So what's wrong with 18mm spanners?

Didn't you have an 11/16"? If loose it may fit.

I have come across a few 18mm bolts on Japanese cars.

ISTR I have an old socket set somewhere with some AF sockets. I might have to see if I can find it.

In comparative ignorance here, but isn't 18mm 3/8" Whit and/or 7/16" BSF? I have sets of Whit and BSF spanners from the days of tinkering with my MG TC.

Like 9mm Allen keys. They exist but not present in many sets.

An M12 nut is *supposed to be* 19mm across the flats, don't see why a flanged nut should be different?

And 9 mm SDS and to a lesser extent ordinary masonary drills.

No notice enclosed " for your convenience this set does not include an 18mm option"?

This link suggests that the ISO standard is 18mm:

This link suggests that the ISO standard is, as above, 18mm, but the DIN standard is 19mm.

As does Wiki:

I recently had to buy an 11mm Allen key. Thanks to the internet they are not to difficult to get, but in the past I saw the solution was to file down the next size up.

I've got a Powerfix (Lidl) set of combination spanners here, and that does include 18mm.

Just checked my 'car' toolbox too, and there's a Halfords pro combination

In article , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

Isn't it 11 or 12 mm that is often missing from some sets, I suspect there is a preferred set of sizes in a standard somewhere.

Also quite a lot of Allen key sets are missing 7mm, which is common on brake calipers.

Yes, as I have found out to my cost.

That's the trouble with cheap sets.

Mike

My fairly modest Hilka 1/4" small socket set has 4 to 13 - but no 12 - in standard sockets and 6 to 12 in deep sockets.

Just have to hope I don't need a deep socket for a 13 or a standard socket for a 12 - but at least it does have both.

I always wonder at the 'missing' 12 or 13 mm spanners as both sizes are very common, in fact it seems quite common to have 12mm bolts with

I have so many socket sets around that I think I can find every mm size from 4 (or even less) up to something well past 30. I just needed a 27mm (for removing FJR1300 rear wheel - puncture!) and I have a 3/4" drive set with that. I have got some 46mm spanners and sockets, for the tractor. With the addition of AF spanners (of which I have a multiplicity) I can fit most nuts. (Hmm, is there a double entendre there?)

I recently bought an inexpensive set of Forstner bits going from 14 to, IIR C, 25, then a few larger ones. Total of 16. A large part of the reason was that all my other big hole bits (spade and Forstner) were both pretty crap and I always ended up needing sizes that were not included in sets. For exa mple, a current Bosch spade bit set has 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28 and 32mm (and listed at £17.99 from Screwfix) - in my book, stupid gaps.

For a particular purpose, I'd bought one fairly cheap eBay 24mm Forstner bi t and it worked very well. Hence, pushing the boat out.

For less than £12 they are actually quite good. Sharp and clean cuttin g.

Which to be fair, all of mine are! Perhaps one day I should treat myself to a decent set.

Any recommendations?