Semi Deep sockets...

[GrayFlattop]

I ordered a couple of sets of 3/8 drive gearwrench semi deeps the other day. Why not - you never know!

Seriously, I’ve used some 1/4 drive semi deeps before and just had a hard time with paying snappy or even sk prices, so I figured the Taiwan sockets would be fine for something I will rarely use.

In terms of specialty sockets, I’ve used the stubby ones many times in limited space. So just for kicks, I lined up my daily user 3/8 drive 9/16 sockets to see how they size up.

So L-R: 1970’s craftsman, Proto deep, gearwrench semi deep, Proto standard, Proto stubby and OEM tools stubby.

Honestly, I’m impressed by the Taiwan sockets, but also impressed by my old Craftsman sockets - very deep, thin wall and pretty durable. Of course, no sane person would really “need” six different depths of the same socket, but...

I can recall more than a few times when I’ve had to butcher a perfectly good socket or wrench to get to a fastener - hopefully I’m covered.

No real point in this post - unless it’s a cry for help, lol.

Sorry about the dust, the socket cabinet stays in the wood shop - a little safer there.




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[M6erfan]

That knurling on the OEM brand socket is awesome

 

[dacan23]

Surely there is a use for 6 diff length sockets lol

Does GW call them mid length, are they these? Look pretty nice.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00829RMAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Mr_B]

The oem sockets are above average design features/quality for the on rail set costing , seem likely to be sourced from infar . They do good range in metric and standard-A/F
I have infar sets same design over 2 decades in daily use and they holding up same or better than top brand usa, german and japan .

 

[Road Wrench]

I have thought about semi deep set, for situations like this.

 

[Mr_B]

Surely there is a use for 6 diff length sockets lol

Does GW call them mid length, are they these? Look pretty nice.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00829RMAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

When I first started I didn't think much need for standard length long and semi's, didn't take long find that I was wrong and even cut a few special lengths over the decades too .
I got extra longs and the new craze stubby sockets too, not always a must but if you doing it for a living more than 8hrs a day you really want easy options rather than fatigue and lost time thus an even longer day and even more fatigue
sometimes it makes all the difference ...

 

[GrayFlattop]

Surely there is a use for 6 diff length sockets lol

Does GW call them mid length, are they these? Look pretty nice.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00829RMAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yep - those are the ones I got. If OEM made a semi-deep I would have purchased those instead, but last weekend I had a situation where deep wouldn't work and standard wouldn't work... I ended up using a deep offset DBE, but vowed to get the semi-deeps. The Gearwrench sockets look very good - I'm sure they will be fine.

The older Craftsman were all "extra deep" I guess. I have a couple of SK sets that step up i length as the fastener size goes up - not sure if that's genius or if I don't like it - I guess it depends.

Now I'm officially out of room for my sockets - need to do somethign about that.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'll take that Proto 9/16. You can keep all the rest.

 

[Yarpo]

I forgot they dont knurl their standard sockets. Great sockets none the less, I use my semi deep GW sockets ALOT.

 

[M6erfan]

Funny, the least expensive socket (OEM) has the best design

 

[dkroth]

The OEMTOOLS low profile set just $13.99.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ELYPLZO/?tag=atomicindus08-20






.

 

[LXCam]

My first grab for both 1/4" and 3/8" drives are the semi deeps. My metric set is all SO but my SAE set is GW and I've yet to see any difference in performance. Now swivels on the other hand is a completely different story. But I digress

 

[Mr_B]

Funny, the least expensive socket (OEM) has the best design

Yeh they didn't copy usa/snapon

 

[marineman]

I only have 1 semi deep socket (9/16 snapon) bought for a very specific purpose but I've found that every time I need a 9/16 that's the one I pick even though there's 6 other varieties of 9/16 in the same drawer.

 

[M6erfan]

A couple years ago I bought a semi-deep set of Ko-ken 1/4". They've become my most reached for

 

[PR1Gneon]

Whats the GW 3/8 semis lenght?

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[nelstomlinson]

I have some SK and some Snap On semi deeps, and they're my go-tos.

 

[Kaane]

Semi deep is for when you lose the shallow and the deep and that is all that is left!

 

[mcmtech]

I’ve got 1/4 and 3/8 semi deeps at work, and they are nearly all I use in chrome. I’ve got impact semi deep in 3/8 as well

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I've got Mac and SK impacts as well as Snap On and GW chromes throughout my collection at home and work. I rather like the semi deep idea.

If I have to grab a rail for something, that's become my first choice.

 

[BigBoreFan]

I've bought a handful of OEMTools sockets lately, to fill out some sets. Very nice for the price.

 

[TwoInch]

I use my 3/8 metric gearwrench mid lengths most out of all my sockets, probably close to 90%.. I used snap on mid lengths a ton for a few years prior.

I have zero complaints.

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[BK13]

I have chrome 3/8" drive semis in SO and Carlyle. The Carlyles are a bit longer.

I'm apparently a bit of a semi-deep *****.
1/4" mm SO 12 point
1/4" Carlyle mm and SAE 6 point
3/8" SO mm and SAE 12 point
3/8" Carlyle mm and SAE 6 point
3/8" Sunex SAE impact

Now that I see Proto is making 1/2" drive chrome, I may have to invest in some of them, too...

 

[John in OH]

Is it reasonable for me to assume that you have each of these six different depth sockets in 6, 8, and 12 point?????

 

[MrDeerHunter]

Gearwrench semis are my go to.

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[428PI]

My most go to sockets are the 3/8 Snap On semi deep impacts. At work now we use Matco semi deeps and appear to be almost identical. One thing to keep in mine. Save some spotless 10mm 13mm 14mm and 15mm that you use only on bolts or nuts that are stubborn or rusted. Use them only for emergency use.

 

[bwringer]

The OEMTOOLS low profile set just $13.99.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ELYPLZO/?tag=atomicindus08-20






.

I have that set and it is very, very nice. And handy. When you need a shallow socket, you really need it.

Great for belt tensioners on transverse engines stuffed into inappropriate places.



Man, I need to get me some mid-length sets. Or semi-deep, or whatever you call them.

 

[jshillin]

My Gearwrench Semi deeps are usually the first sockets out of the drawer. I have them in both 1/4" and 3/8".

 

[dan360]

I love my semi deeps. Have chrome SAE and Metric set of 3/8” dr Craftsman’s from back around 1997 or so. Impacts are Snap-on.

My 1/4” dr are a hodgepodge of Snap-on and Armstrong.

None in 1/2” dr

 

[TwoInch]

. Save some spotless 10mm 13mm 14mm and 15mm that you use only on bolts or nuts that are stubborn or rusted. Use them only for emergency use.

What is the reasoning for this?? I can't figure it out.



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[428PI]

Two Inch, the reason is that you don't want a worn socket when getting stubborn nuts off of cars-especially exhaust nuts. That's what I meant by spotless. When one uses these sockets day in and day out they get worn out. Most of my semi deeps are getting that way. Snap On doesn't like to get them replaced either.

 

[jdlong]

I do not own any semi deeps but I can see them becoming a go to because I rarely run into stud or bolt stick through that justifies full deeps and semi deeps won't throw off your leverage the way a full deep does.

 

[lugnut71]

I use semi deeps daily, only grab a shallow or deep when necessary, which is very few and far between

 

[hangfirew8]

Honestly, I’m impressed by the Taiwan sockets, but also impressed by my old Craftsman sockets - very deep, thin wall and pretty durable.

I was not impressed by the early Craftsman thin-wall sockets, when they first came out, I guess late 80's or 1990-ish. The deeps cracked every time I used them. And since they were Metric tools at the dawn of the Metric Era, Sears open stock was always out of stock, so I couldn't warranty any of them, and they wouldn't break a set. It was either buy another set or buy something else. So I bought something else.

 

[flylow7f39]

My current go to sockets are:

Chrome: GearWrench 80554S 14-Piece 3/8-Inch Drive 6-Point Mid Length Socket Set Metric

Impact CrMo Sunex Tools 3328 3/8" Drive Semi-Deep Impact Socket Set - 14 Piece

 

[jgromada]

Just got Gearwrench 3/8" metric set for Christmas
Nice finish

 

[malibu101]

I have had a set of semi deep SAE sockets for many years. I love them.
Space permitting, they are always my go to. I find it usually gives me perfect finger clearance to wrap my hand around the ratchet without scraping knuckles like a shallow or levering off center like with a deep.

Everytime a need a metric socket I wish I'd get a set in metric too.

 

[not-required]

I have the SK SAE and Metric semi deep sets in 1/4" drive. They are my daily use go to 1/4" drive sockets and are in my cart. The shallow and deep sets stay in the toolbox for when I need them.

 

[visionguru]

I have GearWrench 3/8" metric mid-length set, and SnapOn mid-length 3/8" metric impact set. They are definitely not more versatile than short and deep sockets, for many times, I found the mid-length were too long or too short. I never run into a situation that mid-length is required.

 

[Wamsutta]

Two Inch, the reason is that you don't want a worn socket when getting stubborn nuts off of cars-especially exhaust nuts. That's what I meant by spotless. When one uses these sockets day in and day out they get worn out. Most of my semi deeps are getting that way. Snap On doesn't like to get them replaced either.

I was pretty close. I thought you were going say the reason for the spotlessly clean socket is to leave enough room inside for the rusty fastener. A dirty socket may not have enough room inside to accommodate the rust on the fastener.