festool socket set

[#Tee]

i never buy these socket sets anymore (learn my lesson). being that i ONLY use metric in a few sizes all the time. in the past ill have complete sets of standard/metric only to have the standard sit in the case for over 15 years and still brand new. it takes up space and weighs things down. I gave my 3/8    snap on ratchet away because i love the weight and feel of the wera ratchet. by trade im a grease monkey so i had my fair share of snapon/mac tools/craftsman/husky/hf/chinas and by far i like the wera's fit/finish/heft/durablity which is why i made my own set. i liked the festool kit but again its alot of sockets i wont use and the ratchet is only 1/4.

 

[DB10]

I just don't get why people who are not mechanics buy Snap on, IMO it's total overkill. These are just sockets and ratchets. There are some good quality sets like Bahco, that cost a lot less.
Yeah I know some people like to have the best of everything but they are just sockets, they are not precision tools like a router or the TS 55.

 

[waho6o9]

" they are not precision tools"

With all due respect DB10, they are nothing but precision tools that's why

they're highly sought after. 

 

[#Tee]

I just don't get why people who are not mechanics buy Snap on, IMO it's total overkill. These are just sockets and ratchets. There are some good quality sets like Bahco, that cost a lot less.
Yeah I know some people like to have the best of everything but they are just sockets, they are not precision tools like a router or the TS 55.

youre right about the snap on being over kill. its a professional line made to take a beating and less fatigue on the users hand used over and over daily. any china stuff for the avid diyer/carpenter will work but at some point the cheaper quality are more prone to snap socket or ratchet...not saying the snap on wont but less likely.  the fit, finish and ergo on the hand does not compare to the higher end brands and if that is a big deal to you then the more expensive lines wont be of value to you.

 

[DB10]

" they are not precision tools"

With all due respect DB10, they are nothing but precision tools that's why

they're highly sought after. 

just saying unless you are a pro, Snap on, will not make you a better mechanic, the  TS 55 will make you a better Carpenter, that's why I would choose one and not the other, just saying IMO.

 

[Birdhunter]

There is a certain appreciation for fine engineering and craftsmanship that transcends utility. There is a degree of art in fine tools, fine cars, fine watches, etc that, if it is affordable for the individual, makes sense.

 

[Cheese]

I just don't get why people who are not mechanics buy Snap on, IMO it's total overkill. These are just sockets and ratchets. There are some good quality sets like Bahco, that cost a lot less.
Yeah I know some people like to have the best of everything but they are just sockets, they are not precision tools like a router or the TS 55.

If only professional mechanics should purchase Snap-on tools then who should purchase Festool? Only professional woodworker's ?

Well then, I guess I need to turn mine in for some Craftsman or Ryobi equipment because I'm not a professional, just an amateur. And for that matter I guess I need to turn in my Snap-on tools also because I'm not a professional mechanic either even though I've wrenched on vehicles/motorcycles for over 50 years.

Needing to own Festool is no different than needing to own Snap-on. Before either brand came into being, things were still being created and things were still being fixed. With the creation of both brands things just became easier because they were targeted for a specific user based function. If both brands went away tomorrow would woodworking and mechanics no longer exist? Doubtful, we'd just regress to the level of working ease that existed before the creation of these two brands. Festool and Snap-on exist and are profitable not because there is a huge base of the population that doesn't purchase their products, but rather because there is a large enough base of the population that does purchase their products. It's all about choices.

 

[sancho57]

I did get me one of these indispensable items.

The WERA lady at a Wood show fell under my Yanks charms and gave me one when I bought their stainless Allen wrench set along with their screw driver set.

This is a must have for any tool kit

 

[mrboult]

I have no idea why people are giving DB10 a hard time over his comments!  Especially in a thread created to question the worth of a pricey socket set.

I also do not agree that the benefits of snap-on socket set over a socket set 1/4 the price compare to the benefits of a TS55 over a saw 1/4 the price.

I am in no way suggesting that snap-on tools aren't excellent, and I am not even slightly questioning anyone who buys them.  But your arsey comments are ridiculous.

 

[mrboult]

And back on topic. . . . .

I got one of these festool socket sets last year for £80 on amazon and I think it's pretty darn great.

The mini sys slides neatly into a systainer (often next to another mini sys holding other stuff)
The centrotec extensions and socket adapters come in handy for use with my drills.
And with all the screw and socket options it is generally a lovely little tool kit for various tasks.

Interestingly mine came with a t-loc sys but with the socket handle pictured above in the classic sys. Not the seemingly newer one. Just a note, not something I would care about.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I don't see either how a socket set classifies as a precision tool. It's not like it's a torque wrench or something.

Difference between a cheap set and an expensive one is the quality of the material it's made of which determines its durability, not its precision.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

I don't see either how a socket set classifies as a precision tool. It's not like it's a torque wrench or something.

Difference between a cheap set and an expensive one is the quality of the material it's made of which determines its durability, not its precision.

The extra expense of high end socket sets is more qualities involved than just durability. 

A socket has to have loose enough tolerances, that it can be placed on a nut or bolt without requiring the assistance of a mallet, but also with a close enough fit, that the socket and/or wrench will not round the bolt/nut head if the bolt is highly torqued, thread-locked, or corroded.

The walls of high end sockets and wrenches are usually produced to thinner tolerances, so that the socket/wrench can fit into tighter locations were fastener heads are crammed together. The same thinner sockets/wrenches still have to have enough stiffness and strength to remove those fasteners if the removal requires high torque.

Higher end wrenches and sockets, usually use steel that has been processed, hardened and tempered, so that if force greater than the wrench can withstand is applied, the steel is more likely to bend or tear, so that the broken wrench/socket won't snap, causing user injury from a flying piece of wrench/socket shrapnel, or sudden loss of grip.  [scared]