When Dewalt came out with a new impact wrench, I searched and I searched, but I could not find any Dewalt impact sockets aside from a couple of sizes intended for drill and driver use.
Things are different now.
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I recently spotted dozens of new SKUs, for Dewalt impact socket sets, drive accessories, and individual sockets.
Some sets come with a Dewalt stackable organizer box, such as this 3/8″ and 1/2″ universal, extension, and adapter set.
Others, like the 28 piece 1/2″ SAE set shown above, come in a blow molded case.
Sizes go from 1/4″ drive to 3/4″ drive. There are shallow sockets, deep sockets, internal Torx sockets, and even hex bit sockets (1/2″ drive, so larger sizes).
Pricing seems fair. The 28pc 1/2″ drive SAE shallow and deep socket set shown at the top is $170 via Amazon, the 10pc 3/8″ and 1/2″ drive accessory set is $47 via Amazon.
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Some of the SKUs are available now, others are said to be coming really soon.
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Hand Tool Teaser
Dewalt has also expanded their non-impact mechanics hand tools. At the media event, a product manager had given me a stubby 11/32″ wrench, which symbolized 2 things. First, that he followed ToolGuyd posts and reader comments (HI!!). Second, that Dewalt was making an effort to expand their mechanics hand tool offerings.
What’s so special about 11/32″? It’s a size of wrench and socket I use fairly often, and corresponds to the size of 8-32 nuts. A lot of wrench sets aimed at automotive use exclude 11/32″, and some brands don’t even offer 11/32″ as an individual tool. Aerospace and industrial brands do tend to offer 11/32″ wrench and socket sizes.
So I use 11/32″ as a quick test to see whether a wrench set or product lineup is aimed at automotive use (or general DIY use in the case of consumer brands), or industrial use.
With knowledge that Dewalt offered an 11/32″ wrench, and a cute little sample/gift in-hand, I’ve been actively watching for new releases.
At the 2016 media event I kind of raced through the end, since I was a bit behind and had to fit 3 rotations in the time it normally takes to work through 1.
With new SKUs appearing on Amazon and elsewhere, it’s time to revisit my media event photos and notes. That’ll come in another post, I’ve already digressed too much from impact tools.
Here are some of the new Dewalt hand tools that are coming soon:
- Offset double box end wrenches
- Flare nut wrenches
- Reversible ratcheting wrenches
- New ratchets
- Torque wrenches
- Combination wrench sets
- Flexible ratcheting wrench sets.
Steve
I wish that these tools would come in T-stak or tough system-compatible boxes!! or that they would sell inserts for the boxes that would accommodate these sets (and all of the other tools for that matter!) Why are tool specific cases available in Europe, but not the US?
Stuart
These cases better fit drawered tool boxes, and are smaller for less wasted space.
Why are tool-specific cases available in Europe? Because modular tool storage is much more popular there. Here, lower pricing tends to be the higher priority for more users.
Paul
Looking at the picture, it looks like there are side latches for stacking these cases. The cut off corners are all similar to the Tstak line. Now you have me wondering if this case will stack with those or just with itself. With the stacking latch, it seems like we will see more of these cases either way.
Nathan
Any indication of the Country of Origin? It would be nice to know if these are as good or similar quality of say the MAC tools. Part of me wished they would have branded this under the Stanley name or something and keep Dewalt in the power tool line.
But what’s in a name right?
Toolfreak
China.
Almost every DeWalt branded tool, power or not, is made in China. Especially so for the hand tools since that is where the majority of Stanley and DeWalt branded hand tools are made.
JD
Huh? Where are you getting this information? I have quite a few of the mechanics tools from DeWALT and they are manufactured in Tiwian. Very good chrome and tight tolerances as well. To just blankly state “China” without having a clue is a bit irresponsible in my opinion.
The yeti
Umm taiwan is part of China..
Stuart
That’s debatable.
Politics and semantics aside, tools coming from Taiwan are generally considered a step higher/better than those coming from China, but there could be many specific examples of exemptions.
Whether this is true or not is a separate discussion.
I’ve seen some great tools from Taiwan, and some good tools from China. I’ve seen some really bad tools from China, but don’t recall any bad tools from Taiwan. Good or bad depends on the effort, budget, and oversight that a brand is willing to put into their overseas contracts or facilities.
Milwaukee (and TTI), and I’m sure Stanley Black & Decker, own a number of factories, allowing them to control every step of the production process. So whether a tool is made in the USA or elsewhere, the quality should be good.
BikerDad
Republic of China (aka Taiwan) Peoples Republic of China (aka Red China aka Mainland China)
Toolfreak
I’m getting this information from picking up every DeWalt Impact Ready tool at my local Sears and Lowe’s, looking at the back to see what it says, and reading the words “Made in China”.
There might be some of the hand tools Made in Taiwan, if so, I’d agree they are likely of higher quality than similar tools Made in China.
I’m not knocking the DeWalt tools by the way, just stating where they are mostly made. The hand tools seem to get good reviews and are apparently a decent option, especially if you like DeWalt products and having branded hand tools to go with the power tools works for you.
Stuart
These are distinct from the Impact Ready line.
Impact Ready = power tool accessories, generally for construction use.
These new impact tools are aimed at automotive and perhaps commercial or industrial use. I’d expect them to be designed and engineered by a different SBD product team.
Toolfreak
Oh, didn’t notice that these were intended as regular impact for mechanics, guess they are to compliment the actual impact wrenches.
Still, we know these are going to have a COO of China or Taiwan, with China being the more likely of the two.
John Fal
I wished they wouldn’t have cheapened the Dewalt name. Dewalt needs their sockets made in the USA. The reason I’m saying this is because Dewalt is an USA icon.
Stanley cheapened the Bostich name badly, making them Stanley Bostich. Which Bostich is an icon in air nailers. I hate when companies give in and cheapen their products.
Toolfreak
DeWalt hasn’t had anything made in the USA in a long, long time. A few of their power tools are assembled in the USA, though. I don’t think Stanley Black & Decker manufacturers much in the USA anymore, maybe a few thing from MAC tools and Proto. DeWalt is just their popular brand they milk for it’s name recognition. The sockets and hand tools are just Stanley-made stuff from China-Taiwan with the DeWalt name slapped on it to appeal to people who like the brand or have DeWalt power tools and like the idea of having their hand tools bearing the DeWalt name too.
fred
This makes some sense – either to sell along side or bundle with Dewalt impact drivers.
In the 1980’s Skil sold their 471 corded impact wrench in a kit – metal case and a few SAE impact sockets included in a tray built into the case.
As a bit of history, Skil – a brand that existed since 1926 – was acquired by Emerson Electric in 1979, Emerson formed a joint venture (SB Power Tools) with Bosch in 1991 and then sold out to Bosch in 1995. More recently – as posted in ToolGuyd – Bosch sold the Skil Brand to Chervon
The yeti
Doesn’t Stanley have enuff brands of hand tools already making this stuff though . My 2 cents ..
mizzourob
I saw a bunch of these at Farm and Fleet for the first time on Saturday, along with most of the pieces being available as open stock items individually. I wonder who the OEM is as I’m guessing these are really just licensed products. Gearwrench?
Stuart
Stanley Black & Decker has several mechanics and industrial hand tool brands. So I would assume that SBD is their own OEM. There’s no reason to think they would farm this out to an outside company.
ToolNinja
Definitely not GearWrench. They come from Apex which is a direct competitor the owners of DeWalt. They’re coming out of Taiwan according to their website. That’s the same country of origin as MAC, etc. Add that to the MUCH lower price, better case, lifetime warranty and the fact you can swap them out at the local hardware store and I’d say this is a huge win.
fred
There is not much information (about the production facility) to be gleaned from the UPC on each of these sets. Both start with 076174 – which is the same company prefix on lots of other tools carrying the Dewalt, Bostich and Stanley brand names.
Nathan
that’s sad then. I mean they are probably decent products. But if Dewalt markets and makes a MADE IN USA saw blade – they why are these products not Made in USA too?
ALso didn’t know MAC tools were made in Taiwan now. Is that all or just some pieces. Like Snap-On.
fred
If you want sockets from SBD that are mostly made in the USA – the Stanley Proto line of sockets might be where you have t go. Here’s what PROTO says about COO on their website:
“WE ARE MADE IN AMERICA.
We make tools in America; Not because it’s cheaper and not because it’s convenient. We don’t even do it out of a sense of pride (although we are proud of the U.S.A.). We make tools in America, because put simply…it’s how we can ensure making the best quality tool we can. And in the rare instance when we can’t make a tool in America, we do so because… again, making the highest quality tools comes first. “
Nathan
So far I’ve been leaning towards SK when I buy something new.
fred
It is good indeed to see Ideal’s apparent commitment to manufacturing the SK line in the US. Back in the 2007 and 2008 timeframe – perhaps when SK (then independent) was having financial problems – some SK pliers (the 17851 and 17852 compound action nose pliers) were showing up – made in China – and some of their spline wrenches were being sourced from Taiwan. But back in 2002 they also had some of their Torx sockets and wrenches sourced from Italy and Germany.
Will
I’m wary of “made in America.”
At the store I work at we sell plywood that says in bold letters “made in North America.” Translation: made in Mexico or Canada. It’s a semantics trick some companies employee to fool customers.
Just saying, unless it specifically says “made in USA,” you have to be careful.
BikerDad
Made in America = Made in USA.
Made in North America could be Canada, USA, Mexico. Depending on whether the designation if NAFTA dependent, it could also include any of the countries between Mexico and Panama, inclusive, plus the Caribbean.
Yes, it is worthwhile to keep an eye out for that geographic adjective, “North”, or for that matter, “South”. How worthwhile depends on the product in question.
David Funk
I have the sockets and they’re very nice. You should check their website there are a bunch of new DeWalt hand tools listed just this past week.
Bob
An industrial supply house I frequent, devoted an entire aisle to the new De Walt line, about a month ago. Sockets -impacts,& chromed, rats, wrenches, I forget what else. All chinese
Harry
My guess is that the new Dewalt impact sockets and probably most of their soon to be released mechanics tools will be rebadged “Expert” tools. Expert is MAC’s current value line of imported tools.
No, not all MAC tools are made in Taiwan or China, people’s republic of. There are still many MAC tools that have USA stamped into them.
Was your gifted 11/32 wrench fully polished chrome or black? Pictures or it didn’t happen …..
Toolfreak
DeWalt’s “Impact Ready” line seems like such an obvious thing – offer packages of impact accessories for the impact drivers.
Kind of sad there isn’t more on offer from Bosch/Milwaukee for their impact drivers. They offer lots of drill bits and accessories, not very much for the impact drivers aside from bit kits, at least that I’ve seen at retail.
To be fair, DeWalt has a huge built-in advantage with Stanley Black & Decker as their parent company, who produces lots of impact sockets and accessories for air tool use.
Also seems like a bad thing to me that SB&D is going to have so many brands and so many offerings for the same basic hand tools between Stanley, Black & Decker, Bostitch, Irwin, Mac, Proto, Blackhawk, and now Craftsman. Something is going to give.
John Fal
I think all the brands will do fine as long as they are made well. As long as they keep sbd/Stanley name off the tools. The tools have to be their own brand and some need to be USA made.
Noah
Reversible ratcheting wrenches? Finally. They’ve all but disappeared from the market.
orcadrvr
This is a little off topic, but I have been waiting for Dewalt to offer a 3/8 inch impact wrench, brushless, using the 20 v battery packs of which I have several.
I already have the 1/4 impact driver, and I love it, but I could use something with just a little more “oomph”.
So I see that they have released a 3/8 brushless, but it has almost identical torque as the 20 volt 1/4″ impact driver (about 150 ft. pounds). What is the point?
Milwaukee’s 3/8 brushless, using the 18volt Fuel system, gets 200 foot pounds of torque, 1/3 more than the Dewalt (either Dewalt!).
What gives?
Hang Fire
Are the sockets CrV or CrMo? Is the U-Joint pinless?
Hang Fire
CrV impact sockets can be perfectly serviceable, but CrMo would indicate that Dewalt is really trying for the higher end of the market.
Toolfreak
They had better be CrMo for the price. You can get Stanley CrV sockets for around 20 bucks/set.
The joint looks pinless, but that might just be them hiding the pin with a straight-on shot or some photoshop.
BikerDad
“Republic of China (aka Taiwan) Peoples Republic of China (aka Red China aka Mainland China)”
What happened to my “”?? Is the software randomly gobbling non-alpha characters?
Walter
There is a Dewalt 176 tool kit on sale right now in Costco. It marked as $99, just same as Costco’s own Kirkland Signature 159-piece Mechanics Tool Set ($79 on holiday). Is this a good buy?
https://www.costco.com/Dewalt-176-piece-Mechanics-Tool-Set.product.100323228.html
Hang Fire
Looks good to me.
Pete
Wow lots of COO whining in here. Dewalt is gonna have some great sockets im sure regadless of where theyre made. I like them for ONE reason… the sweet cases the smaller socket sets come in.