Now that I think of it, there's a sale going on now. 
Need some advice on socket sets
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
Watch the sales at Sears and join the Craftsman Club. It's usually good for an extra $10-20off during sales.
The'll send you a Tool sale catalog every moth or so.
BTW. The plastic cases they include with the sets aren't very good, never seem to hold the tools in place and have
little room for additional tools.
Get a good tool box with ball bearing glides on the drawers. Ihave a couplethat are the low-mid grade Craftsman, I wouldn't recommend them. I have seen better boxes forthe same money elsewhere.
The'll send you a Tool sale catalog every moth or so.
BTW. The plastic cases they include with the sets aren't very good, never seem to hold the tools in place and have
little room for additional tools.
Get a good tool box with ball bearing glides on the drawers. Ihave a couplethat are the low-mid grade Craftsman, I wouldn't recommend them. I have seen better boxes forthe same money elsewhere.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
Im aprofessional mechanic so I use snap on.Craftsman will get you by for the occasional use your planning on.They also have a professional series which are of higher quality.Or you could by snap on off of e bay sometimes you can get killer deals
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, AL
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
Gotta agree with George. Doesn't matter what I'm wrenchin on... go with the 6 point sockets, leave the 12-point with the wanna-bes. My ratchet will get me in the position I need to be and I won't be rounding any bolt-heads.
-Rusty
-Rusty
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
From: SE Michigan
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
Love Craftsman tools. I have a variety of brands but if it is stubborn, use Craftsman. Other cheaper brands work most of the time, but they will slip and round off bolts more than Craftsman. IMHO. Remember, lifetime investment.
My gripe with Craftsman is in the bundling of sets. If you start with a small set it can be expensive to add the larger items to expand your collection. Buying individual sockets and wrenches is expensive. When you go to get the larger wrenches, your are pretty much forced to buy a complete set again for the money.
The plastic cases with a spot for each socket is great. When you are done it is so easy to make sure a stray socket isn't lost.
Also I like the large laser etched sizes. Guess I'm getting old.
My gripe with Craftsman is in the bundling of sets. If you start with a small set it can be expensive to add the larger items to expand your collection. Buying individual sockets and wrenches is expensive. When you go to get the larger wrenches, your are pretty much forced to buy a complete set again for the money.
The plastic cases with a spot for each socket is great. When you are done it is so easy to make sure a stray socket isn't lost.
Also I like the large laser etched sizes. Guess I'm getting old.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
1. Watch Sears' ads and catch a big tool sale and buy at the store. When you do apply for a Sears credit card at the same time. There will be a big discount on that first purchase.
2. Don't laugh now.............Watch QVC for their presentation of a very nice Sears socket set made up specially for them. It has 1/4 in., 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drives. It also has metric and inch sockets in all three sizes. There are more than 200 pieces and a nice tool chest for less than $200 delivered. If you can catch itas a "Special Value", there will be additional savings. I know about this because I was complaining about my mishmash of tools I have accumulated over the past years to my wife. She spotted the above and purchased it for me as a surprise gift. I have been amazed at the times on motorcycle jobs that the exact socket needed was in that set.
You will have to purchase on the side a 12 point 10 mm socket in 3/8 in. drive to be able to remove brake calipers.
The tool set you mention doesn't seem to have any sockets but you will need all the things mentioned. In addition buy the T-27 torx driver at Sears. One or two more ratchet drives in 3/8 in. will come in handy. There are two larger sized openend/boxend wrenches you will need for theaxle nuts and heads. One side you can get away with using a crescent type wrench. You might prefer to use sockets on the two axle nuts in conjunction with the torque wrench. The common 'combination' wrench set is a must in the inch pattern.
The allen hex drive set in 3/8 in. drive is very handy to have. You can use the 'L' shaped allen wrench, but the socket drive set version is the best.
You will need a breaker bar in both 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drives. All of these tools that will have to be purchased separately can usually be found in pawn shops. An assortment of additional 3/8 in. drive extensions would be a great addition.
And the last tools that I can think of right now is a set of three adaptors that allow you to drive 3/8 in. sockets with a 1/2 in. ratchet, the reverse of that and perhaps one for 1/4 in. to 3/8 in. Oh yes, you should get a 3/8 in. drive impact socket driver. It is invaluable for loosening overly tight nuts and torx screws.
IMHO, thebrand namepecking order is (best to lesser): Snap-on, Matco, Craftsman, Proto and then house brands. Lately, Lowe's and Home Depot have brought out their own house brands of mechanic's tools that seem to be 'or equals' to Sears quality. I don't know if they warranty them as well as Sears does. IMHO, quality well cared for tools are the mark of a thoughtful mechanic. ........... BC
2. Don't laugh now.............Watch QVC for their presentation of a very nice Sears socket set made up specially for them. It has 1/4 in., 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drives. It also has metric and inch sockets in all three sizes. There are more than 200 pieces and a nice tool chest for less than $200 delivered. If you can catch itas a "Special Value", there will be additional savings. I know about this because I was complaining about my mishmash of tools I have accumulated over the past years to my wife. She spotted the above and purchased it for me as a surprise gift. I have been amazed at the times on motorcycle jobs that the exact socket needed was in that set.
You will have to purchase on the side a 12 point 10 mm socket in 3/8 in. drive to be able to remove brake calipers.
The tool set you mention doesn't seem to have any sockets but you will need all the things mentioned. In addition buy the T-27 torx driver at Sears. One or two more ratchet drives in 3/8 in. will come in handy. There are two larger sized openend/boxend wrenches you will need for theaxle nuts and heads. One side you can get away with using a crescent type wrench. You might prefer to use sockets on the two axle nuts in conjunction with the torque wrench. The common 'combination' wrench set is a must in the inch pattern.
The allen hex drive set in 3/8 in. drive is very handy to have. You can use the 'L' shaped allen wrench, but the socket drive set version is the best.
You will need a breaker bar in both 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drives. All of these tools that will have to be purchased separately can usually be found in pawn shops. An assortment of additional 3/8 in. drive extensions would be a great addition.
And the last tools that I can think of right now is a set of three adaptors that allow you to drive 3/8 in. sockets with a 1/2 in. ratchet, the reverse of that and perhaps one for 1/4 in. to 3/8 in. Oh yes, you should get a 3/8 in. drive impact socket driver. It is invaluable for loosening overly tight nuts and torx screws.
IMHO, thebrand namepecking order is (best to lesser): Snap-on, Matco, Craftsman, Proto and then house brands. Lately, Lowe's and Home Depot have brought out their own house brands of mechanic's tools that seem to be 'or equals' to Sears quality. I don't know if they warranty them as well as Sears does. IMHO, quality well cared for tools are the mark of a thoughtful mechanic. ........... BC
Thanks for the help!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Western, NY
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
As others have answered, Craftsman tools are not that bad of a tool to purchase for occasional use. You need to watch the sets that they sell. you will find th at you get several sockets that you will never use. You will also get double, and triple of socket sizes that you will never use.
When you are purchasing the sets, you will get allen wrenches in SAE and Metric, again, most of what you get, you won't use. So, when it seems like you are getting a good deal with the purchase price, you are really getting alot of tools that you probably won't use.
As others have said, if you purchase their "professional" series, you will get a better quality tool. Basically, the professional series is made by SK Tools. The one thing that sears does do is yearly they solicit bids for the craftsman line. So, when you do break something, it may be replaced with something that is the same quality, just looks a little different.
When you are purchasing the sets, you will get allen wrenches in SAE and Metric, again, most of what you get, you won't use. So, when it seems like you are getting a good deal with the purchase price, you are really getting alot of tools that you probably won't use.
As others have said, if you purchase their "professional" series, you will get a better quality tool. Basically, the professional series is made by SK Tools. The one thing that sears does do is yearly they solicit bids for the craftsman line. So, when you do break something, it may be replaced with something that is the same quality, just looks a little different.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 886
Likes: 3
From: NC Mountains
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
Craftsman is the number one recognized trademark in the world. You cannot go wrong buying Craftsman because of their easy exchange policy(hand tools only!) as well as quality. I work for a Craftsman authorized industrial distributor and have learned many things about the line since we took it on. Craftsman is a NAME...they are owned by Danaher Tool Group as is Armstrong, Allen,and some other brands. Craftsman hand tools are made in forge shops/plants which are contracted to make product per the customers specifications. The same forge shop can make any forging they have the tooling for such as golf club heads. The Craftsman wrench you use to work on your equipment quite possibly could have been made in the same plant your Ben Hogan Apex irons were made in. Armstrong is Danaher's "premier" line and is made to compete with Snap On, who used to have their own forge plants(they may still). These lines are all high quality and warranted for life. The advantage to Craftsman is the Sears inventory and no fuss exchange. Industrial distributors have different "bundling" of the tools but they are exactly the same products.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 1
From: Canada
RE: Need some advice on socket sets
Gotta agree with George. Doesn't matter what I'm wrenchin on... go with the 6 point sockets, leave the 12-point with the wanna-bes. My ratchet will get me in the position I need to be and I won't be rounding any bolt-heads.
-Rusty
-Rusty