socket ball drivers

[Chadwilliam1]

I am looking for a good set of socket ball drivers. Who makes a quality set?

Snap on is a little pricey but I will spend that much if the balls wont break off or twist on the smaller sizes.

http://store.snapon.com/Ball-Hex-Lo...-Ball-Hex-Long-4-to-10-mm-6-pcs--P648898.aspx

SK Is not much cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007GGU9M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Bondhus.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W6JNWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The reviews are not very good on the bondhus surprisingly.

What is recommended?

 

[nicksnothereman]

I am looking for a good set of socket ball drivers. Who makes a quality set?

Snap on is a little pricey but I will spend that much if the balls wont break off or twist on the smaller sizes.

http://store.snapon.com/Ball-Hex-Lo...-Ball-Hex-Long-4-to-10-mm-6-pcs--P648898.aspx

SK Is not much cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007GGU9M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Bondhus.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W6JNWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The reviews are not very good on the bondhus surprisingly.

What is recommended?

Vim? That might be import stuff.

If you use these that much you might want to spring for a truck brand not sure if snap on is the one you want though. You could try proto, those are around 10 bucks a socket so a set would be under that (I would hope). If not you might want to just go with a taiwanese set. I'm not sure there's much of a difference between any of the taiwanese sets would be around 35 bucks with tax or tax with shipping for whatever the set is (7-8 piece?).

Ideally you'd want one piece ("impact" grade) but I'm not seeing those in extra long ball end.

 

[Wamsutta]

None of those would be long enough for me. The purpose of the ball hex is get past obstructions to spin out the screw after it's been broken free with an L-hex key. Being as short as those are, I'd have to swing the ball driver out too far to get past the obstruction. You're limited to a certain angle and still be able to engage the hex-head screw enough to turn it. I prefer using a Bondhus 12 inch T-handle ball hex driver after I've broken the screw free with an L-hex key.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I must be the only person on this forum that finds the t handle to be useless. I never use them if I can Help it.

 

[therealwormey]

I must be the only person on this forum that finds the t handle to be useless. I never use them if I can Help it.

no your not alone.
i have 2 T's i use to change out adaptors on my tire ballancer. other than that i never use em ,i think the reason i use t's on the machine is because they hang nicely between 2 screws on the wall right beside it. i prefer to use the ones that i can use with a ratchet or put on an extension.

 

[sloppy]

I must be the only person on this forum that finds the t handle to be useless. I never use them if I can Help it.

I like them for machine work where its never more then a turn or 2 for adjustments..

I wouldnt use them on screws that need removed..

 

[Dave455]

PB Swiss are the toughest I've ever found! They specialise in this sort of thing, and do it very well!

I'm with you guys with regard to T handles. I have a couple of sets on my bench, and there are a couple of applications where they work really well (setting up machines for example) but for most applications you are better off with a regular hex key or a screwdriver handle!

 

[Brownsfan]

I bought this set. http://m.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Long-Ball-Hex-Bit-Socket-Set-7-Piece-H3DMMLBBS7PC/202934858/
Everything about them is IDENTICAL to my set of gearwrench long torx sockets. Gearwrench equivalents were double. I have only used them a few times but no issues so far

 

[Balor]

I am looking for a good set of socket ball drivers. Who makes a quality set?

Snap on is a little pricey but I will spend that much if the balls wont break off or twist on the smaller sizes.

http://store.snapon.com/Ball-Hex-Lo...-Ball-Hex-Long-4-to-10-mm-6-pcs--P648898.aspx

SK Is not much cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007GGU9M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Bondhus.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W6JNWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The reviews are not very good on the bondhus surprisingly.

What is recommended?

I am/was a Harley Tech and tried to the cheap ones (had to keep replacing) went to the Snap-On's & still have them to this day, the only one I had to replace was the one I used on an air tool. RNGR1

 

[Stooge]

i've had the proto SAE long hex ball ones for probably the last 5yrs at work and still work great, but i cant seem to find the metric equivelent with the exception of the blackhawk by proto ones, although there is no COO, but with the exception of their ratchets, im usually pretty happy with most blackhawk stuff i come across
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YSZZNK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

i have a set of standard length SK hex sockets which have been great, and tooltopia has them for a little cheaper than amazon, still with free shipping... is who i would go with if i had a need for the longer versions
http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-19748.aspx

 

[rshadd]

I'm also looking for a nice set, so I'm interested in what others may like.

Are the Craftsman ball hex sockets still made in the USA? Looking at the pics on their site the sockets are stamped USA, but I don't have much confidence in Sears web site.

Craftsman 6 pc. Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Set - Standard - $42.49
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-pc-mid-length-ball-hex-bit/p-00942606000P

Craftsman 6 pc. Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Set - Metric - $42.49
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-6-pc-mid-length-ball-hex-bit/p-00942607000P

It's hard to beat the Craftsman warranty, considering that these are something that are easy to break.

 

[rshadd]

I must be the only person on this forum that finds the t handle to be useless. I never use them if I can Help it.

I'm with you. I much more prefer the screwdriver style.

1/4" insert bits in your long ratcheting screwdriver work really well in low torque applications.

 

[NewEdgePerf]

Does Bondhus make this set in metric?

Tony D

 

[rshadd]

Does Bondhus make this set in metric?

Tony D

Yep.

Bondhus 11099 Set of 9 Balldriver Insert Bits, sizes 2-12mm ($15.51)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E7XGUU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[OxJaw]

I'm also looking for a nice set, so I'm interested in what others may like.

Are the Craftsman ball hex sockets still made in the USA? Looking at the pics on their site the sockets are stamped USA, but I don't have much confidence in Sears web site.

Craftsman 6 pc. Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Set - Standard - $42.49
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-pc-mid-length-ball-hex-bit/p-00942606000P

Craftsman 6 pc. Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Set - Metric - $42.49
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-6-pc-mid-length-ball-hex-bit/p-00942607000P

It's hard to beat the Craftsman warranty, considering that these are something that are easy to break.

I don't know if there still USA or not, but I bought the SAE set a few years back and haven't had any trouble out of them. I just recently used the 3/8" on a 1/2" breaker bar to get some bolts loose, the hex bit didn't even flex.

 

[jmm]

I'm also looking for a nice set, so I'm interested in what others may like.

Are the Craftsman ball hex sockets still made in the USA? Looking at the pics on their site the sockets are stamped USA, but I don't have much confidence in Sears web site.

Craftsman 6 pc. Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Set - Standard - $42.49
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-pc-mid-length-ball-hex-bit/p-00942606000P

Craftsman 6 pc. Mid-Length Ball Hex Bit Set - Metric - $42.49
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-6-pc-mid-length-ball-hex-bit/p-00942607000P

It's hard to beat the Craftsman warranty, considering that these are something that are easy to break.

DON'T go with the US-made Craftsman set. They are complete garbage. I had a set of ball-end and regular allen sockets; the regular ones twisted and broke, and the ball ends don't fit right in anything. More likely to round a bolt out, than to turn it.

Import Gearwrench are much better and, if you can afford it, Snap-On makes the best.

 

[losabio]

I'm with you. I much more prefer the screwdriver style.

1/4" insert bits in your long ratcheting screwdriver work really well in low torque applications.

I was just coming in here to post this very thing. Bondhus ball hex bit + Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver is a winning combination.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

i've had the proto SAE long hex ball ones for probably the last 5yrs at work and still work great, but i cant seem to find the metric equivelent with the exception of the blackhawk by proto ones, although there is no COO, but with the exception of their ratchets, im usually pretty happy with most blackhawk stuff i come across
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YSZZNK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

i have a set of standard length SK hex sockets which have been great, and tooltopia has them for a little cheaper than amazon, still with free shipping... is who i would go with if i had a need for the longer versions
http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-19748.aspx

I will proably get the SK. All of my other bits are SK and I dont have any complaints. If somebody came on here and said they have tried all others and so and so are the best I would get those. I have been putting this purchase off for a while and they will not get used very often but they seem like they would be useful.

I would like the part number for that snap on ratcheting screw driver with that long tip. That thing looks pretty cool. I tried zooming in on the picture but i couldn’t read it.

 

[OxJaw]

I would like the part number for that snap on ratcheting screw driver with that long tip. That thing looks pretty cool. I tried zooming in on the picture but i couldn’t read it.

http://store.snapon.com/Standard-Ha...ng-Magnetic-Long-Black-12-15-16--P630731.aspx

http://store.snapon.com/Standard-Ha...g-Magnetic-Long-Orange-12-15-16--P634148.aspx

 

[Chadwilliam1]

thanks.

 

[NewEdgePerf]

Yep.

Bondhus 11099 Set of 9 Balldriver Insert Bits, sizes 2-12mm ($15.51)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E7XGUU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks for sharing!

Tony D

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I have a set of the Gearwench long ball, while I have not broken any yet, but they do seem to flex a bit and that makes me nervous. I do have MM & SAE sets of the SK standard length and love them. I wouldn't mind a set of the snap on long balls, but just don't use them enough to justify it.

-Sam

 

[nicksnothereman]

I must be the only person on this forum that finds the t handle to be useless. I never use them if I can Help it.

Sure if you have sockets (torx, hex) but if you don't...t handles are great if you're hand tightening (no fixed torque value). Nutdrivers however...