Olsa Tools Bolt Size Finder and Stubby Socket Clips: Three Small Tools That Earn Their Keep

Introduction

Some of the best shop tools are the simplest ones. The Olsa Tools lineup covered here includes three small products that share a common idea: turn a slow, annoying task into something you can do in a couple of seconds. Two are bolt size finder keychains, one standard and one XL, and the third is a three-piece set of clips that turns stubby impact sockets into ratcheting wrench adapters.

Here is how each one works and who they actually make sense for.

Evaluation Criteria

These tools were assessed on speed of use, build quality, practical usefulness in day-to-day mechanical work, and how well each one fits alongside tools most people already own. Price was noted where available from the Olsa Tools website.

Olsa Tools Bolt Size Finder Keychain

The standard Bolt Size Finder Keychain is a real simple tool. Slide the lever up or down and it measures a bolt or nut directly, giving you the size on the spot. Drop a fastener in, slide the lever, read the scale.

The scale covers both measurement systems: SAE from 5/16 up to 1 inch, and metric from 8 to 25. The markings are pressed in rather than printed, so nothing should wear off, and the simple design is easy to clean. With a fastener sitting halfway between two values, the gauge makes quick judgment calls easy, which is exactly what you want from a pocket tool. It sells for about $12.87.

Olsa Tools Bolt Size Finder Keychain XL

The XL version picks up where the standard one leaves off, extending the range to fasteners larger than 25 mm. Slide a big nut in and you get a direct reading, such as 1-1/4 or 1-1/2, within seconds.

It is one of the newer tools in the lineup and sells for about $14.87. For anyone working on trucks, overlanding gear, or machinery with larger hardware, the XL covers the gap the standard version can’t reach. The same pressed-in markings and easy-clean design carry over.

Olsa Tools Clips for Stubby Impact Sockets

The Clips for Stubby Impact Sockets are a three-piece set sold for $26.87 on the Olsa Tools website. Each clip works like a dummy ratchet: it holds a stubby impact socket in place, effectively turning that socket into an adapter. The three drive sizes, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2, are designed to match the most common stubby sockets.

The clever part is what happens next. A quick pass with the size finder tells you which wrench fits each clip: an 11 mm for the 1/4 drive, a 17 mm for the 3/8 drive, and a 22 mm for the 1/2 drive. Seat the clip in the wrench, drop the socket in, and suddenly a small Torx bit socket or a tiny fastener socket can be driven with a ratcheting wrench, reversible or not. The 1/2 drive clip even lines up with the wrench’s ball bearing detent through a small alignment hole.

The clips hold the sockets tightly, which cuts both ways: they grip securely during use but usually take a small pry bar to pop a socket back out. That is a minor trade-off for what is, in practice, an inexpensive way to extend your wrench set considerably.

Do the Clips Belong in Your Kit?

For anyone who already owns stubby impact sockets and a decent set of combination wrenches, these clips effectively add ratcheting capability to fastener sizes you might not have dedicated tools for. A full set of comparable ratcheting wrenches would cost far more than $26.87.

One practical note: the 1/4 drive clip requires an 11 mm wrench, a size some people rarely use for anything else, so it is worth checking your wrench set before buying. Beyond that, the clips have proven useful enough to earn a spot in an overlanding kit, which is a good endorsement for a three-piece accessory.

Overall Buying Advice

If you frequently guess at bolt and nut sizes, the standard keychain finder covers most automotive work at around $12.87. Add the XL at about $14.87 if you regularly deal with larger hardware. The stubby socket clips are the standout of the three for anyone with existing stubby sockets, offering a cheap path to ratcheting flexibility.

Conclusion

All three tools are built on simple, pressed-metal designs that work fast and should hold up well. The size finders solve a constant small annoyance, and the socket clips quietly expand what your existing wrenches can do. Small purchases, clear wins.