1/4" Impact Sockets: Use Case?

[BikeRider]

I have a decent selection of 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" socket sets in shallow & deep, impact & non-impact, 6 & 12 pt, just not in every single combination. I also have both a 1/2" & 3/8" impact wrench, with both shallow and deep impact socket sets for each.

I don't have a 1/4" impact wrench, per se, but I do have the M12 Fuel Gen 2 impact driver, which with a short square anvil adapter turns into a 1/4" impact wrench, which is handy to have as a second impact (I rarely break out the 1/2" impact as it's heavy and bulky) so I don't have to keep swapping sockets on the 3/8" one.

What I'm wondering is whether at this size and level of impact power I really need a 1/4" impact socket set or can make do with a non-impact set and not risk the typical hazards of using non-impact sockets on an impact wrench. I'd mainly use it with 8mm & 10mm fasteners and maybe the occasional 12mm & 14mm, all torqued to no higher than say 30 ft-lb.

The obvious alternative setup of course would be to put a 3/8" square anvil adapter on the impact driver and just use my 3/8" impact sockets, but 1/4" sockets are a bit smaller which along with the shorter 1/4" square anvil adapter gets me into tighter spots better so it's the preferred setup.

Do folks here use such a setup, or have an actual 1/4" impact wrench and if so what kinds of sockets do you use with either, impact or non-impact? 1/4" impact socket sets exist but they're not nearly as common as 3/8" & 1/2" ones and seem a bit pricey for light occasional use. HF doesn't even carry one in any of its lines, nor Tekton.

 

[Dave455]

I don’t have a 1/4” SQUARE DRIVE impact wrench, but I do have an impact driver (in fact two) that take 1/4” hex bits.

I got a 1/4” square drive adaptor, with the intention of using 1/4” impact sockets. In practice though, I only need about four sizes, so I seldom do this, and ended up buying hex shank impact sockets (KoKen) in the sizes I use regularly.


This is a much neater solution for me. I use this setup a lot as I can drive screws, coach screws (lag screws) as well as regular nuts and bolts. I even find myself drilling with it sometimes, as I only need to carry one tool.

The only impact sockets I find myself using are 3/8” or 1/2” drive, but… everyone has different needs, and I could see situations where a 1/4” impact would be ideal. If I was using an impact wrench I’d use impact sockets. If it was just an air ratchet or suchlike, I’d use normal sockets.

 

[BikeRider]

I forgot to mention that I also bought a cheap set of metric 1/4" hex nut drivers at HF that insert and lock into impact drivers such as the ones you have here, and have been using them as makeshift impact "sockets". They range from 5mm to 12mm:

Quick Release Magnetic Metric Nut Setter Set, 9 Piece

Amazing deals on this Quick Release Mag Metric Nut Setter Set 9Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

The product page says that they're meant to be used with impact tools, and so far they've been ok.

The main issue with them is that they're so shallow, way shallower than even shallow sockets, so they don't work well with nuts, only bolts, and I can see occasionally needing to use actual sockets for such situations. One that comes to mind is certain kinds of hose clamps (although an impact socket is obviously not needed there).

OTOH they do have magnets that do a nice job of holding onto smaller fasteners that are easy to drop and hard to find.

Maybe I'll just get a few individual 1/4" impact sockets, in 8mm, 10mm & 12mm, to play it safe.

 

[CGarage]

I don’t have a 1/4” SQUARE DRIVE impact wrench, but I do have an impact driver (in fact two) that take 1/4” hex bits.

I got a 1/4” square drive adaptor, with the intention of using 1/4” impact sockets. In practice though, I only need about four sizes, so I seldom do this, and ended up buying hex shank impact sockets (KoKen) in the sizes I use regularly.


This is a much neater solution for me. I use this setup a lot as I can drive screws, coach screws (lag screws) as well as regular nuts and bolts. I even find myself drilling with it sometimes, as I only need to carry one tool.

The only impact sockets I find myself using are 3/8” or 1/2” drive, but… everyone has different needs, and I could see situations where a 1/4” impact would be ideal. If I was using an impact wrench I’d use impact sockets. If it was just an air ratchet or suchlike, I’d use normal sockets.

I have that little Bosch impact driver in 1/4” and it has a lot of power and capability. Big Bosch fan here.

 

[humpty]

I have an impact driver that lives in my basement shop, I use the **** out of it, both with dedicated bits as well as sockets.
I also do have an actual 1/4" impact wrench out in the garage, that is mostly used for interior bolts, body bolts, basically very light duty.

I do not have any 1/4" impact sockets though, the impact levels seen in 1/4" are not enough to damage a chrome non-impact socket.

I found though having a selection of more diverse 1/4" sockets is more beneficial. So I run standard, mid-length and deep. As well as I have a selection of swivels and magnetic sockets. I find uses for all of those working in car interiors.

But if you want or feel a need for 1/4" impacts then go for it, GJ creed states there is no shame in buying tools, this is the way.

 

[BikeRider]

Right now I only have shallow non-impact 1/4" sockets, in 6 and 12pt. I'll probably eventually get deep sockets, and maybe individual 10 & 12mm impact sockets. A set seems like overkill though. Under 10mm I doubt that non-impact sockets would shatter, and beyond 12mm it's probably better to use the 3/8" Stubby impact wrench anyway.

 

[Drunkonunleaded]

For the majority of people, I'd say you'd want the following:

• 1/4 Chrome (Deep & Shallow)
• 3/8 Chrome (Deep & Shallow)
• 3/8 Impact (Deep & Shallow)
• 1/2 Impact (Deep)

That'll cover most needs. I rarely run into a situation in which I feel the need for a 1/4 impact socket, nor do I find that I run into access issues on something big enough to require a 1/2 socket. There are exceptions to this, but that'll cover 99% of situations. For anything outside of the above, I pick up what I need piecemeal.

 

[CGarage]

For the majority of people, I'd say you'd want the following:

• 1/4 Chrome (Deep & Shallow)
• 3/8 Chrome (Deep & Shallow)
• 3/8 Impact (Deep & Shallow)
• 1/2 Impact (Deep)

That'll cover most needs. I rarely run into a situation in which I feel the need for a 1/4 impact socket, nor do I find that I run into access issues on something big enough to require a 1/2 socket. There are exceptions to this, but that'll cover 99% of situations. For anything outside of the above, I pick up what I need piecemeal.

Depends on what industry you work in.

I was able to buy the Sunex 1/4” drive master impact set for ~ $60 USD.

With the trend towards miniaturization, I believe we will see a rise in importance of 1/4” tools in the next few years, and into the future.

Particularly with European automobiles, and robotics and drone / UAV applications.

 

[BikeRider]

I started out with 1/2" non-impact shallow sockets and a 1/2" manual ratchet and breaker bar, then when I got a 1/2" impact wrench got 1/2" impact shallow sockets and later 1/2" impact deep sockets.

But when I got a 3/8" manual ratchet and stubby impact wrench with matching impact and non-impact deep and shallow sockets, I found that I rarely used my 1/2" sockets and never my 1/2" ratchet or impact.

Then I got a 1/4" manual ratchet and hex adapters and nutsetter set for my 1/4" hex impact driver with matching sockets, and tend to use those for smaller fasteners, mainly 8 - 12mm.

Only time I really use a 1/2" socket these days is to remove axle or crankshaft pulley nuts or transmission, t-case or rear diff drain plugs with my 3/8" stubby and a 3/8" to 1/2" impact adapter, as my 3/8" sockets only go up to 21mm.

Only socket set I don't have from your rec list are deep non-impact 1/4", and I'll probably get that eventually. I'll have to decide whether to get 8, 10 and maybe 12mm impact sockets in 1/4".

 

[BikeRider]

Depends on what industry you work in.

I was able to buy the Sunex 1/4” drive master impact set for ~ $60 USD.

With the trend towards miniaturization, I believe we will see a rise in importance of 1/4” tools in the next few years, and into the future.

Particularly with European automobiles, and robotics and drone / UAV applications.

The Sunex 1809 metric shallow impact set with sockets from 5.5mm to 13mm for ~$24 was the one I had my eye on. I don't need SAE and could probably get by with just shallow.

Did you get yours just to be safe or do you have applications where enough impact torque is likely to be applied that you really should use impact sockets on a 1/4" impact wrench, and if so which sizes?

 

[Pexto]

If you want some decent sockets at a reasonable price, these little sets from Makita are widely available: https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/E-01694. It includes 6-13mm (skips the 9mm), and includes a hex adapter.

I picked one up a few years ago and find it very convenient. I have a big heavy 1/2" impact driver and a little 1/4" hex driver, so for the small jobs this gets used a fair bit.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have the Milwaukee Stubby 1/4" drive impact wrench and have the complete impact (including swivels) in shallow and deep. I use this for anything under 12mm. With the proliferation of 8mm and 10mm nuts and bolts the small size proves handy. I'm sure that standard chrome sockets would work fine as this impact only goes up to about 30 N-m but I'm OCD.

 

[rancherbill]

What I'm wondering is whether at this size and level of impact power I really need a 1/4" impact socket set or can make do with a non-impact set and not risk the typical hazards of using non-impact sockets on an impact wrench.

NO. My impact driver is 1440 inch pounds - 120 foot pounds. IMHO, you will break the fastener before you break the socket. Yes, I experimented and you can snap a 1/4 bolt with an impact driver. You have to ask yourself how many bolts or situation you actually need and impact set for.

There's lots of other things that are worth buying.

 

[BikeRider]

If you want some decent sockets at a reasonable price, these little sets from Makita are widely available: https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/E-01694. It includes 6-13mm (skips the 9mm), and includes a hex adapter.

I picked one up a few years ago and find it very convenient. I have a big heavy 1/2" impact driver and a little 1/4" hex driver, so for the small jobs this gets used a fair bit.

Thanks! Not sure why my Amazon search didn't bring this up. It has all the sizes I really need (a 14mm would be nice but you probably want a 3/8" impact for that size) and costs around the same as buying 8, 10 & 12mm sockets individually. A deep set might be nice too, but there are easy workarounds for that, like a 3/8" impact & sockets.

 

[BikeRider]

NO. My impact driver is 1440 inch pounds - 120 foot pounds. IMHO, you will break the fastener before you break the socket. Yes, I experimented and you can snap a 1/4 bolt with an impact driver. You have to ask yourself how many bolts or situation you actually need and impact set for.

There's lots of other things that are worth buying.

You mean in removing or fastening the fastener? I use it to loosen and remove fasteners on the lowest setting that works, then on the lowest setting to reinstall before final tightening with a torque wrench. And it's all about saving time, like removing a valve or timing belt cover, or an underbody skid plate. That gets old real fast.

Yes, a cordless ratchet would work for that, as would an impact wrench, but the former is much slower (I have the non-Fuel M12) and the latter overkill for these sizes, even the stubby.

Obviously with rusted and seized fasteners I want to use different removal methods so as to not snap the bolt.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

We've had some requests for 1/4" nano hex sockets, we do make 1/4" nano in other types like E-Torx and chrome for other brands, and even prototyped them in impact, but just don't know if there's really demand there.

I mean even I dont own a 1/4" impact socket set, don't most people just use whatever?

 

[dchawk81]

I think at that size people just use chrome. The torques aren't usually high enough to shatter those sockets. We're not talking about huge fasteners here, so it's more of a speed thing than a power thing.

 

[BikeRider]

We've had some requests for 1/4" nano hex sockets, we do make 1/4" nano in other types like E-Torx and chrome for other brands, and even prototyped them in impact, but just don't know if there's really demand there.

I mean even I dont own a 1/4" impact socket set, don't most people just use whatever?

I actually have both hex and torx sockets, in 3/8" I believe, although I very, very rarely use them. I think I got them for use on my road bike, actually. The hex ones have chrome sockets into which impact hex bits are press fit, so I'm not sure if they're impact or non-impact. The torx ones are solid and impact. I got them because I thought my car needed them but turns out that it didn't, so they've never been used but I'm sure I'll find a use for them eventually.

Anyway, yeah, it sounds like the consensus is that you don't need 1/4" impact sockets. I might still get that $14 Makita set more to have another set handy that also holds the impact driver adapter though.

Btw I have your bearing kit. Really nice kit and it's more than paid for itself by now, and the adapters do double duty as race installers and for other odd tasks. Wise choice on the thicker 5/8" forcing bolt.

 

[Jtels85]

I work on golf carts on the side, usually a couple dozen each summer. Some time ago, I bought the Expert 1/4" metric and SAE impact socket set (shallows and deeps) off of the MAC truck. I think to this day, I've only used a few of the metric sizes. It was kind of a waste of money to be honest, but I also didn't want to chew up my 1/4" chrome Craftsman USA sockets.

I do find myself using 3/8" drive impacts way more often that 1/2". There are plenty of 10, 14 and 17mm bolts that get zipped on and off removing bag wells and installing rear seat kits on Yamaha's and EZGO TXT's.

 

[BikeRider]

I work on golf carts on the side, usually a couple dozen each summer. Some time ago, I bought the Expert 1/4" metric and SAE impact socket set (shallows and deeps) off of the MAC truck. I think to this day, I've only used a few of the metric sizes. It was kind of a waste of money to be honest, but I also didn't want to chew up my 1/4" chrome Craftsman USA sockets.

I do find myself using 3/8" drive impacts way more often that 1/2". There are plenty of 10, 14 and 17mm bolts that get zipped on and off removing bag wells and installing rear seat kits on Yamaha's and EZGO TXT's.

Each job I do is different but these days I usually reach for my M12 3/8" stubby for anything 12mm and bigger and my M12 Gen 2 impact driver for anything 12mm or smaller, so 12mm goes either way depending on which tool and socket set is easier to reach at the moment. Sometimes I go manual though, like when working on a gas tank, for obvious reasons, or when it's just one or two easy to remove fasteners and I don't feel like taking out my power tools.

 

[dnschmidt]

Chris, we've talked about this before. Read my posting on this other thread to see why I think 1/4" impacts are significant.

Testing Torque Wrenches

Good Morning! As a self-professed overthinker, should the torque tester available in most tool trucks be effected by drive size adapters? My Snap-On guy has a torque tester which he encourages me to use to quickly determine if a torque wrench should be sent in for calibration. The wall mounted...

www.garagejournal.com

If the primary torques used on a diesel are less than 50 N-m that's a lot of fasteners that can benefit from the smaller size of 1/4" drive equipment.

 

[BikeRider]

Chris, we've talked about this before. Read my posting on this other thread to see why I think 1/4" impacts are significant.

Testing Torque Wrenches

Good Morning! As a self-professed overthinker, should the torque tester available in most tool trucks be effected by drive size adapters? My Snap-On guy has a torque tester which he encourages me to use to quickly determine if a torque wrench should be sent in for calibration. The wall mounted...

www.garagejournal.com

If the primary torques used on a diesel are less than 50 N-m that's a lot of fasteners that can benefit from the smaller size of 1/4" drive equipment.

Who's Chris and when have we talked about this before? I post on lots of forums on lots of topics so if I asked this before then my apologies. In any case I wasn't talking about the need for 1/4" tools but rather whether impact rated sockets are needed at these impact and torque levels.

 

[humpty]

... I don't need SAE and could probably get by with just shallow.

You don't need SAE yet!

If you have the chance try out some mid-length sockets, I wasn't a believer prior to owning them, but now I find I grab them most often.

 

[BikeRider]

You don't need SAE yet!

If you have the chance try out some mid-length sockets, I wasn't a believer prior to owning them, but now I find I grab them most often.

I have no older US or British-made cars and likely never will, so I'll likely never need SAE. For random around the home use, though, I might, but I already have a set of non-impact sockets and combo wrenches for that. But not impact.

 

[dnschmidt]

Who's Chris and when have we talked about this before? I post on lots of forums on lots of topics so if I asked this before then my apologies. In any case I wasn't talking about the need for 1/4" tools but rather whether impact rated sockets are needed at these impact and torque levels.

Chris Pettit, the Product Manager of Astro Pneumatic.

 

[ecotec]

I have them, and use them when I use a 1/4” impact… but I think it is debatable whether they are really necessary. I would argue that at the torque of a 1/4” impact, chrome is fine.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have them, and use them when I use a 1/4” impact… but I think it is debatable whether they are really necessary. I would argue that at the torque of a 1/4” impact, chrome is fine.

I agree. The only problem I've found is that the hog ring on my 1/4" drive impact sort of gets stuck in the detents inside of the normal chrome 1/4" sockets. From the standpoint of strength - no big deal. You're not going to wallow out the drive ends at less than 50 N-m which is primarily the reason to use impact sockets of any drive size in the first place.

 

[ecotec]

I have shallow, deep, shallow magnetic and universal in metric… so I feel I have to use them.

 

[CGarage]

For the ~ $60 I spent on the Sunex master 1/4” impact set, I felt it was better to have them and not need them than to not have them. Impacts can be used on regular ratchet wrenches, too. And I have had a need for deep 1/4” sockets (I have a chrome set as well from Facom Expert.

 

[BikeRider]

For the ~ $60 I spent on the Sunex master 1/4” impact set, I felt it was better to have them and not need them than to not have them. Impacts can be used on regular ratchet wrenches, too. And I have had a need for deep 1/4” sockets (I have a chrome set as well from Facom Expert.

Although I don't necessarily buy it I've read that it's better to not use impact sockets on manual ratchets because they're made of softer metal and could deform with such use. Is so then I'm guessing that the metal in them bounces back better from quick and hard impacts vs slow and hard pressure. But even then that's probably with constant use in a shop as opposed to what a typical DIYer does. But ultimately I'd have to look at test data to be convinced. Same with using non-impacts on 1/4" impact drivers and wrenches. I believe that it's fine but it would be interesting to see some test data.

 

[CGarage]

Although I don't necessarily buy it I've read that it's better to not use impact sockets on manual ratchets because they're made of softer metal and could deform with such use. Is so then I'm guessing that the metal in them bounces back better from quick and hard impacts vs slow and hard pressure. But even then that's probably with constant use in a shop as opposed to what a typical DIYer does. But ultimately I'd have to look at test data to be convinced. Same with using non-impacts on 1/4" impact drivers and wrenches. I believe that it's fine but it would be interesting to see some test data.

Most folks I know of professionally have gone to buying impacts for both air/battery and hand operated tools.

It seems chrome is no longer the ‘first purchase’ in the 21st century.

 

[Zewnten]

I have 1/4 impacts in deep shallow and soon swivel. Why? Chrome peel, on power tools the chrome wears through on the bolt end.

 

[ForrestT]

Makita set is nice. Harbor Freight impact nut drivers work too. Also consider just a beater 1/4” drive socket set for impact use. Unless I’m doing repetitive work, I just grabbed an older 1/4” socket until I got the Makita sets. I use regular socket for the rare times something isn’t covered in Makita sets.

 

[ForrestT]

Most folks I know of professionally have gone to buying impacts for both air/battery and hand operated tools.

It seems chrome is no longer the ‘first purchase’ in the 21st century.

If I had it to do over again, I’d only buy impact in 1/2” drive. I don’t use 1/2” drive enough to warrant chrome sets.

 

[BikeRider]

Most folks I know of professionally have gone to buying impacts for both air/battery and hand operated tools.

It seems chrome is no longer the ‘first purchase’ in the 21st century.

With my admittedly limited experience compared to pros and most folks here I do subjectively find that using impact sockets and extensions makes for a slightly "mushier" feel when tightening fasteners, which calls for slightly more effort on my part but also more of a "soft landing" when you approach the correct fastening tightness, which I imagine makes for fewer snapped bolt heads, ratchet mechanisms and u-joints. Used for removing fasteners with hand tools, I suspect that this might also be true, at least at higher torque tightness and seized bolts. However, I imagine that it also makes for a slightly less accurate torque wrench reading, so you could end up slightly overtorqueing a fastener.

 

[BikeRider]

Makita set is nice. Harbor Freight impact nut drivers work too. Also consider just a beater 1/4” drive socket set for impact use. Unless I’m doing repetitive work, I just grabbed an older 1/4” socket until I got the Makita sets. I use regular socket for the rare times something isn’t covered in Makita sets.

Since shattering is far less likely with 1/4" sockets this makes sense, and in reality that nut setter set works pretty well on bolts, not so much on nuts unless there's little to no bolt shaft extending beyond the nut. But, knowing me, I'll probably end up getting the Makita set. I have several 1/4" socket sets but only one is usually handy when I work on our cars, so it would be nice to have a second set handy, one for the 1/4" hand ratchet and the other for the impact driver.

 

[Fedwrench]

After cracking numerous snap on 1/4 drive 7mm shallow chrome six point sockets and wearing out 1/4 drive chrome universal sockets, I bought impact versions in 5-15mm shallow, semideep, deep, and impact swivels. I also added locking 1/4 drive impact extensions. I probably use them more often than other drive sizes. You might be able to get by with chrome. You could also just replace the most used common sizes that you break in chrome. I find the 1/4 drive pinless impact swivel sockets to be exceptionally handy with a lower profile and no fat collar. I use a M12 Fuel stubby 1/4 square drive impact. I don't care for the 1/4 to 1/4 square adapters. Trial and error will determine what you can live with. there's a lot of plastic in a modern vehicle's engine compartment as well as all of the interior ****.

 

[dscheidt]

I think at that size people just use chrome. The torques aren't usually high enough to shatter those sockets. We're not talking about huge fasteners here, so it's more of a speed thing than a power thing.

I've worn out a 10mm chrome socket, using it on an impact driver. It took surprisingly little use to do it. I replaced it with another just like it. I think if i were still in shop, i'd have a few 1/4" drive impacts, 8, 10, and 12 probably. There are a ridiculous number of long low torque fasteners under the hood of modern cars, and zipping them in and out with power saves a boatload of time.

 

[Tallpilot]

We've had some requests for 1/4" nano hex sockets, we do make 1/4" nano in other types like E-Torx and chrome for other brands, and even prototyped them in impact, but just don't know if there's really demand there.

I mean even I dont own a 1/4" impact socket set, don't most people just use whatever?

I am very curious how the nano E-Torx ended up with the smallest sizes in 1/4" drive. Everything else is either 3/8" or 1/2". I resisted buying that set for a long time because I don't own a 1/4" impact.

 

[Vpick001]

Guy at my shop has worn out a couple chrome 1/4 sockets from using it on his impact, but I don’t think that’s saying much since it took a couple years of daily use to do so, and a dedicated impact may have worn similarly.
Since he can just warranty it with the Matco guy every couple years he hasn’t seen the need to get an impact set.

Me, though? I’m a tool addict, and would have immediately used one of those worn sockets as an excuse to buy a whole impact set. I’ve rationalized more over less.