Williams Taiwan same quality as Blue Point?

[gdocktor3]

I've been looking for a cheap, but well made 1/4" socket set and Blue Point has been my main focus. Then today I researched Taiwan Williams and read it is the same quality as Blue Point, which most people say is nearly Snap On quality. So I'm curious if anyone has used Williams Taiwan and what's the word on them?

I also see Wright's Cougar line. Anyone use them?

The best deal I can find, is the Mac Expert 66 piece set for $99 brand new. Anyone use Expert tools and have some feedback?

Is anyone better than the other or are they all about the same? I will not be buying the set based on the ratchet as I have Snap On and USA Craftsman ratchets already. I just don't have a complete set.

 

[TOOLFREEQ]

99% sure they are the same. I've owned both and the ratchets are identical and the plastic molded cases are the same as well just different stamping.

 

[JonDick13926]

Same quality, same tool as far as I know. Every time I buy a socket set, I buy a different brand to try out. One of the first sets I bought Post-Craftsman when I got into school was a 3/8" socket set (10-24mm) from Blue Point. They fit good, they look good (if you care) and I've been using them both at school and at work for about a year now. So far I have no complaints. I also have some William's Taiwan sockets (1/4" SAE set and some Philips bit sockets) that have been good. Are the bit sockets as durable as some of the better German or US made bit sockets? Probably not, but I haven't broken any so far. And as for standard sockets, I think they will serve you just as well as any good brand will.

 

[Fedwrench]

buy a single 10mm from each brand and try them out.

Taiwan Williams=Current Blue Point.

I don't understand the quest for the best of the second tier tool brands though

You should add Gearwrench, Toptul, and Blackhawk to your quest.

Have you considered Carlyle?
They offer one of the most complete 1/4 drive metric sets available running from 4-15mm including 4.5 and 5.5mm. Great chrome, nicely finished inside and out, great fit, nice knurling, Easy warranty service from your local NAPA if ever needed. often on sale

 

[JDon99]

The sockets and ratchets should be the same. I have a 3/8 set at work and use it occasionally, works fine. Even the goofy ribbed ratchet works pretty well and is fairly comfortable

 

[Richard Cranium]

I believe 6 in one half dozen in the other....

 

[gdocktor3]

I don't understand the quest for the best of the second tier tool brands though

:

What's not to understand? People do the same thing for the top tier tool brands too. I don't wrench everyday, but when I do I want something reliable. Because I don't wrench professionally everyday, I can't justify always buying Snap On or Matco, etc. Do you not understand the quest because they are all made in Taiwan? If so, the same can be said of the big names because they are made in USA.

I have the Carlyle 3/8 torx socket set. They are very nice and came on a plastic socket rack. If I could find a 1/4 set for a good price, I would consider buying it.

 

[John in OH]

buy a single 10mm from each brand and try them out.

Taiwan Williams=Current Blue Point.

I don't understand the quest for the best of the second tier tool brands though

You should add Gearwrench, Toptul, and Blackhawk to your quest.

Have you considered Carlyle?
They offer one of the most complete 1/4 drive metric sets available running from 4-15mm including 4.5 and 5.5mm. Great chrome, nicely finished inside and out, great fit, nice knurling, Easy warranty service from your local NAPA if ever needed. often on sale

I have to concur with Fedwrench regarding Carlyle. I try to buy USA-made tools whenever possible, but sometimes I need an item immediately and the only local source for me is NAPA. I recently purchased the Carlyle 1/4" drive, 6-point metric socket set (sockets only) and they are beautiful! And, as Fedwrench says, it is quite a complete set. I paid about $37 with a 10% discount.

I don't buy truck brands as I'm not a pro, but I would hesitate to call Carlyle "second-tier" .... maybe they are, but they sure perform well for me. So, if you are going to consider non-USA tools I'd definitely recommend looking at the Carlyle line. And, what can be more convenient that a NAPA store?

 

[Hiball]

What's not to understand? People do the same thing for the top tier tool brands too. I don't wrench everyday, but when I do I want something reliable. Because I don't wrench professionally everyday, I can't justify always buying Snap On or Matco, etc. Do you not understand the quest because they are all made in Taiwan? If so, the same can be said of the big names because they are made in USA.

Uh What? Jesus man it's just not that difficult, just so you know... It's Ok wrench with tools that don't come off the truck, **** gets done everyday with tools that weren't delivered in a climate controlled truck.

This place has gotten out of hand weird, FedWrench isn't on any COO Crusade, he gave you some viable brands (btw with COO of Taiwan/China), that you conveniently left out of his quote.

 

[Fedwrench]

What's not to understand? Do you not understand the quest because they are all made in Taiwan?

No, not at all. Check my previous threads . Although I don't own Taiwan Williams, I do own: Gearwrench, Carlyle, Toptul, Koken, along with most all US made automotive tool brands.

Unfortunately, I tend to buy tools and put them through their paces at work until I see the next "i wonder how those would work brand...." I'm addicted to chrome.

I am one of the strongest advocates of Gearwrench and other Taiwan made tools here. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Harbor Freight. However, I always judge a tool on how it performs and not where it's made.
I don't think you'll find a better finished socket inside and out than NAPA's Carlyle but, as I have said before, most people here won't accept a Taiwan made tool brand regardless of how well it performs. On sale they are a great buy. They are slightly longer than other 1/4 drive sizes but, I haven't had any issues with them. Sizes 9-15mm feature a slightly turned down base just below the center knurled band that make removing sockets with oily hands a snap.

Back to sockets, if you're only looking for metric sockets, check TOPTUL on ebay. There's a guy selling three racks in 1/4,3/8,1/2 drive metric six point socket for less than 40 bucks. Now, don't ask me how to warranty them, but, you'll probably never break one through normal use, and it may not have sizes like 5.5mm or 15mm in 1/4 inch drive but, it's an excellent value. Satin finished, off corner engagement.

 

[Brownsfan]

Taiwan Williams is IDENTICAL to Blue Point at a much cheaper price. I guess the SK set is out of the question? Also in the current Napa real deals catalog there is a really reasonably priced Armstrong set . It's a 50pc set with the 88 tooth ratchet for 119. If I needed a 1/4dr set I would be all over it. And the 3/8 Dr set is 56pc for 149. You could send back the SK set and get these 2 sets. Great quality and USA made .
http://realdeals.napaecatalog.com/app.php?RelId=6.2.3.7

 

[oldldh]

How about a GearWrench 80314D 47 pc 1/4" Drive SAE/Metric Socket Set...

5/32" through 9/16" Standard and 3/16" through 9/16" Deep sockets...

4mm through 15mm Standard and Deep sockets

They even come in a tray...(mine are pictured...)

www.tooldiscounter.com has the set for $38.59...

Or, GW #80300P for $74.87, you could get a set with the 120 tooth Ratchet, 2 extensions, a u-joint, a Thumbwheel ratchet, and a carrying case...

I decided that GW sockets and ratchets were the mostest for the leastest, and that's what I upgraded to, and I'm very pleased with the tools...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

As has been stated, Williams Taiwan and Blue Point are the same sockets, just with a different name and part number stamped in. All my deep 3/8" sockets at work are a Williams Taiwan (Williams USA doesn't offer 3/8 Deep Metric 12 point), with Blue Point to fill in the 20 & 21mm.

Extremely nice sockets, priced very well, and have held up fantastically with professional use.

 

[.45AcpFMJ]

I bought the big Expert set from our Mac man and beat the **** out of it. I use them on my cordless impact and no problems. Plus the price point, I don't sweat so much if I leave one on a truck or trailer in the outbound lane at work.

 

[Sprintman]

What Fedwrench said, Toptul. Not so easy to find in the U.S though it appears.

 

[SMKS]

Toptul is really nothing special. They have some nice tools but similar things are available under other brands as well. They really have no company presence in the U.S. beyond a couple people who imported some to sell.

Unless you want something that none of your friends will have, get another brand.

I had a set of XL Toptul wrenches, and while they were nice quality, there wasn't anything about them that's better than other brands. I won't be buying any more.

 

[Fedwrench]

Also in the current Napa real deals catalog there is a really reasonably priced Armstrong set . It's a 50pc set with the 88 tooth ratchet for 119. If I needed a 1/4dr set I would be all over it. And the 3/8 Dr set is 56pc for 149. You could send back the SK set and get these 2 sets. Great quality and USA made .

I have the Armstrong 1/4 set. I got it a couple of years ago from Cripe as a decent deal. However, aside from having sizes that Craftsman didn't like 15mm and 5.5mm deep, knurled extensions, and a nice 60 tooth ratchet (Armstrong didn't have 88 teeth back then), you're paying quite a bit more for Craftsman quality though.

The Armstrong sockets even have that funky double detent found on the square drives of US made craftsman chrome sockets. The quality of the chrome, dual markings, thin walls, all scream Craftsman. I would opt for something else but, that's just me.

 

[retDAC]

Regarding the Taiwan made BP & Williams sockets, there is an interesting comment at #5 here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=430804&highlight=cendai#post430804

 

[Sprintman]

Toptul is really nothing special. They have some nice tools but similar things are available under other brands as well. They really have no company presence in the U.S. beyond a couple people who imported some to sell.

Unless you want something that none of your friends will have, get another brand.

I had a set of XL Toptul wrenches, and while they were nice quality, there wasn't anything about them that's better than other brands. I won't be buying any more.

Appears you don't know the product range at all.

 

[SMKS]

Appears you don't know the product range at all.

I see you hail from down under, where perhaps Toptul has a bigger presence.

I actually do know the range pretty well. And I know there's nothing that really makes them superior to some of the competing brands that are much easier to get and have a company presence in the U.S.

Again, if you want something unique that your friends won't have, go ahead and get them. They're perfectly fine tools. But they aren't really superior to tools sold by other brands that actually have a company presence and wide support in the U.S.

Buy them all you want, it's no skin off my back. But I sure won't be buying any more of them.

 

[Sprintman]

K

I see you hail from down under, where perhaps Toptul has a bigger presence.

I actually do know the range pretty well. And I know there's nothing that really makes them superior to some of the competing brands that are much easier to get and have a company presence in the U.S.

Again, if you want something unique that your friends won't have, go ahead and get them. They're perfectly fine tools. But they aren't really superior to tools sold by other brands that actually have a company presence and wide support in the U.S.

Buy them all you want, it's no skin off my back. But I sure won't be buying any more of them.

Well the Super Torqe spanners easily beat Snap Offs in a test where the SO's were useful as tooth picks when the Toptul were still good. ****** embarrassing when you look at the rip off price for SO!

 

[organ]

K

Well the Super Torqe spanners easily beat Snap Offs in a test where the SO's were useful as tooth picks when the Toptul were still good. ****** embarrassing when you look at the rip off price for SO!

You seem perfectly unbiased...

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[The Toolest Guy]

You seem perfectly unbiased...

I agree with you completely.
Stating that one company beat another in a test is unbiased.

On another note that is not related at all.
If someone said that Snap-On beat another company in a test, that too would of course be perfectly unbiased..............

 

[Mohawk Dave]

How about a GearWrench 80314D 47 pc 1/4" Drive SAE/Metric Socket Set...SNIP....

I decided that GW sockets and ratchets were the mostest for the leastest, and that's what I upgraded to, and I'm very pleased with the tools...

I've upgraded over the last 3 years to pretty much all Snappy.

But I grabbed the GW 51 pc 1/4" set when it was 40?/50? bux and I can not believe how frikin nice they are. I know there's quite a few of us on GJ that endorse GW, but I'm surprised it's not more.

I'm keeping the Snappy I have, and still buy it at killer prices when I can, but all the vehicles and trailer boxes keep getting GW. mostest for the leastest for sure.

And in my Snappy 1/4 set, I threw that SO rat in the "extras" drawer and replaced with the GW 84t which, to me, is 100x nicer.

(I have complete sets of Carlyle wrenches and they are badass too. I don't have any of their sockets though. To tell the truth, I'm hesitant that Napa will 86 Carlyle one day like they do everything else.)

 

[Sprintman]

You seem perfectly unbiased...

I didn't do the test. Is that 'unbiased'

 

[Sprintman]

You seem perfectly unbiased...

I didn't do the test. Is that unbiased or biased?

 

[Adam.C]

I didn't do the test. Is that unbiased or biased?

This is complete and utterly foolishness. All the tests I've seen appear to be influenced by the nationality of the tester. In the Japanese test, the Nepros were strongest, Snap On second. In the German tests Stahlwile were strongest, Snap On was second. I'm sure there's a US test somewhere that puts Snap On on top.

If you make a wrench out of good steel and heat treat it properly, the only difference between the wrenches compared will be the physical size of the open end. German wrenches tend to be a bit bigger. You can read my combination wrench review for my conclusions. You have to give up some strength to make a thinner wrench. The other end of the spectrum are the chinese lobster claw wrenches that use lots of steel to compensate for out of control steel alloy and treatment.

BTW, as my comparison indicates, strength is a meaningless measure of a decent wrench.

 

[Adam.C]

Gdoc, what about Koken? Are they readily available in the US?

 

[gdocktor3]

I haven't seen Koken anywhere else but online or Ebay.

I don't understand why people get so upset about my question. I mean, if you go to buy a car, but can't afford Mercedes, you look at the Hyundai Genesis (Mercedes look alike). Everyone wants the "best" for their price range and affordability. My recent purchase of the 3/8 SK set arrived last week, and I've used it once since then. That is something I can justify buying, not a $500 Snap On set.

As for Gearwrench. I own 3 sets of their ratcheting wrenches and they are very nice. I go through a tool distributor near where I live who can get me KD 80314 - a 47 piece set of deep and shallow, mm and sae for $45 just sockets no ratchet. But then I think, $45, how good could they be?

 

[Brownsfan]

I have the Armstrong 1/4 set. I got it a couple of years ago from Cripe as a decent deal. However, aside from having sizes that Craftsman didn't like 15mm and 5.5mm deep, knurled extensions, and a nice 60 tooth ratchet (Armstrong didn't have 88 teeth back then), you're paying quite a bit more for Craftsman quality though.

The Armstrong sockets even have that funky double detent found on the square drives of US made craftsman chrome sockets. The quality of the chrome, dual markings, thin walls, all scream Craftsman. I would opt for something else but, that's just me.

I get what you are saying but... If they are identical to USA made Craftsman then fine. I have the 3 add a set socket modules sears sold. They were around the same piece count as those Armstrong sets in the Napa catalog. These sockets have been great. I have had them for quite some time with no issues or failures. I honestly don't remember what I paid and Im sure it was less. If I didn't have these already I would be looking real hard at the Armstrong still. I guess if they are good enough for the Military they should work great for home use. I also have never had an issue with the double detent thing and the thinner walls have come in hand for me. Who knows maybe the Armstrong is made to better standards than the Craftsman was. Just like the Williams and Snap On sockets.(Sarcasm) lol