I came across this Husky LED lighted socketed extension and had to take a double take. Is this really a socket extension with a built-in LED? Yes it is.
The 3/8″ drive LED lighted extension is 2″ long and is said to have an easily replaced battery. Its red power switch is easy to find, and should be easy to press.
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The idea is that the light will shine through attached sockets to help illuminate fasteners and dark work areas. There’s a 3-minute auto shutoff to help conserve battery life.
Price: $7
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
First Thoughts
I find myself between two completely different perspectives. First, I wonder if this is just another random lighted hand tool that has an LED just to have an LED in it. Then, I think about how many times I’ve worked on fasteners in nooks and crannies that I couldn’t easily illuminate even with a flashlight or headlamp.
Part of me wants to dismiss this as a consumer gimmick, the other part of me wants to acknowledge that there are legitimate uses for a tool like this.
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Richard
I picked up a set of the LED socket wrenches (and I think extensions) from Lowe’s last year and I found them to be useful enough.
Of course, they’ve all grown legs; lost to the depths of my jumble of tool storage… but I don’t recall being all that impressed with the build quality.
Caleb
I got a set last year and thought that I would use them all the time. Thankfully not much has broken on the cars this year so I have not used them much, but they are handy when reaching into an engine compartment. I have not applied a lot of torque yet so not sure how solid they will be, but nice to have as an option if needed.
Norm
Yeah Lowes had one last year:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_451559-22328-89853_0__
I recently bought the Maxcraft version:
http://www.amazon.com/MAXCRAFT-60255-8-Inch-Lighted-Adapter/dp/B003BXPZ3U
It was on clearance, I paid only a couple of bucks for it. A neat idea, and may actually come in handy.
Tyler
Picked a few up around Christmas time a few years ago just like the MaxCraft version at a local farm/fleet type store. I gave them away as cheap stocking stuffers. For the price (less than Amazon) we don’t expect much and I’m not even sure any of us have used them for their intended purpose. However, if it’s used even once, then it justifies the minimal cost. It seems gimmicky, but at a price like this its worth having around, just in case.
It did come in handy when all of the flashlights in my garage mysteriously disappeared one evening. I was able to locate a rogue screw under my bench with the lighted adapter on a long extension next to my magnetic pickup tool.
Dick
Stupid useless crap, for amateurs.
Stan
I am inclined to agree with you. I suppose I can see the potential advantage of this under a car or something similar, yet this just looks another gimmicky tool bought during the holidays.
Just another imported Husky product and one that I doubt any serious professional would use.
Allen
I like reading about such things, makes me think.
How about a small mirror that would snap onto the end of a ratchet ? Many times I have to try a feel the nut(you, in the back, stop snickering) while guildeing the socket.
fred
About 15 years ago – Sears sold some ( Danaher-Easco Hand tools was likely the OEM) lighted extensions (1/4 inch 9-42526 and 3/8 inch 9-42528) – with (I’m guessing) grain-of-wheat bulbs. The 1/4 inch used a MN9100 cell and the 3/8 inch used a CR123.
Michael Quinlan
I think it’s very much a gimmick. It won’t make the impossible possible, and it would be so rarely used that when you did need it you wouldn’t know where to find it (that would be true for me at least).
Wayne Ruffner
This idea has some immediate appeal, though even if it was Snap-On it’d hardly ever get used. I did cobble a little LED-lit webcam onto a bendable tube to get some visibility in tight spots, and, while more usable, still doesn’t get used much either.
Anyone know of a good but simple/cheap USB-based bendable/gooseneck borescope sorta thing? Might never use it but that one time…
Brett
Amazon has a ton in the $20 or below range. Can’t vouch for quality, but if you want cheap I’d start there.
mp
Yeah, ebay has a bunch in the $10 range. They work, I think mine is 3ft, 10mm head, integrated LEDs, something like 640/480 resolution (or maybe a notch better). Useful? Maybe, but as an introduction to borescopes I found it hard to maneuver through walls while maintaining orientation in my mind.
Dwight C Charf
Harbor freight has the poor mans flexible camera/borescope
Scottthetec
I could see myself buying this if it came in 1/4″. Most of the fasteners I work with are small and often times hard to get to, and the equipment manufacturers I work with like to paint the insides of their products black.
Henry
This would be great for working down in the recesses of the engine compartment on our pickup. Even with a headlamp, a flashlight, and a third/fourth arm, I am often fumbling in the dark, until I feel the socket seat on the bolt head.
joe
Aha! Just what I was waiting for. Aside from the sarcasm, I like where this is headed. I remember back in the days dewalt drills did not even have a built in LED light, now it’s mandatory because it’s needed.
I would also like it for the pure manly nostalgia alone….drill a hole on the side and put it on my key chain to use as a flashlight onlyand manly factor…lol
I would buy it with a built in rechargeable battery too. My eco-drive wrist watch has a build in rechargeable battery why not such a thing like this? what would they think next lol…
jared
Kobalt actually has a socket wrench with an led in the same place as this extension. They also have the extension with the light. I bought the wrench because I figure it will get use whether the light is on or not. I’ve only used it once because I have heavier duty ones I use for everything else but I can tell u one place I use it that makes it well worth the investment. I have a oil filter socket that I connect to it to see up in the motor to replace my filter. I also use a regular socket on it to see and loosen the oil drain plug. Works AWESOME!! Not everything that gets used minimally and does not has multiple purposes is considered a gimmick. A gimmick is something that is produced to trick people into buying a product through advertising. If I seeing people using it on tv then it must have a place in my shop. Unfortunately that is not the case but this little guy was actually thought through. Light is something we all need cuz none of us can see in the dark. I can’t anyway.
jesse
Megapro has an LED light that clips onto their screwdrivers – or other brands for that matter: http://www.megapro.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/megalite_on_shaft-350×400.png. It works well.
RX9
The biggest problem with these is that they always run on obscure, expensive, hard to source coin cells.
Chuck
I have had mine for 20 years. works great and really special, I just cannot remember how to replace battery- not that it is weak or low but only fools make fun of old guys that have to feel for bolts, oil or water leaks and have bad eyes to go with finger that can no longer always feel. I share mine with friends and is welcome addition to my major tool chest. Definitely nothing my kids have borrowed and kept.