Get'n old, needed the big print sockets

[thehazmatguy]

My eyesight is decent and I'm not that old. But, it always seemed like I was hunting for sockets and then hunting for the size of the socket each time I looked at them.

I decided to cough up the coin for a new easy to read socket set - Craftsman. I compounded deals and got the 176 piece easy to read socket set, delivered to my door over night (because over night was $4 and I would be home that day). I did a complete count and all sockets are as they should be.

I was really pleased to see that when the sockets are mounted on the rails, it's easy to make sure the large print faces out on each socket. I had really expected the sockets to have been etched hap-hazardly in relation to how they'd fit on the socket rail. So, this was a really nice surprise.

Here they are, in their new home... but this still needs a little more organization.

And... I thought I would post a picture or two of the shelf I'm adding to my work bench. The stainless legs are from Ikea. The box for the legs are in the second picture, Capita is the product name and they were $15 per pair of legs.

 

[87Pomona]

That's a nice workbench!

 

[OEXL16B]

Wow, nice setup you got there.

 

[Cameronl]

Nice shelf! And congrats on the sockets.

 

[thesilverone]

looking good!

 

[Guns R Tools]

Looks great.

 

[timbitca]

Those sockets are really nice... I ain't old, but my eyesight isn't great and I hate looking for ****; I may have to grab these.

I'll try and take a picture the next time I'm up home and working in my garage, but one of the socket sets my grandfather left me, a Hoppe set made in Germany (according to a quick Google) has the tiniest markings on the sockets I've ever seen.

 

[RM209]

Hazmat: That's a great looking shelf!
Good idea.

RM209

 

[cmandp]

Which set did you order that came with dual marked sockets? The 176pc. on Sear's website doesn't show dual marked sockets.

 

[thehazmatguy]

Thank you for the nice words!

The shelf is working out better than I expected. I got a (very) used chunk of butcher block that was 6 feet wide by 30ish deep. It was in pretty rough shape. It had been left outside and the wood was starting to separate at the seems. I picked the best part of the wood and cut away the rest. Then came the sanding... I sanded deep enough to get out most of the gouges and staining from oil and such. Then I had to sand even deeper to get passed some burn marks that I'm pretty sure were slag from welding. The wood really should have gone through a planer but I don't know anyone that has one.

I've still got to sand it smooth because the initial sanding was done with 50 grit sand paper. I'll smooth it out a bit with 150 and then cover it with a few coats of clear polyurethane.

 

[cammok5]

does anyone else have problems with the etching rub off with use? i have a couple right now i can hardly read.

 

[Skin]

does anyone else have problems with the etching rub off with use? i have a couple right now i can hardly read.

Use them enough it will fade. Matco has nice big colored etchings as well that also dull with use. Good news is both Craftsman and Matco will warranty sockets for this reason. I really like easy read numbering. Wish more did it.

 

[thehazmatguy]

Which set did you order that came with dual marked sockets? The 176pc. on Sear's website doesn't show dual marked sockets.

I got this set:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00934032000P

I bought it at the $169.99 sale price as it's marked right now, the regular price is $200. I bought it last Sunday (?) night during a promo event that gave me another 10% off. And, I got a month of free shipping from the Sears shop your way to savings thing. The overnight on the socket set was over $40 but I only had to pay $4.

Total $248.99
Tax $ 13.16
Savings Applied -$139.77
Family & Friends Event! Extra 10% off Select Tools Sold by Sears! Ends 8/13 at 7am CT
Pay only 2 cents to get Shop Your Way Max for 3 months!
SHOP YOUR WAY MAX 30 Day Free Shipping Trial - $3.99 Overnight Shipping for items Sold by Sears!
Shipping Charge $3.99
Shipping Tax$ 0.00

Total$ 170.16

 

[BajaBound]

does anyone else have problems with the etching rub off with use? i have a couple right now i can hardly read.

No and I use the **** out of mine on and off road and with an impact constantly guiding with gloves on. I like them a lot.

 

[thehazmatguy]

Use them enough it will fade. Matco has nice big colored etchings as well that also dull with use. Good news is both Craftsman and Matco will warranty sockets for this reason. I really like easy read numbering. Wish more did it.

Yep. I have some other easy to read sockets that are faded. Even though that happens, I really like the big print.

I'm with you - I wish more tool company's made the easy to read stuff. I also think the Kobalt stuff that's color coded red/blue for metric/standard is brilliant.

There's an eBay seller that makes socket labels too. I've thought about that, particularly for my impact sockets.

I used gold paint on my HF impact sockets to make them easier to read. I filled the numbers in with gold paint and then wiped away the excess that was sitting on top. I think it helps a bunch.

 

[thehazmatguy]

No and I use the **** out of mine on and off road and with an impact constantly guiding with gloves on. I like them a lot.

I have some that are older and I thought they faded... but maybe the etching was "thin" to begin with? There are a couple of sockets in the new set that could have been etched a little better.

 

[camarotoolman]

The etchings on c-mans go away in no time. Maybe on the holders they will stay nicer longer.

 

[Cameronl]

There's an eBay seller that makes socket labels too. I've thought about that, particularly for my impact sockets.

I tried those. I very carefully cleaned the sockets with alcohol, they peeled off pretty soon anyway.

 

[davesnothere]

I use hanson rails and just about never look at the size on the socket.

 

[dirtmister16]

we have a set of the dual/easy read impact sockets at work. the one 9/16ths that we don't use much has wore till you can't hardly see it. i think we have had these 6 months yet. the 5/8ths we use daily and i can read that plain as day.

i like them though makes it quicker to see what you have.

 

[richfinn]

I can tell what size my sockets are depending on how beat up and worn they look

If I get a new set I sometimes turn the 10/13/17mm upside down so I can grab them without having to look for the size.

I have seen a set of metrics anodised in different colours that looked interesting