Hi Visibility sockets help

[redpen]

I have large selection of craftsman sockets which I purchased as a set years ago. I now find that my eyes aren't what they used to be and I really don't want to put on my reading glasses every time I reach for a socket so I'm in the market for a new set of hi visibility easy to read sockets. I'm a home mechanic not a professional so I don't have a tool truck coming by my house.

My requirements are:
1 easy to read
2 not junk
3 warranty - easy to exchange a damaged socket
4 prefer USA but not essential I own many inexpensive foreign tools

From a cursory look it looks like craftsman and harbor freight seem to cover items 1, 2?, and 3. Are there other brands that you recommend that would fit the bill?

 

[Jlbc212]

I saw this http://mysiteforsoreeyes.com on this forum not too long ago. I can't comment on how well they work as I haven't bought any yet, but I am tempted. It would be cheaper than replacing the sockets you already own.

 

[ssdave]

Depends on how easy to read you need. Proto has gone to big numbers for us old guys, and I really like how easy to read they are. I can't read my old ones, but usually just go by size anyway so it doesn't matter.

So, they're comparatively easy to read (and the stamped big numbers don't wear off like laser etched Craftsman). They are definitely not junk, I see them second only to Snap-on. Warranty is easy, but you have to mail them back to Georgia to get it. Because of the "not junk" provision, it's rarely needed. And, they're made in USA.

So, meets your criteria, if the one week warranty lag is okay and you don't object to the price.

 

[woody 73]

SSdave do you have a proto link showing the set you are talking about.

 

[1950mercury]

Armstrong or matco

 

[ScottsGT]

Socket organizers really help me out a lot, but once I have four or five sockets under the car with me, they are no help. Fortunately my vision is near sighted. I can actually take my glasses off for working under a car and welding.
I might order me some of those stickers too.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I've had a label set on many of my sockets for years now. They work ok, but eventually come off. If I had the money I would get etched sockets.

 

[Sugarfryz]

Might be overkill but Matco and Matco adv sockets have great visibility. Also believe Pittsburgh pro would be perfect for you and at a fraction of the cost. Lots of the techs I know use them with no issue

 

[Kin Creed]

I would try labels, especially for occasional use. I labelled mine a few years ago and it was well worth it. A few labels scrubbed off but most have held up. The more common sizes will probably scrub off but then you still typically know which size it is (1/2 or 7/16, etc).

Where it the most tends to be the most helpful is the smaller sizes... 5 vs 6mm or 1/4 vs 5/16 and those typically dont get scrubbed off as often.

I used some pre-printed labels and made some of my own with a label maker. I would go pre printed if you can.





Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

This might sound stupid... but I have 6 colors of paint that I mark my sockets with. So if I have a rail of 11 sockets the colors get repeated but soon you learn which color is 1/2, 3/4, 3/8 etc. Works for me and really PO'd my Snap On man LOL

 

[T45]

Facom stickers for the inside of 6pt sockets - they are huge and easy to read.

View media item 17906
ask monte over in tools of the old world where to get them, they apply inside of the socket, not on the outside, the font is like huge red print on white background.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143458

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158654

 

[Derek420]

Theyre is a few options I'm not old but I have terrible eye sight and options I've found are number 1 Armstrong double marked sockets which are stamped and laser etched and are awesome specially impact sockets that are black. No 2 socket labels they sell on eBay. No 3 Harbor freight hi-visibility socket set they sell just for people like us or poor lighting. No 4 painting the sockets engraving with easy to read colors with a paint marker and clean off excess paintn, there are videos on YouTube showing the process.
Anyways hope this helps I can't think of anymore other than the laser etched craftsman sockets that I just remembered but others make them as well.

 

[Infinia]

If the sizes of bolts and nuts aren't marked why does it matter if the sockets are?
If you have a job on particular make/ model then maybe there's only 3 to 4 sizes yer dealing with, then you can easily eye ball it.

BTW If you have a multi socket rail or holder with a continuous progression say from 10-19 then its pretty easy to select a size, even if yer blind. Skipped sizes might be another issue.

an idea> keep stuff on a rail holder until you've identified all the sizes you need, then load them up and keep them on a couple of ratchet/ spinner handles, until yer finished.

 

[DFB]

In general I have to say I pretty agree with what Infinia said that after enough time you kind of really get to know the size you want just by looking at the socket Or pretty much know where they are located on a rail. How bad should you miss by...just one one size hopefully. And really how many loose sockets do have/should you have bouncing when your into a certain repair job.


Funny though seems the two toughest things I run across lately was a set of 12pt craftsman metric shallow 3/8 sockets on a chrome rail cripes they do all look alike and then some one gave me some free Hanson 1/2 and 3/8 posts and so decided to use them for some impact sockets. Now impacts in general might be a little tougher sometimes to discern between because the walls are so thick and some are the same overall general outer dia. but really now using the racks correctly there now all upside down too. lol WTF.

Any last winter I did the paint thing on the black impacts one snowy weekend.


I looked at that web sight doesn't look like a bad buy if someone really needs them. The Allen hex and Torx markings might prove useful some sizes are pretty close..

All that said my eyesight isn't that great anymore either and I hate wrenching with bifocals. And I have to laugh because I just mentioned in another post I bought some black drawer organizer trays threw some impact extensions bars into them and then noticed they just kind of disappeared on me I better keep a flashlight in that drawer

 

[Greg85mcss]

There was someone who started the same topic a while back. Also because of craftsman sockets. That one had a lot of replies.
Depending on how you organize your sockets there are several things you can do. The etched craftsman & matco adv are the easiest to read ones I have. Not that I really need it with the hf trays. They're awesome unless you have to transport them a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Skin]

Short of stickers Matco has the easiest to read but it does wear off.

 

[6PTsocket]

I spoke to the guy that makes those label sets you had the link for and they are not metal foil but a multi layer metallic colored plastic peel and stick. The more I read his blurb, the more the stuff sounded like Brother P Touch label tape I have a 21 mm HF impact socket with laser etching where they just did the outline of the numbers and it became illegible. I banded it with 1/2" black on white tape and in spite of grease and getting thrown around it is standing up better than I expected. I went all the way around the socket and printed 21 several times so I can see the size without having to rotate it. If you want the metallic look, the tape comes in silver. You can use narrower tape for smaller sizes and they make tape with stronger adhesive but that is really for rough surfaces. The regular glue is plenty strong and the tape will be all tattered before it falls off. I have also seen an electro etching process that they demonstrate on tools and it looks pretty good, too.

 

[Agentwho]

I don't have any advice for hi viability sockets may I suggest looking into the lisle magnetic socket rails like this.

http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=236&division=1&category=16

By marking the slots with sharpies it makes grabbing the size you need super easy and as a plus when you put things away at the end of the day the missing bits are staring you right in the face. "where did the 13 go?" I've been using these daily for years now holding my 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" sockets and though they do show wear I can't complain about the quality. As a bonus you can grab the whole rack and take it to what you're working on. I wouldn't suggest caring it by the handle as the magnets aren't that strong and will most likely leave you playing pick em up lol.

May be a better option than replacing all of your sockets
Good day

 

[Agentwho]

Went back and dug a photo out. I'll have to redo the sharpie once in a while but it works for my needs.

 

[555]

I used Sharpie paint markers to highlight the engraving on my sockets. I used labels on the "backup" sockets. Both work good but the paint seems to be more durable.

 

[Infinia]

anyways

I would say the OP has answered his own questions. I reckon he is looking for confirmation and approval from 'the garage'. Did he get it?. as they say in Las Vegas "Elvis has left the building".

 

[TigerDude]

Do this

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/how-to/a21674/how-to-etch-your-name-into-your-tools/

 

[jerseykat1]

This is what I started. But never got around to finishing a full set of sockets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[redpen]

Thanks for the feedback. Stickers and paint aren't my cup of tea. I will definitely add armstrong and matco to my list to look at. I was surprised that more companies don't have easier to read socket sets.

 

[Wesley B]

I have sunex and grey pneumatic impact sockets and both of them have the whitish/yellowish numbering that doesn't wear off easily. They are small, but it is better than nothing.