There are also subtle design differences that can get ignored in these conversations.
For example, I have some Facom sockets for the same fastener head size (e.g. 10 mm) that have different wall thicknesses in different drive sizes. The assumption seems to be that larger drive sizes should withstand greater torque while smaller drive sizes should fit into smaller spaces.
Some of my Facom sockets are ancient (pre-OGV) and some new, so hard to directly compare. But here’s how the company’s current 14 mm bi-hex (12-point) regular shallow sockets compare:
Facom R.14E 1/4" drive:
18.7 mm diameter
Facom J.14 3/8" drive:
19.5 mm diameter
Facom S.14 1/2" drive:
20.2 mm diameter.
See the progression?
Stahlwille does the same. All 14 mm bi-hex sockets again:
Stahlwille 40D 1/4" drive:
18.8 mm diameter
Stahlwille 45 3/8" drive:
19.4 mm diameter
Stahlwille 50 1/2" drive:
19.9 mm diameter.
Toptul sockets aren’t optimised in this way to quite the same extent. Their 14 mm sockets go like this:
Toptul BAEB0814 1/4" drive:
19.8 mm diameter
Toptul BAEB1214 3/8" drive:
19.8 mm diameter
Toptul BAEB1614 1/2" drive:
20.4 mm diameter.
I see Toptul’s 1/4" and 3/8" sockets are also identical in
length. This suggests they start life as the same part until the female square arrives.
Does this matter? Not usually but occasionally. (Bicycle mechanics will be familiar with
this example where it matters for 15 mm sockets.)
Not picking on Toptul. No doubt this is one reason Toptul sockets cost less than Facom or Stahlwille sockets … a lot less.
