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Cheap Metric Socket Wrench Set
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Published: July 31, 2007
Whoever said a dog is man's best friend never owned a good set of tools. Tools are more steadfast because they will still be there when that ungrateful mutt runs away. Plus tools never need scooping up after, they never tear up the wife's the feather pillows on the couch, and tools will not bark all night aggravating the neighbors.
No tool set is complete without a good socket set. Sockets are an all American invention first patented by J.J. Richardson of Woodstock Vermont in June of 1863. The first socket set did not have detachable sockets as does a modern socket set, so each size had its own wrench attached to it. A socket set today comes with one wrench, and each socket snaps onto the wrench post that has a little spring-loaded ball bearing to hold it tight. Sockets are little hollow metal tubes with teeth to grab and turn the nut.
A socket set is made with either a 6-point or a 12-point hexagonal design since most nuts are made in a hexagon shape. Some companies also make an 8-point design for square nuts. The 12-point socket set helps get the wrench into tighter spaces, such as the nut down under the alternator and behind the fan belt one can feel but cannot see. The down side of a 12-point socket set is they are more likely to slip off the nut and around the corners, which makes it harder to get a grip on.
Not every socket set is made for every kind of wrenching. Chrome sockets should not be used on pneumatic impact wrenches for example. Impact wrenches are the noisy tools one hears at the mechanics shop taking off wheels. A chrome socket might burst open when used on an impact wrench and that would be bad for business. Impact wrenches use sockets made out of hard steel with no chrome to hold up under the high torque of an impact wrench.
Do not forget to make sure the socket set is made using the right measuring system for the job. The English system common in the US, using inches, will not work on most foreign vehicles. For this case, buy a metric socket set. It is important not to use the wrong socket set for a certain job; making certain of the correct measuring system is a must.
Stanley, Snap-On and Craftsman are some of the companies that make a high quality socket set. Any one of these brands are excellent for overhauling that soon-to-be classic hot rod. All of these companies sell shallow or deep sockets, spark plug sockets, impact sockets and even sockets with tiny magnets inside to make sure a hard to grab nut does not fall down under the car. Do not forget to buy extensions that help reach the socket into deep spots. With this, be sure to get a few different extension lengths.
One thing to think about when buying a socket set is how sensitive the wrench is. This means how many positions the wrench ratchets through when it is turned. The more clicks it makes, the more sensitive it is and the better it will be for use in tight spaces. A sensitive wrench is helpful in tight places, such as trying to hang a muffler strap high up on the chassis where there is little space for working the wrench back and forth.
Purchasing a high quality socket set is important for those major and minor car repairs. And if the car is a foreign model, be sure the socket set says metric on the box. Pay attention to the kind of socket set required for the job, because nobody wants rounded off nuts or exploding sockets on the impact wrench. Yes, while the dog is out digging up the neighbor's Begonias, a good socket set will help keep that car running smoothly.
Sources:
Hand Tools. Snap on. 2007. 17 July 2007. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/catalog.asp?tool=ha nd.
"Impact wrench." Wikipedia. 29 December 2006. 17 July 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_wrench.
"Socket wrench." Wikipedia. 6 June 2007. 17 July 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_wrench.
No tool set is complete without a good socket set. Sockets are an all American invention first patented by J.J. Richardson of Woodstock Vermont in June of 1863. The first socket set did not have detachable sockets as does a modern socket set, so each size had its own wrench attached to it. A socket set today comes with one wrench, and each socket snaps onto the wrench post that has a little spring-loaded ball bearing to hold it tight. Sockets are little hollow metal tubes with teeth to grab and turn the nut.
A socket set is made with either a 6-point or a 12-point hexagonal design since most nuts are made in a hexagon shape. Some companies also make an 8-point design for square nuts. The 12-point socket set helps get the wrench into tighter spaces, such as the nut down under the alternator and behind the fan belt one can feel but cannot see. The down side of a 12-point socket set is they are more likely to slip off the nut and around the corners, which makes it harder to get a grip on.
Not every socket set is made for every kind of wrenching. Chrome sockets should not be used on pneumatic impact wrenches for example. Impact wrenches are the noisy tools one hears at the mechanics shop taking off wheels. A chrome socket might burst open when used on an impact wrench and that would be bad for business. Impact wrenches use sockets made out of hard steel with no chrome to hold up under the high torque of an impact wrench.
Do not forget to make sure the socket set is made using the right measuring system for the job. The English system common in the US, using inches, will not work on most foreign vehicles. For this case, buy a metric socket set. It is important not to use the wrong socket set for a certain job; making certain of the correct measuring system is a must.
Stanley, Snap-On and Craftsman are some of the companies that make a high quality socket set. Any one of these brands are excellent for overhauling that soon-to-be classic hot rod. All of these companies sell shallow or deep sockets, spark plug sockets, impact sockets and even sockets with tiny magnets inside to make sure a hard to grab nut does not fall down under the car. Do not forget to buy extensions that help reach the socket into deep spots. With this, be sure to get a few different extension lengths.
One thing to think about when buying a socket set is how sensitive the wrench is. This means how many positions the wrench ratchets through when it is turned. The more clicks it makes, the more sensitive it is and the better it will be for use in tight spaces. A sensitive wrench is helpful in tight places, such as trying to hang a muffler strap high up on the chassis where there is little space for working the wrench back and forth.
Purchasing a high quality socket set is important for those major and minor car repairs. And if the car is a foreign model, be sure the socket set says metric on the box. Pay attention to the kind of socket set required for the job, because nobody wants rounded off nuts or exploding sockets on the impact wrench. Yes, while the dog is out digging up the neighbor's Begonias, a good socket set will help keep that car running smoothly.
Sources:
Hand Tools. Snap on. 2007. 17 July 2007. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/catalog.asp?tool=ha nd.
"Impact wrench." Wikipedia. 29 December 2006. 17 July 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_wrench.
"Socket wrench." Wikipedia. 6 June 2007. 17 July 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_wrench.
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