Older SK Socket question

[The Copilot]

removed

 

[n8n]

My old SKs, new SKs, and the few Snappy deep sockets that I have (as well as my Snappy impacts) are all like that. I believe the reason for that is if you are starting a nut with a socket because you can't get your fingers into a recessed hole or space.

I'm guessing the lags you were driving had a slightly rounded head?

 

[Hiball]

Sounds like the socket might have been worn, or maybe the wrong size? Hell maybe a defective socket?

 

[jjjrmx5]

I didn't realize that S-K's have short broaching until I got my first set.

Just the nature of the brand.

Slightly worn sockets should not be a problem. More worn? Maybe not.

Bolt heads and nuts should strip before sockets depending upon fastener hardmness.

I've never had a problem.

 

[finn]

Maybe your lag screws were defective (???). SAE nuts and bolts have pretty standard head thicknesses (with some exceptions for specialty fasteners). Your lags were probably some cheap, no-spec import of dubious origin and quality, I would guess.

 

[espyking83]

It's happened to some of the SK, Proto, SO, and Wright sockets I own. But now that you mention it, it does happen to my 3/8" set of SK Waynes more often than others. I would guess that it has something more to do with technique or even irregularities with the fasteners more than the socket itself. Could be wrong though, never investigated it that deeply, just mumbled some curse words until I got it off then went on about my day.

 

[woody 73]

Maybe your lag screws were defective (???). SAE nuts and bolts have pretty standard head thicknesses (with some exceptions for specialty fasteners). Your lags were probably some cheap, no-spec import of dubious origin and quality, I would guess.

 

[n8n]

The lags I was driving had fairly "thin" or "shallow" heads. They were not nearly as thick as a normal hex nut would be.

I think what I was running into was that thicknes of the head was just about the same as the gap between the end of the broaching and the back wall. Just enough spcace that he head could wedge itself in there an angle. It wasn't like I could free spin the socket on the lag head or anything like that. I ended up switching to a Wright socket that had deeper broaching that that corrected the issue. Never had any problem with these SK sockets on bolt head or nuts, just this one size of lag heads. May have just been an unusual circumstance, but I found it a little annoying. I'll have to take a closer look at my socket again when I get home as see it looks like there is any wear at the deepest end of the broaching.

Ah, I see what you're saying. No, the newer SK sockets are not like that. I have an older 12 point Snappy deep chrome socket from the 50s that could have a similar issue. If I'm understanding the problem, it's not that the broaching is shallow, but that between the actual hex and the step to smaller ID, there is a small area of large ID (out to the "points" or larger) that a thin head or nut could get caught in with only a small area of engagement on the driving portion of the socket, correct? I haven't seen too many new sockets with that issue, none that spring to mind off the top of my head. I'm guessing this is due to an older manufacturing method that is no longer generally used?

 

[ganymede]

. ...... I'm guessing this is due to an older manufacturing method that is no longer generally used?

Correct. It's a relief cut to allow chips to fall out as the hex opening is broached.