Harbor Freight 12 mm socket?

[seagullplayer]

I use a lot of Harbor Freight tools, some folks hate them, I don't mind them.

I am working on my Gold Wing Monday night and come to find out my 3/8" set of sockets has no 12mm? I don't mean it is missing, I mean it does not include one, goes from 11mm right to 13mm.

So I look at my 1/4" drive set and it also skips the 12mm?

Lucky I had some old sockets around. I never noticed this before, now that I know I will be needing a 12mm all the time!

Wonder whats up there?

 

[n8n]

That's one of the things I don't like about HF. Sets skip sizes and they offer you no way to fill the holes. At least Sears has a rack with loose wrenches and sockets, although they're overpriced.

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[djb2]

I am working on my Gold Wing Monday night and come to find out my 3/8" set of sockets has no 12mm? I don't mean it is missing, I mean it does not include one, goes from 11mm right to 13mm.

So I look at my 1/4" drive set and it also skips the 12mm?

I did a quick scan of the sets currently on the HF web site.

Almost all metric sets have a 12mm socket.

Only two sets, #67998 and #67999 do not.

Most metric sets are continuous. A few skip larger sizes e.g. 16mm, 18mm, 20mm. Two skip 21mm. The only one that skipped 15mm was the offending 3/8" set above.

The result surprised me. In general, HF sets are more complete than I had expected. Only those two related products (sequential product numbers) do not. In their defense, they are kits with ratchets, extensions, handles and flex joint. (But with "Pro" in their name. And really, who wants 11mm but skips 12mm?)

 

[n8n]

Well the 'pro' impact sets skip sizes in metric... Went with used snappy instead for 6x the price for just that reason

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[GSMotorrad]

That's a deal-breaker for me.

 

[seagullplayer]

I did a quick scan of the sets currently on the HF web site.

Almost all metric sets have a 12mm socket.

Only two sets, #67998 and #67999 do not.

Most metric sets are continuous. A few skip larger sizes e.g. 16mm, 18mm, 20mm. Two skip 21mm. The only one that skipped 15mm was the offending 3/8" set above.

The result surprised me. In general, HF sets are more complete than I had expected. Only those two related products (sequential product numbers) do not. In their defense, they are kits with ratchets, extensions, handles and flex joint. (But with "Pro" in their name. And really, who wants 11mm but skips 12mm?)

Those are the two sets I have!

 

[n8n]

wow, HF's website appears to be completely broken, "socket" yields no results...?

 

[Hootbro]

Interesting that both the 1/4" and 3/8" skip the same size. I remember having an old HF 1/4" and 3/8" set when they came in the metal boxes and could get by if one set had a skip size as the other usually had the missing size.

Regardless though, 12mm is a pretty common size and should not have been omitted from either set.

 

[Hawk]

Perhaps they think you will use a 15/32 in its place. Not saying that is a proper way to look at it.

 

[gungatim]

Interesting that both the 1/4" and 3/8" skip the same size. I remember having an old HF 1/4" and 3/8" set when they came in the metal boxes and could get by if one set had a skip size as the other usually had the missing size.

Regardless though, 12mm is a pretty common size and should not have been omitted from either set.

I had a set of impacts in the old metal box, bought it when it was still called "Harbor Freight Salvage Company"...anyway, had to warranty it as I was up to 3 broken sockets. they traded for a new set (which is much better quality), which had 1 more socket but skipped several sizes the old set had. I think I gained a 27, 30, and 32mm but lost the 12 & 15mm...at least they let me keep the tin...so depending on who the supplier is and when you got them, the size assortment definitely can change on you so keep your eyes open...

 

[owenst7]

The chrome "pro" sets I bought last year all have 12mm

Pretty sure one of them is this set, which has 10-19 but skips 18 and includes 22.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...lity-38-in-drive-metric-socket-set-61285.html

1/4" drive also includes 12mm.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...lity-14-in-drive-metric-socket-set-67940.html

 

[seagullplayer]

wow, HF's website appears to be completely broken, "socket" yields no results...?

Their web site has got to have the worlds worst search function!
I can never get it to work right with a key word, but will most of the time if you know the item #.

I will watch the sets much closer now that I know.

 

[paranoid56]

craftsman did the same think when i bought a set of metric universal/swivel sockets. they didnt include either the 12mm or 14mm. cant remember which as it was few years ago.

 

[n8n]

Their web site has got to have the worlds worst search function!
I can never get it to work right with a key word, but will most of the time if you know the item #.

I will watch the sets much closer now that I know.

Appears to be back up now.

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-12-in-drive-metric-deep-wall-impact-socket-set-67915.html

this is the set that I was referring to. Gets a lot of love on here because it's cheap, Cr-Mo, and apparently the sockets are actually good.

But sizes are 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, 24mm

OK, so I *almost* never use the 16... but the 18 is crucial. Not only are some fasteners that size, but it's the one you need when you need to remove one of those stainless-capped lug nuts with a 19mm nominal size, and you have to peel the cap off because it's stripping/spinning. I have done this so many times I can get that damn cap off in about 30 seconds now. Who invented those damn things anyway? Same with 20/21. Don't know that I really need the 23, but still. I want ALL the sizes. (and I have them, at least 10-25mm. Then I think it skips to 27, then I have a mishmash of random branded axle sockets above that.)

16mm still is a legit size... ANSI/ISO for M10. 18 is ANSI/ISO for M12. 20 isn't standard for anything, so I'll let that one pass, but sometimes you need it anyway, likewise for 23.

Pretty much have to have all the standard sizes for ANSI/ISO, DIN, and JIS if you don't know exactly what you need a set for, and rather than try to keep all that in my head, I just prefer to buy wrenches/sockets that come in sets that don't skip sizes (or, in one case recently where I bought the Craftsman stubbies, I bought a S-K stubby to fill in the missing 11mm. My OCD side really was pissed that Craftsman didn't make one.)

To the OP: really the only solution is to go to Sears or Lowe's - and the latter is really more appealing lately, only reason I still go to Sears is to warranty stuff or to pick up one of those screamin' deal online orders - and buy some singles to fill out your set. Unless you want to order online. Even Sears doesn't sell all sizes though... I think it's the 20mm chrome socket that I had to get Snap-On, one of the few Snappy tools I've bought brand new. Just knew that if there was an empty space on the rail I'd end up needing it someday.

 

[GSMotorrad]

I've noticed that GearWrench Sets don't skip sizes. I thought I got as complete as I could with Grey Pneumatic 1/2-inch drive Metric from 10-36mm, only skipping 31mm. GearWrench even has the elusive 31mm (not that I'd ever need it, most likely, but it helps with my O.C.D.)

 

[1982fxr]

i would be really pissed if I bought a socket set and 12 wasn't included...

 

[Zedexseven]

As I most often work on Japanese motorcycles, 12mm is likely my most commonly used socket, I would never buy a set with a missing 12

 

[nicksnothereman]

The chrome "pro" sets I bought last year all have 12mm

I bought a deep set (3/8") of the 6 point pro sockets (non color coded) and it has a 12mm as well (just checked).

 

[Hantke]

As I most often work on Japanese motorcycles, 12mm is likely my most commonly used socket, I would never buy a set with a missing 12

Exactly my thought, I ended up with a 12mm one in my "pro" set, but i also have about 4-5 others kicking around of various brands and a gear wrench and a few spares, 6-12mm range is a must have!