SK deep sockets shorter???

[azhatchback]

I just got a couple of SK sockets 3/8 drive. I ordered the deep and cross referenced all the part #'s on part bag, socket, and SK website. All is correct. I thought I may have got some semi deeps but this is not the case. I also got a 20mm and it is the same depth as my other craftsman deeps. The smaller sockets are much shorter than the craftsman ones I own. Is this common? I know they make an extra deep so could these smaller size craftsman's be extra long? Here is a pic of them standing next to my craftsman deeps.

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[azhatchback]

I am also unimpressed by the inside finish on them. Never seen a craftsman or snap on this bad. Those are the two brands I deal with. Craftsman USA at home and Snap on at work. Here is that 20mm I spoke about:

SK:

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Craftsman USA 19mm

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[d.mcfarland]

I wonder if the SK inside finish is more durable than the Craftsman's chrome. That might be that way on purpose.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Why are people so obsessed with the finish on the inside?

I'm a little more concerned with overall quality myself...

 

[rednotch]

Most of sk's deep sockets are the length of other brands semi deep, exta deep from sk is about the length of a craftsman's deep.

 

[rice rocket]

Someone in another thread said the SKs aren't broached all the way down to the bottom to allow for easier initial threading? What vintage are these SKs?

 

[ChevyEFI]

Up to 15mm is long, 16 up is longer.

I will take the SK durability over the happiness of a socket interior designer.

 

[azhatchback]

Someone in another thread said the SKs aren't broached all the way down to the bottom to allow for easier initial threading? What vintage are these SKs?

Brand new, received them today.

 

[azhatchback]

Most of sk's deep sockets are the length of other brands semi deep, exta deep from sk is about the length of a craftsman's deep.

Thank you. This is very helpful

Up to 15mm is long, 16 up is longer.

I will take the SK durability over the happiness of a socket interior designer.

This is good info. I was wondering why the 20 was same size.

I am not obsessed about the inside, sorry if I offended anyone. It's just what I noticed. Never have used SK sockets before. If it's better quality than so be it. It is defiantly thicker than my craftsman's. The craftsman's I have owned for about 20 years. Bought a huge set when I first moved out of my parents house. I had some tools but my dad being a mechanic I generally went to his tools.

I Bought from them to support USA company as craftsman USA is not easy to come by at sears anymore. Regardless I will keep the 20mm and put it to work. I will send back the deeps and get some extra deeps for the others and let you know how it turns out. My 1/4 drive craftsman's in these sizes are deeper than the 3/8 drive SK Deeps.

Thank you everyone for the knowledge.

Louis

 

[JoeMA]

Someone in another thread said the SKs aren't broached all the way down to the bottom to allow for easier initial threading? What vintage are these SKs?

I am also surprised that is a SK socket. I have a few sets that I purchased new retail 3 years ago and the deeps and extra-deeps have the shallow broach. I do not believe that SK currently produces a 3/8 full broach deep socket.

Where did you purchase them from? Are all the deep sockets full broach? Perhaps that socket is a defect.

 

[azhatchback]

I am also surprised that is a SK socket. I have a few sets that I purchased new retail 3 years ago and the deeps and extra-deeps have the shallow broach. I do not believe that SK currently produces a 3/8 full broach deep socket.

Where did you purchase them from? Are all the deep sockets full broach? Perhaps that socket is a defect.

I looked after you mentioned this. All the smaller/shorter ones are not full broach. The full length deep 20mm is (pic). I bought them on Amazon. I recived gift card and I had a few empty slots on my socket tray so i figured what the heck.

Louis

 

[bob15]

What is wrong with the inside of the SK socket? I'm not seeing anything.....

As for returning the sockets, keep them, you never know when you might need a shorter length deep socket (hence the semi-deeps).

 

[n8n]

Someone in another thread said the SKs aren't broached all the way down to the bottom to allow for easier initial threading? What vintage are these SKs?

Yeah, that looks odd to me as well. All of the SK deep sockets I have, both new and used (of various vintages from 1950s up through present) are only broached to maybe 1.5x the thickness of a standard nut in any given size, and I like that feature.

Edit: now that I reflect on it, I think my 3/8" drive sockets only go up to 19mm, so I don't have the exact socket that you do.

 

[thinman]

SK's 3/8 Dr deep sockets in the smaller sizes are shorter than most other brands. I bought mine specifically for that reason. I use them as my go to sockets rather than a shallow. Very rarely have I needed the longer deep sockets like the Craftsman length.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Sk's 3/8 drive sockets are interesting and confusingly named.

"Deep" in sizes 6MM to 15MM are actually mid length/semi deep.

16MM-19MM Deep are shallow broached but as long as other brand's deep sockets. 20MM+ Deep are fullly broached and just as long.

SK's Extra Deep Sockets in 6MM-15MM are similar to other brand's deep sockets. Sizes 16MM+ are not offered in extra deep.

As far as in the inside, SK uses a very advanced cold forging process. It doesn't leave the socket as clean as machining, but the difference in strength is very high. Snap On has enough overhead on their prices that they can cold forge and then spend time and money doing things like cleaning up the inside of the socket. I've only ever noticed bad interiors on their full length broached sockets (ie, only 3/8 drive 20MM-26MM deep sockets). All other sockets tend to have a great interior finish.

 

[n8n]

so 3/8" drive sockets >19mm are fully broached? I wonder why, has anyone ever asked SK? I have slowly been replacing my deep 6 points (most used sockets) with SK, Snap-On, or other "pro" brands for the shallow broaching, among other reasons.

 

[azhatchback]

Sk's 3/8 drive sockets are interesting and confusingly named.

"Deep" in sizes 6MM to 15MM are actually mid length/semi deep.

16MM-19MM Deep are shallow broached but as long as other brand's deep sockets. 20MM+ Deep are fullly broached and just as long.

SK's Extra Deep Sockets in 6MM-15MM are similar to other brand's deep sockets. Sizes 16MM+ are not offered in extra deep.

As far as in the inside, SK uses a very advanced cold forging process. It doesn't leave the socket as clean as machining, but the difference in strength is very high. Snap On has enough overhead on their prices that they can cold forge and then spend time and money doing things like cleaning up the inside of the socket. I've only ever noticed bad interiors on their full length broached sockets (ie, only 3/8 drive 20MM-26MM deep sockets). All other sockets tend to have a great interior finish.

You are the man awesome info.

 

[azhatchback]

Yeah, that looks odd to me as well. All of the SK deep sockets I have, both new and used (of various vintages from 1950s up through present) are only broached to maybe 1.5x the thickness of a standard nut in any given size, and I like that feature.

Edit: now that I reflect on it, I think my 3/8" drive sockets only go up to 19mm, so I don't have the exact socket that you do.

Why do you like the shallow broach? Just wondering.

 

[Chuck122]

Why do you like the shallow broach? Just wondering.

you can just put a nut in the socket then thread it onto a bolt/stud. with a full deapth broached socket, the nut will ride all the way down and you may be unable to thread it on

 

[sonvolt]

Why do you like the shallow broach? Just wondering.

It is easier to start nuts/fasteners with the shallow broach

 

[JoeMA]

Thanks for the SK socket tutorial Loscaldazar. That clears everything up.

In 1/4 inch, it appears that SK has true standard, semi-deep and deep sizes, however the semi-deeps are closer in length to standard than deep.

 

[Fedwrench]

I know you guys hate reading instructions but, if you refer to an SK catalog you would see that there are actually five lengths of 3/8 drive SK chrome deep 6 point sockets. Sizes 6 to 13 mm are 1.75 inches long overall, sizes 14 and 15mm are 1.86 inches long, 16-20mm are 2.5 inches long, 21 and 22 mm are 2.75 inches long, while 23, 24, & 26 mm come in at 2.82 inches long overall.

Now about broach depth, the catalog shows sizes 6-10 broached 0.19 inch, 11 mm 0.22 inch, 12mm 0.24 inch, 13mm 0.27 inch, 14 & 15mm are 0.33 inch, 16 & 17 are 0.38, 18 mm 0.40 inch, 19 mm 0.44 inch, 10mm 1.87 inch, 21 & 22 mm 2.12 inches, 23, 24, & 26 mm are broached 2.18 inches.

Those 3/8 extra deep sockets in sizes 7-15mm are all 2.14 inches in length overall, you can look their broaching up as research practice.

As for the inside finish, SK used to paint the inside silver, other makers polish it, some use a champagne type color. Does it really matter once you start using the socket and it gets dirty?

I know since that 20 mm deep will only be used to fill a Hansen tray peg, it might not get dirty.

 

[azhatchback]

you can just put a nut in the socket then thread it onto a bolt/stud. with a full deapth broached socket, the nut will ride all the way down and you may be unable to thread it on

It is easier to start nuts/fasteners with the shallow broach

That makes so much sense. Never really thought about that. Kind of like using a nut driver.

 

[azhatchback]

I never saw the instructions. I will look. I know on snap on each socket has dimensions when you bring it up. I actually work in a clean room and contamination can lead to big problems. At work it's snap on and company provides the tools. I asked and Eng. why we use SO and he said, specifically for their tool finish.

 

[Conductor562]

While I realize I may be the only one, I'm not crazy about the shallow broaching. They work great for starting nuts, but when removing nuts the nut has nowhere to go and the socket backs off further.

It's all preference I suppose, but I like them to be broached a little deeper.

 

[azhatchback]

While I realize I may be the only one, I'm not crazy about the shallow broaching. They work great for starting nuts, but when removing nuts the nut has nowhere to go and the socket backs off further.

It's all preference I suppose, but I like them to be broached a little deeper.

That makes a lot of sense too. I think for myself I would have to agree with you and would prefer the deeper broach. There have been times where i needed a deep and needed the socket to start the nut in tight quarters. This is the first time I have seen a socket with a shallow broach. All good points!

 

[rice rocket]

The answer is...buy both.

 

[n8n]

The answer is...buy both.

Truth

Honestly though, I find that the times where I *need* the shallow broach outnumber the times where I *need* a deep broach greatly, so knowing what I know now, if I were starting over purchasing tools, barring yard sale finds etc. I would choose the SK/Snap-On/etc. style shallow broach if I were only buying one set of deep sockets.