Good brand for new socket set?

FaultyLine

FaultyLine

NAXJA Forum User
NAXJA Member
Location
Los Angeles
Hello fellow :NAXJA: members and non-members alike.

I've replaced the engine in my Jeep twice now (one was a craigslist motor while I was getting my new motor built) and the Harbor Freight sockets, open ended wrenches and ratchets just aren't up to snuff anymore. I would like to know what y'all think are a good set of replacements would be. I don't want to spend a thousand bucks, but I know whatever I get is going to be many more times the cost of my Harbor Freight stuff...

I'm also looking for a good set of socket holders (something like goo.gl/7YW8VF). Unfortunately, my tool box doesn't have tall drawers so I have to use single rows type socket holders. I again have the cheap-o Harbor Freight ones, but the sockets fall off constantly.

I'd really appreciate any opinions anyone has - thanks!
 
For sockets and ratchets I've got primarily Craftsman. Look around at flea markets and garage sales for the older ratchets, I'm not found of the new ones.

For wrenches I've got craftsman for fixed box and open end wrenches and Gearwrench for my ratcheting wrenches. The Gearwrench ones can be gotten on sale for a decent price if you keep an eye out for them.

I'm pretty rough on my tools and have had to take a few items back to be replaced at Sears. Although with the way things are going Sears may not be around much longer.
 
Craftsman, maybe craftsman pro, should work fine. Lifetime warranty. There are sets on sale all the time.
The gearwrench ratchet wrenches are legit. I recommend stubby's and regular flex head ones.
If you can find used snap-on stuff for a decent price, do that.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I too was thinking of Craftsman. It seems like the right price range for the quality. SnapOn is the preferred choice, but I can't really afford $80 for a ratcheting wrench, especially since I don't use the tools every single day.
 
i paid ~50 bucks shipped (ebay, brand new) for a gearwrench socket set a couple years ago. no wrenches, just sockets. came with deep and shallow metric and SAE, all 6 point. they don't skip sizes, goes from tiny up to 1" and 24mm. i'm pretty happy with it for the price. my impact sockets are a mix of HF and husky pro, no issues so far. most/all of my open end wrenches and line wrenches are HF. no complaints there either.

i have husky pro ratchets and they good enough. one day i'll pony up for some nice ones. gearwrench brand wrenches are a must IMHO. idk how anyone can work without them.
 
While I have a toolbox full of Craftsman tools, the quality isn't what it was 20 years ago. Especially the socket wrenches. I've recently become a fan of Kobalt tools. And I agree on Gear Wrench ratcheting wrenches. Good stuff.
 
I swear by a COMPLETE-ish set in a blow molded case, such as this: http://www.tylertool.com/stanley-92...u=STYN92-839&gclid=CPLj57StpMECFdCCfgod0RIAeQ
once the case gets a little beat down, i'll buy a new set, and 'retire' the older to vehicle duty. Ive got 3, 1 in the garage, 2 in jeeps. Home depot used to carry them. The 99 is completeish enough, anything less i wouldnt want to work with, as they skip things like 16mm, etc.

Im gonna go out on a limb here, and say those socket rail things suck ass. Even the casual mention of them nearly makes me ill. Like the rails, every socket has a 'home', which makes cleanup easy and efficient. But the case doesnt suck as much as the rails. I prefer the husky/stanley99, be it in the back seat of the jeep, in the toolcart, or even carried down to the jeep when doing repairs parked on the street or junkyard.

Like many, ive got a tub of sockets, and a box of open ends from 3 generations of wrenching. If its an odd size not covered by the husky99, ie, 18mm or 13/16" open end, i goto the secondary boxes. Those are the only 2 i commonly walk for.
 
Look at www.tooltopia.com many different brands and decent prices. Pretty much any tool you can think of is on there minus truck brands ie mac matco snap on. SK is great quality and not too bad of a price also gearwrench, grey pneumatic and Astro pneumatic have good prices and work well even in a professional shop. I use all 3 daily and haven't had an issue
 
I have a couple of Snap On ratchets from ebay for about 50% of what they go for new. I've really started to appreciate them. Buy some USA craftsman from ebay for socket sets. I also have a fair amount of Williams USA (not Taiwan) sockets, which are Snap On's industrial brand. The Williams USA are very nice but much cheaper than Snap On.

A good source for Williams is http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Hand-Tools_c_2620.html

I recently bought a set of metric and sae long Napa Carlyle wrenches from ebay. I really like them compared to my craftsman wrenches. If you can find the carlyle stuff on ebay it's a decent deal, I wouldn't pay the new price in store though.
 
this is just personal preference here but i would say decent sockets and spend the money on a GOOD ratchet. the tightness of the ratcheting and the quality of the tool will make things much easier even with a craftsman or kobalt socket set. i use the hell out of harbor freight sockets and have a full set of impact sockets, they're a little heavy and clunky but they're still lifetime warranty and ive never had to replace one. a good ratchet is worth its weight in gold though.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone - I really appreciate the insight!
 
I have HF sockets (full sets from 1/4 - 1/2 shallow and deep in SAE and metric) and haven't had a single issue out of them, including using them as impact sockets.

I even have their composite ratchets in 1/4 - 1/2 and the only one I've busted so far is a 1/4 drive one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-heavy-duty-composite-ratchet-66313.html

Honestly, haven't had a single issue out of those either. Been using them for 2+ years now. I've done everything from gearing axles to building motors with them and they haven't skipped a beat.

I even bought their professional "earthquake" (LOL) impact gun for $70. Thing has more power than my friends older snap-on gun. We'll see how long that lasts.
 
i tend to use a 1/4 where a 3/8 would be better but too big, and same with 1/2 vs 3/8s so ive broken a few HF ratchets. usually the teeth inside strip on me.
 
Blue Point is good. When I first started working at a shop I bought all Blue Point thinking They were gonna be a "Starter" set but theyve lasted about 10 yrs now. I seem to lose more than break em. LoL
 
@MoParManic, I originally bought the cheapest ratchet I could get, and now I have to smack it to get it to 'work' haha. I've been eyeing those composite ones, but I tend to use my tools really hard, and there is something about the plastic that leaves an uneasy feeling. I might give it a shot if I'm in a pinch and need something quick. The sockets are OK, but the open end wrenches I bought are really off tolerance.

@GrimmJeeper, I do the same - I want a bullet proof 1/4" wrench!

@Jays siik XJ, Thanks for the suggestion!
 
FaultyLine said:
@MoParManic, I originally bought the cheapest ratchet I could get, and now I have to smack it to get it to 'work' haha. I've been eyeing those composite ones, but I tend to use my tools really hard, and there is something about the plastic that leaves an uneasy feeling. I might give it a shot if I'm in a pinch and need something quick. The sockets are OK, but the open end wrenches I bought are really off tolerance.

@GrimmJeeper, I do the same - I want a bullet proof 1/4" wrench!

@Jays siik XJ, Thanks for the suggestion!
Click to expand...

Yup, the open ended wrenches are meh. I already broke a 10mm smashing it with a hammer (to be expected).

I've used my composite ratchets as hammers several times. Still going strong, other than the 1/4" like I said.
 
I like Snap On for anything I use regularly.

Their ratchets and flare nuts are second to none.

I started with Craftsman about 15 years ago and got tired of busted knuckles from poor fitting sockets, so I upgraded.

The Duralast stuff from Auto Zone these days isn't half bad and has a lifetime warranty. The sockets are made in Taiwan not China. That wasn't an option 15 years ago.

Today it's also a lot easier to buy 6 point sets.
 
I can't believe I missed this thread.

I had the pleasure of losing all of my tools and starting over from scratch in 2014. I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of people in choosing what to buy.

For sockets, look at Sunex. They are very high quality, and come in incredibly complete sets. In metric 1/2 drive my set has every size from 10mm to 36mm uninterrupted.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...keywords=sunex socket set&sprefix=sunex+s,aps

I buy Snap-On ratchets used on ebay to go with them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

U
What do you guys use for parts cleaner chemicals?
Replies
9
Views
843
75SV1
7
T
Hard Brake Lines ‘99
Replies
18
Views
2K
tuckholladay
T
M
What size socket for NP231 drain & fill bolts?
Replies
5
Views
5K
Starboard M
Starboard M
L
Socket Roll
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
kastein
kastein
B
Son's 97 XJ 4" build
Replies
6
Views
786
burntkat
B
Back
Top