If SAE tools come in 1/4,3/8,1/2.3/4,1 in. drive Why don't metric tools come in metric drives?

Question

Not that I want to Buy the ratchet Just curiosity I guess?

Answer 1

Because we invented the socket wrench.

The modern socket wrench, with interchangeable sockets, was invented by an American tool manufacturing employee named Joe Johnson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Previously, sockets were attached to the handle, so different-sized nuts required different wrenches. He and a co-worker, William Seidemann, formed the Snap-on Wrench Company, which is now Snap-on Inc. of Kenosha, Wisconsin, a large tool manufacturer.

Answer 2

I believe this has to do with our English tooling system.We have set a standard that fractional increments are the norm and metric is made to accommodate the foreign (car) market.When most of our goods were made here in the USA,We all used the standard "fractional" system.When we started importing cars from Japan,etc,We had to start manufacturing METRIC to be able to work on the imports.We kept our tool and dye standardized to fraction,for cost purposes,and only changed the sockets.That is just my theory

Answer 3

Probably the same reason that even in countries on the metric system, tires come in inch diameter not metric (for the most part anyway). The standard was so entrenched by the US that deviation was impossible from a practical standpoint.

Answer 4

Well, since we already had all these SAE standard size drives, it doesn't really make sense to make everyone buy anotther set of drives to use metric size sockets. Why would you question the flexability of this arrangement?

Answer 5

Because the drive sizes area worldwide standing just like a 19" rack for electrical equipment.

Answer 6

¼" = 6.35mm
⅜" = 9.53mm
½" = 12.7mm
1" = 25.4mm

There ya go, we do have metric... You never said whole numbers...;-))

Answer 7

Just be glad they don't.

Answer 8

I don't know...............go figure.