Skipping sizes in Metric Sets?

[cotjocky]

I despise skipped pieces. It's bad enough when a "set" skips sizes, but when that brand doesn't even makes that size kills me. If I can't buy all the sizes from that brand, I usually won't buy a single one!

 

[rebelram]

I find that usually when I putting together tool kits and I get to metric wrenches and sockets, I insist on having these sizes included 10, 13, 15, 17. But also as of lately I am also requiring 18 to be included. 10 and 13 seem to be on just about everything that has metric bolts. The odd one that I have never had a use for until I started maintaining my wife's Toyota was a 14mm. The above sizes are fine for car tool kits. However at home I keep metric from 5mm to 24mm and a few odd sizes above that.

 

[mrstrictlygm]

Some Standard sizes are the same as Metric sizes such as 5/16'' and 8mm. 7/16'' and 11mm. 9/16'' and 14mm. 3/4'' and 19mm. I usually use my standard sizes in these cases so they don't feel left out, since everything is metric nowadays.

 

[Arne73]

I HATE when a set skips 16mm. WTF

+1

I was arranging my Craftsman spline set after I dropped em all on the floor and was ticked to find the set didn't have a 16mm. It did come with a 5/8 but I don't like using fractional tools on metric fasteners and vice versa.

 

[WHT]

20mm is the equivalent of 25/32". I've found original 25/32" nuts and bolt heads on some old Delta woodworking machinery from the 1950s. Initially, I used the 20mm wrench when I came across them. Eventually, I tracked down some wrenches and sockets that were sized on 32nd increments.

Jim C.

This is one reason older mechanics didn't need to buy metric sockets. Complete SAE socket sets were readily available with 1/32-inch (and sometimes 1/64-inch) spacing which is only 0.79mm (0.40mm).

 

[MN Falcon]

This is one reason older mechanics didn't need to buy metric sockets. Complete SAE socket sets were readily available with 1/32-inch (and sometimes 1/64-inch) spacing which is only 0.79mm (0.40mm).

I have a few x/32" sockets, but not all of them. So I guess I get to tell my wife that not only do I need the 1/10th mm sizes but now I need to find and buy all the 1/32th and 1/64th sizes

 

[WHT]

I have a few x/32" sockets, but not all of them. So I guess I get to tell my wife that not only do I need the 1/10th mm sizes but now I need to find and buy all the 1/32th and 1/64th sizes

Good luck. My wife is at the stage where she just rolls her eyes and walks away shaking her head. Works for me.

 

[lowbucktruck]

I'm going through this same cussin' head-scratching exercise with my Craftsman metric socket set... made a list of the missing metric sizes and trying to hunt them down and fill in the gaps. I do have most of the missing metric sizes in my Craftsman and Proto end wrenches, at least!
I also have some x/32 SAE wrenches, which I keep around for... you guessed it... working on vintage wood-working machines!

 

[GSMotorrad]

What about 7 mm Metric Hex? I notice a lot of Metric Hex kits skip 7mm, but my Craftsman set has the 7 mm Hex Socket. My fold up Hex Keys all skip 7 mm and 9 mm.

Metric Hex sets tend to skip 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 16 mm.

Most of the Metric Hex sets I'm seeing go from 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 17mm. Like these: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007GGUBU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But then SK offeres this set that doesn't skip any sizes: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002NYC2W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I guess a lot of people here wouldn't skip any sizes, but it gets a little crazy. I have never needed a 7mm hex, but use 6 and 8 all the time. Same with 9 mm. I wonder who comes up with these sets and decides which numbers to skip? They all seem to follow some sort of path, because different tool companies all tend to skip the same basic sizes. They may be on to something.

Who comes up with these sets? Does someone have a career in "tool set design", and he's an expert on which sizes are hardly ever used? Can I trust these people?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Who comes up with these sets? Does someone have a career in "tool set design", and he's an expert on which sizes are hardly ever used? Can I trust these people?

LOL.!!!!!!!

I doubt anyone or any company who does not sell full sets uses any type of "tool consultant" to gauge what to offer.

The idea is to sell a "comprehensive" or "nearly full" set and then let the owner fill in the rest.

Price "open stock" tools and you end up paying truck prices for mid-range fill-in tools u are missing .

Not really news.

Full sets viaa truck or pro sources are expensive and home owners or "weekend" warriors "trust" big-box, Sears or auto parts tool sellers to give them what they need most. Sure...um...yea.

Jeebus, my " " key is worn out. WTF.
Hehehehehe.

 

[yasha32]

That allen set I posted about in the deals thread was the first set I've come across that gave me combos all the way for 8 to 20 (or 19?) in a package with other tools. I find they tend to skip around on combos when they include sockets.

 

[mikeceli]

19/32 and 25/32 - most people laugh, until you happen to need them for an older Ford. Nothing irritates me more than buying what should be a complete tool set only to have sizes skipped. It doesn't matter to me if a 20mm is only used on the ****** switch of a x-58 wadjet grinder, if it exists, I still want the wrench/socket/etc.

I agree!

 

[kythri]

The size skipping bothers me, too.

What I find incredibly irksome is that, if you look at some of the smaller 7pc or 8pc GearWrench sets, one set will have a size the other set doesn't.

It's like the manufacturers want to mess with our OCD.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I definitely prefer to have full complete sets when I buy them, I do work on a lot of different things though. I have even used my 9mm wrench from time to time even though I never thought I would.

 

[yasha32]

9mm helps with some interior work on old BMWs, not to mention a few fastener under my jimmy's hood.

 

[Doktor Schnell]

I just used 11mm the other day to bleed the brakes on the GTI.