All I've seen are at Northern or tractor supply. I'd like just a little more quality. But I certainly don't want to tie up three hundred bucks on a socket set I'll rarely use. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas? While not exactly rare. You just don't see these everywhere.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Ebay is a good place to look for old USA stuff at reasonable prices. They had old stock sets of Kobalt USA 3/4" drive sockets for $82 on Cripe, but looks like those are all done with now. Cheapest sets are going to be Northern or HF.

EDIT: Nevermind, looks like they still have a couple of them. Best deal you'll find, just need to fill in a couple of missing sizes (1 9/16, 1 1/2, 1 5/16)
http://www.cripedistributing.com/kobalt-3-4-drive-14pc-set-sockets-sae-15-16-to-2-12pt-usa-ro.html

 

[Farmall450]

I agree with old US on eBay.

Then again those can go high too

 

[woody 73]

You could just buy the two sockets and call it a day, you could keep looking on your local CL for a used set, or when you go to garage/flea type places just buy the individual sockets.

Just this week I bought a handful of 1/2 drive craftsman sockets for 25 cents each, I passed up his 3/4 drive china sockets for 50 cents each, so keep looking.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

And a filler socket and breaker bar to add to the Kobalt USA set, if you go that route. They used to have Allen USA 1 9/16" sockets, but looks like the sold out when I looked up the part number.

http://www.cripedistributing.com/gearwrench-80840-3-4dr-1-5-16-socket-12pt.html

http://www.cripedistributing.com/gearwrench-flex-handle-3-4-x-19-breaker-bar-81404.html

 

[gtlaw]

Williams

 

[volvo92906]

tooltopia.com- Grey Pneumatic and/or Sunnex. I use em at CAT without any problems. Crapsman has an ok set for around 200.00, but theyre 12pt and non impact.

 

[Ign]

Here ya go, exact same thread & lots of replies:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166155

 

[kenfain]

Yeah nice discussion, there was some help. I checked Cl. Found a set made by KD. Where's this stuff made? Who makes them?

 

[fflintstone]

Menards sells (or sold) a USA made set for $200.

 

[fflintstone]

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...ional-12-pt-standard-set/p-1503283-c-9159.htm

 

[bobcatdan]

In my area good 3/4" sets come up on CL a couple of times a year for dirt cheap. I missed a complete SK set of $35 once. If you only need two sizes or so, I would buy loose sockets and a rachet. Ohter wise, the import sets norther or hf sell are really not that bad. 3/4" by nature are big bulky heavy tools so subar chicom steel will hold up. I didn't pay notice your location, but if you are near a menards or mills fleet farm, they carry the allen/masterforce brand which ar danher products that are basically identical to USA craftsman.

 

[Rezeppa]

John Deere had a decent set SAE and metric that are around 100 and some change. They are chrome and made in Taiwan but for a full set with a case it isn't the worst deal in the world.

 

[byoungblood]

I've just pieced stuff together from Sears closing out their Metric 3/4" drive stuff, and yard sales.

I may have $100 in the whole setup (probably 11-12 metric sockets, 7-8 SAE, ratchet, sliding bar, short extension), put together over a period of a decade or so, and all US made stuff.

 

[alinc100]

Sent you a PM

 

[smothers33]

http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-80880.aspx
thats the set i bought. its 300 which is what you said you dont wanna spend but it is really good quality. if you are looking for cheap id just buy the 2 sockets you need and a breaker bar and either a ratchet or a 1/2 to 3/4 adapter to put on your 1/2 ratchet. if your set on buying a cheaper set though just get HF

 

[jmm]

Unless it's just gotta be a matching set or you've gotta have it all at once, I'd just piece together the sizes you need used. 3/4 drive gets steep, very fast. By now I've got a full set, ratchet, t-handle, extensions, and sizes up to 2 3/8" (including some deep well duplicates, impacts and even some metric). It took me a couple years to put it together, but at the end of the day I might have 200, 250 tops, in everything. For a set that covers all the bases and then some, that's pretty good.

 

[bimmerZ5]

your criteria are perfect for getting the HFT set. Use a 20% off coupon when it's onsale and i don't think you'll find better value.

 

[kenfain]

Yep! I've considered just the two sizes that I really need. The issue I have with adapting half inch, is the extra leverage you get with the longer breaker bar. There's four large caps on top of my compressor. I can use a half in. for two of those caps. But I'd really prefer to use all 3/4 for the job. Now buying new and purchasing seperately. The price is on up there, even for Chinese stuff. And there's still the issue of spending good money on cheaply made tools. But I do need the leverage, so I'll probly have to piece something together. Maybe I can find a piece here a piece there. But thanks all. The input is appreciated. The search begins.....Hey! Wasn't there a thread the other day. From some guy, said he'd run out of tools to buy? Lucky *******!

 

[devoncoolman]

just buy a 24in 1/2 drive breaker bar. the 3/4 ratchets and breaker bars typicaly are under 24in anyway and also heavy and clumsy. i only break out the 3/4 and 1in stuff for wheel nuts and big bolts on the big trucks other than that its 1/2 drive all the way. ask any truck guy try to use as much 1/2 drive as you can its lighter and more agile. kinds seems like you just want a good reason to buy 3/4 drive stuff. if thats the case buy the pittsburg impact sockets from HF. i had them years ago when i first started working on trucks. they worked well and were affordable.

 

[BLJ]

i was looking into the same thing about 2 months ago. looked alot on ebay and the older usa was going pretty high. i ended up buying a 15(?) piece usa made craftsman set for $150. this was on sale and i also bought a 3/4 breaker bar to go with it for $12. a couple coupon codes and i was under $150 shipped to the house. not the greatest kit around, it was stated above that they are all 12 point sockets and the chrome aint the best, but still a decent usa made lifetime guarantee set for under $150. look every night. its the only way to find the deals

also looked a long time at the allen set at menard's. that would be my second chioce as far as my needs go.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

I just have a harbor freight set. Its not finished very nice but for 50 bucks its saved mine and other guys butts plenty of times. I almost always just use an adapter and throw it on my 25" 1/2 ratchet or impact wrench.

 

[RCStocker]

I have 2 sets here in California. There are hundreds of individual sockets at the swap meets. I have never paid over $5 for one and some I have gotten for $1. They are all good US brands. I even found a 3/4" SK ratchet for $15.

don't by them by the piece on the internet. Shipping will kill you. Buy a complete set. 3 months ago I picked off a Proto set in metric up to 50mm for $190 plus shipping. it has around 25 sockets, ratchet, breaker bar and 2 extensions plus the metal box. It is out there. Keep looking. I have Craftsman sockets and they work very well. I have some huge farm machinery on the farm and I have never had one go bad. I seldom use an impact that size. For just a few nuts or bolts it is not worth getting it out. You should get a good set for about $150 to $200 if you look.

 

[tonym]

williams all the way....

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Just spotted a good Williams USA set up in the classifieds here...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204030

 

[Danglerb]

Small market for 3/4, so its expensive if you need it now, but cheap if you can take your time looking.

Only reason I would buy 3/4 is the novelty, or if I owned 3/4 impact.

 

[kenfain]

I have thought about a longer breaker bar, with an adapter for 3/4 in. socket. I gotta say I just about busted a grape gettin them compressor valve caps off. Now I'm about two fifty, and if that ain't enuff it's time for a bigger wrench. That's what started this whole thing. Now with that being said. I put anti sieze on the threads. So I don't expect I'll have that much trouble next time. But I wouldn't had much trouble this time, if I'd had a bigger wrench. What if it's the tractor next time ......

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

We use a China set at my job. Going strong for five years industrial use. The ratchet broke the first day but the t bar and the sockets haven't blinked. And we use this stuff to the extreme. Four foot of cheater and two men sometimes.

 

[bad5x8]

http://store.harryepstein.com/

 

[firebox40dash5]

I have thought about a longer breaker bar, with an adapter for 3/4 in. socket. I gotta say I just about busted a grape gettin them compressor valve caps off. Now I'm about two fifty, and if that ain't enuff it's time for a bigger wrench. That's what started this whole thing. Now with that being said. I put anti sieze on the threads. So I don't expect I'll have that much trouble next time. But I wouldn't had much trouble this time, if I'd had a bigger wrench. What if it's the tractor next time ......

A bigger wrench doesn't do much if it's still the same length or shorter. I paid $50 for a Matco 24" breaker bar, and if you really wanna go big, there's a 30" now, as well as the 24"ish ratchet. Add a $30 adapter, then compare to buying the same kind of stuff in 3/4", if you can find it. Plus at least the 1/2" pieces will be useful for other stuff, unlike a heavy, clunky, still too short 3/4" ratchet or bar.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

A bigger wrench doesn't do much if it's still the same length or shorter. I paid $50 for a Matco 24" breaker bar, and if you really wanna go big, there's a 30" now, as well as the 24"ish ratchet. Add a $30 adapter, then compare to buying the same kind of stuff in 3/4", if you can find it. Plus at least the 1/2" pieces will be useful for other stuff, unlike a heavy, clunky, still too short 3/4" ratchet or bar.

No way I'd trust 1/2 anything where I work. I brought a 1/2 set to work one day and just laughed as I brought it up to the work area. 1/2 looks like kids toys compared to the 3/4 stuff. No way I'd hang off a long cheater with 1/2 dr. Needless to say I took the 1/2 back home.

 

[chrenan]

For sockets I use a cheap princess auto (like harbour freight in the US), they're not pretty but solid. I've filled in some missing sizes and common ones I use (mostly smaller) with used Proto sockets.

There's no reason to buy a cheap new ratchet when there are plenty of good solid used ones that can be rebuilt and put into service for a fraction of the price of new. These are my two 3/4 ratchets:

For a 3/4 breaker bar I use one I got from princess auto for $23. Works like a charm.

 

[tjsr19]

What size do you need when I was in sears in Denver last year they had some that were 75 cents each I bought them all. If I have a duplicate in the size you need I would be more than happy to pass them along. If you pay shipping. They are crafstman

 

[Scout Driver]

Another vote for Allen (or the Masterforce rebrand) from Menards

Scott

 

[firebox40dash5]

No way I'd trust 1/2 anything where I work. I brought a 1/2 set to work one day and just laughed as I brought it up to the work area. 1/2 looks like kids toys compared to the 3/4 stuff. No way I'd hang off a long cheater with 1/2 dr. Needless to say I took the 1/2 back home.

I guess, if you say so. I use 1/2" impact sockets on a 3/4" impact gun with an adapter, and I've hung and stood on a cheater on my 24" breaker bar. If you're putting all your weight on it, socket size doesn't make a difference. I'm assuming the OP doesn't work on an oilfield either, whereas I'm assuming you do.

 

[crewchief888]

+3 on the allen brand set.

i've seen them on sale for under $200

one of my coworkers picked up a brand new set from a pawn shop for $65.

3/4" dr is something i only bought on an "as needed" basis, didnt matter what brand (or no name brand) it was.
i beat, and abused my 3/4 dr stuff to death, broke a chinese 1 7/8" chrome socket about 25 years ago, and a matco 1" impact a couple weeks ago.
neither one on an impact BTW

 

[oldldh]

Less than $60.00 at Harbor Freight...

Now the best looking, but it DOES THE JOB!!!!!

 

[Ign]

Revival....FYI the latest Northern flyer shows either their fractional or metric sets at $69 ea, down from an alleged regular price of $150.
39466-1314
or
39467-1314

the red metal case looks like my HF metric set. I don't know what HF is charging for these lately.

 

[Rickster]

I saw a really nice Wright set with a long handled ratchet on eBay........