SAE vs. Metric, Any Preference?

[arjun90]

I have a bunch of SAE and Metric sockets and wrenches laying around. Unfortunately, they are scattered and not properly organized. I noticed I have more SAE sockets, less SAE wrenches, more Metric wrenches, less Metric sockets. Somewhere down the road, I'm going to be picking up a set of fresh metric sockets and ratchets from HF. I use metric more often for the car.

In what situations do you all use SAE for?

 

[jakemac]

I use SAE for all the SAE nuts and bolts I run into.
I use Metric for all the Metric nuts and bolts I run into.

It isn't Burger King. You don't get to have it your way.
The choice is made by the manufacturers and we're all just danceing to their tune.

If you work on a lot of different cars or machinery you now also need sets for Hex/Allan, Torx, eTorx, JIS, and a bunch of other made up tolerances and profiles. It's all BS to force the consumer to have to go back to the dealer, or manufacturer for service, adding to the death of DIY'ers. Just be glad you don't live in the UK where you still have to deal with Whitworth and BS (British Standard), as well as other standards on old machines.

Here in the States, we still run into US and USS if you work on older equipment.

ONE WORLD = ONE STANDARD !

 

[PelicanPines]

New stuff fixin... Metric
Old stuff fixin... SAE
Building new stuff in my garage... SAE

I have sockets from 4mm to 32mm, Wrenches from 6mm to 32mm
SAE sockets from holy shyt small to almost 2 inches, Wrenches the same...

My wrenches are combo, stubby, double box, offset box, flare, ratcheting combo, flex head box.

My sockets are short, mid length, deep, 6 pt, 12pt, 8pt, torx, flex head, impact short and deep (metric only). SAE are deep only. Oh and 1 extra deep 19mm I got by mistake.

My drivers (hex key) both metric, sae... L type keys, T spinner keys, sockets in short. I have torx, triple square.

All that said... you need the tool that turns the things you use tools on. Before you buy anything tho... organize... then reorganize better... I have 72 drawers of tools... all with labels.

 

[scissorman]

Umm, SAE are used on any "American threads" and Metric is used on "import threads" so it all depends on what you're working on.

 

[turmlos]

I actually use SAE more than metric. I work on a lot of small engine equipment, vintage machinery and various other things around the house. My newest vehicle is 15 years old, so it has a mix of metric & SAE.

 

[arjun90]

Umm, SAE are used on any "American threads" and Metric is used on "import threads" so it all depends on what you're working on.

Thanks, I've been working on European cars lately, that would explain. Japanese cars also employ the metric system if I'm not mistaken.

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[alpaca]

Been working on cars for a living for close to two years and I don't think I have ever used an sae socket or wrench, aside from lug nuts. Cars 1990 to 2015. Most of the older cars are imports though.

 

[logical]

Thanks, I've been working on European cars lately, that would explain. Japanese cars also employ the metric system if I'm not mistaken.

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So do most any US make of car made in the last 25 years or so.

I only use SAE fairly regularly because Hardly Davidson is still about 90% SAE and I play with 50 year old Craftsman power tools.

 

[arjun90]

What about for around the house work?

 

[RedRabbit]

I'm not as expierenced as a mechanic as some other people, so I like the simplicity of metric. Coupled with the fact that most cars I own and work on are inports, I use metric the most.

 

[jd_1138]

What about for around the house work?

I will use metric or standard around the house. Couple of weeks ago, the middle part of the metal bed frame was loose (just slides in and held in with friction). I drilled a couple of holes in the frame and threw some nuts/washers/bolts in the holes. I think they were SAE 1/4". I have a container bin in the garage filled with SAE fasteners. I need to get one with metric.

I think the world (USA especially) should standardize on metric (should've been done a long time ago). And Torx should eliminate Phillips and slotted fasteners.

 

[ckblum]

I mostly use metric on heavy equipment. Hydraulic lines I use big standard wrenches. In aviation I used only standard for a while until switching work to European junk.

I would much prefer to just be all metric though. One universal system. I'm a minimalist, unlike some people on here I don't see a point in having every tool in both metric, standard, long, short, deep and shallow, 5, 6, 8, 12 point. Simple things work more efficiently, I work faster when I don't need a million tools for a job. I only own the standard sizes I need for hydraulic lines and a basic set of 6pt standard sockets for the old Cat stuff we have. Everything else I just stick with metric, most of my metric being nicer premium brands since I use it more and don't buy a ton of tools.

 

[trackwelder]

Only preference I have is SAE when replacing bolts. I do have a nice stock of metric hardware, but only use it when needed.

 

[mtnbimmer]

I use SAE for all the SAE nuts and bolts I run into.
I use Metric for all the Metric nuts and bolts I run into.

Any other questions?

 

[sometoyotaguy]

You need both if you want to work on anything other than vehicles.

 

[BK13]

And Torx should eliminate Phillips and slotted fasteners.

Amen!

I mainly work on my Jeep CJ, so I'm heavy in SAE, but my GF's Volvo is obviously metric, and my Expedition is an annoying mix of both. Luckily, I'll never get into old British sports cars (6'6" tall fat guys don't fit in, say, old MGs) or motorcycles so I'll probably never need British Standard.

 

[zkling]

I use standard more often than metric, but I primarily work on machine tools, jigs and things like that. Almost all of my tapping for personal use and even others is standrad thus most of the fasteners I keep on hand are standard. Older equipment and the like are 8/10 SAE. My metric use is mostly limited to small engine type stuff, around the home misc and of course cars and bikes.

I think the world should standardized on metric (should've been done a long time ago). And Torx should eliminate Phillips and slotted fasteners.

I just thoroughly appreciate when the previous person used the other one in those, especially caliper slides that you can't see head on. Usually they try and shove a torx in what was a hex recess. Kinda hard to mix up a phillips and slotted.

 

[Robinson1]

I have easily 3-4 times more SAE tools than I do metric. Not very many metric bolts on old equipment and old tractors. As a general contractor I very rarely run across a metric bolt in a building application and when I do it's almost always on commercial door hardware.

 

['sallgood]

Well. That's why I run two 26" stacks instead of a monster box. Three actually. One metric. One SAE and another(Cheapo China) dedicated to metalwork, layout, threading, woodwork tools etc etc. To have it crammed into a monster box would result in a Mongolian **** movie.
I'm not smart enough(or too old) to recall where my sandals are----much less differentiate which drawer contains my tungsten scribe. DAMN.

 

[fuddinator]

Working in aviation I have one metric tool in my whole box. 1.5mm hex for a set screw that goes on 3 light dimmer knobs on the airplanes I work on. Rest is all SAE. I expect though by the time I retire metric will become a lot more common though.

 

[Strouty]

I am pretty sure that you don't get to pick one or the other, the fastener does it for you.

 

[SignalZero]

I have a few more SAE tools than metric.
For the most part, when I built my tool collection I usually stayed pretty even by buying most of my tools in the large SAE & Metric sets. But as a poor college student trying to work on a '66 Mustang, I was forced to buy some odd-sized SAE tools when needed.

Of course, since joining Garage Journal those "odd-sized" SAE tools are just simply part of a now bigger tool set.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I do all three,

Whitworth, SAE and Metric.

 

[Mr. T]

If I'm the one fabricating something I use metric. It just makes more sense to me.

Other than that I use what the manufacturer made me use.

 

[zcbauer89]

I use mostly SAE, I work on farm equipment both new and old! I only use a metric when working on my newer daily drivers. SAE is still around.

 

[MikeF2316]

Only preference I have is SAE when replacing bolts. I do have a nice stock of metric hardware, but only use it when needed.

I like Metric better, but if I'm working on something that's SAE, anything I add to it will use SAE fasteners. Likewise with a Metric vehicle, anything added or changed will use Metric fasteners. Although, my selection of Metric is better than SAE, so sometimes Metric ends up where it shouldn't.

 

[rick carpenter]

I am pretty sure that you don't get to pick one or the other, the fastener does it for you.

Which do you choose when you pick the fastener?

 

[stage20]

I thought this thread was going to be about mixing sizes. I use a 7/16 for an 11mm all the time. If I need a 19 I might use a 3/4. Lol.

 

[Josey Wales]

I have enough SAE but am not buying anymore.

 

[ibedayank]

I use SAE for all the SAE nuts and bolts I run into.
I use Metric for all the Metric nuts and bolts I run into.

It isn't Burger King. You don't get to have it your way.
The choice is made by the manufacturers and we're all just danceing to their tune.

If you work on a lot of different cars or machinery you now also need sets for Hex/Allan, Torx, eTorx, JIS, and a bunch of other made up tolerances and profiles. It's all BS to force the consumer to have to go back to the dealer, or manufacturer for service, adding to the death of DIY'ers. Just be glad you don't live in the UK where you still have to deal with Whitworth and BS (British Standard), as well as other standards on old machines.

Here in the States, we still run into US and USS if you work on older equipment.

ONE WORLD = ONE STANDARD !

I don't live in the uk and still use whitworth and british cycle standard

 

[DeliveryGuy]

Here in Eastern Canada, everything the average guy will see, except for cars, is SAE. Anything you buy from the hardware store, from a little pack of bolts to concrete anchors, is SAE.

 

[arjun90]

It really depends on what you intend to do. The ratchets and sockets I have are really intended for basic automotive repair as a hobby in my free time

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

[gungatim]

Are ratchets in the rest of the world 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive or does the non-Western world have metric ratchets?

 

[1950mercury]

I like French fried taters uhm hmm

 

[Dimoncenzo]

Are ratchets in the rest of the world 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive or does the non-Western world have metric ratchets?

The whole world pretty much standardized on (fraction of) inch sizes for ratchets.

That and tire rim diameter...

 

[franzdom]

WTF

 

[skcj213]

Pretty much any automobile built in the last 15 to 20 years is going to be metric. My experience lately is that most other things around the house, like appliances, HVAC stuff, etc. are going to be metric also unless they it is something fairly old.

If I need to work on something and don't know the size I will typically grab a handful of metric wrenches and usually don't have to make 2 trips.

 

[maico]

Thanks, Japanese cars also employ the metric system if I'm not mistaken.

The whole World uses metric !

I'm 50 and have never seen an SAE bolt here in England my whole life.
Come across Whitworth occasionally on vintage stuff.

What does the aerospace sector in the US use ?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I have enough SAE but am not buying anymore.

Is your avatar's measurements in metric or inches?

 

[ckblum]

The whole World uses metric !

I'm 50 and have never seen an SAE bolt here in England my whole life.
Come across Whitworth occasionally on vintage stuff.

What does the aerospace sector in the US use ?

Aerospace is both Metric and Standard. I worked on Bell, Sikorsky and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). If you work on the same type of aircraft or just work on small planes you mostly just run into Standard. I worked on lots of Eurocopter and its all Metric, even the solid rivets were called 3.2mm rivets instead of 1/8. Came from the same bin just different name.