SK 1/4" drive 10mm fail --

[goodfellow]

No power tools involved here. I was working on a power steering line bracket that was held in by two 10mm bolts. First one came out nice, but as soon as I tugged on the second one, the entire socket split in half. These are late 70's vintage sockets and they have been bothersome. For some reason I have had many failures with SK sockets from that era. Mostly common 1/2" drive sizes such as 19mm and 9/16, but also a few 1/4" drive sizes such as 12mm and 14mm.

I have never had as many sockets break in my entire life as the SK versions from those late 70's lots.

Time to get a new one -- will order another SK 10mm to keep the set intact.

[hickory n Steel]

Dang that sucks.
I've heard of those 70's SK sockets breaking before.

I have broken two sockets before, but one was made in Korea and the other Sri Lanka.
Some may call them bottom of the barrel tools but I'd say more like under the barrel tools.

[Kuda]

That's a shame.  My SK set is from the early 70s and are all still good.  Noting; all my tools are weekend tools so none get heavily abused.  This said, my ratchet finally gave up two years ago.  I don't think it can be repaired for the price of replacement. 
Maybe someone has had a bad experience that can speak about the Kobalt brand.  So far I've been REAL HAPPY with the expensive Kobalt ratchets that look and feel like Snap-On but appear to be a Matco related (Danaher Corp) product.  Kobalt sells a cheaper ratchet but I've not bought one of those.  They don't "feel" right.

[DeadNutz]

Let me check my stock after I finish my ribeye.

Kuda, my Kobalt 90T ratchets I bought last year are now my go to ratchets. Best $30 ever spent to get the Father's Day 3-pack on clearance.

[strik9]

As a teen I had a bunch of those kits pass through my teen years.  We chucked the broken ones into the driveway calling them gravel.  There are many deep in the dirt there.    Great boxes filled with the worst sockets ever. 

Dad picked them up for near nothing in the early 80's.  Not even the ratchets were great in those kits. 

[DeadNutz]

Sorry gf, don't have a 1/4dr 10mm.

[slip knot]

My 15mm 1/2er did that a while back. I've come to expect that from that vintage SK. just low torque application and it popped

[goodfellow]

Sorry gf, don't have a 1/4dr 10mm.

Thanks DN, I ordered another off ebay -- $10 shipped. A small price to pay to keep that set all SK.

From now on I'll stick to my old Craftsman and MAC socket in 1/4" drive -- they have never failed. I usually wear them out before they actually fail.
10mm sockets are like peanuts - you can't have enough of them lying around in your box.

[kwoswalt99]

There’s a certain era, I don’t remember which one, where they made their sockets out of sintered steel, and they’re notorious for breaking.

[strik9]

Goodfellow, keep using them and enjoy the trip down memory lane.  If they blow up just get a real socket in there and keep going.    Its still your kit just improved to be trustworthy.

    My Knova sockets are no family heirlooms either but just because they have become long time friends I don't treat them lighter.  Get the job done like usual and look forward to do it again tomorrow.  Even if one or two were never part of the original kit.  Details....

[J.A.F.E.]

I've broken a few sockets over the years but almost always they were really dirty inside and really worn.

I suspect what happens is the socket turns on the fastener and the corners wedge on the broaching and eventually it splits. That's why I think the really greasy ones are more prone to split and perhaps the SKs is more of a broaching issue than a materials issue. Just thinking out loud.

[highland512]

Put that up on the rage urinal and watch the ensuing rage start up.    Out of the 5 sockets I have busted only one was an SK, it was a 15/16 6 pt that opened up like a flower.


That one guy just cant let it go with the "rusty" and "bad chrome" on "new" SK, I would bet he is buying clearance stuff from the old SK and wont admit it.

[bonneyman]

Hmm, my 1981 S-K sockets sets are pretty decent, though thinking back I did warranty a couple that stripped out. And there was a chrome peel problem with some of them, too.

[strik9]

Yup.  The memory of perfect was refined over time on it.  Like my crap.

  A box of 17 sockets in five brands topped off with Asain W+ extensions.  Only the one Urrea socket leaves me cold but it works ok.
    Otherwise the perfect set!

Lol!

[Mr.Nutcase]

Stress from bad batch of metal?