European drive sizes

[tonydanzah]

Maybe some the non north or south American continent members can answer this. Since we started using the fractional system here before metric, all of are drive sizes are fractional 1/4" 3/8" 1/2' and so on. In countries where metric was the original what do they say? Hand me the 6mm(1/4) ratchet or the 13mm(1/2) ratchet? Just curious, and have always wondered?

 

[Luckykid]

I have no useful information, but have wondered that too. Are they the same or similar sized drives? would our sockets fit their ratchets?

 

[stricht8]

Same! I always put US sockets on European ratchets and vice versa.

 

[Joe B.]

This appears to be the one place that we beat the Metric system.

 

[mik641]

i guess its just how every one knows it, being in a metric dominated world i still call them, 1/2", 3/8" and so on but anything else.. nope. infact thats the only thing i use imperial for

 

[mkdive]

Im not positive but I swear there was a thread on this before....See if I can find the thread I was thinking about......

 

[Patz]

Well, i guess i can't say metric was the original over here, but it's certainly the standard.
I have never heard anyone refer to a 1/4" as a 6mm, and i've always used the imperial descriptions.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

This appears to be the one place that we beat the Metric system.

We? I think you'll find that the Imperial system was created by the british, in 1824.

Look at the Hazet catalogue, they list sizes in both metric and imperial. IE 1/4" = 6.3mm, 3/8" = 10mm, 1/2" = 12.5mm, 3/4" = 20mm.

 

[tonydanzah]

so what do you say, hand me that 6.1mm ratchet?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Im not positive but I swear there was a thread on this before....See if I can find the thread I was thinking about......

Is this the one your thinking of (I don't believe it is the only one though):

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7398

 

[Hawk321]

As a german, the lower educated mechanics say

lillte ratchet = 1/4"
big ratchet = 1/2" ....

But normally, we had/have ever 1/4 or 3/8 or 1/2 ...some cheap tool companies printing 1/2"=13mm...that ********.
I know mechanics who say 1/4" = 6mm...sad but true...

But to answer your question, there is no metric square drive, only fractional. Snap-on got me that information that this is result of their patents...

 

[Jononon]

Even the French deign to use untranslated imperial measures.

 

[Monte]

Gedore mention also both 1/4" and "6,3" , 3/8" and "10" etc.
In Japan you also see this often.
But in real life you ask for a "halbzoll" ("half-inch") or "viertelzoll" ("quarter-inch") ratchet
(1 Zoll = 1 inch)

Water hoses also still uses 1/2" or 3/4" as size , for most other things e.g. air hoses you use the metric system e.g. 6, 9/10 or 13mm instead of 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2".

 

[andyj2]

Same in the UK, ratchet's are either 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2"....

But nearly all of the sockets are in 'mm'......

 

[tonydanzah]

wow all this input is great

 

[sgrammel]

Kinda like tires...the wheel sizes are all English...well mostly..remember the infamous 360 and 390 wheels...but the tire dimensions are all metric...265, etc.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Kinda like tires...the wheel sizes are all English...well mostly..remember the infamous 360 and 390 wheels...but the tire dimensions are all metric...265, etc.

Metric tyres, what a failure. I remember doing Jaguar TD metrics, 225/65R390.

 

[tonydanzah]

do Canadians spell it tires or tyres?

 

[Joe B.]

We? I think you'll find that the Imperial system was created by the british, in 1824.

Yeah, but you started selling out back in the 60s. Our government tried to sell out under Ford & Carter but the US people rebelled.

Ya'll is just a bunch of Europeans now. The US is the only place keeping British culture alive.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

What are those rubber things that go on wheels?

 

[north]

1/4" (kvarttomms), 3/8" (treåttendedel), 1/2" (halltomms), 3/4" (trekvarttomms) in Norway.

Inches also used on some building materials as well like a 2x4 = to-fir or to-fire. (two-four)

Have a nice day.

 

[Jononon]

What are those rubber things that go on wheels?

plus 10 characters

 

[sk farmer]

someone here months ago said that they scavenged a very crude metric drive socket set from an old peice of destroyed soviet era military equipment. i do not remember where that person was deployed and i do not beleive they ever posted pics. i am sure they are out there somewhere just like odd fractional or hex drive sizes are occasionaly seen here