KnurledNut
Well-known member
Nothing earth shattering, but HF now has these:
Metric 12 pc (8-19)- $44.99
SAE 12 pc (1/4-7/8)- $44.99
Metric 12 pc (8-19)- $44.99
SAE 12 pc (1/4-7/8)- $44.99
ICON 3/8 Semi-deep chrome
- Thread starter KnurledNut
- Start date
39CAMC
Well-known member
Oooh, nice find. I have a set of old Husky Black semi deeps that I absolutely love, but it was never a no skip sizing set, and it was originally a keep in the trailer set so I am missing a few and they are hard to find singles.
DaveW
DaveW
Odd-job
Well-known member
This is what HF needs to do IMHO. Instead of competing with everyone else on the normal deep and shallow socket sets start offering mid depths and stubbies where there are more limited offerings.
Guessing these are on par with Taiwan made Gearwrench and Carlyle. The knurling looks similar to Gearwrench... do wish someone was smart enough to put Koken/SK style knurling on their socketry.
Guessing these are on par with Taiwan made Gearwrench and Carlyle. The knurling looks similar to Gearwrench... do wish someone was smart enough to put Koken/SK style knurling on their socketry.
Koken and SK have knurled sockets?
Odd-job
Well-known member
Unfortunately not. Was referring to the knurling on the Koken extensions and SK ratchet handles. Very greasy hand friendly.
nadogail
Well-known member
I like having more options to choose from when I need anything .
milky2k
Well-known member
I was just saying to myself that ICON should put out a semi deep socket set and now here it is! I wish I had a million dollars! I wish I had a million dollars! Kidding aside, your non-tool truck options for a semi deep set are Carlyle and Gearwrench. I picked up a Carlyle set earlier this year and have been looking around ebay for an inexpensive GW set to keep in the truck. I'll pick up a set soon for sure. Hopefully they release a 1/4 version as well. I don't really find myself using the entire reach of a deep well socket, I only grab one because I need just a little more reach.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
May account for much of the reasoning behind the popularity of the standard depth and deep-well sets.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
The price seems reasonable considering the quality matches the ICON reputation, and No SkipsNothing earth shattering, but HF now has these:
Metric 12 pc (8-19)- $44.99
SAE 12 pc (1/4-7/8)- $44.99
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I tend to reach for my semideeps/mid length sockets first. A little knuckle clearance maybe, easier to finger spin
I've always liked them.
Love or hate Harbor Freight, at least they release new product regularly
I prefer my semi deep sockets for the reasons Fedwrench stated above and the simple reason that they are a little easier to locate when you drop one. In 3/8 drive I always reach for my wobble and semi deep sockets first.
For some odd reason a deep 3/8 socket just doesn't feel right but when using 1/2 it is primarily what I will grab.
Come to think about it a semi deep 1/2 might just be the ticket for lug nuts. Deep enough to fully engage the nut but no longer than needed.
A thought just crossed my mind that I have never broken one either. When thinking about it, it appears to be an inherently stronger design in 3/8 drive due to the nature of the sizing.
For some odd reason a deep 3/8 socket just doesn't feel right but when using 1/2 it is primarily what I will grab.
Come to think about it a semi deep 1/2 might just be the ticket for lug nuts. Deep enough to fully engage the nut but no longer than needed.
A thought just crossed my mind that I have never broken one either. When thinking about it, it appears to be an inherently stronger design in 3/8 drive due to the nature of the sizing.
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Grey pneumatic makes semi deep sockets as well and is my preference after the tool trucks.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
Depends on what you're working on. For automotive stuff, it's an extremely rare nut that's on a bolt/stud long enough to warrant a properly deep socket.
That popularity is probably historical. Semi-deep is a relatively new phenomenon. Just a few years ago semi-deep was tool-truck territory. It's nice to see these trickle down to a variety of more affordable tiers.
-Ryan
MWEric
Well-known member
Need to make the sets bigger, you know so they fill all the Hansen pegs
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
**** Hansen Trays!!! waste of space.
Not chrome but, Sunex offers 3/8 drive mid length sockets up to 22mm or 1 inch.
Sunex 14 Piece 3/8" Drive Metric Semi-Deep Impact Socket Set (3328)
Get the Sunex 14 Piece 3/8" Drive Metric Semi-Deep Impact Socket Set for reliable performance and durability. Perfect for your workshop needs.
www.jbtools.com
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
I agree; having these sets locally available at a conservative price will likely broaden their usage for many of us. I have made considerable use of the 9-14 mm "shorter" sizes of My Matco 3/8" drive deep-well impact set. I many not "need" these new chrome teasers, but oh am I game.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I have a lot of grinders, belt grinders and cut off wheels. I can make semi-deep sockets of whatever length I need anytime I want to.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hopefully they also fixed the chrome issue. Every Icon socket I’ve seen after a little bit of use the chrome has peeled on. Once I start hearing how people like them I may buy a set as I don’t have a complete set of semi deeps and don’t have any at work.
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
I'm in for these. Good call HF.
Madjik Man
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 1,520
You defy the law of averages and mathematics... given your 2000+ sockets you should have at least a few complete sets (no skips) of semi-deeps.
Odd-job
Well-known member
No way! Autozone needs to up their game and offer semi deeps so BlakeTheCarGuy can keep on buying singles...
If they make them in impact that would push me over the edge. HF warranty, necked down, and potentially shallow broach. The only cheap competor is GP currently. The sunex onces aren't necked down and tool truck aint cheap. Don't get me wrong I love sunex, but the features do matter.
These must be very new as no reviews yet online.... I wonder what the length is as semi-deeps can be slightly different. My Snap On semi-deep set is 1-5/8" Long and my Gearwrench mid-length set is 1-3/4" long... Still have only Mac or Snap On for 12 pt's as far as I am aware.Nothing earth shattering, but HF now has these:
Metric 12 pc (8-19)- $44.99
SAE 12 pc (1/4-7/8)- $44.99
I noticed these new sockets earlier also. Too bad they don't have bigger sizes, but 45 bucks for a set of decent semi deeps is still pretty good. If I didn't already have a couple sets of semi deeps I would pick these up for sure. I only have a few Icon tools but I have yet to be disappointed in them.
OP
KnurledNut
Well-known member
They just updated them as in stock at my local stores today.
Id like to get them, but I'm in no hurry, so I’ll probably wait for a 20 or 30% coupon.
And just for a reference my Napa Carlyles are 1-13/16 deep and my Cornwells are 1-1/2 deep.
6-19 and 1/4-7/8 on my Carlyle ones and I think I actually got them a little bit cheaper than $45 a set. That was on sale in a Napa Real Deals flyer. Been awhile back though so I would imagine they have went up in price.
milky2k
Well-known member
They did go up in price. I paid $63 for a Carlyle set a few months ago and that was with the discount. They were normally going for $77.99 so $45 for the Icon seems like a deal to me. In fact I went to HF to pick up a set but due to user error, I was looking at inventory for the wrong store and I ended up going to a store that didn't have them yet. I'll try again later this week.
For the price of under 4 bucks a socket & current easy warranty the ICON sockets seem fairly good deal and can get better if hold out a bit for coupon .
Only downside was copying snapon too much and not using bit of thought to make socket ergonomics better with a proper useful knurl and/or lower half satin type finish .
I find semi deeps super convenient in 3/8 drive and also have extra deep 3/8 sockets that proved useful and saved day and need of special tool socket on some sensor/glow plug removals .
Are they a must, probably not but in daily work use of repairing cars/light trucks they saved time and got jobs jobbed & the cost of couple sets is so minimal .
Only downside was copying snapon too much and not using bit of thought to make socket ergonomics better with a proper useful knurl and/or lower half satin type finish .
I find semi deeps super convenient in 3/8 drive and also have extra deep 3/8 sockets that proved useful and saved day and need of special tool socket on some sensor/glow plug removals .
Are they a must, probably not but in daily work use of repairing cars/light trucks they saved time and got jobs jobbed & the cost of couple sets is so minimal .
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I wish Tekton would make semi-deep. They are more expensive than the other Taiwan brands but have better features. Still way less expensive than truck brands.
milky2k
Well-known member
I wouldn't be surprised if more vendors like Tekton start offering semi deep sockets. Whichever factory in Taiwan that's cranking out these sockets probably isn't depending on Harbor Freight alone to fill up its sales book.
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
I always bring a flat blade screwdriver with me when using my dual 80s so I can get the shallow sockets off
Woods_Wanderer
Well-known member
I'm really excited for these, been looking for a mid-depth set for a while. I've actually looked for the carlyle set but my local napas have no idea what I'm talking about...and the price of carlyle has been steadily climbing anyway.
Wish I had a nickel every time I've heard that.
milky2k
Well-known member
The Napa part number and web description don't match up. The part number is CHT SSMD38014M and goes from 6-19mm. From what I figured out CHT = Carlyle Hand Tool, SS= socket set (shallow/ reg), SSD= socket set deep, SSMD = socket set mid deep, 38 = 3/8 drive, 14= pieces in the set, M= metric. However, the web description says its a 1/4 drive set but it's really 3/8. I figured it was really 3/8 drive because the description said it had a 19mm in 1/4 drive and that didn't make sense.
I guess they be a pretty much identical dimensions match to snapon as they pretty much copying them down to the stamping font style and part number formats &they having specific forging tooling made for them rather than using Taiwan ODM manufacturer catalogue options that all tend be longer deeper broached and thicker walled .
This ICON version should be a useful option of pretty good dimensional design that easily available to all and pretty affordable with some current level of easy warranty .
snyder
Well-known member
While dropping a late model ford transmission I realized I need a set of midlength swivels.
I do think I will get these icon sets.
I do think I will get these icon sets.