Impact Sockets

[RT66DOC]

Finally got a 240V 60 gal compressor, 1/2" and 3/8" impact guns and all the necessary plumbing supplies. Now I need some impact sockets. Any suggestions on brands, sets, metric, std, short, deep, wobble, whatever? What do y'all use/need most?

 

[B.G. Smith]

I only have a set that goes from 7/16" to 1" standard, not deep, occasionally you will need deep sockets. There is not a stansard size on the truck, all metric. Mine are from Sears and about 40 years old, there are lots of sockets out there. If you use only occasionally on your own equipment most any will do. I have seen some pretty reasonable at the discount stores. bg

 

[rrausch]

I would most definitely NOT buy just any brand of Impact Sockets. I would NOT buy any Impact Socket set made in China or Taiwan or India or Mexico, etc. The reason is that under impact a poorly made socket can (and will) explode and send shrapnel flying all around. I have found third world metallurgy to be downright criminal at times--I won't use a 3rd world grade-8 bolt either--I've seen several fail under load.



For the same safety concerns, you also don't want to substitute a normal, chrome-plated socket for a black Impact socket, but you probably knew that already.



This is one area where you want good old U. S. A. metallurgy and manufacturing. I have a set of deep S-K sockets (3/8 to 1+1/2) and they have never let me down over many years and many rusted, stuck and over-torqued nuts. In my opinion deep is better than regular in an impact socket.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Do yourself a favor and buy a large set that will include all of the sockets your going to want first. If you buy a smaller set and then need to add individual sockets later it'll cost you a fortune. I bought several sets of Grey pneumatic impact sockets that include a ton of sizes from http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net and have been very happy with them. Here's their 26 pc metric standard length set - http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/GRY-1326M.html - $67. 50 for every size between 10mm and 36mm. For now I've gotten 3/8" and 1/2" sets in SAE and METRIC (work on old muscle cars too which use all SAE stuff) in standard length sockets. Full sets of deep sockets will be next and wobble sockets after that. For now I bought an impact wobble to get me by until I can swing the wobble sockets.

 

[RT66DOC]

Thanks Gents. Now let me get this straight, impact sockets are mostly for taking stuff APART rather than slamming it all back together like most shops do, right?



Any thoughts about this SK set for starters?

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SK-4090.html

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I find that I use my 1/2" impacts WAY more than my 3/8" impacts. That set only goes through 19mm and when your ready to get larger sockets you'll end up replacing those as well because you'll notice that sets that go through larger sizes (like the up to 36mm set I have) includes the small sizes as well. I bought a small set like that and ended up selling it to a friend a month later after I bought the larger set.



Yes IMHO impacts are mostly for taking stuff apart although I'll run the nut down with my impact and just stop when it contacts (I set the torque for the lowest setting on my impact for running it down usually) and then I use a torque wrench to finish tightening it.

 

[bmoeller]

Yes IMHO impacts are mostly for taking stuff apart although I'll run the nut down with my impact and just stop when it contacts (I set the torque for the lowest setting on my impact for running it down usually) and then I use a torque wrench to finish tightening it.

That is what I do also. At present, I only have one set of impact sockets. Wright deep well sockets. Need to get a set of shallow ones, and a metric set as well.



You'll want to get a impact swivel. DO NOT use the chrome ones. I did it once in a pinch, and it did what I thought it would, shattered into pieces. Was hoping it would hold together long enough for the job, but didn't.

 

[ELake]

I've heard good things about the inexpensive sets of impact sockets from harbor freight, the guys on pirate4x4 rave about them. When it's time for me to pony up and buy some I will probably just buy the Ingersoll Rand set - my buddy has them and we abuse them and have yet to break one. I think they are pretty affordable.

 

[Nate]

My impact sockets are just regualar Craftsman sockets... my chrome impact sockets The impact I normally use runs to 700 ft/lbs... I'm pretty sure if they were too weak, it would have broke a socket by now.

 

[Dl5treez]

The Harbor Freight impact sockets have given me great performance. I bought them as an 'experiment' just to see how long a $20 set of 1/2" deep impacts would last in regular duty use. Going on 10 years now, most of that through my first "career" as a heavy truck mechanic.



I'm of the belief that if you stick to buying the heavyweight industrial finished impact sockets, and stay away from the lightweight black painted cheapy ones, that most any brand will last a long time and be reliable.



Sockets designed for impact use are of a slightly softer construction than typical hand-tool sockets, and are more resistant to shattering.



Picking pieces of chrome-plated steel out of your leg is not a fun way to spend your lunch hour... . voice of experience.

 

[Dl5treez]

Thanks Gents. Now let me get this straight, impact sockets are mostly for taking stuff APART rather than slamming it all back together like most shops do, right?

When you're dealing with 300lb spring packs & 1 1/2" u-bolts, you slam them back together with the same impact socket & air gun you took it apart with. :-laf

 

[RT66DOC]

When you're dealing with 300lb spring packs & 1 1/2" u-bolts, you slam them back together with the same impact socket & air gun you took it apart with. :-laf

Exception to every rule.

 

[Turbo Thom]

I don't know about impact sockets just taking things apart. if you take a good look at the thickness of the socket, you'll see there're good for putting things back together. I really wouldn't want to put a nut on that needed to be at 250 lbs with a chrome socket, not even a wheel lug. I thought the purpose of the impact was to survive the pounding of the impact wrench. I have broken enough of the others to know the difference.



. . Preston. .

 

[nickleinonen]

I thought the purpose of the impact was to survive the pounding of the impact wrench. I have broken enough of the others to know the difference.

i have broken both impact and chrome sockets at work on impact guns and by hand [with a power bar and cheater pipe on that]



the chrome/non impact sockets are harder than the impact sockets. some are harder than the materal the anvil on the end of your impact gun is made of, so using impact sockets reduses the wear on your gun. my old IR guns [1/2" & 3/4"] have both had the snot beat out of them and the anvils are all worn out, but they still work ok. i use both chrome and impact sockets as sometimes you can't find what you need at work so make do with what you have. .