First "pro" tools, need reassurance

[Codejack]

Not trying to talk you out of buying the Stanley set, because I have some Stanley black chrome tools that I absolutely love, but I went and bought all 3 drive size extensions from GW @ advanced, with a 35% off coupon it was stupid cheap and they all came in plastic trays, which I love If you have the speedperks rewards or whatever, an even better deal.

If these GW extensions interest you make sure to call, my store listed both the part #s for the kit with and without the tray as the same item.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...obble-extension-set-81004dn-81004d/25984240-P

Edit; No idea why the link doesn't work through garage journal.

That is a nice set; the 14" extension is huge, and I love wobble extenders.

I can't get 35% off, but I can get 20% off and a $5 coupon, so they're only ~$10, and frankly, I'm not going to leave them in the tray, anyway...

 

[Yarpo]

That is a nice set; the 14" extension is huge, and I love wobble extenders.

I can't get 35% off, but I can get 20% off and a $5 coupon, so they're only ~$10, and frankly, I'm not going to leave them in the tray, anyway...

Here's a code for 35% site wide

WDE367

 

[Mr_B]

If you really fancy the HF color coded sockets just get them.
only thing with color is looks bad once used a bit plus you never remember color coding fully lol or at least I wouldn't.
If you got visual issue with socket sizing (think we all have as most stamping is piss poor and small) you could look at acid etching sizes yourself .
with 20% HF coupon and family trip for purchase you could keep it minimal cost and hopefully simple quick future warranty .
I think extensions will be main warranty item, I had more 1/4 wobble replacements than anything else put together.
Quite like the tekton set as case has extra storage which good for extra extensions etc.
Currently tekton warranty seems quite easy, gearwrench going be down to your local suppliers approach on warranty . with bad sight you won't like gearwrenches warranty info page, hints on a dirty approach to the warranty .
Never cracked a 1/4 chrome socket even on impact use so far though .

THe HF pro impact sockets are proper decent groove at base and grainy phosphate finish making far easier handling which equates to time saved . I only buy taiwan impacts with same design .

 

[Codejack]

If you really fancy the HF color coded sockets just get them.
only thing with color is looks bad once used a bit plus you never remember color coding fully lol or at least I wouldn't.
If you got visual issue with socket sizing (think we all have as most stamping is piss poor and small) you could look at acid etching sizes yourself .
with 20% HF coupon and family trip for purchase you could keep it minimal cost and hopefully simple quick future warranty .
I think extensions will be main warranty item, I had more 1/4 wobble replacements than anything else put together.
Quite like the tekton set as case has extra storage which good for extra extensions etc.
Currently tekton warranty seems quite easy, gearwrench going be down to your local suppliers approach on warranty . with bad sight you won't like gearwrenches warranty info page, hints on a dirty approach to the warranty .
Never cracked a 1/4 chrome socket even on impact use so far though .

Yea, I'm just waffling.

I'm sure the HF sockets will be fine, and they're not really any more expensive than anything other than the 1/4" Duralast set at autozone; $30, tempting, especially as they are at least color coded for metric and SAE, but I would want a better ratchet, anyway... and we're back to HF.

The visual thing is less about remembering the colors (although the bright blue 10mm is probably going to stick in my mind...) than it is about just differentiating them; I am constantly going for my 12mm and getting 13 and the like, just grabbing the one next to it, and not noticing until it won't go on the nut. I imagine that this will let me look, say, "OK, I need the brown 12mm," and if the one I pull is green or gold, I know I messed up.

The complaints about confusion also seem to be rooted in the fact that the 1/4" and 3/8" sets use different color schemes, i.e. 1/4" 10mm is blue, 3/8" (and 1/2") 10mm is pink.

THe HF pro impact sockets are proper decent groove at base and grainy phosphate finish making far easier handling which equates to time saved . I only buy taiwan impacts with same design .

Oh, I am in love; if the HF's weren't just a little thicker, I would consider sending back or reselling my GW 3/8" impact set and trying the whole 'Only 1/2" and 1/4" sets' thing with 1/4" impacts.

But I already have them; they cover some sizes that the HF pro line skips; I didn't really want to buy a full 1/2" deep set, anyway....

So why do I need smaller than 8mm impact? The whole "All black tools" thing is cool, but up until now, it was strictly practical: I break sockets, even good ones, so I'll buy impacts for just a little more money (and the deal I got on the 3/8" wasn't even really more money, if I could find a decent 1/4" impact set for $60...).

That argument isn't really holding up for 1/4", though, is it? Screw it, let's go with HF. I'm also skipping the GW extensions, as even with discounts and a speedperk, they are $12 for 4, and the Stanley set is $6 for 3. I'll buy the HF long set if I need something like that, to get the long 3/8" and 1/2" extensions, too.

Flex head ratchet, 3 extensions, 40 sockets (already have u-joint and adapter), $53. Even the $41 GW set can't quite match that.

 

[Mr_B]

only thing that make me buy as set is really needing the case or it total unbeatable deal.
I bought my sockets as sets on rails, kind of one rail a month and added extensions etc as time went on, I found I liked 1/4 portable and ended up with a metal box lined with toolbox foam to house the socket rails and main 1/4 accessories and ratchets which lays open in my main box but easy close up and go portable .
trouble buying full sets much like you pointed out in past posts is don't get exact spec need or has things you never going use so just shiny box ballast at end of the day .
If HF pro coloured 1/4 range suites your criteria go for it, with or without coupons it cheap and at end of day all the mentioned taiwan made options all about the same in spec, quality and price .

Only thing wrong with HF pro impact sockets is lack of sizes and drive range. If fixed that it would become a very popular pro impact option .
I just got no idea to why don't do full range sizes/drives on display stand as individual sockets !
Would be far better putting effort into that and other pro tool range and marketing them than what they doing with battery tools :-S !

 

[Codejack]

OK, this pretty well wraps up this thread:

Grand total was just a hair over $300, probably $350 with tax, shipping, etc. The six 1/2" deep sockets, spark plug socket and the hex/torx sets I had before, but everything else, including the box, added up to about $310.

 

[Mr_B]

You been shopping lol .
Pretty good amount and usable quality of tools for the dollars spent, HF warranty could make it even better value if have few replacements on common heavy used stuff quick and easy .
Update on how you find color coded sockets as interested in your opinion to how helpful they are .

 

[Codejack]

You been shopping lol .

Well, that was the idea

Update on how you find color coded sockets as interested in your opinion to how helpful they are .

I will definitely update, but just looking at them kind of makes you happy, you know? They are like toys

That being said, I took them out to play for a bit, and it is now obvious that I am mostly going to use 3 or 4 of them, and will remember which colors they are.

10mm and 12mm are used all the time, so blue and brown in metric, and I guess 1/2" is probably the most common SAE size that I use, which is gold.

 

[Michaelstover]

Good one i think. What is the warranty policy?

 

[Codejack]

Good one i think. What is the warranty policy?

Heh, on which part?

The wrenches, 1/4" set and 1/2" set are all from Harbor Freight, lifetime warranty.

The 3/8" set is GearWrench; your guess is as good as mine.

The 3/8" ratchet is Snap On...

-----------------------------------------

That being said, I have put some stress on the 1/4" flex head ratchet and the 10mm socket, and they held up like champs.

I haven't found anything to stress the 1/2" set, yet; the youtube videos have that stuff handling 500 ft lb, and I don't have anything like that

 

[Gmonkee]

I brought a set of the HF colored sockets to work a few years ago.

The boss retired his coffee can hodge podge a week later and bought two good quarter ratchets to compliment 'his' new tools.

The colors do help him quickly choose a size and go where he used to dig in a can for five minutes.

He had a a 'full range' 3/8'' set and recently got a smaller metric only set in a case. Another huge time saver. Adopted it instantly in place of the GJ grade set and he is quicker to find the one he needs.

Smaller sets of selected sizes apt for your job are better. We work on anything late 80's to a new car and rarely find ourselves needing a heap of new tools each model year.
Usually just the scanner gets a little less apt as the cars get fancier electronics.

 

[Codejack]

Yea, just being able to grab the color/size I need is fantastic. Even the ones I don't automatically know, I just count from the ones that I do know.

My problem is that I am working on everything from weed trimmers to full size pickup trucks, from the 1970s on up, so I need metric and SAE in pretty much all sizes.

I would consider getting the color-coded 3/8" set, but the colors are different, and the 3/8" shallow are 12-point sockets.

I might get them in chrome just for that, though, if I don't wind up buying a spline set.

 

[Mr_B]

I wouldn't buy spline, not that great especially on old fasteners .

 

[Sal Bandini]

My new favorite color-coded sockets...

 

[Codejack]

My new favorite color-coded sockets...

Those are neat; if only I didn't need SAE sizes, more Metric sizes, and cheaper tools

I finished the set today:

That officially wraps the portable set up; it's missing some things, but it was never intended to be a comprehensive set.

I also plan on re-doing the trays with cling-wrap instead of cloth (it should stretch, and give better definition), and more foam.

 

[Codejack]

Field trip!

Today was the first time I had to take the whole kit out for an adventure: The ex-wife's minivan had a bad alternator, and since we are still raising one child together, the more money she can save, the better.

Shop quote was $400, half labor.

I managed to get the alternator for $125 from Advance, using online discount and a speedperk, but I did have to drive across town to get it.

The tools themselves performed flawlessly; I intentionally only used 1/4" and 1/2", just to see if it's possible, and it was a slight challenge at one point, but mostly because the 1/2" ratchet isn't low profile and the 1/2" sockets are longer.

1/4" got the trim, adjustment screw, and hot wire, while I broke out the 1/2" for the main alternator bolts.

-----------------------------------------------------

The mold I made for the 1/4" set just isn't cutting it; granted, I loaded them up in the truck and drove down the mountain pretty fast, but that's part of the test. The 3/8" mold did fine, and even the loose 1/2" sockets didn't move too much, but the 1/4" set was all over the place.

Color coding to the rescue!

The 1/4" mold has to be deeper, and I don't see any way of doing that other than using plastic wrap to let the foam expand more. I might give it a go this weekend

 

[Codejack]

Update:

The trays aren't working at all. This is explicitly a portable kit, so I have been out and about with it over the last few weeks:

-Alternator on Nissan Quest
-Timing Belt and water pump on Honda Accord
-Shocks on Ford Explorer
-Brakes on Mazda Miata
-Starter on Subaru Outback

The tools themselves have been amazing. Even breaking the crank pulley bolt off of the Honda only broke a couple of extensions; the breaker bar and extendable ratchet worked wonderfully. The only thing the 3/8" was used for was the spark plugs.

But whenever I take them anywhere, they arrive in complete disarray. Even with all of the 1/2" sockets in the bottom, the box is top heavy, and so tends to tip over. Even without that, though, any kind of sudden stop (say, when a truck pulls out in front of you, which happens all the time around here) will cause them to roll around and get mixed up, especially the 1/4" set.

I was going to try to make new, deeper trays, but my experiments have been disastrous; plastic is either too stiff and doesn't expand, or is too thin and breaks.

I would try foam, but I really don't want to have to cut out 120 slots (240 if I use a double layer) to fit the tools into.

I am looking at rails, but seem to be having some issues:

-My 1/4" set has 10 each SAE and Metric in both shallow and deep. The only problem is that the rails are longer than they need to be, but I suppose that I can cut them.

-My 3/8" set has 8 shallow SAE, 8 deep SAE, 12 shallow Metric and 13 deep Metric. Starting to be more problematic, but this is still doable; the 21mm deep might still be loose, though. At least the length is about right, although it will be tight.

-My 1/2" set has 13 each SAE and Metric, but only in shallow (I have some 1/2" deeps, but they stay in a different box, with my impact gun, as they are generally for lug nuts, and so those are the sizes I have: 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 3/4", 13/16" and 7/8", along with 32mm and 36mm axle nut sockets). Worse, their combined length, especially in SAE, is longer than the rails that I can find, even the ones with 13 pegs.

----------------------------------

This is why my original spec was for a cased set; I'm not exactly regretting it (I got some amazing tools for the money, and spent it more slowly, which helped), but this is a problem that I really need to solve.

Any suggestions? Or should I just bite the bullet and spend the weekend cutting slots in foam?

 

[jumbojak]

Whatever you do, don't buy the HF metal rails. At least not in 3/8 or 1/4 drive. The 1/2 inch rails work fairly well but the clips on the smaller ones break too easily and don't hold sockets well at all.

I don't know the best solution but what has worked best for me is the plastic rails with nylon clips. It isn't perfect but helps cut down on the number of loose sockets in the travel bags. NAPA sells some that are pretty good.

 

[Gmonkee]

Smaller tin boxes with dividers so all are controlled within the box. Take out the tin with the drive size you need and the rest are well controlled.

I keep a 25 pc set is one small tin and even after dropping it a few times all is present and intact.

 

[Codejack]

Whatever you do, don't buy the HF metal rails. At least not in 3/8 or 1/4 drive. The 1/2 inch rails work fairly well but the clips on the smaller ones break too easily and don't hold sockets well at all.

I don't know the best solution but what has worked best for me is the plastic rails with nylon clips. It isn't perfect but helps cut down on the number of loose sockets in the travel bags. NAPA sells some that are pretty good.

I'll check it out, thanks.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I'm pretty sure I will never buy another HF laser etched socket. Once they get some wear, you will see what I'm going on about. How are the HF number punches?

 

[Codejack]

I'm pretty sure I will never buy another HF laser etched socket. Once they get some wear, you will see what I'm going on about. How are the HF number punches?

Hmm, my HF impacts don't have stamps:

So that might be a problem in the future, indeed.

On the other hand, this is supposed to be my beginner/portable set, so hopefully it won't see too much use after I fill out my shop set.

I was planning on buying the GearWrench 1/2" impact sets, which do have stamps

 

[Mr_B]

Use socket rails either plastic or stainless. custom cut them to lengths and have larger not so often used grouped on another rail length.
I've used rails for over 25 years and also lay my sockets flat on the rails in shallow drawer over trend of upright in full length drawer.
For portable hard beat rails in my opinion as one rail of 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 will do hell of a lot on any modern car .
Good thing with rails is easy see one missing, easy pick size just by memory/common sense and saves time massively when done and used well .
Twist lock rails may suite you, rails not that cheap but are worth it in my opinion.

 

[davethorik]

Op is banned, please just let this thread die

 

[WittHay]

I have noticed about 3 regular posters to the tool section banned in the past year. Are they permanently banned?

 

[Yarpo]

Did something happen this morning that I missed?

Yah I'm curious as well, didn't seem like he was rude or disrespectful. Just a bit stubborn and liked to maybe fued with the people who liked American made tools, no more so than I've seen some others do as well however

 

[cherrybomb]

The OP was banned,any body know why?

 

[lincwelder225]

Curious as to this myself.... He was trolling on a thread he started on U.S. tools and quality... The thread is gone too.

And I didn't even get to say goodbye!

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Update:

The trays aren't working at all. This is explicitly a portable kit, so I have been out and about with it over the last few weeks:

-Alternator on Nissan Quest
-Timing Belt and water pump on Honda Accord
-Shocks on Ford Explorer
-Brakes on Mazda Miata
-Starter on Subaru Outback

The tools themselves have been amazing. Even breaking the crank pulley bolt off of the Honda only broke a couple of extensions; the breaker bar and extendable ratchet worked wonderfully. The only thing the 3/8" was used for was the spark plugs.

But whenever I take them anywhere, they arrive in complete disarray. Even with all of the 1/2" sockets in the bottom, the box is top heavy, and so tends to tip over. Even without that, though, any kind of sudden stop (say, when a truck pulls out in front of you, which happens all the time around here) will cause them to roll around and get mixed up, especially the 1/4" set.

I was going to try to make new, deeper trays, but my experiments have been disastrous; plastic is either too stiff and doesn't expand, or is too thin and breaks.

I would try foam, but I really don't want to have to cut out 120 slots (240 if I use a double layer) to fit the tools into.

I am looking at rails, but seem to be having some issues:

-My 1/4" set has 10 each SAE and Metric in both shallow and deep. The only problem is that the rails are longer than they need to be, but I suppose that I can cut them.

-My 3/8" set has 8 shallow SAE, 8 deep SAE, 12 shallow Metric and 13 deep Metric. Starting to be more problematic, but this is still doable; the 21mm deep might still be loose, though. At least the length is about right, although it will be tight.

-My 1/2" set has 13 each SAE and Metric, but only in shallow (I have some 1/2" deeps, but they stay in a different box, with my impact gun, as they are generally for lug nuts, and so those are the sizes I have: 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 3/4", 13/16" and 7/8", along with 32mm and 36mm axle nut sockets). Worse, their combined length, especially in SAE, is longer than the rails that I can find, even the ones with 13 pegs.

----------------------------------

This is why my original spec was for a cased set; I'm not exactly regretting it (I got some amazing tools for the money, and spent it more slowly, which helped), but this is a problem that I really need to solve.

Any suggestions? Or should I just bite the bullet and spend the weekend cutting slots in foam?

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/rubbermaid-containers

I kept sockets in these when all I had a portable tool box that I kept in the trunk all the time.

 

[Yarpo]

Curious as to this myself.... He was trolling on a thread he started on U.S. tools and quality... The thread is gone too.

And I didn't even get to say goodbye!

I don't think he was trolling but his repeated threads where a bit redundant.

 

[lincwelder225]

I don't think he was trolling but his repeated threads where a bit redundant.

If he wasn't a troll, he sure did a lot of pot stirring. He would "fish" and instigate a lot of **** on here. Nevertheless, I don't think it warranted him being banned, even with his bizarre hatred of domestically produced tools, especially Channel lock. If you're out there bud, best of luck to ya!