Socket Set Buying Guide

Sealants, bolts, grout and bostik glue are just a few products that come to mind when thinking of convenient tools and products that are essential to the daily needs of a hardware industry worker. One tool that is truly undervalued at times is the socket wrench. These tools will allow you to do some heavy-duty work for a variety of jobs. 
 
Today we’ll be providing a socket guide, to help you find the best set or individual socket for your job's requirements. 

How a Socket Wrench Works

A socket wrench is a various sized hand tool with a ratcheting function on its head. This top ratchet head can attach to many different varieties of sockets. The ratchet itself is used to loosen or tighten a nut and hold your socket in place while it's being used. 

Socket Set Basics

Whether you’ll be using a socket wrench for industrial work or for mechanic work it's important to be aware of a few basic things. Understanding these areas associated with socket wrenches will help to determine that you use the most efficient socket model. 

Drive Size

Smaller sockets typically use smaller drive sizes, while larger will require the same larger drive sizes. If you buy a socket set that is limited to one drive size, you should choose a ⅜ inch drive this will allow you to still use a majority of common socket sizes. 
 
If you’ve bought a socket set like our 50 piece metric socket set and feel a bit overwhelmed with which socket size to use, there's a simple tip to ensure that you’re using the best size for the work at hand. If you’re working in a tight spot, depending on the exact work required, a smaller ¼ drive socket can make your task of reaching small nuts and bolts easier. Similarly, larger ½ inch drive sockets become more ideal when dealing with larger fasteners that need more torque to loosen or fully tighten the nut or bolt.  

Points

Knowing whether you have a six-pointed hexagon or 12-pointed star bolt head will help determine the strength of your wrench. Typically, a six-pointed socket will be stronger than a 12-point. This is because the inner walls of a 6-point socket will sit flush against all six sides of the hardware. While these 12-point sockets may not be as strong they are better suited to light work, while six-points are a better choice for larger hardware or applications, as they are less likely to slip. 

Shallow vs Deep Sockets

A nut fully tightened should sit below the top of the bolt it’s connected to. You may find that a normal shallow socket might not even touch the nut before the top of the bolt hits the end of the socket. In this case, you’ll want to opt for a deep socket to fit the long end of the bolt snugly around the nut. Having deep sockets can be handy if you find yourself in similar situations. Without the elongated depth of a deep socket, you may need to use a wrench instead to be able to loosen the nut at hand.

Make the Switch Today

Whatever your construction or industry work requires, our team is here to help. To find out more about our incredible product range or to make your next order with Timberfix, contact us by phone or email today