MJ - A strong principle I follow is never to use a hardened item as a drift. I've seen too many hardened drifts shatter on the end and have chips of steel fly off.
I've quite often used axles as larger size drifts, with the end heated to red heat and allowed to cool to soften any hardened areas such as seal surfaces.
I have several sets of U.S. Military 3/4 drive sockets, ex-Vietnam. They were apparently purloined by Vietnamese intending to flee, after the fall of Vietnam to the Communists, then smuggled in by those Vietnamese refugees and sold at local auction.
They are "Wright" brand, and I understand they were made by Proto, and "Wright" was the brand name chosen for their military line. The quality of these 3/4 drive sets is of a level that is difficult to find today.
Last edited by onetrack; 14th September 2014 at 00:52.
Reason: sp ...