I seem to use both SAE and Metric equally. In fact, when I hear (read) about guys who don't own or use certain tools (metric or SAE) it seems weird to me. Whenever I buy tools, it's ALWAYS in pairs. For example if I buy a socket or wrench set I ALWAYS buy 2 sets, one in SAE, and one in metric. I would never only buy one or the other.... its always both.
Do you still use SAE much ?
- Thread starter jc5205
- Start date
Not being a ****, just showing you franz.
Back to thread though.
Regardless of which one you use the most. You're still grabbing a standard drive size
No offense taken but I think his point was that the Society of Automotive Engineers endorses Metric as well as fractional size hardware, and I hadn't seen you make that point yet. Perhaps I am way off base
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Threads like this pop up constantly. It all depends on what you are working on. Me, I work professionally on airliners, all fractional/SAE sizes. Lots of hex, some 12 point. Airbus does use some metric in components, but the aircraft itself has a lot of fractional stuff in it.
My tractor is too old to know what metric is. My vehicles are mostly metric, the Ranger has some fraction stuff in it, but not much.
It all depends on what you work on.
Charles
My tractor is too old to know what metric is. My vehicles are mostly metric, the Ranger has some fraction stuff in it, but not much.
It all depends on what you work on.
Charles
neuralsnafu
Well-known member
I use mainly metric as all I maintain is my bmw. I do have sae, but it's all alone in its own little box hiding in the corner...
MaintenanceGuy
Well-known member
4 days a week for about 10 hours per day.
CGT80
Well-known member
I rarely use my metric tools. My daily driver is a 79 Chevy pickup and my other truck is an 88 Chevy K5. They do have metric mixed in to make it a PITA, but 90%+ is SAE. Other items I work on tend to be SAE as well.
I just did this. I was an automotive tech for 3 years. Now I need all these standard tools and it's driving me nuts
97nismo
Well-known member
Never unless I'm working on a Ford then it's seems to be half metric and half sae
Tennessee Cattleman
Well-known member
Use SAE a little more than Metric, lots of farm equipment still being made with SAE.
RV8guy
Well-known member
SAE 5 days a week at work. Only need metric to work on my car.
jeeper46
Well-known member
I mainly use SAE, with two Model As, a Model T, a Farmall Cub, a '46 Willys,.....etc,etc. Yeah, I have a wall of SAE stuff that I can grab as needed. I'm not a total primitive-my old Honda,Yamaha, and Hodaka motorcycles need my Metric stuff,too.
toolaholic
Well-known member
My Dakota R/T uses a 360 v8 with a torque flute transmission. Plenty of SAE there but rest of truck metric. My lawn equipment is sae
disston
Well-known member
My 2009 Ford seems to be about half metric as others have said. My 42 year old German motorcycle is all metric but some of the fasteners on the fairing and such are now SAE, I try to not do that, but it happens. I'll be buying a new Toyota in Dec, I guess I'll have to throw all my SAE stuff away.
tonyciambrone
Well-known member
At home 90% Metric.
At work about 60% S.A.E 40% Metric
At work about 60% S.A.E 40% Metric
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
22 years a pro equipment mechanic -- I only had scattering of metric stuff until about 4 / 5 years ago when we started selling a line of European made machines. So now I have about 70 / 30 with SAE still being the majority, but a lot of what I buy now is metric.
At home: metric on the new tractor and cars, SAE for the lawn equipment and the 1944 Farmall, mix of both on the 90's Chevy.
At home: metric on the new tractor and cars, SAE for the lawn equipment and the 1944 Farmall, mix of both on the 90's Chevy.
Codejack
Banned
No one is going to mention that this thread was necro'd after 3 years?
That being said, I use SAE all the time on lawn equipment and older cars.
That being said, I use SAE all the time on lawn equipment and older cars.
cliftonbros89
Well-known member
Farm has both. Semi trucks, pick up trucks and newer tractors are a mix of both. Older tractors, grain equipment, other things like pipe, electrical and hydraulic are mainly all SAE. Small engines are one or the other. Four wheelers, side by side are mainly metric. So we use a lot of both. Also have to have a wide variety of both.
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mmason7764
Well-known member
More SAE for me. I don't mind having wrenches and sockets in both systems.
Now the screw industry coming out with a new system of heads every year or two is ridiculous. Manufactures using them is more ridiculous. Slotted, Phillips, Torx, and Robertson (square). Besides these and male and female hex what more could the world possibly need.
Mark
Now the screw industry coming out with a new system of heads every year or two is ridiculous. Manufactures using them is more ridiculous. Slotted, Phillips, Torx, and Robertson (square). Besides these and male and female hex what more could the world possibly need.
Mark
Same, SAE all day everyday at work.
Both Metric and SAE in my home box. I wish I could hoard mostly Metric tools, but unfortunately I cant
WittHay
Well-known member
Having both SAE and metric was something I grew up with. Lots of imported European equipment and metric starting showing up in North American farm equipment in the 80's.
Most guys in heavy duty started with a full set of SAE and added metric as required. When you go from being a auto tech to a HD truck mechanic, you will probably end up with a full set of both SAE and metric
Most guys in heavy duty started with a full set of SAE and added metric as required. When you go from being a auto tech to a HD truck mechanic, you will probably end up with a full set of both SAE and metric
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tonyciambrone
Well-known member
People complain about duplicate threads and they complain about thread revivals. It's either/or....
shawndp
Well-known member
I haven't intentionally purchased SAE in over 5 years and most of what I own comes in sets where it is unavoidable. As for using it - apart from the odd 1/4 and the 3/8, it would be downright strange to encounter anything that was not metric at work.
samss
Well-known member
American manufacturers of commercial cooking/refrigeration equipment are still using SAE for the most part. And of course, every other country is using metric.
M-technik-3
Well-known member
US Aviation is still all SAE, that being said I still have a full set but don't work in the industry anymore. All of my auto's have been metric since my 2nd car 73 Ford Capri RS3100 yes Ford as it was ex Army guy's car he brought back before the crazy 20/25 rules went in place.
Wyoming09
Well-known member
A mix of both at work. Older machines are SAE, newer metric. Most frustrating are the ones with a mix on a single machine.
Codejack
Banned
Lots of newer American cars are this way.
I keep a notecard with SAE and metric conversions on it, lined up to tell me which is bigger/smaller.
davethorik
Well-known member
I dont mind a necro post if someone adds something to it that isn't pointless, idiotic rambling about things that no one cares about/don't matter.
When I worked in a machine shop, I had some metric and some sae. Mostly dependent on what type of machines you are working with/on.
Now, as a contractor, I use sae 90%. Lots of 9/16 and 7/16, usually if metric it's a hex key. At home, mostly metric but some sae too as I love older stuff.
Duct Tape Man
Well-known member
Most of the vehicles I work on as a hobby are 30+ years old, so SAE in my garage is used MUCH more than metric. Now at work, most of the vehicles are no older than 10 years old, so metric carries the day.
Like I said I switched to heavy duty semi trucks, and I recently bought some sae tools. I used to work on cars and kept some sae in my box since it was so rarely used. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what's sae and what's metric. Any tips? Or is is just gonna take time
mcmlvif100
Well-known member
Have old "toys" -- 1956 F-100 (WIP), 1941 Farmall A with Woods L59 to mow the lawn and am slowly equipping my shop with Craftsman "Heritage" power tools. So, the answer is yes. Probably will always have SAE tools in my shop.
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
metric bolts have number designations on them 8.8, 9.8 10.9
sae bolts have slash marks 3 slashes signifies grade 5
6 slashes is grade 8
Al Borland
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- Jan 20, 2016
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And the cheap bolts have no markings... (SAE or Metric)
redwrench60
Well-known member
pepi
Well-known member
"Do you still use SAE much" all the time..
Greg
Greg