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$48,000 Snap-On Socket Set?!?

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BikeRider

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Sorry for the throwaway post but I just heard on a YouTube tool review video that apparently Snap-On sells an 8 piece socket set for something like $48,000. Is this an urban legend or is it true, and if so why are they so expensive?

Is this a specialty set for NASA or the military or aviation industry, where ultra-precision and reliability are of paramount importance for obvious reasons?

I tried to google it but came up short, but I did come upon this nearly $29,000 14 piece set on Snap-On's site:

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com shop.snapon.com

So what's the deal with this set?
 
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BikeRider

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zendriver said:
Those are pretty big sockets.

Maybe Snap On can be sold by the pound. :lol:
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Like Golden Gate bridge or aircraft carrier big, true. Still wondering why they're so pricey though.

I take it that they won't work with my M12 3/8" stubby, even with the proper $18,000 adapter, right? :unsure:
 
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jblnut

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Whoa I might be sitting on a gold mine..... I've got an ancient 2-1/2" drive socket set somewhere in the basement of my grandparents garage that I have yet to remove. I may need to go after it finally lol. If I remember there are sockets from 4" through 7" and are well over 20 of them. Don't know brand though. I will be finding out soon lol Fun stuff !!
 
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BikeRider

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jblnut said:
Whoa I might be sitting on a gold mine..... I've got an ancient 2-1/2" drive socket set somewhere in the basement of my grandparents garage that I have yet to remove. I may need to go after it finally lol. If I remember there are sockets from 4" through 7" and are well over 20 of them. Don't know brand though. I will be finding out soon lol Fun stuff !!
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Wait, these are sockets that go onto a 2.5" square anvil? What on earth were they intended for?
 
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dr_clyde

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Even if this were true, and it may or may not be, I suspect the cost of just the cost of the steel for such a socket set is absolutely astronomical, to say nothing of the cost of tooling, manufacturing, inventorying and retailing it, probably only to sell a handful a year.

Some of these tools are expensive because they only sell a few a year and that has a cost.

Plus, the buyers of sockets this size are massive industrial users. Think massive equipment like power generation, turbines, reactors or structures. They can afford it. No one at mom and pops fixit shop is buying 2/1/2” drive tools.
 
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BikeRider

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dr_clyde said:
Even if this were true, and it may or may not be, I suspect the cost of just the cost of the steel for such a socket set is absolutely astronomical, to say nothing of the cost of tooling, manufacturing, inventorying and retailing it, probably only to sell a handful a year.

Some of these tools are expensive because they only sell a few a year and that has a cost.

Plus, the buyers of sockets this size are massive industrial users. Think massive equipment like power generation, turbines, reactors or structures. They can afford it. No one at mom and pops fixit shop is buying 2/1/2” drive tools.
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All probably true, but I'm just curious about the specifics. What are they for, who buys and uses them, why are they so expensive, etc., specifically?
 
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msharley

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dchawk81 said:
Or a 2-1/2" drive impact.
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Have not used a 2-1/2" impact (not saying they don't make one)

Tons (literally) of 5" wrench size nuts on the turbine shell....They go around in sequence...both in loosen & tighten...

Don't want to damage the shell....

1679776017102.png

This is a "re heat" (low pressure 1700#) turbine...
 
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dchawk81

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msharley said:
Have not used a 2-1/2" impact (not saying they don't make one)

Tons (literally) of 5" wrench size nuts on the turbine shell....They go around in sequence...both in loosen & tighten...

Don't want to damage the shell....

1679776017102.png

This is a "re heat" (low pressure 1700#) turbine...
Click to expand...
They exist. Usually lifted by a crane.

www.flexibleassembly.com

Ingersoll Rand

www.flexibleassembly.com www.flexibleassembly.com

They go even bigger.

www.superiortoolrental.com

3-1/2" Drive Super Duty Titanium Impact Wrench with Remote Control, 80,000 ft/lbs Max Torque

3-1/2″ drive super duty titanium impact wrench with remote control delivering up to 80,000 ft-lbs torque for heavy industrial bolting.
www.superiortoolrental.com www.superiortoolrental.com
 
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signcrafter

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BikeRider said:
All probably true, but I'm just curious about the specifics. What are they for, who buys and uses them, why are they so expensive, etc., specifically?
Click to expand...

They are for big nuts and bolts. My guess would be industrial uses like mining trucks and crawlers and things like that.

The expense comes from a few factors. There probably arent too many options for these big of sockets, they are a specialty. When a company needs one they need one so pay the price. Also there probably isnt a ton of demand for them. So it's not like a 3/8" drive set that snap on probably sells thousands or tens of thousands of every year. So the cost to design them and tool up to make them are pretty high per piece. And then you have the fact that each socket takes a big chunk of metal to make.
 
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msharley

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dchawk81 said:
They exist. Usually lifted by a crane.

www.flexibleassembly.com

Ingersoll Rand

www.flexibleassembly.com www.flexibleassembly.com

They go even bigger.

www.superiortoolrental.com

3-1/2" Drive Super Duty Titanium Impact Wrench with Remote Control, 80,000 ft/lbs Max Torque

3-1/2″ drive super duty titanium impact wrench with remote control delivering up to 80,000 ft-lbs torque for heavy industrial bolting.
www.superiortoolrental.com www.superiortoolrental.com
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At 155cfm?

Pretty sure the Power Plant does not want that much dust kicked up on the turbine floor?

As stated, have not used/seen one...

All the big bolts I've worked on have been with the hydraulic device.

Have done any number with the "HY TORQ" brand...(not on turbine shell)....I think the "HY TORQ" maxes out at 5,000ft/lb?

1679777316565.png

They use their own "socket" what fits into the tool....

These are heavy & awkward....need to have good plan...(knew a lady got her arm busted with one of them at the refinery....she said, "Let off." Her tool buddy heard, "Hit it." (lots of noise in the area, with ear plugs...easy mistake to make)...
 
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dchawk81

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msharley said:
At 155cfm?

Pretty sure the Power Plant does not want that much dust kicked up on the turbine floor?

As stated, have not used/seen one...

All the big bolts I've worked on have been with the hydraulic device.

Have done any number with the "HY TORQ" brand...(not on turbine shell)....I think the "HY TORQ" maxes out at 5,000ft/lb?

1679777316565.png

They use their own "socket" what fits into the tool....

These are heavy & awkward....need to have good plan...(knew a lady got her arm busted with one of them at the refinery....she said, "Let off." Her tool buddy heard, "Hit it." (lots of noise in the area, with ear plugs...easy mistake to make)...
Click to expand...
It's obviously not made for you.
 
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RPH

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Bolt heating is used to loosen the large nuts in the powerhouse. Induction heating would heat and stretch the bolt to ease the required torque to loosen it. Interesting process and the nuts and studs are matched pairs. AC6CE707-40F3-49FE-BCCE-37E71E1AB57A.jpeg
 
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RPH

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Bolts are bigger than many see. Power plants are a mechanical marvel, whether running or down for service.
1C0D2516-5D57-49AA-A51F-8B226A6BBEE6.jpeg
 
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BikeRider

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RPH said:
Bolts are bigger than many see. Power plants are a mechanical marvel, whether running or down for service.
Click to expand...

My uncle used to work in one, the largest one in the country he lived in. He was one of those go-to people they'd call any time of day or night when there was a situation. To this day I have no idea what he specifically did there as he'd never talk about it and was a very taciturn type, but I think it was more on the electrical than mechanical side.
 
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