Do we really need SAE sized tools?

[diesel research]

the machinery I work on is all SAE. Any body in the millwright, plant maintenance, or electromechanical fields can attest to that.

I will not attest to that. We used mostly SAE for structural pieces of the machine, but the swedish company Hagglunds provided the hydro drives/pump (designed for boats, metric) The South African branch of Alstom provided the electric motor (designed for trains, mixed SAE/metric) to power the mill I maintained. Even the hydraulic fittings were often mixed "adapters"

 

[mrpowderkeg]

GF's pops is a foreman for a heavy industrial contractor building power plants, and oil refinery stuff. According to him, all they use is SAE, and "we throw that fu*king metric garbage away" LOL Myself personally, I prefer SAE, dad's construction equipment is all SAE, along with a lot of home stuff such a plumbing, lag bolts etc... Some aftermarket stuff I have on my cars are metric, I can switch from one to the other, and pick the right size 90% of the time.

 

[LAROKE]

You can pry my SAE wrenches from my cold dead hands . . . OOPS! Wrong forum.

There are no eurotrash fasteners on my trucks. Got some ~!@#$ clutcheads on the '55 tho'

Okay! I jest. I have to keep metric tools too for my Jeep and Concorde.

 

[psychoclaw84]

The answer is YES.

Although my SAE collection of tools is very small the need exists. Please use the right tool for the job.

The expectations of Auto Technicians is to have the correct tool for the job, a shade tree mechanic will use alternative methods to perform the job.

I have a large selection of metric tools that are used extensively, SAE's sit in the tool chest gathering dust and are used when needed.

 

[bluecomputer]

If you work on computers you need them. Standoff are 3/16 and the case screws are 1/4. You can use a screwdriver on the case and pliers on the stand offs but you will round them off.

 

[greasemonkey44]

some moog aftermarket parts are standard

 

[wafrederick]

SAE sockets work great on badly rounded and corroded metric fastners on exhaust systems.Have done this a few times and does work.

 

[gunner3773]

Funny, in 2011 my brand new OTC Hub Tamer Elite requires SAE sockets and wrenches to use it.

 

[handyvorb]

My toolbox is filled with metric only. Then again... the Germans could care less about SAE.

 

[williaty]

My answer to this is "almost no". I never, ever, encounter a SAE fastener on the cars on which I work (obviously, I work on all import cars). However, I have to keep a **** set of SAE wrenches and sockets around because just about every specialty tool on earth, even if it's metric threaded on the working end, has an SAE hex to run it with. Spring compressors. Stud puller. Ball joint press. Finger press. Rethreading dies. It's just insane.

I guess that really makes my answer "I only have SAE tools so I can use my other tools"

 

[RLYoung]

Yes.

 

[Coolabah]

SAE sockets work great on badly rounded and corroded metric fastners on exhaust systems.Have done this a few times and does work.

^^ this. Having both SAE/Metric gives you a larger range of sizes so you can deal with whatever you come up against in a day. I am not a pro so take this for what it is worth...I keep my sockets & wrenches in order of increasing sizes (mixing metric & SAE) . Works for me....If I'm working on a metric car then I just use metric, but if I need to fit to a rounded nut, I immediately can put my hand on the next nearest size tool...

 

[LAROKE]

Some wag once said "Standards are great because there are so many to choose from."

 

[Steevo]

I very rarely need my Whitworth wrenches and sockets, but when those classic British bikes roll in, I am glad I have them.
I worked as a motorcycle mechanic early in my career, in Honda and Kawasaki and Suzuki dealerships, so I built up quite a collection of metric tools, as well as special tools for each of those brands.
Later, as a truck and equipment mechanic, welder, hydraulic technician, I needed yet another range of tools to do my job.
Now, I restore vintage garden tractors as a hobby, and they are all SAE.
I still have BS/Whitworth tools, metric tools and special tools that don't get used a lot, but they are there when I need them, and I won't put a 13mm on a 1/2" nut, or 14mm on a 9/16". I go get the right tool from my box and do it right.

 

[newchris]

13mm isnt close to 1/2 its bigger and wont work at all really, same with 14mm and 9/16. 9/16 is close to 14.4mm.

only metrics that are close enough to SAE are 11mm, 16mm, 19mm 21mm 22mm and so on.

So yes, you need SAE sockets dont cut corners and round off some bolts with the wrong socket and look stupid at the shop

actually i work on kenworth trucks there are tons of 9/16 bolts all over the trucks, 14 milimeters work just fine when its easier to grab, sometimes they even fit better. they are extremely close

 

[ZRX61]

I can't believe this thread is still going.