Socket identification

chromebumpers

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
Not sure where to post this question?

I have a couple hundred or more sockets in every size and type anyone could ever have in both 6 and 12 point SAE and Metric, 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" - Deep and standard size, full sets of Craftsmen, Snapon and whatever NAPA sold as there premium tools. The problem is they are about 25 years old (still in like new condition) BUT it's become a major pain in the ass to read the F'n sizes!
My black impact sockets have the sizes in white printed on them (HF Brand) but not the greatest and likely won't last much longer.
Years ago I bought (for good money) those socket bars that you snap the sockets on and off in your particular order but they are a pita hard to get on and off and I have to remember which set is which. I bought those flat trays that you leave in the tool box - another bad idea. I don't think stickers will hold up. Must I have to purchase all new stuff or continues to play with a set of reading glasses and still waste time? I'll bet I'm not alone with this issue!
 
your hardly alone here in having too look through a half dozen sockets, in a drawer of a hundred plus, by looking over all the likely candidates that appear to be about the correct size to find the one you want
yes the foil stickers look like they won,t last too long, but I think installing a few sets to try them out might be worth the cost and time
sockettag.png

http://www.amazon.com/Identificatio..._sim_23_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1M91EGP1E45K3VZZYS4N

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Saver-...sim_469_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ZFG1YWY6SAQZ7WVN9DG

http://www.amazon.com/Identification-mechanics-craftsman-stickers-Craftsman/dp/B00GDOJZ0S
socket rails
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-pc-socket-rail-set-68101.html
 
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I knew there were stickers out there but I didn't know they were foil. They're dirt cheap so I just ordered 2 sets, I believe they'll work out, thanks.
 
post your results after a few weeks so we get an idea how they worked for you.
I don,t know about how you keep sockets, but mine tend to get a bit greasy, or dirty while in use, so I generally rinse them off in a small tub of diesil fuel to get them clean before putting them away, and I occasionally mist mine with WD40 to reduce the chance of rust and I'm curious if oil mist , and occasional swish in fuel to get them clean, makes the stickers come loose
 
What's the best and easiest way to clean a few hundred sockets? They're not bad at all, I just want to give the stickers the best chance to stay attached. Drop them in a large pot of boiling water with Dawn detergent? I don't want to wip down 250 sockets by hand or have any residue.
 
ID swish them around in a solution of acetone and diesel mixed in a large steel pan then, drain them, then drop them in a pot of hot water with dawn a pour them out on a large beach towel then dry them with a hair drier or heat gun, and AFTER they cool put on thin plastic gloves so the oil on your skin won,t screw up the adhesive on the stickers
NWMDC

a pack of 100 XL size gloves is usually less than $20

http://www.harborfreight.com/1600-watt-heavy-duty-dual-temperature-heat-gun-10001100-69342.html
heatgun.png

http://www.harborfreight.com/stainless-steel-4-piece-stock-pot-set-94829.html

steelpots.png
 
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Sounds reasonable since I have everything you list. I was just going to spray them with brake cleaner and stew them in a pot full of boiling water with some Dawn.
 
I like socket rails personally ocd about my tools. I have not had a problem with them being a pia to get on and off cheap too from harbor freight
 
Just received the stick-on size labels today. I ordered the 180 count package but they sent me only 60 and nothing about it. I'll let you know if they make good or not.
 
THERES PROBABLY SOME BRAIN DEAD, MINIMUM WAGE, GUY CHECKING OFF THE ORDERS ,
who really doesn,t give a crap!

that never bothered to read HOW many packs were checked in the order form.
Id bet they make good after a supervisor steps in and makes the moron read the order correctly.
I ordered 6 sets of tall chrome big block valve covers, for the shop a couple years back when they were on a sale at 1/2 price and got sent a single set, I called and the guy on the phone, he apologized and made the correction, to the order, and sent the other 5 sets within a week, so yeah, there's morons everyplace, but generally the more reputable firms will make the effort to make you happy if they screw up

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cal-198235 ($24 a set)
not top quality but hey for $24 they fit and function

cal-198235_w_xl.jpg
 
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I got sets of the Craftsman 6 point sockets with the big writing on them for sizes. They're pretty good but still hard to see sometimes. I'm interested in the stickers for my other sets that are hard to read. I'm already at 2.5 reading glasses.
 
NOT A TA said:
I got sets of the Craftsman 6 point sockets with the big writing on them for sizes. They're pretty good but still hard to see sometimes. I'm interested in the stickers for my other sets that are hard to read. I'm already at 2.5 reading glasses.
Click to expand...

Haha! I just hit the need for 2.0, a little too strong but better than the 1.5.
After cleaning my Craftsman sockets I noticed the chrome is peeling off and they really didn't have heavy use. Maybe Sears will give me replacements?
.
 
The store says they will send me the missing 2 sets. I was thinking about the sizes and it doesn't make sense. Some sizes are repeated 3 times, the larger sizes like 20 mm up to 40 mm repeat 4 times? (NOTE: the stickers I got LOOK like those in Grump's post but the set I have isn't in that order nor do they compensate for how sizes run in different drive sizes) When the sockets are big you can see the sizes very easy and who would need stickers then?
Some sizes are missing in both SAE and metric like 11/16, 15/16 just one sticker, and same for 11, 16, 18 and 20mm sizes. Now I know they are not very popular sizes, those are the missing sizes in most common wrench and socket sets, but I made a point to buy them years ago. Now granted years ago I bought many hand tools that later turned out I never needed them - such as having every size in both 6 and 12 points in both standard and deep sockets. I don't even want to get started on the vast variety of wrenches, most of the time I don't remember having different types and I get by with using just the standard, common stuff. I also have 3 or 4 sets of the same stuff that came as gift sets or out on location somewhere and not having (or missing tools). I would run to the nearest store, buy the needed stuff and later time would go by and I would forget to return something, lose the receipt or just plain got lazy.
 
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