Why isn't 11/32 more common in wrench/socket sets?

[slipjointed]

11/32 is the standard hex nut size for 8-32 fasteners, It's always confused me that sets go:

1/4 - 5/16 - 3/8 - 7/16

So you have, 4-40, 6-32, skip 8-32, 10-32, 1/4-20

8-32 is a pretty common fastener size, in fact I run into it quite often. Some sets do include it, but more often than not, it's excluded.

Is it not commonly encountered in auto repair? I work in an industrial environment, and it's used quite often in electrical cabinets and electronics, as well as smaller fixtures and machinery. There are a lot of times that a #10 is overkill, but a #6 is just too weak.

Certain tool lines don't even offer 11/32 combo wrenches, which I find strange when they do offer every other common small Machine screw nut size.

 

[Plasmatic]

I whole-heartedly agree that this is strange and annoying. Especially because #6-32 is very prone to break (that thread is just too coarse for the diameter), I always tend to bump up to #8-32 on my stuff (scientific apparatus, mostly) whenever I have the space.

It's pretty annoying not having the right wrench in the "standard" set.

I am curious to hear the answers.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I can't imagine an 8-32 would be torqued enough that an extra 1/32" on the socket or wrench would round the nuts off. Plus, adding it to a standard set would likely simply add another socket a lot of people would never use - nor know where it would be used.

Personally, I don't see the need for denominations below 1/16"...another reason why the metric system simply works better for fasteners.

 

[Outlawmws]

11/32 IS standard in wrench and socket sets. 1/4" drive sockets and the ignition wrench sets. I can't imagine needing a 3/8" drive ratchet for a # 8 nut, ever. It would be easy to snap one using 1/4" drive stuff, and you want to use 3/8?.

In any case 95% of the time if I'm in the numbered screw sizes, I'm using a spin tight/nutdriver, not a socket and ratchet or a wrench, unless there simply is no space...

 

[t100]

11/32 IS standard in wrench and socket sets. 1/4" drive sockets and the ignition wrench sets.

I don't think techs are using ignition wrenches anymore, they are gone with the carburetors.

in racing applications, #8 bolts are commonly paired with 3/16" nuts. 10-32 with 1/4".

we use jet nuts exclusively.

 

[slipjointed]

11/32 IS standard in wrench and socket sets. 1/4" drive sockets and the ignition wrench sets. I can't imagine needing a 3/8" drive ratchet for a # 8 nut, ever. It would be easy to snap one using 1/4" drive stuff, and you want to use 3/8?.

In any case 95% of the time if I'm in the numbered screw sizes, I'm using a spin tight/nutdriver, not a socket and ratchet or a wrench, unless there simply is no space...

I'm not sure if you quite understood what I was saying... you see 1/4" and 5/16" sockets and wrenches in full sized sets all the time, but not 11/32. That doesn't make any sense.

It would be find if 1/4, 5/16, and 11/32 were only offered in 1/4 drive, that would actually make some sense.

But why include the smaller 1/4 and 5/16, and not include the larger 11/32 in a set?

 

[e30bradley]

23mm seems to get skipped pretty often too.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm not sure if you quite understood what I was saying... you see 1/4" and 5/16" sockets and wrenches in full sized sets all the time, but not 11/32. That doesn't make any sense.

It would be find if 1/4, 5/16, and 11/32 were only offered in 1/4 drive, that would actually make some sense.

But why include the smaller 1/4 and 5/16, and not include the larger 11/32 in a set?

I understood you perfectly. All my 1/4 inch drive socket sets have 11/32 sockets, and all the other 32nd increments below 11/32

Mechanics generally use 3/8 drive and above, with a minority IMO, that use 1/4 drive extensively. In general, most people in those trades don't deal with numbered fasteners that much.

Technicians doing electronics or other light duty mechanical work are the heavy users of numbered fasteners, and again use nut drivers as a preference, not sockets and ratchets. For that use, if you need a ratchet, 1/4 inch drive makes far more sense that 3/8 and above.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so lets put this into perspective. For the #8 nut/screw pictured below what would you reach for?

 

[porphyre]

A picture is worth a thousand words, so lets put this into perspective. For the #8 nut/screw pictured below what would you reach for?

I'm reaching for that nice 3/8" flex head at the top. MORE POWER! Rhaw rhaw rhaw!!

 

[ndoran]

I grab the 1/4 socket and ratchet o ccaisonally the socket with a handle or possibly even a speed handle

 

[malibu101]

23mm seems to get skipped pretty often too.

11/32 = .3438
23MM = .9252

Just sayin it's kinda like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm reaching for that nice 3/8" flex head at the top. MORE POWER! Rhaw rhaw rhaw!!

aHAAAA! YOU'RE the guy that keeps leaving busted off 8-32 screws behind!

 

[slipjointed]

I understood you perfectly. All my 1/4 inch drive socket sets have 11/32 sockets, and all the other 32nd increments below 11/32

Mechanics generally use 3/8 drive and above, with a minority IMO, that use 1/4 drive extensively. In general, most people in those trades don't deal with numbered fasteners that much.

Following that logic, there is no reason for 1/4 or 5/16 sockets in a 3/8 drive set either, yet they are pretty much standard.

 

[Outlawmws]

Following that logic, there is no reason for 1/4 or 5/16 sockets in a 3/8 drive set either, yet they are pretty much standard.

It might be different now, but when I was still on the market for 3/8 drive sockets, it started at 5/16, and 1/4 wasn't in the game. Wrenches did see 1/4 and 5/6, but 5/16 is a common fastener in automotive work, and 1/4 is a common size for hex head sheet metal screws, as is 5/16. 11/32 only ever shows up on numbered machine screws, so we are back to a different class of user.

 

[slipjointed]

It might be different now, but when I was still on the market for 3/8 drive sockets, it started at 5/16, and 1/4 wasn't in the game. Wrenches did see 1/4 and 5/6, but 5/16 is a common fastener in automotive work, and 1/4 is a common size for hex head sheet metal screws, as is 5/16. 11/32 only ever shows up on numbered machine screws, so we are back to a different class of user.

It depends on the brand, but I was using Snap-on as an example. Their standard 3/8 set is 1/4 to 7/8.

Honestly in automotive work, I would usually run into 9/32 more often than 1/4 when it came to sheet metal screws, but maybe it was just the cars I was working on.

I agree that the 5/16 is fairly common, although the majority of its use for me at least is still on nuts.

One exception I know for 5/16" is 12pt bolts, I run into those quite often in my industry.



I can see your side of the argument on sockets, but I have a harder time applying that to combo wrenches as well. The majority of the time I need to hold a nut while tightening from the other side, it's with a combo wrench as opposed to a socket or nutdriver.

 

[Plasmatic]

A picture is worth a thousand words, so lets put this into perspective. For the #8 nut/screw pictured below what would you reach for?

I reach for the combination wrench, because more often than not I'm installing it in some cramped space that I can't fit a nut driver sticking straight up into, but can get enough space to swing a wrench to the side in.

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP
I can see your side of the argument on sockets, but I have a harder time applying that to combo wrenches as well. The majority of the time I need to hold a nut while tightening from the other side, it's with a combo wrench as opposed to a socket or nutdriver.

Well for what you do, you can buy the 11/32 separately, or you can get a set of ignition wrenches, whichever makes he most sense for you.

Mind you, I'm not trying to defend the tool companies logic, but I can see the discussion in marketing; "Who buys most of these? Then this is what we will put in a set"

Historically it worked that way also. Once upon a time, 25/32 and 19/32 came in a standard socket set. Why? Because Ford and others used those sizes.

Why do Metric sets sometimes skip a size or three? Same reason. Its not generally used in the target market...

Just for grins I looked up Cman current offerings:

Product Description (9 pc set)

A wide assortment of 3/8in dr. sockets to turn a variety of fasteners. 6 pt.
# Drive Size: 3/8in
# Socket Size: 3/8 to 7/8in

and:

Product Description 18 pc, "accessory set"

Set includes 9-pc 12 pt. DP SAE sizes; 7/16 in., 3/8 in., 1/2 in , 9/16 in., 5/8 in., 11/16 in., 3/4 in., 13/16 in. & 7/8 in. Also includes 9-pc 12 pt. DP Metric sizes; 10mm, 12-19mm.

Nothing under 3/8 in either.

Bottom line, its all about marketing.

 

[Alchymist]

11/32 = .3438
23MM = .9252

Just sayin it's kinda like comparing apples to oranges.

23mm = .9055
15/16 = .9375

Use the 15/16 - it's only .032" bigger.

 

[malibu101]

23mm = .9055
15/16 = .9375

Use the 15/16 - it's only .032" bigger.

Was seeing too many numbers on the chart. You are right 23 is .9055.
Somehow I was looking at 23.5.

But anyway, on topic- I looked and I guess by accident I have 11/32 in Craftsman 1/4" drive shallow and deep sockets, a Klien nutdriver, and both a Craftsman RP combo wrench and an SO combo wrench.
BUT, my Craftsman crowsfoot set, stubby and ratcheting wrench set, do not have 11/32. Until now that it's been mentioned, I never missed them from any of these sets though.

 

[Fedwrench]

This is funny. I got a proto 3/8 drive deep impact socket set recently and when I was putting it away, I noticed it had 9/32 and 11/32 sockets. The set runs 1/4 to 1 inch. I was thinking, WTF are these good for?
Since Proto caters mostly to industrial applications, I would check them for your elusive sizes.

 

[roalco]

Years ago, during a portion of my mis-spent youth, I spent about 6 years spinning spanners on Rolls Royce Gnome gas turbines ( wonderful engines, 1200+hp out of an engine the size of a 5 gal. can, and very, very light!)..
They used a lot of high temp locking 12 point fasteners that were, you guessed it, 11/32.... SO was about the only supplier in NA at that time that stocked 11/32 in 12 point sockets and wrenches. Still have some of those lovely corrosion resistant fasteners around somewhere.....

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Every ¼" drive set I've ever bought included an 11/32". My ignition wrench set has one, and the basic Craftsman RP set has one.

 

[NoahG]

So 11/32" is always in a 1/4"DR set, but never in a 3/8DR set. I don't think I've even seen a 3/8DR 11/32" in a store. But I HAVE seen a 3/8DR 1/4" socket. So what are people using THOSE for?

 

[Outlawmws]

So 11/32" is always in a 1/4"DR set, but never in a 3/8DR set. I don't think I've even seen a 3/8DR 11/32" in a store. But I HAVE seen a 3/8DR 1/4" socket. So what are people using THOSE for?

Because 1/4" if far more common to find, especially in sheet metal screws. 11/32 is almost, but not quite an orphan...

 

[IUEC Medic]

Holy thread revival!

Gotta hand it to outlaw for immediately responding, since he laid down quite a bit of logic here 6 years ago.

He hit the nail on the head then and now...

1/4" and 5/16" are far, FAR, more common head sizes than 11/32", at least in my experience in commercial/industrial construction and repair. Sheet metal screws, self tappers, and machine screws.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

Holy thread revival!

Gotta hand it to outlaw for immediately responding, since he laid down quite a bit of logic here 6 years ago.

He hit the nail on the head then and now...

1/4" and 5/16" are far, FAR, more common head sizes than 11/32", at least in my experience in commercial/industrial construction and repair. Sheet metal screws, self tappers, and machine screws.

Tapcons, too. After I turned the chamfer off the socket...

 

[jayrush13]

11/32 is super common for electricians along with 1/4 and 5/16 those 3 nutdrivers are always in my bags

 

[leg17]

I whole-heartedly agree that this is strange and annoying. Especially because #6-32 is very prone to break (that thread is just too coarse for the diameter), I always tend to bump up to #8-32 on my stuff (scientific apparatus, mostly) whenever I have the space.........

6-40 is just too uncommon to catch on and 6-32 is the most breakable tap in the shop as noted above.

 

[Gmonkee]

I used 11/32 once in the shop. I was replacong corroded pop rivets with machine screws on a steel door. Ran in about 150 of those buggers.

Never before or since. That said I probably have ten wrenches around because they don't ever sell. Some new and some old but all equally not wanted.

 

[Sine Swept]

I have plenty of machine screws / matching nuts and 8-32 does bother me with the 11/32 nut. I always have to dig out a wrench as I do not have a nut driver in that size.

I will make a point of attaching a deep 11/32 socket onto a spinner handle. I already did this with a 9/32!

 

[WildwoodChuck]

Holy thread revival!

I realize it was said in jest but in general the members here complain if someone fails to do a search for a previously covered topic and complain when they bring a thread back from the dead.

Back on topic I have 3/16, 7/32, 9/32, 11/32 on 3/8" drive 6 point standard depth. mixed brands Kobalt, Proto, are some of them.

 

[redmondjp]

Wow, none of you must ever work on older American cars - 11/32" is very common for the nut on the 'S' terminal. That's about the only time that I ever use mine, which is why I remember this.

Just like on later Ford products, you'd darn well better have your 5.5mm (yes, they make that size) socket so you can get the ignition modules off.

 

[ttpete]

Wow, none of you must ever work on older American cars - 11/32" is very common for the nut on the 'S' terminal. That's about the only time that I ever use mine, which is why I remember this.

Just like on later Ford products, you'd darn well better have your 5.5mm (yes, they make that size) socket so you can get the ignition modules off.

Delco parts used 11/32 nuts extensively. Snap-on made a special nutdriver that was 11/32 on one end and had a spanner on the other for changing points on old Delco distributors.

 

[pstemari]

I'm not certain I've ever seen 11/32 except on an 8-32 nut. Hex head machine screws exist, but they're pretty rare. Automotive seems to use tapped holes or things like clip nuts, but plain old hex nuts are fairly uncommon.

7/32 and 9/32? Never.

I'm curious where you're seeing a 23mm in use; the standard sizes are 21mm and 24mm.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Mhyde52]

Never used one to the best of my knowledge.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I used a 9/32" for thousands of 1/4"-20 flat head break away screws when I was a prison locksmith. I bought a GearWrench non ratcheting combination wrench special to put them in with.

 

[drink]

11/32 is the standard hex nut size for 8-32 fasteners, It's always confused me that sets go:

1/4 - 5/16 - 3/8 - 7/16

So you have, 4-40, 6-32, skip 8-32, 10-32, 1/4-20

8-32 is a pretty common fastener size, in fact I run into it quite often. Some sets do include it, but more often than not, it's excluded.

Is it not commonly encountered in auto repair? I work in an industrial environment, and it's used quite often in electrical cabinets and electronics, as well as smaller fixtures and machinery. There are a lot of times that a #10 is overkill, but a #6 is just too weak.

Certain tool lines don't even offer 11/32 combo wrenches, which I find strange when they do offer every other common small Machine screw nut size.

I have a set of Craftsman SAE combination wrenches with an 11/32" wrench in it. My Armstrong 1/4" & 3/8" drive SAE socket sets have an 11/32" socket in them also. Usually you can find 1/4" drive SAE socket sets with several 32nd inch sockets in them. Armstrong also made several different types of wrenches with 32nd sizes. You should try finding a complete set of ignition wrenches and going through a tool manufacturer's catalog to find what you need. Then you can buy them.

 

[drink]

I use my 32nd size tools a lot.

 

[NoahG]

Because 1/4" if far more common to find, especially in sheet metal screws. 11/32 is almost, but not quite an orphan...

Yes, but do you really need a 3/8DR socket for sheet metal screws?


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[cgrutt]

Not sure how common it is in sets but seems like you can get whatever you need in 11/32 from Snap on https://store.snapon.com/SearchResults.aspx?q=11/32&IsPartsSearch=0&departmentName=Tool Catalog