Impact socket suggestions

[Mike83]

I'm looking for a set of 3/8" drive metric impact sockets, shallow and deep. I seem to recall hearing Craftsman and SK are no good because of the taper at the end so they don't fit tight areas well. Any other recommended brands? Imported is OK, but I am looking for relatively good quality.

I am thinking of this Sunex set

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LQDB86/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[AutoTech]

I'm looking for a set of 3/8" drive metric impact sockets, shallow and deep. I seem to recall hearing Craftsman and SK are no good because of the taper at the end so they don't fit tight areas well. Any other recommended brands? Imported is OK, but I am looking for relatively good quality.

I am thinking of this Sunex set

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LQDB86/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've had s-k deep metric impact sockets for the last 3 years and use them everyday never ran into any problems with them not fitting into tight places! I wouldn't count them out but thats JMO

 

[r0meyrome]

Ingersoll rand impact sockets are what I use.

 

[bmwpower]

Just bought a set of used Snap On 3/8" deep and shallow. To me they seem to be the thinnest design (able to fit in places others can't). Those would be my vote.

Tapered design stinks, IMHO. Manufacturer does that so they can get away with not enginnering strength into their product...more meat, less engineering...just my opinion.

 

[sk farmer]

i have sk impacts in sae shallow, deep and deep swivel plus metric shallow 3/8 sizes. they have been used hard on cp impact and dewalt 1/2 impact with an adapter. have never broken one in my experiance and would recomend. plus made in usa

 

[Danglerb]

HF for the cheap, Grey Pneumatic for the good value (maybe the same as sunex).

 

[Rusty Kustoms]

Grey is cheaper than Sunex, a little cheaper quality too. I have the Sunex 3/8" deep impacts and love them, for under $100 I got both metric and standard. I would like snap-on ones but I will not pay the high price for them for as often as I use them.

 

[Fedwrench]

I've only really seen thick wall impacts from SK or Craftsman in 1/2 drive and even then, it didn't present an access problem. The tapered nose is only really found on the smaller 1/2 drive sizes like 10-12mm. I still don't know why they make 1/2 drive impact sockets that small any way.
Back to the original subject, Sunex or Grey Pneumatic 3/8 drive impact socket set will serve you well. They're strong and thin walled. Personally, I feel they both come from the same Taiwanese factory and that only the gold lettering is different. I don't care much for the impact swivel that comes with the set as it has a fat collar and is a little on the long side but, that's just me. The only drawback to either Grey Pneumatic or Sunex would be ease of warranty replacement compared with Sears or a truck brand. However, they're pretty strong to begin with and you probably won't break one anyway through normal use. Their price really can't be beat either. Last time I checked, the Sunex sockets had both tiny gold sizes and brand markings, and stamped size markings. The Amazon price is pretty good at about $10 less than most online tool vendors.

 

[tsumetai-kokoro]

sunex are strong. i use them every day. it's getting hard to read the sizes though. some of mine i engraved the sizes really big on the side

 

[Mike83]

Thanks for the replies. I will not use them very much, so warranty is not my main concern. Upon further research, I do see that tapering is not done on SK 3/8" impact sockets as Fedwrench said. I'd like to get SK or Snap-On, however, the best value for complete sets still seems to be the Sunex. I might accessorize with better swivels, extensions, etc. though. I do like the pinless design of C-man swivels.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

I say get the Grey Pneumatic's. I can't believe how durable these things are, I have shallow and deep 3/8's (up to 22mm) and shallow and deep (up to 36mm), and have never broken a single one. I abuse my 3/8's with my 1/2" 2135tiMAX ever single day, and still, no breaks. And btw, if you buy it from a matco truck, and are on one frequently, they are warrantied just as if they were a Matco impact socket (at least thats the way my driver is). Best value period in sockets, IMO.

 

[ron in sc]

I have Sunex sockets too in 3/8" and 1/2" drive and craftman in deep 1/2" drive. No problems with either. Sunex is very good value and quality.

Also have a number of Ozat socket in 1/2" drive that are very good. Ozat hex head sockets are particularly nice because they are short.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Mike,

I have a full set (metric, SAE, deep, shallow) of SK impacts. I have never had a problem with them and for the price, prefer them over SO. I don't wrench for a living any more but still do a lot on mine and the families and SK sockets and wrenches have never failed to do the job asked of them.

 

[billymade]

Who makes the Matco Gray Eagle line (import)? Sunex or Gray? My brother brought a complete 3/8" set and they seem pretty decent so far...

 

[SteveU]

I have these, they work for everything I've used them for no problem. Also have a set of grey 3/8" swivel impacts.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/GRY-1242RD.html

 

[Hawk321]

What do you think about Genius sockets??? Cheap and durable, also thin.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

What do you think about Genius sockets??? Cheap and durable, also thin.

The impact sockets i have are the same as Genius ones with a different name. I find them to be really good, they hold up real well, hard wearing, good tolerances and pretty cheap too. For the money, they're hard to beat.

 

[Dstosh]

I'll vote for sunex. only had them for a few months, but i cant complain

 

[kartracer55]

THe SK should be good. I have Craftsman shallows and no complaints. My 3/8 deeps are Matco, which I love but they are quite spendy.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

Who makes the Matco Gray Eagle line (import)? Sunex or Gray? My brother brought a complete 3/8" set and they seem pretty decent so far...

I think danaher makes them in house, they are Asian made though. I have the same set and I'm happy I picked it up I think I paid around a hundred bucks for mine and I have been extremely pleased with how they have held up.

 

[garfunkle24]

Grey is cheaper than Sunex, a little cheaper quality too. I have the Sunex 3/8" deep impacts and love them, for under $100 I got both metric and standard. I would like snap-on ones but I will not pay the high price for them for as often as I use them.

I think I must have the exact same set of Sunex. I like them a lot. Only issue so far was breaking the 1/2" to 3/8" adapter that came with the set. To be fair, it was more torque than I would ever normally put on a 3/8" drive tool, but that's all that would fit in that particular spot.