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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: tad on Thu, 05 February 2009, 18:01:05

Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: tad on Thu, 05 February 2009, 18:01:05
Just in case anyone was wondering, a 7/32" deep socket (at least the one made by Stanley) will NOT work to disassemble a Model M case. The size is too small to work. 5.5mm sockets are what you need.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lam47 on Thu, 05 February 2009, 18:19:01
It should fit mate.
Do you have one there with you?
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: tad on Thu, 05 February 2009, 18:24:02
Yeah, I just purchased it. Doesn't even try to fit, it just turns smoothly on top of the nut.

Other 7/32" might work. This Stanley bit is smooth around the edge, while others might have the hex pattern extend out into the edge.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lam47 on Thu, 05 February 2009, 18:29:38
That could be the problem. as 7/32 and 5.5 should be only very very slightly different.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: cchan on Thu, 05 February 2009, 19:44:21
I have a Sears/Craftsman 7/32 deep socket (1/4" drive) that works fine on my 1989 Model M.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: tad on Fri, 06 February 2009, 01:39:14
Does it fit completely over the nut, or does it just catch the edge?
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lal on Fri, 06 February 2009, 05:57:08
If I understand this correctly, the 7/32" deep socket is too *small* to fit over the nut? Then I would say this thing is broken, as 7/32" equals 5,55625 mm and should therefore be five hundredths millimeter *bigger* than the 5,5 mm type. Of course only if I didn't just fail miserably in this what seems to be simple math... ;)
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 06 February 2009, 06:24:03
Quote from: tad;20897
Just in case anyone was wondering, a 7/32" deep socket (at least the one made by Stanley) will NOT work to disassemble a Model M case. The size is too small to work. 5.5mm sockets are what you need.

Maybe it's the outer diameter? Can't get it down to the screw.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: bhtooefr on Fri, 06 February 2009, 08:44:21
A Craftsman 7/32" deep socket fits loosely over the screws in the cases on my keyboards.

5.5 mm is correct, though.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: pex on Fri, 06 February 2009, 09:14:10
I third or fourth move on the possibility that the 'deep socket' is just not so deep or is too big in outer diameter.

To think: if you use just any old 7/32 socket screwdriver, why don't those just work?  The answer is being too fat-headed...
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: ozar on Fri, 06 February 2009, 14:31:57
Yep, I've found that some deep-well sockets will fit and other won't.  I purchased one from my local Ace Hardware that works perfectly.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: wellington1869 on Fri, 06 February 2009, 14:42:37
I got a 5.5 from ebay that works great, before that I had one of those 7/32 ones that worked too...
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: wumpyr on Sat, 07 February 2009, 01:13:20
For any Aussies here, you can pick up a 5.5mm as part of a red handled set of 7 (japanese made) from Jaycar.  Don't bother trying Bunnings.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: nowsharing on Sun, 21 June 2009, 15:53:53
Sorry to dig up this old thread, but could someone please let me know if this tool looks like it would work to open up an M?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=270398091260&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

The seller offers $1 intl shipping, so I'd like to get this one if possible.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: wellington1869 on Sun, 21 June 2009, 15:55:32
Quote from: nowsharing;98193
Sorry to dig up this old thread, but could someone please let me know if this tool looks like it would work to open up an M?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=270398091260&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

The seller offers $1 intl shipping, so I'd like to get this one if possible.


yes that will work -- although, it is me, or in the pic doesnt the socket end of it look a little beat up? whats is that?

basically if its a hex driver at 5.5mm, it should work. Is that a hex driver? cant really tell from the socket end of it.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: cchan on Sun, 21 June 2009, 15:57:57
Can't tell from the picture if the walls of the socket will be small enough.  But I know Sears #45815 works:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945815000P
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: nowsharing on Sun, 21 June 2009, 16:41:50
Quote
or in the pic doesnt the socket end of it look a little beat up?
I didn't notice that, your right, it doesn't look good. I'll keep looking.

Quote
Can't tell from the picture if the walls of the socket will be small enough. But I know Sears #45815 works:
If I can't get something shipped here, that's what I'll go with.

Thank you both for the fast response!
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: wellington1869 on Sun, 21 June 2009, 16:44:22
Quote from: nowsharing;98213
I didn't notice that, your right, it doesn't look good. I'll keep looking.


If I can't get something shipped here, that's what I'll go with.

Thank you both for the fast response!


nowsharing - what do you want to pay? I'll send you mine. I doubt i'll ever open up another M board again. Name price that you're comfortable with and its yours. :)
(assuming i find it that is; i'll poke around in my closet but it should be there!)

Update: I could have sworn I bought an individual driver, but the only thing i'm finding in the ol' closet is a set of hex socket attachment/adapters (for my multipurpose screwdriver). Hmmmmm. So never mind. Sorry about that bro. :)
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: nowsharing on Sun, 21 June 2009, 17:04:02
Thank you for the offer regardless!

I came across this one, which has free intl shipping, but again it doesn't mention if it's a deep socket: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=250436521557

I may just pick up the craftsman socket when I'm home over Christmas. It would travel better anyways.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: cchan on Sun, 21 June 2009, 20:20:34
Quote from: nowsharing;98217
Thank you for the offer regardless!

I came across this one, which has free intl shipping, but again it doesn't mention if it's a deep socket: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=250436521557

I may just pick up the craftsman socket when I'm home over Christmas. It would travel better anyways.
Nut drivers should always be good just as long as the socket wall is thin enough to make it all the way down in the screw well. Socket depth only matters for sockets because the drive end is thicker.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: wellington1869 on Sun, 21 June 2009, 20:38:40
bette midler, cchan, bette midler?! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR6okRuOLc8)  ;)

you went from a led zeppelin reference to a bette midler reference! I think there are laws against that...
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: nowsharing on Mon, 22 June 2009, 15:56:40
Quote
Socket depth only matters for sockets because the drive end is thicker.
Aha! The light-bulb above my head just lit up; I never stopped to think about that.

Quote
The Ebay one will work fine but since you'll have a garage full of them and want to make sure it will fit any size hole (click da pic):
Thanks for the link Ripster. That Milwaukee driver looks sci-fi--I like it, and so does my swanky friend
(http://www.mickifitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/ray-gun-girl.jpg)
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 22 June 2009, 16:55:09
Where are you located? This is a standard tool, intl. shouldn't be necessary. I bought mine from an RC car vendor, they also offer tools, this being one of them. I got the same one clickykeyboards sells, except it was 5.5mm which will fit as well.

Will also open DEC LK201.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: nowsharing on Mon, 22 June 2009, 17:01:38
Southern Brazil. You're right, everything here is metric and I could surely get it locally now that I know what I'm looking for.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 22 June 2009, 17:20:44
The guys here would sell me a 7/32" socket without raising an eyebrow. But they would have to order it too and it would cost 4 times as much as the China-made tool I got instead.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: o2dazone on Mon, 22 June 2009, 18:44:43
Quote from: ripster;98412
Ya shoulda seen the look on MY hardware store guy's face when I said I needed a 5.5mm metric socket wrench.

"A 5.5mm - sure you don't mean 5?"
"Nope, 5.5"
"Metric?"
"Yep"
starts mumbling under his breath about the metric system....


The last two cars I've owned had metric bolts. Thankfully, my dad has every Mac tool under the sun, so I just borrowed his set. But yeah...it shouldn't be uncommon, Americans deal with metrics all the time, when our crappy system isn't accurate enough.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 24 June 2009, 04:43:19
My Jeep has metric and imperial mixed. Congratulations, Jeep. :crazy:
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: Special K on Tue, 14 July 2009, 18:24:51
FYI, the 7/32" deep socket in this set works fine with my model M:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100653632

Funny story:

I'm not a tool expert, so I asked a HD employee for help finding this particular socket.  It took him awhile to find a set that had this particular type of socket in it, so he asked me what I needed it for.

I told him I needed it to take apart an old keyboard.  His response:

"You know, Microsoft and Logitech make keyboards for like $10 now.  Are you sure you wouldn't be better off just getting a new keyboard?"

:laugh:
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: bhtooefr on Tue, 14 July 2009, 23:36:31
Every car I've owned has either been German or Japanese. (Well, two were built in the US, but they were all still 100% metric.)

So, funnily enough, my SAE tool selection is woefully inadequate.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 15 July 2009, 08:50:24
Quote from: Special K;102599

"You know, Microsoft and Logitech make keyboards for like $10 now.  Are you sure you wouldn't be better off just getting a new keyboard?"

:laugh:


He makes a good point :P

I was at Home Depot looking for a petroleum-less grease to put on the stabilizer bar, and he asked what it was for. Not to sound like a total creep, I told him it was a squeaky fan on the case. Another employee walked up and said "you should just buy new fans on Newegg.com", which he then started to spell it out. I was so angry about that, I make sure when I leave the house to look like a complete shut-in, and this guy is rattling off domains to me like I wouldn't know what they are. Insulting :laugh:
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: codek on Thu, 11 November 2010, 12:04:20
Quote from: Special K;102599
FYI, the 7/32" deep socket in this set works fine with my model M:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100653632



will that work with the screws from the smaller holes? I got one to fit but couldn't get to ones with the smaller holes, the bit wasn't skinny enough
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: steeef on Thu, 11 November 2010, 13:08:02
Here's a 5.5mm deep socket driver from jpc's bolt mod for klutzes:
http://www.amazon.com/Wiha-26555-Precision-Driver-Metric/dp/B000O5EG42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1286904125&sr=1-1

Should work. I already had a wrench, so I just got this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NY97XO/ref=oss_product
Worked great on mine.
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: Soarer on Thu, 11 November 2010, 15:42:26
For those who live in the UK, this '6 Piece Nut Spinner Set' by Rolson is only £4.99 from Maplin (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223457) or Halfords (and probably plenty of other places as well). Sizes are 3mm to 5.5mm. Not the last word in quality, but sufficient.

(http://images.maplin.co.uk/full/n57fx.jpg)
Title: Socket size for Model M
Post by: Cheese101 on Thu, 11 November 2010, 17:20:28
all i did was drill the holes larger so i could fit a regular socket piece in (couldn't be bothered going out and buying deep set sockets or socket screwdrivers)

there are only 3 holes you need to englarge