Looking for a 3/8 drive, sqare nut socket

[mikew13]

I am looking for a 3/8 drive, square nut socket for a 1/2" square nut. (1/2" x 1/2")

Its for work with antiquated machinery, so don't direct me to 12 point.

Does Williams, Proto, Wright make one?

 

[Sick Puppy]

Koken do (did?) - are you looking for American made?

 

[toolmaker1]

sears has several sizes of 8point sockets including 1/2" in the craftsman brand. 8 point is two squares 90degrees apart and made for old square fasteners. I have the whole 3/8 and 1/2 drive sets. no problems with them but they have only been used a handfull of times in the last 30 years

 

[RedFordTruck]

8 point should work. I got a few 8 point in the 309 piece set. I want to pick up some more at some point. Its better to have a tool and not need it than to need a tool and not have it.

 

[malibu101]

I have NOT seen everything.
But I've never seen a 4 point socket. I've only seen 8 points for a 4 point fastener.

Has anyone here ever seen a 4 point socket?

 

[jerryW]

Very early Snap-On and other manufacturers have made 4 point sockets in the past. I ahve some in my collection. Not too common.



jerry

 

[warmpancakes]

I have NOT seen everything.
But I've never seen a 4 point socket. I've only seen 8 points for a 4 point fastener.

Has anyone here ever seen a 4 point socket?

I have a full set of Hinsdale made ones

Rarely use them but they are great when dealing with pipe plugs stuck in engine blocks or, old gas pipe

 

[Larwyn]

I have several different size/brands of 4 point sockets, all quite old. If I'm not mistaken I think I may even have a couple of hex drive 4 point sockets in the mix.

 

[nutjob]

If you need a square socket for 1/2" nut, just take a 12 point or 8 point 1/2" drive socket in 1/2" drive size and turn it upside down.

Kevin

 

[chris142]

how bout a spline socket

 

[franzdom]

Snap-on clearly makes an 8 pt. one for 1/2" drive but the OP specifically requested one for 3/8" drive.

 

[Jim C.]

Hey Mike,

An 8 point will probably work without rounding the corners, and you didn't say anything in your original post about not wanting to use an 8 point socket. (We accept your apology.) Anyway, I use them all the time when I'm restoring vintage woodworking machinery from the 1940s and 1950s. The 8 point sockets have worked fine on every square nut that I've encountered so far. I've been using Craftsman sockets. I know they make a 3/8" drive, 1/2" 8 point socket.

Jim C.

 

[larry_g]

I too work on some old equipment and use 4 and 8 point interchangeably just as one would use a 6 point or a 12 point on a hex head.

I have not run across a 8 point fastener, so what is an 8 point for if not a square head?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Canadian Cowboy]

The sockets the OP is looking for are called pipe plug sockets available in both male and female configurations example,

http://www.mytoolstore.com/sk/sk03221.html

CC

 

[Canadian Cowboy]

This site has 1/2 drive 1/2 female in the set

http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/SUN-216FP.html

CC

 

[franzdom]

To the OP: you have now been directed to buy 2 of these specialty sockets.

 

[franzdom]

This site has 1/2 drive 1/2 female in the set

http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/SUN-216FP.html

CC

They are not 3/8" drive

 

[cotjocky]

Everyone around here seems to love SK. And it's 3/8 drive.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-to...oglebase_18u&gclid=CLGJipbn-K8CFS1a7AodjDJiSg

Well ****! They only go to 3/8 inch.

I think the catch is going to be finding a 3/8 drive socket that fit's a 1/2 pipe plug.

Probably going to have to be 1/2 drive to get that big.

 

[Canadian Cowboy]

They are not 3/8" drive

That is why I posted 1/2 drive, 3/8 drive is not available from my quick web search.

CC

 

[Outlawmws]

If it HAS to be 3/8 drive, take a 3/8 to 1/2 ratchet adapter, put the 3/8 male end into a 3/8 drive 3/8 8 pt socket, and use the 1/2" female end...

 

[jwith68]

Don't count out 8 point sockets. Due to the drive angle, they are not nearly as likely to round a square nut/bolt as a 12 point is a hex nut. There is virtually no advantage to a 4 point socket.

 

[franzdom]

As stated before, Craftsman makes a 3/8" drive 1/2" 8 point socket.

 

[lwlobo]

So square fasteners on antiquated machinery can't be removed with 8 pt tools, which are made for square fasteners. Who knew?

 

[cotjocky]

I wish people would "READ" first and not go to name calling mode.

In my opinion certain tools were made back then for this kind of equipment and I believe its proper to use the correct socket that was originally intended for these fasteners, and 8 point wouldn't count as correct........

1/2 drive is too much torque for these fasteners. Probably get a stubby 1/2 drive ratchet.

You can always use a reducer on a 3/8 ratchet if you don't want to use a 1/2 ratchet.

Just about every tool maker offers one. Take your pic on brands.

 

[Jarhead0408]

.......In my opinion certain tools were made back then for this kind of equipment and I believe its proper to use the correct socket that was originally intended for these fasteners, and 8 point wouldn't count as correct........

......In my opinion (Jarhead's) Certain people were raised back then for this kind of discussion and I believe its proper to use the correct manners that was originally intended for conversation, and Jackass's (You) wouldn't count as correct......

Dude, do you know how many shop/mechanical/maintenance problems that have been solved for me just through bouncing an idea off a buddy? Whether it works or not. Information is power, Guess your weak in this case. Sound like a 17 yo punk teenager to me.

 

[mvptrukin]

mikew13,
The only place I have seen these sockets and I believe they were 3/8" drive was:
www.mrotools.com . The brand name was apex, I haven't been to the website in a long time and I am using my android phone to post this on my break. People were trying to be helpful, but alot of people don't know that the SAE has a square nut standard and it differs slightly from the square nuts used in the utility industry! I helped a neighbor work on his old cornbinder and that's where he got his sockets. By the way,BB767 in his Restored 1930's Auto Shop post has multiple pictures of his restored Rotary lift and the square nuts used on that old lift are I believe SAE square nuts. As you know an 8pt will strip these hard to find nuts!

 

[JSBriggs]

mikew13,
The only place I have seen these sockets and I believe they were 3/8" drive was:
www.mrotools.com . The brand name was apex

http://mrotools.com/3616-3-8-square-drive-socket-for-sae-square-nuts.aspx

-Jeff

 

[NC-Fordguy]

....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m_mDTLphIVY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[franzdom]

http://mrotools.com/3616-3-8-square-drive-socket-for-sae-square-nuts.aspx

-Jeff

Well done sir

 

[Ryan]

I deleted a number of posts from this thread. If you can't talk about tools without calling folks names, I am going to close your account. No warnings.

 

[pipsters]

I'm confused why a 8 point socket wouldn't work. I have used them in the past and they fit completely over the bolt head. It's not the same as 6 point vs. 12 point, the entire bolt fits "squarely" in the socket.

 

[BFBOB]

mikew13,
The only place I have seen these sockets and I believe they were 3/8" drive was:
www.mrotools.com . The brand name was apex, I haven't been to the website in a long time and I am using my android phone to post this on my break. People were trying to be helpful, but alot of people don't know that the SAE has a square nut standard and it differs slightly from the square nuts used in the utility industry! I helped a neighbor work on his old cornbinder and that's where he got his sockets. By the way,BB767 in his Restored 1930's Auto Shop post has multiple pictures of his restored Rotary lift and the square nuts used on that old lift are I believe SAE square nuts. As you know an 8pt will strip these hard to find nuts!

Interesting... could you elaborate? Is it something like Whitworth where the marked wrench size doesn't match the measurements of the wrench? I have an old square-nutted windmill and tower; thought I had all the right sockets (except I'm still looking for a 15/16, 1/2" drive non-impact, just to round out the set ... oops, poor choice of expression. I meant "complete" the set), but now I wonder if I should measure the actual dimensions of the nuts.

 

[bimmerZ5]

in a pinch when you don't have the right tool, couldn't you use a 1/2" drive 6pt of say 1/4" size and use the square drive hole on the fastener. then use a 1/4" allen socket with 3/8" drive to your ratchet, stick the 1/4" allen side into the 1/4" 6pt of the 1/2" drive socket. duct tape them together or something. the above sockets are probably more commonly available in your tool box and should do the job.

 

[Larwyn]

When I run into a square fastener I often simply use a open end wrench. If a socket is called for I go through the ones that I have, if one fits the fastener I use it along with whatever drive the socket requires. Actually I find that square fasteners were usually readily accessible and do not require elaborate setups to install/remove.

 

[TwoInch]

by the OPs posts, and attitude, im guessing hes trolling. way to many simple ways to remove a square fastener to justify any of that nonesense

 

[Jim C.]

Mike,

I read one of your posts that was quoted in someone else's post, where you basically said that you were trying to use the right tool for the job. (see JarHead post above) You basically want a square socket for a square fastener. Okay. I still think an 8 point will work, but maybe you're trying to say that you'd like to use a vintage correct tool on the machine you're working on. I think I kind of understand where you're coming from. I like to tinker with old machines and cars. Somewhere along the line, I got this crazy idea in my head that it would make the tinkering even more enjoyable if I did it using vintage correct tools. (It gave me an excuse to buy more tools!!) As a result, I've been collecting older tools from the 1950s and 1960s to use when I'm working on vintage stuff. I've found that a 1/2" wrench from the 1960s doesn't turn a fastener any better than one from the 1980s or 1990s. Maybe it's just a purest mentality and I like collecting tools. Anyway, I still think an 8 point socket will work, but if you want a square socket, start hitting the flea markets and garage sales. You might just find a nice old set somewhere. Finally, tell us what type of machine you're working on.

Jim C.

 

[unslow1]

I recently completed a restoration of a 1912 car. It had almost exclusively square nuts. Craftsman 8 points were all I used on the whole thing. Just use PB Blaster and heat to break them free. I didn't force anything because I knew replacing fasteners would be hard. I do have the hand wrenches for it but who wants to use a hand wrench on everything.

 

[franzdom]

I noticed the OP had recently been unemployed. He may be under undue stress because of this condition or perhaps because he found a new job and there are pressures associated with that. I don't think it excuses the stress or makes us the deserving target of it but it does help me understand better that there is always something we don't see. It's like when someone is speeding excessively, you should think there may be a reason that is causing that behavior that is not obvious.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Maybe so ^^^^ I will say this, if he came back on here and said something along these lines: "Hey everybody, sorry 'bout my post, Mothers in the hospital, kid broke a leg wife sold all my tools and the neighbor pissed me off all in the same day, my bad" I'd give him a free pass, we've all been there. Just seemed like a slap in the face. If he comes back on maybe it can all be smoothed out.

 

[franzdom]

Yes I am trying to be charitable as it certainly upset me more than a little. I have never felt the urge to call someone out on this site before this thread and could not help myself.