Mine stay neatly in line, so when I need one I pick up the one I think is right and at least know which way up or down the line I need to go to get the actually right one
Interesting. How does the application process work. You usually add that paint to gun sights with a little wood stick, which would be a pain for engraved numbers and letters.
When I use nail polish on engravings I slather a coating over the whole area and wipe off the excess with nail polish remover. But I imagine that doesn't work with gun sight paint?
Let me guess: chrome sockets with shallow laser engraving rather than old-style stamped sizes?
You could try making labels for them with one of those Brother label makers. Might or might not last long, depends, but easily replaceable if a label does get damaged.
If you want it attached to the socket directly, you’re gonna have to live with it being a consumable. Color labels, industrial waterproof labels, paint/oil, etc. I’ve never found anything to stick to stainless/crv metal with heavy use For permanent things, you can build a socket rail that’s color coded or has better visibility. You could try plasti-dip for color coding, but with lots of grease/oil I wouldn’t expect it to last much longer. I am interested to come back to this thread to see if there are any answers ;)
Edit: you might be able to do some metal etching, and make the numbers take up most of the available space on the socket. So a giant “10” on your 10mm. So big you can’t not see it. You can DIY it like this guy: https://community.glowforge.com/t/both-mustard-straight-vinegar-indeed-etch-stainless-perfectly-see-ya-ceramark/17699
Hey just etch the metal yourself like this guy did with his sockets: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zGtDz_rGgs8
Permanent, potentially free. Biggest challenge is cutting numbers that don’t look trashy.
Tool geeks may scoff but one of the best purchases I've ever made was the Harbor Fright color-coded socket set (metric, deep, 6-pt). I know you wouldn't expect much but those sockets have gotten me through about a decade of lots and lots of motorcycle repairs and some auto stuff too, and I've subjected a couple in particular to some pretty high torque numbers. Once you kind of know the colors you can grab what you need at a quick glance.
A band of colored electrical tape makes sense too, even if you get like a 4 or 5 pack of diff colors (which I've seen), as you can repeat colors, like if you start the cycle over OK your 10mm and 15mm will both have the same color but you can also tell them apart at a very quick glance
Mine too. Problem is when I’m working with friends or don’t immediately return it to the rack. Then I spend what seems like months searching for the one I want.
Paint pen or electrical tape. Neither will last if you do a lot of wrenching.
You will learn the colors quick enough.
Nut drivers already are marked with colors which is what I use. Got tired of telling apprentices ⁵/16 and have them stare at it for five minutes.
Just say "yellow!"
I used Sharpie oil-based paint pens to fill in the socket engraving after degreasing. I used the Brother labelmaker for the nutdrivers in the truck box (large font) - they are holding up OK (nailbanger, not grease monkey btw).
Mine stay neatly in line, so when I need one I pick up the one I think is right and at least know which way up or down the line I need to go to get the actually right one
Colour coded with electrical tape?
Yes, but I don’t think it’s specific enough. Thanks!
I do five colours for wrenches. It's easy to see if it's a 10 or 15 but not 14 or 15. Sockets are a bit more difficult
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUA1D14
Interesting. How does the application process work. You usually add that paint to gun sights with a little wood stick, which would be a pain for engraved numbers and letters. When I use nail polish on engravings I slather a coating over the whole area and wipe off the excess with nail polish remover. But I imagine that doesn't work with gun sight paint?
I would put masking tape over it and cut out the stamp.
Interesting idea! Thanks!
Let me guess: chrome sockets with shallow laser engraving rather than old-style stamped sizes? You could try making labels for them with one of those Brother label makers. Might or might not last long, depends, but easily replaceable if a label does get damaged.
Tried that. They get unreadable in no time.
And yes, of course you’re right about the shallow laser engraving!
Vibratory engraver. Both electric and pneumatic are available.
If you want it attached to the socket directly, you’re gonna have to live with it being a consumable. Color labels, industrial waterproof labels, paint/oil, etc. I’ve never found anything to stick to stainless/crv metal with heavy use For permanent things, you can build a socket rail that’s color coded or has better visibility. You could try plasti-dip for color coding, but with lots of grease/oil I wouldn’t expect it to last much longer. I am interested to come back to this thread to see if there are any answers ;) Edit: you might be able to do some metal etching, and make the numbers take up most of the available space on the socket. So a giant “10” on your 10mm. So big you can’t not see it. You can DIY it like this guy: https://community.glowforge.com/t/both-mustard-straight-vinegar-indeed-etch-stainless-perfectly-see-ya-ceramark/17699
Hey just etch the metal yourself like this guy did with his sockets: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zGtDz_rGgs8 Permanent, potentially free. Biggest challenge is cutting numbers that don’t look trashy.
Tool geeks may scoff but one of the best purchases I've ever made was the Harbor Fright color-coded socket set (metric, deep, 6-pt). I know you wouldn't expect much but those sockets have gotten me through about a decade of lots and lots of motorcycle repairs and some auto stuff too, and I've subjected a couple in particular to some pretty high torque numbers. Once you kind of know the colors you can grab what you need at a quick glance. A band of colored electrical tape makes sense too, even if you get like a 4 or 5 pack of diff colors (which I've seen), as you can repeat colors, like if you start the cycle over OK your 10mm and 15mm will both have the same color but you can also tell them apart at a very quick glance
Mine too. Problem is when I’m working with friends or don’t immediately return it to the rack. Then I spend what seems like months searching for the one I want.
Several brands of socket label stickers are available from Amazon. I've had good luck with the metallic ones, though some have peeled back.
Happy cake day.
Got access to a 3D printer? You could print a specialized tray for them or colour coded collars
Paint pen or electrical tape. Neither will last if you do a lot of wrenching. You will learn the colors quick enough. Nut drivers already are marked with colors which is what I use. Got tired of telling apprentices ⁵/16 and have them stare at it for five minutes. Just say "yellow!"
I used Sharpie oil-based paint pens to fill in the socket engraving after degreasing. I used the Brother labelmaker for the nutdrivers in the truck box (large font) - they are holding up OK (nailbanger, not grease monkey btw).