Need Help find Hex Sockets

[Beowulf]

I figured I turn to the tools guys on this forum.

I work in aerospace and need to best tool I can find for my team. The end product will end up in space. Before I took over this program the team broke several hex keys (ball end) and damaged the product.

Obviously I don't mind blowing the money for the best.

What I need:

Hex Socket
Drive 1/4" (but could use adapter for 3/8" drive)

Standard length Standard end 9/64
Standard length Ball End 9/64

(Long anywhere from 3" to 6" will work)
Long length Standard end 9/64
Long length Ball end 9/64

So 4 different bits in totals. I'll end up buying 5 of each to cover accidents.

I don't care if it is Wera, Wiha, SnapOn, SK....etc. Just as long as everyone feels it is on the higher end of Quality Control and Material for this type of tool.

If you could provide part numbers and purchase location that would aid my procurement team immensely.

Thank you!


Standard length Ball End 9/64

 

[oldgoat]

Where I worked at before I retired we used Alex sockets and they seemed to do good.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Bondhus is good, and made in America if that's a concern. They have both ball end and straight hex bits and drivers. There's a 'where to buy' thing at the top of their web page. http://bondhus.com/

 

[matt_i]

Imo if you are regularly breaking the ball end off you shouldn't be using the ball end.

Wera has the best L-keys in my opinion, they are round stock and the hex is milled into the end (instead of a bent hex bar). The round stock is oversized and so can handle more torque because of larger cross section.

If you are talking about hex bits the Snap Ons have never failed me. Twisted a couple up but they never broke.

 

[Jack84]

Our mechanics swear by Ko-Ken for hex sockets.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[wssix99]

The end product will end up in space.

In a pressurized environment or in a vacuum?

 

[Dustball]

Seems like you'll need to do a mix of manufacturers to get short/long standard and ball end hex sockets.

Here's a start-
https://www.kctoolco.com/1-4-drive-...et=Individual Tools&Tipsize=Hex+SAE+9/64+inch

 

[Vinny]

Imo if you are regularly breaking the ball end off you shouldn't be using the ball end.

I was in a similar situation where I work, and they had to use the ball joint because of the awkward position of the bolt installed on the tooling. In our situation, we were rounding off Snap On constantly, so I figure the ball end of these things just isn't up to constant use, no matter what the brand is. And for those suggesting he use keys (which to me always seemed sturdier), I guarantee this guy is installing with a torque wrench, so that is not an option.
We warranty them every two weeks now, just to keep a fresh one in. The Snap On guy is cool with it because we've probably made him a millionaire with the other tools we are always buying.

 

[Wamsutta]

The ball end is not for breaking torque. It's for backing out the screw from an angle after it's been loosened.

 

[shawhite]

Snap-on all the way. The only one you may have A hard time with is the ball-end long the rest you can find in 1/4 drive or have your driver make you one in 1/4 drive.

 

[jkesselr]

Somewhere, I recall reading that snap on has two grades. The chrome socket with black hex insert is like regular grade and the gold insert is the heavy duty version. Don’t know if it is true, but worth exploring in your case.

 

[KnurledNut]

OP, Would it be possible for your application to eliminate (or compliment) the ball ends with the use of a universal such as Snap-on TMUBS8?

 

[IPFreely]

Snap on.
1/4" 9/64 ball hex part # TMAB4.5E
9/64 standard hex part # TMA4.5E
1/4" drive locking flex head quick release thrlx72g
You can get them online from snapon.com.
Or off the tool truck.
If you are near Md, pm me.

 

[gatlibs]

I don't know what broke means. It could be stripped (my guess) or snapped. Bondhus and others - I would imagine others as well - gives data about snapping points. A chart would yield an answer that way. I wouldn't think that ball end stripping would be widely available information since it is the first point of failure and some users simply use it to spin out a fastener after breaking with the full hex or low torque only situations. http://bondhus.com/pages/competitor-comparisons

Also, I don't think that Garage Journal would be good for consensus. You could poll for largest plurality.

 

[matt_i]

Somewhere, I recall reading that snap on has two grades. The chrome socket with black hex insert is like regular grade and the gold insert is the heavy duty version. Don’t know if it is true, but worth exploring in your case.

From my experience the gold hex is metric and black hex is inch.

 

[dacan23]

Technically it already is, Literally everything is in space, Morty!

The end product will end up in space.

In a pressurized environment or in a vacuum?

 

[bob15]

Somewhere, I recall reading that snap on has two grades. The chrome socket with black hex insert is like regular grade and the gold insert is the heavy duty version. Don’t know if it is true, but worth exploring in your case.

I believe you are referring to Torx bits, not hex bits.

 

[bob15]

With regards to Bondhus, their T-handle wrenches do not have ball ends below 5/32" & 4mm because they found them to be too weak. I will say that I concur with their conclusion as I have snapped off more than one 1/8 ball end hex. I just wind-up filing the broken end smooth and just continue to use the T-handle hex, less the ball.