Gearhead88
Super User
I`ve got a few sets of tap sockets , the tool trucks that drive around ( rape vans ) is where I bought them , Snapon , Mac , Matco
Tap Sockets/Drivers
- Thread starter MrWhoopee
- Start date
MrWhoopee
Active Member
That's one of a few places where the inch standard won out.
Some import cars have/had wheels with 4x114.3 bolt pattern. Translated it turns out to be 4.5 BC.
My favorite cars are the 4th generation Honda Civics. The rotor in the distributor is retained by an M3.5x.8 screw. While standing in the hardware department looking for some socket heads in that size, I realized it was not even close to anything standard. Some not so quick mental calculations revealed that it is a 6-32 they just translated to metric. WTF?
I had to go back to AliExpress June 2021 to find the first set I bought.
And then in Dec. 2021 I bought the smaller ones.
And then in Dec. 2021 I bought the smaller ones.
This happens often. I went to engineering school where everything was in Metric. The most common dimension was 25.4mm or 1". And the various multiples...
Sometimes metric units make calculations easier, they are all powers of 10, but it is also easier to make order of magnitude errors (off by a factor of 10) and harder to notice when you do.
Most of my professional time is spent checking the work of others (software and banking stuff) and in that capacity thinking about what the most common kinds of errors are, and how best to detect them is more important than the answers themselves
If I want to make one of these, I need to learn how to drill square blind holes. How do you do that?
140mower
Don
...... well, before you can complete project number 42, your going to need to make project 41, the rotary broach......
Was just going to mention these. Picked up a set on sale here a couple months back.
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Nobody mention the old mechanic hack of pounding a nut on the square drive? I've picked up a few of those over the years in toolboxes I've bought. Pretty handy sometimes when you need to chase a thread in a far off land, and need to string together a bunch of extensions to get it there.
No idea what you are talking about Dan. Can you be more descriptive or maybe a photo?
Think using a nut on the square end of a tap to turn it cheap and dirty.
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Thank you and @Dan Dubeau .
Must be a bear to reverse....
Ya, I think I'll stick to tap drivers.
Wwaaaayyy easier on the taps and VERY handy.
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
I agree, it's not a great solution. Most of the other ones in that bin had the nuts welded on.
Susquatch!!! Do you see that? @Dan Dubeau has his taps inna tray! Heathen!!!
140mower
Don
..... and.... Gasp.... The tray is in a drawer..... I say burn the witch!!!!!Susquatch!!! Do you see that? @Dan Dubeau has his taps inna tray! Heathen!!!
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Meh, Those taps were bought in that tin, in that condition from the restore.
My own tap and cutter storage is much worse and would probably break the internet..... About 97.38% of working machinists and toolmakers I've worked with over the years are the exact same though......
My own tap and cutter storage is much worse and would probably break the internet.....
About 97.38% of working machinists and toolmakers I've worked with over the years are the exact same though......historicalarms
Ultra Member
Nope just the same as going forward. the nut is driven onto the tap so the threads are swages into a square...they grip equal no matter witch way you turn.
mmcmdl
Machinist/Toolmaker ( retired )
Susquatch!!! Do you see that? @Dan Dubeau has his taps inna tray! Heathen!!!
Crazy ! I use 5 gallon buckets here for the spares , for the taps I never use . I think I need to thin the herd ..... and.... Gasp.... The tray is in a drawer..... I say burn the witch!!!!!