New Mexico - "Socket Wrench" = Ratchet

[pepsican]

Just happen to be re-watching Breaking Bad and I noticed Clovis (Badgers cousin the mechanic/tow/repair guy) asks Badger to hand him the (big) socket wrench when he's working on the RV.

I have never heard any mechanic call a ratchet a socket wrench ever. Figured it was just a tv writer thing. Ratchet seems more descriptive and why would you use a two word name for something when the one word name is even better and quicker?

Curiously I looked it up and wiki says "socket wrench" is a general name for any tool that can turn a socket (ratchet, t-handle, and tools that have their own sockets like a nut driver or spark plug wrench).

So again it seems odd that he would use a longer and more vague term vs. just ratchet.

Is this a regional thing? Do any of you ever say "socket wrench" for a ratchet? (Illinois here)

 

[Corndoggeh]

Well.... yes? Socket wrench is a vague term for anything that has a socket attached to it and a ratchet (ratchet wrench) describes a specific type of socket wrench.

 

[pepsican]

But would you ask your buddy to hand you a socket wrench or a ratchet is the question I guess?

 

[ChevyEFI]

That's not what a ratchet is called in Albuquerque, nor the rest of NM.

 

[jl4c]

But would you ask your buddy to hand you a socket wrench or a ratchet is the question I guess?

The question I posted today now seems small and inconsequential by comparison.

 

[timbitca]

I've heard it before around here too, but it's not common.

 

[fowldarr]

I heard it growing up quite a bit. The terms were used interchangeably, and my son says that I use both terms. (I had never thought about it). Ultimately, it's one more syllable, not that big of a deal. I would guess that it is a regional and/or family terminology issue.

 

[tdellenburg]

I was installing some new LED lights today in a diesel shop and looked at the mechanic and said "damn, that's a big ole socket wrench." But I am one of those deplorable rednecks in SC, so I guess that's to be expected.

 

[Fordman7795]

Ive never called a ratchet a socket wrench and only a few people who have. Ratchet, socket, and wrench are all different tools in my book.

 

[californiaHank]

If somebody asked me to 'hand them the socket wrench', and I was in the US, I'd look at the tools he had out on the bench for a ratchet with a socket attached.

If I was in Europe, or in an airplane hangar, I might see a fixed socket wrench instead - an 'L' shaped handle with a permanently attached socket at each end - and I'd hand him that. If he just wanted the ratchet and no socket, I'd expect him to ask for a ratchet, not a socket wrench.

 

[Kev442]

Socket wrench was pretty common when I was a kid.
I might go so far as to say those cheap sets sold at Kmart in the 70s said socket wrench set on them.

 

[pepsican]

Interesting, thx for the responses! Think I'm going to try it on my buddies to see how they react.

JL4C: lol joking I hope, I know my question is stupid. Sometimes my brain wont move on until I find the answer no matter how insignificant.

 

[Tim37]

If you think about it socket wrench is a more appropriate term
A socket is too that fits on a bolt/nut.
A wrench is a tool used to turn things
A ratchet is a wrench used to turn sockets.


I have heard it hear but it seems to be one of those older terms

 

[tonyciambrone]

Ratchet is a well enough understood colloquialism. Ratcheting Socket Wrench is much more precise.

The amount of things that fall under "channellocks" or "vise-grips" is out of hand.

Ratcheting mechanisms are also in all sorts of tools that don't have to do with socket wrenches.

Confucius say: The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.

 

[General Geoff]

Ratchet is a well enough understood colloquialism. Ratcheting Socket Wrench is much more precise.

The amount of things that fall under "channellocks" or "vise-grips" is out of hand.

Ratcheting mechanisms are also in all sorts of tools that don't have to do with socket wrenches.

Confucius say: The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.

It's already enough of a mouthful to ask your helper for a 1/2" drive chrome shallow 6-point 18mm socket on a long handle flex-head quick release ratchet, no need to add "ratcheting socket wrench" to that novel!

 

[jl4c]

Confucius say: The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.

Oh goodness, I guess no more acronyms.

 

[gdocktor3]

I see a lot of Europeans call it that on here.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Oh goodness, I guess no more acronyms.

My favorite acronym is T.L.A (Three-letter-acronym)

ABS, VSS, TPS, MAF, MAP etc, etc.

The gold standard of the automotive industry.

 

[tonyciambrone]

It's already enough of a mouthful to ask your helper for a 1/2" drive chrome shallow 6-point 18mm socket on a long handle flex-head quick release ratchet, no need to add "ratcheting socket wrench" to that novel!

It's hard enough getting a helper that can tell the difference between anything at all

 

[jl4c]

JL4C: lol joking I hope, I know my question is stupid. Sometimes my brain wont move on until I find the answer no matter how insignificant.

Pulling your chain. And in case you get to wondering, the pearly gates swing INWARDS.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I thought that real mechanics just used item numbers.

Bob: "Hey Jim, have you seen my FBF80A?"
Jim: "No I haven't, but my FH80A is right here."
Bob: "NAh, this M8x1.25 5.5 bolt is in a tricky spot."
Rodney:"Try my 62333."
Bob: "Errrr......uh....umm..?"
Jim: "Well use my FHX80A."
Bob: "Sweeeeet!"

 

[FJ 432]

I use the term socket wrench all the time.

 

[2oolhound]

I have never heard any mechanic call a ratchet a socket wrench ever. Figured it was just a tv writer thing. Ratchet seems more descriptive and why would you use a two word name for something when the one word name is even better and quicker?

I'm with you on this one. I don't watch a lot of movies but when watching Fast Five and Dwayne Johnson accuses Vin Diesel of beating a man 1/2 to death using a socket wrench my enthusiasm for the movie deflated rapidly. That line just didn't fit.

In Vin Diesel's one on one scrap with the Rock, he finishes by just about smashing Rock's face in with a pipe wrench or… I think that's what it's called. Anyone know the proper hollywood name for pipe wrench????

 

[2oolhound]

I thought that real mechanics just used item numbers.

Bob: "Hey Jim, have you seen my FBF80A?"
Jim: "No I haven't, but my FH80A is right here."
Bob: "NAh, this M8x1.25 5.5 bolt is in a tricky spot."
Rodney:"Try my 62333."
Bob: "Errrr......uh....umm..?"
Jim: "Well use my FHX80A."
Bob: "Sweeeeet!"

GOOD ONE!

 

[General Geoff]

It's hard enough getting a helper that can tell the difference between anything at all

True that!

 

[four.cycle]

Ratcheting Socket Wrench is much more precise.

^ True.

They were "socket wrenches" or "ratchet socket handles" or "ratchet wrenches" before they were just "ratchets".




As with innumerable other terms in the English language, the definitions of which have evolved over the years, in the current lexicon they are usually referred to as just "ratchets".

All of the above are correct.

 

[WWheeler]

Socket wrench was pretty common when I was a kid.
I might go so far as to say those cheap sets sold at Kmart in the 70s said socket wrench set on them.

+1 all this

 

[four.cycle]

or maybe just "ratchet handle", like this model 655 Indestro from the 1935 Indestro catalog:



I would imagine there might be regional colloquialisms for them as well.

 

[1cargarage]

^ True.

They were "socket wrenches" or "ratchet socket handles" or "ratchet wrenches" before they were just "ratchets".





All of the above are correct.

^^^This is what I understood to be the case as well - a "ratchet" as we know it being called a "socket wrench" back in the day.

The place I have heard the term "socket wrench" used most recently though, is throughout the socket episode of How It's Made.

Here's a link to the video:

It opens with, "The invention of the socket wrench in 1864 put a whole new twist on fastening things..."

So there you have it.

 

[Empty Pockets]

A ratchet is a ratchet.

A socket wrench is a saltus wrench

 

[pstemari]

Growing up in Ohio it was always a "socket wrench". I think breaker bars usually just got called a "handle", but I can't swear to that.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[pistolpete1313]

Socket wrench
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftoolguyd.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F11%2FFacom-Angled-Socket-Wrenches.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftoolguyd.com%2Ffacom-angled-socket-wrench-review%2F&docid=JnoHXjsriVaSWM&tbnid=eftZnuaxaLavYM%3A&vet=1&w=590&h=288&hl=en-us&client=safari&bih=928&biw=768&q=facom%20socket%20wrench&ved=0ahUKEwjr0p6btZbSAhUnxVQKHavaBaoQMwhAKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8

 

[four.cycle]

okay, if you insist .... how about "ratchet lever", as it is called on this 1931 patent document?



in response to the comment just above about "socket wrench":




again, all the terms mentioned thus far in this thread are correct.

 

[pepsican]

pistolpete1313: I would call that a socket wrench!

Also makes more sense to me when you see the old 1915/1923 sets above that are just a handle and sockets no ratchet.

 

[APEowner]

Socket wrench was pretty common when I was a kid.
I might go so far as to say those cheap sets sold at Kmart in the 70s said socket wrench set on them.

I can't remember if it was Kmart, Sears or Wards but my dad had a set labeled that way.

 

[jeeper46]

I used the term "Socket Wrench" all my life, and in the plant. I've only started thinking of them as "ratchets" since I started coming here

 

[jeeper46]

I happened to be at the Tool Shop today, and found some visual proof for you...

 

[four.cycle]

Also makes more sense to me when you see the old 1915/1923 sets above that are just a handle and sockets no ratchet.

All of those examples I posted above employ a ratcheting mechanism. They are all, by any definition, "ratchets".

 

[2oolhound]

My brother still calls Chevron gas stations BA stations.


In Canada BA (1900 - 1975ish) Gulf (1975ish - 1985ish) Standard Oil (1985ish - 1990ish) Petro-Can (1985 - 1990 also in there) Chevron 1990ish - ?



To my brother they have all only been referred to as: "the BA station over on the corner of…."

Paradoxically he uses the term ratchet instead of socket wrench, go figure.

 

[pepsican]

All of those examples I posted above employ a ratcheting mechanism. They are all, by any definition, "ratchets".

You sure look again? The middle two under the "ratchet lever".

Also all these sets that say "socket wrench set" if you look at the description of what comes with them they list "ratchet handle". So they are not calling the ratchet itself a socket wrench, only in the context of the set are they calling it that. Every set someone has attached says "ratchet handle" and not "socket wrench" in their list of tools.

If somebody asked me to 'hand them the socket wrench', and I was in the US, I'd look at the tools he had out on the bench for a ratchet with a socket attached.

^^ I would say its only really a socket wrench when it also has the socket attached. (it did have a socket in breaking bad! haha)