1/4" hex to square drive socket adapters need some info

[BLACK DEATH]

I just bought a cordless Milwaukee 18 v drill & driver combo. Now before I buy the impact tools they offer for the 18 volt line in the future, & when money allows, I need to buy a 1/4" hex x square drive socket adapters in sizes 1/4" 3/8" & 1/2". I was at hd, Sears & Lowes. I saw dewalt, Milwaukee & craftsman had these adapters in their name. I also saw a set from hd & I forgot the name but it may have been a ryobi kit.

Now here's my question, is one better than the other or are they all cheap? I don't want to get a set that may break easily but then i don't want to pay $75 like a friend did from a snap on truck only for it to say they were made in Taiwan but they haven't broke yet or he hasn't used them with a better driver either. He uses a nextec from cman. $75 can go towards paying for a new tool in 18volts. The dewalt & Milwaukee set will be about $15 for all 3 adapters. Craftsman was around $3 but didn't include a 1/2" adapter. Anyone know will they last? I'm not going to be beating on them but I want to spend it wisely. Here's a pic of the adapters I am referring to. See if I can upload them

 

[BLACK DEATH]

Re: 1/4" hex to square drive adapters need some info

Can't upload pics or post a link from this phone

 

[jhelrey]

Re: 1/4" hex to square drive adapters need some info

I bought a cheap pack of them from Northern Tool and I have yet to break one. You should be good either way. I wouldn't buy from Snappy.

 

[Rogue1987]

I've got a few sets floating around at the shop and home, all came from HF/Northern Tool and I've yet to break one, and some have been through hell.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I have two sets of the ,---GASP--- harbor freight 3-piece set adaptors and have yet to have any problems. No breakage, no warpage. No nuttin'.
Used daily in a light to medium manufacturing role 10 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week.

I think I paid $4.99 or $5.99 a set with one as a "back-up" to account for the HF "****** tool" factor.

I gonna guess the clutch on your cordless will slip before the metal fatigues. If using on a hand heldratchting screwdriver, I'm gonna bet your wrist will be sore before the forged bit breaks. LOL.

 

[MoToys]

I have the hf ones and they have their place but I also have this set, all USA made and worth the money IMHO.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=17489&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[BLACK DEATH]

So if HF can go threw hell as you've put them to the test, then any set I get may be just as good. That's good info to know but for some reason certain HF stuff is built tuff. Maybe that's one of them.

 

[jjjrmx5]

So if HF can go threw hell as you've put them to the test, then any set I get may be just as good. That's good info to know but for some reason certain HF stuff is built tuff. Maybe that's one of them.

Mathmatically and engineering wise, I look at 1/4" hex bit adapators as great for low torque nuts/botls or "beauty " fasteners and it's how I use them daily. Automotive interior bolts in 1/4" or 3/8" drive are low torque (or you will strip the bolt or drive it thru the damn trim piece and crack it.) Same with household bolts and electronic fasteners. Low to medium torque which is what that cordless tool does best in most cases.

You can put a 17mm impact socket on that 1/2" adaptor but I doubt that Milwaukee corless can torque off ur lugs nut in that 1/4" hex drive. 19v 1/2" cordless impact -well then you have square drive and just use the socket straight up.But it's a different tool.

Right tools for the right torque in the right application.

Buy a set of the Northern Tool or HF adaptors with teh 20% off coupon and give them a try. Worst case they are backups to a better adaptors. $4 is either the adapter set or 2 24oz cans of Yuenling Lager to me. Same high value low cost relationship. LOLOLOLOL.

 

[billymade]

Zephyr or Apex bits... professional and industrial grade bits! They even make them for use with impact wrenches...

http://zephyrtools.com/

http://www.cooperpowertools.com/brands/fastening/

 

[NastyNate]

I use mine 8 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Broke every HF one. I now have Dewalt and Milwaukee. The Milwaukee are shorter by 3/8 - 1/2 inch from the dewalt, which comes in handy some times. I am extremely rough with these and they hold up great.

 

[speed bump]

I use mine 8 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Broke every HF one. I now have Dewalt and Milwaukee. The Milwaukee are shorter by 3/8 - 1/2 inch from the dewalt, which comes in handy some times. I am extremely rough with these and they hold up great.

Good to know I might have to get some Milwaukee ones due to that.

Personally I have used the hell out of the Dewalt ones because thats what the farm store had when I needed one.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I use mine 8 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Broke every HF one. I now have Dewalt and Milwaukee. The Milwaukee are shorter by 3/8 - 1/2 inch from the dewalt, which comes in handy some times. I am extremely rough with these and they hold up great.

Nasty nate, what are you driving up with your adapters to the point where you are snapping the necked-down portion of the shaft or the bit portion on the HF units?

If you're trying to run big ole' 6" and longer lag bolts into non-pre-drilled wood with a 1/4" bit cordless impact, i feel sorry for that tool.
Sure, it works--maybe, but I bet if I try and take my lug nuts off with my 1/4" Snap-On ratchet that thing will work---maybe-but stress or probably break something at some point.

Hard to blame a tool for failure it it's used outside of it's maximum designed tolerance.

 

[woody 73]

I have the hf ones and they have their place but I also have this set, all USA made and worth the money IMHO.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=17489&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

It looks like a very nice set but the price seems a tad bit out of my league; I am thinking the set from HF for under $3.00 might work just as well.

 

[MoToys]

It looks like a very nice set but the price seems a tad bit out of my league; I am thinking the set from HF for under $3.00 might work just as well.

It isn't cheap, that's for sure. Like I said I have the hf adaptors and they have their place.
The snapon set has more/different pieces and makes a nice complete adaptor bit set with an outstanding warranty.

 

[NastyNate]

I just measured the 3/8 drive impact and Milwaukee is 1/2 shorter in length from the dewalt.

 

[greasemonkey44]

^yup thats why i took the dewalts out and bought more milwaukees; my impactor is long enough

 

[rayh91]

Yeah. I have both Dewalt and Milwaukee impact adapters and the Milwaukee's are noticeably shorter.

I still prefer the Dewalt adapter though. Not sure why, maybe cause I've used them longer.

 

[diesel research]

I think mine might be VA-usa. Nothing special.

I do use zephyr bits when other tasks are called for though.

Might want to entertain the possibility of some of those sockets with the hex built in. Would seem more costly/redundant, but for the limited sizes you require, it's practically a non-issue. Typically get a bit more power when you are able to use a 1pc tool as opposed to 2 or 3 assembled pieces.

 

[NastyNate]

Nasty nate, what are you driving up with your adapters to the point where you are snapping the necked-down portion of the shaft or the bit portion on the HF units?

If you're trying to run big ole' 6" and longer lag bolts into non-pre-drilled wood with a 1/4" bit cordless impact, i feel sorry for that tool.
Sure, it works--maybe, but I bet if I try and take my lug nuts off with my 1/4" Snap-On ratchet that thing will work---maybe-but stress or probably break something at some point.

Hard to blame a tool for failure it it's used outside of it's maximum designed tolerance.

They get used hard but if a tool cant stand to loosen a topper clamp that's aluminum with a steel 9/16 head bolt then it doesn't pass for me. This isn't a HF bashing party, they simply dont hold up for every day use. Dewalt and Milwaukee have been used for 9-10 months HF lasted a week. Used on a 3 year old makita 1/4 impact driver.

 

[Danglerb]

I have the hf ones and they have their place but I also have this set, all USA made and worth the money IMHO.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=17489&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

$115? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy another impact with a square drive?

I think the adapters take up a good amount of the shock from an impact, so I have sets of hex drive nut setters etc. so I can skip the adapter.

BTW the HF used to be 99 cents for the set of 3 on sale, now up to I think $1.99.

 

[jjjrmx5]

They get used hard but if a tool cant stand to loosen a topper clamp that's aluminum with a steel 9/16 head bolt then it doesn't pass for me. This isn't a HF bashing party, they simply dont hold up for every day use. Dewalt and Milwaukee have been used for 9-10 months HF lasted a week. Used on a 3 year old makita 1/4 impact driver.

Nor did I mean the HF bashing to begin. LOL.

If doing mainly big bolt impact driving with a 18v and up 1/4" hex driver (not the 3/8" or 1/2" sq drives mind you)day in and day out, then yes, I suggest the Impact rated adapters, but the OP did not specify.

For light to medium use the HF is fine. Move up to 1/2" head bolts and over use and I smell what u are stepping in.

It is a "pay for what you get" area, but it's so scattered with a combo of under use and abuse for cordless 1/4" hex impacts these days.

Clarification = better purchasing decision. Thanks.

 

[MoToys]

$115? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy another impact with a square drive?

If all you needed was a 1/4 drive anvil.
(As opposed to all the other items you get with the kit.)

 

[flying2275]

I've been using the HF set for the last year or so. Like someone else said I grabbed two sets to account for what I thought would be sh*ty quality but I have yet to break one and they still hold onto the sockets very well.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

Well in the near future I am going to buy the Milwaukee 3/8" & 1/2" square drive tools they sell for the 18 volt line. I might just get the HF set & see what happens. If on a good day I'm at HD & feeling a Lilia frisky ill but the dewalt or Milwaukee adapters.

 

[NastyNate]

Nor did I mean the HF bashing to begin. LOL.

If doing mainly big bolt impact driving with a 18v and up 1/4" hex driver (not the 3/8" or 1/2" sq drives mind you)day in and day out, then yes, I suggest the Impact rated adapters, but the OP did not specify.

For light to medium use the HF is fine. Move up to 1/2" head bolts and over use and I smell what u are stepping in.

It is a "pay for what you get" area, but it's so scattered with a combo of under use and abuse for cordless 1/4" hex impacts these days.

Clarification = better purchasing decision. Thanks.

I wasnt implying you were bashing HF, I just wanted to make sure I didnt come off that way. I use 1/4 non impact driver (shorter)to loosen up small stuff nothing larger than 5/16 maybe a 10mm. After that 3/8 drive impact to loosen up. Anything "fine tune" I run back in with my impact but hand tighten.
Clamps on toppers and lids I ram down all the way. Customers seem to think if they can wiggle a clamp just a hair its not tight enough...

 

[Rogue1987]

A coworker broke my 1/2dr HF adapter last week. Granted, he was trying to take a 1" bolt off of something, and it twisted and sheared. For the cost and the amount of time they have lasted, I'm quite happy with my purchase. Tho I'm tempted by the snap on set tbh!

 

[ajchien]

Today at HD, I saw the Milwaukee hex to socket adaptors. They were around $4 each. On the back it said 'professionally made in china to Milwaukee specificatioms'. I put it back on the shelf. There were no other brands there with hex to socket adaptors.

What are the other USA made options out there?Is the Dewalt one USA made?

 

[truckdriver]

Dewalt is China. The only USA SO/Zephyr or posibly Apex if Cooper hasn't moved it to china.

 

[jamesc]

I have the millwaukee 18 volt 1/4 hex impact and I got my adapters at wallmart for 5 bucks they are black and decker, i bought them because they are the shortest I could find and I havent been able to break them.

 

[BlindViper]

I used a set of the hf adapters. They work find in a drill but in my makita 18v impact the hex distorts slightly and have a b of a time removing them. So I now use the millwaukee ones they work fine.

 

[bigbarf48]

I use the Dewalt ones and theyve held up fine. Please dont spend 100+ on adaptors