Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:37:51 -0500
Reply-To:     Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Big tools for your big nuts; now Vanagon Tools Rant
In-Reply-To:  <00ca01cb0b65$38f7afb0$aae70f10$@net>
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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.