Why Bother With SAE?

[BJ42LX]

Do new mechanics even bother with SAE/standard/inch tools anymore?

All modern automobiles are metric. Most new lawn and garden equipment is metric (at least mine is). The only time I use standard tools is when I score an old piece of equipment at an estate sale.

If you were building a new tool kit would you even bother with SAE (until you actually needed it or were into older cars)?

 

[KamiCrit]

From what I've heard, most industrial equipment is SAE and I'm on the millwright track (industrial mechanic) so I'm on the other side of the fence wondering if I'll ever bother with metric.

And I'm In Canada!

 

[A_Pmech]

It all depends on what you intend to work on, doesn't it?

Many machines are still being dimensioned and detailed with SAE.

 

[espyking83]

Haven't seen a metric fastener on an airplane yet, so yeah, I will continue to bother with SAE tools.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Nope.

The world is full of far more things to fix than metric automobiles and your ^&%& "new" lawnmowers.

Very myopic of you though.

Power plants.
Farm machinery.
Airplanes/AF&PP
Hospital equipment.
Water Treament Plants
Most Mfg. plant equipment.
Garbage trucks.
Tel-com towers and elec sub stations.
Your water company and your household plumbing.
Even ur f*&(* dish and cable provider.
Etc, etc, etc.

All fractional/SAE.

I love how everyone just looks at the fix-it world as just the equipment they directly see and interactively use hands-on that needs repair in thier life.

Think BIGGER.

Trust me.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

You still need both. I use nothing but SAE at work, no metric. Still need metric at the house. Just get both, buy cheaper for the least used ones aka SAE if thats the case.

 

[JDon99]

I plan to rebuild an old Chevy truck at some point and will be using SAE on all of the chassis/body(except for the modern engine swap). At my job(industrial environment), I use mostly SAE, except for a handful of machines that use Metric. This was totally opposite at my previous job, where a lot of the machinery was either Japanese, or the manufacturers used Metric fasteners.

 

[mechan]

From what I've heard, most industrial equipment is SAE and I'm on the millwright track (industrial mechanic) so I'm on the other side of the fence wondering if I'll ever bother with metric.

And I'm In Canada!

A fair amount of newer equipment is designed and built in metric ...

 

[dR_Freightliner]

I use mostly SAE, but I can use both at times.

 

[CJM8515]

You would be surprised what you will run into. I have alot more metric but SAE can come in handy when working on various things.

 

[jim1987]

:

 

[KamiCrit]

A fair amount of newer equipment is designed and built in metric ...

Really? That's great to hear then. I'm ready to stock up to 32mm.

 

[DodgeMech]

ChryCo likes to use standard fasteners in a lot of of spots...mostly transmission related things

 

[mechan]

Really? That's great to hear then. I'm ready to stock up to 32mm.

I am not sure what a millwright track is, but I shall assume it is an apprenticeship. If it is a union apprenticeship I would just buy what is in your contracts negotiated tool list if it is for work.

 

[sonvolt]

I work for a machine tool builder 85% SAE for me

 

[woody 73]

I use sae all the time working on woodworking machines ( I have an Italian band saw that is metric); but the rest is sae.

For the most part yes metric is the way to go, unless you are working on older cars or farm tractors.

 

[beatcad]

because it's still important.
yer orig question was is SAE important to "modern" mechanics.
if your a tech in a Honda, or Toyota , or Mercedes or the like dealership I dought youd use many SAE tools.
if you worked at an American made car dealership you still will need a few SAE wrenches & sockets.
if you work at an indy shop you better have everything.
come to think of it sockets can fit standard or metric bolts/nuts, but they only fit a standard ratchet(1/4" 3/8" 1/2")

i'm REALLY gonna go out on limb here an say you may be asking this question to the wrong bunch...maybe.
Id bet that 1/2 the guys that read this section of the GJ are old guys that were turning wrenches before we were born or guys like me that are into working on/building old stuff.

dammit! what was my point?
nevermind, I've been drinking

 

[abvw]

The world is full of far more things to fix than metric automobiles and your ^&%& "new" lawnmowers.

Sure, but...

The world is also using metric (ISO) as standard. SAE only appears in North America. Think about the poor ******* who have to fix your SAE plane in Europe.

I use SAE tools to remove rounded or rusty metric fasteners before the extractors come out.

 

[AndrewV]

Auto tech here. And yes op. I use both daily, and never know what will come in.

 

[cptn_zippy]

Haven't seen a metric fastener on an airplane yet, so yeah, I will continue to bother with SAE tools.

Forgive my ignorance on this, but are all airplanes SAE? Even Boeing/Airbus?

J

 

[catalytic]

I rebuild machine tools and woodworking equipment an it's just the opposite: I don't own a single metric tool (well, except for allen keys for working on a mountain bike).

 

[97tbird]

I work for an engine machine shop and I have a good selection of both those weird fractions and metric stuff.

 

[SLYDIT]

i was lucky i guess. I did my apprenticeship with old school tradesmen and the equipment was both metric and SAE. So i learned all the sizes etc and the "cheater" sizes for rounded bolts etc. now the young guys just look at me with a blank look when i ask for a 9/16" spanner.

 

[gagreen]

Sure, but...

The world is also using metric (ISO) as standard. SAE only appears in North America. Think about the poor ******* who have to fix your SAE plane in Europe.

I use SAE tools to remove rounded or rusty metric fasteners before the extractors come out.

I have friends working in europe on aircraft and they have no issues getting sae. Stahlwille and gedore have aviation sets that are almost all sae with very few metric

Forgive my ignorance on this, but are all airplanes SAE? Even Boeing/Airbus?

J

Yes. Airbus will have a few metric fasteners but the standard for aviation has been set. Aviation requires standardization especially in commercial aircraft. Many carriers use contract operations to handle major inspections, these shops handle airbus, boeing, embraer etc... and are located around the world. Speed and efficiency is the name of the game. Lots and lots of money has been dumped into the testing and approval of aircraft fasteners, connectors, lines, hoses, and fittings. There is no such thing as a simple change.

The only exception I've run into is the nanchang cj-6. It's a chinese warbird trainer copied from a yak. It is all metric down to the rivets and sheet metal gauge. Complete pita trying to find replacement hardware that meets a standard I'm willing to put into an aircraft.

I'm sure there are manufacturers outside of the U.S. that is using metric, but there are no metric fasteners, that I'm aware of, that meet the federal code for use in aircraft certified anything but experimental. There are small cases where special certifications are given to certain parts or pieces but wide usage is not something that will happen anytime soon.

 

[larry_g]

Do new mechanics even bother with SAE/standard/inch tools anymore?

All modern automobiles are metric. Most new lawn and garden equipment is metric (at least mine is). The only time I use standard tools is when I score an old piece of equipment at an estate sale.

If you were building a new tool kit would you even bother with SAE (until you actually needed it or were into older cars)?

If you only work on metric items then that is all you need. If you find yourself in a position to need tools to fit fractional fasteners then you will either **** 'em up trying to do the job with a metric sized tool or you will get the correct tool.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rmmiller]

I don't know where you guys get the idea that farm equipment is SAE alone, it sure isn't. Grab your tools and step up to the 8000 series John Deere tractors and you'll be in for a rude awakening. Anyone remember the Ford Pinto? Laced with both SAE and metric hardware and the Deere tractor is just like that. The transmission is held together with metric fasteners and the engine is SAE. Try selling a guy all the hardware for a set of saddle tanks! You have to bag and tag the bolts according to where they go or he'll be back cussing you when he tries the bolts in the wrong holes.

 

[DodgeMech]

Point is though...if you're only working on newer cars...a basic set of both standard and metric wrenches and 3/8 sockets will get you through most repairs a weekend warrior will ever come across

 

[wafrederick]

SAE is quicker to find the right size tap and die.course or a fine thread.Metric,there are 5 differant thread pitches and figuring out which tap and thread pitch can be a pita.The the bolts for the battery terminals for a Harley Davidson motorcycle are metric,10mm most of the time and the rest is SAE.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I am into classic cars (corvettes mostly) which are predominately SAE. I am also in the laundromat business. Most of my washers and dryers are SAE (I am talking about brand new machines). Granted it's not as common as it once was, but it is still around if you look for it. Companies still assemble things with SAE fasteners. My guess is to piss people off who only have metric tools.

 

[jmm]

I work on trucks for a living. The latest models have both metric and SAE -- engines are often mostly metric and the body is usually SAE (even on some imports). So I have both, and will probably use both for a while yet.

I used to work on manufacturing equipment which was mostly metric (most of it was German), but I had a few British standard tools too...

 

[Makapuu]

No SAE means less tools. Unacceptable.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

You really cant get by in life without both. If you only work on Jap or Euro cars at a dealership you might be fine, but eventually you will run into an accessory or something that is SAE.

 

[kenburkholz]

About 37 years ago when I started in industrial maint. I was told I would need only metric tools, Wrong! The place I worked had a conglomo of U.S. , old and new, German, French, Italian,and whatever,else Grainger, would throw at us. I ended up with about 65% S.A.E. before the first year was up. When I retired I ended up with about 80% S.A.E. especially in larger sizes.
Another shock, was when I had to replace the injectors and pump on an old john deere 3040,this old tractor was from the late 70's. The engine was made in France!. Ken.

 

[Adam.C]

If you were building a new tool kit would you even bother with SAE (until you actually needed it or were into older cars)?

Did you guys read the OPs question?

The answer is no. Don't bother with SAE until you find you need it. I have very few SAE tools in my automotive kit; One set of ratchet wrenches, some SAE Allen sockets.

I have gorgeous industrial finish snap on sockets and wrenches in another kit for machinery, but i don't need it for the cars I drive.

 

[Ruger_556]

I'm a dealer tech for Kenworth and use SAE 50% of the time... Yes it's going away but there's tons of older rigs on the road and they'll be out there for years to come yet.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I use sae. Some rusty nuts/bolts end up downsizing due to the rust so an sae tool helps minimize stripping and maximize the probability of getting it off. But for most things not rusty metric is the norm.

 

[Sonorous]

I don't know where you guys get the idea that farm equipment is SAE alone, it sure isn't. Grab your tools and step up to the 8000 series John Deere tractors and you'll be in for a rude awakening. Anyone remember the Ford Pinto? Laced with both SAE and metric hardware and the Deere tractor is just like that. The transmission is held together with metric fasteners and the engine is SAE. Try selling a guy all the hardware for a set of saddle tanks! You have to bag and tag the bolts according to where they go or he'll be back cussing you when he tries the bolts in the wrong holes.

I do work here and there on Kubotas. I've never reached back and forth between metric SAE so much. But... addressing the OP's why SAE? I guess if you're buying item by item you could avoid SAE, but pretty well any largish socket set (Craftsman, etc) will come with both. I assume most end up with SAE whether they really want to or not. I can't imagine going from owning zero tools to the "complete" Snap-on metric collection, without somehow buying or acquiring some SAE stuff along the way. I have a pretty full SAE set in most of my cars!

They have their purpose too. I needed a 26mm large-offset wrench to get of a tight-as-hell hydraulic oil strainer on a Kubota. Of course I didn't have it. After knocking some paint off, an ancient 1" fit like a glove. As a bonus, the 15/16" end had already broken off in a former life, so it was perfect for a cheater bar. On another Kubota I went to take the rear lugs off: 35mm??? My 3/4" drive metric set only had 34 and 36mm. 1 3/8" was perfect - though of course I later remembered I have a 35mm axle socket for a Jeep IIRC.

On that point Chrysler has me reaching for SAE now and then too! Beyond that, SAE sometimes fits best on painted fasteners, bulging wheel lugs, stripped and ground-down a bit smaller fasteners, and they always fit best on my '72 Volvo P1800e.

With all that said, I'm not rushing out to spend money on new snap-on SAE stuff.

 

[atwageman]

I'm a industrial mechanic. In my environment it's both SAE And metric. Like others have said, not everyone on GJ is a car nut.

 

[MN4x4]

Well, duh - it allows you to have TWICE as many tools.

Hellooooooo...?