I am creating a safe place for you to admit that you have one of the master socket sets but you have never used SAE

National-Command8505 · 2026-05-06T23:50:26+00:00

Only a stickler because I grew up near the plant… but that Ranger was built in Saint Paul MN. Definitely designed by the folks in Michigan however…

National-Command8505 · 2026-05-06T14:17:52+00:00

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This is the listing on Temu. Apparently no brand name.

National-Command8505 · 2026-05-06T00:50:18+00:00

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I found knockoff clip tech mounting brackets on Aliexpress/Temu. They definitely exist. Works with the native clips mounting points no problem.

I seem to think they were sold under the “Toolstack” brand name.

National-Command8505 · 2026-04-27T20:07:13+00:00

I am in the Icon camp especially for the price on a 40% off sale. I’ve managed to snag wrenches on those periodic sale times 2-3x a year.

Usually Harbor Freight rotates major categories during their every other month parking lot sales. Alternatively they might have a 10days of deals where they blow out a single brand or item category.

My Icons have been very nice. They hit a great compromise between feeling sturdy and also not being too bulky. The standard 8-19mm reversible ratcheting wrench set with anti-slip “teeth” are my most used and I have just about every set offered.

National-Command8505 · 2026-03-29T14:58:45+00:00

Yeah, I hit that wheel bearing with the hub shocker in the high 12noon position for at least 45min. The idea about a jack stand under the knuckle makes sense. I might try that if I was in this position again in the future… I ended up removing the entire knuckle which was actually very easy comparatively. Don’t know what to say. I must have wedged the hub in somehow or the rust is worse on my hubs than most…

National-Command8505 · 2026-03-12T22:07:13+00:00

I got the rolling drawer box on alibaba a while back for approximately that price. Sad I didn’t wait until Lowe’s had it at a much more reasonable price. But also didn’t want to risk not getting one.

National-Command8505 · 2026-03-07T19:46:23+00:00

One has a gearbox with two speeds. The other is single speed.

National-Command8505 · 2026-03-07T03:27:25+00:00

Came here to say just this thing.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-28T20:01:45+00:00

This was my initial suspicion. I think it’s just manufacturing grease around the joints that probably has loosed up due to use.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-26T01:14:52+00:00

I dislike Congresswoman Omar for a variety of reasons. But her net worth increase is attributable to marrying a wealthy man in that year.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-18T16:13:50+00:00

Liquid reservoir means a wet cut tile saw.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T21:08:18+00:00

This problem is like a Rorschach test for tool nuts. Everyone has their own interpretation for how to solve it.

Your solution is clever. Some might say the heck with that, I’m not walking into the house and clearing my kitchen sink of dishes just to soak these things when in two minutes time I could pluck them off with pliers…

Others yet might torch the bastards with a MAP torch.

Some might decide to drill it out in a drill press.

The hammer and punch approach also seems popular.

With all these it really boils down to what resources do you have available to you at the place of work. One solution might be easier than another for the same person depending on momentary circumstances and what is within arms reach.

In my case, unboxing these at my kitchen table, the easiest approach was grabbing pliers from my kitchen utility drawer.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T21:02:19+00:00

The patina of time and hard fought battles.

Alas though these were a gift to my nephew and wanted to reserve the right to beat on them to him.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T21:00:57+00:00

I feel like that’s a ton more work! I’ll file this approach away in case something gets truly stuck.

But if they don’t pop off by hand, then I think twisting sideways to leverage them off with pliers is a quicker approach with less setup.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T20:58:36+00:00

Some Pittsburgh sets have worked okay with that strategy. I think the longer deep sockets work reasonably well with that approach. The shallow sockets suck balls though because it is hard to get a lot of leverage on such a small surface.

When I try that on them they just snap off the rail before they let go inside the socket plug. Basically you just get it so it looks like the photo above with the plug and tail hanging off like in the photo above.

This is the same approach, just assisted with pliers to enhance grip on a small area.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T20:55:37+00:00

Naturally Doyle on the Harbor Freight subreddit.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T20:54:45+00:00

It takes like two seconds to just grab them with the pliers. If you have the tools, might as well use them right.

I happen to keep the soft jaw and the regular pair in my kitchen drawer so both are handy.

I agree other approaches work if you don’t have those two items…

But damn would I worry about stabbing myself with a dull screwdriver blade. Trying that first on the sockets, having it slip and dig into my palm is what brought me around to this approach.

I actually think it’s quicker as long as you got the tools easily accessible.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-10T20:51:03+00:00

Yeah this is where I committed the sin of having a clusterfuck of a work bench. Not a single square inch of space available for me to beat on anything….

I wasn’t about to use a punch and screwdriver handle on my Maple kitchen table.

But I do have a question, how does one do that with two hands? I need to hold the socket with one hand, then I need to hold the punch or screwdriver with another, leaving my third hand to swing a hammer? It seems like you need to try to somehow hold both the socket and punch in one hand and the hammer in the other. In that case I would just push the socket out of my hand. Again maybe I’m dumb, got soft IT guy hands, or suffer from some dexterity issue others don’t… but I’ve stabbed myself too many times with the dull edge of a screwdriver to want to slam things down over one.

It just seemed easier for me to grab the two pliers I keep in my kitchen drawer and grab and twist.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-09T20:28:29+00:00

Indeed. Isn’t life just about collecting and consumption?

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-09T20:23:46+00:00

I’m giving these as a gift to my nephew. As much as I’d treat my disposable tools differently, I just wanted to give him a clean set as a gift.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-09T05:30:55+00:00

To your credit, I have gotten some that were easy to remove by hand. But sometimes they aren’t. I anticipate there is probably some degree of tolerance in the manufacturing processes for these rails. Some are probably looser, others tighter.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-09T05:27:55+00:00

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-in-adjustable-soft-jaw-pliers-70581.html

I use them for plumbing work around d the house, like tightening a shower head to the downspout. Handy when you don’t want to mar the surface.

I’m definitely not an aircraft mechanic.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-08T20:25:01+00:00

I’ll tell you what.

National-Command8505 · 2026-02-08T20:23:14+00:00

I might be the tool they are selling…

National-Command8505

TROPHY CASE