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Socket Contact Points: Preliminary Thread

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DavidB

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OK, Dave, send me your street address and I'll donate my Bonney 13mm 12 point for the test. And I'll donate some cash thru paypal if you have such an account to help defray some of the costs. B-man

Thanks! I'll get a PM to you!
 
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DavidB

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Thanks for the cash bonneyman!

I returned from the flea market with some more 9/16" sockets. I found a Husky USA, two Fleet sockets of different eras, and a Challenger. The first three are 12 pt and the last one is a 6 pt. Snagged another Wright too but I already had it. I also found a Cornwell but when I flipped it over it had a crack going from top to bottom...doh! I'll update the main list to reflect this. I'll probably wait until the middle of next week before ordering the German sockets. When they get in I'll post some teaser pics to the thread.

Thanks!
David
 
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DavidB

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Has anybody sent you a Plomb yet? The 3/8 sockets are hard to find...
Nope, I don't have a Plomb yet in 3/8" or 1/2" drive.

I thought folks might like some pics of the current sockets. So, here are some hastily taken pics. The sockets are in the order they're listed on the front page.

13 mm sockets:
metrics.jpg


9/16" sockets
SAE.jpg
 
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blarf

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Any interest in testing a 14mm socket? I'm kinda curious to see how well you could grip with the wrong sized socket (plus I just dug up an extra 14mm cman socket... a size that I almost never use)
 
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DavidB

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Any interest in testing a 14mm socket? I'm kinda curious to see how well you could grip with the wrong sized socket (plus I just dug up an extra 14mm cman socket... a size that I almost never use)

If you're really interested I could do it but I'm pretty sure the socket will just bear on the edges of the fastener. I've got a 14mm Cman.

I picked up a new 13mm 6 pt 3/8" drive GearWrench socket today. They also had a 13mm 12pt 1/2" drive GearWrench socket if anyone is interested in 6 vs 12pt on GearWrench sockets.
 

bmxr4life87

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How about some grey pneumatic? They are kind of the underdog but I've seen the contact patterns they put down from my own use maybe including some would really help their name!
 
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DavidB

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I submitted the order to Samstag Sales a few minutes ago. One of the sockets is backordered but will hopefully get here soon. I hope to hit up a couple pawn shops today for some other sockets so cross your fingers.
 
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DavidB

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I found a Stanley Pro (USA) 12pt 9/16" 1/2" drive, a Stanley (no COO probably Taiwan) 6pt 9/16" 3/8" drive, and a Kobalt 13mm 12pt 3/8" drive while out today. I got word that the German sockets should arrive in 7 to 10 days.

Thanks,
David
 
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DavidB

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You are going to need to book a week off work, to get through all the testing!

Yeah, I'm beginning to realize that. I'm thinking I'm going to be breaking it into pieces. Maybe 13mm in one post and then 9/16" in another.

Bonneyman's Bonney socket arrived today! It's in great condition. Thanks!!

I found more sockets. I hit up a garage sale today where I got some great deals including $5 bags of sockets and wrenches. I found the following 9/16" sockets in 1/2" drive: older Cornwell 6 pt P-3218 (an impact socket), Kobalt 12 pt Deep (from the Williams Era I believe), Older SK 6 pt, and a Collins (Taiwan) 12 pt. I also found the following 9/16" sockets in 3/8" drive: older SK 12 pt, Task Force 12 pt, no name Taiwan 12 pt.
 
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lwlobo

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Just so you're aware, I think there are two Metrinch socket profiles. I'm not exactly sure they're the same company. The traditional one is the metrinch standard, and which I'd expect to do well in your test. Has the funny lobes that should engage on the flats of the nut. (image attached)

There's another one that I've seen on ebay (and gotten on some sockets I bought off ebay). It looks like this I think it's basically a 12 pt with both std and metric sizes broached in every other point. I don't think they'll grip as well as the lobe style, but I don't know.

I have 1/2" impact sockets of the lobe style, and 1/2" and 3/8" Chrome sockets of the 12 pt style, I think. Let me know if you would like to borrow any for your test.
 

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DavidB

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Ah, I didn't know they had two profiles. The lobe one was the one I was thinking of. It hasn't worked out for me to get a Metrinch socket yet. If you'd be up for lending one of the lobe style ones that would be great! I'll shoot you a PM.

Quattrojon's sockets arrived today and I've updated the main list. I also got an email stating the German sockets have shipped!
 

bonneyman

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Well, I promised to send you a Metrinch 1/2" + 13mm socket that I have, but then realized it was 1/4" drive, so I didn't send it.
If you think you could use it with a 3/8 to 1/4 adaptor I can send it. But it might not be a fair test. Let me know.
 

bchee

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Just so you're aware, I think there are two Metrinch socket profiles. I'm not exactly sure they're the same company.

I noticed that too and I thought it was related to the fact that they used to be US made. The logo is different.
So how are they?
 

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lwlobo

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I noticed that too and I thought it was related to the fact that they used to be US made. The logo is different.
So how are they?

They seem fine, but to be honest I've not used them much or done much in my garage since I've had them. :(

I'll send some sockets, DavidB. Again, I have 1/2" impact sockets in the lobe style and 1/2 and 3/8 in the modified 12 pt style. What sizes and drives do you want?
 

quattrojon

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GJer's, if you happen to be going to a flea market this weekend........ please be on the look out for suitable sockets, that you can send to DavidB.
 

Bolster

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DavidB, forgive me if you've already addressed this, but you are going to use Prussian Blue as your test medium this time, yes? It's the appropriate dye for this type of test.

I don't mean to be bossy, I'm just very interested in your test. If I were running it, I'd "screen" all sockets for new or near-new condition before testing. It would be unfair to a brand to use a worn socket.
 

superautobacs

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DavidB, forgive me if you've already addressed this, but you are going to use Prussian Blue as your test medium this time, yes? It's the appropriate dye for this type of test.

:+1: ...although, IIRC, I think he did address this point after he finished his wrench tests.

I'd also highly suggest that the hex nuts are all equal in dimension, along the flats being torqued. I'm curious how close the manufacturing tolerances might be with the nuts.
 
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DavidB

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DavidB, forgive me if you've already addressed this, but you are going to use Prussian Blue as your test medium this time, yes? It's the appropriate dye for this type of test.

I don't mean to be bossy, I'm just very interested in your test. If I were running it, I'd "screen" all sockets for new or near-new condition before testing. It would be unfair to a brand to use a worn socket.

Yes, I'll be using some Dykem steel layout fluid that I used on my last round of wrench tests.

I agree that it is not a one to one comparison to compare a new and used socket. Unfortunately, it's not practical for me to obtain all new sockets especially in the case of older, no longer made sockets. I have taken some steps to try to even it out though. In the past I've broken the post about the results into two parts. In Part one I post a very close picture of the socket/wrench and describe the conditions and history of the socket as best I know. If the socket is new, I state it. If I bought it new and used it then I state that as well. If the socket is used, but not abused, I'll still use it but will state that it is used and I do not know it's history. I figure that with a close up picture folks can see the condition of the socket and make up thier own minds about it. As I'll be testing older sockets, I can only get used ones. I think it's still valid to test them since they still work. I'd love to have all new sockets to test but don't have that option. In the end I try to leave it up to the reader to make their own opinion up about the results.

Here is an example close up pic from my second wrench test of a used Snap-On wrench:
W4-OSO.jpg
I think there is enough detail in the picture to let the reader determine its condition.
 
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DavidB

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:+1: ...although, IIRC, I think he did address this point after he finished his wrench tests.

I'd also highly suggest that the hex nuts are all equal in dimension, along the flats being torqued. I'm curious how close the manufacturing tolerances might be with the nuts.


The nuts I'm using were purchased from McMaster-Carr and come in bulk packs. In the past I randomly pulled 10 nuts out and measured the flat to flat distance on all of them with some HF calipers I have. All of the 9/16" nuts were within about 0.005" of each other with most being around 0.003". If desired I can perform this again and post the results.

I have a quarter drive deep matco, Id donate if it can work Might have a "firestone" 1/2 drive 9/16 and some others

Sure, I'm adpating 1/2" to 3/8" so I don't see any problem with going from 3/8" to 1/4". Shoot me a PM with what you've got and I'll send you my addres.

Thanks,
David
 

beelsr

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package on its way to you tomorrow. small flat rate PACKED with 43 sockets. i'm going out of town on business so I open up the tool box and pulled out every 9/16 & 13mm I could find.

1/4 - 6pt
Craftsman 13mm - "G"; Deep "G"
Craftsman 9/16 - "G", "G2"; Deep "G"

1/4 - 12pt
Craftsman 9/16 "G2D"

3/8 - 6pt
Craftsman 9/16 - "G"; Deep "VV", Spark Plug
Craftsman 13mm - "G", "G1"; Deep "G"
Blackhawk 13mm
TopTul Deep

3/8 - 12pt
Facom 9/16
Craftsman 9/16 - "G"
Craftsman 13mm - "G"; Deep "G2", "G2D"
Deep 9/16 - Proto, Williams, TopTul

1/2 - 6pt
Craftsman 9/16 - 2 no codes; Deep "G2D"
Craftsman 13mm - "G"; Deep "G"

1/2 - 12pt
Craftsman 13mm - 2 no codes; Deep "G"
Craftsman 9/16 - "V", "G"; Deep "G", "G2D"
9/16 - Cornwell, Armstrong, Proto

Misc
Craftsman 3/8" Flex - 13mm & 9/16
Craftsman 1/4 Impact - 13mm & 9/16
HF 1/2" Deep Impact 13mm
2 GripTite - 13mm & 9/16
2 1/2 HF Spline - 13mm & 9/16
2 3/8 HF Spline - 13mm & 9/16

There should be 48 sockets in the box if I wrote it all down and then typed it in correctly. There's duplication but I figured a> more data points is better then less and if you don't need to use it, you won't. :)
 
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DavidB

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Holy **** man!! I'm going to be drowning in sockets! I think you've taken care of all the "wish I had" sockets for the test. I hope you wrapped that box in a ton of tape!

Also, the German sockets came in yesterday.
 

bonneyman

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Holy **** man!! I'm going to be drowning in sockets! I think you've taken care of all the "wish I had" sockets for the test....

You asked for it - you've got it - Toyota!:lol_hitti

Guess we won't hear the results of the test till next year now.
 
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DavidB

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You asked for it - you've got it - Toyota!:lol_hitti

Guess we won't hear the results of the test till next year now.

Haha. I hope to have it done a little sooner than that. I'm breaking the test up into Metric and SAE. I'll post the Metric one first.

I spent the afternoon taking pics of what I have currently for the "info" part of the test.

If you want a preview you can look though the following albums:

13mm sockets:
http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/DavidBMSU/Metric Socket Test/Socket Pics/

9/16" 3/8" drive:
http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/DavidBMSU/Socket Test SAE/38 Socket Pics/

9/16" 1/2" drive:
http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/DavidBMSU/Socket Test SAE/12 Socket Pics/

Comments are welcome.
 

Bolster

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Yes, I'll be using some Dykem steel layout fluid that I used on my last round of wrench tests.

OK, but Dykem is not the same as Prussian Blue. Prussian Blue is the appropriate "transfer" medium. Dykem tries to stick to its original source.
 
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DavidB

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Ah, I didn't realize that there was a difference between Prussian Blue and Dykem. So far I've had good luck with the Dykem. It what I used in the last wrench test I did and it worked well. I do like that it dries whereas Prussian Blue doesn't (I think). I don't want to blue my camera. Not to mention I "painted" 40 nuts this afternoon with the Dykem. So, I'll probably stick with it unless there is some overwhelming reason to use the Prussian Blue.
 

beelsr

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start swimming... :)

most are clean but some of them are going to be dirty (i'm sorry). I was only home for the weekend (in yet another state this week) so I didn't have time to drop them in the parts washer and give them a scrub.

and, of course, it wasn't until i was about 3 hours from home when i realized i left a few old crappy taiwan/japan sockets on the workbench and that I had forgotten to include the gearwrench sockets (and handle). :mad:



Holy **** man!! I'm going to be drowning in sockets! I think you've taken care of all the "wish I had" sockets for the test. I hope you wrapped that box in a ton of tape!

Also, the German sockets came in yesterday.
 
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