Adding Sockets?

[JCSahyan]

I confess I'm a bit confused, and I'd appreciate being set straight. So far as I understand, one can add sockets only to *ethereal* items, using the Cube. Is that right? One cannot add sockets to non-ethereals? And, somebody said the recipe for adding sockets to ethereals is shown on the Arreat Summit site, but I somehow missed it there; it isn't under "Socketed Items," so far as I can see. Can anybody tell me where to look, at that site? Of course, if I've misunderstood, and one *can* add sockets to non-ethereals, I'd most certainly appreciate getting the recipe for *that*, too (if it's different). I do, by the way, understand about the alternative way of adding sockets - via the quest that gives one that; I'm talking, here, only about adding sockets with the Cube.
Thanks, everyone, for being patient with a probably stupid question, and for straightening it out for me.

[Firvagor]

I'm pretty sure there's a recipe for non-eth items.

You're looking in the wrong spot; all the cube recipes are under Items->The Horadric Cube (on the very top of the page, in small writing). The page you went to (along with most other item pages) just show stats.

[qscwdvefzrax]

use the cube socket recipe- its posted on the arreat summit. It is true- I made 2 eth merc fortitudes after the 1.11 patch before the end of last season that each had over 3000 defense. This also works with eth shields and helms, but not NOT SUPERIOR VERSIONS. The cube formula works with any items, but the bug only works with eth regular unsocketed helms armors and shields:

1 Tal Rune + 1 Thul Rune + 1 Perfect Topaz + Normal Body Armor = Socketed Body Armor of same type
The number of sockets created will vary. The item must be normal and unsocketed. Low-quality items and superior items do not work. The item gets 1-4 sockets, randomly. However, the number of sockets is then restricted by the maximum number of sockets that base item with that ilvl can have. The chance to get X sockets in most armor is 1/4, (I.E: Mage plate has a max of 3 sockets, so it has a 2/4 [1/2] chance to get 3 socketss). The base of 6 was used in the ratios for all the above mentioned areas.

1 Ral Rune + 1 Thul Rune + 1 Perfect Sapphire + Normal Helm = Socketed Helm of same type
The number of sockets created will vary. The item must be normal and unsocketed. Low-quality items and superior items do not work. The item gets 1-3 sockets, randomly. However, the number of sockets is then restricted by the maximum number of sockets that base item with that ilvl can have. For example, if you have an item that can only have 2 sockets, there's a 5/6 chance of getting 2 sockets and a 1/6 chance of getting 1 socket.

1 Tal Rune + 1 Amn Rune + 1 Perfect Ruby + Normal Shield = Socketed Shield of same type
The number of sockets created will vary. The item must be normal and unsocketed. Low-quality items and superior items do not work. The item gets 1-4 sockets, randomly. However, the number of sockets is then restricted by the maximum number of sockets that base item with that ilvl can have. For example, if you have an item that can only have 2 sockets, there's a 5/6 chance of getting 2 sockets and a 1/6 chance of getting 1 socket.
[my text in bold]

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=380639