Pro tip: I dropped $25 on a 'universal' socket wrench adapter set and it was a total waste

Everyone online seems to think those little kits that turn any socket wrench into a tool for hex keys or torx bits are genius. I got one, thinking it would save me from buying separate drivers. The problem is the fit is always just a little sloppy. I was trying to tighten some Ikea furniture bolts last weekend, and the adapter kept slipping off the bit, rounding the head. For about the same money, I could have just gotten a proper, dedicated set of hex keys from the hardware store that wouldn't strip my fasteners. The adapter adds a weak point and more wobble. Has anyone else found a specific brand of these that actually holds tight, or should I just give up on the idea?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamieh7612d agoMost Upvoted

Those universal kits are a real letdown. The sloppy fit seems to be a common issue, not just a bad batch. It's probably best to just get the right tool for the job.

stellabennett12d ago

Tell me, did you buy one of those kits that comes in a little plastic case with a bunch of different colored bits? I've had the same exact problem with the wobble, and I'm starting to believe the design itself is flawed. What specific size fastener were you trying to turn when it started to strip?