Looking for a 3/8" drive Allen key socket set... Could use some advice

[ert01]

I'm looking for a certain style of Allen key sockets and I'm having trouble finding them:

Must be 3/8" drive
Must be long (6" or longer is preferable)
Must NOT have a ball end

I haven't come across many long shaft sets that don't have the ball end... The short ones don't have the ball end but most long sets I've seen around here have the ball end.

And before someone suggests it, no, the short set with a drive extension won't work for me.


I'm an electrician and I need these for tightening lugs on switchgear. We have to tighten them to the specs provided by the manufacturer so we use a torque wrench and Allen key sockets. Te problem is that the ball end Allen keys often like to strip the soft aluminum lugs if you're not careful. That's why I don't want ball ends. And I need the long shaft because the lugs often have a protective cover over them. I can always remove the cover to torque them (and that's how I currently do it with the short Allen key sockets) but if I can find a long set and go through the cover (they have access holes in them for this purpose), then that would save time.

I need both SAE and metric. And quite large too... Would be awesome to find a set in 3/8" drive that goes up to 1/2" Allen... I don't really want to have to carry a 1/2" drive set of keys and a 3/8" drive set.

Do any of you tools gurus know of a set that fits my fussy needs haha
Thanks in advance!

 

[AnonymousToolGuy]

Snapon and Matco on quick search all will sell you ~6in long 3/8 drive hex bits. They're about $15 apiece though no matter where you buy from, so get out the walle

Neither sells 1/2" Hex in 3/8" drive.

https://store.snapon.com/Hex-Long-i...ex-Extra-Long-5-32-to-3-8-6-pcs--P631902.aspx

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/BXYL5B/INDIVIDUAL-3-8-HEX-BIT-DRIVERS-AND-BITS-LONG-SHANK/

Koken has 160mm overall length metrics that go from 3 to 14mm, but they don't sell fractional (being Japanese and all):

http://global.rakuten.com/en/search/?tl=&k=3010M.160

 

[heytrid]

snapon

inches : 206EFAL , overall length 6 1/16 to 6 1/8, largest size is 3/8
metric 206EFAML , 153.4 to 153.9mm up to a 10mm

12mm 98mm long SAM12LE

Your other option is to buy a good set of allen keys that are very long, then buy a set of sockets (gearwrench/craftsman,whatevers o sale), either stake them in, green loctite or drill and pin, This way you could get WAY longer shafts up to whatever size you like AND still probably save money over snapon.

forgot to mention you need to cut the allen keys.

 

[AnonymousToolGuy]

Also looks like Tekton and Neiko sell these too:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ket&rh=n:15684181,k:extra+long+hex+bit+socket

First 4 results.

I use Neiko stuff but not the extra long ones and not professionally, but they've worked well for me. Cheap enough to give a shot at least.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I'm looking for a certain style of Allen key sockets and I'm having trouble finding them:

Must be 3/8" drive
Must be long (6" or longer is preferable)
Must NOT have a ball end

I haven't come across many long shaft sets that don't have the ball end... The short ones don't have the ball end but most long sets I've seen around here have the ball end.

And before someone suggests it, no, the short set with a drive extension won't work for me.


I'm an electrician and I need these for tightening lugs on switchgear. We have to tighten them to the specs provided by the manufacturer so we use a torque wrench and Allen key sockets. Te problem is that the ball end Allen keys often like to strip the soft aluminum lugs if you're not careful. That's why I don't want ball ends. And I need the long shaft because the lugs often have a protective cover over them. I can always remove the cover to torque them (and that's how I currently do it with the short Allen key sockets) but if I can find a long set and go through the cover (they have access holes in them for this purpose), then that would save time.

I need both SAE and metric. And quite large too... Would be awesome to find a set in 3/8" drive that goes up to 1/2" Allen... I don't really want to have to carry a 1/2" drive set of keys and a 3/8" drive set.

Do any of you tools gurus know of a set that fits my fussy needs haha
Thanks in advance!

If you're using that much...get something professional that you can warranty easily when they break (when not if). Truck or something from someone local that will warranty other stuff like proto. But if you're buying proto might as well just buy mac. 60-100 bucks to me for a set of proto wouldn't make much sense for hex but not so bad if that's all you're using.

 

[JonnyMac]

Ive just got some koken short in 1/4" drive. They are used for very accurate torquing down of analyser equipment and they work superbly. Zero slop and very tight fitting, with this in mind I have no doubt the long models would be excellent also.. reasonable value too.

 

[brook41]

I have used Proto before, some of the sets come in cases. http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/searchlist/subcategory-Bit Socket Sets/page-2/

 

[rcjoy]

Proto J4990-7XL for fractional (1/8" to 3/8")
Proto J4990-SMXL for metric (4mm to 10mm, skips 9 mm)

If you need 1/2" hex with 3/8" drive, then go for a Proto J54411/2XL and leave a 3/8->1/2 adapter on it.

 

[sponfit]

Carlyle BSH42 has everything you need but the 1\2 size

 

[tank4114]

i use JH williams same as bluepoint ones made in taiwan and in 4 years im yet to break any and i use the torx versions daily

 

[efb16acrx]

dont forget VIM

 

[jptbay]

Genius has bit sockets as described, and they are great.

Also, they support the forum by being alliance members.

This set BS-310HSL looks to have everything you want, including a 1/2" bit in 3/8 drive.
Metric set is BS-310HML

http://www.geniustools.net/Products/readset.aspx?item=BS-310HSL

 

[bob15]

Here you go:

http://bondhus.com/new-products/socket-bits/body112.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-6in-Sockets-Prohold-30645/dp/B005279YL2

 

[ert01]

I never even thought of making them myself! I'll have to check my misc tool bins and see what I can scrounge up. Otherwise I like that Genius set. Seems like everything I'm looking for.

 

[ChrisLS8]

#67889 at HF.
#67890
No ball end but only goes to 3/8ths. All the Pittsburgh Pro stuff Ive gotten has been rock solid as well.

For the 1/2 you could make your own.

 

[St-rider]

You could always cut or grind the ball end off unless that makes them too short.

 

[slyonedoofy]

You could always cut or grind the ball end off unless that makes them too short.

I was thinking the same thing. Get a set of Craftsman and grind away.

 

[AnonymousToolGuy]

It doesn't matter how much the extension twists. The force you're putting on it has to go somewhere, and it eventually gets transferred to the fastener. If we were talking about impacts + extensions, then ok the spring has inertia and your torque might not be transferred to the fastener (ala torque sticks). But static torque I don't buy that extensions matter.