Socket Set question

California · Jul 6, 2004

( Am I the only one here that prowls the pawn shops for good tools on the bargain? Buy the broken ones if you can and trade em for new ones when you see the tool trk. somewhere. Good tools are higher than cheep tools for sure. )

Hmmm. I have accumulated some US made, half inch drive sockets for an eventual yard sale. All good brands - S&K, Proto, Herbrand, Thorsen, Williams, and some antique Craftsman and all from the era when they were US made. No sets, just individual unmatched pieces showing substantial use. Sizes up to 7/8.

I was thinking to sell these oldies at several sockets per $. Are these classics worth more than that due to the free exchange when they finally break? Should I list them individually on ebay?

isucrazy · Jul 6, 2004

The way I understand it there is nothing that can't be sold on EBAY. Worn out or rounded out ain't broken. You might be supprised thow and recieve new ones for em. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Bird could tell you better than me , brother I think has a tool truck. Good luck eather way with the ol classics collection.

JDdude · Jul 6, 2004

This is a great place to buy tools..I have bought many Sunex brand impact swivels,etc and they are great quality..IMO

http://www.toolparadise.com/

MicroPilot · Jul 7, 2004

My BIL, who is an aircraft mechanic, told me that the Snap-On tools, while high quality, have much closer tolerances. Because of this they are sometimes difficult to use because they are harder to get around a nut or bolt. He prefers using the Craftsmen brand, especially when working "blind".

thebigc · Jul 7, 2004

( And it must cost a bundle to mark the sizes on sockets, cause they sure do mark em as lightly as they can it seems! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

One of my pet peeves is the knurling(or lack thereof) on extensions. Most of it is on there just for show, or it's only effective when your hands are squeaky clean. Which isn't often while wrenching your CUT/implements!! My TrueCraft stuff has knurling you can feel! Too bad they're out of the tool business /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Donny

isucrazy · Jul 7, 2004

I will be glad when someone comes out with a feeler guage you can still read after a couple years too. I have a MAC that you can only read a couple of sizes on and the dang thing is only 81-04.... 23yrs. old. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Wonder why my valves rattle worse than before I adjusted em?

Junkman · Jul 8, 2004

Your selling costs are going to be high on individual items and the selling price is going to be low because of the high cost of shipping a small heavy item. Many items can be sold on e Bay, but usually they have to be a savings over new or no longer available. If that socket cost $7.50 new, how much do you think that a person will bid? Then add the cost of shipping a 1 pound or less package by U.S. Priority Mail is going to cost $3.85 for the lower 48. When you add the bid amount to the shipping, you are at the cost of new. Your auction listing fee is 35 cents plus the selling commission. I don't think that selling them individually on e Bay makes sense.
I have purchased a few replacement wrenches (Snap-On) on e Bay, but usually have to by others that I don't need in the lot. Shipping on a bunch of wrenches is a lot better than on one item. Usually I don't bid more than 40% of new, when I add the shippping, I am usually at 50% -60 % of new and anything more than that is no longer a good deal.

dixiedrifter · Jul 13, 2004

Stanley tools from wally world are pretty decent. I use regular sockets and have hammered the heck out of them with an impact wrench and not broke them. I busted 3 cheap HF impact sockets the other day. If it were me, and I had to get a good set of shop tools, I'd go with Craftsman hands down.

Also, you might want to consider getting an electric impact wrench. I have a 1200 watt power inverter hooked up to my truck. Its big enough to run an angle grinder and impact wrench out in the field.

Sam's Club sells the same identical thing for wayyyy less money. Mine set me back $150 or so with sales tax.

LBrown59 · Nov 3, 2004

My uncle moved from Ohio to Mt. Carmel Il. back in the 30s when he was in his early twentys to go to work for Snap-On.
Worked for them till retirement age.
My cousin his son retired from there last year,his wife retired from Snap-On a couple of years before that.

hobbyfarm · Nov 3, 2004

Hey Jim,
Don't forget Danaher Corp. 
They make an awesome selection of tools in various brands (including Craftsman brand).

"Danaher is committed to deliver customer-driven new product innovation through user-preferred brands such as, Armstrong®, Matco®, Sears Craftsman®, AllenTM, KD-Tools®, Holo-Krome®, NAPA®, and SATA." 

Also don't forget some other good brands most people have never heard of:

Blackhawk Tools
Williams Tools - very popular in the mining, oilfield, and railroad industries. So good in fact that Snap-On bought them out rather than compete against them, but they are still in production.

Other than machinery, my other passion is TOOLS!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

phil