Who makes the best sockets?

[Fedwrench]

I don't think this is correct.

KTC is parent company of Nepros.

These are the best sockets out there. Tighter tolerances, more compact dimensions. You want bling, get Nepros - Regular use, KTC.

You can get KTC sockets that are exactly the same compact dimensions and materials as Nepros , just not polished to jewelry level. They are much more affordable than the Nepros version. Best deal out there for sockets in my opinion.

You are absolutely correct.

Ko-Ken is stand alone. I don't know how I screwed that up. Nepros is the fine jewelry department of Kyoto Tool Company. I wish KTC had a larger footprint in the USA.

 

[Ohio Andy]

$175 or under for a no-skip metric set.

I just realized that you're only looking for metric.

Tekton is good with a great warranty

42-Piece 3/8 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket and Ratchet Set | TEKTON

Includes: 6-24 mm (Metric) 6-point chrome socket with large stamped markings, 90-tooth ratchet, extension, universal joint, and storage case. No skipped sizes. SKT15201.

www.tekton.com

I think you wanted standard and deep, but you'll never do it with Proto for the price you want.

But here's a standard set. I own this set (12 point)

https://www.zoro.com/proto-38-drive-socket-set-metric-21pcs-socket-set-range-6-mm-to-26-mm-12-point-j52215/i/G7489133/

Same set but six point

https://www.zoro.com/proto-38-drive-socket-set-metric-21pcs-socket-set-range-6-mm-to-26-mm-6-point-j52211/i/G7451123/

Here is a smaller set that comes in a blow molded case including a ratchet and extensions. I don't even need to check the part numbers to know that it's a great ratchet, but it's not the lp90 Proto ratchet that I prefer... But that ratchet would be a lot more money by itself

https://www.zoro.com/proto-38-in-drive-socket-set-metric-34-pieces-6-mm-to-19-mm-chrome-j52234s/i/G2778900/

I really like wright tool, My SAE set from them is the set number 348 but that's really expensive. Comes in a nice box with a lot unlike stuff with it but it's not metric. Is Proto but wright does have some sets that are no skip. And if you're okay from 6 mm to 19 mm, they're set number 377 has shallows and deeps and comes with a ratchet breaker bar a box, an extension. If you don't need deeps you could go for set number 364 or 367.

If you don't need it in a box and you don't need ratchets they have set number 354 which is 6 to 19 mm on a rail and if you want deep you add set number 355.

The reason my metric are Proto is because I wanted 12 point for those. I have plenty of six point sets and I wanted a 12-point only set and Proto makes that, wright does metric and 6.0 only.

 

[CGarage]

I like that Tekton makes a variety of tools, offers great US support, and sells sets without skips.
The value proposition is attractive with the warranty, also.

I have never used a warranty for a socket, personally.

 

[Fixr]

I own the fancy sockets from all the big American and European and Asian manufacturers. I hardly ever use them.

I have a Facom “Expert” mixed, 1/4 and 3/8 drive fractional and metric kit in a blow molded case. I use this extensively since it is readily portable, “expeditionary”, and always works perfectly.

This set is made to international standards / ISO tolerances in Taiwan, and I really like it.

I have a Vigor general utility set (owned by Hazet) that I use frequently, too.

I have never had an issue or a need for a more premium socket.

ETA: With space being a premium in toolboxes, and the invention of thin wall impact sockets, if I were to start over again, I too, think I would skip the chrome sockets and go with thin wall impacts. Gray Pneumatic and Sunex come to mind.

I haven't run across the Vigor name for tools since about 1972 when I was trying to learn to make hippie jewelry, and got some Vigor tools through my high school. I still have one pair of unimpressive pair of pliers for making chain links. One round tapered jaw, and one that wrapped around the first like a C around an O.

 

[Fixr]

I like that Tekton makes a variety of tools, offers great US support, and sells sets without skips.
The value proposition is attractive with the warranty, also.

I have never used a warranty for a socket, personally.

Well then, you just haven't been trying hard enough! I have broken a few abusing them horribly trying to fix a vehicle and get it back into service).

 

[CGarage]

I haven't run across the Vigor name for tools since about 1972 when I was trying to learn to make hippie jewelry, and got some Vigor tools through my high school. I still have one pair of unimpressive pair of pliers for making chain links. One round tapered jaw, and one that wrapped around the first like a C around an O.

I am not sure if it is the same as what I am referring to, which is a German brand (apparently, Hazet owns all or part of the brand), with Taiwan manufacturing.

 

[Fixr]

I am not sure if it is the same as what I am referring to, which is a German brand (apparently, Hazet owns all or part of the brand), with Taiwan manufacturing.

That was over 50 years ago. I would expect some evolution to occur, if it's even the same company as opposed to a totally different one reusing the name.

 

[CGarage]

Well then, you just haven't been trying hard enough! I have broken a few abusing them horribly trying to fix a vehicle and get it back into service).

I try to not abuse what I have, so I use breaker bars and work by hand instead of with high power impacts when possible. Beginning with quality sockets has helped. If I break one, I think I would order a replacement immediately rather than spend the time to warranty.

 

[CGarage]

That was over 50 years ago. I would expect some evolution to occur, if it's even the same company as opposed to a totally different one reusing the name.

This is the “modern” brand I am referring to:

Hand Tools | Product Worlds | VIGOR Equipment

Do you have the highest demands and want the greatest variety? Then you've come to the right place with our hand tools!

www.vigor-equipment.com

 

[Fixr]

This is the “modern” brand I am referring to:

Hand Tools | Product Worlds | VIGOR Equipment

Do you have the highest demands and want the greatest variety? Then you've come to the right place with our hand tools!

www.vigor-equipment.com

Those look nothing like what I think I remember. The Vigor stuff I had could have been made in India in the 70s. Cheap public-school grade tools. I found the pliers I referred to, and they have no identification visible, so I may have been wrong about them.

Edit: I just looked further at the Vigor website. They were founded in 2006, so not at all the same tools as what I had.

 

[CGarage]

Those look nothing like what I think I remember. The Vigor stuff I had could have been made in India in the 70s. Cheap public-school grade tools. I found the pliers I referred to, and they have no identification visible, so I may have been wrong about them.

I wonder if the brand name was sold and “resurrected”.

In any event, I do like the tools and the mixed set I own in a large, blow molded case.

The nylon ratchets I thought would be useless but they are very light weight and comfortable to use. The kit I own is all Metric.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Literally every brand is good and this thread could go on for thousands of pages with no winner. It would be better if there was poll at the top with no responses.

This discussion is as pointless as arguing over which culture has the best food in the world....

 

[richfinn]

Literally every brand is good and this thread could go on for thousands of pages with no winner. It would be better if there was poll at the top with no responses.

This discussion is as pointless as arguing over which culture has the best food in the world....

The Portuguese

 

[AEAdam]

I was particularly referring to folks who only work on their one commuter car, but have been convinced they should never buy anything less than SnapOn because "That's the best". Some of them wish they needed the best, and buy accordingly, when HF Pittsburgh stuff would outstrip their skill level. And by doing so, they overspend on stuff way beyond their abilities and deprive themselves of a lot of other good stuff that they could actually use.

Well, all of us buy things that exceed our requirements; cars, houses, computers, almost everything we buy exceeds requirements.

Tools are a bit different in that they have pretty narrowly definable utility.

I've not seen objective testing of sockets. The Torque Test Channel has tested almost everything else. The testing we have seen on wrenches etc shows pretty clearly Pittsburgh tools aren't in the same league as others mentioned. They are quite literally some of the cheapest and poorest performing sockets out there. But are they good enough?

I have never worked professionally on cars. I have worked on airplanes. I feel enormous pressure working on my commuter cars. If I can't complete a repair, I can't wash my hands and worry about it tomorrow (like I can with a production airplane, like pro mechanics can). I'm faced with renting a car, towing my car, or taking a vacation day to do tomorrow what I could not accomplish today.

So my tolerance for mistakes is low, and I sure do make them. My patience for my tools letting me down, and that's happened, is less than zero. The financial decision of whether or not to spend more for a tool that has less potential of failing is super clear for me. And I don't see warranty as a viable option. Warranty requires me to stop what I'm doing and drive somewhere, in another car, to replace the tool I broke with the same quality tool. I'd much rather buy a tool that doesn't need warranty.

For for me and the many many like me, I absolutely desire having the "best" tools I can find. And tho this may be hard for some to hear, a $200 socket set really isn't too much money. How many socket sets does one really need? I don't have duplicates of duplicates. I have shallow, deep and semi deep in metric 3/8". Shallow and semi in 1/4". That's 5 sets of sockets that have more than paid for themselves. I've done jobs on my commuter car where a single job saved me $1000. And I do that sort of work routinely.

Only on GJ, no other special interest webforum I've seen, is there such class envy and ire about the price of items. Do you think the golf forums have curmudgeons saying your golf clubs are too good for you? You should have cheap golf clubs because you **** at golf? Or the bicycle forums? People who like doing things like nice stuff to do it with. If someone asks for what we think the best sockets are, don't be that guy who says "Pittsburgh".

 

[AEAdam]

Literally every brand is good and this thread could go on for thousands of pages with no winner. It would be better if there was poll at the top with no responses.

This discussion is as pointless as arguing over which culture has the best food in the world....

That's not true. This isn't like food at all.

I would say, sockets that are hard, wear slowly, have high quality finishes, designed for professional use, are objectively better.

If you wanted to think about this more deeply, the feel of the sockets, how they fit bolts, but also how they fit the other accessories in the socket wrench eco-system, matters. So another aspect of quality is how little variation there is in the fit. I think there's probably something to be said for sticking with a certain brand to stay within an eco-system. You can add components, and each component you add will function just like the ones you currently have. Example; locking ratchets and a extensions.

Snap On has the biggest and the best eco-system, but there are other eco-systems. This is where I would argue for something like Icon. HF is doing a good job building that eco-system. Sears Craftsman was an amazing tool eco-system. One downside of Craftsman, and this will probably manifest at HF, over time, the suppliers changed and the tool quality differed (not always suffered). I feel like this has happened to Proto, and other SBD tools, obviously SK, Mac and Matco, & Facom (I guess a lot of these are SBD).

One piece of advice, or something to consider, you may get better service buying from a tool manufacturer rather than a tool distributor. Especially if you are in it for the long haul.

This could get me tarred and feathered; I think tool storage is more important that some here seem to think. Sockets that come with tool storage or integrate well with your tool storage is a discriminator. Maybe its the orientation of the lettering. I think Hazet offers pretty nice storage options, as does Tekton. Being able to find your socket reliably, accessing comfortably, is part of the quality and utility of that tool.

 

[William Payne]

The problem is that it’s a tricky question to answer. If someone said who makes the most consistently nicest tools I would say it would be hard to argue against Snap-On. But lots of companies make really nice effective tools like sockets. The difference really becomes a matter of price and design preference. For example German brands their socket design tends to step down the diameter of the socket at the drive end. That really becomes a personal preference.

 

[ecotec]

I try to not abuse what I have, so I use breaker bars and work by hand instead of with high power impacts when possible. Beginning with quality sockets has helped. If I break one, I think I would order a replacement immediately rather than spend the time to warranty.

I shear less bolts with impacts than I do with ratchets and breaker bars.

There are jobs where I can do a couple hundred bolts in a day. Some of this stuff has been up for years, and has bolts of different metallurgy. Some of them are going to shear with a ratchet. If I use an impact driver set on the right setting, I will have a fraction of the bolts shear on me or sometimes none.

Sometimes… it is the setting of the impact or impact driver that is the problem.

 

[MovingAlong]

The problem is that its a tricky question to answer.

That's the fun part about vague posters, your answers don't really need to be precise either - so have some fun with it!

"Best" in my book contains an element of both cost and purpose. For me, HF is the best choice. Snap-On would be fiscally irresponsible (*for me), Dollar Tree might not get the job done. So, HF it is...

Seriously though, anyone who's posted on any forum in the last 20 yrs should know better than to ever use the word "best" without fully describing the criteria.

 

[MovingAlong]

Literally every brand is good and this thread could go on for thousands of pages with no winner. It would be better if there was poll at the top with no responses.

This discussion is as pointless as arguing over which culture has the best food in the world....

India, though one could argue North vs South I suppose...

 

[pi_guy]

I have one of these. Nobody else makes one shorter in 1/4 drive.

1/4 Sq. Dr. Z-Series TORX® T27 Bit Socket - Length 28mm - Ko-ken USA

TORX® is recognized as one of the three most efficient fastening systems because of their ability to transfer greater torque, reduce load and - Ko-ken USA

kokenusa.com

SO makes a ratchet that takes bits, you can't get much shorter than that.
Where do you place the company that makes sockets others don't?

My bets are you already have decided what you want. When you put price in it the question going to skew the answers. Will just turn into those that spend the money and the other side is there must be a cheaper way.
This question really has been answered with no definitive result just becomes an ongoing yammer.

My preference is SO a proven solution. But if I was building a special tool I would look at HF first. Trying to machine a SO socket is many times more difficult than HF or Craftsman.

 

[dnschmidt]

TOPTUL, and when I sold them they were insanely low priced. However, those days are gone forever.

 

[jptbay]

I have one of these. Nobody else makes one shorter in 1/4 drive.

1/4 Sq. Dr. Z-Series TORX® T27 Bit Socket - Length 28mm - Ko-ken USA

TORX® is recognized as one of the three most efficient fastening systems because of their ability to transfer greater torque, reduce load and - Ko-ken USA

kokenusa.com

Vim HTC27
.75" long = 19.05mm