Foreign ratchet sizes

[Slowpoke]

In this country we use 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", etc. ratchets to drive metric sockets. What sizes are used in other countries?

 

[CLYDE MASON]

is plywood 48 in X 96 in

 

[Keith Williams]

They use 6.35mm , 9.525mm, and 12.7mm drives!

 

[ypop]

in Canada we use 1/4",3/8",1/2",3/4" and 1" Drives

 

[markct]

I have pondered that too and from talking with a few dif people over the years who have been to various other countries, and at many dif times in history from 50 years ago to last year, and all seem to say that pretty much everywhere has American drive sizes, one guy even mentioned how he found it surprising that when he was overseas in the 60s the toolkits had American drive sizes, all metric sockets of course, with the exception of the 13/16 spark plug socket! Which seems even more ironic since spark plugs had 14mm threads since long before much anything else did here in the US. As far as I can tell it seems the square drive sockets seemed to be an American invention so the rest of the world just followed with the trend.

 

[SDE]

I acquire an old snap-on ratchet. The drive was slightly larger than 1/4. The snap-on tool truck driver replaced it with a 1/4" drive and I was happy. I wonder some times if it was a really old one and that it may have been worth more to a collector. If I recall correctly, it was in the neighborhood of .280. SDE

 

[oj]

it is/was in the UK when i left 15 years ago...

 

[oj]

Same, as far as i know, grew up in the UK, and have lived in Australia and New Zealand, both of them used 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch square drives...

 

[danmcdonald]

I worked in Japan a few years ago they have the same drive sizes as us in the US.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I've used metric-dimensioned plywood for boat building. It is ever-so-slightly oversize and comes in millimeter thicknesses. According to Wikipedia, metric plywood is "1,220 × 2,440 millimetres (4.00 × 8.01 ft)".

 

[Hendrik]

I've been in many western European countries, and the only sizes I've come across are in the known family of sizes: 1/4",3/8",1/2",3/4" and 1".
Hendrik, from The Netherlands.

Note: it is difficult finding inch-size threaded fasteners here. However, finding replacement ball bearings for my Farmall Super A, all metric(!), was a breeze

 

[glennster]

The u.s military had odd size drives to prevent theft. I think they were 5/16, 5/8, and 1 1/8. Snap on made them in the 30's and 40's

 

[RGMartin]

It can always be worse. Been working on tractor with all Whitworth BSW/BSF fasteners.

At least UNC and UNF bolts are still made.

 

[mkirsch]

(quoted from post at 04:24:13 12/18/14) The u.s military had odd size drives to prevent theft. I think they were 5/16, 5/8, and 1 1/8. Snap on made them in the 30's and 40's

To prevent theft? So they probably just stole the whole set instead of just the handles...

 

[smallercrawler]

Believe the U.S. military used a 9/32" drive (.281") at one time.

 

[bfullmer]

Wasn't there also a hexagon shape a long time ago??

 

[RN]

that is one stock size. Other size is 5 foot+/1.5 meter square or 5 foot by 10 foot /1.5 X 3m . Menards has some of it at times, Finnland or sometimes Russian birch ply in 8, 10, 12, and up to 30 mm thick size and exterior finish mostly. RN

 

[keh]

Yes, they had hex shaped drives. I have collected a few of the sockets. I may have a ratchet. They, like some square drive old ratchets, have a push through drive. To change directions you push the drive through, take socket off, and put on other side.

KEH

 

[Slowpoke]

I have a couple 5/8" drive sockets. Must be old military.

 

[Slowpoke]

I have an old Williams 1/2" one way ratchet with drive squares on both sides of the head. Move socket to opposite side to reverse drive. A pain!

 

[JMS/.MN]

Yes- I still have a hex drive handled socket set from the early 50s. BTW re 1/2 inch square drive with metric sockets...isn"t 1/2 inch the same as a common metric size?

 

[Russ from MN]

Nope, 1/2 inch would be 12.7 MM