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Socket wrench set suggestions

H

Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
I cracked a socket the past weekend while working on my car and realized it's probably because I have a bottom of the barrel set. I would like to upgrade and get both a higher quality and more comprehensive set compared to the tiny set I have now. I don't really care about getting fixed wrenches or the screw driver attachments, but it looks like you cannot purchase a set without these. Top of the line is not required, but I am searching for a set of decent quality. I want at least two different size socket wrenches, one of which has to accept 3/8" sockets since I have a 3/8" wobble extension and I would like the sockets to fit my 3/8" torque wrench without an adapter.

I am leaning towards this craftsman set after borrowing an identical set this weekend: https://www.sears.com/craftsman-108...lerId=Sears&prdNo=18&blockNo=18&blockType=G18
The only thing I didn't like on this set were the hard to read sizes on the sockets which was a PITA since I spilled everything twice.

Any other suggestions before I hit the buy button?
 
Do you have a Harbor Freight near you? Their Pittsburgh line is a middle of the road line with a good price point especially with coupons.
 
Yea unless you really trash your tools HFT will have anything you need as far as sockets and ratchets. I buy them all the time and their prices can't be beat. Their impact tools are okay too but I haven't used them extensively.

Craftsman is great but you're paying for the name and it's mostly made from the same materials. I might look at Husky or Mac tools as an alternative but Snap On and Gearhead are kind of a rip off imo; are too expensive.
 
Sears has gone really downhill in recent years. I bought a set a few months back to keep in our trailer and the quality is definitely not there anymore. I'd rather buy Husky or Kobalt.

I would just go see which has the best fit/finish. It isn't Craftsman anymore.
 
Most all of my socket sets are craftsman and I've never had one crack on me. I have had one or two ratchets repaired by them through the lifetime warranty.

I'd be a little worried moving forward on the lifetime warranty, but since they've sold the brand off and it will still be available, you should be good with them.

Harbor freight I'm not sure what the warranty is like and if you can replace individual sockets in-store or have to ship in.
 
deadlyapp said:
Harbor freight I'm not sure what the warranty is like and if you can replace individual sockets in-store or have to ship in.
Click to expand...

You can replace their stuff in store but I'm not sure what they do when you have 1 piece out of a set that breaks. Pretty sure they'd want you to return the entire set to replace.
 
Mechanics I've know prefer Snap-On or MAC. They consider Craftsman a second-best choice. But Craftsman has traditionally been more accessible to the general public.

I've never had much trouble with my Craftsman tools. I've had cheap knockoff sockets break or crack. Those things I'd always acquired in various situations of quick need, or I bought them off the $1 sale table at a hardware store.

I've obtained Snap-On tools as used items given to me either as a gift, or simply found somewhere as someone else's loss in the dirt and weeds of a junkyard.

It's important to me that I have 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive tools with conversion extensions. I think my Craftsman torque wrench has 3/4" drive, and I have a conversion extension for that, too. I can't be that sure about the torque wrench: I haven't used it in a long time, and I should look to refresh my memory.

As for Sears, Craftsman and off-shore production. I don't know about the changes in where the tools are actually made. I do know that Craftsman has some degree of corporate independence, because it was recently announced that Lowe's Hardware is now selling their tools.
 
BonzaiDuck said:
Mechanics I've know prefer Snap-On or MAC. They consider Craftsman a second-best choice. But Craftsman has traditionally been more accessible to the general public.

I've never had much trouble with my Craftsman tools. I've had cheap knockoff sockets break or crack. Those things I'd always acquired in various situations of quick need, or I bought them off the $1 sale table at a hardware store.

I've obtained Snap-On tools as used items given to me either as a gift, or simply found somewhere as someone else's loss in the dirt and weeds of a junkyard.

It's important to me that I have 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive tools with conversion extensions. I think my Craftsman torque wrench has 3/4" drive, and I have a conversion extension for that, too. I can't be that sure about the torque wrench: I haven't used it in a long time, and I should look to refresh my memory.

As for Sears, Craftsman and off-shore production. I don't know about the changes in where the tools are actually made. I do know that Craftsman has some degree of corporate independence, because it was recently announced that Lowe's Hardware is now selling their tools.
Click to expand...
Craftsman is much farther down the line than second-best. I prefer HF's Pittsburg Pro ratchets over Craftsman, and Gearwrench's 120XP ratchets are positively lovely.
 
It doesn't matter who made the tool, I have broken or wore them out. Check out Stanley tool sets.
 
BonzaiDuck said:
As for Sears, Craftsman and off-shore production. I don't know about the changes in where the tools are actually made. I do know that Craftsman has some degree of corporate independence, because it was recently announced that Lowe's Hardware is now selling their tools.
Click to expand...
Supposedly they switched to Chinese production around 2010.

The reason they're in Lowe's is because Black & Decker bought the Craftsman name last year.
 
NutBucket said:
Supposedly they switched to Chinese production around 2010.

The reason they're in Lowe's is because Black & Decker bought the Craftsman name last year.
Click to expand...
When I still worked at a sears back in 2011 time frame, nearly all the sockets, wrenches, and ratchets were all still USA made. All of mine are.

I've garnered more support for Chinese tools & steel - there's no reason why they aren't equivalent or better than USA products.
 
IMHO the fit and finish just isn't there. But I agree it's highly dependent on what consumers are willing to pay for and that China is capable of building high quality products/tools.

These days I try my best to buy American or German made tools. It takes a bit of effort and obviously a bit more money but to me it's worth it.
 
Forgot about Kobalt; their sets are really nice too. There's only a handful of Lowe's in my area though so I don't typically shop there.

btw not to veer the thread but can anyone recommend a solid quality 3/4" and/or 1/2" drive clicky torque wrench?
 
Amazingly Pittsburgh is suppose to be quite good (accurate) and obviously quite cheap. I have no clue how well they hold up long term though I suspect nobody ever gets their torque wrenches calibrated after purchase and years of use.
 
Gearwrench Semi-deep should cover most things
I think some youtube guy mentioned Duralast as good. Try searching for that on google.
 
I use Snap On myself, MAC is also good, as is Cornwell Tools .. If you want to be safe, get the Impact version of the socket. The walls are thicker, so the only issue is if clearance around the bolt or nut is tight. But they will not break and you can always use an impact gun on them if you need to.
 
I have not been lucky enough to own Snap-On tools but they are the best produced.

They have a tool for everything too. My dad had a car where the wheel bearing grease was sealed with a cap and the caps kept not sealing straight.

And mechanic friend told me oh, they have to be taken off and put on straight, use a cap puller, shows me snap on cap puller, looks like a tongs made for exactly what he's talking about, $50 plus shipping lol one hand tool.

But the job gets done and it doesn't break.

Northern Tool used to be good too but I think they are all chinese pot metal now too.
 
Part of the reason mechanics like Snap On and Mac because the truck comes to you. If a tool breaks, you don't have to go to a store.
 
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