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Milwaukee has a reputation for produce some of the adept - timber tool in the business , so it come as little surprise that its socket set is one of the lead options for home mechanic . When put to the mental testing against six other socket sets , Milwaukee ’s 56 - piece ratch and socket setproved to be the best equipped to care household duties , be it working on a car or cover other non - mechanic job that demand a socket set .
I put the Milwaukee socket fix through its paces on both a hand truck engine and lawn - lawn mower locomotive . Since engines are n’t the only things for which sockets sets are used , I also test this put by using it to drive 3 - inch - long ⅜-inch lag bolts into two 2x4s . While testing , I consider how easily the rachet and sockets could tighten and relax bolts , include how snugly they fit on the bolt head . I also tested for durability by subjugate the ratchet and sockets to high amounts of torsion .
Photo: Tony Carrick
to boot , I looked at how snugly the sockets in the set set over corresponding bolt . Durability was also cardinal ; I observe the heftiness and heaviness of each deadbolt , and I also considered how easy it was to ratchet bolts . Through all tests , I found Milwaukee ’s set to have excellent build quality and one of the most well - round off collections of socket sizes , extensions , and drivers .
Milwaukee 3/8-Inch Drive 56-Piece Ratchet and Socket Set: At a Glance
Rating:9/10
PROS
CONS
Get the Milwaukee 56 - small-arm ratch and socket set at :
What is the Milwaukee 56-piece ratchet and socket set?
At 56 pieces , theMilwaukee rachet and socket setis by no way the largest out there , but that ’s OK . A socket place design for home use does n’t have to be massive to forgather the motive of the average DIYer . Milwaukee ’s circle clearly goes for quality over quantity .
Milwaukee choose the socket size a DIYer is most likely to use , with SAE sizes that run from ¼ up to 1 inch and metrical size that range from 6 millimeter ( mm ) up to 19 mm . Milwaukee also includes mystifying socket ( necessary for working hard - to - hit bolts and bolts with long , exposed threads ) for each size , with the elision of the 15/16 - inch and 1 - inch SAE size . There are also 3 - inch and 6 - inch extensions and a universal joint , all three of which make it well-fixed to get at bolts inside an locomotive engine and to ratch harder .
Milwaukee ’s set include not just one , but two ⅜-inch drives . This center - sizing ratchet is the one most commonly used . It ’s small enough to fit into rigorous spaces inside a car engine , yet still large enough to provide copious torsion . I like the fact that Milwaukee includes two lengths of ⅜-inch ratch : an 8 - inch and a 12 - inch duration . The smaller is more quick and sluttish to fit into besotted spaces , while the longer one provides the torsion involve to act upon with child bolt of lightning .
Photo: Tony Carrick
How does the Milwaukee socket set perform?
One of the things I like proficient aboutMilwaukee ’s socket setis the figure of its carrying compositor’s case and tray . Yes , reasonably much all socket set use molded trays to hold their socket in place . But some sets are so bulky they can be unwieldy to post or keep at arm ’s reach while working under a motorcar toughie .
At just 12 pound sign , Milwaukee ’s exercise set is more compact and lighter than other sets I try for the best socket fix buyer ’s pathfinder . And unlike other socket lot that use a single display case , all the socket in this set fit inside a removable tray that rest inside the case . Since the tray is lowly and less bulky than the pillowcase , I found it easy to place the entire set on the car railway locomotive or beside me on my service department level while I work . By receive the intact lot at my side , I constitute it much easy to go through the trial - and - error process of cope with a bolt that ’s deep inside a railway car locomotive with the right size socket .
The sockets also sit down inside the tray , which is a welcome pattern difference from the many socket sets that have sockets and cause that shoot into their assigned pip . I found it difficult ( and hard on the fingers ) to snap in or snap out sockets and wrenches on other set I tested , so the tray style was a variety I value . My only gripe with the Milwaukee set ’s typeface is the fact that the longer 12 - inch ratchet does n’t fit inside .
Photo: Tony Carrick
How well does the Milwaukee ratchet and socket set work?
Milwaukee does a number of things right with this socket set that made it easier to use than others I test . A socket lot ’s worth is largely about how well it can beget torsion on bolts . Part of being able to do that is how well the socket correspond onto the bolt head . Since the fellowship ’s sockets are preciseness cut , each socket I test in this⅜-inch socket setfit snugly onto the corresponding bolt head with little to no playing period . This made it well-to-do to tighten and loosen bolts — plus it meant I did n’t have to care about round off bolt heads or causing the socket to pull off the deadbolt , even while applying all of my body free weight to the number one wood .
The drivers are also a higher timber than those of any of the other Set I tested . Drivers have toothed wheels inside them , which give them their ratcheting activeness . The more teeth , the faster you may rachet up a bolt on or off . A gamey tooth count also equates to a smaller golf stroke spark , which is the figure of degrees you have to move the ratch grip for it to capture . A humble swing music arc make it easier to rachet up a bolt in tight space , such as inside a railway car locomotive .
Most sets have ratchets with 72 tooth and a swing arc of 5 degree , but the two ratchets in this set have 90 tooth , and therefore a modest cut spark of 4 degrees ( for the sake of comparison , professional mechanics have 120 - tooth ratchets with diminutive vacillation arcs of just 3 degrees ) . With the Milwaukee ratchets , I could tighten up and remove bolts more quickly and work bolts , even with very picayune clearance , to twist the ratch .
Photo: Tony Carrick
How well is the Milwaukee set designed?
away from the above feature that make the set so prosperous to use , Milwaukee includes other renowned characteristic . For example , though most set have socket with a orotund shape , Milwaukee ’s have a satisfying shape . This creates two benefits . First , you do n’t have to concern about sockets rolling away when you set them down . Given that sockets have a propensity to seethe off a Earth’s surface and into the depths of a car engine , this is no minor thing .
The flat slope also allow you to grip the socket with a rascal wrench or adjustable crescent wrench . This is necessary in some office where you want to bring forth a hatful of torque or turn a dash in tight spaces where an 8 - inch long driver merely wo n’t fit .
In addition , attending to detail differentiates this solidification from others . expectant oblong terminate on the driver handles make them more well-situated to utilize , specially when applying a lot of air pressure . There are also knurled grips on the socket extension service that provide purchase for the fingertips when manually threading a bolt . I also care the big stump size on the sockets , which eliminates the need to squint to identify each socket .
Photo: Tony Carrick
Some users may not like the fact that there is no lock mechanism to declare each socket to the driver , which is a feature of speech found on other drivers . But I did n’t have any issuing with socket separating from the driver during testing , even when using the extension and universal juncture .
How durable is the Milwaukee socket set?
give that Milwaukee ’s power tool and hand tools are highly regarded for their durability , I had high expectation for this set . It did n’t let down . The sockets have a heavier tone than those in other sets I test . While these sockets are by no means suitable for impingement equipment driver ( you ’ll want an impingement socket set for that ) , they showed no signs of cracking or giving way , even when I subjected them to greater torsional power with the 12 - inch number one wood .
The blown molded case also feels like it could hold up up to a bonnie amount of abuse . It suffered only cosmetic scratches after I devolve it repeatedly on a cement driveway .
Is the Milwaukee socket set worth the money?
Milwaukee is a premium brand of tool and thus make out with a exchange premium Mary Leontyne Price shred . There are socket sets with more slice that cost less than this set . That said , buyers wo n’t determine the quality they can get with these sockets and drivers in those more affordable options .
The sockets have a higher grade of construction , so they are less likely to slip and snipe off bolts or crack under insistence during enjoyment , and the high tooth count and handle design of the drivers make them easy to use than those found in lower - priced set .
Although this set might not have all the sizes and adapter that come with larger band , those additional bit often do n’t see much function . I ’d much rather have this compact set — which is well-situated to tote and keep by my side while work — than those cumbersome expectant curing . I also care the versatility Milwaukee offer with feature of speech you but wo n’t rule on any other socket set , including the two sizes of driver and the squared - off sockets . throw its design quality , choice of objet d’art , and durability , Milwaukee ’s ⅜-inch socket setis easily worth its price tag .
Photo: Tony Carrick
Is the Milwaukee socket set right for you?
While Milwaukee may offer a top - notch socket bent , it might not be right for everyone . With this hardening , you ’re paying for the high quality that come with the Milwaukee name . These cock will last for a long time and can deal intense use , which is worth the steeper price for home mechanics who do a fair amount of work on their own fomite . It ’s also idealistic for handymen who may find themselves using a socket set fairly on a regular basis — not just for working on vehicles and yard machines , but for other projects around the house .
That enounce , this set is likely overkill for some DIYers . If you do n’t work on your own automobile and only need a socket go under for the occasional odd line around the house or to make a resort to your lawn lawn mower , then it might not make sense to pay the comparatively high terms tag that comes with this set . It probably make sensation to expect for a more sensibly pricedsocket set .
On the other remnant of the spectrum , this set might not meet the demands of serious mechanics . It ’s not suited for consumption with an impact driver — that sort of study require an impact driver set made from sound - duty carbonized steel . This set also wo n’t work for those in pauperization of a socket set to work on a motorcycle or certain European automobile brands , such as Mercedes and BMW , all of which require a Torx socket set .
Where to Buy the Milwaukee 3/8-Inch Drive 56-Piece Ratchet and Socket Set
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a free lance writer speciate in dwelling house improvement , landscape gardening , technology , home certificate , and design . His articles have been featured on such site as Angi , Popular Mechanics , Futurism , 360 Reviews by U.S. News & World Report , Switchful , and more . Tony has conducted strict intersection testing on everything from power tools to home security systems to backyard grills . With each review , his goal is to help reader decide whether a product match their needs and if it is or is n’t deserving its price tag .
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