I've had my eye on this 74 piece Tekton 3/8" Socket/Ratchet set on Amazon for a while. I just keep things in my shopping cart until I actually need it or it goes on sale or whatever.

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-...id=1636146390&sr=8-1

But, Home Depot has this Milwaukee 56 piece set for 48% off. Not bad for $100.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Mi...48-22-9008/305146344

The Tekton set is "complete" and does not skip any sizes.

In comparison, the Milwaukee is missing the following pieces:

1) 20mm and 20mm Deep Drive
2) 21mm and 21mm Deep Drive
3) 22mm and 22mm Deep Drive
4) 23mm and 23mm Deep Drive
5) 24mm and 24mm Deep Drive
6) 9/32" and 9/32" Deep Drive
7) 11/32" and 11/32" Deep Drive
8) 15/16" Deep Drive
9) 1" Deep Drive
10) included Breaker Bar.

Both sets are 90 teeth with 4 degree arc swing. Both are made in Taiwan (not China).

Both have lifetime warranties that, according to reviews, are easy to work with and get fast replacements.

The Tekton ratchets are quick release. Milwaukee is ball detent.

Milwaukee has the fancy Four Flat(tm) sides that resists rolling and are compatible with a wrench for additional boost.

Milwaukee has the higher quality case with a removable tray that will fit in my rolling tool chest.

Milwaukee, with the deep discount, is $100 vs the Tekton set at $150. The Milwaukee set is regularly $190.

I currently have a 15-20 year old Craftsman USA box set that is a combination of 1/4" drive, 3/8" inch drive, and 1/2" drive in 6 and 12 points, and various combinations of deep and standard depth sockets. It does not cover sizes greater than 1" or 19mm, and all the 1/2" drive sockets are 12pt. It's OK, covers a wide enough range that I haven't cursed at it yet, but, 38-year-old me now has space for things than 20-year-old me did not.

For me a key thing on sockets is to be able to identify a size quickly.
Prefer large laser etched or some sort of color code.
Not only to ID a size but to keep SAE separate from Metric.
I also prefer the (sockets) five side vs ones with more as they hold better.
As far as your either or choices - both look decent just make sure it meets your criteria.
Have you looked at GearWrench?
I have recently bought quite a few of their wrenches/sockets/sets lately.

I've bought several types of Tekton tools. They seem to be reasonably priced and okay quality. But over time, they really haven't held up well for me. Especially their screwdrivers.

I no longer intend to buy Tekton tools anymore. I'm willing to spend extra for higher quality, heavy duty ready tools.

I have that Milwaukee set. It’s very nice. I thought I wouldn’t like the flat sockets, but i actually really like them. I love the flat carrying case.

Taiwan is increasingly making some of the finest tools on the planet.

I am a fan of tekton and wera, I would have no qualms about buying the tekton set. I tend not to abuse my tools. My main driver set is a 25-year-old mac tool set. I use the were and tekton as my back up.

I have two of these smaller tekton kits, and this 3/8 bit kit. It seems like I am dragging one of them out every time something goes to shit.

Like today, the fricken transfer bar on my front door latch broke. Went to pick up a new one, nope not sold separately anymore. you have to warranty the damn thing with the company.

Smaller one.


larger 1



I'll take a couple of photos of my wera stuff here in a second.

Wera tiny kit with ratchet for bits


Ratchet driver kits



Smaller compact screwdriver/ratchet/socket kits

I have quite a few Tekton box/combo wrenches and they are *very* high quality, but I'm not impressed with their screwdrivers. Their sockets are pretty good, but I don't care for their ratchets/

You didn't mention the use scenario for the wrenches (Ex. pro auto repair, or simple consumer use). If it's the latter I'd opt for the Milwaukee given the cost savings and my feeling either would serve your needs.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
You didn't mention the use scenario for the wrenches (Ex. pro auto repair, or simple consumer use). If it's the latter I'd opt for the Milwaukee given the cost savings and my feeling either would serve your needs.

Simple homeowner use. Just tooling around the garage/shop and grunting like Tim Allen mostly.

^^^^

DSGrouse, those little ToolCheck kits are spendy!

Forgot to mention I have some deep Tekton sockets in Metric and SAE for Pneumatic (although I use them for everything - they just aren't chromed) that are very easy to ID and use.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
^^^^

DSGrouse, those little ToolCheck kits are spendy!

I use them when I need to save space. That being said, my travel kit is a makita version like the Tekton I picked up at sams club. So far I have helped 3 people fix their cars with it. Knock on wood I don't need to use it on my vehicle.

If you are looking for a basic kit, I would say tekton, I have been very happy with my stuff from them. The screw drivers are not the best, but the sockets, ratchets, wrenches and drivers have been well worth the money.

Honestly, the most aggravating thing about the Milwaukee set is that it's missing a 15/16" and 1" deep drive socket.

Not having metric sizes 20mm through 24mm is fine--I can always go up to a 1/2" drive kit that will have those sizes (and not that I actually need anything in that size right now)....

But providing a 15/16" and a 1" standard depth socket but not the corresponding deep drive sockets is just messing with my OCD.

Sure, I might be able to find the individual deep drive sockets...but it won't fit in the nice little blow-molded box/tray...more OCD aggravation!

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
^^^^

DSGrouse, those little ToolCheck kits are spendy!

Wera is a fairly high-end German tool company (with actual production in the Czech Republic) that makes tools intended for hard professional use.

Wera tools will generally be much more expensive than, but also noticeably better than, any of the big box or direct-from-Asia brands.

That’s not to say the big box or direct-from-Asia brand tools are necessarily bad tools. Most are fine and some are very good. By reputation and in my limited personal experience, Tekton and Gearwrench are two direct-from-Asia brands that make tools that are generally very good and that are adequate for almost any user and almost any use. Even Kobalt and Husky, the big box store brands, are mostly fine, especially if you’re not really abusing them.

No experience with Milwaukee at all, but they do look like a nice set.
I have Tekton sockets for my 1/2" stuff because they were the most reasonably priced option I could find at the time I was looking and I wasn't in the mood to wait. I also have their 12 point sockets for 1/4 & 3/8. They've held up ok so far, but have gotten minimal use in my nonpprofessional environment.

Oh, if you buy direct from Tekton you get 10% back to spend on other stuff on the site. So it's really $100 vs $135. Shipping is still free too.
https://www.tekton.com/3-8-inc...ratchet-set-skt15311

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
In comparison, the Milwaukee is missing the following pieces:

1) 20mm and 20mm Deep Drive
2) 21mm and 21mm Deep Drive
3) 22mm and 22mm Deep Drive
4) 23mm and 23mm Deep Drive
5) 24mm and 24mm Deep Drive
6) 9/32" and 9/32" Deep Drive
7) 11/32" and 11/32" Deep Drive
8) 15/16" Deep Drive
9) 1" Deep Drive
10) included Breaker Bar.

You may never need and/or use a 20mm socket.

Not having the 21mm or a 24mm would result in me not having their set at any price.

For non professional use. Hard to beat this 200 piece channel lock set at SAMS for $89. Also Costco has a 200 or so piece DeWalt set on sale every year at Christmas for right at 100 clams.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/cha...13?xid=plp_product_1

quote:

Originally posted by straightshooter01:
For non professional use. Hard to beat this 200 piece channel lock set at SAMS for $89. Also Costco has a 200 or so piece DeWalt set on sale every year at Christmas for right at 100 clams.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/cha...13?xid=plp_product_1

Good looking out.

I'm trying to "upgrade" from my Craftsman set.
So rather than a typical do-all combo set, I'm trying to get a comprehensive set of sockets that span the entire size range.

Also, I believe those sets are made in China. People can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think China made tools would be a step back from my USA made Craftsman set.

I would recommend the Tekton 1/4" drive 55 pc set, 3/8" drive 47 pc set, the 1/2" drive 52 pc metric set, and the 1/2" drive 38 pc SAE set to cover all socket sizes up to 32mm.

The 47pc 3/8" set from Tekton goes up to 19mm and 3/4 and anything over that will be covered by the 1/2" sets.

Hopefully Craftsman will start making sockets in Ft. Worth, but until then you may have to pickup a Wright ratchet and WrightGrip wrenches if you want USA made. The old Craftsman raised panel 36 tooth ratchets are available but I don't really care for them.

quote:

Originally posted by BlackTalonJHP:
Hopefully Craftsman will start making sockets in Ft. Worth, but until then you may have to pickup a Wright ratchet and WrightGrip wrenches if you want USA made. The old Craftsman raised panel 36 tooth ratchets are available but I don't really care for them.

SK and Proto both make ratchets, sockets, and wrenches in the USA, but their price tags put them WAY beyond what most DIYers want to spend on tools. Just a ratchet by itself is more than a lot of the smaller Asian socket sets.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Honestly, the most aggravating thing about the Milwaukee set is that it's missing a 15/16" and 1" deep drive socket.

Not having metric sizes 20mm through 24mm is fine--I can always go up to a 1/2" drive kit that will have those sizes (and not that I actually need anything in that size right now)....

But providing a 15/16" and a 1" standard depth socket but not the corresponding deep drive sockets is just messing with my OCD.

Sure, I might be able to find the individual deep drive sockets...but it won't fit in the nice little blow-molded box/tray...more OCD aggravation!

I wrench regularly on my Honda’s and 59 Chevy.

You’ll likely won’t need a 15/16”.

I’ve been happy with the Tektok set from Amazon. If you’re missing a single socket, purchase one as needed.