4 Point Sockets, Lifesaver for pipe plugs

[BarrelRoll]

A while back at work I encountered a pretty well mangled male 4 point pipe plug from people putting chanellocks and adjustable wrenches on it at on odd angle. I was able to pound a 12 point on and got lucky. I picked up a set of Grey Pneumatic 3/8" drive 4 point sockets and a set of Sunex 4 point 1/2" drive sockets, both impact style after that. The original pipe plug I bought them for has been replaced and mangled several times since though writing the correct 12 point socket size on the side of the machine helped. The 4 point socket has pulled it out every time it's been mangled since. Last night I was changing oil on a pump that had never had the plug out in the 3 years it's been on line. It was go home day so if something is going to go wrong it will. It was a bit of an odd angle, I tried the usual 8" adjustable wrench, no luck, went to the 15" adjustable wrench and could feel I was dancing with the devil. I decided to drive the 10 minutes to my tool box grab my pipe sockets and a long flex head ratchet. Wahlah it came right out. These were one of those tools I wasn't sure I was going to get much use out of them. Now if I know I'm going to have to pull male 4 point pipe plugs I grab them every time. A 12 point socket or adjustable wrench works though when dealing with rusty plugs covered in mine goo I feel much better hanging on a 24" ratchet with a 4 point than a 12 point. I haven't encountered any of the female 4 point plugs to use the male sockets though would feel better pounding one of these in a rusty axle fill plug than a nice ratchet or extension. I just figured I'd share my experiance as these are something that aren't in everyone's tool box.

 

[driftpin]

I use four point 1/4" & 5/16" female 3/8" drive sockets for various uses, the 1/4" for tapping a steering knuckle pair of mounting holes on an expensive dropped spindle for a classic car recently. For the price they charge, you'd expect you wouldn't need to chase the threads to make them work. But the four point 1/4" socket made the job much easier and saved having to disassemble things further.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Wright still makes these, nice too, have picked up a couple for situations where reefing on an 8pt socket starts to feel questionable.

 

[BarrelRoll]

I use four point 1/4" & 5/16" female 3/8" drive sockets for various uses, the 1/4" for tapping a steering knuckle pair of mounting holes on an expensive dropped spindle for a classic car recently. For the price they charge, you'd expect you wouldn't need to chase the threads to make them work. But the four point 1/4" socket made the job much easier and saved having to disassemble things further.

I prefer my Lisle tap sockets for taps, they have an o-ring in them to keep the tap in the socket though a 4 pointer would work.

 

[geartow]

One of my pet peeves. Is the person who tries to remove female plugs with a 3/8 inch ratchet, when they are mostly 10mm

 

[ecotec]

I use a 3/8” to 1/2” socket adapter on pipe plugs for explosion proof electrical fittings (paint booths, paint mixing rooms…). I carry this adapter just for this situation.

Maybe I should buy the correct pipe plug socket for this.

I have yet to run into any metric on electrical pipe plugs.

 

[johninct]

I use a 3/8” to 1/2” socket adapter on pipe plugs for explosion proof electrical fittings (paint booths, paint mixing rooms…). I carry this adapter just for this situation.

Maybe I should buy the correct pipe plug socket for this.

I have yet to run into any metric on electrical pipe plugs.

I have noticed that some of the square part sticking up vary a little in width so maybe a metric would give a tighter fit.

 

[mike93lx]

One of my pet peeves. Is the person who tries to remove female plugs with a 3/8 inch ratchet, when they are mostly 10mm

TIL...had no idea.

 

[cherrybomb]

Oh so nice,to have the right tool for the job,especially working with those that don't. Maybe you can school your foreman and others you work with,you've learned a valuable wrenching technique, thanks.I have Blackhawk and Williams 8 point,they also work very well,Anybody that uses a open end,12 point or adjustible wrench on a square is taking a gamble.IMO.

 

[RTM]

Man, if you are running into a lot of those, I would convince the boss to buy a case, and leave one strapped to each machine's control box.

 

[WWheeler]

One of my pet peeves. Is the person who tries to remove female plugs with a 3/8 inch ratchet, when they are mostly 10mm

I don't recall running into a female square plug yet but if I have I most definitely put a ratchet or extension that looks like it fit into it.
3/8" is 9.5mm so I don't suppose it would be a noticeable difference in most cases.

As far as male square plugs I have 3/8" and 1/2" SAE sets of 8 point sockets and tap handles & adj tap sockets that have always worked just fine for everything I've run into so far.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I did an oil change on a newer Smart Car recently, it had a female 5/16/8mm square drive. I'm glad I had one from an old HF set.

 

[Jim C.]

I can’t say that I’m a frequent user of four point sockets, but I can’t resist them either. The set in the case is Walden set #21 and the set in the foreground is Hinsdale, circle H vintage.

Jim C.

 

[BarrelRoll]

Oh so nice,to have the right tool for the job,especially working with those that don't. Maybe you can school your foreman and others you work with,you've learned a valuable wrenching technique, thanks.I have Blackhawk and Williams 8 point,they also work very well,Anybody that uses a open end,12 point or adjustible wrench on a square is taking a gamble.IMO.

Man, if you are running into a lot of those, I would convince the boss to buy a case, and leave one strapped to each machine's control box.

I'd have better luck talking to the wall. The machine in question is 100 yards and 4 flights of stairs from our tool boxes. Writing the correct 12 point socket most everyone has helped though you aren't going to fix lazy where I work.

 

[metalmagpie]

If your square head pipe plug is for 2" pipe you need a 4 point socket size 1-5/16". Anyone know where to buy one of those? I mean the square part of the plug fits a 1-5/16" open end wrench, don't know how they call out sizing on 4 point sockets.

metalmagpie

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

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[dscheidt]

If your square head pipe plug is for 2" pipe you need a 4 point socket size 1-5/16". Anyone know where to buy one of those? I mean the square part of the plug fits a 1-5/16" open end wrench, don't know how they call out sizing on 4 point sockets.

metalmagpie

4 and 8 point sockets are sized by the across flats measure of the square plug they fit.

 

[metalmagpie]

Just a followup. A knowledgeable friend told me that the way they drive big nuts in industry is with a torque multiplier with 1" drive. Of course, you have to have the right socket.