Why is it that all the nicely packaged mechanic's sets with the form fitted cases are dual SAE/metric?? I guess there's still SAE stuff around, but I haven't put a wrench to one in decades, literally. I like the cased sets for carrying in my car and maybe even for garage use, but damned if I'm going to buy and lug around twice the number of sockets and wrenches I need.
Yeah, the only time I've used SAE stuff is when building my own stuff with SAE hardware I purchased. And that's just because there's a b***** selection at the hardware store.
I could see it for general tool sets, I guess - but mechanic's sets? I literally can't remember the last car I bought that didn't use metric fasteners. I know it was before my 1986 300ZX Turbo. And no, I'm not excepting domestic vehicles.
You'd be surprised at how often I use standard stuff. Even on my pickup (ford) which isn't even ten years old, half the stuff is standard. And my 06 mustang- same way.
I don't know why it's mix and match. But american cars have been that way for quite some time. It's like 90-95% metric..... but then some random nut or bolt on something like the alternator will be standard.
I'll agree that I don't need to carry around SAE stuff with me most of the time, though.
I *would* be surprised! The first domestic vehicle I owned since I was a kid was a 1994 Camaro. Everything on that car that I touched was metric (and I touched quite a bit of it). I was surprised *then* because I assumed holdover parts like the rear axle might still be SAE, but they weren't. My 1999 Corvette was all metric, and I *think* my 1989 was as well, and I know my 2001 Tahoe was.
Its only the caterpillar stuff at work that throws up the weird stuff . Everyone else is on the metric and available from stock ,but CAT like to throw in sizes and threads I dont have a spare bolt or tap or die for . We need to order in those special as required .
Keven this is the worst rant ever who get upset about having to many tool? You can get get all metric tool sets if you look around. Take a look at Cruztools.
My issue is no matter how big the set there is always one or more crucial tools missing. I have 2 sets of t-handles nether set came with a 1/2". Only to find out when elbow deep in a repair!
There is WAY too much SAE stuff to not include it in a standard mechanic's tool set. When I used to work as a mechanic not a day went by that I didn't use something SAE, and I was just a service mechanic; I didn't get into the tough stuff in a car that often has the weird nuts and bolts. Granted, the vast majority of stuff on both foreign (basically all metric) and domestic is metric, there is a bit of mix and match on the domestics. We used to call this hodge podge of metric and standard on American cars 'metridge.'
At this point in time, I would say a mechanic's tool set is incomplete without SAE. Maybe in twenty or more years, an SAE mechanic's tool set will be obsolete.
I haven't priced a tool set in awhile, so I never realized that metric-only sets are hard to find. At this point I'm only buying specialty tools and add-on sets, as I already purchased a good basic set years ago. It shouldn't be hard to buy a metric-only set though IMO, so that is a valid complaint.
However, like I said, if I were buying a starter set, I would only buy a set with both metric and SAE. I'd imagine that the tool manufacturers that sell sets are marketing them toward new tool owners. Those who already have a solid base of tools aren't usually (with exceptions, of course) buying sets. At this point, I guess it makes sense for them to include SAE. If I were buying a starter set, I'd pass on a metric-only set for completeness sake.
I haven't priced a tool set in awhile, so I never realized that metric-only sets are hard to find. At this point I'm only buying specialty tools and add-on sets, as I already purchased a good basic set years ago. It shouldn't be hard to buy a metric-only set though IMO, so that is a valid complaint.
However, like I said, if I were buying a starter set, I would only buy a set with both metric and SAE. I'd imagine that the tool manufacturers that sell sets are marketing them toward new tool owners. Those who already have a solid base of tools aren't usually (with exceptions, of course) buying sets. At this point, I guess it makes sense for them to include SAE. If I were buying a starter set, I'd pass on a metric-only set for completeness sake.
I have a cheap metric/SAE set I keep in the trunk of the truck for emergencies, and I have nice metric sockets and ratcheting combos, etc. that I have in the toolbox. What you can't find are ok-to-nice sets in the nice blown plastic cases where everything fits nice. I do have one for metric 1/4", which is cool because I use it so rarely that it helps to keep everything together. But it would be nice to buy those 99-piece sets in just metric.
I use SAE all the time, but, Kevin, you know what's in my garage.
From the half-and-half side of life, when doing a cyl head gasket on a Jaguar AJ6 or AJ16 you use nothing but metric until you get to the cam sprockets. Then you have to grab your 1/2" wrench to loosen those bolts. The metricization (?) I guess was only skin-deep.
Hey, I got to use a not-often used wrench on Friday. While changing the brake light switch on my '67 420 the original was 1". Not a wrench I often need to grab. The replacement needed a 7/8" to fit it. (yes, a brake light switch that screws into the brakes lines, activated by hydraulic fluid pressure. Don't get me started! Grrrrr.)
I love those fluid pressure brake light switches. I retro fit those to my bikes as I find they last the life of the bike and don't go faulty like them stupid little micro clickers inside levers.
I hate how H-D went to Torx and allen bolts, except for the bolts used fluid changes.
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