What are 8pt sockets for??

[Joelfke]

Ive noticed in my array of tools that I have 8pt sockets...ive never used them but what are they for? are there special 8pt fasteners i havent seen yet?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...me=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Sockets&keyword=8+pt

 

[Autoguy]

I have some 1/4 SO 8 points sockets but never used them. I guess there were 8 point fastenrs in the past.

 

[walrus]

Ive noticed in my array of tools that I have 8pt sockets...ive never used them but what are they for? are there special 8pt fasteners i havent seen yet?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...me=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Sockets&keyword=8+pt

I use them on pipe plugs, square

 

[Merkava_4]

They are for 4 point pipe plugs.

 

[fatfillup]

There are many square plugs used on heavy equipment. Probably transmission drain and fill plugs, hydraulic tanks, etc. I say this not so much from experience but a equipment mechanic bought some large 8 point sockets I had.

 

[Fins/413]

Also some the older lag bolts have square heads.

 

[philw]

Also used for square bolts and nuts. I'm not sure when they disappeared but I have a couple of cans of them that my grandfather owned sometime in the 30's-50's.

I don't remember ever seeing one except for old farm equipment.

 

[sonett43]

brake adjusters, think of cars with shoes

 

[v8garage]

Square bolts and nuts. A lot of older tractors and farm equipment have them.
V/8

 

[rsanter]

square head bolts
pipe plugs
taps

bob

 

[Old Donn]

Double square sockets, as the local Snap-on guy calls them. As the above comments point out, for square head fasteners. Got them for the trans and diff plug on the old Chevy pictured left.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Sq. head nuts on a lot of older furniture legs holding the legs on, not just on farm equipment, adjustable wrenches were a pain in the a-- trying to fit in tight corners

 

[Major Ramifications]

There are still many square-headed set screws on sheaves and such out there.

 

[Vulturej]

All the leveling jacks on our machines at work have 4 point ACME rods on them, we use the 8 points sockets when leveling the machines.

 

[nate379]

There are 8pt nuts out there as well. Some Dodge transmissions use them for the band adjuster bolt. A500/518/618.

For taps I usually just pound a regular nut on the end of it if I need to use a wrench or ratchet instead of the normal tap handles. The tap is harder than the nut so it doesn't damage it.

 

[Dust]

Spare tire winch on many late-model Mopar vehicles.

So much easier to use a double-square socket and an air ratchet than using the tire iron.

 

[nate379]

Forgot about that one. I used to do that all the time when I worked in a tire shop.

 

[onesickastre]

Starter on 4cyl (2.4L) Jeeps as well, but they are metric.......

 

[malibu101]

I can't try right now so I'll ask- Can a 12 point socket work on a square head nut or bolt?

 

[MAD]

I can't try right now so I'll ask- Can a 12 point socket work on a square head nut or bolt?

Yes, but the fit is often not as good. For example: a 5/8" 12 point wrench will fit a 1/2" square head bolt, but it will be a little loose. If the head is a little rounded already, you can make matters worse.

 

[G1K]

some marine drain plugs are square also.

R

 

[ZRX61]

3/4 square filler cap on P51 header tanks

 

[Old Donn]

I can't try right now so I'll ask- Can a 12 point socket work on a square head nut or bolt?

If the fastener's one with what it's twisted into, a 12pt will round it. Ask me how I know.

 

[Honda 1]

I have the "old" style square nuts on the cabinet hardware in my basement. The cabinets have been there for over 35 years.

 

[jnm59]

Anyone have any idea what size 8 pt will fit on a 27mm square ?

 

[malibu101]

Anyone have any idea what size 8 pt will fit on a 27mm square ?

27mm = 1.0629 inches
1.0625 = 1 1/16 inches

As an example- Sunnex shows a deep impact set that includes 1" & 1 1/16".
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XIJ82M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Murphy4570]

For taps I usually just pound a regular nut on the end of it if I need to use a wrench or ratchet instead of the normal tap handles. The tap is harder than the nut so it doesn't damage it.

Ya do know they make tap sockets right? Costs like $40 for a full set, works on taps up to 1/2" or 12mm.

 

[greasemonkey44]

Yup and they make larger ones as well

M20 tap for reference

You run into square stuff sometimes; but not often. Budd wheels use them; a friend had a car trailer that took 18mm square for the inners. Had to get a socket off the internet

 

[LB-1911]

Ya do know they make tap sockets right? Costs like $40 for a full set, works on taps up to 1/2" or 12mm.

I'm sure nate379's care factor is low since he was banned almost three years ago.....

 

[PT Doc]

Quincy uses the square pipe plug on the drain and the fill side of the oil reservoir. These sockets would make this removal much easier and less likely to get goobered up. Not necessary but helpful.

 

[yowzer]

The hardware on the gates in the fence around my yard includes ancient square head screws holding the hinges. When I replaced one gate, I bought a set of 8 point sockets (instead of the 1 socket I needed. It's a sickness). Couldn't find new square head lag screws to keep the old school look, either. Not even at the crusty old family owned hardware store crammed full of awesome.

 

[Old Dude]

Drain plugs on lawn mowers and other small engines are another example where 8point sockets are used.

 

[Farmall450]

Also used for square bolts and nuts. I'm not sure when they disappeared but I have a couple of cans of them that my grandfather owned sometime in the 30's-50's.

I don't remember ever seeing one except for old farm equipment.

Any antique plow you come across will have all square hardware except what was replaced by an owner.

 

[gearhead1]

Yes for something square as everyone mentioned.

I use mine mostly on taps for chasing threads. I'll use one of the 8pt sockets on a speed handle so I can feel if it gets to a hard spot.

Murphy and great monkey - I didn't know they made tap sockets! Now I got to get some!

 

[WhiskeyTangoFox]

I use an 8 pointer for top mount beam clamps shown here. These attach to I beams then your all thread rod attaches to the beam clamp then a pipe hanger ring attaches to the all thread rod.

 

[joel63]

5/16 inch square set screw is frequently found on the squirrel cage fans used in heater and a/c air handlers.

 

[NoahG]

1/2", 5/16" and occasionally 3/8" square head set screws are found on the clamps on many theatrical lighting fixtures. I usually just carry a ratchet 9/16" spline socket.

 

[WWIIjeep]

4-point sockets were also available, both for hand use on square bolts and nuts, and for impact use, especially on older stud-pilot type wheels on heavy trucks and machinery. Stud-pilot wheels have 13/16" square-head studs that lock the inner dual wheel, and a hex nut that goes on over the stud to lock the outer dual wheel.

4-point and 8-point sockets are the appropriate tools for square fasteners. 12-point sockets can be used, but as others have said, they're better at rounding the corners off than at removing the fasteners.

 

[jmm]

I use an 8 pointer for top mount beam clamps shown here. These attach to I beams then your all thread rod attaches to the beam clamp then a pipe hanger ring attaches to the all thread rod.

That's what I came to post. Used to mess with them a lot back when I was working in industry. I work on trucks now, and use my 8 points on drain plugs, hydraulics, and slack adjusters. Every once in a while I run across a budd nut. But those things are rare, at least on the trucks I see.

Also pretty common in plug applications are their male counterparts:

I have a partial set, but really only use 1/2", 3/8" and 10 mm with any frequency. If you're just using the business end of the ratchet or extension to bust these loose, do your knuckles a favor and pony up a couple bucks for a socket designed to sit in the plug recess.

 

[wvrailroader]

Almost all of out sockets at work are either 4 point or 8 point, because pretty much all railroad track hardware is square head. We have a lot of 1 5/8" and 2 3/16" double square sockets.