I had a Craftsman socket set – I hated it. The ratchet never worked smoothly and the handle was poorly shaped. And the sockets would spill all over the place, even when the tray and case were properly secured. So I gave it to my neighbor. I warned, offered, warned again; he still wanted it.
So now I need a new socket set, mostly for nuts, lag bolts, and lag screws. I like quality long lasting tools, so I checked SnapOn. Holy cow! The 40 or 60 something piece set was around $1500!
Any recommendations for something much more reasonable?
Replies
I got snap on because 90% of my work is auto mechanic, but Husky at Home depot as a nice little kit. snap on is high due to the unlimited warrenty. great neck are pretty good.
SK is good stuff.
Try http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net
Check out SK sets at http://www.coastaltool.com
They have a couple of sets there for about $100
I'd also suggest S&K or maybe Matco.
Snap On makes nice stuff though.
I think the best for reasonable money are the sk's. I think snap on makes the nicest rachets, and screw drivers. You can get much better pricing on snap on but you need to have a good relationship with your dealer, so outside of mechanic's, your not going to buy enough to get them to give you better prices.
Go with one of the sk sets and add on a few snap on's or mac's if you want. Sk rachets are good, much better than a craftsman or husky but short of the snap on's. And I love the on/off lever on the snap on's.
I did some research and discovered that the Kobalt line of tools at Lowes is made by the same company that makes Matco. 'not quite as good, but not nearly as expensive.
I picked up the biggest Kobalt set of sockets and wrenches, and some extra metric wrenches a few months ago. I've been very happy with them; big improvement over the no-name Taiwanese hodge-podge I used to have. The case they came in keeps them well-organized.
Edited 4/27/2005 3:52 am ET by BarryO
One last thought to add - At one point I wanted a good quality 1/2" drive socket set, but didn't have a lot of bucks. So I just bought a set of 6 point impact sockets instead. They ain't pretty, but they do the job. The only drawback is that the sidewalls are thicker, so they're harder to get in tight spots.I bought the set in 1980. I haven't ever broken one of them or had to replace 'em.
Profanity sucks
Another vote for SK, I still have the original set I bought in High School (gulp '74) and working great. Although I do have some Craftsman as well, and they've been OK, they have a better driver from Magnesium I think that's actually very nice.
If you really want SnapOn - check out Ebay. There are almost always some for sale there - including new sets. I have friends that are very picky about their tools, and SnapOn tools from Ebay has been a great answer.
Another vote for SK.
I have some that I bought when I was 20.
In the following decades, the metal boxes finally gave up the ghost, but none of the tools themselves have broken.
I have lost ####bunch, yes. Or they were stolen. But I have never broken an S-K socket or wrench. And I am sometimes really not nice to them. I am not above using a cheater bar...
A person with no sense of humor about themselves, has no sense at all.
Thanks to all for the rec's. It looks like I'll be looking for SK, unless ebay can offer me a deal.
Do you really need a complete socket set. I haven't broken many craftsman sockets, and many have seen the impcact wrench more than I'd admit. I went and bought the rachets I liked the best, Kobalt feels like snap on because the parent company is the same, and I also use SK but sometimes they feel a little dated in ergonomics. The $60 dollars spent on a snap on rachet is money you'll never regret spending.