Astro pneumatic nano impact sockets

[3footpipe]

Are Astro pneumatic nano impact sockets engraved as well as etched with the size? They look just like the sunex set and the sunex set are etched as well as engraved.
Does anyone have an opinion on if one set is better than the other? I am looking at the half-inch drive sets.

 

[anndel]

I have both the 3/8" and 1/2' Astro sets and use them more than the SKs or SNap-ons. Not sure about Sunex, I have older imapct sockets and they were laser etched and not engraved. maybe they do both now. Here's the 1/2" socket, both etched and engraved. Checked the 3/8" set and they're the same.

 

[3footpipe]

Thanks anndel for the information and great pictures.

 

[Handyandy23]

I have the Astro Nano's and can second the quality. Good and very useful sockets.

No experience with the Sunex so can't comment. They look identical so not sure who copied who. But the Astro's are even a few dollars cheaper on Amazon right now than the Sunex. And Astro at least has a presence on here and seems helpful in answering questions.

 

[MikeF2316]

I have the Astro Nanos as well. You can see that the etching is uniform, whereas the engraving (actually stamping) is not.

 

[rlitman]

I have the Astro Nanos as well. You can see that the etching is uniform, whereas the engraving (actually stamping) is not.

I have the 1/2" drive set, and mine looks the same. The laser engraving is centered over the detent hole, while the stamping is not so uniform. But the laser pattern has great contrast, so that's what I end up looking for. It actually makes me upset that my Snap On impact set isn't laser engraved...

One weird thing is that the laser markings are over the detent hole, but the retaining ball on the included rail is aligned in the direction of the rail. So, if you click the socket onto the ball, the laser markings will face inwards towards the next socket. It's not like they fall off when stored as you pictured, but I did find this odd.

 

[nelstomlinson]

Those look useful. What size is the external hex on the sae sets?

 

[Mr_B]

For the money the astro set superb buy, I use these a lot with a high power nano facom impact wrench and with a box wrench for some odd scenarios.
As good as anything 4X the price .
Markings are fine, i don't buy any impact sockets unless they stamp marked

 

[1320]

Those look useful. What size is the external hex on the sae sets?

17mm on the 3/8" drive and 22mm on the 1/2" drive sockets.

 

[Taco Truck]

Can anyone tell me how well these stay in the box end of a wrench?

 

[anndel]

Can anyone tell me how well these stay in the box end of a wrench?

They don't unless you have a ball on the box. I checked for 3/8 in it's a 17mm hex and for the 1/2 in drive it's 22mm. Both slides off the box end wrench but the hex of each socket has a hole for a ball detente.

 

[PelicanPines]

Can anyone tell me how well these stay in the box end of a wrench?

I tape them in if needed... my secret is out...

 

[HenryAZ]

One weird thing is that the laser markings are over the detent hole, but the retaining ball on the included rail is aligned in the direction of the rail. So, if you click the socket onto the ball, the laser markings will face inwards towards the next socket. It's not like they fall off when stored as you pictured, but I did find this odd.

I don't own bunches and bunches of sockets on rails (some come in metal boxes, which I store them in), but of the sockets I do have on rails, every one (different brands even) is this way. When on the rail, the size either faces the next socket, or is at an angle just enough so you can see it, but not facing you. And for a given set, the angles are slightly different within the set, too.

 

[Holt]

Can anyone tell me how well these stay in the box end of a wrench?

I actually bought the 3/8 SAE set and a quality 17mm wrench for a specific task as a ratchet and socket was too deep. I saw that the nano sockets had a cut line in them like a bit and was thinking this allowed them to stay in the wrench.

This is not a knock to astro as I set my own expectations for it. The quality is good on these sockets.

 

[Handyandy23]

The Astro size markings are very consistent in direction, so when you have them on the rail, all the size markings are quite exactly in one direction. Small thing, but makes them very easy to read.

I'd almost have to think it's on purpose the ball detent doesn't align with the hole. Even with just the pressure of the ball on the inside of the socket, you still need two hands to remove one from the rail. If the ball aligned with the hole they'd be even harder to remove. I just tried this by hand, and I wouldn't want to have to pull that hard off the rail each time.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

We tried aligning the detent hole with the socket, but with these small light weight sockets it's a pain to take off and you're more likely to mess up something on the rail.

I saw that the nano sockets had a cut line in them like a bit and was thinking this allowed them to stay in the wrench.

This is not a knock to astro as I set my own expectations for it. The quality is good on these sockets.

This is so they lock into a double flex head wrench we're coming out with in the next month or so. Uses lock rings within the ratcheting end to retain the socket, one flex head wrench works on all of our shorty nano sockets (and Sunex's probably).

 

[Handyandy23]

This is so they lock into a double flex head wrench we're coming out with in the next month or so. Uses lock rings within the ratcheting end to retain the socket, one flex head wrench works on all of our shorty nano sockets (and Sunex's probably).

Oh boy

So it's a double ended wrench with a 17mm end and 22mm on the other, both ratcheting?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Oh boy

So it's a double ended wrench with a 17mm end and 22mm on the other, both ratcheting?

100 tooth



shhhhhhhh

 

[PelicanPines]

100 tooth



shhhhhhhh

Damn it... again a must have tool... it's officially a tool conspiracy..

Thank you,
The Pines

 

[3footpipe]

Damn it... again a must have tool... it's officially a tool conspiracy..

Thank you,
The Pines

Yes it is.

 

[Taco Truck]

This is so they lock into a double flex head wrench we're coming out with in the next month or so. Uses lock rings within the ratcheting end to retain the socket, one flex head wrench works on all of our shorty nano sockets (and Sunex's probably).

Is the wrench and socket set going to come in a set? If so, I'll probably wait until that comes out to but a set. If not, I'll probably buy the sockets in the next week or so.

Also, do you guys have any plans of normal impact socket sets?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Wrench by itself only as it works on 4 different sets so far, so it won't come with them.
We're making more impact socket sets, but no "normal" impact sockets sets yet. No plans to

 

[rlitman]

We tried aligning the detent hole with the socket, but with these small light weight sockets it's a pain to take off and you're more likely to mess up something on the rail.



This is so they lock into a double flex head wrench we're coming out with in the next month or so. Uses lock rings within the ratcheting end to retain the socket, one flex head wrench works on all of our shorty nano sockets (and Sunex's probably).

I had a feeling the clocking was intentional, as it seemed just too precise to be anything else. It's all good.

As for that wrench, well, I can't wait! Keep us posted.

 

[Handyandy23]

100 tooth



shhhhhhhh

 

[rlitman]

Yep, that's the right meme.

 

[dredoubleu]

I’ve been using my Facom ratchet wrenches (the newer revision that has the retaining ring on ratcheting side) with my Astro stubby set and it’s been working much better than my older Gearwrenches. It’s not perfect but as long as you don’t bump the socket too hard it stays in place. That being said I’m very interested in this new wrench meant just for these sockets