auto mechanics,how often you will used 1/4" drive

[falcon88]

I am a new auto mechanics student.think about get some own tools.

so ,be an auto mechanics,how often you will used 1/4" drive set ?

and which part of job you will used 1/4" drive set?which size?

 

[1950mercury]

Use them all the time esp on interior work. I use 1/2 the least

 

[JJThrasher]

That depends on what type of work you're going to do. If you're doing interior work they are vital and get used all the time. Personally I own the Matco Silver Eagle 1/4" set and I got some better ratchets to use with it.

 

[Flat-rate]

All the time, and with 1/4"' battery or air ratchets.
Have a whole drawer just for them.

 

[falcon88]

Use them all the time esp on interior work. I use 1/2 the least

so ,interior work need this,got it

 

[smittyjones]

That depends on what type of work you're going to do. If you're doing interior work they are vital and get used all the time. Personally I own the Matco Silver Eagle 1/4" set and I got some better ratchets to use with it.

I have a Silver Eagle set also, came in a big set with 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4 and a set of wrenches. The ratchets were only 36 or 40 tooth, but they hold up pretty well. I use them at home. Now they're a 60 tooth in those sets.

 

[falcon88]

All the time, and with 1/4"' battery or air ratchets.
Have a whole drawer just for them.

so ,which part of job you used it ?

 

[papavolume]

I use 1/4 all the time when working on cars. Its quite common. If you are doing auto repair work you will need a complete set of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2.

The Silver Eagle set from Matco is the same thing my brother in law bought as a starter set and it has help up well over the years.

 

[falcon88]

I use 1/4 all the time when working on cars. Its quite common. If you are doing auto repair work you will need a complete set of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2.

The Silver Eagle set from Matco is the same thing my brother in law bought as a starter set and it has help up well over the years.

that's why i am asking this question.because I know some 3/8" set are from 7mm-22mm.

so 1/4" only 4mm-6mm different then 3/8",where you will used them?

 

[FloydShine]

If you buy them, you will use them! 1/4 and 3/8 drive get the most use around my shop.

 

[papavolume]

Even though many socket sizes are available in other drive sizes sometimes it is more advantageous to use 1/4 over 3/8 because you may be in a really tight area, like inside a door or up in a body panel. But other times you need the 3/8 because its a higher grade bolt that requires more torque to loosen or tighten that you just can't get with a smaller 1/4 ratchet.

 

[papavolume]

Also, take a look at the trade you are trying to get into and see what other people are spending on tools. You will be surprised. If you are already worrying about buying the basic sockets I can only imagine what you think when you finally get into a shop and realize that even with a full set of sockets and ratchets in every depth/length/metric/standard you still need to spend thousands more on other types of tools and specialty equipment.

Be prepared for tools to be a MAJOR expense. And depending on the shop you may not get the job, the hours or the work without the tools. The ticket will be passed on to the next guy who has the tools to get the job done. Or you MIGHT get lucky if you know the other people working there and they are willing to lend you their tools but I wouldn't want to make that common practice.

 

[bobcatdan]

I wouldn't be surprised if 1/4" is my most used drive size.

 

[Bill Anderson]

1/4" sockets are very useful. I would recommend 3 sets whuch include 4mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm-15mm.
1. Shallow well
2. mid-length
3. Deep well

Check out Sunex brand, they offer a great bang for buck. When I started out I wish someone would have steered me towards something other than the big three, Snap-on, Mac, and Matco. They all turn the same, you won't be beholden to the tool truck drivers, and you will save a ton of money, which with you being relatively young, i would recommend to start to invest as much as you can early on. Also, DO NOT allow any one individual handle your money. Start your own stock account, and give no one access to it, and i mean no one.

But I digress, If you have to choose one set, metric or standard, I would go with a metric set.
Go to Amazon, and type in 1/4" Sunex socket set, and you will find a set that includes, shallow and deep well, in both standard and metric for around $75-$100. I just purchased this set, and it is an excellent set, on par with the big three, and i would guess, you would have to pay between $750-$1,000 for this set. I have quite a few Sunex sockets, and i like them every bit as much as my Mac and Snap-on, actually even more so, because I saved a great deal of money.
Now if you think that you should buy off the tool truck, because they let you make payments, then you're starting down a road which is better less traveled. IOW, you will always have that payment hanging over your head, so you will just keep buying from them.
Payments don't have to be a necessary part of your life. You could outfit very nice HF $699 bottom box with Sunex tools or Craftsman, Gearwrench, etc for $5k including the box.

People on GJ will guide you to the things you will need to start. You have an amazing resource here, which most of us didn't have when we started out, bc of no internet. Buy the tool that you need most and a brand you won't have to make payments on.

Just some advice from someone that don't want to see young people start out in the hole.

So, to start with, get the set of Sunex 1/4" master set i mentioned above, a 3/8 and 1/2 master set too. You should be able to get into all 3 of these for under $500. That will prevent you from having to ask to borrow tools, which will get tiring for you as well as the techs you are borrowing from.

Keep asking questions, you will get a ton of respect, as a young person, if you show you want to learn, both here and at work.
Regards.

I forgot to mention, buy impact sockets first, those are dual use in both impact and non impact situations. Buy 1/4" 1st, 1/2" 2nd, and 3/8" 3rd, if you can't purchase purchase them all at once.

 

[papavolume]

Another piece of advice, kind of mentioned above, stay off the tool trucks for the most part. The tools are great but you will be indebted to them for the rest of your life if you keep buying stuff from them. If you want that brand buy it used on ebay. Otherwise many tools can be had from other sources that are just as quality or the same warranty and you will save yourself a lot of money and debt.

There are some cases where its a specialty tool only that tool manufacturer makes but it isn't often.

 

[sqaurelizard]

my 1/4 set used all the time here as a professional mechanic mainly on interior work but also alot around the engine bay as access can be quite tight , small cordless hex impact makes life so much easier with a 1/4 adapter

 

[wornoutoldman]

Two words: Impact Swivels

 

[papavolume]

Two words: Impact Swivels

Yupp! I have those too, great to have!

 

[falcon88]

Also, take a look at the trade you are trying to get into and see what other people are spending on tools. You will be surprised. If you are already worrying about buying the basic sockets I can only imagine what you think when you finally get into a shop and realize that even with a full set of sockets and ratchets in every depth/length/metric/standard you still need to spend thousands more on other types of tools and specialty equipment.

Be prepared for tools to be a MAJOR expense. And depending on the shop you may not get the job, the hours or the work without the tools. The ticket will be passed on to the next guy who has the tools to get the job done. Or you MIGHT get lucky if you know the other people working there and they are willing to lend you their tools but I wouldn't want to make that common practice.

 

[falcon88]

Another piece of advice, kind of mentioned above, stay off the tool trucks for the most part. The tools are great but you will be indebted to them for the rest of your life if you keep buying stuff from them. If you want that brand buy it used on ebay. Otherwise many tools can be had from other sources that are just as quality or the same warranty and you will save yourself a lot of money and debt.

There are some cases where its a specialty tool only that tool manufacturer makes but it isn't often.

got it ,thanks

 

[Bill Anderson]

This is the set i was suggesting
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MVB9M0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[General Geoff]

I use 1/4" all the time. More often than 3/8" or 1/2". The idea is to use the smallest, lightest tool you can get away with. Less fatiguing on your hands, wrists and body, particularly when you turn a wrench for a living.

 

[Bill Anderson]

And Sunex makes very nice impact swivel adapters as well, at an affordable price. Those would get you by until you can afford to buy the full sets of impact swivels.

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

1/4" gets used more often than you think. Interior work, exterior lights lenses, under the hood for sensors, valve covers, engine trim. If you have to ask to borrow a tool twice it is time to buy it.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Since you can get 1/4" drive sockets up to 15mm and 5/8" and since 1/2" drive sockets go down to 10mm and 3/8" why can't you just skip the 3/8" drive sockets?

Clearance issues. Even a low profile 1/2'' drive and shallow socket wont fit where a smaller 3/8'' could. A 1/4'' drive wont be nearly enough for anything that is hard to remove.

 

[bwringer]

Since you can get 1/4" drive sockets up to 15mm and 5/8" and since 1/2" drive sockets go down to 10mm and 3/8" why can't you just skip the 3/8" drive sockets?

Access -- a 10mm 1/2" drive socket won't fit in many (if not most) spaces where 10mm fasteners are used. Extensions, ratchets, etc. area also bigger and clunkier than needed and cause access issues.



I use 1/4" the most by far, even on cars. I use 3/8" drive on many things from about 12mm up to 21mm.

1/2" is reserved for when it's really needed -- lug nuts, suspension, etc. from about 14-15mm on up.

 

[four.cycle]

somebody said "stay off the tool trucks".
good advice.

you can pick up a basic, starter US-made 1/4" drive SAE socket set with ratchet, extension, spinner, AND box on Ebay for anywhere from $15 - $50.

you can find 1/4" drive sets of Craftsman Metric shallow sockets on Ebay for about $12-$18 if you look.
you can find 1/4" drive Craftsman deep-well sets (SAE or Metric) for anywhere from $15-$30.

if my memory serves me correctly, I just posted a set of S-K 1/4" drive SAE sockets on the "Ebay Hot Deal" thread a day or two ago - cheap!

no reason to spend a fortune on a 1/4" drive set - they don't get hammered like 3/8" and 1/2" stuff (unless morons leave them out in the rain), and there's at least a dozen new listings on Ebay every day for nice used sets on the cheap.

==

I avoid working on automobiles if at all possible. My go-to set is 1/4" drive. I only pull out 3/8" or 1/2" if it's necessary for the task.

 

[APEowner]

A friend of mine, in his younger days used a 1/4" flex head ratchet for pretty much anything with a 9/16" head or smaller. He had forearms bigger than my biceps and the Snap-On guy stocked extra head kits for the ratchet but it sure saved him time to use one ratchet for almost everything.

 

[Avplayer]

I' m an aircraft mechanic by trade and 95% of my tools are mid 90's craftsman back when they were made in the usa....agree with what everyone says...my 1/4" set gets used the most and its comprised of sk 12pt sockets shallow And deep. Defintelyget a set of swivel sockets..i have S&K as well as snap on...buy ur tools used and u will save a ton...bought my snap on krl1022 used on CL. U dont have to pay the inflated prices. The deals are there...

 

[351cmach]

I do mainly Ford diesel work and use them ALL the time

 

[shockwave]

i use 1/4 all day every day from engine work to airboxes to valve cover to belt tensioners anything that has a 10mm usually gets 1/4 and alot of 12mm too for stupid brakets from intake to block that are a pain to get to

 

[bcradio]

that's why i am asking this question.because I know some 3/8" set are from 7mm-22mm.

so 1/4" only 4mm-6mm different then 3/8",where you will used them?

Its all about the smaller size of 1/4" drive tools. Same reason people get a standard ratchet and a flex ratchet... options

 

[RedRabbit]

1/4 is pretty common for me. Valve covers, interior especially. I would highly recommend a good set.

 

[bcradio]

And Sunex makes very nice impact swivel adapters as well, at an affordable price. Those would get you by until you can afford to buy the full sets of impact swivels.

I hope you post more often. You've been here a while but haven't posted much... and it sounds like you have a good deal of knowledge and experience. Great to see it being passed on to others.

 

[dnschmidt]

A lot, at one time when cars were bigger 1/2" was the most common drive size, as cars have shrunk so too has the size of sockets needed. 3/8" is dominate but 1/4" is closing fast.

 

[cheechi]

1/4 rats fit in tighter spaces, both for handle length and head size. roto, universal/swivel, flex head, stubby can only do you so much good. sometimes you need a 1/4 rat and socket to fit.

Another option to look into is how small of a head can you get for 3/8 which if you are general mechanic will be your main drive size. you can get several '3/8 anvil in 1/4 rat' options that can also augment the available options.

Things like a spinner handle, speeder, gimbal, palm ratchet, and so on can also be good options to look into and all are common with 1/4" drive.

Also. TLL72. Do it.

 

[WhiffySpark]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A7...socket+set&dpPl=1&dpID=51sYOItX7oL&ref=plSrch

I hve this set. As well as the big matco adv set and a full set of their swivels. Also hve full snap on sets. 1/4 is very common for me especially in engine work.

 

[Rossco]

We use most sizes from 1/4 upto 1 1/2 drive. Sometimes spline drive depending.

It's the same across the board. Use the 1/4 everyday for a week then might not use it for a month.

 

[jerseykat1]

try and find yourself a slim head ratchet similar to this one. I have this ratchet and it works VERY well for getting into tight spots and i have not found another rathet thats worth a damn that is as slim as it. However it looks like Cman stopped selling them.




Also this set here is VERY VERY nice. My favorite ratchet set. I have use a LOT of ratchets, This is the set that stays on my tool cart.
http://autofixpal.com/the-best-ratchets-i-have-ever-used/

 

[Handyfarmer]

I like SK, had them for over 30 years in the shop cabinet, , but last few years, for in the car and truck I ended up with two sets of ACE Hardware brand sets, 3/8" - 1/4" drive sets, and have found them a good value, both SAE and metric,

I did replace the ratchet, (found on amazon), with a duel 1/4 3/8 drive ratchet, and they make a short ratchet as well with the duel sizes, and pick up a good set of extensions, of both sizes,

over the years I have added deep well, and metric to my shop sets, and as said extension of many lengths and I like a thumb drive ratchet as well.

working on cars and trucks and tractors, I use 1/4", 3/8, 1/2", 3/4", and 1" drive sockets, have impact in 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and some 1". and both SAE and metric

also consider the universal sockets, (combination socket and universal drive). don't use them much but when I do there are places that only that compact size will work,