impact swivel sockets

[PoorOwner]

Are they essential when using impact gun or air ratchet?

I rarely use the Universal join with a hand ratchet.

[PoorOwner]

even if the situation is that a straight will fit would you grab the swivel anyway?

[eschoendorff]

Are they essential when using impact gun or air ratchet?

I rarely use the Universal join with a hand ratchet.

Many of the techs on this board swear by impact swivels....:thumbup:

[chevy302dz]

They're not essential if you're not working in a shop, but they make life a whole lot easier in a lot of different situations.

[Fedwrench]

They are essential in some applications. There are situations where the impact swivel joint combined with a shallow impact socket is too long to fit where you need to get. The are also lots of situations where you need the angled joint to reach a fastener without having to remove other components. The impact swivel socket also gives you a little stand off from the fastener and allows to work at a better or more comfortable angle or position. They are definitely handy to have.:thumbup:

[Deafautotech]

They're not essential if you're not working in a shop, but they make life a whole lot easier in a lot of different situations.

Ahem!! I must have impact swivel sockets and flex sockets so i dont need to remove other stuff or i can't beat the flat rate labor....

[kartracer55]

I use them CONSTANTLY at work because a big dopey 1/2 drive gun doesn't always fit, and time is money so wrenches and breaker bars are a last ditch effort. At home, I only have one specific size in 1/2 inch and a set of 3/8 metric that I don't use all that much. Great if your making money with them, but otherwise not a priority. I do, however, prefer them to chrome universal sockets but a lot of the time an impact universal with a regular socket gets the job done too. I would DEFINITELY buy an impact universal in 3/8 and 1/2 because once you start using them you will never want to go back to your chrome ones.

Jim

[Chris Adams]

I'm sure the guys in the shop need them, but in working on about 120 major projects in ten years, mine have been used about three times...
They are mostly a 'time is money' tool. If you have a decent selection of extensions, wobble extensions and different length sockets you probably would never NEED the flex sockets.

For a home shop, buy them if you want them, but you should probably get low priced ones.
Tying up a lot of money in a set that mostly gets stored may not be a good use of the money.

[stuckinohio]

While not "essential", they are some of my most used sockets. Most of the time things are not a perfect straight shot to what you're trying to take off and the swivel will get on it without using extensions. Also if you have a lower power impact gun and need to use an extension and regular impact socket over just using an impact swivel, the torque taken up by the extension may keep you from getting the bolt loose. I've also noticed there is a bit of torque reduction in using a univeral impact swivel with an impact socket over a specific imapct swivel socket. For home use though, the impact universal and regular impact sockets would be enough for most people.

BTW, does Mac still use that crappy square drive swivel over the ball and pin style? When those came out a few years ago I was breaking them contantly. The square drive gaulled so easily they would stick and pop apart more than the pins in the old style would break. The MAc guy I had said he thought they would go back to the old style after awhile. Just wondering if the they ever did.

[PoorOwner]

Thanks for the advice. I do wrench relatively slow in my home..
So I think I am going to get the metric swivel 3/8" from harbor freight, instead of buying a expensive set. (the GP at $80 looks like a deal, but HF is $20!)

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95038

While I am am not fond of some HF tools, I have had good luck with the HF impact sockets in general (taiwan) they fit tight.. I have heard on here mechanics bust HF impact sockets, but I do maybe 1% of the work they do. In fact I looked at my HF set, the only one showing wear is the 21mm I use for lug nuts. But I have got some better air tools now and plan to use them much more often.

Once I came across a need for some big axle nut socket maybe 28mm, craftsman wants $20 for a chrome one, but I bought the 13 pcs 10-32mm impact sockets from HF for $20.. I was using a breaker bar but same $20 got the job done.. now I lend it to friends who need to remove axle nuts.

[Rusty67]

I've never personally NEEDED the swivel impacts. I would say get yourself a 1/2 way decent set of regular impact sockets and buy yourself a swivel impact adaptor. They would be really nice to have as they do save space in tight areas.... I've had to remove certain parts I would have rather not taken off because I needed an extra 1/4 or 1/2 inch of space.

[knuckleduster271]

Have anyone tried ingersolls impact swivel sockets? They are really cheap in price and come with a lifetime warranty. I know their regular sockets are good but i havnt used these yet although im seriously thinking about buying a set.

[eschoendorff]

Have anyone tried ingersolls impact swivel sockets? They are really cheap in price and come with a lifetime warranty. I know their regular sockets are good but i havnt used these yet although im seriously thinking about buying a set.

I have searched on Google and cannot find any Ingersoll impact swivel sockets. Where'd you see them?

[Fedwrench]

I have searched on Google and cannot find any Ingersoll impact swivel sockets. Where'd you see them?

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/IR-SK3M7U.html

They're just like Sunex or Grey Pneumatic versions with a different label.

[MAD]

I have searched on Google and cannot find any Ingersoll impact swivel sockets. Where'd you see them?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200026874_200026874

[eschoendorff]

Okay... obviously i need to quit dicking around with Google and go straight to the sources....

[knuckleduster271]

amazon has them for 66 shipped