I needed a fairly inexpensive socket set in both SAE and Metric, I opted for this smart-looking offer from Stanley. I paid quite a bit more to get these black, laser-etched set over bright chrome. Although it is a decent-looking set, there are a couple of caveats that I would have liked to have known before ordering.
The laser etching is not very deep at all. I can't even feel a depth to the markings. Maybe I envisioned this wrong but I anticipated deep laser markings. It looks to me that after a few bouts with grease and solvents, the gold-color identification will wear off. Not something that would happen with the deep markings on a typical bright chrome set and not a desirable feature when paying more than bright chrome. I am glad they have a good warranty, as long as the markings are covered.
I was disappointed to handle the pieces for inspection and have my hands blackened from a coating, which I assumed to be a type of cosmoline to protect the finish. These are supposed to be black chrome. Why would this finish need added protection? So the set would look at smart as the picture, I had to hand polish each piece using WD-40. Not a big deal but not expected, either.
The case quality was mentioned in another review. Some pieces fit rather loose in the case and some are very tight, even being difficult to pry out.
I came close to exchanging this set for bright chrome and refund of difference but they will suffice for my lighter-duty needs. Looks like I'm the first to rate this set 3 out of 5. This set will work but, to me, it has a few misgivings.
The laser etching is not very deep at all. I can't even feel a depth to the markings. Maybe I envisioned this wrong but I anticipated deep laser markings. It looks to me that after a few bouts with grease and solvents, the gold-color identification will wear off. Not something that would happen with the deep markings on a typical bright chrome set and not a desirable feature when paying more than bright chrome. I am glad they have a good warranty, as long as the markings are covered.
I was disappointed to handle the pieces for inspection and have my hands blackened from a coating, which I assumed to be a type of cosmoline to protect the finish. These are supposed to be black chrome. Why would this finish need added protection? So the set would look at smart as the picture, I had to hand polish each piece using WD-40. Not a big deal but not expected, either.
The case quality was mentioned in another review. Some pieces fit rather loose in the case and some are very tight, even being difficult to pry out.
I came close to exchanging this set for bright chrome and refund of difference but they will suffice for my lighter-duty needs. Looks like I'm the first to rate this set 3 out of 5. This set will work but, to me, it has a few misgivings.
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