Are these sockets needed anymore?

[OutdatedTech]

Hi!

I've been reorganizing our garage for the last month and finally got my favorite part ... Tools!

For all the tools I've purchased my self, I know exactly what is going on, and what they are for.

But when it comes to Ratchet and Sockets, I'm not exactly an expert since I rarely deal with these tools, But I generally understand what they are for and their purpose.

I had 3 or 4 different sets from other family members given to me with terrible cases/enclosures. The plan is to get all the sockets organized and figure out which ones I should keep and which should be discarded. Then buy some 3rd party case/socket organizer so everything looks nice and clean.

One thing that I know I need to do is get is a new ratchet, since the previous ones are complete garbage or broken. And probably the bit that converts from ratchet to the smaller Square Drive. (Don't know what this bit is called).

Any recommendations for a ratchet, conversation piece(s) and/or socket organizer would be most welcomed.

These are the sockets I've listed so far.

I've looked up sets at big box stores and have yet to find these socket sizes: 13/32, 15/32 and 17/32 in any of these modern socket sets. What Gives? Are these used anymore? is there any reason to keep them around?

Another question came to mind. One of the sets was made in Japan but is much, much older than the other sets, which im 100% sure was made in china. The set's brand is something called Medalist Series No. 925 S (Test-Rite Products Corp) On each piece has the name Chrome Vanadium (Japan) on them.
Can anyone tell me anything about this set? Thanks

 

[Jacobs976]

It's better to have one of each ratchet instead of using reducers or enlargers (not sure that's the right name), converts drive size up or down from original, to fill in the blanks.

Ratchets themselves are more to preference. There's coarse and fine tooth, coarse has a larger arc when ratcheting while fine has less arc. For most uses a fine tooth is better since alot of stuff you won't have the extra space for a larger arc. For coarse I like the Williams usa line. Would go with it for 1/2. Fine tooth, people like gearwrench. Gearwrench would be better for 3/8 and 1/4 drive but you could go full set too, think they sell all three sizes in a pack. There's also round heads which are kinda fine tooth, wrights a good brand if you think you'll like them more. Wrights also have a good handle that fits the hand better than normal ratchets. These are all cheaper brands but good.

Socket organizers there's basically two main types, craftsman drawer organizers and the peg type organizers. Pegs are more convenient, take up less surface area. Pretty much all pegs are the same just different colours or branding on them and maybe some slight difference in design but overall it's a board with pegs the sockets go on with the sizes marked.

Those sizes aren't common but it's better to keep the weird sizes and not have to try forcing a nut off with an adjustable wrench some day if you ever have to work on something older.

Don't know much about the japanese brand but compared to chinese it's most likely the better quality.

 

[Old Steamer]

I would keep those odd sizes. As already stated, they are not common and if nothing more, they are certainly worth collecting.

Now if you really want to move them out I just so happen to provide a home for misfit sockets.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

A lot of old Japanese is of worse quality than current Chinese!

 

[greg13]

I always keep odd sockets and basically ALL kinds of odd tools. You never know when you will need a special "Bend-a-wrench" or press or weld-a-socket.

 

[OutdatedTech]

It's better to have one of each ratchet instead of using reducers or enlargers (not sure that's the right name), converts drive size up or down from original, to fill in the blanks.

Interesting! I never thought about that. Just till now did I notice they made different size ratchets. As little as I use ratchet and sockets, I don't know if I have 1 of each could really be justified. But it's an interesting thing to consider regardless.

Ratchets themselves are more to preference. There's coarse and fine tooth, coarse has a larger arc when ratcheting while fine has less arc. For most uses a fine tooth is better since alot of stuff you won't have the extra space for a larger arc. For coarse I like the Williams usa line. Would go with it for 1/2. Fine tooth, people like gearwrench. Gearwrench would be better for 3/8 and 1/4 drive but you could go full set too, think they sell all three sizes in a pack. There's also round heads which are kinda fine tooth, wrights a good brand if you think you'll like them more. Wrights also have a good handle that fits the hand better than normal ratchets. These are all cheaper brands but good.

Got any links?

Socket organizers there's basically two main types, craftsman drawer organizers and the peg type organizers. Pegs are more convenient, take up less surface area. Pretty much all pegs are the same just different colours or branding on them and maybe some slight difference in design but overall it's a board with pegs the sockets go on with the sizes marked.

Like I Was saying, I don't see a reason to keep 3 extra sockets for some of these sizes, and these organizers have room for 1 socket per size. Each socket from the smaller sizes are generally the same size, I think ill just weight each one and see which weighs the most and keep that socket and store the rest elsewhere since they don't take up that much space.

Those sizes aren't common but it's better to keep the weird sizes and not have to try forcing a nut off with an adjustable wrench some day if you ever have to work on something older.

Silly me to ask a bunch of gearheads if I should throw away odd tools, Of course all of you will tell me to keep them! ha.

Don't know much about the japanese brand but compared to chinese it's most likely the better quality.

I have been trying to figure out any information on them with a quick search with no results. The bits seem heavy duty, but need to be cleaned. They look much more heavy duty over the Chinese stuff that I'm sure is probably complete ****.

The problem is... I don't really use this stuff that much being more into the field of electronics. So I really can't justify throwing everything away and spending 500$ on some Milwaukee set that provides both SAE and Metric size sockets. The bit seems fine, I seem to have all the common sizes and I just need to buy a new ratchet and I'm pretty much golden.

 

[OutdatedTech]

I always keep odd sockets and basically ALL kinds of odd tools. You never know when you will need a special "Bend-a-wrench" or press or weld-a-socket.

I'm guessing I will never ever use these odd sizes. But What the hell, I can chuck them somewhere out of sight.

A lot of old Japanese is of worse quality than current Chinese!

I don't know, the chinese stuff is the kinda **** you find for like 10 bucks at the 99 cent store. The bit work and look just fine, the japanese stuff feels, weighs, and seem much better quality.

I would keep those odd sizes. As already stated, they are not common and if nothing more, they are certainly worth collecting.

Now if you really want to move them out I just so happen to provide a home for misfit sockets.

 

[r_olson_06]

Hi!

I've been reorganizing our garage for the last month and finally got my favorite part ... Tools!

For all the tools I've purchased my self, I know exactly what is going on, and what they are for.

But when it comes to Ratchet and Sockets, I'm not exactly an expert since I rarely deal with these tools, But I generally understand what they are for and their purpose.

I had 3 or 4 different sets from other family members given to me with terrible cases/enclosures. The plan is to get all the sockets organized and figure out which ones I should keep and which should be discarded. Then buy some 3rd party case/socket organizer so everything looks nice and clean.

One thing that I know I need to do is get is a new ratchet, since the previous ones are complete garbage or broken. And probably the bit that converts from ratchet to the smaller Square Drive. (Don't know what this bit is called).

Any recommendations for a ratchet, conversation piece(s) and/or socket organizer would be most welcomed.

These are the sockets I've listed so far.

I've looked up sets at big box stores and have yet to find these socket sizes: 13/32, 15/32 and 17/32 in any of these modern socket sets. What Gives? Are these used anymore? is there any reason to keep them around?

Another question came to mind. One of the sets was made in Japan but is much, much older than the other sets, which im 100% sure was made in china. The set's brand is something called Medalist Series No. 925 S (Test-Rite Products Corp) On each piece has the name Chrome Vanadium (Japan) on them.
Can anyone tell me anything about this set? Thanks

17/32" is the most common out of all of them and that is never used anymore. I know some of the early 1930s tappet wrenches carried that size. Might a hold over from the USS sizing system?

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[measuredtwice]

Post a photo of what you got. The ratchets might just need a cleaning or rebuild.

If you rarely use ratchets or sockets then it may not be worthwhile to buy a new ratchet or socket storage. Set aside what you know you need and store the rest away. It'll be available if you need it.

 

[ike]

Are the sockets in a metal storage case? You could look up Draper, Kmart, or just vintage Japan socket set on eBay and probably find similar sets. As someone mentioned, the common older Japanese mass market socket sets weren't anything special.

 

[Jacobs976]

Interesting! I never thought about that. Just till now did I notice they made different size ratchets. As little as I use ratchet and sockets, I don't know if I have 1 of each could really be justified. But it's an interesting thing to consider regardless.

Got any links?

Like I Was saying, I don't see a reason to keep 3 extra sockets for some of these sizes, and these organizers have room for 1 socket per size. Each socket from the smaller sizes are generally the same size, I think ill just weight each one and see which weighs the most and keep that socket and store the rest elsewhere since they don't take up that much space.

Silly me to ask a bunch of gearheads if I should throw away odd tools, Of course all of you will tell me to keep them! ha.

I have been trying to figure out any information on them with a quick search with no results. The bits seem heavy duty, but need to be cleaned. They look much more heavy duty over the Chinese stuff that I'm sure is probably complete ****.

The problem is... I don't really use this stuff that much being more into the field of electronics. So I really can't justify throwing everything away and spending 500$ on some Milwaukee set that provides both SAE and Metric size sockets. The bit seems fine, I seem to have all the common sizes and I just need to buy a new ratchet and I'm pretty much golden.

I guess the first thing we need to know is what you might use the ratchets for. If you'll only be using them for smaller stuff like electronics that have a few bolts holding the body together or something then you'd only need 1/4 and maybe 3/8. Maybe a 3/8 to 1/4 reducer too but you'd still want both sizes since 1/4 is compact and 3/8 is normal size. If you think you'll ever work on anything larger then 1/2 is recommended. Most people don't even have 1/2 since they don't need the extra strength but in my work it's the go to since I work with bigger bolts and higher torque.

Don't have any links but just type the names into amazon or Google and they'll pop up.

Just toss the spares and odd few in a ziplock and throw it in a drawer. If you want only one of each size and ignore deep well there's also the cheap rail socket holders. No sizes or anything but if you have them in order then it's just a matter of reading the socket.

There might be a thread somewhere on here if you search with keywords.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Those sizes from what I figure are way older. Probably the 1940s or earlier if i had to guess. If you rarely use ratchets just go down to a chain auto parts or home improvement store and get some decent ratchets and they will probably last you a lifetime

 

[Ilikeike]

What neighborhood do you live in with a garage in Antarctica ?
I lived in the Arabian Desert for a bit, but had no garage

 

[colin39]

Dont throw out odd sizes, my dad had always said "one of something is better than zero of something you might need"
Peg organizers, ernst socket organizers or the cheap metal socket clip ones will work.
Use the right size ratchet on the right socket, better than using reducers ever time [emoji106]. Lets see some pictures of what you have buddy

Colin

Sent from my IN2023 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Like I Was saying, I don't see a reason to keep 3 extra sockets for some of these sizes, and these organizers have room for 1 socket per size. Each socket from the smaller sizes are generally the same size, I think ill just weight each one and see which weighs the most and keep that socket and store the rest elsewhere since they don't take up that much space.

If weight were my only data point to make a decision, I'd go with the lightest sockets. The lightest sockets are more likely to be made from a quality steel. Soft steel sockets have to be made thicker to be even marginally useful.

"Chrome Vanadium" should also indicate a suitable steel, although plenty of crummy tools carry that label.

Some of the X/32 sizes are close to metric or whitworth sizes. In 1985, I bought a cheap socket set that included the same X/32 sizes that you have just to get one that I knew was an almost exact fit on many of the nuts and bolts on my Britbike. Yes, they're obsolete, but if you ever have small chance to work with one, you aren't going to find a good fitting socket at the hardware store.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I keep odd sizes for those nuts or bolts that rust and become "another" size. I'd keep them around.