Good budget priced sockets

[USMC615]

Yup. 13.5 years so far, been on East Coast the entire time (other than deployments).

Good deal...see you're at Lejeune...Division. I spent several years back in the mid-80's through 90's at Cherry Point (A-6/E Intruders, EA-6/B Prowlers). You're damn lucky to be in that long and no west coast PCS time nor overseas...probably oughta play the lottery tonight!

 

[FergusonTO35]

When it comes to tool truck brands (Snappy, Mac, Matco, Cornwell), their core line of hand tools made in their own factory is excellent. Don't abuse them and you'll probably pass them down to your grandchildren, I've never had a problem getting a tool warrantied either. Even though I'm no longer in the business and don't have a local tool guy anymore, it costs me less to mail a tool back for warranty replacement than the time and gas I would spend to go meet a dealer somewhere.

At the same time, tool trucks are filled with stuff that is merely high priced rebrands of products you can get elsewhere. Pretty much all your power tools, electronics, shop equipment, gadgets, and little miscellaneous accessories are made by somebody else and you can get much better deals on the exact same thing if you shop around.

 

[Lone Wolf]

When it comes to tool truck brands (Snappy, Mac, Matco, Cornwell), their core line of hand tools made in their own factory is excellent. Don't abuse them and you'll probably pass them down to your grandchildren, I've never had a problem getting a tool warrantied either. Even though I'm no longer in the business and don't have a local tool guy anymore, it costs me less to mail a tool back for warranty replacement than the time and gas I would spend to go meet a dealer somewhere.

At the same time, tool trucks are filled with stuff that is merely high priced rebrands of products you can get elsewhere. Pretty much all your power tools, electronics, shop equipment, gadgets, and little miscellaneous accessories are made by somebody else and you can get much better deals on the exact same thing if you shop around.

Which brands to look for that Snap On sells for more?

 

[FergusonTO35]

All the tool trucks have rebranded products. Pretty much anything that is not a wrench, ratchet, extension, socket, screwdriver, punch, chisel, or prybar is likely made by someone else. Snap On does make alot of its own power tools and electronics, but they have alot of rebrands as well. Look at products made by OTC, Kent-Moore, Lisle, Mighty Vac, Ingersoll-Rand, Lincoln, Chicago Pneumatic, and other marques; then look at the contents of the tool truck and you'll spot them pretty quickly.

 

[usmcbuckwild]

Good deal...see you're at Lejeune...Division. I spent several years back in the mid-80's through 90's at Cherry Point (A-6/E Intruders, EA-6/B Prowlers). You're damn lucky to be in that long and no west coast PCS time nor overseas...probably oughta play the lottery tonight!

Been through all aspects of Marine Corps; Wing, Division, SpecOps. I absolutely despise EA-6Bs: NOISY, slow, doofy looking and NOISY! (No offense, just my opinion) PMOS was Fuel, spent many, many hours with the flying garbage cans the Marines call aircraft. 7 flights in Osperey and if I never see one of those pieces of flying dogshit again it will be too soon.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Been through all aspects of Marine Corps; Wing, Division, SpecOps. I absolutely despise EA-6Bs: NOISY, slow, doofy looking and NOISY! (No offense, just my opinion) PMOS was Fuel, spent many, many hours with the flying garbage cans the Marines call aircraft. 7 flights in Osperey and if I never see one of those pieces of flying dogshit again it will be too soon.

I have zero military or aviation experience, but this post made me about spit coffee on the keyboard!! You need to write for comedians.

 

[BK13]

I have Armstrong ones that are a 4 "flute" design like the ones in this pic...theyre a lot stronger...

I wish I would have loaded up on Armstrong pinless impacts before they went belly up...

I have a fair amount of Sunex impacts (no universals, though) and I like 'em...

 

[srcarr52]

I bought a set of Sunex combination wrenches a few months back and ended up returning them right away. Both the box and open ends where so loose they were all but guarantied to round fasteners.

 

[alleyyooper]

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/sockets-ratchets/sockets.html

Nearly all the reviews are right up there too.
I read some place they now sell Mac tools.

Al

 

[srcarr52]

I wish I would have loaded up on Armstrong pinless impacts before they went belly up...

I have a fair amount of Sunex impacts (no universals, though) and I like 'em...

Other brands from the parent company of Armstrong, Apex Tool group, have the same design. Gearwrench and KD Tools have the same 4 spline drive instead of a pin.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Matco impact u-joints have been splined for a long time. Alot of (most?) their products are rebrands from one of the many other manufacturers that Danaher/Apex own.

 

[Larry B]

$0.02 worth

I gave all my old impact sockets away and now use all Tekton impacts. I use a 1/4 and 3/8 impact everday. They are holding up well. When i use 1/2 stuff I hammer the crap out of them. Holding up better than my old HF ones.
I have old USA made craftsman wrenches i use to back up when using an impact wrench. I have Tekton wrenches for regular wrenching. Sunnex stubbies and my most used wrenches are ratcheting Gearwrench wrenches. All good wrenches. I replaced all my chrome sockets a few years ago with craftsman laser etch ones. They were good. New ones suck. I don't buy any craftsman anymore. Sad, another brand zombied. A truck guy wants to stop by my little one man mower shop and sell me a truck brand of tools. No thanks. Lots of good tools out there without buying off the truck. Everyony has their favorite. Just like cigarettes and 2 stroke oil.

 

[Marshy]

Have not seen that brand around here ,they pretty good ?

I believe that's Harbor Freight line of tools. For what it's worth they are on par or better than the Craftsman line of tools now days.

Oops, I'm behind a little.

 

[FergusonTO35]

If I was starting out today, Wright Tools would be my go-to. All made in the USA, excellent quality, priced very fairly. Their product selection rivals Snappy. They just focus on making hand tools and impact sockets, they dont try to hock a bunch of rebrand shop equipment at 2-3x original price.

As much as I enjoyed dealing with the tool truck dealers over the years, it is a very expensive business model that the customer pays for. Of course, the dealers themselves range from outstanding to downright awful and it can take awhile to figure out just where a dealer places on the continuum. I really like being able to get what I need delivered to my door and exchange warranty items through the mail, which is how Wright does it.

 

[backhoelover]

SMA on YouTube has lead me to this company.

http://www.astrotools.com/

I’ve bought 5 air swivel adapter for some of my air tools and love them

 

[USMC615]

SMA on YouTube has lead me to this company.

http://www.astrotools.com/

I’ve bought 5 air swivel adapter for some of my air tools and love them

All of our swivel adapters for pneumatic hand tools here in DoD Fed Govt aircraft maintenance side of the house come from Astro.

 

[Ajkeiser2000]

If you are good with used, estate sales and eBay often have good deals on pretty old sets of indestro, proto, wright, Williams and Armstrong sockets. Those brands haven't let me down.

 

[woodtool89]

SMA on YouTube has lead me to this company.

http://www.astrotools.com/

I’ve bought 5 air swivel adapter for some of my air tools and love them

ive bought a few led work lights from them, they were good but they need new batteries now, i replaced them with proto same as these

all aluminum they can take a good beating...

 

[backhoelover]

ive bought a few led work lights from them, they were good but they need new batteries now, i replaced them with proto same as these

all aluminum they can take a good beating...

How long did batteries last?

 

[BK13]

If I was starting out today, Wright Tools would be my go-to. All made in the USA, excellent quality, priced very fairly. Their product selection rivals Snappy. They just focus on making hand tools and impact sockets, they dont try to hock a bunch of rebrand shop equipment at 2-3x original price.

While I absolutely love the Wright tools I have, they do have some glaring holes in their lineup. Long pattern combo wrenches is the most obvious. I'm one of those weirdos who really like semi-deep/midlength sockets, and Wright has nothing. Wright's lineup is tailored for their intended market, the industrial field. Their automotive offerings are a lot less extensive than Snap On's...

Just did my brakes this weekend and used my Wright 3425 long 3/8" ratchet for the bulk of the work. I forgot how much I like that ratchet...