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Williams sockets are the same as snapon
- Thread starter gtlaw
- Start date
I sold my snapon shallow and deep 3/8 metric sets a while ago and never looked back. While the Williams are top notch these are clearly not the same Williams measuring at 1.17" and SO at 1.09"
davethorik
Well-known member
Only .08 difference, in this instance on 1 socket...I don't think it's enough to matter. I'm guessing the tolerance on length is wide open.
I bought a used set of Wright shallow 3/8 metric chrome sockets a few years back for silly cheap. The 10mm had some kind of defect in the broach (it was chromed over the defect, so pretty much had to have been from the factory). Basically the socket was kind of mooshed oversize.
I warrantied the socket at a local Wright dealer, and the new one I received was about .06" taller than the old, 3 years newer but otherwise identical. I wasn't happy at first, but they are tools, not an art display. The socket works which is all I ask.
I bought a used set of Wright shallow 3/8 metric chrome sockets a few years back for silly cheap. The 10mm had some kind of defect in the broach (it was chromed over the defect, so pretty much had to have been from the factory). Basically the socket was kind of mooshed oversize.
I warrantied the socket at a local Wright dealer, and the new one I received was about .06" taller than the old, 3 years newer but otherwise identical. I wasn't happy at first, but they are tools, not an art display. The socket works which is all I ask.
.080 might as well be a mile this particular dimension is probably held to +/-.005. My point is they are purposely made differently and that would even be apparent on paper. I can find the spec for Williams but don't know where to find the SO.
Last edited:
Bobioz1
Well-known member
Snap on has 3 socket lengths up to 19mm in 3/8" drive so the shallow sockets are shorter than with williams. This was established years ago. My Williams USA 3/8" drive SAE deeps measure to the dimensions given on the Snap-On website.
Actually, 4 socket lengths in 3/8 drive.
Williams usa sockets are the best value out there, and I own lots of snap-on
Correct. Best value in USA made sockets; very hard to argue that isn't true.
Are they exactly the same as Snap-on? Probably not. It is reasonable to assume they are not radically different but they are made on two different lines and without a pretty large sample size and destructive testing it is impossible to know if they are made from the exact same stock and tempered/quenched/hardened/chrome bathed/etc the exact same way.
If it is really the same (Lisle/Mac,Trusty-Cook/Matco,OTC/Mac,Gearwrench/Matco) then that is good information to catalog here. Guesses that just because the same parent holding company owns both trademarks and they kind of look similar are not helpful and create myths and prevailing wisdom that is just plain wrong.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I'm thinking that Williams socket in the first picture might be NOS, (new old stock); they're suppose to be identical in length per size.
The williams 3/8 ratchet i have is very good and seems extremely similar to a few of the older snap-ons i've seen.
They're owned by snap-on, made in the same place as snap-on (usa stuff anyway) i cant see them going out there way to buy different tooling etc.. just to make sockets with a different name.
You can get some good stuff under the Bahco name also, such as files, pipe grips etc...
They're owned by snap-on, made in the same place as snap-on (usa stuff anyway) i cant see them going out there way to buy different tooling etc.. just to make sockets with a different name.
You can get some good stuff under the Bahco name also, such as files, pipe grips etc...
Well my SO is .033 under the published dimension and the Williams is .013 over.
Are your nuts complaining?
lg
no neat sig line
225
Well-known member
If only Williams made semi-deep sockets..
Don't forget CDI, the SO Industrial division that makes their torque wrenches. I see that the SO wrenches have a swivel head and the similar CDI has a fixed head. Pretty similar other than that. I'm guessing the torque wrench mechanism and the ratchet head are the same. Identical specs.The williams 3/8 ratchet i have is very good and seems extremely similar to a few of the older snap-ons i've seen.
They're owned by snap-on, made in the same place as snap-on (usa stuff anyway) i cant see them going out there way to buy different tooling etc.. just to make sockets with a different name.
You can get some good stuff under the Bahco name also, such as files, pipe grips etc...
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mikebaker1129
Well-known member
Tools Delivered posted on this awhile back and mentioned that other than some minor external steps and Snap on gets additional chroming steps and polishing.
I am in the process of going to Williams USA for my bit sockets and metric deep well sockets.
I purchased 2 sockets yesterday on the SO truck a 1/4 10mm deep well 6 pt. $23.60 and a 3/8dr 10mm long bit socket $34.65 . Total was $62.62 .
The same socket made by Williams is $5.83.
I am in the process of going to Williams USA for my bit sockets and metric deep well sockets.
I purchased 2 sockets yesterday on the SO truck a 1/4 10mm deep well 6 pt. $23.60 and a 3/8dr 10mm long bit socket $34.65 . Total was $62.62 .
The same socket made by Williams is $5.83.
Don't forget CDI, the SO Industrial division that makes their torque wrenches. I see that the SO wrenches have a swivel head and the similar CDI has a fixed head. Pretty similar other than that. I'm guessing the torque wrench mechanism and the ratchet head are the same. Identical specs.
Many of the CDI torque wrenches have an imported ratchet head. That doesn't matter to the torque reading part, of course, but if you care about COO it does.
Don't forget CDI, the SO Industrial division that makes their torque wrenches. I see that the SO wrenches have a swivel head and the similar CDI has a fixed head. Pretty similar other than that. I'm guessing the torque wrench mechanism and the ratchet head are the same. Identical specs.
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Snap-on bought out Norbar over here in May of last year. All my torque wrenches are older Norbars, i hope they don't change anything as they are excellent imo, best torque wrenches i've ever used and made in the UK.
https://www.norbar.com/en-gb/News-Events/Latest-News/entryid/873/Default
If they move production overseas it'll be a real kick to the nuts.