Capri 1/4 Inch Socket Set Guide: Which Kit Should You Start With?
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Capri Tools is known among DIY mechanics for well-finished sockets and accessories built from heat-treated alloy steel, with a grip design it calls WaveDrive that aims to hold fasteners firmly and reduce rounding. If you are new to hand tools, a socket set is a collection of short metal cups that fit over nuts and bolts, and a 1/4 inch drive set is the smallest common size. The “1/4 inch drive” is the square hole on the back of each socket, which slots onto a ratchet or extension of the same size. It is the go-to size for small fasteners on cars, bikes, appliances and electronics.
The six Capri Tools products below differ in three ways: 6-point or 12-point sockets, chrome sockets for hand tools or impact sockets for power tools, and whether you get a ratchet and extensions in the box. There is also a standalone wobble extension set and a single SAE socket for filling gaps. This guide explains each term simply so a first-time mechanic, or someone buying a gift for one, can pick the right Capri 1/4 socket set.
Capri Tools 1/4 Inch Socket Sets Compared
Best for: Replacing one lost SAE socket
Pros
- Single 1/4 in. SAE socket
- 6-point WaveDrive design
Cons
- Only one socket
- Listing model and part numbers differ
Best for: Reaching awkward, angled bolts
Pros
- Wobble up to 15 degrees or rigid
- Five lengths from 2 to 14 in
- Ball detent holds sockets
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Extensions only, no sockets
Capri Tools
Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive Master 6-Point Chrome Socket Set, 4 to 15 mm, with Extension and 90-Tooth Soft Grip Ratchet, 34-Piece, Metric
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Capri Tools 1 4 in. Drive
Best for: First-time mechanics and gift-givers
Pros
- Includes 90-tooth soft grip ratchet
- Five Wobble Plus extensions
- 28 metric 6-point sockets
Cons
- Heaviest set at 3.5 pounds
- Warranty not stated in listing
Best for: Working on 12-point fasteners
Pros
- Fits 12-point, hex and square fasteners
- 28 pieces, 4 to 15 mm
- MaxChrome finish
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Less grip on worn hex bolts than 6-point
Best for: Owners of cordless impact tools
Pros
- Chrome molybdenum impact sockets
- Manganese phosphate coating
- 28 pieces, shallow and deep
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Listing mixes metric and SAE wording
- No drive tool included
Best for: Hand-tool users who already own a ratchet
Pros
- 28 metric sockets, 4 to 15 mm
- Shallow and deep of every size
- 6-point WaveDrive grip
- Chrome vanadium with MaxChrome plating
Cons
- No ratchet or extensions included
| Product | Pieces | Socket type | Sizes | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive 6-Point Socket Set | 28 | 6-point chrome, shallow and deep | 4 to 15 mm | Not listed |
| Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Drive Master Impact Socket Set | 28 | 6-point impact, shallow and deep | 4 to 15 mm | Lifetime |
| Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive 12-Point Socket Set | 28 | 12-point chrome, shallow and deep | 4 to 15 mm | Lifetime manufacturer |
| Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive Master 6-Point Chrome Set with Ratchet | 34 | 6-point chrome, ratchet, 5 extensions | 4 to 15 mm | Not listed |
| Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Drive Wobble Extension Set | 5 bars | Extension bars | 2, 3, 6, 10, 14 in. | Lifetime |
| Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Shallow Socket | 1 | 6-point chrome, shallow | 1/4 in. SAE | Not listed |
Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive 6-Point Socket Set for Everyday Hand Work
The Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive 6-Point Socket Set is a straightforward 28-piece metric collection. It includes 14 shallow and 14 deep sockets in the same sizes: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 mm. Shallow sockets are short and fit in tight spaces; deep sockets are longer and reach nuts sitting on long bolts, such as exhaust studs.
The sockets are chrome vanadium steel, an alloy widely used for hand tools because it is strong and resists wear, with Capri’s own heat treatment and a polished MaxChrome plating for corrosion resistance. “6-point” means the inside of each socket has six corners that match a hex nut exactly. Six-point sockets contact more of the fastener’s flat sides, which is why the listing says the WaveDrive design helps prevent rounding and gives more leverage.
This set suits anyone who already owns a 1/4 inch ratchet and wants a full run of metric sizes. If you are starting from nothing, the 34-piece Master set below adds a ratchet and extensions.
Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Drive Master Impact Socket Set for Power Tools
The Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Drive Master Impact Socket Set (CP51000-28MSD) is made for cordless impact drivers and wrenches. Impact tools deliver sharp, repeated blows, and regular chrome sockets can crack under that stress, so impact sockets are made from tougher chrome molybdenum steel. These are coated in manganese phosphate, which the listing describes as the preferred coating in military and aerospace, offering better corrosion protection than black oxide.
It includes 14 deep and 14 shallow 6-point impact sockets from 4 to 15 mm, weighs 2 pounds and carries a lifetime warranty. One inconsistency: the title and features describe metric sizes, but the description calls them SAE sizes. The sizes listed are clearly metric, so we take the SAE mention to be an error. If you are pairing it with a power tool, see our overview of a Capri Tools impact wrench.
Choose this set if you plan to use a power tool. For hand-only use, the chrome sets are lighter in the hand and easier to read.
Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive 12-Point Socket Set for 12-Point Fasteners
The Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive 12-Point Shallow and Deep Socket Set (CP16100-28MSD) matches the 6-point set’s 28-piece layout and 4 to 15 mm range, but each socket has twelve internal points. The listing says these handle 12-point fasteners as well as hex and square fasteners. They share the chrome vanadium steel, MaxChrome finish and WaveDrive design.
A 12-point socket can slip onto a nut in twice as many positions, which helps when you only have room to swing the ratchet a little. The trade-off, as general practice shows, is less contact on a worn hex nut compared with 6-point. The listing notes a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
This set suits people who work on equipment with 12-point bolts or who want easier engagement in tight spots. For most beginners, the 6-point sets are the safer first choice.
Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive Master 6-Point Chrome Set with Ratchet and Extensions
The Capri Tools 1/4 in. Drive Master 6-Point Chrome Socket Set (CP12110-34M-SET) is the complete starter kit. Its 34 pieces are the same 28 shallow and deep metric sockets, plus a 90-tooth soft grip ratchet and five Wobble Plus extension bars in 2, 3, 6, 10 and 14 inch lengths.
A 90-tooth ratchet needs only a small swing of the handle, about 4 degrees, to catch the next tooth, so it works in cramped spaces. The listing calls it low-profile and dual-direction. The Wobble Plus extensions reach fasteners at an angle of up to 15 degrees. The set weighs 3.5 pounds and uses chrome vanadium with MaxChrome plating. For comparison with other small ratchets, see our 1/4 inch ratchet guide.
This is the best gift pick for a new mechanic. Those with a ratchet already can save by choosing the 28-piece set.
Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Drive Wobble Extension Set for Angled Reach
The Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Drive Wobble Extension Bar Set includes five bars: 2, 3, 6, 10 and 14 inches. Each works as a rigid extension or as a wobble extension that lets you reach fasteners at up to 15 degrees. A spring-loaded ball detent holds sockets on, and a knurled grip lets you spin loose fasteners by hand.
They are chrome vanadium with corrosion-resistant chrome plating, weigh 1.1 pounds and carry a lifetime warranty. The listing’s item count says 1 while the set clearly has five bars, and the model and part numbers differ slightly.
These suit anyone with a socket set but no extensions. The Master 34-piece set already includes this style of bar.
Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Shallow Socket for Filling a Gap
The Capri Tools 1/4-Inch Shallow Socket is a single 1/4 inch SAE, 6-point socket on a 1/4 inch drive, 0.98 inches long. It uses chrome vanadium and a SmartKrome finish. Its model number (CP12163) and part number (1-2156) do not match.
Buy it to replace a lost socket or add an SAE size, since the sets above are all metric.
How to Choose the Right Capri Tools 1/4 Socket Set
6-point vs 12-point sockets. 6-point grips hex nuts best and resists rounding; 12-point fits 12-point bolts and engages in more positions.
Chrome or impact. Use chrome for hand tools and impact sockets for power tools.
Complete kit or add-on. Beginners should pick the 34-piece Master set. For larger jobs such as suspension bolts, a bigger drive is useful; our Capri Tools socket set guide covers more sizes.
Metric or SAE. The sets are metric; the single socket is SAE.
FAQ
Which Capri socket set should I buy first?
The 34-piece Master set, since it includes a ratchet and extensions.
Can I use chrome sockets on an impact driver?
It is not recommended. Choose the Master Impact Socket Set for power tools.
What does WaveDrive mean?
It is Capri’s grip design, which the listings say holds fasteners tightly and prevents rounding.
Do Capri sets include SAE sizes?
These sets are metric, 4 to 15 mm. The single shallow socket is SAE.
Do Capri Tools have a warranty?
The impact set, 12-point set and wobble set list lifetime warranties.
