Metric, SAE or Both?

[#1SomeGuy]

So when buying sets, what does everyone tend to get? I know metric fasteners are becoming more and more ubiquitous but that doesn't help much when you come across something that's SAE. I have always gone with getting both...but obviously that doubles my investment on any new tools. I have been considering getting a 3/4 drive socket set for some time and there are fewer mixed sets than just straight metric or straight sae...do I really need both?

 

[Jim C.]

Both, but most of what I like to work on (1960s cars and pre-1960s woodworking machinery) is SAE. I don't have any 3/4" drive stuff.

 

[carterbeauford]

SAE for old tractors and farm equipment, metric for pretty much everything else.

 

[dirtmister16]

i buy both as it is needed. but most of the stuff i work with is sae, im filling in my metric as i go along.

 

[Steevo]

I have a 40+year collection, and have purchased SAE and metric off and on, depending on my needs at the time. Have lots of both, and just added some Gearwrenches in both as Christmas gifts.

 

[dirtydogintex]

not many whippersnappers voting on this poll....

 

[goodysgotacuda]

You need both.

 

[Monkey Milk]

I have both, never like the fact of hunting for tools in the middle of the job.

 

[Rogue1987]

Got to have both, never know what I will be working on from one day to another. More SAE than MM for my current field, but MM is getting more common with each passing day.

 

[NHBandit]

I voted both because it's what I have. The reality is I've been turning wrenches since dirt was new and just retired so I don't buy much of anything anymore. In the beginning metric was just for those pesky, weird VW Beetles and EVERYTHING else was SAE. I did have a bunch of Whitworth stuff for the old Triumphs I rode but Japanese & European metric was simply not very common at all. These days it's the SAE stuff that gathers dust unless I'm messing with an old hotrod or working on my 67 Camaro. For a young pup just starting out I would say buy all the metric stuff you can before you buy one single SAE tool. Then when finances allow it grab some SAE stuff. Or buy that stuff used since it probably won't be needed very often. Anybody need a nice Snap On tach & dwell meter ? How about one of them flexible allen wrench screwdrivers for adjusting GM points through the little window ? I think I've got one for adjusting the idle on Q-jet carbs too around here somewhere... LoL

 

[Farmall450]

All the old tractors, gas engines, etc are SAE but everything nowadays is Metric, so it's worth it.

 

[STANIMAL]

I hope to need some for an upcoming project , but have never needed SAE.

 

[cowboy73]

You gotta have both. I've gotten rounded off nuts loose that were metric with SAE and vise versa. Some of the pullers and specialty tools have SAE bolts that are designed to be used on "metric" vehicles.

 

[bobemmerich]

I don't wrench professionally anymore, but when I did (in the 90,s), I used mostly metric. Now i use more SAE as I work on my 60's Mustangs and I have one 3 drawer C-Man box filled with MM that I use when I need to work on my daily driven cars. In the garage box, I have both. I'm kinda **** about tools-If I but a set of something, I have to get BOTH MM/SAE of the same brand. That's why I couldn't collect "Vintage" tools. It would take forever and cost a fortune to get complete sets...LOL

 

[mailpup]

It depends on what you work on frequently as to which you need the most. I use mostly metric but you can't get away from SAE completely. For example, tools that need wrenches or sockets to work, like the forcing screw on pullers, often are SAE, especially those pullers made in USA. Granted, sometimes they will use crossover sizes like 5/8"-16mm or 3/4"-19mm but not all do.

For 3/4" drive tools, if you don't see the immediate need for SAE, don't get it now. As I said, it depends on what you work on.

Edit: Cowboy73 already mentioned pullers. Didn't see it right away.

 

[nanofrog]

Depends on what you do IMHO.

1/4" DR is all I have full metric and SAE sets in, as it's used for electronics as well as vehicle repair (I use deep sockets as nut drivers). Scattered SAE otherwise in 3/8" or 1/2"DR, and most of that was the remnants of my Dad's tools (not a full set in sight).

If starting out as a auto tech, I'm under the impression that it would be best to start with metric, and add SAE as needed.

 

[Danglerb]

Spline works pretty well for both, but I have lots of old tools so I have enough SAE already, and everything I buy in specialty tools is metric. I won't turn down a good deal on SAE, but shop for and buy new is all metric.

 

[air]

I don't turn wrenches for a living, but the car in my avatar picture requires Fractional tools. I wrench on that jalopy more than anything in my little vehicle fleet...so I have a lot of SAE tools.


Not saying I don't have plenty of Metric either...So I voted both.

 

[sberry]

Doesnt mean you need them all in every set or wrench they ever invented.

 

[Outline]

As someone from 'the old world': Only Metric.

A few years back I bought Metrinch (metric & inch combined) combination wrenches just in case I would need them. Never have and at the moment I'm trying hard to get them sold!

For you USA-guys: When I look at pictures and in the Snap-on catalogue, I always get the impression that you buy EVERY size in metric (above 20mm), even the odd ones I have never used or sold like 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 and so on? Is that correct?

The same for every variety of sockets that you usually have. I can tell you that overhere long versions of sockets are pretty rare in a mechanics toolset, let alone swivelheads and others...

I have all sizes from 4 mm up to 22 (because of old size bolts/nuts which I sometimes encounter> needed to use 15mm first time in my life 2 weeks ago) and from there it's 24-27-30-32-34. Never needed to go bigger or came across a size I didn't have.

So how about it?

 

[dirtmister16]

NHBANDIT! the flexible tool i had one once! never knew what it was for so i gave it to a friend. wish i knew that before i gave it away, i could use from time to time.

now i know! haha great.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have both, but rarely purchase any new SAE tools. I would guess and say 95% of my current work is with Metric

 

[Ray916MN]

I'd agree that you need both, but the poll question is "What type do you buy?"

At this point, the vast majority of what I work on is metric and with my SAE stuff getting so little use there is little reason to buy more, so I just buy metric now when I need new stuff.

Now if the poll question were "What type do you own?", I'd answer both.

Are you folks who say you need both, really buying both metric and SAE when you buy new stuff?

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I use SAE 99.9% of the time. Between wrenching on my own junk and at work, metric isn't exactly a common use item. That said, I do buy metric stuff just for the fact that with the wife's XJ and my big truck, metric is a necessary evil. I also run into the issue of my wife's obsessive need to buy Ikea furniture.

 

[matthew]

If you're in North America, and are doing any sort of variety of jobs (whether different makes of cars, household repairs, different ages of stuff) then you need at least a basic selection of both. How basic depends on what you're doing. I don't see that need for both changing in the near future, but the trend is towards metric, and chances are in the future you might get away with a very basic SAE set and focus more on the variety shapes and styles of metric tools.

 

[mailpup]

Ray916MN, while I buy many different types of metric sockets and wrenches since that's what I tend to use most often, my SAE "collection" is more basic. So if I have a 12 pt. metric flare nut crowfoot wrench set, I probably won't buy the SAE version unless I come across a situation where it is needed.

 

[Ben Buck]

I buy both of them, in fact Santa brought an SAE and metric flex head wrench set, gearwrench brand.

I also have the universal metric and sae adjustable wrench in various sizes, that most of us, you, have!! I don't wrench for a living, I just love tools.

 

[woody 73]

Back in the 70's I needed SAE plus working on old woodworking machines take SAE; Which brings me to buy Metric for todays newer cars so I voted for buying both.

 

[bwh998]

I like old American trucks and new Japanese motorcycles, so both.

 

[bbrins]

Since I own and work on both foreign and domestic things, I buy both, I just like to have the proper sized wrench for whatever I might be digging into already on hand and not have to borrow or hunt one down.

 

[DJGJ]

This is interesting. I have and buy both. I am 43, do not wrench for a living, but do work on my own cars, and like to buy both for the sake of having both. But, I also have found more use for metric than sae which is where it becomes interesting for me. Having boys 20 and 17 it is time to get them on the tool wagon. Mostly because I am tired of mine disappearing, but have struggled with what to start them off with. The younger is more of a wrench turner and the older more of a need to get something done and if it is something he doesn't want to mess with he is bringing it home for dad to fix. What would you all suggest in each case?

 

[kunkernator]

I agree with what was said about needing a basic set of both. I tend to need metric more, but my OCD kicks in, if I buy the 7 piece metric wrench set I NEED to buy the equivalent 7 piece SAE wrench set......

 

[IMStuner]

We have 3 Honda, 1 Nissan, 2 Yamaha, 1 Subaru and 1 Jeep. Plus my dad was a Japanese car mechcanic so we pretty much own all metic size.

 

[Outlawmws]

I buy both and use both.

3/4 is also on the menu but my recommendations is to buy any drive tools used and only add socket sizes you absolutely will use.

Why? They are HEAVY and you will probably never use a full set. I have a "set" nearly complete, and by itself it weighs well in excess of 50 lbs. Then I added a 1" drive ratchet and that alone weigh over 12lbs.

The reality is that for my use if I had a 2" and a 1/2-3/4 adapter for it I'd be fine. but I'm one of those that wants the right tool in stock, even if I may never need it...

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I voted metric. Sure I have some SAE too, but I have hardly ever used them. Some sizes get used a lot, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 13/16, 7/8, but most just sit there. With a basic set, I no longer buy SAE unless it's part of a lot.

For you USA-guys: When I look at pictures and in the Snap-on catalogue, I always get the impression that you buy EVERY size in metric (above 20mm), even the odd ones I have never used or sold like 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 and so on? Is that correct?

The same for every variety of sockets that you usually have. I can tell you that overhere long versions of sockets are pretty rare in a mechanics toolset, let alone swivelheads and others...

I hate it when you find a nicely priced set and they have those stupid sizes in there. Who the hell uses a 23 and 25mm? 7-19, 21, 22, 24, 30, and 32mm has been all I've ever needed personally. I also have never NEEDED a swivel socket or crows foot.

 

[marlinspike]

I hate it when you find a nicely priced set and they have those stupid sizes in there. Who the hell uses a 23 and 25mm? 7-19, 21, 22, 24, 30, and 32mm has been all I've ever needed personally. I also have never NEEDED a swivel socket or crows foot.

I've used a 25 for something. I can't remember what though. It was either a BMW or Mercedes. A really useless size is a 20mm...and yet I bought one to complete a set that didn't come with one just in case.

Maybe it's because I'm only 27, but I own ever use metric, so I only own metric.

 

[Hotz]

I have to use both ...
North America for the cars, machinery and antique pieces, but daily metric.
The biggest problem is when you need to measure parts (SAE inch millesimal) go crazy. lol ...

Question! cars made in America already Utilization Metric ... here in Brazil worked in the Mustangs had 95 inch and metric???

I found it very strange to have two measures

 

[jamesc]

I picked metric because I still purchase metric tools and I feel I won't need to purchase anymore sae tools from what I already have. I find sae is getting less common and most guys in the trade my age have no idea what sae is and how to convert.

 

[kc-steve]

Interesting poll. I voted both, but from a seller's perspective, I sell more SAE than I do metric of any tool. It's probably close though. My customers are USA only.

Steve

 

[andermt]

Always used to buy SAE only then started messing with new cars so then only bought metric, as I've now finally decided to fix up the Mini Cooper (60's) I need to get some decent SAE stuff now.