[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

In 1970 when I started driving I bough a set of Fuller sockets and a ratchet with two extensions and a spark plug wrench on a plastic case. The chrome is worn off of the ratchet from getting set down on the concrete. Fuller was made in Japan high quality tools.

I still have the entire set, and I have never lost a socket. I did break the 14 mm by being lazy and using the 14mm on my impact wrench and promptly split it. My go to sockets right now are those sockets. I don't think I have ever lost a socket, but I only work on my cars. So no chance of them getting left in a customer car.

Back in the day, Japanese tools were sort of sneered at as "cheap". But actually, they're pretty damned good... they used good quality steel and they fit well. Some Japanese tools from back in the day that I still have is a set of "powermaster" metric open ends and a "truecraft" round head 3/8" drive stubby ratchet. The wrenches fit and function every bit as well as my USA Craftsman stuff, and the ratchet still is smooth with low backdrag.

Let's put it this way...I see no need to toss old tools that still function well in order to buy new ones.