Cold forged vs hot forged sockets(CHROME/hand tools)

[Wrench-Polisher]

What are the differences between cold forged and hot forged sockets? Cost, properties, pros, cons and so on?

 

[mreisner]

Cold is much more precise, also material will work harden as it's forged. Biggest drawback is it has limits on size, bigger stuff you need an enormous press for.

 

[seber]

Cold forging orients the grain and strain hardens the steel. But hot forged sockets are subsequently heat treated. That is a more precise way to harden and refine the grain structure. In the real world, it is unimportant as smaller sockets are almost always cold forged and larger sockets are are just as reliably hot forged.

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

I wonder how it affects the final dimensions as the steel shifts during heat treating

 

[theoldwizard1]

Cold forging orients the grain and strain hardens the steel. But hot forged sockets are subsequently heat treated.

I am NOT a metals engineer, but ... Most forging (not sure about sockets) is done HOT (for steel, typically "red" hot). Forming "cold" steel, other than a simple bends, requires huge presses and wears out dies quickly.

 

[liliysdad]

I am NOT a metals engineer, but ... Most forging (not sure about sockets) is done HOT (for steel, typically "red" hot). Forming "cold" steel, other than a simple bends, requires huge presses and wears out dies quickly.

Cold hammer Forging is a common and well regarded practice in firearm barrel manufacturing.

 

[neophyte]

I am NOT a metals engineer, but ... Most forging (not sure about sockets) is done HOT (for steel, typically "red" hot). Forming "cold" steel, other than a simple bends, requires huge presses and wears out dies quickly.

Most sockets are actually cold forged nowadays, with the exception of gigantic sockets, which might be hot gorged, or simply machined/broached out of solid billet.
There might be a few places that still hot forge sockets, but it is the exception rather than the rule.
I think one of the German manufacturers is or was using hot forging up until relatively recently.
Broaching sockets out of billet or hot forged parts is possible, but it can leave giant burrs inside that can trap dirt and grease, and it is therefor way less desirable.

 

[neophyte]

Incidentally, it was Allen manufacturing that originated cold forging of sockets, after developing the technique for the internal socket head “safety screws” they developed, which was then applied to sockets for external hex head screws.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Most sockets are actually cold forged nowadays, with the exception of gigantic sockets, which might be hot gorged, or simply machined/broached out of solid billet.
There might be a few places that still hot forge sockets, but it is the exception rather than the rule.
I think one of the German manufacturers is or was using hot forging up until relatively recently.
Broaching sockets out of billet or hot forged parts is possible, but it can leave giant burrs inside that can trap dirt and grease, and it is therefor way less desirable.

Correct.
Besides potentially leaving a better product as a result, in many cases it's also just less work and processing to get to the final result vs hot forging and then removing the forging flash, scale and otherwise.

Its larger socket sizes and extra deep socket sizes that become more difficult, the machinery needed grows exponentially. On small sockets besides the up front cost, it can often be cheaper to cold forge, but on our extra deep axle nut sockets it costs us about +15% or so to keep it cold forged, and the lead time is longer as there's some wait time to fit in a batch on these less plentiful large forging machinery.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Most sockets are actually cold forged nowadays,

I would love to see a video of this ! Must be a HUGE press !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Correct. (Cold forging sockets.)
Besides potentially leaving a better product as a result, in many cases it's also just less work and processing to get to the final result

I would LOVE to see a video of this process. Also how long do the dies last ?

 

[mreisner]

Forging Snap on sockets

 

[KnurledNut]