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Time to replace my worn out Craftsman Impact Sockets

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Jtels85

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May 3, 2017
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Ohio
Hey all!

As the title states, my old Craftsman USA 1/2” drive impact sockets are well worn out, and I was never thrilled with them in the first place.

I prefer to find a set in a blow molded case. Gray Pneumatic and Sunex come to mind. Any other suggestions to look at before I pull the trigger?

Thanks!
 
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Steel_Rain

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Jtels85 said:
I prefer to find a set in a blow molded case
Click to expand...

Do you take them with you often?

As others have mentioned, the Quinn and Milwaukee sets have very nice cases. I think Tekton offers nice cases these days now too. I own these brands for home use.

I must say my Milwaukee stuff comes with me because of the packout convenience (if it’s a major job).
 
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Mr_B

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Hakeem said:
Get the Quinn set when it goes on sale for 35% off at Harbor Freight in a week. That’s likely to be the best value around.

If you want to splurge, the Milwaukee sets are nice because of the large, paint filled numbers.
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+1 for low cost set in a fairly decent case, if buy on best sale it like 2 bucks fifty a socket & most people got a store close enough which means it easy buy and easy use warranty if ever needed (not that warranty on impacts a necessity, purchase calculated self warranty is always the best warranty for true lifetime)
Quinn sockets are decent japan style design that nice to use, cr-mo out of Taiwan so be confident steel & heat treatment good effort, size etchings are large, perhaps a bit too large, roll stamped size opposite side to etching, pin hole also acts as detent for ball on extensions/ratchets etc, made in Taiwan .
Only downside is like seen set go to 32mm and side latches on case could be done better .
In early days of release this set was 99.99, that was the real bargain (buck sixty a piece), with HF you need buy first great deal they do on new lines or else you be paying a lot more ...
 
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Steel_Rain

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*EDIT* ***This includes both 1/2" & 3/8" drive ***If you interested the Milwaukee stuff, they are running a sale this week for both standard and deeps in packout cases for $280 (doesn't include long impact extensions):


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It's really hard to beat the Quinn 1/2" set for the price (shown without discounts) of $180:


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Tekton is a great option too for $385:

www.tekton.com

1/2 Inch Drive 12-Point Impact Socket Set (78-Piece) | TEKTON

78-piece set includes 5/16 - 1-1/2 inch (SAE), 8 - 39 mm (metric) shallow and deep 12-point sockets, accessories, and case. No skipped sizes. SID92408.
www.tekton.com www.tekton.com

1785776399879.png

All three brands have a good warranty process. The nice part about the Quinn's is the price and warranty, since most people have a HFT near them. Tekton offers an amazing warranty that has worked for me in real world. Milwaukee might be good if your at the track often and want to invest in other packout stuff. Packout is good, but overpriced, and can be a hassle to load/unload in a smaller vehicle if you have a roller. That said, the packout cases are the most durable of the three.
 
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Steve_P

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I think it's pretty difficult today to buy a "bad" socket that comes from a known seller, so I would just go by the price, selection, and quality of the case. I have chinese HF, USA SK, Taiwan Sunex.... impact sockets and they all seem the same to me as far as durability during home use.
 
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Schurkey

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Jtels85 said:
my old Craftsman USA 1/2” drive impact sockets are well worn out, and I was never thrilled with them in the first place.
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Warranty them.
Jtels85 said:
Why would I want to? Craftsman under Stanley Black & Decker *****.
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Force them to honor the warranty, so they get feedback that their product *****. Then SELL THE NEW "CRAPSMAN" stuff for whatever you can get for it, buy decent tools. The meager sale price will pay for your time and effort, and you still end up with the tools of your choice.

Sumboodie said:
I rarely use impact sockets. "Ohhhhh, it'll blow up and kill 12 bald eagles, a Cub Scout troop and a busload of orphans"... yeahhhh, hasn't happened in ~30 years, so guess I'm lucky 🤣
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1. You eventually will destroy the drive-end of the socket.
2. The harder steel of a chrome socket causes more wear on the square-drive of your impact wrench.
3. When/If the chrome socket does explode, it's likely to lacerate you. If you're lucky, none of the shrapnel hits your eyes.
 
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Sumboodie

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Schurkey said:
Warranty them.

Force them to honor the warranty, so they get feedback that their product *****. Then SELL THE NEW "CRAPSMAN" stuff for whatever you can get for it, buy decent tools. The meager sale price will pay for your time and effort, and you still end up with the tools of your choice.


1. You eventually will destroy the drive-end of the socket.
2. The harder steel of a chrome socket causes more wear on the square-drive of your impact wrench.
3. When/If the chrome socket does explode, it's likely to lacerate you. If you're lucky, none of the shrapnel hits your eyes.
Click to expand...
If it hasn't happened in 30 years, doubt it's happening now.
 
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Dankotaru

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7000' ASL
I have been happy with Gearwrench impacts. The markings are really easy to read, and are both laser-etched and stamped. The case is good, with four metal latches across three sides. I have this 65 piece set, which does include hex impacts I've never used, but is a good deal for $179 and includes a nice range of socket sizes:
https://www.acmetools.com/gearwrenc...mpact-socket-set-65pc-89095/099575890956.html

1785785766374.png

Of course, Gearwrench has other size sets as well, and I don't know that they're any better or worse than Quinn for similar pricing, but I do like that each socket has a stock number and Gearwrench will warranty individual replacements. I haven't hogged out any of my impacts yet, but when one of my Gearwrench flex head ratcheting wrenches I bought from Sears about 20 years ago decided to start skipping teeth, it was a relatively simple proccess to get a replacement. The only difference was the new one was made in Vietnam and not Taiwan, but was basically an identical product with the same stock number and fit right in with the rest of the old set. I expect it will be similar if one of these sockets needs replacing.
 
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Wrench97

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Buckaroo5 said:
I also have an old set of these. Mine are still very serviceable. What wears out?
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Impacts are softer so they don't crack a fly into pieces, also so they don't wear out the anvil on the impact gun.
So the drive ends wear, and the hex end wears. In my snap on set I think the only originals are the 10mm, 11mm, 20mm, 23mm, 27mm the rest have all been replace at least once with the 17,19,21 & 22 several times. Same for the SAE sizes lug nut sizes wear out first.
 
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Yarpo

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I've got 4 different brands in my box, GP, Pittsburg Pro, Gearwrench and Genius.
No complaints with any of them, I know Genius makes nice plastic and metal cases. Decently priced.

That said I didn't realize how cheap the Quinn impacts are above (Didn't exist 15 years ago when I got into the game afaik) but wow, great deal and great looking set. I'd probably go that route if I was replacing or looking for a full set.
 
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Sumboodie

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Dankotaru said:
I have been happy with Gearwrench impacts. The markings are really easy to read, and are both laser-etched and stamped. The case is good, with four metal latches across three sides. I have this 65 piece set, which does include hex impacts I've never used, but is a good deal for $179 and includes a nice range of socket sizes:
https://www.acmetools.com/gearwrenc...mpact-socket-set-65pc-89095/099575890956.html

1785785766374.png

Of course, Gearwrench has other size sets as well, and I don't know that they're any better or worse than Quinn for similar pricing, but I do like that each socket has a stock number and Gearwrench will warranty individual replacements. I haven't hogged out any of my impacts yet, but when one of my Gearwrench flex head ratcheting wrenches I bought from Sears about 20 years ago decided to start skipping teeth, it was a relatively simple proccess to get a replacement. The only difference was the new one was made in Vietnam and not Taiwan, but was basically an identical product with the same stock number and fit right in with the rest of the old set. I expect it will be similar if one of these sockets needs replacing.
Click to expand...
It was a HUGE pain getting a flex head 1/2" wrench replaced.

The part number no longer exists and somehow that meant it's not warrantied anymore.

I had to send them photos, a video, then they didn't want to ship to AK.
I gave up and several months later I randomly got a replacement in the mail and they sent another to my parents in Maine
 
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Mr_B

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GW are well documented for poor warranty support these days .
Only warranty you can trust for decades/your lifetime is self warranty, buy good design tools at cost effective price and self warranty, self warranty even includes loss and theft and you always happy with replacement choice & ease of claim lol :-D
Would think people learnt by now that 99.99% of the box store tool brand life warranty gets difficult, the tool quality/coo changes to trash you don't want & brand and life warranty fades out long before you do ...
Lot of people will say likes of Quinn style impacts out of taiwan okay for light use but not professional, well I been using Taiwan impacts in my auto repair shop daily for years and they potentially better than some current era pro truck brand offerings and are so cheap (milk the deals to the max) I can keep new sets of most used on the store shelves for instant warranty replacement ...
 
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AEAdam

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My advice is to only buy impact sockets from a company willing to stamp their name and the size into the steel.

If they are laser etching, that’s probably some process their distributor specified so they can pick and choose manufacturers by price, or, the manufacturer is making sockets under many brand names.

Otherwise, you need to decide if you want the chunky monkey Pittsburgh style or the more refined Icon, Williams style. I think some of the pros here use the chunky style and get on just fine with cheap impacts. I kinda prefer the sleeker, but I don’t use my impacts much.
 
4

413dan

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Massachusetts
Some good suggestions here. I will say Ive got the deep metric Icon impacts and have been pleased. I don't use them too often but am glad to have them for the times I do. I'd like to find an older set of Craftsman USA made impacts for my collection going forward but am not in a hurry. Some day the right deal will present itself, but until then I don't feel like I don't have what I need. Good luck!
 
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Ohio Andy

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Mr_B said:
GW are well documented for poor warranty support these days .
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I bought a set of gearwrench sockets and ratchets but the ratchets had problems and gear wrench wasn't going to do anything about the broken ratchets so I sent everything back. I bought a bit set and that's okay.

I bought the stuff just to test it to see if I liked it. It was broken never tried again.
 
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zimman

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Mark Twain National Forest
I got mine off Amazon and they're just fine. Cheap. No need for a $200 set when it's used only once or twice a month. I use mine almost daily now but carried them in the truck for three years pulling a trailer around the Country. $43 now.
Zim
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Nobody-named-Olli

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zimman said:
I got mine off Amazon and they're just fine. Cheap. No need for a $200 set when it's used only once or twice a month. I use mine almost daily now but carried them in the truck for three years pulling a trailer around the Country. $43 now.
Zim
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EEEEEEEEEK. #23 and #24 need to trade places immediately. PLEASE HAVE MERCY!!!! :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Funny regards,
Olli
 
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