Good Socket Set Brands

Often we get asked wether tool x,y,z or socket set a,b,c is a “good socket set brand”. more often than not customers are influenced in their own purchasing decisions by asking themselves if the product in question is a brand they have heard of before. Many times the decision to purchase a certain socket set is based more on the brands perceived reputation more so than the actual quality.
With that in mind we have published this article on what actually makes for a good socket set brand and to give tips and helpful advice to potential buyers on what to look for when it comes to purchasing a socket set. You may find on occasion that the premium socket set you have been eyeing up for a while from a brand you have always placed your trust in isn’t quite all its made out to be.

Obviously price is a major factor for most people when it comes to purchasing a socket set, but why is socket set ‘A’ twice the price of socket set ‘B’? More often than not this question boils down to the quality of the materials used in the manufacturing process. Obviously good quality materials are more expensive to purchase and therefore it costs more to produce the end product, however, is this additional material quality worth the extra cost?
Throughout their lifetime your sockets, (especially the trusty old 13mm) will undergo many stresses and strains, all of which will push the metals contained within your socket set to the edge of destruction, not only that, your sockets also have to resist flaking and scratches in order to look just as good in year 1 as they do in year 10 – no easy task!

The majority of sockets produced today are made from different varieties of alloyed steel combined with additional elements to give the socket its required durability. The most common steel types used in the manufacture of socket sets are :

• Chrome Vanadium
• Stainless Steel
• Chrome Molybdenum

The use of one or more of the elements stated above can be a factor in the overall price of the socket and also its longevity.

Chrome vanadium sockets are less expensive to produce than a chrome molybdenum counterpart. Chrome molybdenum sockets have a decreased risk of shattering and are able to withstand higher torque stresses than vanadium sockets. Because of this inherent durability you will find the majority of impact sockets are made from this material.

If a socket set doesn’t state the metals used within its construction then thats not necessarily a negative, often manufacturers use their own specific grades of steel tailored to suit specific ranges of resistance, wear rates and longevity. If your interested in a socket set and it doesn’t specifically state the construction materials then perhaps send a quick email or phone call to your trusted supplier and ask them the question.

The ratchet

There are many factors to take into consideration when looking at the ratchet included with your chosen socket set, we have listed a few crucial factors to consider below :

Teeth

Often you will see the number of teeth a mentioned within a socket sets description. The word ‘tooth’ relates to the gear mechanism within the ratchets head, a ratchet with more teeth will have less swing travel in order to grab the next tooth, this can be especially important if you are going to use your new socket set in extremely tight working spaces. Often you will hear that ratchets with more teeth are weaker than ratchets with less. There is no scientific evidence behind this, often a ratchet will break more due to the quality of the tool itself and not due to the amount of teeth it does or doesn’t have.

Quick release button

A quick release on a ratchet can prove to be a very handy option, as well as releasing the the socket from the ratchet the release also fixes the socket in place, anyone who has ever experienced a socket seemingly welded to the head of a bolt will know what a handy thing a quick release can be in those situations.

The reverse mechanism

The vast majority of ratchets will have the ability to reverse their action through the use of a lever or a dial. Either option is fine, however in a tightly packed engine bay a ratchet with a reversing lever is slightly easier to operate than a dial design.

To view the range of Socket Sets Vantage Tools has to offer, please click here . If you require any further information, or any specific details regarding our range of socket sets then please contact us at info@vantagetools.co.uk. We will be more than happy to help with your enquiry.