Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:22:09 -0400
Reply-To: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Big tools for your big nuts; now Vanagon Tools Rant
In-Reply-To: <00e701cb0b6a$95c95630$c15c0290$@net>
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Not only do they strip but they can also hang up on the fastener.
Use a ratchet and socket on a fastener, tighten down, remove ratchet, get
flat head screwdriver to pry stuck socket off the bolt head.
I had this frustrating experience the past few days using a cheap socket
set.
Definitely a situation where spending a little more money is certainly worth
it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Tom Hargrave
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2010 10:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Big tools for your big nuts; now Vanagon Tools Rant
I forgot to mention one thing that still makes more expensive tools worth
the price.
Better tools are manufactured to tighter tolerances. In other words, a 'name
brand' 13 mm socket will be closer to the right size than a cheaply made 13
mm socket.
But why is this important? It's not important until you have to loosen a
fastener that's too tight. Then you need to know how the tool really works
to understand.
A socket or a wrench does not apply force against the entire flat surfaces
of the nut. In the case of a 6 point socket, force is applied against less
than 30% of each flat surfaces. And how much of the flat surfaces are used
depends completely on how well the socket fits.
Try and loosen a tight fastener with a sloppy socket and you may be
contacting the nut or bolt with 5% or less of the flat surfaces. This
greatly increases the chance of rounding off the fastener.
This is also why I routinely throw away 'perfectly good' sockets and
wrenches. I throw them away any time I see wear on the inside.
Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Tom Hargrave
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2010 8:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Big tools for your big nuts; now Vanagon Tools Rant
The key to a long lasting tool is Chrome Vanadium. Buy wrenches & sockets
made from this steel alloy and the tool will likely out last you.
Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Loren Busch
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2010 8:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Big tools for your big nuts; now Vanagon Tools Rant
RE: Tools Today vs Granddads Tools
A few years back I ran into an article concerning tools, primarily socket
sets, that explained a puzzle many of us have had over pricing on sockets.
Question: What is the difference between the expensive sockets that sell
for $139 a set vs those that sell for $13.99 a set? Other than brand name
and marketing? Well, it seems there might not be that much difference for
the user. For many years good sockets, that would hold up, were expensive
to manufacture due to the alloys used, the forging process, and the heat
treating afterward. But a few years ago a new alloy was developed and new
heating and forging processes that dramatically reduced the cost of creating
a good, strong, accurate and reliable socket. And the new factories being
built in Asia were being built to use this new approach. Consequently we
started to see socket sets at prices that were a fraction of what we were
used to seeing. Testing showed a mixed bag as far a quality was concerned
but the vast majority of the cheap sockets were just as good and consistent
in quality as the the much more expensive Big Name products. So, what do
we get at Harbor Freight vs Craftsman vs Snap On or the others? Probably
only the lifetime warranty and pride of ownership. And for the casual
mechanic that is only using his tools on occasion any difference will likely
never show.
BTW, did some online searching on the subject but was unable to find any
discussion on the old vs new forging methods.
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