3/8 6mm impact socket ... do I need?

[BWWgarage]

My lovely wife grabbed me a 3/8 capri 8-22mm impact socket set(to go w my m12 3/8 stubby). I have them on a Hansen socket organizer so 7mm and 6mm spots are open. I don’t enjoy looking at the empty spots but I’m cheap enough to not buy only to fill a spot ... can anyone convince me I need a 6mm (and 7mm) 3/8 impact socket?

Thanks

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Of course you need them. This is Garage Journal lol.

In all seriousness as long as you have those sizes in 1/4 you shouldn’t need them in 3/8. 3/8 in those sizes is a little overkill in my opinion but nice to have just in case.

 

[General Geoff]

the 7mm could be useful for buzzing loose a stuck bleeder screw on a brake caliper. Can't say I've ever seen a 6mm bleeder, though

 

[BWWgarage]

Of course you need them. This is Garage Journal lol.

In all seriousness as long as you have those sizes in 1/4 you shouldn’t need them in 3/8. 3/8 in those sizes is a little overkill in my opinion but nice to have just in case.

I don’t have 1/4 impacts ... so

 

[MAD]

Put an extra 10mm and a spare 12 or 13 (depending on what you work on) on those pegs.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Companies like Tekton and others fluff up their set counts by adding things like 17mm 1/4" drive, 6mm 3/8" drive, 8mm 1/2" drive, etc that they can count on almost never being warrantied and they can charge a little more for the extra pieces.

 

[TerryH]

Empty spots? Ahh...no. Can't do it. Buy the sockets ASAP.

 

[RTM]

Of course you need them. The ability to break off a nut is under rated.

 

[Beerhippie]

NO.

Just to be contrary. No bolt with a 6mm head is going to be stouter than a chrome 6 mm X 3/8 (or 1/4) socket.

I second the spares idea above.

 

[1320]

The only time I've ever used a 3/8" drive 7mm socket is when I wanted to use a cordless ratchet and only had a 3/8" drive version.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Doesn't matter what socket you put there as long as you fill the void.

 

[BWWgarage]

The only time I've ever used a 3/8" drive 7mm socket is when I wanted to use a cordless ratchet and only had a 3/8" drive version.

A good point as my cordless ratchet is 3/8 ... but I do have 7mm chrome.

 

[KnurledNut]

I hammered a 6mm onto a rusted 1/4" and was able to remove it. I wasn't too worried about it splitting due to the extra beef of the 3/8 drive. It was chrome but an impact socket would have been even more forgiving.
We are talking a $4 socket here. I'd rather have and not need than need and not have.

 

[Tchicken]

Funny find this one - since I don't use an impact gun, or cordless ratchet, I am qualified to opine as I got that free, empty space that requires something to fill it. So OP, if you use one, buy one. If you don't, don't.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

7mm is M4.

If you have any socket in that size, in the same location, and it's 6pt, then no need to get an impact one.

 

[epiphany]

Would count different. You don't have 2 slots over but 4 slots missing.
6mm, 7mm, 23mm, 24mm, small extension, universal joint.

 

[BWWgarage]

I’m staying strong and holding out until I need it ... or until my eyes burn too much from looking at the empty tines

 

[drmarkr]

I've never used a 6 or 7 impact....much less a 1/4" version.

But those empty tines might bug me bad enough to just put some spare chrome in there to fill the void, lol.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

My lovely wife grabbed me a 3/8 capri 8-22mm impact socket set(to go w my m12 3/8 stubby). I have them on a Hansen socket organizer so 7mm and 6mm spots are open. I don’t enjoy looking at the empty spots but I’m cheap enough to not buy only to fill a spot ... can anyone convince me I need a 6mm (and 7mm) 3/8 impact socket?

Thanks

I think Capri tools saw your thread and decided to feed the OCD (I understand it all too well haha)

Capri Tools now offers 6 and 7 mm impact sockets.

 

[BWWgarage]

I think Capri tools saw your thread and decided to feed the OCD (I understand it all too well haha)

Capri Tools now offers 6 and 7 mm impact sockets.

Craziness. I was thinking I was buying texton to fill those spots. It’s a sign from the tool gods to fill those spots.

What’s funny ... the Hansen trays with spines aren’t really made for impact sockets. I started filling from big to small and when I got to the 8mm, it wouldn’t fit (9mm was squeezing it right too much), so I had to move the 8mm over to the 7mm spot. I didn’t sleep well thinking about it. I think a snapon epic 56 would resolve it. Ha.

 

[Hannahranga]

Definitely worth having 3/8 6/7mm sockets around imho it's more convenient to use your already out 3/8 tools to get the odd hose clamp etc. I'd only go impact over chrome to make it match

 

[mike93lx]

I like using extra spots for stuff like short extensions and swivel joints

 

[bwringer]

I have 20 and 23mm sockets for the same reason. Just gotta fill those gaps, or it'll make me crazy. They sure are shiny, and always will be.

In this case, I'd wonder if I could do a decent job of just cutting off the end so I don't have to look at the empties. Or removing or replacing the markings so I could put something more useful on the same pegs.

 

[Black300zx]

If you want an excuse to buy something to "fix" the empty rail positions, buy an Ernst socketboss rail set for your impact set, label them to match your socket set, and fill any empty positions with impact universals in your most-used sizes.

 

[Fedwrench]

Has anyone used a 6mm socket for anything? I think I read somewhere that 6mm is for hose clamps
7mm is quite common in older GM products.
This is Garage Journal where an empty Hansen Peg can cause sleepless nights so, you might have to get them. I avoid Hansen trays because, the Hansen peeps don't know what size sockets I use Vim magrails, the cure to empty peg syndrome

 

[KnurledNut]

Looks like 6mm is the wrench standard for a 3.5mm bolt. Most of those would probably use a screwdriver type head but there does appear to be some specialty fasteners that use a standard hex head or a combination head.

 

[Beerhippie]

Has anyone used a 6mm socket for anything? I think I read somewhere that 6mm is for hose clamps
7mm is quite common in older GM products.
This is Garage Journal where an empty Hansen Peg can cause sleepless nights so, you might have to get them. I avoid Hansen trays because, the Hansen peeps don't know what size sockets I use Vim magrails, the cure to empty peg syndrome

Electrical connection boxes on German motors.

7mm seems to be the most common metrical hose clamp I come across.

 

[pbon]

I DIY on German cars and encounter 6mm regularly and 7mm occasionally but nothing for which I need 3/8 ratchet size or impact socket strength or durability. Plus 3/8 drive and impact spec is physically large compared to 1/4 chrome. They would be my last choice for a 6mm or 7mm nut or bolt. I buy just about any tool I want, but would not buy these and to the extent I have them, I can’t recall ever using them. I have plenty of 1/4 drive 6 and 7mm chrome.

 

[redwrench60]

Flip over the socket rack and drill out the divot that holds the peg with a 1/4” drill bit. This will cleanly release the peg and provide some extra storage space for custom additions like a 3/8” wobble adapter or an oxygen sensor socket, or whatever

 

[Ohio Andy]

If you ignore your garage journal OCD tendencies to want to fill every spot, I think the real reason for filling those with 3/8 is if it is strictly a 3/8 set and you think you can maybe not bring an extra 1/4 set because you have those smaller sizes and the 3/8 set.

Or if you happen to be where you don't have your quarter inch set with you. But you do have the 3/8. You still can go down to some of those smaller sizes that you didn't think you needed if it happens to come up

 

[BWWgarage]

If you ignore your garage journal OCD tendencies to want to fill every spot, I think the real reason for filling those with 3/8 is if it is strictly a 3/8 set and you think you can maybe not bring an extra 1/4 set because you have those smaller sizes and the 3/8 set.

Or if you happen to be where you don't have your quarter inch set with you. But you do have the 3/8. You still can go down to some of those smaller sizes that you didn't think you needed if it happens to come up

Fine points. For my uses, I doubt the complete impact set ever make the travel bag.

 

[y'sguy]

An. empty socket organizer space! My god, how do you sleep?

 

[BWWgarage]

An. empty socket organizer space! My god, how do you sleep?

Fits and starts!