impact sockets

[fittermachinist]

hey guys,

what sizes of metric/imperial impact sockets would you recommend a fitter/machinist have in there personal tool kit? also what brands ect would you recomened??

thanks in advance

[Michael G]

It depends on what you are doing. I have a set that goes up to 1 1/4" and 32mm. I used that size when I worked in a mine. Since then 1" / 25mm is the largest I've used. In this thread

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/tools-needed-apprentice-142496/

We get around to discussing brands of socket (later in the thread I think). Most of the brands mentioned will have a range of impact sockets. Pretty much all of the (good) fitters I have worked with are avid tool collectors and so would buy anything they thought would be useful. However, unless you are contract, most employers should take take care of the larger sizes or the special items.

Michael

[welder]

I have a etc industial impact socket set in sizes 10 to 25 mm and a koken imperial set. If I where to buy them brand new I would buy deep sockets.

[azzrock]

koken are good. id say up to 41 mm. not every size a normal set of up to 24mm then 3/4 or 1"
drive 27, 30,32,36,41 and 46mm. i thought the boss bought these sort of tools.

[Greg Q]

+1 for deep impact sockets...the do-all of the range. I would buy a basic set of imperial only if you think you'll actually use them, in the typical size range to 3/4", then add the larger sizes if and when you need them, or as found in flea markets/ebay/auction sales.

Metric sockets are handy in deep from 6mm to 32mm and beyond, depending on your work envelope. Six point down to about 13mm, then an additional set of 12 point down to the smallest obtainable.

Yesterday I only used three sockets: six, 13 and 30. Just a typical day at home. When next I am in the shop I have chores that will require an 8, 10,11, 15, 17, 19 and 5/16ths. Maybe an 11/16ths too. It pays to tool up in both schemes up to 19mm 3/4" at the least.

Greg, cursing the inch and all of its minions

[fittermachinist]

thanks guys!

[wtrueman]

I would add the 18 mm socket to gregs collection as I have found it to be used quite a bit on the chev trucks here in canada. Don't know about the rest of the world, though. My .02$ Wayne.

[azzrock]

I would add the 18 mm socket to gregs collection as I have found it to be used quite a bit on the chev trucks here in canada. Don't know about the rest of the world, though. My .02$ Wayne.

16mm and 18mm

[mike48]

16mm and 18mm

Agree. Common on Jeep.

.

[azzrock]

you know Wayne. i used to think that the standard sixes where. !0.13.17.19mm
that being 5 and 6mm bolts 10mm, 8mm bolts 13mm, 10mm bolts 17mm and 12mm bolts 19mm.
then my work started to by buy bolts with diff hex size. 10mm bolts 16mm and 12mm bolts 18mm.
this is very annoying. someone told me the 17mm and 19mm size hex was a European standard.
Staring to work on cars ive found the bolt size to hex size is all over the place.
there is 10mm bolts with 13mm hex. plus 14 15 16 mm hex bolts on one car.
im not shore why this is maybe to save weight and money?

[Greg Q]

I have found that some manufacturers will put a 15mm hex on a 10mm bolt mTed to a 14 hex on the nut. I think they do this to accomodate the mechanic with a simple set of spanners so as to negate the need for duplicates in the 13-15-17-19 sizes. Having said that, I keep a set of duplicates in metric spanners and sockets, more to do with OCD than advanced planning skills.

In an earlier post in this thread I mentioned sizes smaller than 12mm. I got carried away there as the topic is impact sockets. Obviously there is a certain minimum size socket/fastener which will tolerate a rattle gun. Mine is adjustable for air P, but I still would not try to do the El Bruto on anything too small.

Greg