Help needed: Craftsman -V- 46669 hex bit socket details

[Shelbylex]

Good evening.

I added this to an old thread about this hex bit on general tool discussion, but got no responses. trying to get it here...

I got a Craftsman -V- 46669 hex bit socket sin hex bit (3/8"drive) as a part of the deal. I know, you can replace them for free, but I'd rather keep this one: save the tool + the -V- one (they were made by Moore Drop Forge in Springfield MA) ...
There is a 5/32 hex bit (missing) which is held by a screw which is 5/64 hex.

I am planning to cut an allen wrench and put it in.

Does anybody have a similar piece? Can you show me the bit? (if you do not mind taking it out - trying to see if there is anything special at the bottom) and tell me dimensions? (if you do not want to take it apart, just tell me the length of the part above)

Thank you!

 

[DadsTools]

That's a good question. I don't have any of these myself, but in checking the model number out online it looks to have a step-down profile bit--in other words, the tip size is smaller than the part that goes into the socket. If that's truly the case, then just cutting down a regular hex key isn't going to do it unless the opening on yours is the same 5/32 size as the tip. Doesn't even look like the modern ones use the locking screw anymore, they're probably just glued or press-fitted in, so I don't know how much of their geometry would match your old one.

I don't see the size of the actual opening in the socket mentioned. That will certainly be a factor. What is the size of the opening?

If the opening in the socket is 1/4", I might try finding a long pattern 5/32" bit for cordless drill 1/4" magnetic chucks. That too would be a step-down profile, and you could cut it to the length you'd like.

You say this was "part of the deal" but give no info as to what that "deal" was. Did you get other hex key CM sockets in the same lot? If so, you should be able to gauge the correct length of the bit from them.

If you're really intent on keeping this -v- series socket as a collectible and want it to be historically accurate, you may have to just find another one. Perhaps you can find one on eBay with bad peeled chrome and salvage the bit out of it.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, DadsTools
The size of the opening is 5/32. I agree with you, if I can, I will make it historically correct. I will just wait till it comes from some sale (I do not have the rest of the set at this point, thus no rush on my side).

However, if the piece was straight, than hex bit from the allen wrench might work.

What I posted in Garage Sale Sales thread was the following:
"That's what I got today for $10:
Sockets:
1/4 Drive: 13mm Snap ON TMM13 (1988), 9/32 SO TM-9 (1950), 9/32 Craftsman G;
3/8Drive: 11 mm SK; 5/8 Craftsman -V-; 5/8 Craftsman -V- plug socket; 7/16 Craftsman G; Craftsman -V-46669 hex bit (hmm, missed the fact it was missing a bit...); 15mm Great Neck; 11 mmold Husky
1/2 drive: 7/16 old Husky
Wrenches: Indestro 26/32-3/4; 7/8-13/16
Lectrolite: 3/8-7/16; 3/8-7/16 long; 9/16-1/2; 9/16-1/2
Craftsman V double open: 9/19-1/2; 9/16-1/2; double long 9/16-1/2
Snap On VS 1618 (yes..., you guessed it... 9/16-1/2)
Forged Barcalo In USA 11/16-19/32
Small Craftsman phillips - 0"

... and do not ask how I missed all 9/16-1/2 sizes (and why would the person have so many exactly the same size wrenches is not clear either - collection was not that big to explain. Probably related to some part he kept fixing on his car...)

 

[DadsTools]

If the socket is marked 5/32 and the opening is also 5/32, you can definitely cut down a normal hex key for it.

Back in the day, there was an awful lot on a vehicle that was 1/2 and 9/16, as well as on other equipment. Way back when my Dad gave me my first tool set, he held up the P&C 1/2 x 9/16 DBE and said, "Son, you can take apart about three-quarters of a car with this one wrench." Even today, when I have a partial set of DBE or DOE and split them up to sell individually, the 1/2 x 9/16 is almost always the first one to go.

 

[Shelbylex]

DadsTools, great to know about the wrench size - now it makes more sense. I got a Snap On (open ended), Craftsman -V- (open ended), Craftsman =V= (open ended), Craftsman =V= (box end), Lectrolite True Fit (box end) and regular Lectrolite (box end). I guess they were all slightly different and I did not pick up on the sizes (I took probabnly 1/3 of wrenches at this sale)

... Now I just need to get the proper length - not going to be original, but want it to be as close as I can...

 

[Shelbylex]

I finally got an answer from a person selling 3/16" socket 46661 (also -V-) on ebay. It was very kind of the seller to send me the measurements almost immediately after my question:

"measurement of bit to top of socket is 1/2", and 3/8" is in bedded in the socket , and 1-9/16" overall"

P.S. As a thank you for the seller, I would also like to mention his/her name in case somebody finds similar tools and would have to make a decision: skywalker-902
(I promise, I do not know this seller...)