8-pt sockets

[Steven Allen]

After spending years with a gap in our set, I managed to find a decent Craftsman 1/2" drive 5/8" 8-pt socket on eBay for something less than a very good steak dinner.

8-pt sockets have long become specialty items, but not a single one is to be had locally or even reasonably close. People in hardware or even tool stores ask, "Don't you mean 6- or 12-point"? No, I don't. Heck, even the search engines assume the 8 is a typo and give me 6- or 12-. On y by adding the word square do I get any useful returns.

I get it: square nuts and bolts are not used anymore. But square-headed plugs still are, and adjustable wrenches always pose the danger of slipping.

There is a drain plug on one of our JD As that has soft corners, and the adjustable wrench just won't get it. Thus, I ordered this socket.

This forum is sponsored by "Antique Tractor Headquarters," so I assume most here will acknowledge the utility of 8-pt sockets. Does anyone know of a source--other than scrounging resell ships and yard sales and estate sales--for these very useful tools?

 

[scootergmc]

Grey Pneumatic makes them. I think WIliams does too... Grey Pneumatic can be had on Amazon for sure.

 

[John in Ct]

Snap-On on Ebay.

 

[JOCCO]

Yes evil bay is probably your best bet. I have a complete set mine are older craftsman and are good. I use them quite a bit. By the way i also have a complete set of 32nd sockets like 29/32. Guess i am weird. You may have to buy used not sure there still in production.

 

[Keith True]

I bought a set off the Cornwell truck close to 40 years ago.It was in the late 80's anyway.It is a 1/2 impact set,so they can be a little bulky for some things.I have another dozen or so in assorted sizes in a draw,1/4,3/8.and 1/2 drive,things I bought as I needed them.There is no good way around them if you need them.Surprising how much equipment uses square pluga even today.I've probably used them the most on old boilers.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

I have a Craftsman set up to 3/4 or 7/8 cant remember which. Don't use them much but if I get rid of them I will need them within 2 weeks. They don't eat anything in my tool box.

 

[rmcky]

I have a set of 1/2 inch impact deep well, 8 point, SUNEX brand, no problems.

 

[caterpillar guy]

12 point should also work on square nuts and bolts if you can get the right size for them. They might not grip well enough though. I have a few 3/8 drive 8 point not even sure where or when I got them just seemed to show up in the box. Probably with some junk I bought some place.

 

[Caryc]

I'm always surprised that it seems that not many people know about these sockets. It's a "Metrinch" socket set as you see in the first pictures. If you have one of these sets, you won't even need a metric socket. These sockets and wrenches fit everything, metric or ASE. No matter how much a nut or bolt head is buggered up one of these will work on it. As you can see in the second picture shows that they work on the flats of nuts or bolt head, not the points.

 

[chvet73]

I have a set of mismatched 8s. Accumulated them over the years. The small ones are 1/4” drive. The rest are 3/8”. Sure are handy when you need them.

 

[wore out]

After spending years with a gap in our set, I managed to find a decent Craftsman 1/2" drive 5/8" 8-pt socket on eBay for something less than a very good steak dinner.

8-pt sockets have long become specialty items, but not a single one is to be had locally or even reasonably close. People in hardware or even tool stores ask, "Don't you mean 6- or 12-point"? No, I don't. Heck, even the search engines assume the 8 is a typo and give me 6- or 12-. On y by adding the word square do I get any useful returns.

I get it: square nuts and bolts are not used anymore. But square-headed plugs still are, and adjustable wrenches always pose the danger of slipping.

There is a drain plug on one of our JD As that has soft corners, and the adjustable wrench just won't get it. Thus, I ordered this socket.

This forum is sponsored by "Antique Tractor Headquarters," so I assume most here will acknowledge the utility of 8-pt sockets. Does anyone know of a source--other than scrounging resell ships and yard sales and estate sales--for these very useful tools?

GOOGLE "Pipe plug socket" or "drain plug socket". All sorts of 'em for sale.

 

[john in la]

GOOGLE "Pipe plug socket" or "drain plug socket". All sorts of 'em for sale.

I have this one.

https://www.amazon.com/TecoTek-Socket-10-Piece-Sockets-Tapered/dp/B0D72Q1L6G/ref=asc_df_B0D72Q1L6G?mcid=1eb4ff3f91f537c682ef286b0c4d74fe&hvocijid=16202052311902825967-B0D72Q1L6G-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16202052311902825967&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9025226&hvtargid=pla-2281435178778&psc=1

 

[Steven Allen]

Thanks for the leads, guys!

I don't frequent Amazon (my wife does, alas!). Never thought about calling them plug sockets. Makes sense given what is probably their only contemporary use.

 

[Stan Coryell]

After spending years with a gap in our set, I managed to find a decent Craftsman 1/2" drive 5/8" 8-pt socket on eBay for something less than a very good steak dinner.

8-pt sockets have long become specialty items, but not a single one is to be had locally or even reasonably close. People in hardware or even tool stores ask, "Don't you mean 6- or 12-point"? No, I don't. Heck, even the search engines assume the 8 is a typo and give me 6- or 12-. On y by adding the word square do I get any useful returns.

I get it: square nuts and bolts are not used anymore. But square-headed plugs still are, and adjustable wrenches always pose the danger of slipping.

There is a drain plug on one of our JD As that has soft corners, and the adjustable wrench just won't get it. Thus, I ordered this socket.

This forum is sponsored by "Antique Tractor Headquarters," so I assume most here will acknowledge the utility of 8-pt sockets. Does anyone know of a source--other than scrounging resell ships and yard sales and estate sales--for these very useful tools?

Mc Master- Carr has them. Likely Williams Brand.

8-Point Socket Set, 3/8" Square Drive, 11 Pieces

5609A111

 

[Stan Coryell]

Mc Master- Carr has them. Likely Williams Brand.

8-Point Socket Set, 3/8" Square Drive, 11 Pieces

5609A111

8-Point Socket, 1/2" Square Drive, 5/8" Size

https://www.mcmaster.com/product/5545A46

Sent from AOL on Android

 

[drsportster]

I picked some up buying coffee cans full of sockets at garage sales What size you need Ill probably never use them ?

 

[drsportster]

I'm always surprised that it seems that not many people know about these sockets. It's a "Metrinch" socket set as you see in the first pictures. If you have one of these sets, you won't even need a metric socket. These sockets and wrenches fit everything, metric or ASE. No matter how much a nut or bolt head is buggered up one of these will work on it. As you can see in the second picture shows that they work on the flats of nuts or bolt head, not the points.

Like old Snap-On flank drive Patent must have expired

 

[Teakettle]

I have a set of Craftsman 8-point sockets that I bought at Sears not all that long ago (and that I seem to use every few weeks as they really are far more effective on all the square nuts and plugs on my old iron), but I see that Craftsman no longer lists them. Proto still makes them in regular and impact flavors, but be warned that they're pricey.

 

[Mark-Mi]

When I needed eight point sockets I had better luck finding them when I googled them calling them "double square sockets".

 

[Caryc]

Just as I suspected. No one here has ever heard of or has a set of Metrinch sockets. Why would one not want a socket set that works on any size nut or bolt, metric and sae included? Is there some kind of curse to the user that I don't know about? I must have purchased this set about 40 or 50 years ago.

To me, it makes much more sense for a socket to put the pressure on the flats of a nut or bolt head. Oh, have I mentioned they'll also work on square bolt heads.