Wright 3/8" Drive Metric Sockets & Standard Hex Sockets: ??Why Missing Sizes?

[catalytic]

Wright 3/8" Drive Metric Sockets & Standard Hex Sockets: ??Why Missing Sizes?

I was planning to finally buy Wright Standard Hex Sockets and Wright 6pt Metric sockets today. I have their standard sockets and love them. However, the only standard hex set I see offered is:

Wright #305: 3/8" Dr., 7 Pc. Hex Bit Socket Set 1/8" - 3/8"

=> Does Wright offer any additional 3/8" drive standard hex sockets? If so, then I can't find them. For comparison's sake, SK starts at 1/16" instead of 1/8". The SK version is:
SK #19722 - 12pc. 3/8-Inch Drive Fractional Hex Bits, 1/16"-3/8"



Similarly, the most comprehensive Wright metric 3/8" drive 6pt socket set is:
Wright #354: 3/8" 14pc Metric Socket Set 6mm-19mm
=>Apparently, Wright doesn't make anything larger than 19mm in 3/8" drive. For comparison, SK goes up to 24mm at least. The SK version is:
SK #3919 19pc. 3/8-Drive 6pm 6mm-24mm Socket Set

Am I missing something, or why doesn't Wright make a wider range of standard hex & 6pt metric socket sizes in 3/8" drive? For comparison, their standard 6pt socket set is 1/4"-7/8", which is already pretty comprehensive, and one can buy the matching 15/16" and 1" sockets separately (and 1/4"-1" is about the max range for any mfg.).

 

[sselander]

Re: Wright 3/8" Drive Metric Sockets & Standard Hex Sockets: ??Why Missing Sizes?

This has been discussed before.
Here is my chart on what is commonly available for socket sizes. Some are ridiculous. I would never use a 1/2" drive for something as small as 10 or 12mm.
At some point, it makes sense to go the the next drive size. Of course you have extra sockets like the rest of us?

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[Rico.]

Re: Wright 3/8" Drive Metric Sockets & Standard Hex Sockets: ??Why Missing Sizes?

It is a little weird that there is so much cross over in drive sizes...

Looking at my socket sets I realise I have.... 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm & 14mm
in all 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sizes.

It's impossible to me that I would ever need to use an 8mm 1/2" drive socket...

I generally go up to 10mm in 1/4" and then from 10mm to 18mm in 3/8" and then
19mm and above get's the 1/2" treatment, with a little bit of crossover depending on
the application... Sometimes a 10mm fastener needs a 3/8" and sometimes a 17mm
feels best with a 1/2".

However I can understand the OP's point.... my 3/8" set goes from 6mm to 24mm and
I have come accross many a sump plug bolt thats 21mm or 22mm and I definitely get a
better feel and much more finesse using a 3/8" drive on something like that.


So in conclusion... I have come to realise that it's complete nonsense to make a
3/8" drive set bigger than 19mm and a very sensible idea to make them up to 24mm.

Hope that clears it up for everyone.... and thanks for listening.

 

[cbracer]

Re: Wright 3/8" Drive Metric Sockets & Standard Hex Sockets: ??Why Missing Sizes?

Smaller companies tend to only produce the "common" sizes. It's really hard to find a 9mm or even 7mm hex bit, they typically go 6 to 8 to 10. Yes the bigger companies like GearWrench has a 7 and 9. In reality you will likely never need these odd sizes so tool companies don't invest in the tooling costs to make them. Most overseas tool companies have all the sizes because they make tools for so many different companies. But US companies don't have those missing sizes. Similar thing with sockets too.

Even with Proto who tends to have a good range, in metric hex for example you will never find an 18mm but there is a 17mm and then they drop to 14mm skipping 16,15.

I love to have all the sizes, but you will likely never use those missing sizes because the hardware made typically doesn't use them.

 

[Adam.C]

Re: Wright 3/8" Drive Metric Sockets & Standard Hex Sockets: ??Why Missing Sizes?

Am I missing something, or why doesn't Wright make a wider range of standard hex & 6pt metric socket sizes in 3/8" drive? For comparison, their standard 6pt socket set is 1/4"-7/8", which is already pretty comprehensive, and one can buy the matching 15/16" and 1" sockets separately (and 1/4"-1" is about the max range for any mfg.).

Because Wright is smarter than SK. Manufacturers limit the sizes they offer for a given drive size to reduce tool failures. The std torque required for a high grade M14 with a 21mm head is close to or more than the capability of ANY 3/8" ratchet. That's why most smart tool manufacturers dont include 21mm in their 3/8" drive set. Ditto fore really small sizes. There no need for 1/2" drive 8mm sockets. The drive is too big and would get in the way. The handles available could easily shear the head off a fastener the small.

Seems to me tool design engineers have decided how hard we can pull a ratchet handle. They then design handle lengths that will allow us to achieve the reqd torque for fasteners we are most likely to encounter.