41 mm (1 5/8") socket DIY

Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 7 stores within 2 miles of me that probably sell a 41 mm socket. I can get one off Amazon for under $25. But I wanted to make one instead. I didn't get all of the cool build pictures, especially the ones showing how terrible this looked while I was tacking it up. In the end it's not even close to "square" and the hole in the back isn't centered, but it works the way I intended in my head this morning when I had this idea.

1/8" plate steel I have laying around.
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Cut into six sections about 2" long.
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I skipped sooo many pictures, like the two hexagon shapes I cut out to fill in the back.
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I managed to get the mig gun down in there and get some decent beads. Not all of them turned out though. I had to figure it out. There are two identical-ish hexagons out of the same 1/8" plate in the back, welded on the inside and outside, as well as a bit on the sides as there was enough gap between the plates that everything got closed up together.
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I marked and drilled the hole before I cleaned up all the welds, so this probably would have been centered better had I made all my corners sharp first.
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I'm always amazed at how much stuff a grinder is able to hide.
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I chose a drill bit that was as large as the edges of the 1/2" drive to take out as much material as possible up front.
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I started to file the corners, but then realized I could stick my jigsaw with a metal blade in there and take out even more material to get me close.
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A bit difficult to see, but two 1/8" plates is the perfect amount to give clearance for the ball to lock in. You can see the ball on the top.
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Disappointingly out of center, and I didn't even try aligning the square sides to the hex sides. I have Harbor Freight impact drivers that aren't concentric, so I'm not too worried about it.
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Finally, had to clean up the inside with a file in the corners where the weld penetrated enough to cause interference.
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In my head I had planned to grind the size in a side or two. Heat the whole thing up to red hot, then drop it in a bucket of oil in an attempt to harden it. Then maybe blue it or something. Think that'd be a waste of time? I'd like to finish it off some way. I'll probably paint, "Made in USA" somewhere on there at some point as well.

I went to test out my new tool, and it wouldn't fit inside the hole. Turns out the other driveshaft flange nut is only a 36mm, and I already have one of those. Looks like I didn't need this at all. Oh well, lol. :)

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Needed or not. Knowing you can fab something up, is what counts. I would have done the hex in sections, with 2 tac welds on the outside of each 2 pc section. Then ran a bead on the inside of them, for a bit more strength

Do you mean the back plate hex in two sections? Otherwise, what you described was pretty much what I did with a tac on the top and back of each of the six sections I put together. I don't have the pictures, but I basically just lined everything up on that 41mm nut and held it together to tac together.

By the way, I only found one YouTube video where a guy makes his own socket. It was one of those Russian videos and he used a CNC machine to do all the hard parts. There were ZERO DIY ammo can videos.

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Originally Posted by Irving

There were ZERO DIY ammo can videos.

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[LOL]

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Originally Posted by Irving

Do you mean the back plate hex in two sections? Otherwise, what you described was pretty much what I did with a tac on the top and back of each of the six sections I put together. I don't have the pictures, but I basically just lined everything up on that 41mm nut and held it together to tac together.

By the way, I only found one YouTube video where a guy makes his own socket. It was one of those Russian videos and he used a CNC machine to do all the hard parts. There were ZERO DIY ammo can videos.

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No i meant run a bead the entire length of the inner sections. You (for future reference) could have beveled the inside sections, to run a bead that would not affect the I.D, once completed. Giving it a little more strength, when needed to put some torque, on it
But the best part of fabbing something is stepping back, and saying. Oh i could / should have done x , instead of this.

Like the loc nut wrench i made for the dillon dies. Looked at some scrap i had, did a layout of the basics, then went to town.

Instead of cutting the wrench flat on the bandsaw, then hand filing to fit. I said, afterward. Oh i could have done that wrench on the mill. Next time, maybe. Either way nice jon

Thank you sir. Now that I realize I'll probably never even use this socket, I'd like to torque it onto something just to see how it holds up. I'm sure I'll keep it forever now either way though. It will be right at home hanging out in the toolbox with all the tools my grandpa made.

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Originally Posted by Irving

Thank you sir. Now that I realize I'll probably never even use this socket, I'd like to torque it onto something just to see how it holds up. I'm sure I'll keep it forever now either way though. It will be right at home hanging out in the toolbox with all the tools my grandpa made.

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He'd be proud of you following his footsteps. Did his house sell, or staying in the family?

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Originally Posted by Great-Kazoo

He'd be proud of you following his footsteps. Did his house sell, or staying in the family?

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One of my cousins bought it, but most of that big machinery is long gone now.

Awesome project

Mild steel doesn’t have enough carbon in it to harden when heated and quenched

Hmmm, seems like a waste of time then. I'll probably just blue it up then.

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Originally Posted by Irving

Hmmm, seems like a waste of time then. I'll probably just blue it up then.

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then craigslist it, as a prototype specialty socket.

FS: Unknow mfg prototype socket, possibly from a well known American. Or what use to be an American mfg.

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Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck

Since Irving has so much time on his hand I should hire him as my unpaid ranch hand. I have lots of work needs doing.

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A few months ago and I probably would have taken you up on that offer.