Why entry level socket sets still include SAE?

[Bert_]

Why do entry level socket sets include metric?

I generally work on agricultural equipment, It's all SAE. Since that's what I work on SAE must be what everyone else uses too...

Are metric sockets really that common to use?

 

[bcschief]

The metrification act was a failure that's why end of story.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_Conversion_Act

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I think I'll just throw all my sockets and wrenches away and work exclusively with adjustable wrenches, Channellocks, Vise Grips and a torch. That way I can avoid all the measurement system angst.

 

[TC16731]

So my 2 cents. A plant manager observed me throw a partial set of allen keys in the trash. They were not my tools , and my job was to make the area more productive. On seeing this he said "why" ? My , as sarcastic as I could, answer "I never need a partial set of allen keys I need all of them to do my work".! Do I need every size SAE and Metric ? No. But after years of turning wrenches ,I'm 51 this year, I've learned the easiest work you'll do is the work you have the right tools for. If your going to have a set of tools how or why would you say I'm not going to have useless SAE in my tool box. If you live in the US, and work out side of the Kia of BMW dealerships you've greatly handicapped yourself my friend . Last I looked you buy gas and milk by the gallon your shoe laces are in inches the monitor your staring at is measured in inches you don't have a 1,320.8mm TV and there will never be a 36.576 meter touchdown pass. Again just my 2 cents.

 

[bobemmerich]

Because there's still SAE stuff out there, and not everyone only works on late model vehicles.

 

[redwrench60]

There’s a big wide world outside auto repair that still uses SAE exclusively. I have equal sets of both and all are well used. I really don’t have a preference when it comes to fasteners, it’s all just nuts and bolts. Measurements, weights, volume, temperature, speed ect. I prefer SAE. It’s just how my brain visualizes the world. It’s how I was raised and apparently in the US I’m not alone so I have no need to change. I’ll leave it up to the upcoming generation how they want to visualize the world they will inherit.

 

[Firebrick43]

Obviously strides must be taken to move everything back to BSW.

Ironically a lot of German and Japanese hydraulic and air fittings are British parallel pipe threads or British tapered pipe threads. So why can’t metric countries use metric standards exclusively?

G1/8 (as in german1/8) is 1/8-28 instead of 1/8-27 npt. Pisses me off when some idiot puts the wrong fitting in, which will easily turn in 3-4 threads and take a wrench and torque it down.

Some German machinery uses sae JIC hydraulic fittings/tubing as well. EO fitting/tubing is a joke in comparison and a pain due to the fact there are 2-3 the number of fittings to stock for a full range.

Don’t get me started on stupid metric tri square and etorx

 

[Farmall450]

Many of the metric devices are not ones you just open up and service. Some are single use, some have no fasteners, some are too specialized.

Vehicles/Industrial Trucks/Planes/gizmos from any hardware store are always quite the opposite, though.

My comment actually stems from the ITA industry.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

How is .0001" not consistent, explainable or extremely precise? What you are saying makes zero sense. There is zero difference between .0001" and .00254mm, they are both precise numbers.

surprised no one has said this yet, but you can't convert 0.001" and put out 0.00254mm, you're adding 2 significant figures!
There's definitely a difference.

Just for fun, my good calipers measure in thousandths of inches, base 10.

 

[yrly]

There’s a simple solution.... look at my avatar!

Most yard and farm equip is SAE. I bought a new grill like a year ago and it was made in China but had SAE spec fasteners. Ford slipped a lot of 5/16 stuff in various cars.

 

[qqzj]

SAE's existence is a sad reality. Only tool makers really benefit. Think about how many additional tools we can get and how much space we can save if only SAE can just go away. The failure of metrication is a gigantic waste of natural and human resources.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Sumboodie]

It really depends on what you are doing... Mechanicing everything now is metric but construction wise everything in this country is standard... There's a lot of crossovers like 8mm and 5/16", 16mm and 5/8", 19mm and 3/4" and so forth but they have both... Their "mechanic" box is generic as in they don't know if you're working on something from 1970 or 2020, so they have both... you rust belt guys aren't used to anything older than 10 years but in the sane areas of the country where they don't voluntarily let vehicles rust away vehicles last for decades... That said, the modern person doesn't know how to work on their car so they dont' bother having older cars so new mechanics don't work on older cars...

When did it go to all metric?
My newest vehicle is a 2008 and it's a mix of SAE and metric.

 

[Sumboodie]

Ironically a lot of German and Japanese hydraulic and air fittings are British parallel pipe threads or British tapered pipe threads. So why can’t metric countries use metric standards exclusively?

G1/8 (as in german1/8) is 1/8-28 instead of 1/8-27 npt. Pisses me off when some idiot puts the wrong fitting in, which will easily turn in 3-4 threads and take a wrench and torque it down.

Some German machinery uses sae JIC hydraulic fittings/tubing as well. EO fitting/tubing is a joke in comparison and a pain due to the fact there are 2-3 the number of fittings to stock for a full range.

Don’t get me started on stupid metric tri square and etorx

1/8"x28 is for zerk fittings too.

 

[Lucid Moments]

When did it go to all metric?
My newest vehicle is a 2008 and it's a mix of SAE and metric.

IIRC the transition started in the mid to late 90s. Honest question here, but what do you have that is a 2008 and still has SAE? I am working on a 2003 Chevy Silverado and it is all metric as far as I can tell.

 

[MushCreek]

I had an '85 Bronco II, and it was a mix of both. As for newer vehicles, bear in mind that some metric fastener heads have very close equivalents to SAE. My '95 F-150 has a lot of 8 mm, which is very close to 5/16". It also has 11 mm, which is very close to 7/16". Either one will work, but when you look at the threads of the fasteners, they're definitely metric.

 

[whateg01]

I had an '85 Bronco II, and it was a mix of both. As for newer vehicles, bear in mind that some metric fastener heads have very close equivalents to SAE. My '95 F-150 has a lot of 8 mm, which is very close to 5/16". It also has 11 mm, which is very close to 7/16". Either one will work, but when you look at the threads of the fasteners, they're definitely metric.

I've gotten a kick out of people saying that their (vehicle, equipment, whatever) is all metric except for the 5/16" bolts. Just let them continue in their ignorant bliss!

 

[Citation]

I kind of assume GM did all those torx fasteners to make sure people didn't confuse metric and standard sizes. Since most of my cars have been Japanese or that one Euro car I generally haven't dealt with mixed sizes.

 

[Ton ton]

I think I'll just throw all my sockets and wrenches away and work exclusively with adjustable wrenches, Channellocks, Vise Grips and a torch. That way I can avoid all the measurement system angst.

Good.

 

[geartow]

Frankly I live in AMERICA, And I like SAE stuff. Did not we settle this 250 or so yrs ago when we tossed the queen and her systems out.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Frankly I live in AMERICA, And I like SAE stuff. Did not we settle this 250 or so yrs ago when we tossed the queen and her systems out.

You may want to study some history.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

You may want to study some history.

The fun part is that Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson favored dividing units of measure by 10. Both Franklin and Jefferson served as Ambassadors to France and each are credited with influence on the development of the metric system.

But commerce outweighed the preferences of two of America's most prominent Founding Fathers. Great Britain was a more significant trading partner than France and the British preferred to do business in Imperial units.

Well, we do have our own "independently" sized gallon. So there.