sonvolt
Well-known member
I have both Proto and SK. It's a toss up really but I prefer the shallow broach of the SK.
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who makes better sockets
- Thread starter mowersplus84
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MattPersman
Well-known member
I doubt they are USA but the new Mac Precision torque are quite good although only limited use so far they have been living up to the claims
This is coming from a huge snap on fan and buyer.
This is coming from a huge snap on fan and buyer.
Wayfastwhitie440
Well-known member
I would get Proto and Zorotools.com has them at really good prices
AKA Williams USA.
Bring on the **** show.
I thought so too. I bought some Williams directly, through their eBay store. advertised as Snap-On industrial. They were 3/8 swivel impact sockets. the first time I used them the black coating chipped and exposed a different metal underneath. I was not happy them. After using a friend's swivel sockets from snap-on, I liked the way the fasteners were easier to get out of the socket. The Williams would often get stuck in the socket, which was very annoying. Snap-on had a buy one get one sale and I picked up some. If you look at the materials they are different. I also find that the fasteners do not get stuck in them as often, which saves time, and does not use up my patience.
Wakefield
Well-known member
At least one brand,perhaps more,have some of their sockets appearing to be made of the same blank for two different sizes such that the outside diameter is the same but wall thickness is different when comparing two different sizes. So depending on how you look at the glass half-full or the one half-empty one socket looks strong and heavy duty or the other one looks suspiciously thin and fragile
Perhaps Snap On doesn't do that?
Perhaps Snap On doesn't do that?
Lol good one.
I always wonder if you are DIYer, why is it ok to round off, break fasteners, and / or get hurt. If you are a pro well, you do not have time for that. but if that was to happen to a DIYer, it would probably take them much longer to get out of a bad situation, and also probably more likely to happen, due to experience level and the tool quality, if using tools with looser tolerances. I would think better tools would help, besides the ability to get into tighter spaces.
Wakefield
Well-known member
Ko-Ken Japanese sockets seem to be well thought of by some (And Nepros?)
I would try to get the buy one get one snap-on deals, from a driver. Check eBay and Craigslist, I have found many good deals on there. Especially when you are starting out. New stuff or like new barely used stuff. Look at the pictures, don't buy stuff that looks beat up or neglected.
I agree 100%. And this has been my life working on cars. Chances are, I may only do one timing belt on any given car I own. Fundamentally, I come into any repair with essentially no prior experience. With that to overcome, I'm counting on absolutely everything going right- no stripped torx, no frozen water pump bolt etc.
Having the right tool and the best tool (however you choose to define that) is in some ways more important for the DIYer, not less so.
And for my fellow DIYers- what I do is keep track of how much a job would cost at the dealer. Whatever labor I do for free, is how much I get to spend on tools to break even. And quite frankly, I enjoy working on cars, so I don't feel I have to break even. But the reality is, it's not even close.
I drove older German cars for many years and saved myself many thousands of dollars in repair bills. You can say I was wasteful to buy such vehicles, but I think I did okay overall. Low purchase price + high maintenance cost + driving satisfaction < cost of new reliable (asian) car.
Good for you, and enjoying it too. Once you buy a good tool you should not expect to replace soon, if ever.
bob15
Well-known member
Don't be so sure. Stanley/Proto got fined about 15 years ago by the FTC for some "USA made" tools, that weren't really made here. If I remember correctly they were finished here (polishing, etc), but the forging was overseas.
The way this post starts out I thought it was the start of a Suze Orman Can I afford it episode!
Would Suze say "Go with Harbor Freight and put the rest into your 401K"
or "You are wise for investing in tools thus will save you in future repair bills so make a wise investment and get both"
Would Suze say "Go with Harbor Freight and put the rest into your 401K"
or "You are wise for investing in tools thus will save you in future repair bills so make a wise investment and get both"
OP
mowersplus84
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2013
- Messages
- 184
to answer you question i am a small Engine Mechanic and i've been turning wrenches for about 5 years
I don't think Williams sells US made impact swivel sockets. Their Taiwan standard impact sockets are perfectly fine, though. Granted, I don't have the swivel ones, but I have a hard time believing the coating could ever chip. It's not like a layer of chrome...
bob15
Well-known member
You have that backwards.....
Proto must go through a distributor, which can be a PIA, especially if you don't have one close by.
SK, call them and mail it to them. Very easy.
That being said, i wouldn't base a socket set purchase solely on returning a tool if needed. i would base it on the best product......Wright and SK
OutsideMachinist
Well-known member
You have that backwards.....
Proto must go through a distributor, which can be a PIA, especially if you don't have one close by.
SK, call them and mail it to them. Very easy.
That being said, i wouldn't base a socket set purchase solely on returning a tool if needed. i would base it on the best product......Wright and SK
Rarely(very rarely) will proto or sk break from normal recommended use. Almost always it is abuse. I dont care about warranty on a tool I abused. Sk, Proto, Wright, USA Williams, Blackhawk all are worth looking at and similar quality.
I could not believe it either. I was pissed. The worst part is that the size is not stamped. It is printed on the coating that can chip away. I was very disappointed. One of my buys that I regret. I posted it to let others know, what my experience with those was.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Get something you can warranty in store (or truck).
Of the two I'd go with proto but don't know about the warranty. Mac should be similar (I would hope). There's lesser brands that will work for what you're doing but you really shouldn't have any issues with breakage...though if it happens you're going to end up waiting for a replacement on some of this stuff and we don't know what you got already.
Spinaker01
Well-known member
This man speaks the truth! Also my exact philosophy regarding German car affordability. I can't afford to take them to the dealer so working on them myself is both a financial necessity as well as a point of pride and self reliance. Good quality tools (and the right ones for the job) is mandatory and removes a lot of the potential frustration that working on these complex beasts can sometimes present.
Huh, did not know that. I'd probably go with my initial suggestion in this thread, Wright. (To be perfectly honest, warranty is dang close to being the last of my concerns when buying tools.)
bob15
Well-known member
Stanley/Proto fines:
Here is from 1999: http://www.wright.edu/~tran.dung/us-made.htm
They never learned their lesson.....2006 http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2006/06/ftc-alleges-stanley-made-false-made-usa-claims-about-its-tools
Cope
Well-known member
I don't turn wrenches for a living, although I have done more than my share of auto work. I can remember breaking a 1/2" drive Action socket torquing head bolts on a flat head Ford V8. Next I foolishly used an Indestro 3/4" chrome socket with an impact and cracked it. I broke 3 Cornwell 10mm sockets and a Wright 10mm trying to loosen a bolt on a Dodge A/C compressor. That is all I have broken since 1963. Point being, find a brand you like, can warranty easily and can afford and go for it.
michiganman18
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2013
- Messages
- 174
I fully recommend SK. Occasionally the finish and chrome is a little dull from factory. I am hoping they get this under control. On the ones that have no defect they are amazingly tough. I am hard on my tools and they spend their life in a garage with a lot of heat/cool and condensation cycles. I have left a socket outside (snowmobile) for 9 months and when I found it it still looked new.
The sockets that have that dull chrome finish problem I have had no problem with warranty. I usually go through my supplier but occasionally some older tools have had peeling chrome. I just mail them back and receive brand new ones. I have never had a broken ratchet or extension. Sockets they wont warranty if you use chrome on impacts... but you shouldn't do that anyways. Fussier than snap-on but definitely not as much.
I have rebuilt countless ratchets and only warrantied for chrome reasons. I have only stripped one 3/8 tooth and never bent one. The only thing I dont like about the SK ratchets is the design of directional change. Its a twist knob so to speak. Snap on and Snap on clones work much better with one handed directional change.
If your question is regarding only sockets though and not the ratchets I have never split a SK socket with normal use. Even with cheater pipes... I have with snap on.
For the price, SK works great and i don't think there's any tougher for the price. Also SK doesnt have a ton of ratchet options in comparison to snap on.
That said... never tried proto... I only use Snap-on and SK.
The sockets that have that dull chrome finish problem I have had no problem with warranty. I usually go through my supplier but occasionally some older tools have had peeling chrome. I just mail them back and receive brand new ones. I have never had a broken ratchet or extension. Sockets they wont warranty if you use chrome on impacts... but you shouldn't do that anyways. Fussier than snap-on but definitely not as much.
I have rebuilt countless ratchets and only warrantied for chrome reasons. I have only stripped one 3/8 tooth and never bent one. The only thing I dont like about the SK ratchets is the design of directional change. Its a twist knob so to speak. Snap on and Snap on clones work much better with one handed directional change.
If your question is regarding only sockets though and not the ratchets I have never split a SK socket with normal use. Even with cheater pipes... I have with snap on.
For the price, SK works great and i don't think there's any tougher for the price. Also SK doesnt have a ton of ratchet options in comparison to snap on.
That said... never tried proto... I only use Snap-on and SK.
rcjoy
Well-known member
Regarding Proto, their catalog now clearly indicates which items are fully made in the USA, and which are made in USA with global materials.
Wakefield
Well-known member
So did the bolt finally loosen? What tool finally showed it who the boss was?
Cope
Well-known member
Yes. I was changing the compressor out late at night. The Cornwell distributor lived fairly close, and after I broke all of his inventory, I got out my Snap On 1/2" drive 10mm impact socket and used it. That's what I should have done after the first 3/8" drive cracked. The bolt looked like a 1/2" thread with the 10mm hex head. To make matters worse, it was a steel bolt threaded into aluminum.
As does the website actually, flag symbol in the corner of the page.
Garage Rat2
Member
You mention Indestro brand, how do you like it? I bought a rather extensive Indestro mechanics set at an estate sale when I was in college. Figured I'd use them up and buy a "good" set later. 40 years later I still have it. Have broken acouple of sockets, wore out a 3/8 ratchet, but rest still perform constantly. Replacement items are usually Craftsman now-don't have any problems; except for Phillips screwdrivers- warranty has replaced them all!
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Indestro super are great sockets.
No criticism of anyone, I legitimately don't see the value in buying a $50 set of sockets, when you can buy snap on on ebay for $75-$100. The difference in price is a couple oil changes at jiffy lube or a single brake job. I don't see the savings in arguably second rate tools.
I like snap on tools and have many many. I'm not advocating that tho. Just a decent set of 1/4 and 3/8 sockets.
I like snap on tools and have many many. I'm not advocating that tho. Just a decent set of 1/4 and 3/8 sockets.
Are you guys kidding me? I see most of you are saying Proto. I can't believe this. I have both a newer set of Proto SAE shallow sockets, and several sets of SK. I can tell you that the SK are a better finish hands down. I will be selling my Proto SAE's and purchasing a set of SK SAE's to replace them. I cant imagine how anyone could say the new production Proto is better then SK. I have a lot of Proto tools from 10-15 years ago, and the quality is top notch, but honestly, I have not been impressed with the new production. Just my $0.02.
cgv69
Well-known member
I have bought a lot of SK sockets over the last 2 years and based on that experience I feel that their QC has improved. Not that is was necessarily bad before but the last set I just recently got through the Epstein's/SK day event is over all more consistent then the first set I bought 2 years ago. For me, its not as much about how shiny they are but more about how consistently they are finished, particularly inside the socket.
As I said earlier, I've bought plenty of different socket from many different companies and feel confident when I say that all of the major US manufactures make a quality product. One may be prettier then the other but why does that matter? To some extent, that's just luck of the draw but as long as the finish provides the rust resistance its applied for, the sockets fit fasteners correctly and they don't break when used correctly then everything else is gravy IMO.
Just about everybody here has their pet favorites but more times then not, those favorites are based on non important criteria such as looks, feel, packaging, marketing, etc.. In the end, most of us feel that whatever we have is the best (otherwise we probably wouldn't have bought them) but ultimately these types of threads are popularity contests more then anything.
IMO, that's another one of the problems with these type of threads. People say buy "XYZ" because that's what they have and they've been great. Well that's wonderful that brand "XYZ" products from 20 years ago are great but that doesn't mean their current offerings are just as great.
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Hako86
Well-known member
I absolutely love my Proto sockets! They got really nice chrome and they fit bolts very well. I haven't got any sk tools to compare with, but I guess they would serve you great as well
Wakefield
Well-known member
Thread "who makes the best impact sockets"
Garage Rat2
Member
I have a set of Proto 1/2" and 3/8" impact sockets; they have took a lot of use with no breakage. The 3/8's are really good for air rachet use. I just wish they were more resistant to "disappearing for days and weeks on end" in my cluttered shop!Thread "who makes the best impact sockets"
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Warranty issues with the second hand usage, honestly. At that point (at best) it becomes a mail in warranty (if you don't have an established driver relationship) which any brand has and you get new sockets. I'd say the same about mac, matco, and cornwell but that stuff is usually much cheaper used.
I...well...also think that between the professional/industrial brands there isn't a lot of variation in durability except with the import stuff that some of them are hawking. Even then the import stuff is probably as durable as other import stuff being sold but price and warranty replacement availability is the issue.
Conductor562
Well-known member
I am the exact opposite. Both are nice, but I prefer the deeper broach of the Proto's.
Don't forget about Blackhawk. Their sockets are all USA made, all feature the TorquePlus off corner design, and are cheaper. They do have small size stampings, but if that isn't an issue for you Blackhawk is a worthy contender.
Conductor562
Well-known member
I would be interested to hear the rationale of this comment. I have Proto sockets from literally every period dating back to before WWII and have never noticed any decline in overall quality.
They picked up new production equipment in the National Hand Tool acquisition in 1986 that led to the sockets being "cold forged" as opposed to machined, but they went to the TorquePlus design in 1994 which is one of the better off corner designs out there IMO (especially in 12 pt.), and the finish now days is the best it's ever been.