Quinn 72-Piece Master Socket Set (70317) Review: A Serious Kit at a Budget Price

Introduction

Every so often a budget tool kit comes along that genuinely surprises, and the Quinn 72-piece master socket set is one of them. Priced at around $65, and frequently discounted during promotional events, this full metric and standard kit covers 6 through 24 mm with deep and shallow sockets and no skips, plus standard sizes from a quarter inch to 1 inch.

After spending time with the ratchet, sockets, extensions, and universal joint, the verdict is simple: this is not junk. It is a very decent tool set that would work as a primary kit on a budget, or as a standalone second kit for jobs away from the garage.

What Is the Quinn 72-Piece Master Socket Set?

The Quinn 70317 is a complete master socket set in 3/8-inch drive, combining full metric coverage from 6 to 24 mm with standard sizes from a quarter inch to 1 inch, in both deep and shallow lengths. That no-skip metric range is genuinely impressive at this price, since it leaves no gaps between sizes.

Notably, the set is labeled as made in Taiwan rather than China, which at this price point is a detail many buyers will appreciate. The kit also includes a sealed-head ratchet, a couple of extensions, and a universal joint, making it a self-contained solution rather than a bare socket assortment.

The intent here is not necessarily to replace an experienced mechanic’s primary set. It shines as a compact, complete kit to keep in a vehicle or secondary workspace, ready whenever a job comes up away from home.

The Sockets: How They Compare to Premium Brands

Comparing the Quinn 19 mm socket directly against a premium brand equivalent reveals how close the quality really is. The chrome finish is nice, the wall thickness is similar, and the chamfering at the base of the socket is well executed. The premium socket costs $42 on its own, which is roughly two-thirds the price of the entire Quinn kit.

One area where Quinn actually comes out ahead is legibility: the size markings are far easier to read than on the premium equivalent. Where the premium socket has knurling on the flanks, the Quinn omits it, but that is a minor styling difference rather than a functional gap.

Against another mid-tier brand in the same price family, the Quinn is actually slightly thinner, which matches the premium wall thickness more closely and gives better clearance in tight spots. Chrome quality reads as essentially the same across the comparison, and every piece carries a lifetime warranty.

The Ratchet: Sealed Head and Low Profile

The included sealed-head ratchet is the pleasant surprise of the kit. It has a fairly thin, low-profile design with a compact head that fits into tighter spaces than its size suggests, and the handle is nicely contoured with a feel that recalls higher-end tools. It is a little narrower and thinner overall than premium equivalents, and it will not win awards for back drag, but it feels good in the hand and works well.

Out of the box, the ratchet is slightly stiff on back drag, which is normal for a new mechanism, and it loosens up naturally with use over the first few weeks. The mechanism is a 90-tooth design. Rather than disassembling a new ratchet to regrease it, it is reasonable to trust the factory lubrication unless the tool is genuinely in poor shape.

For comparison purposes, the Quinn ratchet lands roughly at the level of a previous-generation mid-tier premium ratchet: sealed head, small, compact, and entirely serviceable.

Extensions, Universal Joint, and Case

The included extensions are on par with mid-tier competitors in build quality, with only minor differences in sizing and knurling between them. The universal joint is also nicely made. Everything in the kit carries a lifetime warranty, so if anything breaks, it can be swapped for a replacement.

The blow-mold case is not the finest storage solution ever made, but it does the job of keeping everything together. The trays use small hinge pins, so they can be pulled apart and dropped straight into a tool drawer as needed, then reassembled with the pins if you want the kit portable again.

Who Should Buy It

This kit makes the most sense for two types of buyers. First, anyone who wants a very decent second kit to keep away from home, complete enough to cover nearly any socket job without raiding the main toolbox. Second, a budget-conscious buyer who needs a genuine primary set: with no-skip coverage from a quarter inch to 1 inch and 6 to 24 mm, it covers practically everything most people will ever need.

The 3/8-inch drive size is the sweet spot here. Quinn also sells half-inch and quarter-inch kits, but sizes below 6 mm and above 24 mm are rarely needed, and the compact 3/8-inch ratchet head gets into small spaces reasonably well.

Buying Advice

For around $65, this kit is a bargain, and promotional discounts can bring it down further. Compared with building out a general service kit from another brand at the same store, this Quinn set avoids one common frustration: some of those kits still ship with the older replaced ratchets rather than the newer generation designs. With the Quinn, you get a solid sealed-head ratchet in the box.

If you pick this kit up, consider adding some quarter-inch sockets to complement it, and maybe a second ratchet. Beyond that, there is little to fault at this price.

Conclusion

The Quinn 72-piece master socket set earns a straightforward two-thumbs-up verdict. Well-built sockets with excellent size legibility, a surprisingly nice sealed-head ratchet, a lifetime warranty, and complete no-skip coverage in both metric and standard make it an easy recommendation. Whether as a budget primary kit or a ready-to-go second set, it delivers far more than its price suggests.