BIG sockets, when to stop

[Fyrme]

Most of us humbled GJ members on here have said it before. "man, I wish I had a bigger one" But when do you call it big enough?

Ok now, I'm talking about sockets here people! I am currently trying to organize all of my socket, as well as sockets I need to get all onto a single "board" so to speak. I'm trying to leave space for those that I have not added to my sets. I have the SAE side of the 1/2" drive impacts done with increasing 1/16" increments to 1 1/2". I don't recall ever needing anything bigger than that so far. However, on my MM side, I am pretty hit and miss after 24mm. This is so because I basically have bought sockets on a as needed basis. It jumps from 24..27..30.32 I'm pretty sure the 32 was for the axle nuts on an old 66 VW I had, not sure about the others. Do you mechanic types run into the sockets I have missing? Also what about larger than the 1 1/2" and 32mm? Keep in mind, I don't plan on going over a 1/2" drive and anything bigger than 1 1/8" and like 22mm will strictly be a impact socket only. I am limited on room, as I would like to keep all my sockets in the top tray of my HF 5 drawer. Which I think is doable stacked vertically.

 

[vartz04]

I have a 36MM, yet to use it though.

 

[Jure]

pretty much all motorcycle axle nuts are 32mm lol

 

[mailpup]

I believe the VW axle nut is 36mm. 36mm is also found on some Honda axle nuts. Axle nuts also come in 28mm, 29mm, 34mm, 35mm and 38mm although those might need a deep socket. These are all available in 1/2" drive.

 

[chrenan]

Largest I own or use as a home mechanic is 36mm, that's big enough for me.

 

[billymade]

"Big Enough" is relative to what you are working on; your sockets are "Big Enough" when you have sockets for everything you want to fix!

 

[Fyrme]

I believe the VW axle nut is 36mm......

Well hell, If that's the case then I have a 36 running around somewhere I have to find.

 

[crewchief888]

i dont have anything bigger than 1 1/2", or 32mm in 1/2" dr in my service truck,
nothing bigger than 1 1/4" , 32mm at home.

storage solutions include
MTS magnetic socket holders, metal trays (like socket sets used to come in) metal clips and rails (for less commonly used stuff) flat lisle holder in my service truck

hansen trays, metal trays, both metal and plastic rails and clips, 1/4" dr set is still in its blow molded box at home

i'd like to get all my sockets in one place in my service truck, but i'm limited to the size of box that will fit in the truck. 3/8" & 1/2" dr in the tp of a 26" CM box, 3/4" dr in acro bins, 1/4" dr all in a repurposed blow molded box

i like the MTS holders, steel trays, and the hansens for ease of grabbing what i need.

 

[rlitman]

I believe Snap On makes an 8" socket in their 2 1/2" drive set. If they make it, somebody must need it for something. Probably holds the propeller on an aircraft carrier.

My sockets go up to 36mm. I've used it on axle nuts, but also as a press tool for wheel bearings.

 

[shoturtle]

pretty much all motorcycle axle nuts are 32mm lol

What brand of motorcycle. Allot of the japanese sport bikes and street bikes are 22mm/24mm for the rear axle.

 

[Fyrme]

Thanks guys. It looks Like I need to find my 36 and maybe fill in the blanks. Just not sure if I'll have the room. I currently use the plastic vertical trays and I don't like them for two reasons. the first and foremost is that they don't utilize every inch of space available in the box because you can't get them all together like a puzzle, second, the size markings are on the sides which makes them harder to grab the right one on the less common sizes you don't use every day and don't recognize it by memory. I have a board cut to fit the dimensions of the box and plan to utilize every inch of space I can. But if I'm not careful, I will leave something out, or not plan ahead for that 28mm that I may or may not ever need. I thought about buying rails and screwing them to the board but I have not been real impressed with the ones I have seen as far as durability.

Edit: three reasons I don't like the trays, They don't go over like 1 1/8". After that, the sockets don't fit.

 

[bobcatdan]

36mm is about the bggest 98% of people will ever use. Once you get over 1 1/4", big metric and SAE will interchange pretty good for most people's standards. It really only comes into exact applications where larger metric is really need. I think some toys use a 12 pt 39mm on axle nuts. I soleved the tray problem, flat magnetic plates, I can arrange however I want. Don't work great for 1/4", but hansen did a good job on 1/4" trays.

 

[mayday0017]

I have used 36mm several times and 38 a couple and 42mm once.... The 42mm was for the main axel bolt on an exotic single swing arm motorcycle, My prices to change tires was so cheap that when I told the customer I didn't have it and would have to go get it he said "be right back" went and bought me one and said keep it I'll be back for more tire changes... Not sure I'll ever end up using it again, and would of gladly bought it, but hey I love when my customers give me tools as a tip

 

[Steevo]

You have it covered when you have all the sizes in this list:

<table border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="50%"><tbody><tr><td width="20%">

SQUARE DRIVE ​

</td> <td width="80%">

SOCKET SIZE (A)​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">3/4"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">1/2" (13mm) to 2-1/2" (64mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">1"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">3/4" (19mm) to 5-1/2" (140mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">1-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">1-1/4" (32mm) to 6-1/8" (156mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">2-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">1-5/8" (41mm) to 9-1/4" (235mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">3-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">3-7/8" (98mm) to 12-1/2" (317mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">4-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">6-1/2" (165mm) to 12-1/2" (317mm)

</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Conductor562]

You have it covered when you have all the sizes in this list:

<table border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="50%"><tbody><tr><td width="20%">

SQUARE DRIVE ​

</td> <td width="80%">

SOCKET SIZE (A)​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">3/4"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">1/2" (13mm) to 2-1/2" (64mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">1"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">3/4" (19mm) to 5-1/2" (140mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">1-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">1-1/4" (32mm) to 6-1/8" (156mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">2-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">1-5/8" (41mm) to 9-1/4" (235mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">3-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">3-7/8" (98mm) to 12-1/2" (317mm)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="20%">4-1/2"</td> <td align="center" width="80%">6-1/2" (165mm) to 12-1/2" (317mm)

</td></tr></tbody></table>

You'll need that 4 1/2 drive stuff if you're ever working on this:

 

[metaldad]

My biggest SAE is 2 5/8, 6pt, impact, Armstrong.
Metric......... i'm not sure at this time

 

[rlitman]

You'll need that 4 1/2 drive stuff if you're ever working on this:

Correction: you'll need one of those to lift one of those 4 1/2" drive sockets.

 

[rmsg0040]

38mm is the largest I got

36mm is the largest I used

All part of an axle socket set.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Metric I have 24,27,28,29,30,32,34,35 and 36mm in deep impact. For standard depth chrom all the same plus a 31mm

 

[96snma]

Went to change the oil on my gf 04 x3 for the first time. The cover for the filter was a 36mm. Good thing I had it

 

[1953mercury]

I never buy a tool just to "have it", far to many things I do need. I do own a full 3/4" drive set to work on some of the equipment I have. Mike

 

[NHBandit]

Having worked on heavy equipment in a past life my 3/4 drive stuff goes up to 2". That set is pretty old. It belonged to my ex wifes dad before he passed away and it's Cornwell 12 point stuff with a flat grey finish. VERY heavy duty stuff. My Metric stops at 36mm and is 1/2 drive, deep & shallow. I have never found a need for anything bigger except for rare occasions working on the construction equipment and then my employer had those sizes covered in the tool crib. I guess the biggest thing I've worked on was rebuilding a transmission on a loader that was big enough that I could have parked my 1 ton service truck inside the bucket. It was at a rock plant and never left the property.

 

[jacked_72]

36mm is the biggest I've got. It fits the flywheel bolt on the aircooled VWs. Next, I go to 32 then 30.

For car use, I have never needed anything bigger. Now, for pressing things in an out, one of those giant 3/4" drive sets would be nice, but I don't know when I would ever use one for its intended purpose.

 

[Jure]

What brand of motorcycle. Allot of the japanese sport bikes and street bikes are 22mm/24mm for the rear axle.

kawi's

 

[Rogue1987]

I go up to 2 1/2 in 3/4dr and it does on occasion get used.

 

[pilotman81]

My biggest socket right now is 3 1/8" for Cooper-Bessemer GMV power cylinders.

 

[shoturtle]

kawi's

suzuki and honda 22/24mm on allot of their bikes

 

[mdbeck1]

"Big Enough" is relative to what you are working on; your sockets are "Big Enough" when you have sockets for everything you want to fix!

This is the RIGHT answer but if you are like me you'll NEVER know if you all the sockets you need.

One of your replies said to try one of the magnetic plates. That would give you the ultimate in flexibility but you might not be able to see the sizes.

For the common sizes you could buy one of these http://westlingmachine.com/ToolHolders.html and use a labeler. Since I'm kinda cheap I made one of my own.
View media item 27667

 

[brickboiler]

I only work on my own cars and 36mm is the biggest socket I've ever used on an automobile. I got it for axles on my old jeep. I have a few bigger sockets at work (HVAC) for specific tasks but I only buy those on an as needed basis.

 

[mdbeck1]

Another note.... There are quite a few ways to organize your sockets. Take a look at this thread. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47412

 

[ClrkLndeKmt'su]

For me personally, I've set a "buy till I have up to 3 1/2" rule. Why? Simply I feel that's what I need to get thru life. Currently I have to 2 3/8 but I have some random gaps missing, and it's mixed 3/4 and 1 inch drive.

 

[dirtmister16]

largest is up to 2" in 3/4 drive. but have my dad has up to 1 5/16" in 1/2" drive but thats because of the big truck stuff we do.

me personally i find that up to 1 1/2" useful, some engine parts require now and again and occansionally larger but not often.

in mm id say safe up to 28 and rest should be axle sockets. i have a kit i think goes up to 36mm for axle nuts.

but generally up to 1 1/4" gets most things done.

 

[Conductor562]

Correction: you'll need one of those to lift one of those 4 1/2" drive sockets.

I am curious though, other than the worlds largest excavator, the Death Star, or a mythical drain plug at the bottom of the Pacific, what the hell would one use a 4 1/2 drive socket set for? How much would that ratchet weigh?

 

[Jeeper]

If you have a dog bone wrench and a bionic wrench you have everything you need.

 

[lok]

What brand of motorcycle. Allot of the japanese sport bikes and street bikes are 22mm/24mm for the rear axle.

Gsxr 600, 36 on rear axle.

 

[Rezeppa]

I personally go up to 2 1/2" any bigger than that then pipe wrenches and crescent wrenches get involved. If I'm working on something bigger than 2.5" then the owner of the bolt can supply the tool to turn it.

 

[Bullitt427]

suzuki and honda 22/24mm on allot of their bikes

Older Kawasaki's like the ZX7R and ZX9R use 32mm or 1 1/4" wrench on the rear axle nut.

Josh

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

I bought a set of metric koken sockets for 94 bucks a few months ago. I regularly use in the 30's at my job as a truck mechanic (engines only). I have up to 3.5 inches at work but never use them

 

[Mk4fool]

Early VW bus axle nuts are 46mm. Thats the bigget I have at home. My biggest on my service truck at work is 2 1/8.

 

[Jim C.]

My biggest SAE is a 1/2" drive 1 1/4", and my biggest metric is a 1/2" drive 22mm. Pretty basic, but I've never needed anything bigger.