Thread: 12mm square head sockets

Originally Posted by Dougal

When I was living in Sydney it was a "shifter". Can't call it a crescent because "Crescent" is a brand name.
So what about "Esky" then?

Why not I call a Meggar a Meggar, when it should be a continuity and insulation resistance tester, Meggar is only a brand name

I'm with tank on the 4 sided plugs, and the only real shifter is a Bahco

Originally Posted by rovercare

Why not I call a Meggar a Meggar, when it should be a continuity and insulation resistance tester, Meggar is only a brand name

I'm with tank on the 4 sided plugs, and the only real shifter is a Bahco

I used a Bacho shifter in my rigging days when working on building scaffolding, trusted my life with it, some mongrel knocked it off a couple of months ago , had it for 30 Years and was still as good as new, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

Dougal, so you dont think a shifter (good Quality) has a place in a mechanics tool box, but you think it is OK to use a 12 or 6 sided socket, designed to grip on the 12 or 6 sided high tensile bolt or nut, on a cast iron water pipe plug (oil filler or drain plug). It seems to me you haven't come across a tight plug yet, becase when you do you will see how easy it is to round off said plug with a socket. I think you are implying that using a Shifter is only for butchers and you wouldn't do that to your vehicle. I was always taught to use the correct tool for the job and in this case a Shifter or open end spanner is the correct tool, or a pair of Stilsons (Pipe Wrench) after some tool has buggered the the plug by rounding it off, to each his own, they say, I give my advice on this forum after 40 years of Mechanical experience, you can choose to ignore it, but don't knock me because you have some ridiculous idea that a 4 sided cast iron plug should only be loosened/tightened with a 12 sided tool designed for a 6 or 12 sided bolt/nut, Regards Frank.

Frank you need to read what I actually wrote, not what you think I wrote.

I have not said a crescent doesn't belong in a mechanics toolbox.

Sockets are not designed for high tensile bolts and it takes a complete idiot to round off a square post regardless of the tool used.
I'm finding it hard to understand why you've written soo many words on such a simple topic.

Originally Posted by Dougal

Frank you need to read what I actually wrote, not what you think I wrote.

I have not said a crescent doesn't belong in a mechanics toolbox.

Sockets are not designed for high tensile bolts and it takes a complete idiot to round off a square post regardless of the tool used.
I'm finding it hard to understand why you've written soo many words on such a simple topic.

Quote: "Sockets are not designed for high tensile bolts and it takes a complete idiot to round off a square post regardless of the tool used.
I'm finding it hard to understand why you've written soo many words on such a simple topic".

Dougal, because of statements like above, Regards Frank.

There was a fitting and machining teacher at Yeronga TAFE who had instructed the tool storeman not to issue shifters to apprentice and prevoc. classes. They were to ask for and use the correct spanner. When left the job his then classes found a tiny 2" shifter somewhere and had it mounted as a tie pin for a farewell gift.