1/4" dr Magnetic Sockets

[The Critic]

Looking to add a set of 1/4" dr magnetic sockets. What works well?

I see the Sunex 1831 set. Snap-On appears to sell singles, but as usual, curious if they're worth the premium.

 

[Freakazooid52]

1/4" Drive Impact Socket Sets | Grey Pneumatic

See our entire stock of Impact Socket Sets as well as impact socket sets and Duo-Socket Ratchets.

www.gpsocket.com

Grey pneumatic makes short and deep ones. I always bought gp over sunex and with sunex being mostly china rebadged now the gp will be higher quality as they stay true to Taiwan production

I have magnetic sets of theirs in 3/8 drive and they come in handy deep in engine bays

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I think mine are grey pneumatic. They've mostly been retired since I bought Koken nut-grip.

 

[Wamsutta]

Snap-on 1/4 drive magnetic sockets are not impact rated.

Their catalog says on page 128 : "MGMM series sockets are not designed to be used with Impact Drivers."

 

[KnurledNut]

Deep spring-loaded magnetic bolt-clearance sockets can be handy.
An 11/32 saved my bacon R&R’ing a nut on a recessed fan motor stud.
I like Apex magnetic sockets but they are power sockets and dont have recesses for ball retention. They are handy to use with thread restorers.

 

[Bobioz1]

I have Snap on and Cornwell. Cornwells magnets are weak in the smaller sizes. Been using the Snap on with impact forever.

 

[Stubby1743]

Banging magnets weakens their magnetism. So how does that work out with magnetic impact sockets?

 

[Bobioz1]

Must be special magnets

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I only have a couple of magnet sockets - both in 10mm. It seems like the magnet is always too deep to keep a firm grip on the fastener.
I also have some magnet extensions. The magnet part is nearly always too short or too long to be useful.
What works best for me is keeping some neodymium magnets around in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" diameters. When needed, I just slip one inside the socket or stick it on the bolt head in question. The downside is that sometimes when reattaching a fastener, the magnet stays with the fastener - generally not a big deal though.
Having said that, a set of Koken Nut Grips is on my wish list.

 

[Stubby1743]

I don't but Bobloz1 says that he does.

 

[Wamsutta]

I have Snap on and Cornwell. Cornwells magnets are weak in the smaller sizes. Been using the Snap on with impact forever.

Do they let the nut go all the way into the socket like a normal socket, or does the magnet push the nut halfway out of the socket?

 

[Bobioz1]

I don't but Bobloz1 says that he does.

Yep, me and these guys (to name a few).

 

[Bobioz1]

Do they let the nut go all the way into the socket like a normal socket, or does the magnet push the nut halfway out of the socket?

Deep socket the nut goes in about 3/8”. Threads go in to bottom of socket. This is on a 10 mm deep Cornwell socket.

 

[Wamsutta]

Deep socket the nut goes in about 3/8”. Threads go in to bottom of socket. This is on a 10 mm deep Cornwell socket.

What about the shallow magnetic sockets? Does the magnet allow the nut to go in all the way? Thank you for your reply.

 

[Bobioz1]

13mm Snap on

 

[Wamsutta]

13mm Snap on

That's exctly what I was afraid of. It makes the nut stick out a little bit. Oh well, the engineers designed it that way for some reason.

 

[Fedwrench]

Skip the magnetic sockets that always end up full of **** or worse the magnet separating from the socket and get nut grip sockets from Ko-Ken. Silly magnets.

1/4 Sq. Dr. Short NUT GRIP® Socket Set, 5-14mm - 11 pieces - RS2450MS/

CUSTOM 1/4" Drive, Short, Chrome Hand Socket Set. NUT GRIP® is Ko-ken's special design for non-magnetic nuts/bolts to be held firmly in a 6-point socket. The design consists of two balls held in place by a spring steel ring. Includes: SKU Output Size 2450MS-5 5mm 2450MS-5.5 5.5mm 2450MS-6 6mm...

kokenusa.com

 

[darkzero]

Banging magnets weakens their magnetism. So how does that work out with magnetic impact sockets?

Must be special magnets

They use neobangmium magnets... aka impact rated magnets. They're even rarer than rare earth magnets cause they're mined from the backside of moon.

 

[bonneyman]

I have a variety of mag sockets, in various sizes. The APEX ones seem to be really solid.

 

[JWC86]

I have the sunex. I mostly work on motorcycles so I use 1/4 the most. They have been my main sockets for a couple years. No complaints at all.

 

[richfinn]

Another vote for Ko-ken nut grips

 

[Steve_P]

X4 on the Koken nut grips. It's the right way to accomplish holding a fastener.

 

[Jeff]

X4 on the Koken nut grips. It's the right way to accomplish holding a fastener.

x453

These are a game changer working on motorcycles.

 

[Theronswanson]

Skip the magnetic sockets and go with magnetic extensions instead.

 

[ianguilly]

I've had my GP magnetic sockets for over 10 years with dailyuse, never broke one or lost the magnet. Occasionally have to blow out the socket to get rid of metal bits but that's it as far as upkeep.

 

[humpty]

I have the Sunex 1/4" regular depth and they work great. I really only use them when I actually need the magnet, mostly interior so they don't get full of junk.

 

[mikey03]

Skip the magnetic sockets that always end up full of **** or worse the magnet separating from the socket and get nut grip sockets from Ko-Ken. Silly magnets.

i don’t own anything like these and was thinking about them the other day because I had to put in some nuts in a spot I couldn’t read my hand too good and please don’t ban me for this but I put the nut in the socket to start the threads and just went real careful to avoid cross threading if I didn’t have it right.

but it took me 7 tries because the nut kept falling out of the socket. So I was thinking of the nut grips and now I keep hearing good stuff about them

so is this a good thing to start nuts and bolts if you can’t reach with your fingers to start by hand? and just go real careful? Is there a better way if you can’t start with your hands? I don’t want to get arrested by the cross thread police

 

[username2]

You know, I wonder if these work at all.

Nut Grip

Our nut grip sockets are unique to Ko-ken and truly a revolutionary way of approaching this type of socket. Our fastener holds nuts and bolts in place without the use of magnets. Our system is built with a coil spring and ball bearings on opposing flats. When a nut or bolt is in the socket the...

kokenusa.com

I've got some Apex magnetic sockets around here somewhere, but I don't remember how uber they were.

 

[ricleh]

Koken nut grip sockets work great

 

[s3zau]

magnetic sockets , collects dirt witch can angle your nut or bolt slightly if the fit is loose
Take nut-grip sockets , also useful when installing stainless, brass and nylon fasteners

just my 0,02 cents worth of advice

 

[mike93lx]

For the guys using the kokens, what is your go to drive size? I'm thinking 1/4" to get the most compact setup and to treat them as just the tool to start or do the last part of removal

Maybe this set?

1/4 Sq. Dr. Short NUT GRIP® Socket Set, 7-14mm - 6 pieces - Ko-ken

Nut Grip, ¼” drive, Short Length, Chrome Hand Sockets. NUT GRIP® is Ko-ken's special design for non-magnetic nuts/bolts to be held firmly in a - Ko-ken USA

kokenusa.com

 

[s3zau]

I use the ko-ken 1/4” short the most
also have the 1/4”and 3/8” in swivel
And if you want to try the budget version of the 3/8” socket (which I have in use and even give away a set to a colleague)
try to find this set , very affordable

 

[2ndGearRubber]

For the guys using the kokens, what is your go to drive size? I'm thinking 1/4" to get the most compact setup and to treat them as just the tool to start or do the last part of removal

Maybe this set?

1/4 Sq. Dr. Short NUT GRIP® Socket Set, 7-14mm - 6 pieces - Ko-ken

Nut Grip, ¼” drive, Short Length, Chrome Hand Sockets. NUT GRIP® is Ko-ken's special design for non-magnetic nuts/bolts to be held firmly in a - Ko-ken USA

kokenusa.com

It's mostly 1/4 for me, but I do have an 10-22mm 3/8 set I use less frequently. The 1/4 basic set is in my cart, and I keep universals, some deep, and some back up sizes in the box, plus the 3/8 and the Etorx set I purchased and have never used.

I do not flinch at installing with them, espcially in 1/4 as you're talking 10ft/lb max for a lot of it. They have a lot of lead-in taper so I generally wouldn't suggest beating them onto a fastener. It's an inherently weaker design so unless you know something isn't tight I wouldn't go neutral-dropping them on an electric ratchet either.

 

[mike93lx]

It's mostly 1/4 for me, but I do have an 10-22mm 3/8 set I use less frequently. The 1/4 basic set is in my cart, and I keep universals, some deep, and some back up sizes in the box, plus the 3/8 and the Etorx set I purchased and have never used.

I do not flinch at installing with them, espcially in 1/4 as you're talking 10ft/lb max for a lot of it. They have a lot of lead-in taper so I generally wouldn't suggest beating them onto a fastener. It's an inherently weaker design so unless you know something isn't tight I wouldn't go neutral-dropping them on an electric ratchet either.

Thanks. I'm thinking of cases where I wouldn't use a 1/4 for final tightening, but using these to get things started then move over to 3/8

Really just to avoid buying multiple sets for something I'd use incredibly infrequently. If someone like you rarely uses the 3/8 set, I definitely don't need it.

I can definitely think of times they would be useful, like in dash work

 

[ecotec]

I have the GP set and a few random GP singles. They have been great. They have stood up to 1/4” impact wrenches and impact drivers very well.

I would recommend them wholeheartedly.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thanks. I'm thinking of cases where I wouldn't use a 1/4 for final tightening, but using these to get things started then move over to 3/8

Really just to avoid buying multiple sets for something I'd use incredibly infrequently. If someone like you rarely uses the 3/8 set, I definitely don't need it.

I can definitely think of times they would be useful, like in dash work

Honestly just getting the basic 1/4 set and using a universal adapter if needed would be plenty for most people. I use them a lot in interiors and engine bays.

Generally speaking the larger a fastener is the easier it is to work with as far as access.

 

[mikey03]

Honestly just getting the basic 1/4 set and using a universal adapter if needed would be plenty for most people. I use them a lot in interiors and engine bays.

I keep hearing koken has a regular line and a zeal line. Does these nut grip come in both or just one? I will order them they seem useful but I want to make sure I get the right one that you guys like

 

[64C10]

I have a mix of old Snap-On, Craftsman and Cornwell magnetics….I have to say the Craftsman are my favorites, with the Cornwells a close second.

 

[richfinn]

I keep hearing koken has a regular line and a zeal line. Does these nut grip come in both or just one? I will order them they seem useful but I want to make sure I get the right one that you guys like

Ko-ken nutgrips are part of the regular line (but don't let that put you off).

Z series stuff is tighter tolerance and physically smaller dimensions (and a nicer finishing)

It's all good stuff, buy what you need from both lines with confidence.

 

[mikey03]

Ko-ken nutgrips are part of the regular line (but don't let that put you off).

Z series stuff is tighter tolerance and physically smaller dimensions (and a nicer finishing)

It's all good stuff, buy what you need from both lines with confidence.

Oh I’m sure there both real good but sometimes they got stuff in both lines and then it’s confusing which one to get like spark plug sockets.

I kind of want to get some good ones of those and the koken look cool esp the ones with built in mini extensions but when I looked I got confused because I think they got regular and zeal and idk which is better for this use and also everything was written in Japanese which I don’t speak