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Marking sockets sizes

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RLH

09-26-2007 17:40:53

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my eyes arent what they used to be and I wondered if anybody had good way to make sizes easier to read

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09-28-2007 07:28:47

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to beemark, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

allisking said: (quoted from post at 20:19:51 09/26/07) Sounds like you people need to learn your bolt sizes! You should know by looking what size a bolt is, both standard and metric. However I am a professional mechanic. If you learn your sizes it will save you a lot of valuble time.

Every dog has his day, Bucko third party image

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Pat H.

09-27-2007 17:08:26

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

I use a black Sharpie on all my wrenches in the shop (and write numbers big) and it stays on pretty well. Also try to keep them arranged on hooks from large to small. Like a lot of the guys said though, I usually take 2-3 sizes with me to make sure I"ve got the right size.

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JMS/MN

09-27-2007 12:50:28

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

I have several sets that stay in the shop on a shelf above the workbench. Lids are open and I mark the lid or wall with chalk or tape, right above the 3/4 inch socket. Easy to go forward or back to the desired socket.

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Walt Davies

09-27-2007 08:51:05

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Never worried about it just look at the nut or bolt and pick up the correct wrench or socket. After too many years it just becomes natural.
Walt

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Kent in KC

09-27-2007 07:38:31

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Well, my problem is that lately I've found a few of the smaller sockets are not the size engraved on the socket. I've got a Chinese metric 10MM socket that is the same size as a Craftsman 8MM. Ditto a 5/32" disguised as a 3/16".

BTW, I've worked with mechanical systems and plumbing for 40 years and still have a hard time eyeball-guessing a 3/8"PT vs a 1/4"PT.

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Owen Aaland

09-27-2007 12:01:17

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to Kent in KC, 09-27-2007 07:38:31

I've got a Snap-On 3/8 - 7/16 box wrench that has the sizes stamped on the wrong ends. They offered to replace it but I rather like it as a conversation piece.

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Dandy Don

09-27-2007 07:15:02

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Hills of tn, My Dad was a mechanic too and I always hung around the garage and learned from him. I now have a couple of friends that I tractor with and it amazes me that they can't look at a nut or bolt and tell what size wrench or socket to use. I thought it was sorta like wrench pulling 101 everybody learned it 'cause you need to know that stuff. As to the seeing part I agree with rustyfarmall. After I turned 42 (about 25 years ago) I got glasses and that reaslly CLEARED things up alot. Have a good day. Raining here in Smyrna.
Don

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Hills Of TN

09-27-2007 18:15:43

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to Dandy Don, 09-27-2007 07:15:02

Hey DD,

Yep, we got rain in Dickson County also - actually enough to measure! You"re right about the size recognition; if you turn enough wrenches, your brain will finally kick in and remind you that you"ve been there before. I have no problems on the old 49 Ferguson I just finished rebullding (not restoring cause it"s skin parts has about as many wrinkles as mine!)because Harry Ferguson was pretty consistent in bolt sizes through out the tractor.

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neblinc

09-27-2007 06:33:34

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

I bought a set of these for my neighbor that I work for part time. Seem to be holding up so far.

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Randy

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GeorgeH

09-27-2007 05:42:10

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Buy new Craftsman?

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RustyFarmall

09-27-2007 04:48:50

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

My eyes are not so great anymore either, but once I finally admitted it, and had the eye doctor set me up with tri-focal lenses, I don't have near the problems that I did. Welding has become easier also.

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David in Wales

09-27-2007 00:14:19

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Re: coloured sockets in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Over here Sealey have introduced coloured sockets & spanners. Each size is a different colour so you learn quickly what colour is which size. But they only make metric sized sockets/spanners. I dont know how long the colours will last in a tool box, but to me the idea is great.
My problem is that I have to take off my glasses to read what the etched size is! David

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allisking

09-26-2007 19:19:51

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Sounds like you people need to learn your bolt sizes! You should know by looking what size a bolt is, both standard and metric. However I am a professional mechanic. If you learn your sizes it will save you a lot of valuble time.

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Hills Of TN

09-27-2007 04:09:56

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to allisking, 09-26-2007 19:19:51

AK, when I was a boy, I knew an old man that "de-skunked" baby skunks for people. All he needed was a bottle of whiskey and a sharp pocketknife. He was good at it, too. But you know, I never saw anybody else that could so the same thing with just a bottle of whiskey and a pocketknife!

The moral of this story is that some things in life take a lot of practice to be good at, and some of us don"t have an inclination to get that much practice!

(But joking aside, my dad was a mechanic and he also never had to read the size of a wrench or socket to know what he needed for a bolt or nut.)

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Dave in Tx

09-26-2007 18:32:51

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

roller paint marker in your choice of colors. Easy to read and stays on real well. HTH

Dave

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marlowe

09-26-2007 18:16:03

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

harbor tools has laser etched sockets and i use them every day and they are good LIFTTIME WARRANTY

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Ben Rauls

09-26-2007 18:12:43

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

I have a set of Matco sockets, size is etched in it, big and easy to read
Ben

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Lanse

09-26-2007 18:09:13

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

My eyes are what they always are, and I am grateful for that. If you dont need or have money for a new set of sears sockets, I would get a package of blank labels from office max or something, you know what people print address lablels on, and a permant marker and wrap the label around the socket and write the size on that.

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Sid

09-26-2007 18:24:10

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to Lanse, 09-26-2007 18:09:13

That label will come off first time it rains and fills toll bucket up.

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LenND

09-26-2007 17:54:01

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Hello! Have you tried the new sockets Sears have with the size etched on the side of the socket. I don't know if they would be easier to read or not.

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Dutchman

09-26-2007 17:53:28

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

I notice in the sears mag. they have the sizes on a sticky paper that you put on each socket....looks like the way to go...haveing the same problems...the #'s just keep getting smaller....Mark

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kyplowboy

09-26-2007 17:52:19

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

Granddad used to use paint on things like that. For shiny things like sockets he would rub black paint over the size and wipe it off with a rag before it dried. If it was somthing rusty or old like the numbers on his old hog scales he used white. Paint stayed in the cracks and made it easier to read. Good Luck.

Dave

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phillip d

09-26-2007 17:48:27

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to RLH, 09-26-2007 17:40:53

my eyes aren't what they used to be either.If you have the wall space,you could have a row of finish nails on a piece of plywood,hang the sockets by the nails,and have the size wrote above them in permanate marker.Maybe not a very sophistocated way,but it will make it easier to see the size before you pick it up anyways.pd

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Sid

09-26-2007 18:21:09

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to phillip d, 09-26-2007 17:48:27

That is a good idea but it wouldn't work too good for me. First of all if I think it is a 1/2 I would have to get a 3/8 and 9'16 as well as 1'2, to be sure I had the right size. Then I would have three to put up instead of one and would more than likely get them mixed up. The first time I broke down in the field I would throw them all in a bucket, so I wouldn't have to make a bunch of trips. I would set the bucket down in the fence row and It would rain and fill the bucket before I remembered to go get it if I remembered where it was before I went to town and bought some replacements. So now I make it a point to go put those new tools up and when I crawl through the fence to get a calf back in I find the grease gun I misplaced two years ago.(You thought I was going to find that beck of tools didn't you? It will be at least one year before I find that.) Like I said good idea but just too complicated for me.

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DumbDumb

09-27-2007 11:05:09

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Re: Marking sockets sizes in reply to Sid, 09-26-2007 18:21:09

Feel sorry for you, will happen to all of us one day, stuff already looks clearer to me from 18 when it used to look good a 6". Sounds like all advice is out and you still screwed. I like the bucket set up. Take the whole bucket with you and keep mining them out till one fits. Can't go wrong there.

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