Deep Socket Broach Depth

[micromind]

Do you like your deep sockets full broached or partial?

With the type of wrenching I do, I have a slight preference toward full depth but it's only a slight preference.

The reason being sometimes on a long stud, there is not enough clearance to get a partial broach socket on the nut and I am not able to spin it down by hand.

On the other hand, starting a nut is easier with a partial broach.

 

[RoninB4]

-Full depth for me. I'll put a piece of rubber hose in the socket for starting a nut. JMO

 

[jkuro]

I go both ways. I hope there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[whateg01]

I go both ways. I hope there's nothing wrong with that.

We don't kink shame (usually)

 

[finn]

Both.

 

[mike93lx]

No idea if my deeps are fully broached or not and can't say I ever remember encountering a situation where it made me wonder

 

[CraigStu]

I have some of each. Particularly in the most used sizes I have both.

 

[liliysdad]

Absolutely prefer partial broach.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Both have their moments, and the rest of the time it doesnt matter.

 

[mm08822]

On smaller size nuts, I've had to use nutdrivers.

Fully broached sockets, gives the flexibility to reach nuts on long studs. Conversely, adding a piece of foam, rag or paper towel to it can help start a distance nut much easier with the same socket.

Blue painters tape is also handy to prevent nuts and washers from getting lost or out of alignment until the thread is started.

 

[1320]

Partial. I've seen reviews of sockets on Amazon and such where people point out the partial broaching and claim it's not really a deep socket because it's only partially broached. What would you be using the "bottom" of the broach for?

 

[Hohn]

For me in my usage, it doesn’t matter. Longer studs are extremely rare and when I come across them, a ratcheting box end is what I grab.

I can’t remember the last time I wish a deep broach was shallow or vise versa. If I had to choose one, I’d probably prefer shallow just because sometimes the nut starting help is nice.

 

[N8sToolz]

I have both types in my mass collection of sockets between work, home, vehicles and other kits. I honestly can't say I have a preference either way, and can't remember a time where I wish I had one or the other.

On another note, I ordered a deep SK 1/2 drive chrome set somewhat recently. It came as a mixed batch of both. Some sizes are deep broach, some are shallow. All stamped USA. I have trust issues.

 

[DAWrench]

Being how most of the nuts I deal with are flanged nuts the depth of the broaching makes very little difference

 

[Jack Ryan]

Fully broached sockets, gives the flexibility to reach nuts on long studs.

Perhaps "fully broached" doesn't mean what I think.

I thought the broach would limit how far the nut travelled within the socket, but the stud was not limited. In that case, you can always reach the nut, even with a limited broach.

Assuming the socket is deep enough, of course.

Jack

 

[liliysdad]

Perhaps "fully broached" doesn't mean what I think.

I thought the broach would limit how far the nut travelled within the socket, but the stud was not limited. In that case, you can always reach the nut, even with a limited broach.

Assuming the socket is deep enough, of course.

Jack

You are correct in your understanding.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve been in situations where I’ve needed both. Generally for regular use deep broach is fine. Shallow broach is good for bolts without washers or flanges that need to be started. This is why having a mass collection of 2,000+ sockets helps in these situations .

 

[Callelle]

We don't kink shame (usually)

Kink shaming is my kink

 

[seber]

All of mine are deep broached but I long ago filled them in with foam. The deep broach made things difficult one too many times.

 

[NoahG]

I’m partial to partial.

In fact on a recent build I’ve been reaching for my 7/16” deep SK over my 7/16” deep Wright because while both are partial broach, the SK is broached LESS.

 

[cannuck]

Both have their moments, and the rest of the time it doesnt matter.

are we still on the inclusivity sidetrack?

 

[Hannahranga]

I’ve been in situations where I’ve needed both. Generally for regular use deep broach is fine. Shallow broach is good for bolts without washers or flanges that need to be started. This is why having a mass collection of 2,000+ sockets helps in these situations .

What's the kind of scenario you'd need a deep broach?

 

[DAWrench]

If you have a nut (that is not a flanged nut) in a tight spot it can be useful because ratchet will not raise up with nut. Biggest use for me is electrical sensors

 

[KnurledNut]

Its easier to start a fastener (nut or bolt) with the socket if its got a shallow broach. For this reason, I like using them with impacts and powered ratchets. Sometimes I use spring-loaded magnetic bolt clearance deep sockets.

Having 6-point shallow broach and 12-point deep broach will cover a lot of bases.

Craftsman used to make extra deep lug nut magazine sockets that would allow you to zip off all of them as they stacked inside.

Having some spare 12 point deep broach sockets on hand are good for those times you gotta beat one on a rounded nut and don’t want to sacrifice your good matching set.

 

[Ramblin Man]

What's the kind of scenario you'd need a deep broach?

For me, the instance I think of first, is coolant temperature sensors or such as that.
Sorry, I am not Blake. Just responding.

 

[Beerhippie]

Sometimes, you need something that isn't necessarily deep-broach, but has more clearance for long object, like this:



I couldn't find anything in town that would clear that long stem, so I cut a regular impact in half and welded in a piece of 1" gas pipe. I've since found other uses for it.

 

[whateg01]

Sometimes, you need something that isn't necessarily deep-broach, but has more clearance for long object, like this:



I couldn't find anything in town that would clear that long stem, so I cut a regular impact in half and welded in a piece of 1" gas pipe. I've since found other uses for it.

I do stuff like that all the time. I have one that looks similar but it is slit up the side line an O2 sensor socket but a different size. Don't even remember what I made it for now but it's in the drawer of I ever encounter one again.

 

[bonneyman]

One thing about the old Craftsman deep sockets (1/4" drive at least) were they had the full broaching. Was nice when I wore the tip out with use, 10 seconds on a grinder brought back crisp broaching. Could get many grindings done out of a deep broach socket!

 

[American Locomotive]

Partial. I've seen reviews of sockets on Amazon and such where people point out the partial broaching and claim it's not really a deep socket because it's only partially broached. What would you be using the "bottom" of the broach for?

A lot of electrical sensors need a socket, but their connector would prevent a shallow-broached deep socket from working. Some pipe fittings and high-pressure components will also only work with a fully broached socket. Sometimes you have a longer threaded rod that has two (or more?) nuts threaded onto it, and a fully-broached deep well socket will allow you to spin both nuts on at the same time. Fully broached sockets are also necessary for spark plugs (if you don't happen to have a spark plug socket for a particular size).

But as mentioned, shallow broached is definitely easier for starting nuts.

 

[Hakeem]

I prefer shallow broach but I don’t really care.

What I always found odd is that shallow broach is typically associated with expensive sockets, while the cheap sockets have the deep broach. Seems to me the shallow broach would be less expensive to manufacture.

 

[KnurledNut]

Some sockets have a mid-length broach, like this one, which was beautifully machined by the way:


That extra depth plus the twelve point worked for security lug nut removal:


Of course it destroyed the socket, but not to worry. A little amputation and its good to go again as a semi-deep shallow broached socket.

 

[WWheeler]

Partial. I've seen reviews of sockets on Amazon and such where people point out the partial broaching and claim it's not really a deep socket because it's only partially broached. What would you be using the "bottom" of the broach for?

One example, I forgot I had a partial broach and using it to remove the top nut on a rear shock and with one squeeze of the trigger before I knew it it had shoved the head of my milwaukee cordless ratchet up into the inner fender to where I couldn't reach the selector to tighten the nut back down enough to get the ratchet out. Full broach this isn't an issue. The nut just rides up the stud into the socket.

 

[milky2k]

In my opinion, the benefits of shallow broach sockets are overblown. The main supposed benefit is that you can start a nut in a hard to reach place without having the nut fall to the back of the socket. You can do the same with a shallow socket and an extension. What's the big deal? I have seen a few YT videos about the benefits of shallow broach sockets, always Snap On sockets, even though Gearwrench, SK, Icon and some Husky sockets are also shallow broach. Of course they're never mentioned so it comes off to me as a sales pitch for Snap On. Also, in my experience, just about every automotive nut now these days is a flanged nut or has a captive washer so it won't fall in to a socket anyway. I understand not every nut in every application is flanged but you don't need to spend lots of money on shallow broach sockets, especially if you already have a deep broach set. Just get some short extensions and put them on your shallow socket.

 

[T444e]

The main supposed benefit is that you can start a nut in a hard to reach place without having the nut fall to the back of the socket. You can do the same with a shallow socket and an extension. What's the big deal?

Can't do that if the stud is taller than the shallow socket, but not long enough for the nut to reach the stud in a full broach deep socket. Typically not an issue in a vertical down installation, but a shallow broach is beneficial in any other orientation. I've encountered enough instances a full broach wouldn't work that i bought a few sets of shallow broach deep sockets.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Can't do that if the stud is taller than the shallow socket, but not long enough for the nut to reach the stud in a full broach deep socket. Typically not an issue in a vertical down installation, but a shallow broach is beneficial in any other orientation. I've encountered enough instances a full broach wouldn't work that i bought a few sets of shallow broach deep sockets.

I think I need pictures. Don't you start the nut on the end of the stud? How can a shallow socket not reach?

Jack

 

[T444e]

Why would I want to grab two sockets for a nut? I just grab the appropriate one that will work for the task.

 

[whateg01]

I think I need pictures. Don't you start the nut on the end of the stud? How can a shallow socket not reach?

Jack

Sometimes you need to socket to sit down almost all the way on the stud to fit it in the space to start the nut. There's not enough space above the stud for the socket.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Sometimes you need to socket to sit down almost all the way on the stud to fit it in the space to start the nut. There's not enough space above the stud for the socket.

OK, thanks.

In that case it's over-reach rather than not reaching, but I see that.

Jack

 

[milky2k]

Can't do that if the stud is taller than the shallow socket, but not long enough for the nut to reach the stud in a full broach deep socket. Typically not an issue in a vertical down installation, but a shallow broach is beneficial in any other orientation. I've encountered enough instances a full broach wouldn't work that i bought a few sets of shallow broach deep sockets.

Couldn't this be remedied with a longer extension on a shallow socket? Or are you talking about a situation where the stud doesn't have any thread at the top and takes more than the length of the shallow socket to reach the threaded portion?

 

[Mr_B]

For one set then deep broach is the one that can work in all scenarios with some tricks.
Shallow broach not so adaptable but in real world pro use set of each saves some time and ballache .
Good thing is decent enough set of sockets is pretty small money for most peoples price preferences these days ...