Filling in skips in Harbor Freight / Pittsburgh Pro socket sets

[Parrothead]

Well, my OCD got the best of me finally. I purchased a Pittsburgh Pro 3/8 socket set and ratchet to use at the office, and of course it's missing some sizes. It's missing the following.


3/8 drive sockets

6mm,7mm,8mm,9mm (they measure at 1-1/8 high)
18mm, 21mm (they measure at 1-3/16 high)
3/16, 1/4 (they measure at 1-1/8 high)
15/16 (it measures at 1-3/16 high)

They're all 12 points, and I don't really care about brand, COO, or any of that, I just want something that looks like it came with the set in the correct height.

If anybody has done this, or knows off the top of their head what would be a match, please let me know. I have Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, TSC, Sears, Autozone, Advance Auto, Pep Boys, Ace and True Value within driving distance. I am trying to save myself from driving to each and measuring.

I know this is weird, so please bare with me.

 

[Rico.]

Is it possible just to buy the Pittsburgh Pro single sockets..?

If the shop doesn't have them, can you get them online..?
That way they will all match and make you ....

 

[HanShotFirst]

They don't sell single sockets at HF, something I think is a big mistake on their part. And they don't have magnetic spark plug sockets either (that I've found), which is another mistake. I can't understand why, this seems like an obvious one to me.

 

[Jagmandave]

In the past I've found Northern Tool to be one of the least expensive places to get "onsies" sockets, and they seem good quality......

I used to buy them at Sears, but they've gotten quite spendy.

 

[Parrothead]

They don't sell single sockets at HF, something I think is a big mistake on their part. And they don't have magnetic spark plug sockets either (that I've found), which is another mistake. I can't understand why, this seems like an obvious one to me.

I agree. It seems like a big disadvantage to people who like complete sets. I've avoided purchasing things like this for just that reason.

 

[speedminded]

My guess is loss prevention -- if they sold single sockets there's a chance they would all disappear faster than people bought them.

Then again, they could always just put them in a locked case.

 

[AmishFury]

My guess is loss prevention -- if they sold single sockets there's a chance they would all disappear faster than people bought them.

Then again, they could always just put them in a locked case.

loss prevention worries don't stop many other places from stocking singles... would also make it easier to warranty a single socket and create fewer broken sets being added to the open box section

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I filled in all of them for my Kobalt sets and ended up with a PITA mixture of Kobalt, Carlisle (from NAPA), some from Zoro and some from MSC Industrial. It took weeks and a few $$, but all pegs are filled, so I could move on to the next OCD project and not snarl every time I looked at the racks.

 

[HanShotFirst]

loss prevention worries don't stop many other places from stocking singles... would also make it easier to warranty a single socket and create fewer broken sets being added to the open box section

I had a former boss who retired from Wal Mart. He told me about how Wal Mart does these sq-ft per dollar equations to decide what products go on the shelves. Mostly to determine if something is worth the square footage of space vs. income/profit. So it could be that, loss prevention, or maybe just the logistics of a large number of small items, which is legitimately kind of a logistical nightmare.

As for filling in the gaps, I buy single sockets at auto parts stores. Most auto parts stores that sell tools sell singles. (at least THEY get it!).

Personally I think HF's socket/ratchets are the best thing they have going for them. Any way to build on that seems like a good idea to me.

Since their sockets/ratchets are so damn good for the money, I sincerely hope HF is making a decent profit from that side of their business because I'd hate to see their good stuff go away.

 

[DekeT]

How long before you feel the need to fill in the sockets to match the fill-ins? I mean, like where does it end?

 

[1950mercury]

Well, my OCD got the best of me finally. I purchased a Pittsburgh Pro 3/8 socket set and ratchet to use at the office, and of course it's missing some sizes. It's missing the following.


3/8 drive sockets

6mm,7mm,8mm,9mm (they measure at 1-1/8 high)
18mm, 21mm (they measure at 1-3/16 high)
3/16, 1/4 (they measure at 1-1/8 high)
15/16 (it measures at 1-3/16 high)

They're all 12 points, and I don't really care about brand, COO, or any of that, I just want something that looks like it came with the set in the correct height.

If anybody has done this, or knows off the top of their head what would be a match, please let me know. I have Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, TSC, Sears, Autozone, Advance Auto, Pep Boys, Ace and True Value within driving distance. I am trying to save myself from driving to each and measuring.

I know this is weird, so please bare with me.

Good luck it sounds like you should just buy a new matching sets of gw or something along those lines. I dont think your ocd is going to ne happy trying to match them...

Just return the hf,buy time u buy the singles you could have bought some gw 6pt sets

 

[Scout Driver]

In the past I've found Northern Tool to be one of the least expensive places to get "onsies" sockets, and they seem good quality......

I used to buy them at Sears, but they've gotten quite spendy.

I agree with Northern Tool being a great source for single sockets.

Scott

 

[finn]

A new set of HF sockets is $8.99. You can probably use a 20% off coupon.

Those sets may not have all you need, but would cover most of what is missing and at a lower cost than buying open stock somewhere else.

If you don't want the duplicates hanging around, donate them to Habitat or your favorite charity. Get a receipt and claim the $2.00 on your income tax.

 

[Codejack]

A new set of HF sockets is $8.99. You can probably use a 20% off coupon.

Those sets may not have all you need, but would cover most of what is missing and at a lower cost than buying open stock somewhere else.

If you don't want the duplicates hanging around, donate them to Habitat or your favorite charity. Get a receipt and claim the $2.00 on your income tax.

Lol, he's trying to fill in the skips in those HF sets.

 

[Infinia]

I know this is weird, so please bare with me.

It might be, but we don't know your rational either? We always get the folks that want to fill out the ends their Hansen trays, but then they usually started with better rail sets no skips. OCD and HF are a set-up for disappointment. They work fine for most folks. E.g Start over buy new brands.
>Smallest 3/8 drive sockets @12 points is questionable and unobtainium , consider adding 1/4" drive.
>Some skips are covered with equivalent SAE, 16mm = 5/8"
>Other skips are rarely used sizes.

Consider building a custom metric set kept in a small case and keep it stashed out of sight.

 

[Infinia]

here ya go http://www.homedepot.com/p/Zenith-3...cket-Set-12-Point-19-Piece-ZN502235/302552494

 

[Mr_B]

easiest way HF fix the issue if don't want waste display space is make the sets non skip and wider covering.
Don't see would need massive space and could either be locked display or just a chart and you get staff to get your sizes .
Is one reason the pitts pro stuff not doing as well as could as they not made the most of it and have lot of simple stuff that would sell well and encourage new customers missing !
Waste a **** load of space on crappy battery tools, thinning total shite out of that would be good as complete waste of space and a good box lol .
Current bull advertising on price savings & comparing to snapon kind of indicates the problem, total retards who think hooky marketing better than real product range development .

 

[Mechanical Noise]

My guess is loss prevention -- if they sold single sockets there's a chance they would all disappear faster than people bought them.

Then again, they could always just put them in a locked case.

My local HF has some individual sockets on open pegs.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Is it possible just to buy the Pittsburgh Pro single sockets..?

If the shop doesn't have them, can you get them online..?
That way they will all match and make you ....

Online sales would work well for the consumers. I think Sears used to sell fill in sets to complete their partial sets.

 

[kythri]

Lol, he's trying to fill in the skips in those HF sets.

Well, he was two years ago...

 

[JohnDeere1]

Try autozone they sell singles not sure of heights though also Lowe's is a good option .