The Elusive 1/4" Drive 5/8" 12pt socket - FOUND!

[kythri]

So, thanks to a response to a post I made a few months ago, and another recent post about NAPA Carlyle sockets being on sale, I finally got serious about filling some empty pegs on my Lowe's/Kobalt Hansen-style socket trays.

I downloaded the Carlyle catalog and built myself a shopping list.

One of the things I was pleasantly surprised to discover is that Carlyle sells a 1/4" drive 12pt shallow AND deep set of metric sockets - something that was blatantly missing from my giant 299-piece Craftsman socket set.

What's even better is, the sets are completely inclusive of the sizes on the Kobalt trays, so there's nothing missing. Pretty sweet!

The only thing Carlyle seems to be missing is that 1/4" drive 5/8" socket - in shallow, deep, 6pt, 12pt.

If you've been searching over the years, you'd know that you can find SOME 6pts in the BluePoint or Snap-on brand, but the 12pt stuff has been impossible to find (at least, in my digging, which previously may have been incredibly inadequate).

Well, earlier this week, digging once again, I stumbled across a reference to some sockets at Zoro Tools, and, as it turns out, they had not only the 6pt shallow and deep 5/8", but they also carry the 12pt shallow and deep 5/8".

The site wasn't referencing any brand, and at one point, even said "noname" in a field, but I jumped on ordering them.

They just showed up today:

Turns out, they're Westward-branded (Grainger's house brand, if I'm not mistaken).

They're made in Taiwan, and seem to be pretty decent in their finish.

Chrome is clean, but, like many/most sockets out there, the interior is painted or unpolished, not full-polish chrome.

If you're interested, here's the part numbers:

G4784464 - 1/4" Drive 12pt Deep 5/8" - $2.08
G4784446 - 1/4" Drive 12pt Shallow 5/8" - $1.30
G4784421 - 1/4" Drive 6pt Deep 5/8" - $2.08
G4784403 - 1/4" Drive 6pt Shallow 5/8" - $1.30

Shipping for the above order was only $5.00, making the grand total $11.76.

Big thanks to NC-FordGuy and thebeekeeper1 for turning me onto Carlyle for the rest of the sockets!

 

[kythri]

G4784464 - 1/4" Drive 12pt Deep 5/8" - $2.08
G4784446 - 1/4" Drive 12pt Shallow 5/8" - $1.30
G4784421 - 1/4" Drive 6pt Deep 5/8" - $2.08
G4784403 - 1/4" Drive 6pt Shallow 5/8" - $1.30

Shipping for the above order was only $5.00, making the grand total $11.76.

This was from http://www.zorotools.com, but since they're Westward, you could grab them from Grainger's website or your local DC. If you wanted to do so, the Grainger/Westward part numbers are:

10E871 - 1/4" Drive 12pt Deep 5/8" - $2.72
10E866 - 1/4" Drive 12pt Shallow 5/8" - $1.71
10E864 - 1/4" Drive 6pt Deep 5/8" - $2.72
10E862 - 1/4" Drive 6pt Shallow 5/8" - $2.98

 

[NHBandit]

So the point of buying them is to fill an empty hole in a socket tray ? Because I see absolutely no need for a 1/4 drive socket that big. Am I missing something ?

 

[kythri]

To be perfectly honest, YUP! I spent $12 to fill 4 empty pegs on my socket tray.

Will I use that socket? I doubt it, but who knows? I know there were a few people looking for the socket, and stated that if such a beast existed, that they would use it.

I could see the potential in a low-torque application, where one doesn't want the bigger ratchet in the way, and doesn't have one of those snazzy Wright 3430 ratchets...

 

[MJB24]

There is atleast one use for it. Filling pegs

What no one can find beside some old Snap On is a US made in that size.

As for Westward sockets I buy them here at work and they seem to hold up as well as the other sockets we have. We use Proto, Westward, Craftsman Industrial and I don't even remember ordering them but we have 1 pretty big set of Chanellock sockets that seem alright.

 

[Mastermind]

i use my 15mm 1/4 drives quite a bit, on my long thfld72 snappy ratchet, fits easier in most places. worked great with a mid depth 15 doin my buddy's chevy truck acc. brackets.

 

[Super Sport]

You sure your 299-piece Cman set had all the pieces? It's supposed to come with 12pt deep and shallow 1/4" sockets...although they don't go up to 5/8".

 

[kythri]

It doesn't come with 1/4" 12pt metric. It did have 1/4" 12pt SAE.

http://download.sears.com/misc/IL35299.pdf

(Edited the post to reflect that.)

 

[metalhead212121]

So the point of buying them is to fill an empty hole in a socket tray ? Because I see absolutely no need for a 1/4 drive socket that big. Am I missing something ?

I beg to differ... I remember changing spark plugs on the chevy blazers. The middle plug on the driver side was always a SOB to get out due to the steering shaft. I'm CURIOUS if a 5/8th 1/4 drive socket would work instead of using an open end wrench to get that spark plug socket. MIGHT make life easier doing plugs in 4th V6/LT1 gen spark as well. If theres any GM guys out there please let me know.

 

[Gmonkee]

OCD is a costly, time consuming illness. Hansen trays are a leading cause of the disease.

I try to range my boxed sets out wide too, but only as far as the local market makes possible. Cheap no name stuff sets aside good brands without shame. Up to 7/8" in 3/8" drive. I have used it too.

Ratchets on the other hand, I spent a small fortune to find paradise. Now the runners-up are being resold.

 

[efb16acrx]

I'm growing to love this site. I just spent 30 minutes searching the internet for exactly this, thinking I was the only person in the world to care about such things.

 

[woody 73]

I hear you big time drives me nuts thinking I lost a socket so I start hunting and of course I never find it, just insane.

 

[senor fozz]

I have several 15 mm metric in 1/4" and use them often have never seen a 16mm which is a little bit bigger than 5/8". I say the 12 points will come in handy for limited access applications. besides ifyou use them with a 1/4" ratchet you are more likely to damage the ratchet before the socket, time will tell. For less than 12 shipped you did well.

 

[bob15]

So the point of buying them is to fill an empty hole in a socket tray ? Because I see absolutely no need for a 1/4 drive socket that big. Am I missing something ?

While i do not agree with buying 4 sockets just to fill a socket tray, I do have one good use for the 5/8" Snap On 1/4" drive.....GM solenoid nuts on their older starters. The older starters on cars, trucks and tractors have a 5/8 nut holding the battery cable on. I find the 1/4 drive held prevent me from over-torquing the nuts and cracking the cover. It isn't a must tool, but it works well for me.


bob

 

[kythri]

I'm growing to love this site. I just spent 30 minutes searching the internet for exactly this, thinking I was the only person in the world to care about such things.

No worries about that. A search here reveals a number of posts on the subject, with a pretty decent number of people that all share in our psychosis.

 

[Murphy4570]

I beg to differ... I remember changing spark plugs on the chevy blazers. The middle plug on the driver side was always a SOB to get out due to the steering shaft. I'm CURIOUS if a 5/8th 1/4 drive socket would work instead of using an open end wrench to get that spark plug socket. MIGHT make life easier doing plugs in 4th V6/LT1 gen spark as well. If theres any GM guys out there please let me know.

Dude don't waste your time. Pull the pinch bolt and yank the steering shaft out of the way for that plug. Takes a few minutes, tops.

 

[MISTERgadget]

That Carlyle catalog is giving me Gearwrench deja-vu...

 

[kythri]

Not sure where Balkamp is sourcing the Carlyle stuff from, but I'm pretty sure they're completely separate manufacturers. There's a few different types of Carlyle ratchets, but none of them seem to line-up with a GW model.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Mark me down as being in the "I Bought the Blue Point 5/8's just to fill the pegs" camp...

The real question I had was why did Hansen bother putting that peg on the 1/4" tray when its such an odd duck?
While on that topic...why did they not include a peg for 26mm 1/2" Drive?? Having my 26mm sockets sitting next to the tray is almost worse then looking at an empty peg...

 

[kythri]

In one of the other posts, someone commented that their metric trays had a 1/4" 16mm peg.

 

[MISTERgadget]

Not sure where Balkamp is sourcing the Carlyle stuff from, but I'm pretty sure they're completely separate manufacturers. There's a few different types of Carlyle ratchets, but none of them seem to line-up with a GW model.

Agreed, The sockets and fixed combo wrenches were the ones i noticed as similar to GW

 

[kythri]

I don't have any GW sockets to compare to, but they did look different in the catalog.

The Carlyle long-pattern combo wrenches are most definitely different than the GW long-pattern combos.

The Carlyle have a open-hex open end, and their funky teeth, whereas the GW have an arc open end, and a significantly different modified open end.

The standard-length and stubby Carlyle full-polish stuff does look somewhat similar, I suppose.

 

[DTB]

Off subject,but I think the Carlyle wrenches were made by Infar.I forget who the manufacturer was on the regular combo wrenches. Haven't found the roots of the new ratchets but Matco has one ratchet with a similar directional lever.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Awesome OP!!

My quest is over!!!

 

[metalhead212121]

Dude don't waste your time. Pull the pinch bolt and yank the steering shaft out of the way for that plug. Takes a few minutes, tops.

Never thought about that Murphy... I only did a handful of Blazers and that was a long time ago. Thanks for the tip. Any thoughts as to doing LT1/v6's in forth gen F body's?? I dont turn wrenches anymore for a living...

 

[ptschram]

Us tool truck guys love guys like you who have to fill the slots on the holders.

It's all part of my plan for world ********** through tools sales!

FWIW-Snap-On has a 10mm-5/16" 12 point 1/4 drive flip socket. Impact even!

 

[Applesauce]

I have several Westward sets (1/2" deep, 1/4" deep, and have made some bit sockets out of a great deal of 1/4" shallows), and am embarrassed to say they're pretty decent. I have a dealer a half block down from my shop, so they're damn convenient, too. Are they as nice as my Williams, Protos, or SKs? No. But for the price and convenience, they're excellent.

 

[joel63]

Us tool truck guys love guys like you who have to fill the slots on the holders.

It's all part of my plan for world ********** through tools sales!

FWIW-Snap-On has a 10mm-5/16" 12 point 1/4 drive flip socket. Impact even!

Part number? Please?

 

[kythri]

Us tool truck guys love guys like you who have to fill the slots on the holders.

It's all part of my plan for world ********** through tools sales!

You'll need to manufacture the tools first, before you expect us to buy them to fill empty pegs...

 

[ChevyEFI]

I beg to differ... I remember changing spark plugs on the chevy blazers. The middle plug on the driver side was always a SOB to get out due to the steering shaft. I'm CURIOUS if a 5/8th 1/4 drive socket would work instead of using an open end wrench to get that spark plug socket.

The 1/4 is what will prevent it from working.
I took a 1/2" drive 5/8" shallow socket and added 4 wrench flats which worked good on an angle plug SBC w/ headers application; just turn it with a 3/4 or 19mm wrench. You won't gain anything from trying to use 1/4" drive instead of that.

I have several 15 mm metric in 1/4" and use them often have never seen a 16mm which is a little bit bigger than 5/8".

SK Tools 40715 is 16mm shallow 6 point made in USA.

GM solenoid nuts on their older starters. The older starters on cars, trucks and tractors have a 5/8 nut holding the battery cable on. I find the 1/4 drive held prevent me from over-torquing the nuts and cracking the cover. It isn't a must tool, but it works well for me.
bob

Good one. I use a 3/8 roto ratchet & shallow socket for that which is fine, but maybe I need to add that 16mm SK socket.

 

[Fedwrench]

That Carlyle catalog is giving me Gearwrench deja-vu...

Agreed, The sockets and fixed combo wrenches were the ones i noticed as similar to GW

The only thing Gearwrench and Carlyle share is that both are from Taiwan and NAPA sells both.

Below for illustration are two 3/8 drive 15mm sockets. Carlyle is on the left, Gearwrench on the right. Both feature off corner engagement and are well finished inside and out. Notice that the Carlyle is slightly taller than the gearwrench and the knurled band is located differently. Gearwrench has their knurling on the base whereas, the carlyle in the middle of the socket. I tend to like the knurling on the base for better finger spinning. However, the center knurling seems to aid in socket removal.
Also pictured is a 13mm wrench in Carlyle, Gearwrench, Proto, Snap on, and Craftsman Pro versions. As you should be able to see the Carlyle and Gearwrench versions only share the chrome finish. Everything esle is pretty unique to each brand.

Now I know most of you will never buy Taiwanese tools, and that's ok because it's your money and your choice. However, Carlyle and Gearwench are offering some great tools at decent prices especially if you have a commercial account. Carlyle warranty is a breeze at Napa and their selection is growing.

Now, back to the op's post. I am always amazed what lengths people go to to fill a peg on a hansen rack. Are there detent ball cutouts on those westward sockets?

 

[SUNBURNTsnype]

ive experiened many situations where im trying to tighten or loosen bolts on a pipe flange where the flats of the nut/bolt are so close to the pipe that you usually cant get a 3/8 or 1/2 drive socket on the nut or bolt because the wall ofthe socket is too thick and contacts the pipe before it can fit over the bolt. this usually necessitates the use of the open end of a wrench. However, sometimes by dropping down a socket's drive size, like from 3/8 to 1/4, it gives you just the ckearance you need to fit a socket on the bolts, and lets you use a ratchet, speed wrench, cordless impact, etc to remove the bolts much faster than spinning a wrench by hand. When you have to take apart and install multiple flanges and sections of pipe, that little socket can make a world of difference.

 

[Rickster]

Just us a 3/8dr on the 1/4dr pegs. Since you'll never use the 1/4dr's you'll always have a couple of extra 3/8dr's available.

 

[rodm1]

Westward seems to be showing up everywhere lately. They must be a privet brand like CM.

 

[MJB24]

Westward seems to be showing up everywhere lately. They must be a privet brand like CM.

They are a Grainger brand

 

[Banjorear]

Funny, I'm going through the same thing. I hope they are still on sale for I'm going a little nuts trying to fill all the empty pegs.

 

[Houndb]

Just ordered them less then 7.00 with free shipping .

 

[Farmall450]

So the point of buying them is to fill an empty hole in a socket tray ? Because I see absolutely no need for a 1/4 drive socket that big. Am I missing something ?

Agreed. You should always use the largest drive size you can.

 

[Thorold]

Save your self some time and disconnect that steering shaft. Your knuckles will tahnk you.

 

[2oolhound]

If you squeeze the boot you'll feel the steering shaft has a flat ground on it on one side to give the clearance needed. Turn the wheel to align the flat and you can use a 3/8 socket and rat on the GM's centre plug. 1/4, so much the better.