Are deep hex socket drivers necessary?

[muskaman67]

I'm looking into purchasing some more hex socket drivers. I already have normal length, but I'm wondering if a long set would be useful to have. A set like this...

or should I pick up a shallow set?

What are some application where the shallow and deep set would be useful?

Thanks.

 

[Altec]

The deeps are good for when you have a recessed bolt/screw that doesn't have enough room for a extension. I would probably buy one before the other depending on what I need, and get the other later.

I mainly grab the shorter ones in my uses. But I don't have those super stubby ones either.

 

[adcrawfo]

Like said above, if you have a deep recess they are nice however don't expect the smaller ones to not twist and bend. The bigger sizes fair well but in my experience anything smaller than 5/16" doesn't do so hot.

 

[marcusicp]

I have some long hex drives with a ball end that I have needed a few times. Mine are Craftsman brand and they hold up OK. If you are getting long ones I would also look into ball end.

Short ones would also come in handy sometimes but I really wish they had low profile sockets and not just short bits. The short hex bit sockets once put on a ratchet is still pretty long. Most of the time when I need a shallow hex I just remove the bit from the socket and turn the bit it self with a ratchet wrench. Or I use the Gearwrench Vortex sets.

 

[rwhite692]

X2 on what Marcusicp said on the long ones.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Those short ones pictured in the OP are WAY TOO SHORT.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

use them both all the time

 

[larry_g]

I'm looking into purchasing some more hex socket drivers. I already have normal length, but I'm wondering if a long set would be useful to have. What are some application where the shallow and deep set would be useful?

Thanks.

I'm thinking you don't need either one. If you have not run into an application that you NEED them why would you purchase them. I worked industry and worked on a lot of machines that were one of a kind and had some perty wierd things going on. I have used hex drivers of all lengths where they were the only tool that would work. I also had some hand made tools for installing and removing SHCS's. You will know if you need them.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Those short ones pictured in the OP are WAY TOO SHORT.

I'll disagree with that one - the short ones don't tend to shear off as easily if you putting some real torque on 'em. I use the short ones most often when doing stuff like locking collars on bearings.
I have not had a need for the extra long type, but I'm sure there are specific jobs that require them.
The ball end kind are great for working off-angle, but I never use them for higher torque situations 'cuase having the ball end snap off and stay stuck in the socket really *****!

 

[RKA]

Damn, I didn't know they sold the short one's. I could use them right now! Not enough clearance to pull a caliper carrier bolt out...tried all manners of improvisation but I just can't get enough torque on that bolt to break it loose. That shallow socket would save me an hour messing with everything that's in my way!

 

[pmohr]

The long ones are very useful for specific applications. For example, try to install a Greddy TT kit on a 350z without a very long 6mm; very hard, if not impossible. Come to think of it, most turbo kits for those cars are like that. Same with the short ones, a Vortech supercharger install goes much faster with a stubby 8mm.

The short ones are nice for some BMW rear caliper bolts that are right up against the suspension and some other odd areas like that.

 

[garfunkle24]

If I had to choose super long or super short I would choose super long. When I need a long one, 99% of the time I need it. When I need a super short one, 99% of the time I can butcher a regular hex key and make it work.

As a road tech with limited tool space, this matters.

 

[mtkst19]

long ones are nice for air bags and door handles. yet i use 1/4 drive short ones 95% of the time and the normal snap on 3/8 ones the other 4%. the 1 % is long size use. i dont use them often enough that i generally borrow from those who have them in the shop, lol.


this set here is ****! i have broken one bit in 3 yrs of use-- a t30 that i use w/ my bosch impactor on cam caps and tons of other things. was replaced no questions asked.

http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt...alty_socket_set.html?rid=base&source=googleps

 

[diggerrick]

The long ones with ball ends are great for the stainless button heads in my valve cover hold-downs.

 

[pipsters]

Get the shorter straight ones and the long ball ends. I didn't think I'd ever need the long ball end ones, "just a gimmick" I thought, boy was I wrong. I really like them. I've used them several times on my wife's VW, once for the intake manifold bolts and once for the air pump thingy on the actual block. Very, very handy, yes I could've used the regular short straight ones (and tried at first) but really not very comfortable.

 

[Altec]

Just don't forget that ball nose Allens aren't rated for the same amount of torque as straight ones.

 

[wafrederick]

The 1/4 long hex bit comes in handy for the two bolts holding down the crank sensor on Dodge trucks and fullsize vans with the 3.9,318 and 360 magnum engines.

 

[woody 73]

Just this week I was trying to reach a very deep area in a machine,but I used a very long Extension attached to the shallow hex socket and it worked like a charm.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

If you own motorcycle, long hex comes very handy. Also stubby one for higher torque.

Mine came with one of the long hex key slightly bent.

 

[MattT]

I'll disagree with that one - the short ones don't tend to shear off as easily if you putting some real torque on 'em. I use the short ones most often when doing stuff like locking collars on bearings.
I have not had a need for the extra long type, but I'm sure there are specific jobs that require them.
The ball end kind are great for working off-angle, but I never use them for higher torque situations 'cuase having the ball end snap off and stay stuck in the socket really *****!

Yeah the stubbies are the best at handling torque. They're my first choice and I'll only use a longer driver where a stubby won't fit which isn't very often.

For high torque at an angle the couple universal stubbies Snap on make are good. It's a shame they don't make a wider range of sizes. That said for long drivers ball end would be more useful than regular. Doesn't take long to convert ball to regular if needed

 

[darkk]

Depends on the type of work you do. Myself I find them necessary sometimes.