STANLEY Mechanics Tool Set, SAE, 1/4 in. & 3/8 in Drive, 69 Piece, Black Chrome (92-824)

I have been using this set for around five months and I love this it. The main problem people seem to have with it is the case, but I think the case is fantastic although I wish the socket layout was a bit more inuitive. I find myself searching for sockets slightly longer than I would with other kits.The case. It is a very odd and poor decision to screw the packaging onto the case but it doesn't affect the case and I stopped noticing the holes very quickly. Plus, seeing as how I use it regularly for work it picks up other dings and scuffs anyway. Most of the sockets are extremely locked in and can be difficult to get out the first few times they are used which I find fantastic. Although there are a little under a dozen that are as tight (or loose I should say) as any other case, I couldn't hate it more. I have had multiple ratchet sets in my life and the thing that causes me to buy new ones is lost sockets and ratchets. If sockets won't stay put in the case then I am more likely to leave them out and then they end up lost. It is even worse when both sides of the case are used like a Husky set I once owned until that 70+ piece kit was down to less than 20 after several years. It was impossible to open that case without several dozen pieces pouring out making it beyond useless. It was actually a liability. Almost all of the sockets of this kit remain perfectly in place when open even if you tip it upside-down and all are held firmly in place while the case is closed. A final thought on the case is the hinge appears weak and flimsy and I was very worried about it at first. It has held up very well though and I don't even give it a moment's thought anymore.Part of the reason I like this kit is the black finish and laser etching. The sockets are easy to read, my tools are much much less likely to be mixed up with other people's or stolen due to the less common color (this has actually saved me from losing pieces already), and the finish seems to be fairly durable. A friend of mine decided using the handle of the 3/8" drive ratchet as a hammer was a good idea and the finish was still looking pretty good. The sockets we're very greasy as others have noted which seems unnecessary and was very annoying. Since the black finish is so durable I can only assume it is to preserve the etching at least until someone purchases it.Overall, I am very happy with this set and, at the time of purchase, would have had to spend much more for an equivalent set of another brand.

As someone who grew up with Craftsman tools, it has pained me to see how much Craftsman quality has declined in the last 10 years. After I purchased this Stanley set 7 years ago, I found myself using my Craftsman tools less and less. The most obvious benefit of this set is the laser-etched labeling on the black chrome finish that provides amazing contrast and awesome legibility. That alone makes this Stanley set far more enjoyable to use than Craftsman sockets.Additional benefits include:- Superior ratcheting mechanism- Superior durability- Superior machining- Superior finish- Superior corrosion resistance- Superior tolerances- Superior in-hand feelDon't be seduced by other tool/socket sets that seem like a better value because they offer more pieces per dollar. Most of those extra pieces are absolutely useless, like dozens of allen keys you'll never use, a dozen nut drivers you'll never use, and junk screwdrivers and wrenches you'll never use because you probably already have nicer wrenches and screwdrivers in a wider range of sizes.I love the no-nonsense approach of this set. You get what you need and none of the "bonus" junk, thus your money is spent on quality, not quantity.As for the case, I've had no problems with it at all. Yes, the pieces can be a bit difficult to get in and out of the case initially, but the case does loosen up over time. IMHO, this is better than the opposite extreme of a case that will not sufficiently prevent the tools from moving around.Due to an inexplicable lapse of reason, I took this Stanley set to my vacation home and left them there, which means I've been forced to dust off my Craftsman set at my primary residence. Reverting back to the lower quality and poor legibility of the Craftsmans over the past year made me realize how much I miss the Stanley set, so much so that I just ordered a second set of these for my primary residence!All in all, this is an awesome set. Match it up with a couple dozen combination wrenches and you'll have what you need to tackle the vast majority of projects. I'll probably donate the Craftsmans and never look back.