Socket wrench sets: SAE or Metric?

These days you need both to work on just about anything.

Yes, you need both. Some are close enough that they work perfectly. For example, 32mm is extremely close to 1.25", so a 1.25" wrench that I already have works fine. Some are just about there. So, then it depends on how tight the bolt is and how lucky you feel today. Round it off, and you're screwed....

Yes: until the USA catches up with the rest of the world, you'll need both.

Perce

I'm actually surprised that *you* are this late to the game.

In any case, get 6 points, not 12. They grip so much better...much less chance (none?) of rounding off the head of the bolt. They do lack a bit in "convenience" when positioning over the bolt head, but they feel (and act) so much more secure.

Unless it's a foreign-made vehicle, you'll need both (US cars are frequently a mixture of both types).

I keep a "dual" socket set in each vehicle and "select" wrenches (e.g., I almost always use a wrench to deal with the drain plug for the oil pan so keep that wrench) in each vehicle.

Thankfully, we have 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" "drive" and not

Outboards too if they are not "pure". Yamaha is metric but Merc, OMC/Bombardier and others "assembled in the US" are not. Offshore parts will be metric and US parts will usually be SAE.

One good thing about having both is when you are driving a socket on to remove a bolt that is corroded so bad the "right socket" won't work, you have more choices.

Mark

You need 2 sets, and for the metric set it depends what vehicle you are working on and where the set originates. Some vehicles only use

Then there are the oddball aplications (have not run across them in automotive) that use decimal sized metrics - like 5.5

You don't need 2 of each ratchet or extension as all metric sockes (at least in the north american market) use 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 inch drives for light to medium duty use, and 3/4 or 1 inch for HD use

Most current "american" cars are fully metric, but they use the oddball 13mm and 11mm etc that are almost identical to SAE sises (1/2 and 11/16) as well as the unique metrics like 10 and 12

Too bad you are in Yankland instead of here in Canada - Canadian Tire has their Mastercraft combination set - all metric and inch -

It's obvious that I'm failing in the nerd department. I should know this kind of thing. Well, so, does my Harbor Freight metric set do the SAE sizes also?

The only time I've totally needed 12 point, is distributor wrench. I do agree about the six points. When I did heating, my trainer had a

Yesterday a friend and I changed a windshield wiper motor (10 MM) and a wiper transmission (also needs 10 MM wrench). Both with quarter inch drive set. Nut to remover wiper blade is

Replacing leaf springs, half drive and power tools are preferred.

For now, looks like two wrench sets in each vehicle. Thanks for the wisdom.

Today I bought one eaches HF quarter inch drive metric set, that goes to 13 MM. Will get me in and out of most of my repair needs. Surely would have done good for the windshield wiper repair yesterday.

See if that set goes on sale, buy a set for the other vehicle.

I see 10 MM every which where, and it doesn't work with any of the SAE sizes. Is there a list on the web, which sizes convert?

10 MM, doesn't work with anything out of my SAE box.

That's a first class set of wrenches, but I'm on a Harbor Freight budget.

So true. I went to change a brake on a friend's wheel chair. Went out and got my socket set. Wonders, the nut needs 10 MM, and I didn't have one in my SAE set. That started a quest to find

Is it half inch or 13 MM? Well, punk, I wasn't counting either. I guess the question is do you feel lucky, today?

Why is it "catching up" when SAE worked fine for 100 years or so? It's not like we had all kind of trouble with SAE sizes. And, to boot, we were here first. Metric is the upstart.