Showerthought: I was using the wrong size socket on my 1/4 inch drive for years

I was working on a Whirlpool dryer in a tight spot and kept rounding off the same bolt. A guy I know from the supply house in Spokane saw my ratchet and just said, 'You know that's a 3/8 head, right?' I'd been using my smaller 1/4 inch drive socket on it because it was the only one that fit in the space, but it was the wrong tool for the job. Has anyone else found a good workaround for those cramped rear panel bolts?

3 comments

3 Comments

lunakim1mo ago

For those tight spots, I used a thin wall socket.

dylan_bell1mo ago

Thin wall sockets are lifesavers. Ever try one on a stubborn bolt?

paigep201mo ago

It's funny how the right tool for a tiny space makes such a difference. I've had that same moment with a low-profile screwdriver when fixing my car's interior light. The standard one just wouldn't fit at all.