who buys SAE tools these days?

[impulse922]

and more specifically, why?

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I do, trucks are still largely SAE. As are many other industries like aerospace and HVAC.

 

[iandh]

Honestly, if I had my way, I wouldn't touch the damned things.

Unfortunately, I still run into SAE fasteners all the time.

Luckily, it does seem that more and more american products are starting to use metric fasteners.

 

[arkangel06]

I hardly ever use metric and im in Canada, not in the auto industry though.

 

[Indy_500]

I don't buy anything metric. I work on snowmobiles and lawn mowers and some other small engine type things. Not old enough to drive so haven't dug my way into cars and trucks yet.

 

[Case]

SAE for all my lawn equipment and cars I dont personally own anything that requires metric

 

[mikevango]

I work on vintage American cars and bicycles. I buy sae tools.

 

[Monte]

old american cars, small block engines etc.

 

[impulse922]

I don't buy anything metric. I work on snowmobiles and lawn mowers and some other small engine type things. Not old enough to drive so haven't dug my way into cars and trucks yet.

interesting, figured it would be easier for them to transition to metric than it would be for the car makers.

I do, trucks are still largely SAE. As are many other industries like aerospace and HVAC.

my dad is a diesel mechanic as well, i figured this and people that work on older american cars would be the only exceptions. guess not.

 

[chevyboy91188]

i have 3 classic vehicles so all i buy is sae really

 

[Abbott]

I use SAE somewhere near 75%-90% of the time.

 

[Falcon67]

You can put my complete collection of metric sockets and wrenches in a pair of socks. When I put a 3G Ford alternator on the race car, I re-tapped the lower bolt to take a 3/8-18 bolt and tossed the 10mm. However, my machine tools demand some metric presence in the tool crib. Don't think I haven't converted some of those to SAE.

 

[wreckercologist]

I do, trucks are still largely SAE. As are many other industries like aerospace and HVAC.

+1. Most medium & heavy duty's still have a little SAE hardware (Freightliner chassis' are nearly all SAE). Nearly all aftermarket bodies & equipment are still SAE.......PTO's and clutch pumps, beds and accessories, hydraulic fittings and hoses, although I am starting to see hydraulic fittings that are metric but with standard ol' SAE threads.

A lot of the PTO's I hang have metric/SAE studs. The end that screws into the trans case is metric, and the end that holds the PTO on is SAE. The same goes for clutch pumps...they can be a mix too.

 

[Indy_500]

interesting, figured it would be easier for them to transition to metric than it would be for the car makers.


my dad is a diesel mechanic as well, i figured this and people that work on older american cars would be the only exceptions. guess not.

i'm 15, and i've had 3 sleds so far in my life that i've worked on. 1993 Polaris Indy trail, 1999 Polaris Indy 500, and 1999 Polaris XC 700. I also work on my dads 1999 Polaris XC SP 700, and 2 other sleds he's "had": 2001 Polaris Sport Touring 550, and 1994 Polaris Indy Classic Touring 500. Every sled that my dad has owned before that i was too young to touch a nut or bolt. So the newer sleds are probably all metric, but for the ones i got/work on i need SAE

Also, i'd like to add that most bolt-on accessories, come with metric bolts and nuts so snowmobiles are going mostly metric. I can't think of any metric bolts on my snowmobile right now. If your going to work on a snowmobile a lot that's around year 2000 or older, just a heads up get your 9/16" socket ready!

 

[Kev442]

Metric all week at work, then the weekend comes. Aaaaaaah, SAE and relaxation with my stuff.

 

[Stuey]

I do b/c I do a lot of assembly work. The greater availability of SAE fasteners means I won't switch to metric for a long time.

 

[KCarGuy]

I work in an industry that everything...well 90% anyway...is all american made, so SAE is all I ever buy.
One division in our company is equipment built overseas, Germany usually. That equipment I need to keep some metric tools.
But generally the SAE tools are the ones getting dirty.

Adjustables fit all!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

SAE is mostly what I buy.

 

[Teken]

Metric all week at work, then the weekend comes. Aaaaaaah, SAE and relaxation with my stuff.

+1 The very same boat here . . . Plus wouldn't the tool chest look odd with out its counterpart?

Mr. SAE, and Mrs. Metric . . .

 

[Indy_500]

+1 The very same boat here . . . Plus wouldn't the tool chest look odd with out its counterpart?

Mr. SAE, and Mrs. Metric . . .

MR SAE and Mrs. Metric, that's a good one I try to buy everything in metric and SAE just in case

 

[CBradio]

I work on small engines. Most of what I touch is 10mm, 8mm, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 3/4. Mostly in that order. Honda and Kawi's are what I see the most.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I can't imagine not having complete sets of both...

 

[aveos]

There are no metric stuff in aviation business.

 

[Teken]

There are no metric stuff in aviation business.

Are we talking about North American, or in the world?

 

[BWright]

I haven't bought an SAE tool in 2 years, well that I've kept for myself anyway.

 

[caper]

I don't buy anything metric.

I try to buy everything in metric and SAE just in case

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Some metric and some SAE will work on occasion on each other. In general, I try to have both of each and have bought the larger SAE stuff, that I didn't inherit, then bought the ones I had for spares/other box, etc. Most the bolts at the hardware store are SAE. Most of my taps and Dies are SAE (still need to get a good Metric set). General house repairs take SAE (plumbing).

SAE isn't going away, any time soon. HOWEVER, one can find great deals at garage/estate sales, on SAE.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

every time i buy somthing in metric..i but the same set in sae..or the other way around....

 

[Mickey O]

I can't imagine not having complete sets of both...

That's where I'm at, half my **** is metric, half is SAE it blows, would have been nice to go with a world standard years ago.

I've been using metric since I was a kid, my dirt bikes were all metric, got by with a set of PowrKraft sockets and a small Craftsman metric wrench set for years, eventually I got better and more metric stuff, nice to have when you need it.

 

[oldwino]

I own, work-on and drive vintage American iron!!!!!
metric, never touch the stuff, I'm an AMERICAN, DAMN IT!

 

[chopper1]

I have one set of metric Gearwrenches, never used them. That's it, and only because they came in a combined set with SAE. As a hobby I only work on old AMERICAN cars.

 

[impulse922]

I can't imagine not having complete sets of both...

i've got both cause they came in a kit, but i really can't tell you the last time i've used sae. I mainly work(as a hobby) on newer cars though.

if the day ever comes when i need it, i suppose i've got enough to get by though.

at least i won't have to worry about competing with much of you guys on ebay

 

[ourkid2000]

Are we talking about North American, or in the world?

The world......

I've worked on airbus (made in France & elsewhere) & even they use SAE

 

[Lump]

Metric....yeechh.

I know, I know, the world is changing, and metric is "easier" to figure out for people who didn't already learn SAE. But I don't wrench for a living any more, and try to avoid working any more than necessary on the latest equipment. No metrics on big block Chevelles or Hupmobiles.

But, I must admit I am slowly buying metric stuff in order to be able to make repairs.

Yecch.

 

[gc11090]

I do, I am a technician for a paintball company and a majority of the stuff is SAE. I also use SAE while working on my nova, and on projects around the house.

 

[crewchief888]

i work on construction eq for a living, most hardware, nut and bolts, are still mostly std. all our engines are metric. over the last 25 years, ive bought 99% of what i needed already, one in a while i run across something metric thats being a PITA, so a new tool, normally a socket, gets added.
for my home tools, i continually upgrade std and metric, from CM to one of the truck brands for commonly used tools

 

[Abbott]

Oh yeah I also own sets of SAE and metric but the question was "who still buys SAE?"

 

[Paumanok]

We've got lots of different equipment on the farm from all over the place, so I like to be prepared for whatever cometh my way....

I've got SAE wrenches from 1/4"-2" SAE sockets from 3/16"-2 5/8"

and I've got a similar selection in metric

 

[jwitt]

I have all three SAE, Metric, and Whitworth

 

[jimexcursion]

I do, trucks are still largely SAE.

Our newer trucks are coimg metric so I have to buy some metric tools now.