6 point sockets: Impact vs chrome

Mister Moose · Jun 3, 2012

I don't have any 6 point sockets, and thinking of getting some. Is there any reason why I shouldn't just get an impact set? Why would you need both?

Thanks.

Skin · Jun 3, 2012

This has been asked many times. Chrome = thinner walls and multiple detents. Impacts = thicker and usually 1 hole. If you want to cheap out and deal with the occasional inconvenience of a socket dropping off your ratchet/extension, and working on the occasional fastener with a box wrench because your impact was too fat, by all means get impact. Ultimately you should have both.

shoturtle · Jun 3, 2012

The thin wall chrome are easier to use in tight places. But if you are not using in tight places. And have room to work, impact will work. But they are heavier.

2JZGTESC300 · Jun 4, 2012

Chrome has thinner walls like other people said. 12 Point seems to strip more bolts for me other than 6 Point.

I carry both, but I barely use my 12 Impact Point Socket. The 6 Point does most if not all the necessarily task already. The thinner walls works great. What's even better is if you have Shallow, Semi-Deep and Deep 6 Point Chrome Sockets from reputable maker, then the 12 Point Impact are just to buy and collect.

shampoop · Jun 4, 2012

Another nice thing about impact sockets vs chrome is that their surface provides more grip so it's much easier to turn them with your fingers when dirty (like sockets always are when in use) You can apply more torque without your fingers slipping. Also easier to pull them off of the ratchet/extension when dirty.

jontar · Jun 4, 2012

Buy the chrome ones, and use them on your impact, I work at an industrial plant in Alberta and 90% of the trades, millwrights, welders, machinists, electricians use the chrome sockets on your 1/2dr impacts and never have a problem, the one socket, I have split in the last 4 yrs was a 3/4 socket in 1/2dr, on a long snap on 1/2 dr ratchet. We were pulled a 20hp motor and the bolt to un-bolt the feet were in a bad spot and the socket slipped off the nut somewhat and cracked, when I pulled back on the ratchet. Off to the metal bin for you, excuse to go tool shopping on days off, or into the snap off truck when he comes by the site.

Princess Auto, here in Canada sells normal chrome vandanium sockets painted black as "impact sockets" and people buy them by the boat load when they are on sale. The only differenece is at the factory in Taiwan some were chromed and others painted black. They do also sell true chrome moly impact sockets.

Gabastone · Jun 4, 2012

jontar said:
Buy the chrome ones, and use them on your impact

That is really bad advice. :twak:

jontar · Jun 4, 2012

the millwright and heavy duty mechanics use chrome on 1/2dr impacts all day long, it's not until they get into 3/4 and 1 inch dr that they will actually break out chrome moly impact sockets.

As I said above lots of people buy "impact sockets" that are nothing more than black painted chrome vandanium sockets, just because the plastic case says impact doesn't mean they are impact. Only chrome moly sockets are true impacts.

Most of the guys on here, own impacts that are garage queens, they get taken out of the tool box to play with on the weekend taking a tire off. We wear snap off 1/2dr impact guns out with in 2yrs, then the company sends them out and gets them rebuilt and they last 6 months maybe a yr then you get to pick a new color and they buy a new one. There are chrome sockets that have out lasted a several impacts.

You ever see a new hammer estwing for example, says never hit another hammer with a hammer, mythbusters proved you can hit another hammer with a hammer all day long, do you think tool companys are concerned about your safety, no they are concerned about sell more tools, now you need chrome sockets and impact sockets we just doubled our sales.

A side from using really small sockets 3/4 and under on 1/2in dr impacts, I can tell you very few people have ever had a chrome socket break on a impact, we use 1 1/8 sockets to remove the 200hp electric motors at work and I have never to this day been a problem. The 350hp electric motors use both 1 1/8 or 1 5/16 depending on mount, no problem.

amolaver · Jun 4, 2012

if there is any chance you using them on an impact, buy impact sockets. i've NEVER had a problem getting my 3/8 impact sockets to fasteners that switching to chrome made the difference.

i just went and measured two sets of chrome (nepros semi deep & craftsman deep) and two sets of impact (sk semi deep & wright deep). here are the results - the size socket measured across the top, 1 brand/set per row, and the diameter in fractions of an inch (sorry, US micrometer was at hand):

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

nep .46 .51 .56 .60 .66 .72 .75 .80 .86 .90 .95 1"
sk .56 .60 .65 .69 .73 .79 .88 .88 .93 .95 1.01 1.06"
cm NA NA .59 NA .70 .72 .78 .81 .86 .93 .95 1.01"
wrt .5 .55 .63 .67 .74 .74 .80 .86 .86 .95 .99 1.02"

while it is clear the impact sockets are larger in diameter, the wrights (a higher quality socket than the SK IMO) are all less than a tenth of an inch bigger, and in most cases are 5 hundredths or less larger.

how many spaces for a socket are clearanced to less than half a tenth? none that i've found...

ahm

Buckgnarly · Jun 4, 2012

amolaver said:
if there is any chance you using them on an impact, buy impact sockets. i've NEVER had a problem getting my 3/8 impact sockets to fasteners that switching to chrome made the difference.

i just went and measured two sets of chrome (nepros semi deep & craftsman deep) and two sets of impact (sk semi deep & wright deep). here are the results - the size socket measured across the top, 1 brand/set per row, and the diameter in fractions of an inch (sorry, US micrometer was at hand):

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

nep .46 .51 .56 .60 .66 .72 .75 .80 .86 .90 .95 1"
sk .56 .60 .65 .69 .73 .79 .88 .88 .93 .95 1.01 1.06"
cm .59 .70 .72 .78 .81 .86 .93 .95 1.01"
wrt .5 .55 .63 .67 .74 .74 .80 .86 .86 .95 .99 1.02"

while it is clear the impact sockets are larger in diameter, the wrights (a higher quality socket than the SK IMO) are all less than a tenth of an inch bigger, and in most cases are 5 hundredths or less larger.

how many spaces for a socket are clearanced to less than half a tenth? none that i've found...

ahm

Pinion nuts.....

RedFordTruck · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
A problem with Impact over chrome is that they are softer. Just like a chrome may explode on a Impact gun, an impact on a breaker bar may just split. A lot of people think a Impact is a "super" socket, but its not, depending on the application its worse. A Hardened Chrome Socket is made to take a constant strain without Malforming, and an Impact is a soft metal thats made for a lot of force, but only at inconsistent blows.

Because its softer you it takes the high energy blow and sends it down the line to the fastener, almost like a recoil. Force Hits drive end, impact transfers for to fastener, force leaves impact. I don't want to say its springy, but that's really the best word coming to mind.

A piece of tempered glass can take more force without flexing than plastic, but if you implement a "striking blow" it will fail much, easier then plastic. But you can smash 2 pieces of plastic together, possibly make much more energy without failure because soft materials absorb some of the harshness.

I have personally tested impacts for different wear, and an Impact socket that can last plenty in a Gun, will fail very easy with a breaker bar with little to no effort.

You can use Impacts in light duty stuff, but you will have a bad time if you use a big breaker bar on them. An Impact just is too soft for that constant strain, and will most likely split.

Everyone cheats, but it doesn't mean its safe, or cost effective.

The one time i broke an impact socket was on a ratchet. There may or may not have been a 5 foot pipe involved...

jontar · Jun 4, 2012

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/pro...-Sets/10-pc-1/2-dr-SAE-Deep-Impact-Socket-Set

amolaver · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
A problem with Impact over chrome is that they are softer. Just like a chrome may explode on a Impact gun, an impact on a breaker bar may just split. A lot of people think a Impact is a "super" socket, but its not, depending on the application its worse. A Hardened Chrome Socket is made to take a constant strain without Malforming, and an Impact is a soft metal thats made for a lot of force, but only at inconsistent blows.

Because its softer you it takes the high energy blow and sends it down the line to the fastener, almost like a recoil. Force Hits drive end, impact transfers for to fastener, force leaves impact. I don't want to say its springy, but that's really the best word coming to mind.

A piece of tempered glass can take more force without flexing than plastic, but if you implement a "striking blow" it will fail much, easier then plastic. But you can smash 2 pieces of plastic together, possibly make much more energy without failure because soft materials absorb some of the harshness.

I have personally tested impacts for different wear, and an Impact socket that can last plenty in a Gun, will fail very easy with a breaker bar with little to no effort.

You can use Impacts in light duty stuff, but you will have a bad time if you use a big breaker bar on them. An Impact just is too soft for that constant strain, and will most likely split.

Everyone cheats, but it doesn't mean its safe, or cost effective.

no offense, but i have to call BS. i've NEVER seen an impact socket split when used with hand tools, even with 5' cheater pipes. i've seen lots of chrome sockets split both by hand and of course when used on an impact.

chrome moly might be more malleable than vanadium, but to say that using them on hand tools is 'cheating' and they are likely to fail with such use, doesn't jive with reality.

every chrome socket is marked somewhere with 'do not use with impact tools'. yet i've never seen an impact socket marked 'do not use with hand tools'...why? because that makes zero sense...

ahm

BrokewrenchLS1 · Jun 4, 2012

Chrome sockets on an impact are great, until you see one grenade and send splinters everywhere. I like my eyes enough to own regular chrome sockets for hand use, and impact sockets for impact use.

george4 · Jun 4, 2012

Snap-on Technical Reference: Impact vs. Chrome Sockets
.by Snap-on Tools on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:35am ·.Chrome hand sockets and impact sockets have differences that are a lot more than skin deep. Each is designed and manufactured with specific applications in mind, and they are built to handle that job only. The user must be careful not to use a chrome hand socket on an impact gun.

The impact socket has thick walls and is finished in a black phosphate or black oxide finish. The design is also distinct as impact sockets have a cross hole in the handle end for use with a retaining pin and ring or locking pin anvil to allow the socket to be securely attached to the square drive of an impact gun.

Power sockets, designed for use with power nut runners, multi-spindle machines and angle head nut drivers, may cause some confusion since they are offered in a black finish. But, they are stamped “WARNING: NON-IMPACT.” Power sockets are heat treated to a higher hardness than either impact or hand sockets. This high hardness, combined with thick socket walls, produces a strong, wear resistant socket. This socket is ideal for assembly-line work where it is not subjected to high-impact loads.

Hand sockets have a thin wall which allows for clearance in general applications where hand torquing is used. Hand sockets, except for those intended for industrial use, are chrome plated. Although hand sockets and power sockets can fit the impact wrench, they are not the same and must not be used on impact tools.

One difference you can’t see between these two different types of sockets has to do with the way each has been heat treated and/or the composition of the metal used. The impact socket made out of medium carbon alloy steel is heat treated to a low hardness range which has been optimized for impact use. This means that under heavy, continuous use, an impact socket will withstand the impact blows and will wear rather than break.

Hand sockets are made of medium carbon alloy steel heat treated to a hardness range commensurate with their size and configuration. Hand sockets are heat treated to a comparatively higher hardness for high strength and more wear resistance than impact sockets. But, they are made to sustain hand applied torque applications only. In other words, they are not designed for use on impact guns, and should never be used on them.

Using only impact sockets on impact wrenches reduces the risk of injury, delays and damaged work. It’s relatively easy to spot a hand socket that’s been misused on an impact wrench. Check the square drive end for signs of damage and distortion. Cracks and other damage will often appear around the wrench end as well. Breakage due to impact use is considered misuse and not through any fault of the hand socket itself.

If the right socket for the job isn’t available, the job can be delayed and tools can be damaged. Improperly using hand sockets on impact tools may be hazardous as they may crack. By knowing the difference between the various types of sockets and using them appropriately, you will be able to ensure a safer and more efficient work environment.

.

WHT · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
A problem with Impact over chrome is that they are softer. Just like a chrome may explode on a Impact gun, an impact on a breaker bar may just split. A lot of people think a Impact is a "super" socket, but its not, depending on the application its worse. A Hardened Chrome Socket is made to take a constant strain without Malforming, and an Impact is a soft metal thats made for a lot of force, but only at inconsistent blows.

Because its softer you it takes the high energy blow and sends it down the line to the fastener, almost like a recoil. Force Hits drive end, impact transfers for to fastener, force leaves impact. I don't want to say its springy, but that's really the best word coming to mind.

A piece of tempered glass can take more force without flexing than plastic, but if you implement a "striking blow" it will fail much, easier then plastic. But you can smash 2 pieces of plastic together, possibly make much more energy without failure because soft materials absorb some of the harshness.

I have personally tested impacts for different wear, and an Impact socket that can last plenty in a Gun, will fail very easy with a breaker bar with little to no effort.

You can use Impacts in light duty stuff, but you will have a bad time if you use a big breaker bar on them. An Impact just is too soft for that constant strain, and will most likely split.

Everyone cheats, but it doesn't mean its safe, or cost effective.

Not sure about this at all (and it doesn't make any sense). Impacts are more malleable than chrome so they won't shatter. But, they are also much tougher. I don't know many people who have split an impact socket with a breaker bar.

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

anytime i need to stand on a cheater or breaker, i put an impact socket on it. i have done this many many times, and have never broken a single impact socket. i have broken chrome sockets.

im goin with BS on the impact no good for breaker bar use. i know too many people(myself included) that always use impacts for heavy duty hand use to ever believe they break with constant strain. it would be widely known. cr-mo sockets might be a little more malleable for wearing, but they arent "soft" like people think.

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

dave-r, how many ft-lbs are you applying to split impacts on average?

amolaver · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
When a Chrome socket on an impact fails, it explodes. When an impact goes it splits/tears. Manufactors put disclaimers to protect them. An exploding socket is a big deal, a split one is inconvenient at most. I know you can use them on a bar, but I'm saying its not the designed idea. I wouldn't have the opinion I do, if not for that I test this stuff for a living and just did impact sockets about a month ago. The fail rate of an impact is greatly less in ft. lbs if its a constant strain, vs a hammering motion. I tested some small adaptors that wouldn't break with my IR gun, but I could break with a bar at 150 ft. Lbs. And that's a digitally measured number, not just my assumption. I'm not trying to pick fights, just give the guy some help.

Too often these discussions turn into a mud fight, I love to help where I can with the trade knowledge I have but I am representing a company and can't stick around too long after it starts getting messy, I know you can use whatever you like, I'm just saying what the design and potential outcome is.

so let me get this straight... you tested some impact adapters with an impact and a torque wrench. adapters failed (what size?), but not any sockets (or they failed above a level you were able to measure).

and you're extrapolating that the failed adapters are representative for all impact sockets. right...

you started off saying

Dave.R said:
I have personally tested impacts for different wear, and an Impact socket that can last plenty in a Gun, will fail very easy with a breaker bar with little to no effort.

and now it sounds like not a single impact socket failed within your measurement capabilities.

ahm

WHT · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
In terms of metallurgy toughness and malleable are the same, they are softer, and thicker, to make up for the loss in tensile strength. If you were to watch a high speed of an impact socket in use, you'd see it "twist" with each blow, delivering the torque. That is what let's then take the abuse. The spring of the material, but just like a spring if you pulled it constantly without allowing it recoil it would fatigue and fail. I'm not saying they will fail everytime, just saying the design. If you look at a failed impact you almost always just have a ripped side when the strain caused it to stretch and blow out.

You can use a flat blade screwdriver as pry, and a ratchet head as a hammer, but it working isn't an idicator of its design.

I'm getting butchered for supplying information here, the ft lbs of an impact grade socket under constant strain is far less than the potential torque output of a gun.

OK, this explains a lot. You really do not understan the metallurgy and the differences between chrome and impact sockets. Toughness and malleability are not the same. For example, lead is malleable, but not very tough.

Impact sockets will typically wear and deform before they will split.

"The toughness of a material is its ability to withstand both plastic and elastic deformations under an applied force. It is a highly desirable quality for structural and machine parts to withstand shock and vibration. Toughness is also a measure of the amount of energy a material can absorb before actual fracture or failure takes place. “The work or energy a material absorbs is called modulus of toughness”

Malleability of a material is its ability to be deformed without cracking by hot or cold working (deformation without cracking). Ductility of a material enables it to draw out into thin wire on application of the load."

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

i dont buy it. the adapters, sure id say this is possible, but still unlikely at those numbers.

as for the sockets, they aint breaking at 550ftlbs of sustained force on a breaker. i dont think you have mentioned what brand cr-mo socket tested. what are you breaking?

im not trying to argue, i am just curious. my experience, while not super extensive, still goes against what you are claiming.

you mentioned you banged on it with your impact gun at 100psi, have you tried another gun, of same model, and another gun of a different model? im sure you havent substantiated the 650ftlb claim of the gun manufacturers?

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
sorry guys. I will try to go with the flow more, and assume that because somethig works, that it must be what it was designed for.

i dont think this is what anyone is trying to claim here.

i have another question. when you broke these impacts with a breaker, did you happen to put a chrome socket on afterwards, and see how much it took to break too?

amolaver · Jun 4, 2012

it is entertaining to me that you purport to be some sort of expert in this matter, and yet believe that IR's advertised 650ft/lb is actually 650ft/lb. here's a hint...IR might be exaggerating a bit.

and unless you've got a statistically significant sample of a variety of a brands of impact socket (and chrome to compare as you seem to have assumed they would survive whatever regimen you have applied), it seems you aren't much of a tester.

let me put it simply... you've got no baseline to compare to, and no actual data. you appear to be saying impact sockets are weak because you were able to make them fail. that is..well, funny.

ahm

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

any socket will break, period.

my point is that a thin wall chrome socket will break long before an cr-mo impact socket will, either on a gun, or on a breaker.

just to clarify, you are claiming otherwise, correct dave?

WHT · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
Toughness is the resistance of cracking or fracturing, and mallebility is the ability to resist vcracking after deforming.... That is the same thing. Toughness is a generic term used based on wear. Deformation without fractures is a measure of that. Hardness is strength without deforming.

A hardened chrome socket is not by metallurgy standards tougher than impacts.

Again, lead is malleable. Do you also think a lead socket would be very "tough"? Toughness and malleability are not the same. Impacts sockets are always more "tough" than chrome sockets (which are more brittle and more likely to shatter).

One again, toughness is the property that enables a material to withstand shock and to be deformed without rupturing. Toughness is a combination of strength and plasticity.

Malleability is the property that enables a material to stretch, bend, or twist without cracking or breaking. Strength is not a factor.

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

we were typing at the same time. sorry for that. i got ya now

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

another thing i dont understand, is that if you are a "tester" for a tool manufacturer, you use such archaic methods.

the only torque meter you have to use tops at 200ftlbs? tool company tester? am i missing something here.

i have broken many name brand chrome sockets on breaker bars, and the only breaker bar i have ever snapped the head off of had an impact socket on it... these are my experiences. nothing more. i have stood on many a breaker bar, on axle nuts, and only broken chromes.

supersteve · Jun 4, 2012

The only one-piece impact sockets I have ever cracked or broken have been Cornwell 3/8 dr. impact sockets, pm21xx series and pm22xxl series. In particular, I went through 12mm and 14mm 12 points on Toyota 3.0 v-6 head bolts until I finally got dedicated Mac head bolt tools.
These were all broken with hand use, not impact.

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
Each is designed to a purpose is my point. Chrome Sockets, don't wear, Impacts do, that shows how the softness of a metal effects it. Look at a heavily used impact and the drive end will be distorted at least a little. A chrome socket would fail well before distortion. Obviously there are a lot of variables, and I don't have all the necessary information to answer that, but as a rule of thumb, an Impact socket will fail at a lower ft lbs when used under constant load vs brief High energy impacts.

I'm trying my best to present facts without being offensive. So please offer me the same.

i think the problem here, is that you are taking reverse torque specs from guns, and using them as true numbers for actual torque output, which is not good. until you can actually measure what the gun is putting out for max torque applied, you can not speculate on whether or not they can maintain a sustained load, less than intermittent load. without true, actual numbers, you are guessing.

have i been offensive? if you took something i said as offensive, i apologize, but was not intending to be offensive.

you are not presenting fact though, until you have real measurements, with true torque values being applied. facts are not what you feel the gun is putting out, and what you're applying standing on a breaker bar. whether you are correct or not, that is a different story. you may be correct, as i have not done testing to check. all i am saying is my real world experience with these tools has been opposite what you claim.

do you happen to be one of the harbor freight quality testers? or can you not say.

amolaver · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
I have no idea with constructive discussion, but sometimes I'm getting hammered for answering. I like to actively discuss this stuff because I work for a tool company as there "tester" and I went to trade school for machine tool/ metallurgy.

I can't disclose what brands I have tested, but I can tell you that the quality and strength is Carbon > Chrome Vanadium > and Chrome Moly, with moly being more wearable, but the overall strength isn't a ton more that CR-V. The brands I tested were Home Owner / Hobby Mechanic stuff, as thats my market. No truck brands.

I have 2 guns, and I used both. Being IR I'm sure I'm getting good power. The reason I had the bolts welded is most Guns put out peak power in reverse, That's why the "Break away" torque is always rated more.

The machinery to test very high foot pounds is expensive and I am still trying to procure one. I do have to bench mark a lot of things, but it still provides good information.

I do want to make it clear, that I am a guy that works on cars. I am not just a lab rat, so a lot of times I test things in more real world ways, cheater pipes, hammering on and so forth, because in the real world nobody follows the rules.

Also I am representing a company so the its "bs" posts are hard for me to reply to because I'm not going to endorse trolling, I'm just trying to help you guys out. I completely understand that you can use impacts, All I was saying is, you may get let down.

I really enjoy these discussions, as a "tool guy" its fun for me to talk about, but getting blasted on things that I personally have tested gets frustrating fast.

I did not imply impacts are weak... I am saying that is not the ideal use based on design. Yea the IR may be exaggerated a little bit. But I'm sure its still well over 500 ft lbs. Breaking an impact with less then body weight on only a 24 inch bar indicates something.

Lets keep it informative and fun, nothing wrong with a good talk.

The chrome sockets did not break with the bar, I know this isn't a real stat, but the bar that broke the impacts, I broke 4 of the heads off trying on the chromes.

this all started about whether to buy chrome or impact, and you said, "You can use Impacts in light duty stuff, but you will have a bad time if you use a big breaker bar on them. An Impact just is too soft for that constant strain, and will most likely split." and yet...you have no data to substantiate this, and it flies in the face of certainly my experience, and it sounds like at least a couple of other folks, and, frankly, i would say, convention.

if you don't have comparative data to say something so outside what people consider the norm, its hard to take you seriously. you purport to be a tool manufacturer's tester, yet you seem to lack the basic tools and understanding to perform that job.

you also said, "sorry guys. I will try to go with the flow more, and assume that because somethig works, that it must be what it was designed for." no one said impact sockets were designed for hand tool usage but you made the assertion that impacts would fail if used with hand tools. however, if the forces applied via hand tools are less than those applied via impact tools, it stands to reason impact sockets would survive at least as well as their chrome (hand tool) brethren.

it appears to me you've made yourself out as an expert on destructive testing of sockets, and yet, you seem to not have any of the actual data that would substantiate that. i've converted almost exclusively to impact socket usage, so if you are correct, that would affect me significantly. i'd rather know now if i have a problem brewing, but all my experience says otherwise - impacts are more durable and versatile than chrome. you've said otherwise, but don't appear able to support that.

ahm

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

maybe GRIP tools?

transittech · Jun 4, 2012

MIT is out of GR

franzdom · Jun 4, 2012

MIT, Tekton, Workshop, Maxcraft

TwoInch · Jun 4, 2012

MIT sounds right.

WHT · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
Each is designed to a purpose is my point. Chrome Sockets, don't wear, Impacts do, that shows how the softness of a metal effects it. Look at a heavily used impact and the drive end will be distorted at least a little. A chrome socket would fail well before distortion. Obviously there are a lot of variables, and I don't have all the necessary information to answer that, but as a rule of thumb, an Impact socket will fail at a lower ft lbs when used under constant load vs brief High energy impacts.

Toughness does not mean to not deform, its deformation without fracture. So yes an Impact is "tougher" than a chrome.

An impact will stretch and deform, where as a hardened chrome will shatter. Your associating toughness as tensile strength. Toughness is the measure of wear without failure.

The problem is toughness is a misused word in metallurgy. Strength and toughness are similar in idea, but not function.

I'm not saying that impacts are made of butter, You agree chromes are harder, but not that impacts are softer? I guess that's where I am losing you.

OK, I'll stop playing. You are "losing" me because you don't know what you are talking about IMO and are desperately trying get yourself free by going in circles.

It should be easy for you to show us a video of a sound, quality impact socket splitting when using a breaker bar as opposed to the same sized chrome socket under the same load (you have the capability of showing applied torque). We can duplicate the "reported" failure as a check.

LumpyMusic · Jun 4, 2012

My impact sockets are chrome vanadium with black oxide finish. My regular sockets are chrome vanadium with chrome OR polished finished. Are they made of the same material just finished differently? Is all the hooey about strength vs strength simply based on the finish given to the metal?

Lumpy

You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.

www.LumpyMusic.com

shoturtle · Jun 4, 2012

I have cr-v impact and cmoly impact, look how thick the cr impacts are. They need that extra to take the extra abuse on impact. If you do the abuse on a thin wall cr-v, it will shatter.

bobemmerich · Jun 4, 2012

Depending on what equipment you have and use. If you don't have an impact driver, then chrome sockets will be fine.

transittech · Jun 4, 2012

Dave.R said:
Chrome is hardened, and Impact's are annealed to be softer. The reason impacts are black oxide is they flex in use and that would flake off the chrome.

So, it sounds like different manufacturers make sockets differently. The post quoting SO said it includes different metal, you are saying your manufacturer uses the same metal but heat treats it differently, right?

transittech · Jun 4, 2012

Looks like the post got removed.

6 point sockets: Impact vs chrome

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