Tool Sets

[Roadking]

Hi all,
I’m looking for a tool set, specifically a ratchet and socket set, for my son. I’ve got my eye on a Stanley black chrome set. It seems reasonably priced ($69) for a 69 piece set. The thing that stands out is it has the easy to read numbers on the sockets (showing my age). Anyone have any advice on tool sets in general or the pear vs. round ratchet profile. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[The_Jeff]

The ratchets and socket sets usually have decent sockets but crummy ratchets with coarse, grabby 36 tooth movements. I'd see if you could play with them before shelling out the $.

$69 isn't fantastic; I got a Kobalt USA set for $20 on clearance post-fathers-day.

The big numbers are the latest fad; everyone's doing it, even harbor freight.

 

[jstutz]

I have the stanley black chrome set and i like it for the most part. I only have two issues. I dont use the set much so i cant speak for its durability but the ratchets are really nice. I have a lot of "good" ratchets and these ones are pretty good. There not super fine or anything but there nice and smooth, durable, and push button to lock the socket to the ratchet. I dont remember exactly what one i have but i wish it had more metric stuff in it. Not having a lot of metric is why i dont use it much. I do a lot of work on motorcycles, atvs, vehicles ect and metric is called for a good bit.

 

[stephen9666]

The Stanley set you're talking about is certainly made in China.

For price vs performance you can't beat Craftsman USA-made sockets. Sears always has some of their socket sets on sale. My local ACE Hardware now carries Craftsman, too. They had a set for around $50 (1/2 price).

I'm now a big-time tool nerd and have owned sockets and ratchets from pretty much all of the US tool brands. Sears sockets are the best value and made in the USA. They should also have the laser markings you like.

 

[ajchien]

Depends on situation...

For a gift?
Rare use? DIY/hobby use? Professional use?

 

[JGunn]

I dunno.. the steel in my craftsman sets has always been of lower quality than stanley, had fewer teeth, more play, and worn out faster. you can test it yourself with an auto-punch. click it on there about ten times, then compare it to a stanley rachet. you'll go "oh..."

only thing i like about craftsman is no shipping on tool replacement, but gosh darn it they wear out fast.. made in the usa, eh? what does that say about us that our rachets wear out faster than the chinese "[censored]"? except for their hand tools, snap-on is made in china, so you can't just say "it's from china" like it's all the same. there's good china stuff and bad china stuff just like there's good usa stuff and bad usa stuff. from my experience i consider craftman hand tools "bad usa" stuff.

 

[JGunn]

Irwin is another good example. I swear by genuine Vice Grip products. guess what? made in china. great stuff, too! Love all the Irwin products, some of the best mid range tap and die and drill bit sets you can get for the money.. although the tap and die stuff is actually manufactured in the USA still.

 

[Vikas]

My mechanic has now started using this Stanely black set. I suspect he had to pawn his truck brand tools before he cleaned up his act and got rehired by the owner. I don't know the full story except he got fired and then came back.

Bottomline:- If a professional mechanic can make his living with the Stanely black set, it can NOT be that bad.

- Vikas

 

[bob15]

How does a Craftsman ratchet wear out? I have C-man ratchets that are used daily for years and they don't wear out.

What Snap-On branded ratchet, sockets, wrenches, chisels, screwdrivers allen wrenches, punches, etc are made in china?

There are other bad things about Stanley to consider. How they screwed their employees in New Britain, Ct. Or marking stuff "made in USA" when it was in fact imported (uncle sam fined them pretty good for that). Or how they buy company and ship there products oversea (not that Stanley is the only on outsourcing). Another Stanley plus, the shafting Mac Tool drivers get because of Uncle Stanley.

Avoid Stanley. Avoid the china junk, buy American and at least an American will have job for a little longer.

Want a nice tool set that is American made, with American steel? Look at Wright Tool. And their 2nd tier line Cougar Tools. Both US made and well made.

Harry Epstein is a great place for American made tools, like Bonney and Wright.

http://store.harryepstein.com/search?q=socket+set

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/38drsets /A34.html

http://www.wrighttool.com/


bob

 

[GMBoy]

I agree, Stanley is not the best choice. I've never even seen a Stanley tool that was quality. That mechanic "making his living" off the Stanley choice seems to be just because he lost his job and was all could afford. I seriously doubt it will last him very long and he surely misses his old tools. True - the basic Craftsman rachets are now junk, but the professional grade ones are still decent.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: bob15
How does a Craftsman ratchet wear out? I have C-man ratchets that are used daily for years and they don't wear out.



You may not know, but the newer Craftsman ratchets aren't very good.

I still vote for a Craftsman socket set, then buying a different brand of ratchet.

There are so many ratchet choices it boggles the mind, but here's one I really like. This is basically my favorite ratchet right now. $25 + shipping from Harry Epstein, which is a great tool store in Kansas City that I've bought many tools from.

Wright 3490 3/8" drive ratchet. USA made and about 80 clicks per revolution.

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscInventory/3490-C.html

 

[Chris B.]

The higher end Craftsmen ratchets are very good quality. Matter of fact a coworker of mine broke his Snap-On ratchet trying to break free a rusted bolt on a semi. Put a cheater bar on his Craftsmen back up and it held and got the bolt off.

We use tons of Craftsmen hand tools at our shop(fleet of 250 Peterbuilts) and very few break. Very few Mac and Snap-On break but the Craftsmen stuff is just as good and we use the [censored] out of them!

 

[EricF]

you can usually find a sears faster than a tool truck

 

[Vikas]

Is that Wright 80 teeth? The website does not mention the teeth count. If it is US made with 80 teeth, that would be one heck of a bargain.

Breaking ratchets; if you are professional mechanic, don't you have a breaker bar or two or three? I understand that sometimes one can be lazy and put a pipe on a ratchet especially if the siad pipe does NOT fit over the breaker bar but in that case you have *decided to sacrifice* the ratchet.

 

[vssjim]

The Wiright ratchet in pic above is just what it says and they make great USA made tools and are a great value aswell. it has 40 teeth and is double paul making it eigthy teeth


Originally Posted By: Vikas
Is that Wright 80 teeth? The website does not mention the teeth count. If it is US made with 80 teeth, that would be one heck of a bargain.

Breaking ratchets; if you are professional mechanic, don't you have a breaker bar or two or three? I understand that sometimes one can be lazy and put a pipe on a ratchet especially if the siad pipe does NOT fit over the breaker bar but in that case you have *decided to sacrifice* the ratchet.

 

[goodtimes]

Check the Wright warranty and see if it is as good as Craftsman. I have a couple wright ratchets, very nice products. So is the USA Williams, the round head being especially nice I feel. Use as a breaker bar no problem with those.

 

[Vikas]

I don't quite understand how dual pawl makes it fine teeth. I can not think of geometric trick that will give you effectively double the teeth. Is every "click" of the ratchet 360/40 or 360/80 degree travel?

Having used to 72 teeth, I would never go back to 40 teeth.

 

[Trav]

AFAIK dual pawl is used only for extra strength, i can see how it could act like it doubles the tooth count.
I have been a 36 tooth user for 37 years and only use fine tooth occasionally when clearance is an issue otherwise i don't care for them.

That 40 tooth Wright looks like a heck of a good buy, I'm going to grab a couple.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Trav
AFAIK dual pawl is used only for extra strength, i can see how it could act like it doubles the tooth count.
I have been a 36 tooth user for 37 years and only use fine tooth occasionally when clearance is an issue otherwise i don't care for them.

That 40 tooth Wright looks like a heck of a good buy, I'm going to grab a couple.


That 40 tooth Wright looks good!

 

[stephen9666]

Wright's old single pawl ratchets were 41 clicks per revolution. They released a new dual-pawl design several years ago, which doubles the number of clicks while keeping the same number of teeth in the head of the ratchet.

I got this info from their catalog:
http://www.wrighttool.com/online_catalog.asp

Quote:
3/8 " and 1/2 " Drive
More Ratchet For Less with Double-Pawl Design
• All round-head ratchets allow 41 teeth to work like 82,
resulting in a 4-1/2° arc swing!
• Retains long-wearing characteristics of 41-tooth ratchet.
• Greater strength, smoother ratcheting action with less effort.
• Double-pawl repair kits standard for 3/8" and 1/2".
• Also available: heavy-duty, compact, pear-shaped,
open-head ratchet with built-in spinner. Ideal for use in
areas where there is heavy dirt and grime.



Also, I should add that Harry Epstein got the Wright 3490s on closeout. That's a significantly cheaper-than-normal price.