Do you use low profile sockets?

[77Mini]

I saw Powerbuilt Low profile sockets for $9.99 for a 3/8 drive 9 piece set (Metric and SAE sets).

Not high quality but likely decent. Seems like a good price.

Do you find you have a need for them? Should I buy them?

 

[matt01073]

I have standard and metric , they are hardly every used . I can think of only one time I was lucky to have them and they got me out of a problem . I would say that most times a wratchet wrench can do what a shallow socket cant , so there is almost no need for the low profile sockets the key word being almost and that one time it gets you out of trouble may make it worthwile to have mine are the snap on 1/4 drive ones I got them on some deal they had as I wouldnt have bought them otherwise.

 

[Odes]

That's good price it's nice to have low profile sometimes when nothing else will fit but wrench I have some powerbuilt pullers I think their tools are on par with mastercraft tools

 

[WhataTool]

I used low profiles on impacts all the time

 

[gdpolk]

I've never had a need for low profiles. If I did stumble upon a random need for one, I think I would opt for a pass through socket/ratchet set instead. These could at least be used for a wider variety of tasks and still accommodate for the low profile requirement.

Here is a comparison photo I found with a quick Google search of two 18mm sockets, one standard height and one in a passthrough design.

 

[77Mini]

I have a small pass through set. Just SAE though

 

[Odes]

I have a set of craftsman pass though they rarely get used the main problem I find with them is the ratchet head is to big to fit in the area that I need a low profile socket most times

 

[2oolhound]

I bought the s-o sae set a few years back. It was my 1st dual 80 rat so I justified the cost. I only use them when I need them and have used them more than a few times. I'd like to get some metric sockets and would consider power built for that price. Where is the sale?

 

[77Mini]

I bought the s-o sae set a few years back. It was my 1st dual 80 rat so I justified the cost. I only use them when I need them and have used them more than a few times. I'd like to get some metric sockets and would consider power built for that price. Where is the sale?

Not on sale. Its in the surplus section at Princess Auto

 

[potato]

i have them and have not needed them yet.

 

[nbruno]

I haven't really found a need for low profile socket. I have a set of crapsman pass through and more ratchet wrenches than I can shake a stick at. Long pattern ratchet wrenches virtually make low profile and pass through sockets obsolete. Closed end long pattern to break it lose, flip it over and ratchet out.

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[LXCam]

I need mine maybe a dozen times a year. If you don't need them then there's no reason to spend the coin. But all though I have other means of creating a long profile assembly, it sure is nice to just grab one koken zeal socket and a thin rat and go to town. Verses setting up an socket drive adapter on a ratchet wrench or digging out my pass thru kit

 

[sk farmer]

i disagree. low profile sockets can reach down in a hole and the slight offset gives some clearance to the ratchet. i have sae low profile sockets and will pick up metric when i find the right deal.

low profile sockets work very well with compact 3/8 ratchets and thinner ratchets like armstrong maxx and or gearwrench 60/84/120 models.

don't get me wrong. ratcheting wrenches are useful but they are not always the best option in a recessed area. pass through ratchets are most often just to bulky.

 

[plinker]

I have the chrome Snap-on sets, I'd use the 1/2 12pt most often for hydraulic motors. The others not too often.

I do use the low pro impact sets I got from Matco all the time however.

 

[M6erfan]

I can only remember one time when a low pro socket would have saved the day (distributor cap R&R on a BMW S38 engine). The job was a pain without one, but I gotter' done.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have 1/4" and 3/8" full sets of Kolbalt (Gearwrench Vortex) pass through. Needed them 3 or 4 times where they worked as low profile when nothing else would have worked. I've also used them a couple of times with and extension where a regular deep or wrench would not work.

 

[mcmtech]

I’ve got a set of 3/8 metric impact low profiles. Not used super often but can be lifesavers. Really nice on a thin gearwrench ratchet or the Astro nano impact

 

[Finky198]

I have the Craftmans pass thru’s I used them pretty often mainly the 3/8” drive equivalent... the smaller drives has help me out a few times as well. Well worth the 20-30 bucks. It’s pretty complete 50 pc and doubles as deep nut drivers... not a must have, but I wouldn’t give them up either.

 

[2oolhound]

Not on sale. Its in the surplus section at Princess Auto

Thanks, I'd grab them at that price. The low profile ratchet is 1/2 the equation but I've used the sockets on regular ratchets too. Think of them as the opposite to semi deep sockets, there are places only they will work. Also how many times have you misplaced a regular socket? These will work as spare regular sockets too saving you time searching for one that's hiding in a greasy parts tray or rolled under somewhere. You find those eventually but why stop working to search.

 

[anndel]

Never had the need for them. If I did I just grab the ratcheting wrench. All I have are swivel low profile sockets and I use just cause they're there.

 

[Sine Swept]

To the OP do those sockets have ball detents?

I could see them being useful with a locking extension

 

[Jacobson]

i disagree. low profile sockets can reach down in a hole and the slight offset gives some clearance to the ratchet. i have sae low profile sockets and will pick up metric when i find the right deal.

low profile sockets work very well with compact 3/8 ratchets and thinner ratchets like armstrong maxx and or gearwrench 60/84/120 models.

don't get me wrong. ratcheting wrenches are useful but they are not always the best option in a recessed area. pass through ratchets are most often just to bulky.

So your scenario is a hole with blocked clearance?

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[WhiffySpark]

So your scenario is a hole with blocked clearance?

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It happens a lot.

 

[mfewtrail]

If you work on enough stuff, you'll eventually find a use for them. Serpentine belts are one place where they can be handy, that's why most serpentine belt tool kits include a few very shallow sockets to use w/ the tool.

I believe ATD is the same as the Powerbuilt, Duralast, etc. version of those cheap low profile sockets. If so, this appears to bet the best deal on them when you factor in the number of pieces and inclusion of a low profile ratchet: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ATD-Tools-...928993&hash=item2126cb8e7b:g:KbwAAOSw42dZA1xy

Sunex and Astro both offer low profile impact sockets now by the way. They are set up so that you can use them with a wrench in tighter areas too. Couple those with a compact impact and they can save a lot of time on disassembly.

 

[E.Marquez]

I saw Powerbuilt Low profile sockets for $9.99 for a 3/8 drive 9 piece set (Metric and SAE sets).

Not high quality but likely decent. Seems like a good price.

Do you find you have a need for them? Should I buy them?

I do, but I mainly work on motorcycles. They are not an everyday tool..but when I grab the set from the tool cab, its because it is the right tool for the job. I also have a hex bit set that goes with them
SO I have a 1/4" drive set

3/8" drive set

And a Stubby bit set that goes with the 1/4" drive set

 

[SRSemenza]

And a Stubby bit set that goes with the 1/4" drive set

What is the OAL on these stubby bits?



Seth

 

[bcradio]

No, because they are not needed.

If I need low profile, I will use a wrench or ratcheting wrench. If I need an offset, I use an offset wrench.

They are more of a nice-to-have vs. a necessity for cases where a ratcheting wrench will not work, but you want to not have to use a standard wrench.

 

[E.Marquez]

What is the OAL on these stubby bits?



Seth

.6875

With adapter and ratchet .9175

 

[SRSemenza]

.6875

With adapter and ratchet .9175

Awesome! Thanks for measuring. That means in the Wera Mini Zyklop 1 (for 1/4" bits) it will be 11/16" due to the bit fitting into the ratchet.

Thanks,

Seth

 

[E.Marquez]

Awesome! Thanks for measuring. That means in the Wera Mini Zyklop 1 (for 1/4" bits) it will be 5/8" due to the bit fitting into the ratchet.

Thanks,

Seth

Will that type bit work in the ZYKLOP MINI 1? there is no shoulder on the SO mini bits, does the ZYKLOP MINI 1 ratchet head have a feature that stops the bit in the head? Keep it from just passing all the way through?

The SO adapter is closed end, so not an issue with their mini bits..But the ZYKLOP MINI 1?

 

[SRSemenza]

Will that type bit work in the ZYKLOP MINI 1? there is no shoulder on the SO mini bits, does the ZYKLOP MINI 1 ratchet head have a feature that stops the bit in the head? Keep it from just passing all the way through?

The SO adapter is closed end, so not an issue with their mini bits..But the ZYKLOP MINI 1?

It should work. It definitely won't go through and come out the back. The Mini has a round opening on the back side that catches the corners of the hex. I think it will snap / lock into place since the Mini will take both wire detent and ball detent bits. The catch mechanism should catch on the stubby right were the shaft narrows to the neck. Although I see that the neck narrowing varies a little on the SO bits so it may depend which one.

Also it would total about 11/16" since the Wera Mini with 1" bit is 1 1/16".

Seth

 

[cbracer]

I bought a set of the wonderful Zeal sockets in 3/8 but found working on my Porsche Boxster that using them was more of a pain because bolts often stick up above the nut..... I've never needed low profile sockets.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I use my pass through sockets a lot. You can assemble them in place, which you cant with a wrench.

 

[77Mini]

So today I ran over to Princess Auto and grabbed the 2 sets. Figured for $20 I wouldn't regret it.
We will see how handy they prove to be......

 

[NoahG]

I think I've just used a Gearwrench any time I've needed a low profile. What I really need is a set of un-chamfered sockets. Ive ground a few cheap ones flat just for that purpose.

 

[M6erfan]

No, because they are not needed.

If I need low profile, I will use a wrench or ratcheting wrench. If I need an offset, I use an offset wrench.

They are more of a nice-to-have vs. a necessity for cases where a ratcheting wrench will not work, but you want to not have to use a standard wrench.

You've obviously never R&R'd a distributor cap on an S38. Offset box wrench wouldn't work there either

 

[bcradio]

You've obviously never R&R'd a distributor cap on an S38. Offset box wrench wouldn't work there either

guarentee i could get it done without a low profile socket... guarentee it

 

[M6erfan]

guarentee i could get it done without a low profile socket... guarentee it

I did too, but it would have been far easier and less time consuming with a lo pro socket.

That said...after that experience I bought a Craftsman low profile socket set, and have never used it once.

 

[Bobioz1]

Have them, use them. Sometimes it's not the "low profile" part that saves the day. Like when the extention and socket combo has to be just the right length. Same with mid deep sockets.

 

[SRSemenza]

It should work. It definitely won't go through and come out the back. The Mini has a round opening on the back side that catches the corners of the hex. I think it will snap / lock into place since the Mini will take both wire detent and ball detent bits. The catch mechanism should catch on the stubby right were the shaft narrows to the neck. Although I see that the neck narrowing varies a little on the SO bits so it may depend which one.

Also it would total about 11/16" since the Wera Mini with 1" bit is 1 1/16".

Seth

Follow up ............

I got one of the SO bits to try. Snaps into the Wera perfectly. I tried one with a low shoulder. Some of them are higher so maybe , maybe not. See pictures for comparison to 1" bits.


Seth