Looking for a metric socket set

[atlarge54]

Ok, I've got quite a few tools as it is but I'm not a pro. Lately it seems when under the hood of an auto a well organized set of metric 1/4 and 3/8 sockets both regular and deep sockets would be very handy. My newer Craftsman stuff seems pretty crappy, what are the better mid-grade sets. Is Kobalt stuff OK? When I search online it seems all the kits are both metric and SAE. I'd really like to have it all in a plastic organizer and metric only.

 

[keh]

Sears tools made in China now. Kobalt is either
China or Taiwan. SK and Wright are good choices
for US made tools.

All auto parts store tools are China or Taiwan.
For imports, Gearwrench as sold at Advance Auto
are good tools. Some of them are made in China
so check the packaging. Duralast as sold at
Autozone is good, but some of them are China made
also.

KEH

 

[showcrop]

My son is assistant manager of a Lowe's. He keeps giving me Kobalt tools for gifts and so far I have had very little luck with them.

 

[smallercrawler]

Bought a couple Kobalt metric socket sets a year or so ago. Not daily users, but expected to pull their weight when needed, they have so far.

 

[Anonymous-0]

SK

 

[D7fever]

Needed a 6 point metric socket a while ago, went to
the local home owned auto parts store, they had
one, $25.00, went over to Auto Zone, they had a set
7 or 8 sockets, $12.00 bought them, figured it as a
throwaway set, but it did what I wanted,and now I
have a good usable set of metric 6 point sockets.
I hate to buy foreign made stuff, but hard to avoid
it sometimes, I never would have thought of going
to Auto Zone for tools, but this worked out. I
don't have to use metric very often.

 

[Deeredrummer47]

Buy nice or buy twice Buy some snap on stuff and pass it on down threw the generations

 

[Pops1532]

SK

 

[RodinNS]

NAPA, UltraPro. Good quality at an affordable price. Just don't go near their UltraCraft stuff. That's crap... UltraPro is mostly S-K stuff with some K-D mixed in...

Rod

 

[Anonymous-0]

How can you not need metric very often? Seams like that's all that's used anymore

 

[Jiles]

When purchasing ANY tool, I have found this to be true--"A quality tool will be marked by the manufacturer with their name".
If it doesn't have a name, I don't buy. Also, I do not by tools made in a Communist country.
Ninety percent of my tools are AMERICAN made. I had rather purchase a worn American made tool then to be given something China made!
The problem with China and other communist made products is not the design-most are copies-- it is with the quality of the build materials!
I have bought a lot of hand tools and power tools off eBay but none were made in China or Taiwan, and was pleased with every item.
I must admit that, some time back, I needed a drill press vise and broke my rule by taking a chance on a vise that didn't appear to be China made.
When I received the like new $30.00 vise, I knew immediately it was made by child labor!
I machined the cast surfaces and made it at least usable and then donated it.

 

[Buddy]

I agree 100% on buying and using Snap-on tools.
I bought my first set of Snap-on tools in 1972 and made my living using them for 40 plus years. I have to say , I did wear out several pieces of them over the years but, always had great service in replacing them.
Only thing ! I need my hands repaired now!
After 40 years of wrenching they are pretty well wore out. Glad I am retired ! (some what) LOL !!

 

[Anonymous-0]

SK all the way!!

 

[D beatty]

Not all of Snap-on tools are made in USA.

 

[Jiles]

(quoted from post at 17:48:56 01/14/14) Not all of Snap-on tools are made in USA.

[b:5b89153d2e]ALL[/b:5b89153d2e] mine are--or at least they are marked that way! But some are 50 or 60 years old.
Some or their new tools probably are--like nearly every thing else!!

 

[gmccool]

By Snap On. It is better than money in the bank. I have thousands of $$$ in Snap On tools I bought & used in the 70s & 80s They are worth nearly double what I paid for them way back when.

 

[D beatty]

Jiles the line of Snap-on tools called the Blue Line are made in China.

 

[Dalex]

Proto is a top american brand . Avialable at
Grainger , you can google their website . I have
used them for 50 years , fine tools.

 

[Pops1532]

(quoted from post at 17:03:08 01/14/14) By Snap On. It is better than money in the bank. I have thousands of $$$ in [b:e71e100ece]Snap On tools I bought & used in the 70s & 80s They are worth nearly double what I paid for them way back when[/b:e71e100ece].

I think that applies to any quality tool.
Problem is our money is only worth a fraction of what it was back then.

 

[retired farmer]

They don"t bring much at any auction I have ever been to.

 

[LenND]

Not all Sears tools are made in China. Some are made in a place called USA. Supposed to be stamped on the tool where made.

 

[D beatty]

You are right but you have to look them over good. I wish Sears would put the USA tools on their own section.

 

[cd1]

Although in my day to day box I have mostly snap-on. I have a good many blue point items in my farm shop (sockets, ratchets, wrenches) and have no complaints, very decent stuff. I have been buying a number of tools from NAPA lately which are sold under the NAPA/Carlyle brand.

 

[Ray UK]

Although not resident in the USA I have seen the Kobalt brand from Lowes while visiting our son in Ohio and have used his Kobalt sockets while over with him. As a result I have bought knuckle bars and ratchets for use here in the UK and have been impressed by there quality. Also when compared to UK prices for similar tools they are good value.
Not too sure how I would get in the event of making a claim on their lifetime warranty though.
I would agree that for the serious professional who is using tools continually then Snap-On are very good but also very expensive.
Ray.

 

[Farmboy856]

SK

 

[Pops1532]

(quoted from post at 19:30:44 01/14/14) They don"t bring much at any auction I have ever been to.

Snap On and other quality tools bring very close to new prices at auctions around here. As more tool manufacturers have moved production out of the US, prices on quality used tools are bringing stronger prices.

 

[rmf1066]

There are several people suggesting S-K I will agree they are
a good tool but around here in west centeral Indiana I can't get
mine warrantyed. I would rather have a lesser product that the
manufacture will stand behind. They say I can send back to
the factory and they will repair or replace, I have yet to try that.
It is just nice to step in the tool truck show him a broken tool
and walk out with a new one. Just remember you get what you
pay for. A $5 ratchet will always be a $5 ratchet.

 

[BOBM25]

If you have a caseih dealer close to you they started selling
tools awhile ago. I don't know who makes them, but we have a
few and them seem pretty nice. I am really impressed with the
full polish tear drop ratchets. Priced right too, at least at our
local dealer

 

[JOB]

I have used SK for 50 years and never broke a tool yet, except when abused. I wore out a 3/8 drive ratchet a couple of times and it was repaired at no charge. The link below is SK's warranty.
Untitled URL Link

 

[JML755]

(quoted from post at 16:15:37 01/14/14) Not all Sears tools are made in China. Some are made in a place called USA. Supposed to be stamped on the tool where made.

Our company builds test equipment for a wide range of products. One of our customers builds a product in a foreign country and ships it to their HQ in the US where they run it across our tester (after it's been tested in the foreign country on a duplicate tester) and puts a "made in USA" label on it. Seen this with my own eyes.

 

[Tom Bowman]

I bought a set of SK 3/8" drive metric sockets in about 1978 to work on my Schwinn bicycle, and I've used them ever since.

I already had the SK 3/8" drive SAE set, to work on my 1971 Chevelle Malibu. (Which I wish I still had! )

I also "inherited" my Granddad's SK 1/4" drive set, which included deep sockets, and some unusual sizes (11/32", for example) which has proven handy for working on the Fergy, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

It was missing a socket, and my local auto parts store ordered an SK replacement for me - it cost about as much as a whole set of "cheap" sockets!

 

[IH2444]

I buy 6 point sockets From Harbor freight, etc
I have never split one of the black ones even using a 3/8 drive on a 600 ft pound impact.

I also got several 6 point Stanley ones at Wally world about 12 years ago. All still good.

Yes the SK and Snap ons are good. However for most people the cheaper ones work just fine.

Do not buy the 9.99 complete set of Chinese 12 point ones at the flea market though. They ARE junk.

 

[Tom Bowman]

Yeah, I forgot to mention: I got a set of big, 3/4" drive sockets from my local auto parts store for working on the tractor.

They're the K-Tool brand, and have been fine so far. (Made in Taiwan, I think.)

 

[caseyc]

The CaseIH tools are Blue Point brand which is Snap on's economy line. They are made overseas but they are made well.

Casey in SD

 

[Dr. Walt]

LenND:

If it doesn't have DECIMALS after the letters then it was probably made in USA, JAPAN. Shortly after WW2 , Japan renamed a town "Usa"; then they bought all of our scrap metal and made cheap junk which they exported to the United States, with labels on it that stated "Made in USA" (NOTE: NO DECIMALS) . The American public bought the junk thinking that it was made HERE in the United States. That went on for a number of years until the American public wised up to what they were doing.

The Japanese, like the Chinese, are excellent at COPYING what others have created, but the quality is lacking. That being said, the quality of certain Japanese products is far superior to Chinese products.

 

[nebken]

I used to buy all SK tools. They are still a good tool. They are too expensive for me now and no dealers anywhere close.

last I knew SK would only wantenty tools if I mailed them to Omaha and paid a $5 service fee. Then pay the return shipping.

Lately when I need an individual socket or wrench I buy Craftsman off ebay with free shipping. I bought a 5/8 6pt wrench for $3.95 and some 1/4 sockets under $3.50 each. If they break I will just get new ones.So far they have been good



NAPA sockets are a joke! Don't need a cheater to break one that's for sure. I bought life time metric set 10 years a go. Broke the 15mm socket. it took it to the NAPA where I bought the set. They Would not replace the socket stating it was discontinued.
I pointed at the 15mm socket hanging on the wall behind the counter and asked how it can be discontinued when you have one?
The owner of the store said the part number has been changed and they can't replace my 15mm socket with the old part number with the new 15mm socket with the new part number??

 

[sammydwm]

Proto has been the tool of choice for my family for a couple of generations.
Very good stuff, lifetime warranty.
I don't care for SKs new warranty deal, the piece they sent me to fix my old breaker bar was not correct. The sight unseen, send it in the mail thing seems kinda strange...

 

[RodinNS]

Ironic how NAPA's lifetime sockets and whatnot are made by SK...

Rod