Who makes 3/8" Chrome Semi-Deep Sockets?
- Thread starter PretendMechanic
- Start date
bubinga
Well-known member
Got it, Thank You!
Just some old guy advice: if you are working on cars and trucks as a hobby, you are likely saving a lot of money. Doing your own repairs not only saves labor, it makes you more confident you can predict and mitigate reliability issues, allowing you to drive your vehicle(s) longer. For me, it also encourages me to buy older cars for less money.
Oil changes and the occasional brake job don’t require or justify Snap On (or whatever brand you want or consider premium). But it takes darned little more than that in this economy to justify gold plated tools if that’s what you want,
I do jobs at least yearly where I save $1000 in labor. Add those jobs up and don’t feel you have to buy the cheapest tools on the planet or you are foolish. Golfers don’t buy the cheapest clubs on the planet, and their hobby just costs their families. All my hobbies make or save my family money. I need to take my own advice more often. I try to “get by” with tools that aren’t the best.
Oil changes and the occasional brake job don’t require or justify Snap On (or whatever brand you want or consider premium). But it takes darned little more than that in this economy to justify gold plated tools if that’s what you want,
I do jobs at least yearly where I save $1000 in labor. Add those jobs up and don’t feel you have to buy the cheapest tools on the planet or you are foolish. Golfers don’t buy the cheapest clubs on the planet, and their hobby just costs their families. All my hobbies make or save my family money. I need to take my own advice more often. I try to “get by” with tools that aren’t the best.
NC Fabricator25
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 28, 2010
- Messages
- 193
I’m generally a Proto guy, so I did a bit of searching on their somewhat hard to use website and found the info on intermediate depth sockets. Proto offers 8 line ups: 1/4” drive, 3/8”, 1/2”, and 3/4” in both SAE and Metric, but as noted earlier, only in 12 point variants. The 3/8” metrics, for example, are available from 6mm to 25mm so a useful size range.
I have not yet found the sets they offer for the mid depth, curious to see how complete they are and what size range is offered. A screen shot:
I have not yet found the sets they offer for the mid depth, curious to see how complete they are and what size range is offered. A screen shot:
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Pinemarten
Well-known member
I tend to buy tools that are good enough. I also tend to buy tools for when things go wrong. I have tools in my Jeep, in the truck, in the motorcycle saddlebags, etc. I often end up fixing (or patching it up to limp home) stuff for other people in addition to me.
Since the discussion is about semi-deep (mid depth) sockets, I really like my Icon semi deep set. If you want a premium set you might want to look elsewhere, but if you want a really nice set for a great price, at least check out the Icon set. At the price, you could get a road set as well.
Since the discussion is about semi-deep (mid depth) sockets, I really like my Icon semi deep set. If you want a premium set you might want to look elsewhere, but if you want a really nice set for a great price, at least check out the Icon set. At the price, you could get a road set as well.
bubinga
Well-known member
l like mine too! I got the SAE and Metric Icon semi-deeps. I too wish they sold the open stock larger than 19mm but as stated, we can always step up to 1/2" drive.
bcradio
Well-known member
What specifically is not premium about the Icon set?
Pinemarten
Well-known member
The only thing not premium about the Icon semi-deep sockets............is the price!
Country of manufacture, which alone is hardly a real issue. Bigger concerns for me revolve around the warranty. I can't walk into a store and replace an individual tool, nor can I obtain individual sockets in other sizes as needed. You get what you get.....and that is it.
Pinemarten
Well-known member
I've never had to warranty an Icon tool. I did warranty a badly ground (from the factory) Pittsburgh wrench at HF. It wasn't a problem.
No tool truck comes by my place, so I can't justify the front loaded warranty policy pricing of the Tool Truck Brands. If I recall correctly, I've only broken a socket once in my career. In semi-retirement, I don't foresee that happening. Your results may vary......
No tool truck comes by my place, so I can't justify the front loaded warranty policy pricing of the Tool Truck Brands. If I recall correctly, I've only broken a socket once in my career. In semi-retirement, I don't foresee that happening. Your results may vary......
I don't mess with trucks much, either. What I can do with a Williams, or a Snap On, or a Matco, etc, is drop the broken tool in the mail and receive a new one pretty quickly. I don't have to round up the whole set, all I need is the one broken piece.
I don't break a lot, but I would imagine three or four sockets a year isn't unusual for me in my home hobby shop. That's what made Craftsman so nice.