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Gear Wrench sockets and my cordless impactor

Addrock

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I just bought a Gear Wrench socket set from Sears (thanks for the heads up) and was wondering if anyone had a clever way of adapting from impactor (1/4" hex, or 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 square drive to the six lobed Gear Wrench drive. It's a nice set but I need to be able to use it as a driver.

Thanks
 
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lynam

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Sears sells adapters for about 3 bucks. 1/4" hex-->3/8. Thats what i use on my Makita it has about 1400inch pounds.
 

dankicksass

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GW doesn't have an adapter to drive spline sockets with 1/4hex or sq drive tools in their catalog, at least not in the newest one that I have. If you're willing to lose the short extensions I'm sure something could be fabricated locally.
 

mrholeshot

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It's kinda like a specialty set. I'd buy a set of regular sockets for other stuff
 

Danglerb

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I just bought a Gear Wrench socket set from Sears (thanks for the heads up) and was wondering if anyone had a clever way of adapting from impactor (1/4" hex, or 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 square drive to the six lobed Gear Wrench drive. It's a nice set but I need to be able to use it as a driver.

Thanks

Some of the through sockets at least "claim" to have an internal conventional square drive. Mine however did not have them.
 

HandyManny

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Btw i would use impact sockets on any impact gun.


I will agree, but mainly if we are talking powerful phneumatic impact guns. For those 12 to 19 volt cordless impact drivers I wouldn't worry too much about them. They don't have the excessive power to shatter any sockets or bits should they fail. In fact it's only recently that DeWalt and Bosch started offering special impact rated driver bits and sockets for thier impact drivers. I would however only use impact sockets and extentions with air driven impact wrenches.
 

Seanbev24

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I almost exclusively use chrome sockets on my SnapOn 3/8" cordless gun. Never had a problem. If a fastener is tight enough to worry about breaking a socket, that's what air guns are for.
 

djb2

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Some of the through sockets at least "claim" to have an internal conventional square drive. Mine however did not have them.

He wants the same adapter as I do: going from square drive to the Vortex socket drive.

The kits usually include an adapter from their Vortex ratchets to 1/4" and 3/8" drive, but not from a standard ratchet to the Vortex sockets.

You might not think about it when initially buying into the Vortex series, but there is no torque wrench, swivel or bar extension.

The lack of torque wrench alone moves them from serious tools, to the handyman category. They might as well put a pink flower pattern on them.

I bought three sets recently (yes, the Sears Labor Day sale), before I realized this limitation. I need to buy a Vortex extension piece so that I can have a standard socket welded onto it as an adapter. Or perhaps pinned inside, so that the heat treatment is not lost or too much of the chrome compromised.

I don't think that I'm atypical for needing a torque wrench option. I consider myself right in the middle. You'll never hear me claim to have a "calibrated arm", but I don't insist that monthly calibration is required before I'll use a torque wrench. There are just some things (wheels, suspension parts, drain plugs into expensive castings) that I don't like risking a failure.
 

Danglerb

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Trouble I see with chrome sockets and many cordless impacts is the low power, they tend to rattle a LONG time before getting the job done.

If GearWrench made a Square to Vortex adapter people might not buy their Vortex ratchets, so chances of them making them, very slim. You might be able to cut the end off of a square drive extension and fit it inside the Vortex extension, then solder or braze?
 

filtered

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He wants the same adapter as I do: going from square drive to the Vortex socket drive.

The kits usually include an adapter from their Vortex ratchets to 1/4" and 3/8" drive, but not from a standard ratchet to the Vortex sockets.

You might not think about it when initially buying into the Vortex series, but there is no torque wrench, swivel or bar extension.

The lack of torque wrench alone moves them from serious tools, to the handyman category. They might as well put a pink flower pattern on them.

I bought three sets recently (yes, the Sears Labor Day sale), before I realized this limitation. I need to buy a Vortex extension piece so that I can have a standard socket welded onto it as an adapter. Or perhaps pinned inside, so that the heat treatment is not lost or too much of the chrome compromised.

I don't think that I'm atypical for needing a torque wrench option. I consider myself right in the middle. You'll never hear me claim to have a "calibrated arm", but I don't insist that monthly calibration is required before I'll use a torque wrench. There are just some things (wheels, suspension parts, drain plugs into expensive castings) that I don't like risking a failure.

Or you could just buy the right tools for the job. Vortex sockets were made to be used for one thing, extra long bolts. They were never designed to replace regular sockets, which is why there aren't torque wrenches, and impact guns made for use with these sockets. Adding a swivel to the vortex socket would completely defeat the purpose of them in the first place. :lol_hitti
 
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lynam

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Dooh didnt know he was asking for a vortex adepter thought he bought normal 3/8" sockets.
It seems impact(cr-mo) sockets and extensions wear less then cr-v cromies when used on a impact. CR-v get burs around the drive end that are sharp.
 

djb2

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I bought the Vortex sets for their flexibility. I wouldn't need to have regular and deep sockets everywhere. And they are also one of the few options when you need extra deep sockets.

The most recent time I needed a deep socket was on a motor mount. The studs were fairly long, presumably for easy initial alignment. One of the nuts was inside a punched hole in the subframe, so there was very limited access. The Vortex set would be great for this, except that a motor mount is really something that you want to use a torque wrench on.
 

dankicksass

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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001M0O1OS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I think that will let you use the larger sized Vortex sockets with a 3/8in drive tool. I ordered one. The 82804 adapter is available on its own but it'll cost more than that kit on Amazon with shipping from S&J so it's pretty moot. I'll have it on Tuesday and if it is correct, I'll report back. This tool belongs to the tap and die section of the tool catalog.
41IrtQxTOZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
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dankicksass

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Update: the 82804 adapter available in the kit linked above works for the larger-sized Vortex sockets and happens to fit in the 49pc kit case in the void under the two ratchets. It will work with any 3/8in standard drive tools, I used it with a Gearwrench Roto-Ratchet and an extension. It is fairly sizable but it definitely can increase the utility of the kit.
 

Givl Reggin

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Update: the 82804 adapter available in the kit linked above works for the larger-sized Vortex sockets

In the photo is it the one on the lefthand side? I don't quite see how that would work...it's 1/4" sq drive? Maybe if I saw the 'other' end opening it would be clear... does the other end have the grooves to accept the vortex sockets?
 

dankicksass

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In the photo is it the one on the lefthand side? I don't quite see how that would work...it's 1/4" sq drive? Maybe if I saw the 'other' end opening it would be clear... does the other end have the grooves to accept the vortex sockets?

It's the one on the left, a 3/8in sq drive tool adapter for use with Gearwrench and Kobalt Vortex spline drive sockets, intermediate size. I'll check in with photos later.
 

dankicksass

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Like any other adapter, it adds height so the net working height is similar to a deep-well 3/8dr socket. With both male and female adapters in use, it is possible to use 3/8dr standard extensions and swivels with the Vortex ratchet. They store in the 49pc case under the ratchets just fine. I don't believe there is a small-size or 1/4in Vortex adapter available, but for common usage this should give decent options.
 

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Givl Reggin

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Thanks for the photos... my assumption was correct, the 'other' end fits the grooves of the vortex sockets. It's just that the picture on Amazon only shows the square drive end.
 
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