n8n
Well-known member
Any recommendations?
I pulled the trigger on the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro SAE impacts, shallow and deep (got the deeps today, they finally got some in today but when I got there there were only two sets left on the hook, word must be getting out!) Also have Snap-On set of deep metric impacts, bought used.
What I don't have, however, are good extensions, adapters, etc. I have a 1/2" drive Snap-On swivel which just got warrantied, so I'm good there; I also have a 10" locking Pittsburgh Pro extension which was the only Cr-Mo accessory there. All the other extensions, adapters, etc. are Cr-V which by all accounts here are inferior for impact use.
I do have a generic parts store 3/4" to 1/2" adapter marked Cr-Mo that I bought years ago when I needed to use a 3/4" breaker bar to remove a stuck water heater anode, and just today I picked up a 1/2" to 3/8" Alltrade/Powerbuilt adapter at Carquest because I needed it to use my turbo sockets to get a messed up petcock off the bottom of my roommate's air compressor. The latter appears identical to the HF Pittsburgh Pro sockets right down to the groove at the bottom and the gold colored laser etching, but had a non-HF price tag of $10.something for the one piece. It was also made in Taiwan, although I realize that's no assurance it's from the same factory.
I suspect at some point I may also want to pick up a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter so that I could use a hand impact driver with a socket if that is ever necessary. I'd also like a better assortment of 1/2" extensions.
So the question for yunz guys - for someone who really doesn't use air/impact tools all that often, but wants reasonable quality, what would you recommend? Are the Alltrade ones good, or just "OK?" My next thoughts were Sunex and Grey Pneumatic; anything else I should look at?
I pulled the trigger on the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro SAE impacts, shallow and deep (got the deeps today, they finally got some in today but when I got there there were only two sets left on the hook, word must be getting out!) Also have Snap-On set of deep metric impacts, bought used.
What I don't have, however, are good extensions, adapters, etc. I have a 1/2" drive Snap-On swivel which just got warrantied, so I'm good there; I also have a 10" locking Pittsburgh Pro extension which was the only Cr-Mo accessory there. All the other extensions, adapters, etc. are Cr-V which by all accounts here are inferior for impact use.
I do have a generic parts store 3/4" to 1/2" adapter marked Cr-Mo that I bought years ago when I needed to use a 3/4" breaker bar to remove a stuck water heater anode, and just today I picked up a 1/2" to 3/8" Alltrade/Powerbuilt adapter at Carquest because I needed it to use my turbo sockets to get a messed up petcock off the bottom of my roommate's air compressor. The latter appears identical to the HF Pittsburgh Pro sockets right down to the groove at the bottom and the gold colored laser etching, but had a non-HF price tag of $10.something for the one piece. It was also made in Taiwan, although I realize that's no assurance it's from the same factory.
I suspect at some point I may also want to pick up a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter so that I could use a hand impact driver with a socket if that is ever necessary. I'd also like a better assortment of 1/2" extensions.
So the question for yunz guys - for someone who really doesn't use air/impact tools all that often, but wants reasonable quality, what would you recommend? Are the Alltrade ones good, or just "OK?" My next thoughts were Sunex and Grey Pneumatic; anything else I should look at?
Last edited:
I looked on their web site, are you referring to the wobble extensions? Those are the only ones I see as being Cr-Mo. I figured those would be weaker than straight extensions, true/false?