Engineering types-Does grinding off socket chamfer affect socket strength?

[jeremy v]

Deleted.

 

[Outlawmws]

It is probably only there as a starter for the broach when the inside is cut. The real issue IMO is that you will have compromised the plating and it's almost a certainty that the plating will peel off sooner or later.

 

[Olafur]

I cannot see any reason why sockets would loose strength doing this. Without doing finite element analysis I assume they would fair better dealing with thin nuts after grinding.

 

[Baada]

It may possibly weaken the socket by increasing the stress concentration at the very end of the socket, but it's hard to say exactly. What I mean is that a larger, rounder inside corner is better at resisting crack initiation than a small, sharp corner.

That being said, I'm not sure that grinding strictly the end off is going to sharpen the inside corners or not? Each socket is slightly different? The only warning I would give is that small parts under high stress can be particularly susceptible to small geometry changes.

 

[lonestarky]

I can't see an immediate decrease in strength occurring, assuming you don't get the thing red hot. You're actually increasing the amount of material at the face for a slender nut.

It will rust, however, and potentially cause the rest of the plating to flake, as mentioned before. They'll also be more likely to damage painted items as you use them.

My thought process, however, is that the 'slender' nuts you're turning probably don't need a lot of torque. Why potentially compromise one of your good sockets for a higher torque application? Can you grind a cheap socket or socket set down and meet your needs?

 

[retrobuilder]

Strength is minimally affected. Most significant load is from the bottom of the champer to the socket base. Torsional stress at socket end + the deep well wall (column) and tensile stresses at corners. I'd round the outside a bit to avoid finger cuts. Expect some chrome peeling at the end where grinding is done.

 

[helterskelter]

I'd say no as long as you break all sharp edges.

 

[greasemonkey44]

transmission valve body bolts?
gm maybe?

 

[ddo]

Grinding equals heat. Heat equals weakness without quality control / monitorint. Whatever you do, minimize heat in modifications to tools and strength wont suffer much. Phase transformations of steel is a facinating concept and temperature history is a big deal when it comes to performance.

 

[helterskelter]

I wouldn't quench. Just grind by hand slowly. You won't get them hot enough to change them.

 

[rasit]

Get a lathe. They are a whole lot more fun than a grinder....

 

[kerryt1]

Machining would be superior to grinding because of the aforementioned possible loss of tempering. Also good advice to break sharp edges as mentioned. There should be no loss of strength from a geometry point of view.

It would be preferable to use a black oxide set instead of chrome; I think the chrome will flake and you will definitely have some rust issues depending on your climate. You could at least dust the oxide ones with some black paint.

 

[2oolhound]

Most hardening and tempering processes produce a hardened outer surface that on average is 1/16th" deep. On smaller sockets this should extend right through the thickness of the sockets from inside to outside but on larger sockets this depth could possibly not go right through the walls from inside to outside and you could expose the softer inner metal from the end.

Does anyone know if low profile sockets have much chamfer?

 

[Dimitri]

Machining would be superior to grinding because of the aforementioned possible loss of tempering.

What I'd use, speaking as someone who worked in a machine shop is a grinder with constant coolant feed over the part.

Machining is all well and good, but you'll still risk generating heat, plus ruining regular HSS cutting tools, or when using carbide/ceramics, you have a tendency of generating lots of heat (due to the speeds, feeds and depths of cut they like to take) that you need to flood coolant any ways.

Dimitri

 

[michael murder]

If a lot of heat is an issue, you could break it down with a file. I know that might take forever if you're doing a whole set, but just one or two sockets would be easy enough.

 

[claymont]

I've done this to sockets and box wrenches with no problems. Had a set for work that I used for twenty plus years with no problems. Had wrenches and sockets that were ground or cut on the periphery for close clearance work never broke one. I was a mechanic on industrial pumps and compressors; I used them quite a bit.

 

[The Old Crapsman]

Get a lathe. They are a whole lot more fun than a grinder...

That they are

 

[bcradio]

That they are

Strong reply to a 10 year old thread

 

[merkyworks]