Metric vs. SAE Std tool use

[Outlawmws]

I’m curious about the general membership on this subject.

I’ve seen several posts saying basically “SAE tools are a waste don’t by them”

While most of my vehicles are mostly metric, I still use SAE at least as much as I do metric, but my use is not restricted to just cars or just a work environment.

So how about it people? What is your approximate use ratio

 

[Scout Driver]

I voted 70% SAE.

Scott

 

[diesel research]

Metric is "kind of a waste" for me, but I still try to keep a mostly complete set.

I might go weeks at a time w/o using them, unless my hammer can be considered metric...

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I have a complete set of both but the metrics get used 90% of the time.

 

[Fedwrench]

My SAE tools largely gather dust but, it's better to have them and not need them, than it is to need them and not have them.

 

[elevator joe]

Our equipment gets sent to our jobs with metric and sae hardware so I use both regularly

 

[Dust]

Mostly metric, but Jeeps still have the odd SAE bolt on them. Rear diff covers come to mind.

 

[boostedgt]

vehicles mostly metric but old vintage stuff use SAE hardware(tables ect)

 

[ZRX61]

I voted 70% SAE.

Scott

Same here, but only because the poll doesn't include Whitworth...

 

[ajchien]

When I work on my car I use metric. When I work on my house or on a woodworking project, SAE.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

I voted 70% SAE.

Scott

Same here as well.

 

[TWX]

My hobby vehicles are all SAE except for the two fasteners for the wires on the small starter on the Cordoba and the oil drain plug on the aftermarket oil pan.

My daily drivers are metric. The Nissan and the Acura are all metric, and the Stratus might be. I can't remember if I've encountered SAE on there before or not. I know that K-cars had a mix, so they may have fully transitioned by the time they got to the JA platform.

Same here, but only because the poll doesn't include Whitworth...

You're a glutton for punishment, aren't you?

A funny note, the threads on the bottom of cameras to bolt them to tripods are apparently Whitworth. Not a lot left in that system, though it does crop up in places from time to time.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i have no need for standard at work normally; however we do get some older cars through and i break out the std tools, its nice to have the right tools

 

[DaWoodster]

I had to guess at 50/50. I honestly don't see how anyone could say 100% of one or the other, there's just too much of both in our modern lives. Whether it's car related, being a home owner or just assembling your latest purchase from HD or Toy's R Us, you just never know.

One of my rants in the last 10 years is that I have to wait for sockets/wrenches to go on sale for 50% off just so I can break even, since I'll usually have to buy both SAE and metric.

Just look at my sig; ain't no metric needed on what's in the pic, but keep readin' and the need for MM stuff comes pretty quick.

I'll admit since I'm not a pro mech, I still get a bit frustrated at the random mix of fasteners on some contemporary vehicles. I really got a surprise recently, when I pulled the motor on my '04 jeep GC; the bell housing to enigne bolts were metric heads and SAE threads Am I that old school or is that a common thing????

And so I rant... just my $.02, or however many Euros... or yen

 

[boohocky]

My vote goes 70% metric. I do break out the sae stuff every now and then though. With the new Corvette sitting in my driveway, I may be using them more often now. I got a feeling it's probably mixed up a bit though on this car.

 

[diesel research]

I really got a surprise recently, when I pulled the motor on my '04 jeep GC; the bell housing to enigne bolts were metric heads and SAE threads Am I that old school or is that a common thing????

GM was doing this atleast as far back as mid 80s/early 90s. Or maybe vice versa, don't remember. Just remember a few exhaust manifold bolts kicking my *** until I figured out.

 

[TheFarmer]

I use metric 90% of the time.

 

[Jeff]

90% metric here...Toyota Tacoma, Triumph Bonneville, and a VW Thing. I do encounter a few SAE fasteners on home projects.

 

[dwm]

All metric on both of my current vehicles (German). Mostly SAE on the tractors except the Kubota which seems to have a mix. Most stuff around the house remains in the inch system; I'm not even sure where to buy a metric head lag screw in the U.S., for example.

Appliances and electronics... mixed, and somewhat depends on when and where they're made. Same with bicycles and some of the smaller lawn equipment (chain saw, gas hedge trimmer, push mower, etc.).

 

[johnnybentwrench]

sillymeters 98 percent of the time

 

[SlimChance]

Majority SAE at the plant. I wish they would just make everything metric.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

At work there are six metric bolts in the entire plant, and they are electrical/instrumentation's problem.

At home, there's a little bit of metric on the F150 and there's metric on the police avoidance vehicle. On the Bronco the only metric fastener is the stud on the back of the stereo and the boat/trailer have all SAE.

 

[wafrederick]

GM,Ford and Chrysler should go back to SAE fasteners,easy with two thread pitches instead of 5 with the Metric bolts and nuts.It is called if there is nothing wrong with it,don't fix it!.I call it a waste of money going to the metric fastners.

 

[nelstomlinson]

My '97 F350 diesel has lots of SAE, particularly underneath. My 96 Subaru has none so far. I voted 70% sillymeters. I'm buying some 3/4" drive sockets in SAE because older equipment (tractors and such) is SAE, and I hope to have some soon. That will eventually change the vote to 50-50, I hope.

 

[unknow82]

Only some A/C units I have use SAE, but adjustable wrens got through those ones.
Now I have SAE set, but mostly for fun.

For my surprice, I have found that some machines made in china do use British Standard Whitworth or BSW mesuring and that is scary.

 

[Outlawmws]

Only some A/C units I have use SAE, but adjustable wrens got through those ones.
Now I have SAE set, but mostly for fun.

For my surprice, I have found that some machines made in china do use British Standard Whitworth or BSW mesuring and that is scary.

Not that surprising; parts of China were under British control for a time, and in Hong Kong's case, not that long ago

 

[unknow82]

aah, good point!

 

[GoBlue]

I work on cars so almost everything i encounter is metric. Every once in a while i run across a SAE fastener that someone put in as a replacement or maybe is a holdover from the OEM but not often. I voted %90 metric. I run into the damn SAE's just often enough for me to have to buy a full set of them. I started wrenching after the oems went metric so i despise SAE...as i was raised metric!

 

[ibedayank]

mix of metric witworth and standard on the cycles
sae on the older trucks tractor and forklift
mix of metric and sae on the new cars and trucks

 

[CatCow]

I voted 90% metric, but it's probably closer to 80. All my vehicles have been metric, and then the US made accessories are SAE... Anything I make with stuff I buy is going to be SAE, but then most of the pre-made stuff from the store is made in China, so it usually gets metric stuff... I only have one set of wrenches in SAE, and 3 in metric if that is any indication

Perhaps it was just because I spent so long working on that rusty VW Bug before I sold it earlier this year, but I seem to do better guessing at metric fastener sizes than I do SAE.

 

[LGMechanical]

Tractor/trailer mechanics need both. Voted 50/50. Volvo tractors are almost all metric but the rest are the opposite. Trailers are all SAE, brass fitting are all SAE, air hoses have all SAE ends, etc. Even the light duty Japanese trucks have a 50/50 mix.

It gets expensive considering you need 40mm + in metric and 2" + in SAE.

 

[djb2]

This is a pretty silly discussion.

Perhaps 60 years ago rallying around one or the other could (very slight chance) have resulted in a single standard. But today there is no chance of either SAE or Metric going away. Pretty much everyone has to deal with both, and have tools for both, for the next century.

And it's not like metric hasn't changed. Older German cars used 10, 13 and 17mm for everything. Occasionally 22 and 24mm for the suspension. Japanese cars used 10,12,14mm with 19, 21 and 23mm for larger fasteners. Now German cars use 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19mm, plus more specialty fasteners than ever (XZN, E-Torx).

 

[rayh91]

99% Metric.

The only SAE tools I have are the sockets that came with my Gearwrench ratcheting screwdriver and I haven't used them once.

 

[Outlawmws]

This is a pretty silly discussion.

Perhaps 60 years ago rallying around one or the other could (very slight chance) have resulted in a single standard. But today there is no chance of either SAE or Metric going away. Pretty much everyone has to deal with both, and have tools for both, for the next century.

And it's not like metric hasn't changed. Older German cars used 10, 13 and 17mm for everything. Occasionally 22 and 24mm for the suspension. Japanese cars used 10,12,14mm with 19, 21 and 23mm for larger fasteners. Now German cars use 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19mm, plus more specialty fasteners than ever (XZN, E-Torx).

What makes it silly? I asked what tools people used. it's pretty obvious it's all over the map, and the poll proves it, as does the commentary, which is very enlightening. No one has been pushing that one is better or worse than the other in any major way, no arguments have ensued (And I really don't want to get into that discussion in this thread at all. They are simply different. Which might be better is a no win argument based solely on opinion...). It's simply observations.

 

[Shipfittin]

We use SAE exclusively at work, that's one good thing working for the fed's, I'll never need a metric anything. At home my F-150, it goes back and forth between metric and standard around the truck.

 

[garfunkle24]

90% metric here. At my work it is all metric, so I only really use SAE for side jobs, working on my Dad's **** and also stuff around the house.

 

[mtne]

Work is 98%+ SAE, but as a sparky that's ain't much really. At home it's 98% metric and I do a lot more wrenching at home......... so to be fair I said 70% metric.

 

[0.511MeV]

I have a small amount of SAE sockets from a large set I bought. I also have 1 SAE wrench (not one set. . . just one single wrench). I have some SAE measuring devices (tapes and rulers).

Otherwise I use metric exclusively. If I build something, it is metric.

I've even thought about drilling and tapping any SAE stuff I find for metric fasteners. However, I think about the frustration and anger I experience when I buy something and a stupid hack has forced an SAE fastener into a metric hole.

 

[byoungblood]

I voted 70% metric. I tend to only use SAE stuff when working around the house, or working on my older Craftsman power tools. I'd probably be 90% metric, save that my Wrangler has a fair amount of SAE fasteners on it.

 

[Jim C.]

I like tinkering with old cars and old woodworking machines, so I mostly use SAE.

Jim C.