originally I was going to make this another sears ***** thread but I decided not to because dealing with people at sears is just plain painful experience and goes without saying. anyway to the subject of this thread. I swapped out some sockets today from my set that needed replacing. of the ones that didn't need to be ordered directly from craftsman (painful part) I noticed that some of the sockets were shorter or taller than should of the ones in the matched sets for sale. The 18 and 19mm sockets are .25" longer than the ones they replaced and the 13mm is about .25" shorter than the one it replaced. a couple of the metric sockets also did not have the hash marks on them to distinguish them from the standard sockets. Anyone have any ideas whats going on here?
Cman socket question
- Thread starter monster1
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NC-Fordguy
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Can't tell you about the sockets but it wouldn't be GJ if there wasn't a daily sears ***** thread
TwoInch
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are the old ones you are swapping out laser etched? and im betting the new ones are lazer etched correct? i know the smaller laser etched metric sockets dont have the hash marks, and also arent stamped the same.
your older sockets are probably from a different series and or manufacturer.
your older sockets are probably from a different series and or manufacturer.
softailgarage
Well-known member
The Chinease are still practicing, give them time, they'll get it
TwoInch
Well-known member
the new ones that replaced your warranty sockets? from what i have seen, you can only get the old style non-laser etched in the larger sets. all the drive size specific sets on the shelves are mostly laser etched nowadays, and open stock seems to be all laser etched for a while. these are armstrong made sockets. they are pretty good quality IMO. but like anything, when a design or manufacturer location changes, the product is likely to change slightly. shouldnt affect performance, but is sure to drive us nutts when our tools dont match.
TwoInch
Well-known member
i checked a recent set i have. 1/2 drive, 6pt shallows
the 9mm-14mm are not hashed, and do not have a series code. the 15mm- 26mm are hashed and normal with series codes G2D and a couple GK in the larger sizes.
GK series seem to be a tad taller.
on a side note, i had an excellent experience at SEARS today. local store had a bin full of craftsman professional screw drivers in a clearance bin, no price tags. i grabbed a couple and headed to the check out, they rang up $3.97 each. i went right back to the bin and grabbed a bunch of assorted lengths, phillips, slotted, and torx of all sizes and lengths up to 12"(16"incl handle). then headed over to the rack on the shelf, priced from $5-$15... not bad in my book.
the 9mm-14mm are not hashed, and do not have a series code. the 15mm- 26mm are hashed and normal with series codes G2D and a couple GK in the larger sizes.
GK series seem to be a tad taller.
on a side note, i had an excellent experience at SEARS today. local store had a bin full of craftsman professional screw drivers in a clearance bin, no price tags. i grabbed a couple and headed to the check out, they rang up $3.97 each. i went right back to the bin and grabbed a bunch of assorted lengths, phillips, slotted, and torx of all sizes and lengths up to 12"(16"incl handle). then headed over to the rack on the shelf, priced from $5-$15... not bad in my book.
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dsmnickk90
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Have them order you the standard version not the laser etched version. They only stock laser etched sockets now. The standard style are still available though
Flatintoone
Well-known member
When sorting out Craftsman sockets, I've noticed that the lengths can vary. I never bothered to check out and sort by manufacturer code, but I suspect that's the biggest difference. I wonder if, at different times, they used different blank (un-broached) forgings for different sizes. For example, at one point maybe 9/16" and 5/8" sockets shared a 'blank' size, while at another point maybe the 5/8" shared a 'blank' size with the 11/16"? Just speculation that I could probably answer myself by sitting down with the sockets and calipers.... (If that made any sense at all)
The smaller dual marked sockets don't have the hash marks on the bottom. This is normal. Just looks like there is not enough room on there for it.
Personally, I much prefer the laser etched (with dual marks) over the standard non-laser etched sockets.
Personally, I much prefer the laser etched (with dual marks) over the standard non-laser etched sockets.
I have sockets with the same code that are different in length. Drives you nuts when you have an organizer for the smaller size and they don't fit.
HandyManny
Well-known member
Yeah you make a valid point. Afterall it took western civilization a few centuries to perfect some of the Chinese inventions.
the new ones that replaced your warranty sockets? from what i have seen, you can only get the old style non-laser etched in the larger sets. all the drive size specific sets on the shelves are mostly laser etched nowadays, and open stock seems to be all laser etched for a while. these are armstrong made sockets. they are pretty good quality IMO. but like anything, when a design or manufacturer location changes, the product is likely to change slightly. shouldnt affect performance, but is sure to drive us nutts when our tools dont match.
Phewwwwww! I thought I was the only one bothered when sets dont completely match!
