Square Head Sockets

[neblinc]

Where can I find these?
I have square head bolts on the tractors I work on, and these are sockets that my neighbor has that I have been borrowing. Wards brand I think?
Would like to have my own set, but when I search for ten point sockets I get the star shaped ones for results.

Randy

 

[bob15]

These are very good:

http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/Wright-Tool-450-1-2-Drive-13-Pc-8-Pt-Socket-Set-7-16-1-1-4-p51437.htm?gclid=COHN_ZDa-sICFeZj7AodgBIAhQ

Or check e-bay and buy them individually (might be cheaper as i see many with free shipping. My set came from pawn shops, used tool stores and a couple new from Snap On to finish the sets off.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Where can I find these?
I have square head bolts on the tractors I work on, and these are sockets that my neighbor has that I have been borrowing. Wards brand I think?
Would like to have my own set, but when I search for ten point sockets I get the star shaped ones for results.

Randy

Thats part of your problem. The sockets for square head bolts are 8 point, not 10. My Dad has a set of the 8 points that he used to use when restoring Model T Fords. I think they are Craftrsman, but they would also be at least 50 to 60 years old....

 

[ericg]

Eight point sockets are utilized for square head bolts.
Here are some from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...+point+sockets&rh=i:aps,k:eight+point+sockets

 

[neblinc]

Hmm, it says Ten Point right on the socket.
So I should be searching for 8 point sockets then?

Randy

 

[vartz04]

Yep 8 points are what you need.

 

[neblinc]

Thanks guys!
Think I will just get the sizes I need from Amazon.

Randy

 

[big.jim]

12 point sockets work too

 

[logical]

Watch Ebay for "Hinsdale Sockets". A lot of their old sets came with true 4 point square sockets. Neither of these is a great deal but you get the idea and they come up frequently.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HINSDALE-SO...651?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ebe38773

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hinsdale-G-...183?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f319a6ff

I inherited an old 1/2 drive Hinsdale set, kept the square drive sockets (ten sizes, from 5/16 up to 3/4 square) and a few of the large 6 points that went beyond my basic SK set and garage sale'd the rest of the set.
Here are mine, half I cleaned up with a scotchbrite and then got distracted by a squirrel or something. I also kept the " shorty" speeder and a few odds and ends that were in the set.

 

[sublimate]

Thats part of your problem. The sockets for square head bolts are 8 point, not 10.

"Ten point" sockets are for square heads, but the advantage they have over 8-points is that they also hit a normal hex, which 8-points do not:

 

[mtwaterguy]

Hmm, it says Ten Point right on the socket.
So I should be searching for 8 point sockets then?

Randy

Some are listed as " double square " also.

 

[n8n]

Proto still makes new 8 points

http://www.use-enco.com/1/1/62248-j5208s-proto-standard-square-nuts-inch-sockets.html

Or to be set for life you can get a whole set from Williams

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNZ508/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or Wright

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FCPPME/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The pics I can find aren't very good but the Wright ones look more like the ones you show and might be better for square head bolts or pipe plugs...

 

[neblinc]

12 point sockets work too

My 12 point 15/16 does not fit the square 15/16 bolt head.

Randy

 

[n8n]

My 12 point 15/16 does not fit the square 15/16 bolt head.

Randy

no, they won't. 6 and 12 point sockets are sized such that e.g. a 1/2" socket will fit a hex that is 1/2" across opposing flats. 8 point sockets are sized similarly for square fasteners. The two won't be the same. I could try to work out the equivalency but it's Sunday and my brain hurts.

 

[dutchgray]

You need a bigger 12point size to fit a given square head.

 

[Nexussian]

Snap on or Blue Point used to have a set both male and female "4 corner" sockets in 3/8" drive.

I don't know if they sell them any more or not.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I have a set of Craftsman 8 point sockets, purchased them maybe 10 years ago +/-. I landed an auction score of numerous boxes of square head lag screws, and got tired of having to combo wrench them in...

Not sure if they still offer them.

Dennis

 

[n8n]

I have a set of Craftsman 8 point sockets, purchased them maybe 10 years ago +/-. I landed an auction score of numerous boxes of square head lag screws, and got tired of having to combo wrench them in...

Not sure if they still offer them.

Dennis

They do but who knows if you buy them brand new if you'll get USA or Chinese made these days.

 

[alan camby]

Am I the only one scratching their head on the 10 points?
Is it called a 10 point but actually has 8 points?
I am referring to post #10.

I looked at Mcmaster-carr and all they list are 4 and 8 point for a square head.

 

[alan camby]

Maybe you add the 6-point hex with the 4 sided square and get a 10 point?

Wondering who still makes a socket like that?


If someone needs next day 4 or 8 point sockets. Mcmaster does have quite a few to choose from.

 

[Streetbu]

The proper name for the sockets you're looking for is Whitworth... An old English name.

 

[rsanter]

I have some snap on and proto 8 points I could sell.
What sizes did you need?

Bob

 

[n8n]

The proper name for the sockets you're looking for is Whitworth... An old English name.

AFAIK Whitworth is just a sizing system and if you search for Whitworth sockets you will find 6 and 12 points typically - just the sizes won't be "across flats" as you'd expect but e.g. a 1/2" BSW socket or wrench will be used on a 1/2" nominal BSW machine screw; the head size across flats will be larger than 1/2".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Standard_Whitworth
http://www.jag-lovers.org/xk-lovers/library/whitworth_system.html

Actually you just prompted an idea for another thread; I have no Whitworth tools at all and if say an old British motorcycle dropped into my lap I wouldn't be able to work on it...

 

[Skynyrdfan]

Always heard 'em called double square sockets.

 

[DIC]

I was trying to figure out that Whitworth stuff but got distracted by a squirrel

 

[rburke65]

Alan camby.....nonyou were not the only one...trust me!

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I recently bought some kind of new sockets from Sears that have nubs in them instead of points, and they will work on square drive, as well as a variety of other styles. Better quality than some of the other stuff they have been pawning off lately, and they work quite well on square drive.

 

[sublimate]

Am I the only one scratching their head on the 10 points?
Is it called a 10 point but actually has 8 points?
I am referring to post #10.

Marketing.
Obviously they don't have 10 points, but they fit both 4 and 6 point heads: 4 + 6 = 10.

It actually makes some sense because functionally they are somewhat between an 8 point and a 12 point.

But maybe it confused people and that contributed to their lack of popularity (that, plus square heads seem to be less common).

IMHO, they have some merit vs other designs:
6-point: great for hex, but doesn't do square at all
8-point: great for square, but doesn't do hex at all
10-pont: great for square, does hex OK
12-point: somewhat OK for both square and hex (tends to round corners)

 

[benjamintmiller]

Sears includes a set of 8 point sockets in its larger sets. My 260 piece set came with them.

 

[HAP]

They are available at Sears on the socket wall. Just look close for 8 Point Sockets in the labels.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

A 12pt socket can get you by on a square headed bolt or pipe plug in a pinch. It is less than ideal though so if there is already damage to the bolt or plug and/or it is really stuck you will just end up rounding it off and making matters worse.

From what I have seen you can purchase 4pt sockets in the smaller sizes, and once they reach a certain size then you can only get 8pt from that size up. Not sure why they do that. There has been more than one occasion I wish the impact socket was 4pt instead of 8pt because it rounded the head off after extensive rattling on the plug with an impact. Had to work the plug down to the next size (15/16) and go at it again after heating.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

"Ten point" sockets are for square heads, but the advantage they have over 8-points is that they also hit a normal hex, which 8-points do not:

That is an 8 point socket and it's for square head bolts. Even though it may "fit", using it on a regular six point head bolt like that risks rounding the bolt head as there is very little flank contact. 10 point sockets are for 10 point heads and they will not fit a square or 6 point bolt head. This is a 10 point socket and bolt:

Tommy

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

They do but who knows if you buy them brand new if you'll get USA or Chinese made these days.

True.. I purchase mine before the current offshore the socket wrenches and accessories push...

 

[619DioFan]

For removing square head fasteners you should use a pipe plug socket. I bought my set from sunex. impact grade and 1/2 inch drive. they also sell them in 3/8 inch drive.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Aren't they called pipe plugs?

Here's a set.

 

[logical]

For removing square head fasteners you should use a pipe plug socket. I bought my set from sunex. impact grade and 1/2 inch drive. they also sell them in 3/8 inch drive.

Aren't they called pipe plugs?

Here's a set.

I've never seen them go very big and the original question had to do with tractors, so I'm guessing these aren't little bolts. I will still suggest that the best solution for working on old square bolts is to buy a tool set just as old like the one I posted earlier. Its the cheapest solution and its what would have been used back when the tractor was new.

 

[csp]

The proper name for the sockets you're looking for is Whitworth... An old English name.

That's not correct. Whitworth is a different sizing system. I have a full set of Whitworth sockets for Whitworth hex head bolts. The sockets are both six point and twelve point.

 

[Streetbu]

I stand corrected...

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have a set of Gray Pneumatic impact 8-point sockets that have been well used working on antique farm equipment. I also scored 3/4 - 1-1/2 eight point sockets from a pawn shop. They were needed to take power poles apart for our new shed.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

12 point sockets work too

Rarely. I have never had any luck with getting a 12 to fit well on a square bolt head or nut. I have a set of 8 points that I picked up piece at a time from the flea market.

Charles