impact sockets vs regular sockets

atlm · Nov 1, 2010

Is there any reason not to just purchase a set of impact sockets and use them for everything?

My 1/2" drive short sockets are all 12pt, so I was going to buy a 6 pt set. I'd also like a set of short impact sockets. Then I thought, "why both?". Since the impact sockets are harder and more durable, why not just use them? Am I missing something?

:dunno:

MrMark · Nov 1, 2010

The impacts are not harder at all. They are actually softer and tougher steel. They are thicker too, which is why you need regular sockets.

mrholeshot · Nov 1, 2010

They arnt harder but rather a bit softer. Impact sockets are thick and won't reach into many spots. I don't use short impacts often. You really need both types in impact and chrome, short and deep, SAE and metric. The short impacts would be the last ones on the list

jhelrey · Nov 1, 2010

I have shallow 6pt 1/2 sockets.

I have deep impact 6pt 1/2 sockets... Most of the time, if the bolt is that damn big, an impact will work.

lipadj46 · Nov 1, 2010

I made do with a 1/2" HF impact set for a little while, in fact I did the head gaskets in my land rover with the set and a few required 12 point chrome sockets. HF sockets are much thinner than most impact sockets though.

DrkMtnDew · Nov 1, 2010

If you are just starting then there is nothing wrong with buying only impacts. deep well is probably the best choise to start with. they have the advantage of being dual purpose and in some cases outlast chrome sockets. however as mentioned above you will on occation find an area that the impact is too bulky for, even something as simple as a lugnut. so the impact will be excellent for the time being, just plan to add chome when you can.

good luck

blue302stang · Nov 1, 2010

I've been working as a diesel tech for 7 years now and still using just impact sockets, and the only time i have run into a problem was on glow plugs on a sprinter.

jsaw · Nov 2, 2010

Except for 1/4 inch drive, I dont own anything but impact sockets All of my 3/8 & 1/2 Drive sockets are all impact. I have worked full time as a mechanic for 18 years. Only once in a great while do I need a chrome socket.

littlekillertoad · Nov 2, 2010

Ideally, you'd want a set of both. Impacts are built to withstand high torque impacts, and chrome sockets are a bit harder and should wear better over time. Plus, who doesn't like shiny things?

Realistically though, there's not much a chrome socket does that an impact can't.

Monte · Nov 2, 2010

Chrome sockets look nicer

HDNewf · Nov 2, 2010

atlm said:
Is there any reason not to just purchase a set of impact sockets and use them for everything?

My 1/2" drive short sockets are all 12pt, so I was going to buy a 6 pt set. I'd also like a set of short impact sockets. Then I thought, "why both?". Since the impact sockets are harder and more durable, why not just use them? Am I missing something?

I have 6pt regular and deep impact sockets, but almost all of my chrome sockets are 12pt. Working space under the hood of cars is tighter than ever, and I wish I had bought more 6pt chrome sockets. It’s much less likely you will round off a bolt head with 6pt sockets. Since you already have the 12pts, those rare 12pt bolt heads are covered.

The real issue is working room. If it’s there then you can use impact sockets for everything. Without enough room they become useless. Impact sockets do wear out faster because they are softer, but that probably doesn’t matter. I’ve only had to replace two that have worn out over decades of occasional use. If you are using an impact gun, you really should get the impact sockets though. The chrome sockets, being harder and more brittle, are much more likely to crack and shatter on a gun.

volvo420coupe · Nov 2, 2010

When you put an impact socket on a ratchet or extention, you need to line up the detent ball with the hole drilled in the socket, chrome sockets usually have detent recesses on all 4 sides. (unless you bought cornwell sockets)

HandyManny · Nov 2, 2010

MrMark said:
The impacts are not harder at all. They are actually softer and tougher steel. They are thicker too, which is why you need regular sockets.

mrholeshot said:
They arnt harder but rather a bit softer. Impact sockets are thick and won't reach into many spots. I don't use short impacts often. You really need both types in impact and chrome, short and deep, SAE and metric. The short impacts would be the last ones on the list

Actually guys they are not "softer", they are what I'd call "tougher", but just not brittle like regular sockets are. Impacts are made to be harder but more maleable, meaning that when they reach their strength or integrity threshold they tend to deform for safety reasons rather than crack, crumble, or shatter. Other than that I agree with everything else you guys said.

atlm · Nov 6, 2010

Thanks everyone for sharing.

I actually used to wrench a lot more than I do now. I was a part time motorcycle mechanic for a while, followed by being heavily involved in amateur drag racing with quite a few friends. So, I've accumulated quite a few tools. Nothing compared to many of the people here, of course. But my 1/2" drive short sockets are almost all older CM 12 pts, and there have been times on very stubborn bolts that they've dug into the corners before breaking things free, as would be expected from those sockets.

Now that acceptable quality tools have become much more affordable, I've started growing my tool collection, but don't want tools I won't use. What's kind of funny is that the mechanic who used to work on my Dodge Ram had less wrenches and sockets in his shop than I do, similar to what a few of you who are mechanics have shared.

For now, I think I'll just buy some impact sockets to fill in the 1/2" drive 6 pt void.

:thumbup:

Farmrod · Nov 6, 2010

Buy chrome sockets if you work in a shop. There is nothing more annoying than a co-worker always borrowing your sockets because he doesnt have his own.. just an FYI

Chris

jhelrey · Nov 6, 2010

I have a full set of Craftsman 1/2 6pt Drive Deep Impact sockets...

12 each of SAE and Metric

$125.00 shipped.

Brand new! Never used!

PassnThru · Nov 6, 2010

I own no deep well regular half inch drive sockets. I own metric and standard deep well impact sockets. In fact, the impact came later - I purposely bought only deep wells for it since I had no regular deep well sockets. They could be a tight fit in some situations but I have not had a problem - but then I can't claim a mechanic's status here. If you do occasional mechanical work like me, I think it's the best way to go unless you just want to accumulate more tools. In which case, I'll delete this thread and tell you how you simply cannot live without both.
Just let me know. :beer:

Simplespeed · Nov 6, 2010

Get some snap on 3/8 mid length impact sockets. They are almost as thin as the chrome. I havent reached for a chrome socket in a really long time. Get 1/2 deep 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 etc and go as big as you can find. Anything smaller than a 17 can be broken loose with a 3/8 impact.

Dust · Nov 7, 2010

Sometimes you need the worn out impact socket for those rounded-over tin-capped lug nuts. The 7/8" lugs on Dodge trucks are notorious for rounding over. My new-ish 7/8" deep impact just binds up on them, while my partner's worn out Snap-On 7/8" shallow fits just perfect.

atlm · Nov 7, 2010

PassnThru said:
I can't claim a mechanic's status here. If you do occasional mechanical work like me, I think it's the best way to go unless you just want to accumulate more tools. In which case, I'll delete this thread and tell you how you simply cannot live without both.

Awesome. Yes, I don't want to simply accumulate more tools. I'd like to keep it minimal, but have everything I'll use.

jhelrey, thanks for the offer, but I actually already have 6 pt deep sockets. Older CMs in SAE and impacts in metric. I'm just looking at shallow sockets a the moment, and wrenches which will be another thread.

I'm considering this set, but haven't found any reviews of it here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/38-pie...lf-inch-combination-impact-sockets-36648.html

Simplespeed · Nov 7, 2010

Dust said:
Sometimes you need the worn out impact socket for those rounded-over tin-capped lug nuts. The 7/8" lugs on Dodge trucks are notorious for rounding over. My new-ish 7/8" deep impact just binds up on them, while my partner's worn out Snap-On 7/8" shallow fits just perfect.

Those damn Dodges piss me off every time. Mostly because they come in already rounded because someone couldnt get their 7/8 socket to fit. I have 3 7/8 deep sockets and only one of them works with those dodge lugnuts. Its the oldest one that i found a while back in a parking lot before i was working as a mechanic.

Wakefield · Nov 7, 2010

23 mm. for the Dodge? (That is a size that is not included in some sets)

Simplespeed · Nov 7, 2010

Wakefield said:
23 mm. for the Dodge? (That is a size that is not included in some sets)

Funny enough, i just stated how iv never seen a 23mm bolt in another thread lol. Amazing.

wreckercologist · Nov 7, 2010

Wakefield said:
23 mm. for the Dodge? (That is a size that is not included in some sets)

Simplespeed said:
Funny enough, i just stated how iv never seen a 23mm bolt in another thread lol. Amazing.

Was just getting ready to post on this. That's what a lot of the newer Dodge's take.

bmxr4life87 · Nov 7, 2010

I have 6pt deep mid and shallow impact plus deep and shallow chrome 6 pt and shallow 12 pt chrome that's just my 3/8 and I only use my chrome if I'm doing something that requires multiple setups I will grab the chrome but there isn't much I don't use my impact for and most of my extensions are impact from hf they take the abuse and are cheap enough to warrant having multiple sets only ones I've broke were the wobble impact but they were put through their paces by all 4 guys on my team at work and they were exchanged no questions asked as far as sockets the hf impact sockets have served me well but I really like grey pneumatic they are very low cost for the quality and they offer very complete sets

volvo420coupe · Nov 8, 2010

Simplespeed said:
Funny enough, i just stated how iv never seen a 23mm bolt in another thread lol. Amazing.

Mazda's like to use 23mm bolts sometimes, but other than that I may have only used my 23mm tools once or twice.

impact sockets vs regular sockets

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