Ditch the SAE?

[Adam.C]

If you ever decide to work on cool cars you will need SAE.

Not quibbling, but doesn't one have to consider the cost of tool storage for tools you might maybe need someday? The OP is talking about not particularly expensive or high performing tools. He could have drawers full of slightly crappy sockets he doesn't need today and isn't forseeing a need for in the future. Should he continue to house these deadbeat tools and spend good money for extra storage and further clutter his work environment?

If, in the future, you want to restore an old muscle car or build a kit car, there are better quality tools available inexpensievly that will be better suited for that particular project when that time comes.

Dump the slightly rusty 12pt deep craftsman sockets. Cull the herd to what you use and need now and set aside one drawer for stuff you don't use but don't want to part with.

 

[furbyj1]

Never get rid of them. It's like the saying for insurance "you don't need insurance until you need insurance"

 

[Adam.C]

Never get rid of them. It's like the saying for insurance "you don't need insurance until you need insurance"

Not disagreeing but the difference is when you need insurance, you typically can't buy it and have it cover you. That's not the case with tools. If the OP lived in a remote place on the planet, I would agree. But if his mower, blender, or his neighbor's 1970 Ford pick up breaks, he's got options.

More importantly, stock piling tools (I do it, I'm guilty) reduces the utility of your shop, your tool storage, and work environment. And that has a price associated with it. This is why so many companies now consider inventory as a bad thing.

I would like most of the tools I use most often in the top drawer of my tool box. But I can't fit them there. I have long bit sockets and long ball bit sockets. Std bit sockets and std length ball bit sockets. They actually take up a lot of space. Do I need them all? I bought them because I thought I might need them. Buying them cost me money, storing them costs me money in additional storage costs, reduced efficiency using my tool box, having to open multiple drawers to find what I want.

FWIW, I'm keeping my bit sockets. The time spent searching isn't significant for me. This is just an example.

BTW, Sorry don't mean to quibble. All good points raised.

 

[PJNJ]

Wow, a lot of discussion about some tools that probably won't take up any more space than a cheap tool box.

Me, I would not get rid of them. Just go to the local Home Depot and get a cheap, orange, plastic tool box, put them in there and pack them away for the future.

But the OP continually answers why he doesn't need them, and how the advice given won't ever fit him - for example, he won't ever change jobs, lol. OP, revisit that in 20 years, I'll bet your in a different job by then. So, since no one can give him the all encompassing, life changing answer he seeks, I say stop talking about it and get rid of them. I'm sure that they take up much more space than all of the other junk, oops, I mean valuable things that you and your wife are hoarding, oops, I mean saving.

 

[beatcad]

how big is your tool box?
a bigger box may not be the solution($ & space) but what about an intermediate box?
a small one w/ maybe just 2 drawers will be probably less than a foot tall.
just one ot 2 drawers to store your SAE wrenches & sockets.

 

[pablo94sc]

I like the idea mentioned of buying a cheaper tool box and just tossing them in there as a just in case. I rarely use SAE, but the times I do need them I'm glad I have them.

I have this toolbox and it's held up for 10 years as my roadtrip/track box. Perfect for storing a bunch of SAE wrenches and sockets in a smaller space.

Edit: If you decide to keep some handy in the main tool box, maybe organize them into ranges of common sizes instead of full sets (5-6 of each drive/depth, no overlap)?

 

[jd_1138]

Wow, a lot of discussion about some tools that probably won't take up any more space than a cheap tool box.

Me, I would not get rid of them. Just go to the local Home Depot and get a cheap, orange, plastic tool box, put them in there and pack them away for the future.

The Homer Box, yeah those are great for the price. $9 for a huge safety orange box. It will store the entire SAE collection. Obviously won't have room to lay them out in order of size like in a roller, but for storage, it'd work.

 

[Exceller8]

How much space does one drive size and some combo wrenches in SAE take up?

I'd throw all of your SAE in a small box and keep it in under your bed just in case.

 

[Rico.]

I'd throw all of your SAE in a small box and keep it in under your bed just in case.

No room under there..... That's where all the Whitworth is.

 

[dutchgray]

Not even close to a fully metric country. Older British cars are a mess of different fasteners. Germany and Switzerland are much closer to fully metric.

Which is why I have SAE, but unlike you lot you probably won't find anything new for sale here that isn't assembled with metric, unless you're buying something American. Even plumbing stuff tends to be metric sized now. I haven't used SAE on anything apart from my 30 year old LR 90 or old plumbing work in years. There is still a lot of old junk around but that's only because we tend to keep it.

 

[shoggoth80]

I work for the USPS, as a mechanic. I work on almost everything. We're a Union shop, and I'm my shift steward. One of the few places people still retire from. When I say that I'm not interested in going on to something else, I mean it.

It's fine to make fun of my tools, my storage options, my mindset, but do NOT insult my work.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

As time passes you will have a harder and harder time replacing them with quality at a decent price. I bought a John Deere riding mower/tractor and have found half the bolts on it are metric and half are SAE. Driving me nuts!

 

[PJNJ]

I work for the USPS, as a mechanic. I work on almost everything. We're a Union shop, and I'm my shift steward. One of the few places people still retire from. When I say that I'm not interested in going on to something else, I mean it.

It's fine to make fun of my tools, my storage options, my mindset, but do NOT insult my work.

Whoa there skippy. I didn't insult your work place. Just the concept of a lifetime job in today's world. Remember reading is fundamental. And I really don't give a rodent's rear end about your work or where you work. With the way Congress is going and along with the continuing "internetization" of all things, post back in 20 years with the results. So long.

 

[shoggoth80]

Yes, lifetime jobs not really existing anymore is a problem. It's one of the reasons I'm glad I've got the gig I do. Hypothetically, my facility is relatively secure. I like to imagine it will stay that way. I take my job seriously, even though it has its issues. Getting in wasn't the easiest, studio I'm not keen on the idea of jumping ship.

I didn't mean to come off quite so harsh there. People tend to be defensive of things they've put effort into getting.

 

[PJNJ]

Yes, lifetime jobs not really existing anymore is a problem. It's one of the reasons I'm glad I've got the gig I do. Hypothetically, my facility is relatively secure. I like to imagine it will stay that way. I take my job seriously, even though it has its issues. Getting in wasn't the easiest, studio I'm not keen on the idea of jumping ship.

I didn't mean to come off quite so harsh there. People tend to be defensive of things they've put effort into getting.

Heck, forget it. My apologies if I offended you. I think I'm starting to get a little too cranky lately.

 

[03protege]

I fall into the "at least throw it all in a small box and put it on the shelf before you throw it away" camp.

I rarely use SAE, in fact the only SAE sockets I keep in my main toolbox are 1/4" drive in case I need to tinker with something.

A couple weeks ago I had two neighbors toss lawn mowers one needed a new carb and the other, a riding mower, need some various things. Both of which I needed SAE tools for and saved myself and my grandfather (gave him the riding mower) a good deal of money.

 

[shoggoth80]

It happens. To be fair, I had just woken up when I initially replied.

You do touch on important points that have farther reaching implications than just what tools to stock in the box at home though. That issue is definitely one worth addressing, and NEEDS addressing if we are to ever hope to see true economic improvement. That is a discussion for a different forum though,

With my brief experience in the private sector of mechanical work, I can easily see how the initial statement carries weight. As my professor used to say "toolboxes have wheels." I got out of private sector work pretty fast, as my goal was to end up in a fleet shop. Consistency is good, both in work, and in what you work on.

Even in my situation, which should be relatively safe, it carries weight...I'm just not going anywhere of my own volition. I acknowledge that there are things that could happen outside of my control that could affect it. If that happens, I roll with it, as that is all one can do. I got where I am due to equal parts skill, luck, stubborn, and resourcefulness. Barring something drastic, I have no intent of leaving my employer, or craft.

Back to sort of being on topic:
Does anyone make a decently affordable, decent quality portable tool chest that actually has some capacity? Prefer metal to plastic (though the plastic one I have has served for well over a decade). Almost need something like a smaller top box with a handle. Lol.

 

[Nyati]

I work for the USPS, as a mechanic. I work on almost everything. We're a Union shop, and I'm my shift steward. One of the few places people still retire from. When I say that I'm not interested in going on to something else, I mean it.

It's fine to make fun of my tools, my storage options, my mindset, but do NOT insult my work.

Are you CSRS or FERS? I'm retired USPS - thankfully CSRS. Hate to have to depend on SS being there when you retire

 

[Dirty Diesels]

I still use 5/8"s regular on 16mm metric fastners, so wouldn't be disposing of SAE gear because, not only is it still going to be around for a while, it still converts through the metric equivilents!

 

[shoggoth80]

Pretty sure I fall under FERS. I'll take what I can get. It's more than a lot of places have these days.

 

[crbnfbr]

I agree with everyone one that says keep your Imperial sizes. You never know when you'll need it around the house, and it's not like they take up that much space compared to metric.

 

[pablo94sc]

Back to sort of being on topic:
Does anyone make a decently affordable, decent quality portable tool chest that actually has some capacity? Prefer metal to plastic (though the plastic one I have has served for well over a decade). Almost need something like a smaller top box with a handle. Lol.

I posted a link to the toolbox I use in my earlier post - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-20...-Box-TB-520/202279042?N=5yc1vZc22aZrdZ1z0vb5j

It's the old fashioned box with tray type so might not be your cup of tea, but it's done wonders for me. Carries about 50lbs and stood up to all the abuse I've thrown at it.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Do you have a relative or friend who might be able to use them?

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I wouldn't ditch it.....cause as soon as you do chances are you'll be damning the decision lol. Maybe just keep the most used sizes if you have a wide variety.

 

[Fugio]

Never get rid of quality old tools. Never!

But I'm with you, sort of. I misplaced my SAE sockets for about 2 weeks and just used my metric on everything. It actually worked rather well, so I pretty much just carry metric now. But my job is mostly driving in lag screws and nuts/bolts in wood frames, not cars.

 

[bwringer]

I have one bottom drawer that's the "inch ghetto". All the inch **** goes in there in an unorganized pile, just in case I need to do something on a Harley, lawn mower, etc.

I also culled it pretty hard before dumping the inch leftovers into the drawer -- no low-quality ****, no duplicates, etc.

 

[ryanm]

same answer as everyone else, keep the "inch" tools. honestly, even if they aren't used very often, they are worth having. it's not like we're saying keep a $500 tool you never use.

 

[sonvolt]

Keep them the price you would have to pay to replace them with equal quality will be 10x more expensive than what you could sell them for.

 

[LordPsychon]

Don't ditch the SAE! As useful as metric is, there are a few SAE sizes that metric just doesn't align to. If you felt limited space was still a concern, I'd keep 1/8", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8", 11/16", and 3/4" as these are pretty common. I've come across some strange ones but most of the time the metrics are close enough to make do.

 

[Adam.C]

Don't ditch the SAE! As useful as metric is, there are a few SAE sizes that metric just doesn't align to. If you felt limited space was still a concern, I'd keep 1/8", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8", 11/16", and 3/4" as these are pretty common. I've come across some strange ones but most of the time the metrics are close enough to make do.

Devil's advocate (plus agreement)
???? 1/8" sockets? Use pliers.
1/4" use screwdriver (interchangeable bits) or pliers
5/16" = 8mm
3/8", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8" retain shallow sockets and wrenches only
7/16", 11/16" not too typical.
3/4" = 19mm