What are odd size sockets used for?
- Thread starter M-EGT
- Start date
Cope
Well-known member
IIRC, they were use for oddball bolt head sizes on machinery.
sonvolt
Well-known member
They were used on machine tools
NY_treeguy
Well-known member
Used on fine tread fasteners. Willy's put a ton of them on the truck in my avatar. Glad I kept them from sets I had gotten.
Coarse 5/16" bolt = 1/2 wrench; Fine = 17/32
Coarse 3/8" bolt = 9/16 wrench; Fine = 19/32
Etc.
Took me a while to figure out the pattern.
Coarse 5/16" bolt = 1/2 wrench; Fine = 17/32
Coarse 3/8" bolt = 9/16 wrench; Fine = 19/32
Etc.
Took me a while to figure out the pattern.
n8n
Well-known member
Depends on what you mean by "older." The x/32" sizes fell out of favor after WW2, although some machinery designed before then probably carried them on.
11/32" for example is still current today; so a set of sockets or combination wrenches should definitely include x/32" sizes up to 11/32". (Wright, are you listening? My biggest complaint with your otherwise excellent combo wrench sets.)
NY_treeguy
Well-known member
Define "older." The Willys is a '62, and I know that they used them until '64.
Ah ok.
Thanks very much guys! big help.
part of the reason I ask is because I have a Plvmb 31/32 and a Bonney 21/32. But, interestingly, I found a Craftsman 21/32 date code G, which is considerably newer.
p.s. by "older" I mean mid-60's and prior
Thanks very much guys! big help.
part of the reason I ask is because I have a Plvmb 31/32 and a Bonney 21/32. But, interestingly, I found a Craftsman 21/32 date code G, which is considerably newer.
p.s. by "older" I mean mid-60's and prior
NY_treeguy
Well-known member
There is a real possibility of finding them on pre-60's cars. Better to have and not need then need and not have.
craftsman still makes 25/32, 21/32 and 19/32- 1/2" drive sockets, they only include them in the 299 and 309pc full socket kits these days though..
if you don't want them you can send them my way, I have some socket pegs they can fill lol.
Exceller8
Well-known member
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
Some of them (I forget which) are close to metric or Whitworth sizes.
Rusty bolts can corrode down to those sizes, although all the sockets of these sizes I've seen have been 12 point.
zeet
Well-known member
I'd be delighted to take that Plomb 31/32" off your hands and save you the trials and tribulations of finding the nut or bolt it fits. :^)
Right, Craftsman still offers those three sockets (12 point, standard depth) but back in the day I think Craftsman also offered 12 point 1/2" drive deep versions in the same sizes.
Jim C.
jakemac
Well-known member
The only deep sizes I've seen in 32nds are the 7/32, 9/32, 11/32, and 25/32" sockets. The 19/32 and 21/32 deep sizes aren't listed in the 1960 catalog.
Jake, are you sure? I coulda swore Craftsman offered all three as deep sockets at one time. I could be wrong, which wouldn't be the first time.....or the last.
Jim C.
jakemac
Well-known member
Jake, are you sure? I coulda swore Craftsman offered all three as deep sockets at one time. I could be wrong, which wouldn't be the first time.....or the last.
I can only attest to the sockets offered during the =V= period and newer. BUT, if the 19/32 and 21/32 deep sockets were offered during that time - I WANT THEM.
slip knot
Well-known member
I never get rid of odd sized sockets. The odd OD sometimes comes in useful for driving out bearings and bushings. They also come in handy for driving onto worn nuts/bolts when the normal socket is too loose. Some time they get welded to bolts that are too worn to get out any other way. Nope never get rid of odd sized scokets. come to think of it, I never get rid of any sockets.
I can only attest to the sockets offered during the =V= period and newer. BUT, if the 19/32 and 21/32 deep sockets were offered during that time - I WANT THEM.
Me too!!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
First of all, nice truck!
I have never heard of the head/wrench size of an NF hex bolt being different than the head/wrench size of an NC hex bolt. Are you saying that the heads on your fine thread 3/8" bolts are slightly (by 1/32", per your theory) wider than the heads on your coarse thread 3/8" bolts? Have you miced the head diameter on the bolts you're referring to? Or does the 19/32 just feel like it fits better?
This is not a challenge. I am officially intrigued.
I am guessing that is what they did years ago but someone correct me if I am wrong.
NY_treeguy
Well-known member
I did not mic the bolts but have put a wrench on and had wiggle. Went to the corresponding x/32 wrench, and no wiggle. These are fasteners in good shape, not rusted to ****. The carb mounting bolts come to mind first....17/32.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Thanks.
Slinger646
Well-known member
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Jake, are you sure? I coulda swore Craftsman offered all three as deep sockets at one time. I could be wrong, which wouldn't be the first time.....or the last.
Jim C.
They do exist.
Attachments
davethorik
Well-known member
They bought a bunch of the bargain basement Chinese toe clamp kits at work. I've used one of the 3/8 sets, and ran into a head scratcher.
Normally 3/8 hardware uses 11/16 (.688") nuts. 11/16 wrenches were way too big on the nuts in the toe clamp kit.
17mm (.669") was next logical guess, as set is Chinese after all. This too was still loose, but not as much as 11/16.
out came calipers and they are 21/32 (.656"), I actually did not have this size. I'd prefer a wrench but it appears 21/32 wrenches are not common...at all.
So I looked for a 3/8 drive 21/32 socket.
These are also very uncommon. Mostly you will see the oddball /32 sizes in 1/2 drive for some reason. I would think 3/8 drive could do fine up to 27/32 or so.
Since there was no made in USA option I could find in 3/8 at short notice, I strangely enough found a Wiha/Heyco made in Germany shallow 12 pt 3/8 drive 21/32 socket for $5 or $6 new on ebay, and got that instead.
Normally 3/8 hardware uses 11/16 (.688") nuts. 11/16 wrenches were way too big on the nuts in the toe clamp kit.
17mm (.669") was next logical guess, as set is Chinese after all. This too was still loose, but not as much as 11/16.
out came calipers and they are 21/32 (.656"), I actually did not have this size. I'd prefer a wrench but it appears 21/32 wrenches are not common...at all.
So I looked for a 3/8 drive 21/32 socket.
These are also very uncommon. Mostly you will see the oddball /32 sizes in 1/2 drive for some reason. I would think 3/8 drive could do fine up to 27/32 or so.
Since there was no made in USA option I could find in 3/8 at short notice, I strangely enough found a Wiha/Heyco made in Germany shallow 12 pt 3/8 drive 21/32 socket for $5 or $6 new on ebay, and got that instead.
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Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
I was told they were for crankshaft bolts on older cars. I have a couple of 25/32 box ends on the other end of 3/4". Another odd size I used a lot was 21mm, it served as 1/2" Whitworth on '60s Japanese machines.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
They were for U.S.S. bolts and nuts as MShaw alluded to in post #29. U.S.S. hardware had larger heads Across-the-Flats than the heads on the same exact size bolts in S.A.E. standard.
tatra
Well-known member
Stored in seperate shrine until needed and thanks given to the tool devil.
Not exactly. Jakemac and I were talking about Craftsman deep sockets in 19/32” and 21/32” sizes. We did agree that a Craftsman deep socket in the 25/32” size does exist. Your photo also proves that. The 19/32” and 21/32” sockets depicted in your photo are standard depth. If you have those two in deep well let’s see them!
Jim C.
WRENCH SIZES
31/32" is the old U.S.S. standard for 9/16" bolt/nut.
25/32" is the old U.S.S. standard for 7/16" bolt/nut.
19/32" is the old U.S.S. standard for 5/16" bolt/nut.
11/32" is the old standard for #8 hex screw. This size still common in electrical work.
Other size sockets were offered by many toolmakers for various unique automobile applications. The 1937 Herbrand catalog is very helpful concerning these sizes.
21/32” socket was designated for Ford Model A and B connecting rods and for V8-60 mains.
23/32” socket was designated for 1933-34 Chevrolet front main bearings.
29/32” socket was designated for Chrysler Corp shackle bolts.
31/32" is the old U.S.S. standard for 9/16" bolt/nut.
25/32" is the old U.S.S. standard for 7/16" bolt/nut.
19/32" is the old U.S.S. standard for 5/16" bolt/nut.
11/32" is the old standard for #8 hex screw. This size still common in electrical work.
Other size sockets were offered by many toolmakers for various unique automobile applications. The 1937 Herbrand catalog is very helpful concerning these sizes.
21/32” socket was designated for Ford Model A and B connecting rods and for V8-60 mains.
23/32” socket was designated for 1933-34 Chevrolet front main bearings.
29/32” socket was designated for Chrysler Corp shackle bolts.
Dave that is definitely an odd case.
Talk the boss into buying a case of nuts from MSC and pitch those oddballs.
At one time USS indicated a heavy pattern bolt and SAE a lighter pattern using smaller heads.
Years later USS became known as coarse thread and SAE as fine thread, confusing the issue.
Lately they seem to use 'Heavy' as the designation for the heavier pattern with the larger heads.
Years later USS became known as coarse thread and SAE as fine thread, confusing the issue.
Lately they seem to use 'Heavy' as the designation for the heavier pattern with the larger heads.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I have easily answered this question on /32nd sizes at least a dozen times, and I have seen MShaw and leg and others answer it other times. An excerpt from a vintage catalog or Machinery's Handbook on this subject is definitely on my list of things that would be very useful to put in a "stickie" one day. I have over half the "stickie" written.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Yes, in 1962, rebuilding my first car, a 1930 Model A Deluxe Coupe, that's the first time and place I found a need for that socket.
Mostly because they're 100-years old and 1/2" drive was the standard of the industry up until recently (by my standards) Literally everyone bought 1/2" drive and the better sets had every size socket from 3/8" to 1-3/8".
jack vines