Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[Private Lugnutz]

No secret sauce here, Drives. I have been using Metal Rescue instead of Evaporust, but I am positive they're the same. No acid. (Warning, like Evaporust, it will remove any oxide finish, and if you leave a painted piece in it too long it will fade and start working on the paint, too, probably lead-based, my guess.) After soaking I use WD-40, and I scrub with a brass only brush and only if necessary, on stubborn spots, but usually only 0000 steel wool and lastly with a spongey sanding block. Do know the kind I mean? They are abrasive but soft and malleable. I think they grade them out close to steel wool in which case it would be the finest, like 0000. That wrench, just the latter steps.

 

[drivesitfar]

LUG: i'm going to have to buy some of that medical rescue or evaporust cause i might have a bucket of steel wool and drawers of sandpaper. it may not be a SECRET SAUCE, but it's a good recipe and your tools look great.

thanks for the quick response

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Careful with the sandpaper obviously. The blocks I use are really soft. Almost like a rough chamois material. Same color, too.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Speaking of "the process", I was a little worried about the extent of the rust on the rest of the haul...

...but I have to admit they came out just as spiffy.

The other Plomb pieces in there - besides the big fat whoppin' shiny 3060 pebble wrench (which will soon be in the Plomb Wing of the Olsonian in South Dakota) - included a pair of extensions (5460 & 5461), a pair of extra deep sockets (5352 1-1/6", and a PWA 2254 with a 7/8" 6-pt service opening and a strange 3/8-inch internal male drive tang), an exquisite near-flawless example of the 5468 - the longest (18") 1/2-inch drive hinge handle, with the female drive opening in the end, and a 5263 - the longest (18") 3/8-inch drive extension, and not too commonly found.

Here they are:

 

[r_olson_06]

Speaking of "the process", I was a little worried about the extent of the rust on the rest of the haul...

...but I have to admit they came out just as spiffy.

The other Plomb pieces in there - besides the big fat whoppin' shiny 3060 pebble wrench (which will soon be in the Plomb Wing of the Olsonian in South Dakota) - included a pair of extensions (5460 & 5461), a pair of extra deep sockets (5352 1-1/6", and a PWA 2254 with a 7/8" 6-pt service opening and a strange 3/8-inch internal male drive tang), an exquisite near-flawless example of the 5468 - the longest (18") 1/2-inch drive hinge handle, with the female drive opening in the end, and a 5263 - the longest (18") 3/8-inch drive extension, and not too commonly found.

Here they are:

Them cleaned up nice. The 5460 is kinda hard to find as well.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3060, 3061, 3070

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And here are those deep sockets, with a couple better views of the male drive tang with the internal 3/8-inch female square drive opening on that Pratt Whitney Aircraft socket. Not sure I've seen one like that before. Is it so it can be turned externally as well? (There's probably a really obvious explanation I am missing.)

 

[DD T/A]

Lugz, I am beyond jealous of that 5468. I want one so bad. That thing looks very strong too. It just looks beefier than my Pebble 5468.
Thoughts?(you must have both, right?)

 

[d42jeep]

Lugz, I am beyond jealous of that 5468. I want one so bad. That thing looks very strong too. It just looks beefier than my Pebble 5468.
Thoughts?(you must have both, right?)

I’ll bet that the 5468 has the ball to retain the pin handle too.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I’ll bet that the 5468 has the ball to retain the pin handle too.

Yup!

The pattern seems to be that they put it in the longest hinge handle in each drive size.

That thing looks very strong too. It just looks beefier than my Pebble 5468.
Thoughts?(you must have both, right?)

I do not. That 5400-AB I found and restored a few months ago had the 5467 in it. But the 5468 is definitely robust. The beefiest 18-inch hinge handle I have ever seen is a Snap-on NS-10. It's just a tad beefier than the 5468 in every respect.

Model / Diam. of Shank / Diam. of Handle / Weight
5468 / 9/16" / 3/4" / 1 lb. 11 ozs.
NS-10 / 5/8" / 1" / 2 lbs. 1 oz.

 

[DD T/A]

Whoa, thank you for the comparison, really appreciate it. That SO is something else. But I still prefer the Plomb.

 

[bmwrd0]

Nice haul Lugz. I am looking for another of those 5460's to build a 5400K set.

 

[Provincial]

Lugz, that PWA 2254 socket is for spark plugs on WWII radial engines. 7/8" is standard hex size for the spark plugs even now. Prior to WWII, aviation spark plugs had various size hex for installation, and other, smaller hex for servicable (take apart, clean, and reassemble) components, like insulator retainers.

The external square drive was intended for use with an open-end wrench, or a larger square drive female drive. In service, the internal square drive was almost always used, since many of the spark plugs were located in areas with poor access due to cooling fins, baffles, and intake/exhaust piping.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In service, the internal square drive was almost always used, since many of the spark plugs were located in areas with poor access due to cooling fins, baffles, and intake/exhaust piping.

That's what was throwing me off about the external drive (5/8" by the way). Even though I can see it was used (a corner is burred), I don't see how they would have access! I have spark plug wrenches for aviation work with extra long reaches and weird bends on them. Thanks for the info!

 

[Provincial]

That's what was throwing me off about the external drive (5/8" by the way). Even though I can see it was used (a corner is burred), I don't see how they would have access! I have spark plug wrenches for aviation work with extra long reaches and weird bends on them. Thanks for the info!

On further thought, if the GMTK set includes a 5/8" 8-point (or 4-point) with 1/2" drive, that would be an alternative which would provide greater power to attack a stuck spark plug. Ordinarily, one avoids the greater leverage because the threads can, and do, break off if a stuck plug is overtorqued while trying to unscrew it!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Came across this well worn 4770 1/4 universal

 

[RagTopTA]

Lugz, that PWA 2254 socket is for spark plugs on WWII radial engines. 7/8" is standard hex size for the spark plugs even now. Prior to WWII, aviation spark plugs had various size hex for installation, and other, smaller hex for servicable (take apart, clean, and reassemble) components, like insulator retainers.

The external square drive was intended for use with an open-end wrench, or a larger square drive female drive. In service, the internal square drive was almost always used, since many of the spark plugs were located in areas with poor access due to cooling fins, baffles, and intake/exhaust piping.

Going through all my Plombpire today. I found 4 or 5 of those PWA 7/8 sockets with the square shanks. A couple of them are actually pretty different from each other. I spent about 4 hours going through all my stuff and spreading it out for group pics. I had no idea I had so much in the short period I have been hunting Plomb.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

On further thought, if the GMTK set includes a 5/8" 8-point (or 4-point) with 1/2" drive, that would be an alternative which would provide greater power to attack a stuck spark plug.

The GMTK does not (5/8" 12-point), but the GMTK was for Ordnance Dept mechanics and wheeled and tracked vehicles. USAAF ground crews had their own kits and may have had a 5/8" square or double-square socket. It's not my forte.

I found 4 or 5 of those PWA 7/8 sockets with the square shanks. A couple of them are actually pretty different from each other.

Post some photos when you get a chance.

 

[d42jeep]

Plomb NAF 7/8” spark plug sockets seem to be quite commonly found, too. I have three in my NAF box and see them listed on eBay frequently.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Good point, Don. But they are standard extra deep with a tommy bar hole and a 1/2-inch female drive opening. Which makes me even more curious about the PWA sockets with the short male drive tang (5/8-inch external drive) with a 3/8-inch internal female drive opening. Mine is at Post #5256. Waiting to see RagTop's. Why did PWA require that if the Navy didn't? EDIT: Maybe something to with the junior drive size.

 

[Provincial]

Prior to WWII, every aircraft engine from the major manufacturers (Wright, P&W, Continental, Lycoming), and probably most others was shipped with a basic tool kit that included a spark plug socket. It is likely that this policy extended at least part way into WWII purchases made by the military. However, my military R-1830 parts manual dated 1 July, 1974 (update of the 15 July, 1967 version) does not list the tools.

The P&W tool kits included a very heavy duty 3/8" drive extension that was coupled to a "socket" that fitted over the valve end of the rocker arm. The mechanic pulled forward on the drive end of the extension to compress the valve and release the push rod for removal. Several other 3/8" drive sockets were included in the kit.

Since the specified torque for installing spark plugs is 300-360 inch-pounds, 3/8" drive tools should be adequate, but often a spark plug is bound up by some factor such as poor lubrication on installation, overheating, carbon buildup, or other reasons. In that case, it may take more torque than a standard 3/8" drive tool can provide. If the NAS sockets are 1/2" drive, that would indicate that they were purchased to address a requirement for greater torque capacity. The Navy ran radial engines in some aircraft into the 1970's.

As I stated earlier, spark plug threads are not robust, and one runs the risk of breaking them off where they meet the body of the plug if too much torque is applied.

 

[d42jeep]

Makes perfect sense to me. I always religiously apply anti-sieze to the threads of the plugs going into my vehicles with aluminum heads and torque to spec. with a click type torque wrench. I've had to install way too many helicoils over the years to heads with damaged threads.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I like that theory.

 

[ssdave]

Sorting Proto today. Putting plomb out to the side.

 

[ssdave]

Got most of the Plomb sorted out. About 1:30 Plomb/Proto ratio in my stuff. Pictures are what I ended up with. If anybody is interested, $350 for it all. Most of a set of 12xx combos there with the hard to find big stuff.

Edit: The lot is spoken for, had a few interested new owners. I’m glad to have it go to a new home & reduce my hoarding a bit! Now I need to prioritize and get rid of a few thousand Proto and miscellaneous other makers that are surplus.

 

[tin medic]

Who has a photo of the Plomb WF-21-S?

 

[RagTopTA]

Heres a couple of my PWA 7/8 sockets with the square shank think I have 5 in all... different part numbers.

 

[RagTopTA]

ok so I actually got ALL my plomb out and sorted it kinda of... took some pics. I have more than I thought. these dont include my 9998 road box or toolmobile, yall have seen those pics. theres a lot of stuff I dont have....YET : (

 

[Provincial]

There were several different PWA part numbers. Although the main hex on the shielded spark plugs were all 7/8" by WWII, there were several different designs for the shielded wiring hookup, and the upper part of the plug was sometimes a different length. Not only that, but the thread size on the shield was different, and got larger as the plug designs became more weatherproof. By the 1960's, the two standard hex sizes for the shielded end nuts were 3/4" for the standard size and 7/8" for the more weatherproof version.

The upshot of all this is that the depth of the spark plug sockets got longer as time progressed, and that sockets for the weatherproof version had to have larger counterbores (and be smooth bore in the area of the harness threads to prevent damaging them) because the harness threads were nearly 7/8" major diameter.

If you use a deep socket with a full broach, you must be very careful (or install a liner in the socket to protect the threads) not to let the socket wobble in use.

 

[RagTopTA]

pretty cool you know all that! I will get them all together and look to see the differences in the ones I own.

 

[3baygarage]

That’s quite the collection RagTop.

 

[RagTopTA]

Thanks 3bay its coming along!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Heres a couple of my PWA 7/8 sockets with the square shank think I have 5 in all... different part numbers.

Probably because of the different depths. I'll have to dig my PWA reference out.

ok so I actually got ALL my plomb out and sorted it kinda of... took some pics. I have more than I thought...[ ]…. theres a lot of stuff I dont have....YET(

Fantastic layout. You have the elusive garden weeder, I see. And staying in the vegetable layer of the nutrition chart, you also have the pickle fork. Please post a close-up of the knob on the end of the 1/4-inch drive speeder when you get a chance.

 

[r_olson_06]

ok so I actually got ALL my plomb out and sorted it kinda of... took some pics. I have more than I thought. these dont include my 9998 road box or toolmobile, yall have seen those pics. theres a lot of stuff I dont have....YET : (

Is that a 3070 pebble up top?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070, 1161

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is that a 3070 pebble up top?

You can always tell when someone is focused on a completion and they're down to the last few pieces. No prelude. No approach. No dillydallying around. Right for the kill! Love it.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070, 1161

Also love to see that 3060 scratched off your list!

 

[r_olson_06]

[emoji38] You can always tell when someone is focused on a completion and they're down to the last few pieces. No prelude. No approach. No dillydallying around. Right for the kill! Love it.


Also love to see that 3060 scratched off your list!

Haha straight for the throat. I would lying to you if told you I told have 3 different saved searches on eBay that I check 4 times per day. Also crossing another one off the list[emoji1]. Not for sure which one of the DOEs is going to my 3 year wrench like Stormking.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070, 1161

 

[Smokeshow69]

Fantastic collection rag! You are killing it for having been collecting for only a few years.

All others- wondering what sizes plomb made their midget wf6 spinner ? I know tin medic found one last year that was 9/32. That was upstaged by rag tops blast survivor tile... I believe plomb also made an even more rare 1/4 drive ? I swear one sold on eBay last year and that we had a discussion on here about it ? What say you knowledgeable experts?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[RagTopTA]

thanks fella, and yea I found that 3070 at the monthly flea about a year ago. Pretty sure it cost me $20. I lucked out on it. it was rusty as all get out in a pile on a guys trailer.

Ill take some pics of it for ya when I get off work Lugz.

Smoke, I wonder how much Ill have in say 10 years.... ))) I did mix about four P&C pieces in there. a 1/4 ratchet, and three hammers.

 

[r_olson_06]

thanks fella, and yea I found that 3070 at the monthly flea about a year ago. Pretty sure it cost me $20. I lucked out on it. it was rusty as all get out in a pile on a guys trailer.

Ill take some pics of it for ya when I get off work Lugz.

Smoke, I wonder how much Ill have in say 10 years.... ))) I did mix about four P&C pieces in there. a 1/4 ratchet, and three hammers.

It is a nice collection. If you happen to find another send me a PM.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070, 1161

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I believe plomb also made an even more rare 1/4 drive ?.... [ ].... What say you knowledgeable experts?]

As I said in the GS thread, it sure would be big news to me, but this is the place to ask. Maybe Omt or Mr. X will know different.

 

[RagTopTA]

It is a nice collection. If you happen to find another send me a PM.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070, 1161

Ill keep an eye out. Im going to that same big monthly flea this week end, unless we get sleet n snow.