Wright sockets defective or normal?

[neo_]

As someone who prefers USA made tools I purchased the Wright 467 16pc socket set to add to my Proto, SK, and Williams socket sets.

My new Wright set has some irregularities which I have not witnessed before so I contacted Wright with a photo and they brushed it off as “lines you are seeing are normal due to being a hot forged part”.

What’s your opinion on my purchase. Defective or not? I’m not a metallurgist but none of my other sockets had these “hot forged lines”. In addition to wall lines pay attention to the area around the 1/2 square. All 16 sockets have this.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

They're fine.

 

[jsmeece]

You would think these forging lines would eventually lead to areas were stress fractures could start. But I have seen this on several large size socket I have, but they are not Wright sockets.

 

[neophyte]

As someone who prefers USA made tools I purchased the Wright 467 16pc socket set to add to my Proto, SK, and Williams socket sets.

My new Wright set has some irregularities which I have not witnessed before so I contacted Wright with a photo and they brushed it off as “lines you are seeing are normal due to being a hot forged part”.

What’s your opinion on my purchase. Defective or not? I’m not a metallurgist but none of my other sockets had these “hot forged lines”. In addition to wall lines pay attention to the area around the 1/2 square. All 16 sockets have this.

I have Facom box wrenches that are made using the same process as sockets, and the Facom wrenches have similar parallel lines in the box(ie. socket) internal area.
Sockets with a smoother inside are likely cold forged, or separately broached after forging, although broaching into sockets can leave rough sheds of metal attached to the inside of the socket after broaching, which also usually annoys people.

 

[FMB4]

The lines you see are possibly due to what is called 'broaching', which is a type of machining process that is found in higher end sockets. The lines might be a bit more 'defined" than found in some other well made sockets (Wright included). However, I wouldn't be too concerned about them. Btw, thank you for purchasing USA made products.

 

[four.cycle]

They're fine.
The nuts and bolts won't know the difference.
Brand-new Wright 6154 socket here:

 

[seber]

Most sockets have plating over those lines but they are quite normal.

 

[Mr_B]

most sockets don't have plating on inner broach as don't plate the inside totally .
Basically lines that bad are poor broach tooling .
while lines themselves not much of an issue it does give some doubt on size accuracy of the final product .
You see this a lot on dirt cheap chinese impact sockets as they run the tooling to death for cost savings .
Hot forged sockets do seems be more rough inside and wright well known for it .

 

[bob15]

Use them and move on in your life. Nothing wrong with them

 

[Kscardsfan]

Use em. They’re fine.

 

[Rabid Badger]

They're tools, not jewelry.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Oh my...

 

[Al Borland]

Wrightgrip in sockets!!! A free upgrade!!!
Consider yourself lucky!!!
After a little use/wear, they won't show anyway.

 

[Fly YX]

They're fine.
The nuts and bolts won't know the difference.
Brand-new Wright 6154 socket here:

What if the don’t identify as nuts and bolts.

 

[JeepYJ]

Use them. They have a lifetime warranty right?

 

[KnurledNut]

OP,
Heres a shot of my 1/2 drive 13/16” shallow impact.
It looks similar.
I wouldn't fret over it.
Hope that helps.

 

[demarpaint]

As others mentioned there's nothing to worry about, the sockets are fine.

 

[Pontiac787]

These threads are becoming too frequent.

 

[3baygarage]

 

[ChevyEFI]

It's no longer p.c. to refer to OP as a tool polisher.

Socket interior designer seems appropriate though.

And we could use more SIDchrome discussion.

 

[IndyGarage]

Sorry OP, but I'm just shocked that someone would even bother to look at something like that. Who cares what the inside of your sockets look like? I guess if it had a big metal void in there I might be concerned, but those look well-made.

They are tools. Go fix or make something with them - beat them up on nuts and bolts. If they break, there is something wrong with them. If they don't you are fine.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

These threads are becoming too frequent.

I’m thinking that the rise in tool prices is to blame. People dropping a bunch of money on tools are going to have high expectations. Could also be people are new to the tool world and aren’t sure what to expect. Or maybe we all have way to much time on our hands due to the pandemic to over-examine stuff?

 

[American Locomotive]

I’m thinking that the rise in tool prices is to blame. People dropping a bunch of money on tools are going to have high expectations. Could also be people are new to the tool world and aren’t sure what to expect. Or maybe we all have way to much time on our hands due to the pandemic to over-examine stuff?

I have never seen anyone that cares what the inside of a socket looks like until I started coming to GJ. The outside? Sure. I can understand that - since that is supposed to be the shiny polished nice looking part of a socket. But the inside is the working business end. It's going to get beat up and scratched from normal use. The very first bolt you have to break free is going to mar the inside. As long as the socket is dimensionally accurate, it doesn't really matter what the inside looks like.

My cheap Stanley socket set from WalMart has the best interior surface finish of any sockets I've seen. But they're cheap garbage sockets that aren't particularly strong, and don't particularly fit bolts well.

most sockets don't have plating on inner broach as don't plate the inside totally .
Basically lines that bad are poor broach tooling .
while lines themselves not much of an issue it does give some doubt on size accuracy of the final product .
You see this a lot on dirt cheap chinese impact sockets as they run the tooling to death for cost savings .
Hot forged sockets do seems be more rough inside and wright well known for it .

If the dies used during the forging process were worn or tired, the edges of the hex wouldn't be crisp and as uniform are they are. Those lines are a normal part of Wright's forging process. You can go on Alloy-Artifacts and find pictures of Wright sockets from the 1930s with those same lines. You will see those same exact lines on other fully hot-forged tools like axe and hammer heads.

 

[DSS]

---

I don't have a scientific answer, butI've seen the same thing on other brands of impact sockets and honestly never thought much of it. I'd have to go look but I'm sure I still have them and none have broken so I guess it's not hurting anything.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I have never seen anyone that cares what the inside of a socket looks like until I started coming to GJ. The outside? Sure. I can understand that - since that is supposed to be the shiny polished nice looking part of a socket. But the inside is the working business end. It's going to get beat up and scratched from normal use. The very first bolt you have to break free is going to mar the inside. As long as the socket is dimensionally accurate, it doesn't really matter what the inside looks like.

My cheap Stanley socket set from WalMart has the best interior surface finish of any sockets I've seen. But they're cheap garbage sockets that aren't particularly strong, and don't particularly fit bolts well.

Before GJ I didn't notice half the stuff I notice now. And I wasn't such a tool snob about COO and quality and everything else. This place has ruined me.

 

[mr.lemons]

Wow, all the little bullies pile on. Op was just checking for piece of mind. It's his first post ffs.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Wow, all the little bullies pile on. Op was just checking for piece of mind. It's his first post ffs.

Agreed.

It's really a shame that someone signs up as a new member, states a preference for quality US-made tools, shells out for Wright and then politely asks (with good pictures) if what they're seeing is normal, only to have a handful of snarky, smart-*** replies thrown back at them. What a way to welcome a new member and give them a good impression of the place and the membership here.

I really don't understand why people like that are tolerated on this board, when their only contribution is to tear others down for trying to participate, and driving off would be new members and new site traffic with their piss poor, dismissive, belittling attitude toward anyone that doesn't think the way they do.

 

[1982fxr]

OP, it's normal.

Enjoy your Wright tools. I love mine.

 

[merkyworks]

Asking if quality is okay……….



All jokes aside and as others have said the lines are normal/fine.

 

[RTM]

Wondering if the original owner worried about this one.



he used it well, lots of internal and external wear


he had duplicates of several deep sockets, and the other one shows less internal wear.

 

[3baygarage]

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

Man, I wish my problems were this small...