3/8 Impact Sockets Needed?

[SuburbanRuss]

I just picked up a Craftsman c3 19v 3/8 cordless impact. I got one that the package was cut when they opened the shipping box. It was a good buy for $40.

I am going to use it for general use on my vehicle. nothing heavy duty.... Do you guys think that a set of 3/8 impacts are necessary (be honest)? I have no problem buying some, however also don't want to buy something that won't be needed. If i do end up buying some I am looking at the Grey Pneumatic ones. I figure i want to buy at least some better quality ones so if i do end up getting an air system then i can use them without being worried about them.. (HF... i think you guys understand)..

Also if you guys were to buy a set of impacts 1 set metric, 1 sea would you buy deep or shallow?

Help me out with this.

Thanks guys

 

[johndeereman]

I have 3/8'' impact sockets sae,metric deep,shallow craftsman industrial,sunnex and grey pnumatic all of which are real high quality not a pro mechanic but they still get used.

 

[rlebroke51]

i bought a 3/8 impact set because the chrome sockets kept pulling the ring off the end of the anvil. not to long ago there was a post about an anvil that actually broke and it was thought to be because of using chrome sockets. just another reason to buy more tools haha

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I have busted 1 SO socket with my Milwaukee m12 ratchet, in other words yes its worth it to get impacts IMO. I would only get deep for starters.

 

[jmm]

Yes! It's not good for your chrome sockets which at the least will start to fit loosely on your ratchets and fasteners. I use a 3/8" impact fairly regularly as a professional, and I'm quite happy with my Craftsman and Northern Tool sets (especially the NTs, they were cheap and have held up almost as well as the Cmans).

 

[dgxlh]

I have them but never use them. I just use chromes. I've split one but just replaced it on the truck no big deal. I think it had a defect anyway because none of my others havecracked and I use it every day professionally

 

[bcradio]

I have them but never use them. I just use chromes. I've split one but just replaced it on the truck no big deal. I think it had a defect anyway because none of my others havecracked and I use it every day professionally

That sounds like the way to go

OP if you want us to be honest then I will. Yes you want to get them, but HF ones are just fine. There said it.

Otherwise if you have a go big or go home attitude, then get the Snap-Ons.

 

[theknurl]

no, go to 1/2"......

but for those "tightened by the monkey at the gas station"

I have my 3/4" Swench Wrench and 800 lbft

 

[Hammer1963]

Absolutely! The real damage risk is with the anvil on the impact itself. Impact sockets are meant to have a certain amount of flex/give on all contact surfaces including fastener contact areas and drive point areas. Sockets are much easier and cheaper to replace than replacing the anvil on your impact

 

[dj_110]

I would definitely get a set of deep sockets if I could only have one for an impact driver. I have an SK set that was my dads, but I recently picked a set of the Craftsman evovle on Clearance. It was too good to pass up. They had the Deep on clearance for $2.47 and the shallow for $1.47. I think they go from about 3/8" - 3/4" and like 10-15mm. I'd have to look to be sure on the sizes. But for about $6-7 for what I bought I was like a kid in a candy store. Something like that would be fine a for a starter set for your driver.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Hell, 3/8 is the only size I have chromes in anymore, and I don't even use them. My 1/4 chromes got replaced with impacts, and my 1/2 chromes (that came in a Craftsman set) hold down my junk drawer liner. Few things you can't do with an impact socket, but one thing you can't do with a chrome socket happens to be one of my favorites... put it on an impact.

I wouldn't turn down something like GP, Sunex, or Gearwrench for your uses. My 1/4 impacts and 3/8 SAEs are both Gearwrench, and get used daily, as do my boss' Sunex set. Aside from higher quality, you can also find singles easy enough to expand or replace lost ones, unlike the cheapest of the cheap.

I mean, HF probably would work fine too, but incomplete sets drive me nucking futs, especially when I can't complete them.

 

[Plombob]

Once I got lazy using my impacts. I didn't want to hassle with mating the pin and hole. When the nut came loose the socket went flying off of the impact and hit me right between the eyes! Didn't leave a mark, but it hurt! Buy the impacts so that you don't pop yourself with a socket.

 

[durallymax]

I use 3/8 impact more than anything. My 3/8 sockets are Napa impact which are Grey pneumatic or sunnex can't remember. They've been very good.

The chrome ones are hard on the anvils. Plus they don't always stay on as nice. Get a good extension set as well.

The Napa socket sets I got came with deep and shallow for under $100 each sae(5/16 through 1") and metric. (8mm through 22mm).

 

[ATC]

Definately get some impacts. I've got the Gray Pneumatic kit...standard and metric deep wells with a 3"extension and a swivel. I use the hell out of it! (1229DM item number)

I did buy a full set of Northern Industrial chrome sockets when they were on clearance for 50 cents to use in the event the impacts were too thick to fit somewhere.

 

[92integra]

i'm a grey pnuematic man myself but you might look into tekton they make some great stuff for the price.

 

[mailpup]

I don't use my 3/8" drive impact sockets a whole lot but as the saying goes when I need them I'm glad I have them. Working on rusty exhaust nuts and bolts come to mind. While a hard pull using manual tools might round off a hex or even break off the bolt/nut, impact action on rusty fasteners (using a suitable penetrating fluid) can do the trick. A 1/2" drive can be too large squeeze in confined areas.

 

[Ricky112]

i'm new here so forgive me if we can't post links

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CSDAAW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

this has been one of my favourite purchases of my wrenchin' career! love them and use them every day, they don't skip any sockets and havent had any issues with them yet