Why 32nd sizes by Wright?

[IngyHere]

In the 1/2" drive 12-point standard section of the Wright Tool Online Catalog, there are five sockets sized in 32nds:

4119 - 19/32",
4121 - 21/32",
4125 - 25/32",
4129 - 29/32", and
4131 - 31/32".

I cannot for the life of me figure out where or how these could possibly be used. Does anyone know the applications? Would anyone want to buy these to complete a set?

Note: I just saw 19/32, 21/32 and 25/32 in the Craftsman catalog, but Snappy doesn't offer any of these sizes.

 

[jakemac]

In the 1/2" drive 12-point standard section of the Wright Tool Online Catalog, there are five sockets sized in 32nds:

4119 - 19/32",
4121 - 21/32",
4125 - 25/32",
4129 - 29/32", and
4131 - 31/32".

I cannot for the life of me figure out where or how these could possibly be used. Does anyone know the applications? Would anyone want to buy these to complete a set?

Note: I just saw 19/32, 21/32 and 25/32 in the Craftsman catalog, but Snappy doesn't offer any of these sizes.

Anyone with tool related OCD will HAVE to have them.

(OH GREAT !, now I'm having to fight the urge to collect Wright sockets. - Damn this forum!)

 

[Scout Driver]

I've used 19/32" and 25/32" on old bicycles. Starters, alternators and other older electrical components will use 32" fasteners too. Dad tells me that 19/32" was still fairly common in wrench sets in the later '60s or so.

Scott

 

[WWIIjeep]

Dad tells me that 19/32" was still fairly common in wrench sets in the later '60s or so.

I must be as old or older than your dad. 19/32" and 25/32" were very common in the '60s, and even into the '70s. 21/32" was also usually included, but less often used.

19/32" and 25/32" were used for 5/16" and 7/16" heavy hex nuts, respectively.

31/32" was used on some electrical fittings, including some oil pressure sending units.

If you work on any older machinery, having at least the 19/32" and 25/32" sizes is a must. The other sizes less often, but still nice to have, just in case.

 

[turmlos]

Darn, it looks like I'm missing a size.

Actually, it doesn't appear that S-K ever offered a 29/32" socket. I can't find any reference to one that size.

It looks like 29/32" & 31/32" are used on shower valves, although you'd probably need deeps for those.

 

[AmericanPreferred]

My 1992 Jeep Cherokee 4 liter had a bolt somewhere in the belt system that only a /32 fit right. I dont remember which size, but I was sure glad I had it.

 

[fatfillup]

Too often, folks think about tools as they relate to what they work on. For instance, I hired a car mechanic that worked on German cars before he came to work with me at my pressure washer store. He didn't own one SAE tool. And couldn't think of why he would ever need one. Well, most of my stuff is SAE. Also, I sell a lot of tools and guys at auctions wonder why I by some old tools. They don't realize that there are folks who work on old stuff and need obsolete tools to do the job. I sell a lot of tools that modern mechanics would never use.

I do tend to agree with the op that the 32 sizes seem odd, especially that they are still made.

 

[LXCam]

Last year I bought a **** load of merchandise that was shelf items from Graingers when they remodeled their local store. Anyhow for whatever reason I am now the proud owner of 4 25/32 combo wrenches. In over 30 years of wrenching on stuff, I don't think I've ever come across that oddball size...or maybe I did and didn't know it.

 

[mailpup]

You made me check my old Craftsman socket set and I have a 1/2" drive 19/32, 21/32 and 25/32 but all clean and unused. However, I have an extra 19/32 that I have used in place of a 15mm socket on occasion.

It's interesting that they are still available from Craftsman. I see that they are still available from Armstrong, Proto, SK and others too.

I also found a couple of open end Craftsman wrenches that have 19/32 and 25/32 sizes.

Edit: These tools date from around 1969/70.

 

[rusty65]

I have a 19/32 and a 21/32 in my old indestro chrome vanadium set and its from the around 1936-1941. So apparently they were pretty common even before the 1960s as well.


Sent From Snap On Head Quarters deep in China.

 

[WWIIjeep]

I have a 19/32 and a 21/32 in my old indestro chrome vanadium set and its from the around 1936-1941. So apparently they were pretty common even before the 1960s.

Definitely. They were very common before the 60s. That was just a statement that they could still be found in the 60s and 70s.

 

[crewchief888]

my SK set from the late 50's has those sizes....

 

[soulstryke]

to adjust the height of the pressure plate on a stetson ross planer you need a 19/32"

 

[GIJoe4500]

I have a 19/32 and a 31/32 made by bonney, and a 25/32 made by Proto. All in 12pt. And all from pawn shop purchases. Anyone have a 29/32 for sale? LOL. I haven't came across one of those yet. And would love to have all 4 sizes in 6pt as well!

 

[kc-steve]

Wright is primarily an "industrial tool" manufacturer. There are many old machines still in use all across the country using many fasteners from 50 to 80 years old. Wright wouldn't be a good industrial tool provider if it didn't cover all the possibilities.

Steve

 

[cide1]

Craftsman made a 19/32" for years. I heard it was common on Fords, but I don't know that for sure.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Maybe you'd use a 31/32 socket if you're trying to loosen a well-worn 1" nut?

 

[Trucky]

Pretty sure I have a Plomb 25/32 socket.. always wondered what they were (mainly) used for. I do enjoy threads like these..

 

[byoungblood]

Wright is primarily an "industrial tool" manufacturer. There are many old machines still in use all across the country using many fasteners from 50 to 80 years old. Wright wouldn't be a good industrial tool provider if it didn't cover all the possibilities.

Steve

This right here. I think 19 and 25 32nds were also popular on older Fords. When my grandfather handed down most of his tools down to me, there were quite a few of those sizes in his sockets and wrenches, as he worked for Ford for about 35 years.

 

[bonneyman]

I've been told that vintage tool makers did 32 and 64 sizes to accommodate metric fasteners in the old days.

 

[Jim C.]

I run across original 19/32nd and 25/32nd inch fasteners all the time when I'm tinkering with old Delta woodworking machinery from the 1940s and 1950s. Every now and then I'll come across a 21/32nd inch fastener too. I have the sockets in those sizes, however, the fasteners I can recall on the old machinery required a wrench to turn them, based on their application and location on the machines. I rarely ever use the sockets but frequently use the wrenches.

Jim C.

 

[platypus20]

old Allis-Chalmers tractors and other old farm equipment

 

[rhandwor]

Some of these will work on a metric nut I had some and used them. U.S. cars used to have both metric and US sizes.

 

[4BT]

Yup, old machinery and some starters use /32 sizes. I have 2 Craftsman double-end wrenches that include a 19/32 and 25/32, picked up at a yardsale

 

[DOUGD]

25/32 used on Boeing 727 brake bolts.