Lionelgee
12th February 2021, 01:45 PM
Hello All,
Firstly, the range of Deep Impact hex or "six point" sockets I am about to describe represent brands such as Genius - Force and even some "Unnamed" brands. I am not writing about 200 dollar plus for sets of 8 sockets like "Snap-On".
To further set the parameters of the following paragraphs: to avoid rounding off the flats of nuts and bolts that I have never worked on before, I intend to do the initial loosening with hex or six point sockets. I do not use impact drivers on the first loosening of these nuts and bolts; I use a breaker bar or a standard ratchet bar.
In an effort to increase my range of smaller sized deep impact hex or "six point" sockets I have spent a long time online to find sets that actually transition from 8 mm upwards in 1 mm increments to 22 mm. Apparently, this is a rare phenomenon. I have found that a common theme for Deep Impact socket sets is to miss 9, 11, 15 and 20 mm. These four sizes in the Deep Impact have to bought individually.
If I wanted to extend the range of Deep Impact sizes up to 32 mm between my current sets that I can put my hands to, I would have to buy: 23, 25, 26, 28, and 29 mm sockets individually.
Have the tool manufacturers carried out extensive research which has informed them that some sizes are so uncommon that they do not need to stock them in their "Sets"?
Here is a "For Instance": I just bought a new set of sockets online after visiting a number of specialist trade tool stores - not hardware stores in town... The online sourced "Set" includes:
Length: 78mm (Size: 10,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,22,24,27,30,32mm)
Length: 38mm (Size: 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,2 7,30,32mm)
Notice that the 8, 9, 11, 20, 23, 25, 26, 28 and 29 mm by 78 mm long (Deep) sockets are not included in the set.
Also, that on the "standard" 38 mm long sockets are missing the 25, 26, 28, 29 and 31 sockets.
I do have some other sets that make up some of these gaps. However, most of these sets that I currently own start at 12 mm and go upwards to 32. None of my other sets of impact deep hex sockets started below 12. Hence, my intention of getting a set that went down to 8 mm. Earlier as a stop-gap measure, I had to go out and buy a 10 mm deep impact hex socket. With the 10 mm socket I was able to undo the smaller crankshaft and power steering pump bolts on my 1993 Defender 110 with a 200 TDI. These were bolts I figured would just love my using 12 point sockets on. So I went out and bought the hex or 6 point socket.
Otherwise, I would have thought that a socket set "Deep" or otherwise, would start with a low range socket size and build in 1 mm increments upwards to their stated highest or widest socket set. For example, from 8 mm to 32 mm.
No, I am not about to dash off to the tool shops or buy these "missing" sized sockets online in a single order. I will wait until the need arises - if the need arises. Mostly, because the combined cost of buying these "missing" sizes individually is more than most "sets" are worth.
It has me quite a bit miffed to be honest!
Kind regards
Lionel
Firstly, the range of Deep Impact hex or "six point" sockets I am about to describe represent brands such as Genius - Force and even some "Unnamed" brands. I am not writing about 200 dollar plus for sets of 8 sockets like "Snap-On".
To further set the parameters of the following paragraphs: to avoid rounding off the flats of nuts and bolts that I have never worked on before, I intend to do the initial loosening with hex or six point sockets. I do not use impact drivers on the first loosening of these nuts and bolts; I use a breaker bar or a standard ratchet bar.
In an effort to increase my range of smaller sized deep impact hex or "six point" sockets I have spent a long time online to find sets that actually transition from 8 mm upwards in 1 mm increments to 22 mm. Apparently, this is a rare phenomenon. I have found that a common theme for Deep Impact socket sets is to miss 9, 11, 15 and 20 mm. These four sizes in the Deep Impact have to bought individually.
If I wanted to extend the range of Deep Impact sizes up to 32 mm between my current sets that I can put my hands to, I would have to buy: 23, 25, 26, 28, and 29 mm sockets individually.
Have the tool manufacturers carried out extensive research which has informed them that some sizes are so uncommon that they do not need to stock them in their "Sets"?
Here is a "For Instance": I just bought a new set of sockets online after visiting a number of specialist trade tool stores - not hardware stores in town... The online sourced "Set" includes:
Length: 78mm (Size: 10,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,21,22,24,27,30,32mm)
Length: 38mm (Size: 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,2 7,30,32mm)
Notice that the 8, 9, 11, 20, 23, 25, 26, 28 and 29 mm by 78 mm long (Deep) sockets are not included in the set.
Also, that on the "standard" 38 mm long sockets are missing the 25, 26, 28, 29 and 31 sockets.
I do have some other sets that make up some of these gaps. However, most of these sets that I currently own start at 12 mm and go upwards to 32. None of my other sets of impact deep hex sockets started below 12. Hence, my intention of getting a set that went down to 8 mm. Earlier as a stop-gap measure, I had to go out and buy a 10 mm deep impact hex socket. With the 10 mm socket I was able to undo the smaller crankshaft and power steering pump bolts on my 1993 Defender 110 with a 200 TDI. These were bolts I figured would just love my using 12 point sockets on. So I went out and bought the hex or 6 point socket.
Otherwise, I would have thought that a socket set "Deep" or otherwise, would start with a low range socket size and build in 1 mm increments upwards to their stated highest or widest socket set. For example, from 8 mm to 32 mm.
No, I am not about to dash off to the tool shops or buy these "missing" sized sockets online in a single order. I will wait until the need arises - if the need arises. Mostly, because the combined cost of buying these "missing" sizes individually is more than most "sets" are worth.
It has me quite a bit miffed to be honest!
Kind regards
Lionel