Deep socket broach depth? Why?

[VolvoRyan]

I sure this has to be a topic beaten to death, but the search bar wasn't finding a thread:

Why are some deep sockets "fully broached" and some only broached "just enough"? I can see the laws of physics and economics driving the difference.... but not being a master of either dicipline leaves me wondering a bit. Then the marketing department of the usually less-expensive, "fully broached" sockets proclaims what a good job they did, as if the upmarket companies just couldn't be bothered to braoch the socket all the way.

I deal almost entirely with flanged nuts and bolts so I'm mostly agnostic to the obvious reason.... until I have to pull some sort of tall sensor, and then grab the Tekton socket that I bought just for that reason.

Thanks!

-Ryan

 

[speed bump]

There is some value either way. Fully broached is nice certain things like thin nuts on a deep shaft. Partial broaching may be slightly stronger and is nice for things like holding a nut when you need to start it with a socket and the threads are just long enough that you need a deep socket.

I tend to not care anymore unless I run into that situation where my old Danaher fully broached sockets make sense. 15 years ago this got beat to death and the general consensus was almost everyone who had a strong opinion claimed their socket style was the only truly correct socket style.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Can't say i've ever paid much attention to the depth of broach, or ever had an issue either way.

Just looked and most of my deep sockets have a shallow broach. Some of my impacts are broached about halfway or a little more.

 

[DadsTools]

Just my 2 cents, but in rooting around used sockets at yard sales for years, the occasional cracked sockets I encountered (often hard to notice until you get them home) are almost always fully broached deep wells. And so one of the factors that mfrs might consider is socket strength?

 

[tamaraw]

I sure this has to be a topic beaten to death, but the search bar wasn't finding a thread:

Why are some deep sockets "fully broached" and some only broached "just enough"? I can see the laws of physics and economics driving the difference.... but not being a master of either dicipline leaves me wondering a bit. Then the marketing department of the usually less-expensive, "fully broached" sockets proclaims what a good job they did, as if the upmarket companies just couldn't be bothered to braoch the socket all the way.

I deal almost entirely with flanged nuts and bolts so I'm mostly agnostic to the obvious reason.... until I have to pull some sort of tall sensor, and then grab the Tekton socket that I bought just for that reason.

Thanks!

-Ryan

It depends, there are advantages to both in different uses.

A shallow broach socket works fine for cases where you just need clearance for a stud that sticks up beyond the hex on the fastener. In this case, the shallow broach can can be stronger than the deep broach socket or equal strength but with a slimmer outer diameter.

But sometimes you just need a deep broach socket for deeper hexes or things that stick up above the hex and are a little thicker than the corresponding stud size. In that case, the only other options would be a wrench or a pass-through ratchet which might not fit in some cases if you don't have clearance to the sides.

Here's an example of some Honda valve cover studs I had to pull yesterday. The broaching on my deep sockets was too shallow to fit down over them so I had get by with a box end wrench and clearance was tight.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

^ that's basically it.

That, and a full broach can "swallow" a non flanged fastener to remove it without causing the socket/ratchet assembly to be forced upwards as the nut is removed.

 

[Mr_B]

Post 2 5 & 6 sum it up nicely .
Ideally as a daily wrench I own both shallow broached and deep broached deep sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 drive . both are useful but if having one type only deep broached is most versatile as easy pack the broach if need keep non flanged nut at the top .
I also own a set of taiwan made trident branded extra deep 3/8 drive sockets with deep broaching which a time and headache saver at times, brilliant for sensors, heater plugs and specialist bolts/studs ...
Deep broaching is bit more time and machine/tool use so it slight extra cost, same as stepped shoulders and good roll stamping, features that get skipped at times but can make big difference to usability of the socket .

 

[HenryAZ]

I have a couple of socket sets where the depth of the broach increases as the socket size increases.