The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Any Hands Tools Still Made In The USA

I need to buy a 1.5" wrench.and or a socket.
Snap On is out of my budget. Sears which just
sold craftsman is now junk.

What brands are still in business, made in the USA,
and good quality?
Jeffrey

Since you only need one socket why not look online for good old used USA tools like SK, Mac, Proto, Williams, Power Kraft, Husky, Craftsman and Snap On...

I also find good tools at estate and yard sales all the time...

Mike B

Almost daily, on boom truck hydraulic work, I use 1-1/8" and up non-brand name wrenches. We'll get up to a 4"+ socket for hinge pin nuts. I think these wrenches are as old as me and still have plenty of life in them. If you're going to take a socket that large, put it on the end of a 3/4" or 1" impact, you might see some wear if the sockets get a lot of use. Otherwise, I think even the "junk" Sears stuff would be fine.

SK all the way!
Sorry for the poetry, but I've had a SK socket set for 40-some years and never broke one, or had any problems, no matter how much abuse I gave them - as in 'snipes'.

JMO

...if I could find some more SK I'd buy them. I had a nice socket/ratchet set give to me in 1977 by the guys at the plant. They are still my "go to" sockets. Just saying....but I also have the "old" craftsman, a very few snap-on and use them all.

....I will add that in 1969 my wife (at that time) worked at Western Auto. I have a set of Westline sockets that have done very well. She also bought me some "western Auto" boxed end wrenches" and 3 or 4 of them are my favorite "go to" wrenches". Nice, thick and long with different size one each end. I know we need "combination" wrenches but I try to stay away from that kind unless I have a need for them.

Back on topic: for the BIG sockets I try to keep a watch at Northern Tool not far from me. It seems about once a year they throw all their sockets into a wooden bin and for a couple bucks each you can load up. They are not pretty but thick and appears to be tough. Most impact type sockets have that old matte black finish anyway. I'm hoping they will want to clean house again before or after Christmas. I'm gonna buy'em out!!!

Over the years I have a few caterpillar sockets who made them close to a proto socket?most Australians have sidcrome sockets they were Australian made and very good made offshore now

I have this bookmarked: Made in America

Still made in the USA...nothing is cheap tho...

http://www.armstrongtools.com/

Good luck in your search....

MikeC

I believe Wright tools are still U.S. made. A bit pricey but not as expensive as snap on