Time to replace socket set from the 80's!
 

Craftsman set has served me well but I can no longer read the sizes on most of the sockets (though I've become quite skilled at guessing the right size!). Craftsman quality seems to have taken a hit over the years, not impressed and would like to go with a higher number of teeth to reduce amount of degrees needed to engage the next "click".

What are folks relying upon these days? Would like to avoid the typical Chinese made stuff which typically don't last or - worse - break apart.

- Laser etching or some other more readable design, would be great
- Metric priority, English set is nice to have sometimes but I can live with my old set for that.
- Easy to clean is nice, but not a priority.

Am I better off buying drivers separate from sockets to get best of both?

Etch the ones you have

https://youtu.be/zGtDz_rGgs8

Wow! Looks super easy! I'm going to do this over the weekend! Thank you

I had a B&K set from the 80s, all the way to 2002, they were stolen out of the car.
Soft-top, just unzipped the back, and crawled in and stole everything.

I like SK sockets...good quality and not too expensive. Made in the USA.

BUT, I still use my trusty craftsman flex-head ratchet from the late 80's...certainly got my money's worth. Supposedly at some point in the future, craftsman will once again be made in the USA. I'd like to see their quality make a come-back.

Awesome idea!

Just bite the bullet an buy a nice 3/8 set an a one of the 72+ tooth ratchets from SnapOn while it my coast a little more, they will serve you well and can be handed down to a son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter.

:laughabove: :laughabove: :laughabove: :laughabove:

I use Snap-on and that is far from the truth. I have a cheap set from Harbor Freight that I use when beating, banging, and being rough is required while my Snap-on set is pretty much babied. My Snap-on set ends up being handed back to the dealer about once a year for replacement while my HF set is going on 10 years and still going strong. Snap-on and Matco is nothing but overpriced pieces of junk. You are paying for the name and the lifetime warranty, which you will use very often cause their quality sucks.

Snap On
 

Well I used my Snap On professionally for almost 22 years and then casually in my garage for the last 17 an only had to replace a few 1/4x1/4 12 point sockets since that’s we use in aviation and had to have a ratchet pawl replaced once or twice since I was abusing somewhat.

I have several sets of hand tools from Mac, Snap-On, Matco, Blue-Point, Cornwell, PT, old Craftsman, and Harbor Freight. The HF hand tools hold up just as well as any of the others if you get the ones that are CR-V, the cheapest stuff is straight junk and so are most of their extensions and adapters. I abuse all of my hand tools, and I can break any of them if I do the right (wrong) thing with them. Now, when it comes to precision and impact tools, I don’t go cheap at all, I use Cornwell digital torque wrenches, Milwaukee M12 and Matco cordless tools, and mostly Mititoyo measuring instruments. I just don’t trust HF for any of those items yet. If you want to spend a lot of money and use your tools often, why not go with one of the big name brands, but if you’re strapped for cash or on a budget, you probably won’t be disappointed in the best hand tools harbor freight offers.

I need some of this also

I have a set of Mac angle wrenches and they were going back every years when I was wrenching daily. The Mac guy told me no more. Use your craftsman to brake the rough stuff loose or pound on. I do love my fine tooth snap on ratchet.

Gearwrench makes some nice stuff.

I have a full set of New Britain from the 70s.