Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This Tekton 1/4 in drive socket set was purchased as an extra set to supplement the other tool sets that I own. It was a leap of faith purchase to purchase Tekton since the other tools I own are Mack, SandK, Proeto and Snap Attachment from the tool trucks that frequent shops every week. I had a small job to do around the house and decided to try out the Tekton 1/4 drive set to see how it preformed as compared to the other tools I own. After removing the plastic shrink wrap I carefully removed the cardboard sleeve with the giant Tekton Logo on the front of it, just in case there were any warranty or extra instructions printed on it. There were none of any consequence to mention, but I did notice that Tekton packages their products well enough to protect them. What was immediately evident was the quality of the blow molded case supplied with the 1/4 drive set. Yes it had the big Tekton logo on the front of it, also present were "1/4 DRIVE" in raised lettering so you know what is inside. Each socket also has a raised size, this allows for the ease of identifying if any size is missing. As one that possesses many tools and many of the same brand, it is sometimes frustrating having to open every case till you find the tool you are looking for. Spending time labeling them or marking the individual cases usually wears off in no time in a shop environment. The second thing about the case is the two separate latches that hold the case securely closed when not in use or during transport. The next thing that sticks out are the full length metal pins that act as the hinges for the case, no folding plastic joints that will separate after a couple of dozen cycles leaving the user with a two piece blow molded case that is duct taped together. The last item about the case is how robust it is. After squeezing the case in a variety of locations such as the corners, middle and each side individually leaves no doubt how durable it is. There is no doubt the case will be able to withstand a substantial load on top of it in a tool box, or the constant punishment of traveling around in a road service vehicle protecting the tools housed inside of it. On the bottom of the case are the 1/4 drive 72 tooth pear-head ratchet, the 1/4 drive handle, the 1/4 drive swivel adapter. These three items are held securely by a friction fit, they are easily installed and removed by slight pressure, no need to crush the case to install them and you wont need a crowbar to get them out as with some other brands. The ratchet features a push button release and a thumb switch to reverse direction, with the 72 teeth gearing it's operation is extremely smooth. There is also an 1/4 square to 1/4 hex adapter for using multiple bits. On the left side is a 2.5" wide X 5.5" long X 1" deep storage section for extra bits, nuts and bolts or whatever you need. Now the sockets. The lower case sockets just lay in the recessed spots made for them. The Metric sockets are on the bottom. The size range is from 5mm to 14 mm, both shallow and deep sizes, with "NO SIZES SKIPPED". This is an extremely important feature that other brands fail to realize, an 18mm bolt is not the same as a 3/4 bolt, close, but a stripped bolt head is in your future if you fail to realize this. Another surprise and important feature is the addition of a 5.5mm size, they are almost impossible to find on other brands and if you ever worked on one of Henry's cars, a 5.5mm is a necessity. The upper case includes a 3" and a 6" 1/4" drive extension with a 5/8" and a 3/4" knurl respectively, both feature a spring and ball that lock into the detente on the socket. The sockets range from 5/32" to 9/16" in both shallow and deep. All the sockets on the top case are securely held in place by a friction fit. Each socket is spaced approx 3/4" allowing for an easily grabbed and removed socket of choice, they are not all crammed in and difficult to remove. All of the components are full polished and have a positive feel while working with the tools. I was going to purchase a comparable set from an auto parts box store identical to the last 1/4 drive socket set I purchased. With the last set I had to purchase extra sockets in the 1/2, 9/16, 13mm, 14mm shallow and deep that were mismatched, and the 5.5mm were not even available. The box store only had a plastic tray not a blow molded case, so I have a bunch of sockets rolling around unsecured in one of my tool boxes. I do have one complaint about this Tekton 1/4" drive socket set. It is that the sizes on the individual sockets are extremely small and can be quite difficult to read. Making the socket size a bit larger or in a contrasting color would be a welcomed improvement. I would recommend this 1/4" drive socket to other people in the market for a tool set. I liked this Tekton product so much that I have purchased multiple Tekton tools since I purchased this set. All of the tools I have from Tekton were purchased by me with no freebee's or discount's from Tekton for this or any other review. I feel this is very important to mention since I have an extremely high standard for the tools that I purchase. They must stand up to the wear and tear I subject them to, and most importantly they must be dependable and not fail when I need them. Using this Tekton socket set within its design limits will undoubtedly last an extremely long time, considering the quality and thought that has been put into making this set. TEKTON 13001 1/4-Inch Drive Socket Set, Inch/Metric, 6-Point, 5/32-Inch - 9/16-Inch, 5 mm - 14 mm, 51-Piece