May have found my most useless socket...

[Jason280]

...a Stanley Workmaster 1/2" drive 12pt 1/4" socket. Not sure I can imagine any scenario where I'd need a 1/2" drive 1/4" socket, much less a 12pt one, but I have one just in case!

 

[chrismenke]

Yeah...that's not even useful for filling an OCD inspiring void on an Ernst socket tray.

 

[General Geoff]

Yeah that's pretty damn overkill

 

[M6erfan]

Cool socket! Useless, but cool.

 

[protegeV]

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Where's my 3 foot snap on breaker bar when I need it...

 

[ChrisLS8]

Finally something more useless than 1/4 breaker bars

 

[BrandoJames]

Hey I was looking for that...

 

[Jason280]

Finally something more useless than 1/4 breaker bars

I actually occasionally use them...

 

[M6erfan]

Hey I was looking for that...

It's probably next to the 1/4" drive 25mm socket

 

[Empty Pockets]

Who cares if it's chrome, pass me my impact gun

Sent from my SM-J727V using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Shadowdog500]

Great! I can finally fill that last peg on my 1/2” drive socket tray!!! LOL!

 

[Two Door]

Who cares if it's chrome, pass me my impact gun

The Garage Journal mobile app

Make that baby a zero point socket.... Actually, a drive handle would probably do it, if you stacked all the adapters together to make it work....

 

[Two Door]

Clearly meant for those people who wonder why you need any small drive sizes.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Use with a torque wrench and not needing an adapter.

 

[PugetDude]

Use with a torque wrench and not needing an adapter.

Bingo!

We have a winner.

 

[VocaTexas]

Years ago a friend of mine tore down an engine that had 1/4 inch 12 point bolts on the main bearings. I can't remember what engine it was (4 banger, I think), but I do remember he broke a 1/4 drive ratchet trying to get them loose.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I also forgot to mention for torquing ARP fasteners.

 

[M6erfan]

Use with a torque wrench and not needing an adapter.

Bingo!

We have a winner.

Really? What am I missing? What 1/4" fastener heads require the range of a 1/2" torque wrench (80+ft/lbs)? Serious question.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Really? What am I missing? What 1/4" fastener heads require the range of a 1/2" torque wrench (80+ft/lbs)? Serious question.

Beats the hell out of me, I just posted a plausible answer to the question.

 

[DSLTRK]

If it's broached deeply, you can cut an allen key to make an effective bit socket.

I made many bit sockets using cheap Craftsman sockets and good Elkind keys. peen the end to be inserted into the socket for a snug fit.

 

[M6erfan]

Beats the hell out of me, I just posted a plausible answer to the question.

 

[MikeF2316]

I had a '66 Volvo 122S (Amazon) back in the day. There was a 1/4" fastener that wrecked a lot of open end wrenches that was the adjuster for the rear brakes. Too bad it was square, not hex. A half drive square socket would have been perfect for that.

 

[protegeV]

Use with a torque wrench and not needing an adapter.

What 1/4" fastener would ever require the torque delivered by a 1/2" torque wrench??? More like 1/4" wrench territory. Inch pounds.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

It’s for snapping off rusted or seized bolts.
Come on guys.

 

[tym]

It’s for snapping off rusted or seized bolts.
Come on guys.

Yep! Reminds me of when I snapped a water pump bolt on my Mustang with <20 ft-lb!! I think they were overtorqued at the factory and had yielded.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Years ago a friend of mine tore down an engine that had 1/4 inch 12 point bolts on the main bearings. I can't remember what engine it was (4 banger, I think), but I do remember he broke a 1/4 drive ratchet trying to get them loose.

Not sure what engine would use main bearing bolts or caps that small. Even the 1.5 Hondas use a much larger size than 1/4 on the mains, my 2.0 Nissan had 12mm until I had em machined out for 1/2 Inch studs

 

[ex-x-fire]

I thought I found a weird one when I found a shallow 3/8 drive 7mm. I use it all the time for splash shields & trim on my cordless ratchet.

 

[mfewtrail]

What 1/4" fastener would ever require the torque delivered by a 1/2" torque wrench??? More like 1/4" wrench territory. Inch pounds.

Plenty of 1/2'' torque wrenches out there that start at 0.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What 1/4" fastener would ever require the torque delivered by a 1/2" torque wrench??? More like 1/4" wrench territory. Inch pounds.

See post #20 and 21.

 

[M6erfan]

I thought I found a weird one when I found a shallow 3/8 drive 7mm. I use it all the time for splash shields & trim on my cordless ratchet.

Shallow or low profile? 3/8" shallow 6mm & 7mm sockets are quite common.

 

[big.jim]

speed wrench and screwdriver type bits will fit in that

 

[ex-x-fire]

Shallow or low profile? 3/8" shallow 6mm & 7mm sockets are quite common.

Shallow. Never seen 6 or 7 in 3/8 drive, all my set go from 8-24mm.

 

[MoonRise]

12 point 1/4" flange bolt?

https://www.aftfasteners.com/12-point-flange-bolt-mechanical-technical-information/

Or

https://www.boltsandnuts.com/user/products/38333-pdfs-0-file.pdf

1/4-28 Grade 9 might torque to 192 in-lbs, which is a whopping 16 ft-lbs.

https://www.fastenal.com/content/feds/pdf/Torque-Tension Chart for A307 Gr5 Gr8 Gr9.pdf

Tekton 10-150 ft-lb 1/2" drive click-type torque wrench

https://www.tekton.com/1-2-inch-drive-click-torque-wrench-24335

 

[M6erfan]

Shallow. Never seen 6 or 7 in 3/8 drive, all my set go from 8-24mm.

What set do you have? That's a great range for 3/8", I have no use for 6-7mm in 3/8".

My C'man USA set is 6-22mm and I'm pretty sure that I've never used 6-7mm sockets in that set. SK offer similar size sets as do many others. I'd much rather have a 3/8" set like yours that starts at 8mm and goes to 24mm.

 

[M6erfan]

You can modify your set easily to that range. Just take the unwanted sockets out, and dispose of them by trash, selling, or donating (or storing somewhere else)! Then, add a couple of individual sockets at the larger end.

Oh trust me, I've already done that. I recently added a 26mm shallow to my 3/8" set, I added 24mm years back. The smaller unused sockets are put in a "misc" bin in my box. Kind of like the junk drawer in the kitchen.

I'm more curious which manufacturer offers that size range. 8-24mm in 3/8" is about perfect to me and I've never seen that range offered in a chrome set.

 

[Old Man Roger]

It's for when you go to work on some piece of heavy equipment, and there's a sheet metal cover you didn't know you had to take off..lol

You were working on a dozer or a tractor, so you only brought the half inch drive tools with you.

 

[M6erfan]

It's for when you go to work on some piece of heavy equipment, and there's a sheet metal cover you didn't know you had to take off..lol

You were working on a dozer or a tractor, so you only brought the half inch drive tools with you.

Best answer yet ^^^

 

[48RON54]

It's for when you go to work on some piece of heavy equipment, and there's a sheet metal cover you didn't know you had to take off..lol

You were working on a dozer or a tractor, so you only brought the half inch drive tools with you.

I agree. I deal with diesel generators and air compressors and pretty much only use 1/2" drive. I ran into some bolts holding the fan shroud on one that were really small. Its been a year though so I can't remember if they were as small as 1/4". Its more likely they were metric though.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

I also occasionally use my 1/4 drive breaker bars.