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I need help finding hex sockets.

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nissan_crawler

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I'm looking for hex (allen) sockets, 1/4" drive, short and long, ball and no ball. I want something with a reasonable price, I'm not willing to pay Snap-On, etc., prices. Honestly, for what I need, HF would work fine, but I wouldn't mind something a little better.

Any ideas?
 
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billymade

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How about some German made Wiha socket sets?
71996pix200.jpg

Go towards the bottom of the page here: http://www.wihatools.com/indexes/indx_sockets.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713insoc1_4.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713mmsock.htm

Craftsman has sets too; bleech?


00934912000

Craftsman 42 pc. Hex and Torx Bit Socket Super Set, 1/4 and 3/8 in. Drives Sears item #00934912000 $79.99

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_1...s=42&pageNum=1&sortOption=ORIGINAL_SORT_ORDER

00942608000

Craftsman 12 pc. Inch and Metric Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Socket Set
Sears item# 00942608000 Mfr. model# 42608 $59.99
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942608000P
 
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Jay H 237

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I think the toolwarehouse had them in 1/4" drive sets. They were SKs, don't know how long they were though.

(EDIT, Fedwrench beat me to it.)



You could also buy a set of 1/4" drive sockets and a set of allen wrenches and cut them down and Gorilla glue them into the sockets. Something I've done before while working on our robots at work. ;)
 
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kwhitelaw

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Is this a low torque application? maybe a long shank 1/4" bit fitted in a socket adapter?
 
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CAT_serviceman927

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nissan_crawler

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Merkava_4 said:
Can you give me a size range?
Click to expand...

nothing specific, something like the 1/16-5/16 range

kwhitelaw said:
Is this a low torque application? maybe a long shank 1/4" bit fitted in a socket adapter?
Click to expand...
It is, I might end up just getting a short set and welding cut off allen wrenches into a cheap socket set for the long ones.

THe williams set posted by cat looks like a good choice for short ones.
 
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eschoendorff

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billymade said:
How about some German made Wiha socket sets?
71996pix200.jpg

Go towards the bottom of the page here: http://www.wihatools.com/indexes/indx_sockets.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713insoc1_4.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713mmsock.htm

Craftsman has sets too; bleech?


00934912000

Craftsman 42 pc. Hex and Torx Bit Socket Super Set, 1/4 and 3/8 in. Drives Sears item #00934912000 $79.99

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_1...s=42&pageNum=1&sortOption=ORIGINAL_SORT_ORDER

00942608000

Craftsman 12 pc. Inch and Metric Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Socket Set
Sears item# 00942608000 Mfr. model# 42608 $59.99
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942608000P
Click to expand...

Billy nailed it. /thread. Any cheaper, and you might as well go to HF because they're all gonna come from "over there" at that price point anyway....
 
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nissan_crawler

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eschoendorff said:
Billy nailed it. /thread. Any cheaper, and you might as well go to HF because they're all gonna come from "over there" at that price point anyway....
Click to expand...

Except those aren't 1/4" drive. I'm considering finding 6" hex bits for a screwdriver if possible, and buying surplus 1/4" 1/4" drive sockets and welding them up.
 
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eschoendorff

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nissan_crawler said:
Except those aren't 1/4" drive. I'm considering finding 6" hex bits for a screwdriver if possible, and buying surplus 1/4" 1/4" drive sockets and welding them up.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Well... at this point, I would just go see what HF has... at least then you can physically see the quality of the Chaiwanese stuff before you buy.
 
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Merkava_4

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nissan_crawler said:
I'm considering finding 6" hex bits for a screwdriver if possible, and buying surplus 1/4" 1/4" drive sockets and welding them up.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking I might lightly clamp the socket and bit in a vise and put the ground clamp on the vise.

I'd then rest the gas nozzle of the mig gun on my other hand while I point the wire stick-out right where the bit meets the socket.

A quick squeeze of the trigger - bizzzz! :D
 
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nissan_crawler

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eschoendorff said:
Poop. Dammit... I'm gonna have to start deleting posts!

How about GP? Anyone know if they make the magic sockets nissan_crawler is looking fo?
Click to expand...

:spit: I really didn't think it would be this hard to find a set of 1/4" drive, 4-6" long hex sockets. What the hell:confused: I might just end up with that $100 set of armstrongs.:shocking: I wish armstrong would list the length on their website, though.
 
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nissan_crawler

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Merkava_4 said:
I'm thinking I might lightly clamp the socket and bit in a vise and put the ground clamp on the vise.

I'd then rest the gas nozzle of the mig gun on my other hand while I point the wire stick-out right where the bit meets the socket.

A quick squeeze of the trigger - bizzzz! :D
Click to expand...

First I have to find long hex bits if I go that route, not much luck there, either.
 
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eschoendorff

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nissan_crawler said:
:spit: I really didn't think it would be this hard to find a set of 1/4" drive, 4-6" long hex sockets. What the hell:confused: I might just end up with that $100 set of armstrongs.:shocking: I wish armstrong would list the length on their website, though.
Click to expand...

That would mean that Armstrong would have to update their website.

Hey.... PM the GearWrench guys. They might be able to hook you up or give you more info on the Armstrongs...
 
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nissan_crawler

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Merkava_4 said:
Just use long L-keys and cut the 90 off with a cut-off wheel.
Click to expand...

wouldn't work, there wouldn't be a socket for all sizes, it would have to be a screwdriver bit with a 1/4" end that could go in a 1/4" socket.

I'll try the gearwrench guys and see if I can get any armstrong info. Stupid it doesn't show it.
 
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TheToolMan

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I wouldnt weld up sockets they will be trashed then you break them and you most likely will, i have a similar set of snap-on's and i have broken bits several times, being that long they break easy with a ratchet. i broke a 1/16'' bit once when i dropped it. I would drill into the side of the socket and insert a set screw that way they are replaceable
 
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MAD

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billymade said:
What did you think of the Wiha socket sets, too expensive?
http://www.wihatools.com/indexes/indx_sockets.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713insoc1_4.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/713mmsock.htm
Click to expand...


I have a set of Wiha hex bit sockets. The one small thing I do not like about them is that they use generic sockets to hold the hex bits. There is no size marked on the socket. Only the hex bit itself is marked which is not always easily visible. I do not know if all Wiha bit sockets are this way.

I have not used the Wiha set enough yet to make a judgment of the durability yet.
 
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