How are sockets sized?

How are sockets sized?

• A. By fractions/millimeters and the size of the drive end.
• B. By color coding.
• C. By length.
• D. By material hardness.

Answer: (A)

Sockets are sized in two dimensions: the drive end and the opening that fits the fastener. The drive end must match the ratchet or handle you’re using (for example, a 1/4-, 3/8-, or 1/2-inch drive). The opening inside the socket is sized to fit the bolt head or nut, expressed in fractions of an inch (like 1/2", 7/16", etc.) or in millimeters (like 13 mm, 10 mm, etc.). So to choose correctly, you pick a socket whose drive size matches your ratchet and whose opening size matches the fastener you’re turning. Length or material aren’t the primary sizing factors, though they affect reach and strength; the essential sizing is the drive size plus the opening size in fractions or millimeters.

Sockets are sized in two dimensions: the drive end and the opening that fits the fastener. The drive end must match the ratchet or handle you’re using (for example, a 1/4-, 3/8-, or 1/2-inch drive). The opening inside the socket is sized to fit the bolt head or nut, expressed in fractions of an inch (like 1/2", 7/16", etc.) or in millimeters (like 13 mm, 10 mm, etc.). So to choose correctly, you pick a socket whose drive size matches your ratchet and whose opening size matches the fastener you’re turning. Length or material aren’t the primary sizing factors, though they affect reach and strength; the essential sizing is the drive size plus the opening size in fractions or millimeters.