Need thinnest wall 3/8" socket you know of

[NoahG]

So I am in need of the thinnest wall, 3/8" 6 or 12pt socket you know of. I would prefer a 1/4DR, 3/8" 6pt deep socket, but I'll take what I can get. A nut driver is fine too.

I need it for tightening the nuts on a 1/8" wire rope Crosby clip. The nuts on that size are so close together that nothing fits without rubbing.


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[rodsnratfinks]

Wouldn't a twelve point be the thinnest. I have some older craftsman 12 point sockets and they seem super thin.

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[rlitman]

Got a belt sander? If it's something you use a lot, a customized socket makes sense.

 

[CNGsaves]

Got a belt sander? If it's something you use a lot, a customized socket makes sense.

^ ^ ^ This. Likely a nutdriver is thinner wall than a socket.

Pick up a couple at Harbor Freight and start experimenting !!

You'll soon determine if belt sander takes it off quick enough. Maybe grinder is a better choice !!

 

[rlitman]

You'll soon determine if belt sander takes it off quick enough. Maybe grinder is a better choice !!

Agreed. Sockets are made of some seriously tough steel. They'll grind ok on a zirconia or ceramic belt if that's what you've got, but will chew up aluminum oxide pretty quickly. They'll also eat up grinding wheels, but it's not like you have a lot of metal to remove anyway, so modifying just one should be a simple enough task. Just keep it turning slowly (to make the cut evenly around the circumference) and keep it cool.

If you have a lathe with a toolpost grinder, that's a great option, but maybe I'm asking too much. I will say that turning a chromed socket with HSS and even cobalt cutters is an exercise in frustration (voice of experience here).

HF is a potential source for a cheap socket, but so is Sears (Craftsman), HD (Husky), or Lowes (Kobalt). Heck, if you're only buying ONE socket, even a SnapOn isn't going to hurt your wallet.
Just find a place that sells open stock individual sockets.

On that note, I've picked up individual sockets at flea markets when I've had these sort of projects. There'll often be a bin full of sockets on sale for pennies a piece. I'll grab some USA made common sizes, and I keep a drawer of misfit tools around just for this sort of emergency modification.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

chuck the socket up in a drill then run it on the bench grinder or belt sander

 

[newspeed]

Snap On had a demo tool that showed how much thinner they were than competition. Unless you plan on modifying I think a SO is your best option.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Just grind down an old one that's what I do.

 

[ravenzfusion]

craftsman's are pretty thin by default

 

[shawhite]

Wouldn't a wrench do the trick. Might take a little longer 1/4 turn at a time but would get the job done

 

[Wamsutta]

The thinnest socket available will be a chrome MAC socket with an R at the end of the part number.

 

[Shiftless]

chuck the socket up in a drill then run it on the bench grinder or belt sander

+1 on that idea ^^^^^^^

Just don't use a socket from your matched set. Use one of the extras you have in the big coffee can that most all of us keep somewhere in the shop. If that doesn't work, you aren't out anything and proceed to plan B, purchasing an expensive specialty socket.

I looked up the specs on the Crosby clip in the smallest 1/8 inch size. You only need to apply 4.5 foot pounds of torque to that nut.

 

[Air21]

If you plan to modify a socket I'd look for an impact socket in the proper size. I believe Evaporust will strip black oxide, or if you decide to grind it as it is you will only need to break through that thin coating. I grind chrome more than a few times a week but I'm not sure how thick it is on sockets.

After you work through the black oxide either chemically or mechanically then you can turn down the diameter of the socket however you like. And if its something you think you'd like to keep for a long time you can recoat the black oxide or if you're feeling fancy stop by the friendly neighborhood gunsmith and he can do that for you, or maybe even titanium nitride. You could be the coolest kid on the block with a custom gold socket

 

[hoston23]

Grey Pneunamic makes a DUO socket set that is impact and they are really thin compared to traditional impact sockets. they will take a beatin and keep on kickin

 

[404]

Open end wrench as stated.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

MAC Tools make some thin sockets but in my opinion grinding is your best bet...
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I am a ToolAholic, Sometimes I regret it, Especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit

 

[gigamel]

Snap-on deep 1/4"DR, 3/8", 6-point, just 17/32" at socket end.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item..._ID=630965&group_ID=674778&store=&dir=catalog

 

[Mikerodrig27]

Snapon sockets are super thin. Given the torque though, I'd hate to ruin a snapon. Get a S.K. the chrome will come right off.

 

[Rarified27]

The thinnest sockets I've encountered are the GW pass thru type, but I wouldn't use them for high torque if it can be avoided, just because they're so thin.

Also, the extensions in the pass thru sets are very bulbous at the end where the socket is received, so that may work against use in tight spaces.

 

[franzdom]

Wouldn't a twelve point be the thinnest. I have some older craftsman 12 point sockets and they seem super thin.

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Why would 12 point be any thinner than 6 point?

 

[ravenzfusion]

How much torque can be put on a 3/8 or 1/2 pass thru socket compared to a standard socket?

 

[wolf_from_wv]

I made my set with a lathe. Then blued the ends and wiped them with silicone. Also cut the chamfer off so they'd work on really thin fasteners.

 

[2oolhound]

I made my set with a lathe. Then blued the ends and wiped them with silicone. Also cut the chamfer off so they'd work on really thin fasteners.

Humm, something to do with all those extras that accumulate in my reject bin all the time.

 

[Air21]

Your my hero what do you do to need so many custom sockets?

And what was your experience like bluing the steel? I talk a big game but I've only ever read about it.

 

[wafrederick]

There were some applications a special thin wall socket had to be used.One was the 292 CID Ford flathead V8,the rod cap nuts.Any other socket would not work.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

Salvaging parts off old PC cards, installing casters, once you have them you find uses...

I didn't need the entire set, but should the day come when I need a 13/32 thin wall socket, I am ready.

I'm trying to find time to make a 3/8 set. Some of the potentiometers are too long for the 1/4 set.

I usually end up helping people with "things". I also build things. I have worked on/helped with things ranging from a hand-sized line following vehicle to a 3/4 ton diesel truck. I am currently fixing an RC dragon for someone and cleaning a carburetor.

Bluing wasn't bad. After turning the sockets, I polish them a little (forget the material's name) and wipe them off with alcohol to get rid of oil/etc, . I use Birchwood Casey Cold blue. After bluing, I spray with silicone spray.

 

[Cmreschke]

Craftsman has a newer spline set of sockets and wrenches designed for multiple fastener types, these sockets are pretty thin and they are sold in 1\4 drive.

 

[geartow]

A open end wrench will do the torque spec is 4.5 lbs for that connection any tighter and you dammage the rope.
http://www.fdlake.com/wrclips.html