1/4 impact sockets

[bratwurst]

You guys use them at all? I use mine on a 12v Makita impact drive.
Comes in handy working on motorcycles etc.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Honestly, isn't that big of a difference in socket wall thickness, so I do have a 1/4 dr impact socket set for when I do use my impact driver with an adapter.

 

[Bill Bowman]

Never used 1/4" impact sockets. If the bolt is that tight, it's time to step up to 3/8" stuff.

 

[bratwurst]

i love mine I got a nice set from snap on 1/4 impact

 

[DuratecMan10]

Yep. I use mine with an adaptor on my Dewalt 12V Max impact. Great for 4 to 12mm applications.


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[AA/FC]

I have a full set of 1/4" IMPACT sockets. Short, deep, metric, SAE, 6 point, and 12 point, full set.... And they're chrome, too!




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[u2slow]

I don't even do 3/8" impact sockets. I don't feel my battery gun has enough jam to wreck the chrome ones. So far that has been true.

If I'm doing a whole bunch of roofing/siding screws, I'll buy the one size magnetic nut driver bit I need along with the bag/box of screws.

 

[MJO]

Use them all the time.

 

[bratwurst]

Yeah I don’t even have 3/8 impact only use 1/4 or 1/2

 

[DFB]

I have a full set of 1/4" IMPACT sockets. Short, deep, metric, SAE, 6 point, and 12 point, full set.... And they're chrome, too!




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I only ever had one small set of SAE 1/4" drive impacts.

And I only got them a long time ago because I didn't want to break a chrome and I usually only ever go to use them for a severely rusted stud/nut type fastener. I just measured the 5/16 there is an like .025 or so difference in outer wall measurement for the impact one .443 vs .468

I have say it is pretty battle scarred on the inside

 

[M635_Guy]

I have 1/4" and 1/2" impact sets, and use them on my 1/2" impacts and 1/4" impacts. The chrome stuff doesn't go on power tools, but I know lots of people have no issues.

I've always been of the impression that my 1/4" chrome sockets were bigger and heavier, but I just went a little nuts in the garage and proved myself wrong.

My 14mm Tekton 1/4" measured out to 19.5mm and 33 grams

My 14mm Sunex 1/4" impact measured out to 19.7mm and 23 grams

Hmmmm... I got my 14mm 3/8" and 1/2" Chrome and 1/2" Impact sockets out...

1/4"-------------1/4" Impact----------3/8"----------1/2"----------------1/2" Impact
19.5mm/33g---19.7mm/23g ------19.6mm/36g----22mm/55g----23.6mm/77g


Since I had them, I did the 10mm as well

1/4"--------------1/4" Impact----------3/8"----------1/2"----------1/2" Impact
14.2mm/18g---14.2mm/14g-------16.7mm/25g---22mm/48g---21.7/66g


My conclusion? I don't know what the heck I'm talking about. So they're less likely to shatter, and I guess the reduced vibration might more-efficiently transfer the power from an impact, but it looks like the mass thing is mainly true of 1/2" (and I'd guess 3/8" as well). Maybe since the kind of high-torque applications live there?

I dunno...

 

[mike93lx]

No. For all 1/4 and most 3/8 I use chrome

 

[Antique Engine]

Yes. I am mostly a motorcycle mechanic and my 1/4 Milwaukee impact is my most used tool so I bought impact sockets shallow and deep to use with it.

Back when I was a young guy, and more poor, I hustled hard and beat the tar out of my chrome SnapOn sockets with any impact that would fit.

Now I'm a little older and save the chrome ones for hand use only.

Probably coincidence but I haven't had to warranty a socket since then either.

 

[platypus20]

I have a couple of the Grey Pneumatic 1/4” impact sets, 4-15 mm shallow and deep and 3/16” -9/16” shallow and deep. I use them quite a bit, I have a Jet and a NAPA 1/4” pneumatic impacts.

 

[oldwino]

Have a set of metrics cause my metric socket selection is pretty sparse. Don’t use them often but I don’t use metric stuff often either. Usually use chrome on my SAE stuff with a battery ratchet

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

Wall thickness and weight are one thing. Chemistry, Metallurgy and Heat Treatment are the more/other significant factors. On a 1/4" scale, using quality materials by a recognized brand, it may not matter one bit whether one uses an impact-rated or standard chrome socket as there is a significant "safety factor" built-in to the product. I, for one, would not trust anything less than a major brand if it were my face, hands, eyes at risk!

 

[Yarpo]

I don't have a 1/4" impact wrench and typically use chrome on my 1/4" impact driver with minimal issue, but its slowly damaging the drive end. I'll be buying GPs 1/4" impact set eventually but I've not been buying many tools lately.

 

[jsaw]

All of my 1/4" chrome sockets are in my drawer seldom used. I use impact sockets all the time.

 

[Skin]

I have impacts for power tools but that's to satisfy my OCD since I don't want to chip chrome or accelerate wear on the drive ends unnecessarily. For hand tools I still stick with chrome. Going impact only would drive me nuts with sockets failing to latch unless I line up the retention hole every time. Its already enough fun going fishing for bolts and plastic bits that fall in to the black holes of the fender. I don't need to be losing [more] sockets in there too.

 

[WittHay]

I always try to use chrome on hand tools and black on impacts. The hog rings on some impacts are kind of finicky. No problem with impact extensions or sockets but chrome sockets/extensions with the detents hang up or are loose on the anvil. Have a Mac 12V 1/4 drive ad 3/8 drive that are like that and just use impact stuff with them

 

[mfewtrail]

I don't want to chip chrome or speed wear on the drive ends unnecessarily.

Same reason I have 1/4'' impact sockets.

To see chrome chipping in action, watch some of the shows on the MT channel. Quite a few times they'll have a shot of someone using chrome on an impact under a lift and the lighting is just right so you can see the chrome flakes flying.

 

[DFB]

I always try to use chrome on hand tools and black on impacts. The hog rings on some impacts are kind of finicky. No problem with impact extensions or sockets but chrome sockets/extensions with the detents hang up or are loose on the anvil. Have a Mac 12V 1/4 drive ad 3/8 drive that are like that and just use impact stuff with them

My Milwaukee 1/4" drive M12 2452 FUEL impact (45ftlbs) is like that...any chrome socket brand I have tried pretty much wobbles on the anvil and often is so difficult to remove that one time fighting with I damaged the o-ring (broke) and had to buy replacement kits.

I installed a 1/4" to 3/8" impact adapter over the existing 1/4" anvil pretty much leave it on there and then mostly use it that way with my 3/8" impact sockets instead now...

And they do lock on nicely to the spring loaded ball end

 

[CR888]

A full and complete set of tools (if that exists) would include 1/4" impacts. It would also include hex nut drivers in chrome & impact. Are impact necessary for everyone in 1/4"?...perhaps not, but there are good reasons to have them if you'd use them often.

 

[bratwurst]

A full and complete set of tools (if that exists) would include 1/4" impacts. It would also include hex nut drivers in chrome & impact. Are impact necessary for everyone in 1/4"?...perhaps not, but there are good reasons to have them if you'd use them often.

This ^^^

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have the 4 flip impact sockets going from 8/10 (Sunex) through 13/15 (SO) Used with the impact M18 fuel driver and hex to square extension(s).

On stuff outside those sizes, I just use chrome. Mass produced stuff is replaceable and it's not gonna shatter like 1/2" impact driven stuff can.

 

[Fedwrench]

I probably use 1/4 drive impact sockets more than my other drive sizes lately. Most of the fasteners in an upper engine bay are 13 mm and under so, my stubby M12 fuel impact makes quick work of everything. It also depends on what you work on too but, my 10 mm and 13 mm swivel impact sockets get used multiple times daily.
Although they've been on the market for more than awhile, i'm thinking about getting a set of Grey Pneumatic Duo Sockets. they're supposed to be the best of both worlds, thin walled like chrome but, usable on impacts. The only thing that's holding me back is that I can't just buy a rail of Duo Sockets, i have to get a set with a ratchet, extensions, and SAE sizes too.

 

[Wamsutta]

I would use 1/4 drive impact sockets if I had a 1/4 drive impact gun. The softer steel is better for your gun's anvil.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

As I am reading this thread I am wondering aloud to myself...instead of buying chrome AND impact, wouldn't it just make sense to have impact only in all three drives? Think of all the space that would be saved not having chrome sockets. I know, I know...GJ blasphemy.

 

[Tbird22]

Impact sockets are much thicker and 1/4” inch of all sizes is the lifesaver to get in tight spots. I would rather chrome 1/4 and not use impact than the other way around


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[platypus20]

I rarely use chrome sockets, I use impacts for almost everything.

 

[NFH2740]

I frequently use Grey Pneumatic magnetic swivel sockets.

 

[M635_Guy]

Impact sockets are much thicker and 1/4” inch of all sizes is the lifesaver to get in tight spots. I would rather chrome 1/4 and not use impact than the other way around

That wasn't true between my 1/4" Tekton chrome and 1/4" Sunex Impact sets...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I love my 1/4 impact swivel sockets. Minimal flop compared to a standard universal socket when used on a power tool. It gets you more angle than a wobble extension as well. Other than that, I don't use 1/4 impact. I'm just using an M12 hex driver though, not much impacting there.

 

[jsaw]

I rarely use chrome sockets, I use impacts for almost everything.

As I am reading this thread I am wondering aloud to myself...instead of buying chrome AND impact, wouldn't it just make sense to have impact only in all three drives? Think of all the space that would be saved not having chrome sockets. I know, I know...GJ blasphemy.

Same here

 

[KWtech90]

I don't even do 3/8" impact sockets. I don't feel my battery gun has enough jam to wreck the chrome ones. So far that has been true.

If I'm doing a whole bunch of roofing/siding screws, I'll buy the one size magnetic nut driver bit I need along with the bag/box of screws.

My 3/8 Milwaukee mid torque has absolutely wrecked a few of my grey pneumatic duo impact sockets. It's a shame too because the duos are my absolute favorite impact sockets because of their virtually identical physical dimensions to chrome sockets, but the longevity just isn't there.