Easy to read sockets ? Difficulty: No Craftsman

[Jononon]

This isn't an anti-Craftsman sentiment, I just can't buy them here.

Who else makes sockets with a high visibility marking :headscrat ?

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/2931/00946305000wp1.jpg

I used my friend's Snap-on sockets, all marked with stickers, today. I'm not too keen on the stickers, but being able to grab the right socket every time, particularly while wearing safety goggles, rather than squint at engraved markings and/or realise you've grabbed the wrong one, was really handy.

Feel free to ream me for not being able to distinguish 9/16" from 14mm at 500yds ;)

[tanda4]

Matco's sockets have a blue writing.

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2263#

[wythors]

Keep them on a Hansen socket tray and you won't have the problem.

My Mac sockets don't have "high visibility" marking, but the numbers are nice and big. Blind old me doesn't have any problem reading them.

[kartracer55]

Matco sockets use an enamel to put the numbers on thier sockets. Blue for metric and red for SAE. Holds up pretty well, but after a few years of daily use they will wear off.

Jim

[v8garage]

Keep them on a Hansen socket tray and you won't have the problem.

My Mac sockets don't have "high visibility" marking, but the numbers are nice and big. Blind old me doesn't have any problem reading them.

Thats the way they all ought to be. I really don't think the laser etching will hold up for the long haul.

[Thumper]

Laser etching won't hold up under constant use. I had a pair of Husky ( yeah I know..I know ) slip joint pliers and the etched Husky name wore off after about a year of day in , day out use. I had hell at one Home Depot trying to get them warranted and wound up going to another store and had No problem. I hate laser etched stuff....it just won't hold up.

[Danglerb]

I just keep trying sockets until one fits, but the numbers do look nice.

[Jononon]

Thanks chaps. I can't say I'm shocked by the 'it wears off' consensus.

Time to buy the Mac truck guy his next holiday :shocking:

One suggestion elsewhere was to wipe enamel paint into the engraved sockets. I'm not sure if that's likely to last long, or to improve visibility dramatically, at least for sockets with rather small and thin engraving (Snap-On, I'm looking at you), but, since it's free, I might give it a go on the battered old sockets I only use for the lawn mower and see how it looks.

I just keep trying sockets until one fits, but the numbers do look nice.

Something of a waste of time if you're working from a workshop manual, with all the sizes diagrammed.

[kidney]

I have a 1/2 set of Armstrong sockets, that are laser etched and stamped.

[wilbilt]

I have a 1/2 set of Armstrong sockets, that are laser etched and stamped.

I have some 3/4" drive Armstrongs that are the same way...both etched with large numbers as well as having the conventional size stampings.

[78fj40]

Thanks chaps. I can't say I'm shocked by the 'it wears off' consensus.

Time to buy the Mac truck guy his next holiday :shocking:

One suggestion elsewhere was to wipe enamel paint into the engraved sockets. I'm not sure if that's likely to last long, or to improve visibility dramatically, at least for sockets with rather small and thin engraving (Snap-On, I'm looking at you), but, since it's free, I might give it a go on the battered old sockets I only use for the lawn mower and see how it looks.



Something of a waste of time if you're working from a workshop manual, with all the sizes diagrammed.


You could also use a china marker pen. You can pick them up at any office supply. They sell in all types of colors. It's basically a wax pen. Works well, and you can 're-apply' if you keep it in your tool box.

[Uncle Buck]

I think the whole laser etched idea will go away as just another Craftsman fad in a year or so because of reliability problems! Watch, it will not be too long before they start clearancing the stuff at 50 cents on the dollar and replacing it with new novel socket of the day!.....Yea, the ones with sizes stamped into the side of every one! Imagine that! Hurry and get them while they last! :lol_hitti

[wilbilt]

I think the whole laser etched idea will go away as just another Craftsman fad in a year or so because of reliability problems! Watch, it will not be too long before they start clearancing the stuff at 50 cents on the dollar and replacing it with new novel socket of the day!.....Yea, the ones with sizes stamped into the side of every one! Imagine that! Hurry and get them while they last! :lol_hitti

I think it's a sinister plot to avoid having to warranty them. Once the name wears off, you are SOL. The meaning of "Lifetime Warranty" will mean the life of the etching.

Of course, I think everything is a sinister plot...:wtf:

[Jononon]

Given the apparent reliability issues, it might well be that they don't continue with them long. I, and ymmv, do think they're a potentially useful innovation (obviously).

Of course, I think everything is a sinister plot...:wtf:

That's what they want you to think.

[wythors]

Of course, I think everything is a sinister plot...:wtf:

wilbilt = Fairlaneman

I knew it!!!:tard:

[Major Ramifications]

What country are you in that Sears won't ship products to you? Have you tried Ebay?

I like the laser etching, but I don't use my tools every day. If the etching ever rubs completely off, I will worry about it then.
I hadn't thought about using a china marker on the stamped tools, though. Sounds like a great idea (I got my china marker from Ace Hardware).

[wilbilt]

wilbilt = Fairlaneman

I knew it!!!:tard:

HEY now...:rant:

[Jononon]

What country are you in that Sears won't ship products to you? Have you tried Ebay?

I'm in the UK. AFAIK Sears won't ship to anywhere other than the 48 contiguous states.

[wilbilt]

I'm in the UK. AFAIK Sears won't ship to anywhere other than the 48 contiguous states.

Isn't that because there is a "Craftsman Tool Co." based in the UK?

[dxdexter]

I think it's a sinister plot to avoid having to warranty them. Once the name wears off, you are SOL. The meaning of "Lifetime Warranty" will mean the life of the etching.

Of course, I think everything is a sinister plot...:wtf:

I often wondered how I would get any warranty on my Klein pliers should I ever need it. They had an etched brand name and now I would need a magnifying glass to tell who made them because its near worn off.

How could I prove they are what I say?

[MAD]

:

One suggestion elsewhere was to wipe enamel paint into the engraved sockets. I'm not sure if that's likely to last long, or to improve visibility dramatically, at least for sockets with rather small and thin engraving (Snap-On, I'm looking at you), but, since it's free, I might give it a go on the battered old sockets I only use for the lawn mower and see how it looks.


The type of paint pens that junkyards use for marking parts works well for that on the industrial black finish of impact sockets. I expect it would not last very long on chrome though.

[Jononon]

Isn't that because there is a "Craftsman Tool Co." based in the UK?

Possibly. It's a shame, I mail ordered my GearWrenches (I love those things, I barely use regular combination spanners now) from the US and it's hard to match things like the 153 piece Craftsman socket sets for quality at the price here.