4 or 8 point sockets

[JeepYJ]

I’m needing to remove about 40 square head bolts and nuts from an old hay wagon. What’s a good inexpensive socket set? Is the bolt/nut size the width from one flat to the one parallel to it?

 

[Tallpilot]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNTEX2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Bogie1632]

Bolt size would be the diameter of the shank not the size of the head. Suggesting a set will get lots of results. What size heads are you dealing with? Prefer impact or non-impact?

William's has a nice set for ~$125 but it'll likely have a lot of socket sizes you'll never use. Buying just the sizes you need may be a less expensive option.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNZ508/?tag=atomicindus08-20

V/R
Bogie

 

[619DioFan]

I use pipe plug sockets on square nuts/bolts. I have the sunex brand in 1/2 and 3/8 drive. sets come with both male and female sockets and are impact rated.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have a couple of 8 point sets.

What size are the square bolt heads?

If the bolt heads are 3/8” or 1/2” You can use the drive end of a 3/8, or 1/2 socket to remove them. I’ve done this several times and it works well. Just use a hex socket inserted into a regular socket to drive the regular socket.

 

[JeepYJ]

Bolt size would be the diameter of the shank not the size of the head.

V/R
Bogie

I know the bolt Size is shank diameter but that wouldn’t be the size socket I need. There are a couple of different sizes on there.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have an 8 point USA made Williams set, was around $45 - Looks like the set Tailpilot linked to. Not used often on cars, but older stuff with pipe plug fittings they do very nicely on.

 

[juddspaintballs]

Have you tried a regular 12 point socket on them yet? It might work well enough for you and you can probably buy a boatload of cheap ones and throw them away if they fall apart.

 

[DFB]

Geez how did them old timers do it anyhow could almost bet for a lot of them they didn't have 8 point sockets just an adjustable or open end wrench


Anyhow for about $40 can get a set of both 1/2 and 3/8" drive Craftsman sockets, or a small set 3/8" Williams, or the Grey Pipe Plug set on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=8+point+sockets&i=tools&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

A couple of individual sockets in the needed size will cost about half that much maybe

An I believe should be measured side to side across the flats

12 point sizing will be different and probably not always do it simple example I know of with my outdoor equipment and a square engine plug what is a 3/8" square plug (or 3/8" square point socket) a 12 point 7/16" will fit but the next size up a 7/16" square plug a 1/2" 12 point wont work and a 9/16" will be too big

 

[alfazer]

Could possibly work with a universal socket, Gator grip, whatever they are called.
The ones with the spring pins inside.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I generally use 12 point sockets for those, the one time it doesn't work just fine with out any damage to the nut is when extreme rust is present, which is pretty rare on older equipment as they appear to have had access to much better metal.

 

[retDAC]

I’m needing to remove about 40 square head bolts and nuts from an old hay wagon. What’s a good inexpensive socket set? Is the bolt/nut size the width from one flat to the one parallel to it?

Could possibly work with a universal socket, Gator grip, whatever they are called.
The ones with the spring pins inside.

Another possibility is spline sockets.

 

[unslow1]

Have you tried a regular 12 point socket on them yet? It might work well enough for you and you can probably buy a boatload of cheap ones and throw them away if they fall apart.

This is what I usually do and I have 4 and 8 point sockets and cars with squarehead bolts.

 

[DadsTools]

Could possibly work with a universal socket, Gator grip, whatever they are called.
The ones with the spring pins inside.

I thought about these too. People laugh at them, but they have their places. I've used them on wing nuts. If I didn't have the right square nut sockets, this would be my first try.

 

[Tallpilot]

Why is everybody coming up with hack solutions? It's $40 for the correct tool, less if he only gets a couple sizes. Screwing around with the wrong tool 40 times sounds like a nightmare to me.

 

[lis2323]

Why is everybody coming up with hack solutions? It's $40 for the correct tool, less if he only gets a couple sizes. Screwing around with the wrong tool 40 times sounds like a nightmare to me.

Saved me typing. Thank you! [emoji1]

 

[mrjaw14]

If you can't use an existing 12-point socket, Spline sockets work with square bolts and have a variety of other uses. I'd consider those if I was going to buy a set, I'd get spline. 8-point sockets aren't going to have a lot of use going forward.

 

[lis2323]

I have a set of 8 point but I buy used ones to make handles for things like this....



Twisting square stock

 

[bob15]

Look for used.

I have 3/8 & 1/2 drive up to 1-1/16 with mixed brands such as Bonney, Williams, Snap On, Blackhawk, Wright, Proto and Billings & Spencer. Who cares if the brands don't match? The fastener won't.....

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have Snap on and Williams double squares (8 pt) but in shallow.

Sunex 2858 is a complete deep socket set... I need to buy that myself.

 

[matt_i]

On Ag stuff which has had a checkered past of sitting outdoors a lot,the blue wrench is your best bet.

Then you can use a regular OE wrench.

 

[cherrybomb]

I just don't get the fact that the majority of answers to the question,was how to have a hack solution.The question,do you measure across the flat,for socket size.The answer for a 8 point socket is YES.3/8,7/16,and 9/16,will handle the three most common sizes.Williams and Blackhawk,both made in USA are reasonably priced and will get the job done.

 

[lis2323]

I like to keep a small inventory of squarehead fasteners for restoration projects

 

[JeepYJ]

I just don't get the fact that the majority of answers to the question,was how to have a hack solution.The question,do you measure across the flat,for socket size.The answer for a 8 point socket is YES.3/8,7/16,and 9/16,will handle the three most common sizes.Williams and Blackhawk,both made in USA are reasonably priced and will get the job done.

Thank you. That’s what I was looking for. Some appear to be 3/4”, 1/2” and probably 5/8”. Using a blue wrench is probably a bad idea as these bolts hold the 4x6 stringers to the running gear and bed crossmembers.

 

[JR 42]

I've been idly collecting 8-pt sockets for just this potential problem, but don't own anything with square bolt heads or nuts... sounds like a good opportunity to buy an good SAE spline set, or poke around in pawn and junk shops if there's no big rush and you know what sizes you need (and they're open).

I'd rather use an adjustable on old rusty stuff if I didn't have a better option, 12 point sometimes doesn't fit well and can mash the corners.

 

[HenryAZ]

Wright sells two sets. 3/8" drive 1/4" --> 5/8", and 1/2" drive 7/16 --> 1 1/4" (skips 1 3/16"). Wright prices, though.

 

[WittHay]

Way back when, implement manufacturer supplied plow and monkey wrenches to adjust equipment. Lots were specially made for square head fasteners.

When I was growing up, we scrapped some older equipment. Tried to remove some of the old fasteners using heat and crescent wrenches or 12 point sockets . Seem to remember using those 32 sizes like 25/32". Most of the time the bolts were just cut off.

 

[lis2323]

Way back when, implement manufacturer supplied plow and monkey wrenches to adjust equipment. Lots were specially made for square head fasteners.

When I was growing up, we scrapped some older equipment. Tried to remove some of the old fasteners using heat and crescent wrenches or 12 point sockets . Seem to remember using those 32 sizes like 25/32". Most of the time the bolts were just cut off.

I wish I had saved all the OEM wrenches that came with farm equipment In the old days. I only have a handful now and all acquired relatively recently.

Case in point. I bought this Planet Junior wrench for a couple of bucks recently just for the memories.

I KNOW at one time we must have had a dozen of them sitting in a box unused.

I think one came with each seeding or cultivating unit.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Square head set screws are still used, both SAE and metric. In some application they work better. They very handy as pusher bolts for adjustments, saves welding a nut on redi-rod. Better steel, too. It's handy to have a socket to run the long ones in.

 

[ecotec]

If they are low torque square heads, like in the set screws for beam clamps (Fullman’s) or cable tray clamps, you can use 12pt sockets or ratcheting wrenches.