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Best value Impact sockets.

MagnumForce

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
1,392
Location
Ohio
I am looking at Grey Pneumatic and Blackhawk. Both are comparable in price.

Any thoughts?
 
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rice rocket

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Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
3,175
You're two days late on a pretty big rebate ($100 off a $150 set) on a very complete 1/2" drive set from Sunex.

Better luck next time.

Or wait till they run it next year.
 

Finky198

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
Best value overall is probly HF but it skips sizes

sunex or grey is the best value for a pro that needs complete sets
 
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MagnumForce

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Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
1,392
Location
Ohio
Industrial Maintenance, SAE only.

I don't want to step foot inside HF if I don't have to.

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knobby

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2010
Messages
663
Location
down by the river under a Jeep
Just my 2 cents but if you plan on using the sockets much look for a set that has stamped size designations as the ones with "laser engraved" markings only will be hard to identify the size with a bit of use.
 
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MagnumForce

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Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
1,392
Location
Ohio
I will use them daily, but I don't want to go super expensive as we have tool replacement here at work if anything breaks. But I don't want to go bottom of the barrel either.

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Ericgst

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
233
I have SK, Craftsman USA, Sunex and Gearwrench.

I prefer the Sunex and Gearwrench due to the thinner profiles. They all take a beating well.
 

thegroundpounder99

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
693
Location
Balm Fl
Sunex purchased through Amazon is a pretty good value and Sunex holds up well. The kits are pretty complete also, with no skipping sizes and a pretty decent swivel.


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Honda guy

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
735
Location
North Carolina
I really like my GP deep metric impacts. Been using them every day at work and they hold up great. They're actually better than my SO impacts for about 1/3 the price.
 
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Tenex

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Joined
May 11, 2015
Messages
455
It's too bad you missed out on the Sunex rebate. After I receive my refund I will have paid $100 for set #3580. Sunex > Grey Pneumatic. The deciding factor for me was the fact that the Sunex sockets are etched and stamped. GP sockets are only etched. Hopefully I'll be ready to jump on a 1/2" set the next time around.
 

import extermination

Active member
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Messages
33
Location
bc, canada
My powerfirst brand of impact sockets have been through hell and have held up great. Been wrenching professionally for almost 7 years now and i have yet to brake a socket. Not bad for 19.99 sale at princess auto.
 

bigjeff94

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2014
Messages
212
Location
USA
I like the Tekton impact sockets. My 1/2 drI've impacts are all harbor freight and my 3/8th are tekton. The tektons don't skip sizes like the harbor freight ones do and they were pretty comparable in price.
 

Mechanical Noise

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Joined
Apr 25, 2014
Messages
2,635
Location
Southeast of O'Hare
Best value overall is probly HF but it skips sizes

sunex or grey is the best value for a pro that needs complete sets

I think size skips on sockets are one of the things Harbor Freight is getting it's act together on. I know the sets used to be full of skips, but not so much any more. Like the Pittsburgh Pro 1/2" drive metric 13 piece set is now 10 - 22mm inclusive plus a 27 mm socket. And I think skips were only in the metric sets.

Worth checking before deciding.
 

lightning02

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
2,677
I like the Tekton impact sockets. My 1/2 drI've impacts are all harbor freight and my 3/8th are tekton. The tektons don't skip sizes like the harbor freight ones do and they were pretty comparable in price.

I have tekton impact sockets as well. Never had a problem. Comes with a nice case too.
 

theoldwizard1

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,114
Location
SE MI
I have Sunnex thin wall, flip, lug nut sockets. They work well.

Actually, the HF Chro-Moly impacts are good for the price. Be careful, they used to sell Chrome-Vanadium which were junk.
 

powerstroker

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2014
Messages
270
Location
Ontario
My sunnex impacts have been going strong for 3 years of hard use day in, day out. Can't beat them for value.


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Steinmetz

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2012
Messages
2,274
Location
Washington State
harbor freight $25 per set. pretty much a no brainer

Agree. In my view, impact sockets are a consumable item (like small twist drills, etc.); and not like hand tools. Sometimes, I "destroy" them machining the wall thickness to gain access to a fastener. No problem.

I'd use them up, throw them in the scrap pile, and buy another set for $25.
 

stikman56

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
3,127
Years of service in work environment with very strong impact wrenches and haven't had a HF impact socket fail yet.
 

maddawg1952

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
676
Location
Peabody.Ma.
I have had really good luck with My Ingersoll-Rand Impacts, have 2 sets of each in 1/2" shallow and deep SAE and metric, and 1 set of each shallow and deep 3/8's SAE and metric. Never broke any and I use them in a really harsh environment of mud and dirt. Bought most of them thru Ebay. I'm currently evaluating a set of deep SAE 1/2" HF that I bought recently, only used them a few times to bolt together some mechanical joint water pipe with an electric impact. I know it sounds like a cheap way out but in the construction business We just can't afford to put Snap-on or Tool truck tools in trucks on jobsites, the amount of tools lost , stolen, or just plain misplaced is phenomenal.
 
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M4A1Carbine

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2015
Messages
100
Location
Florida
I really like my Gearwrench set, good quality, includes every size 8-36mm, and has clear etching on both sides of the sockets so you can easily find the size. Also includes a nice hard case. The size etching was the deciding factor the steered me towards Gearwrench and away from Sunex since they both seem to have similar quality and price.


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BK13

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Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
2,692
Location
PDX, OR
The stamped size marking was one of the reasons I bought Sunex. Not that I've experienced it, but I could see the etching wearing off.


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Finky198

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Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
yup^^^ I like having both because it will wear off just a matter of time
im partial to the red cases ocd much:scared:
 

shoggoth80

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
857
Location
Seattle
Oh, I'll add in for the HF stuff. I have 3/8" deep and shallows. Had them for a few years now. They are the Cr-V, not the Cr-Mo... and why they could be more prone to breaking due to harder alloy... they've been holding up just fine.

I should have said my 1/2" is Armstrong (mostly) with a couple of Kobalts in there (also holding up just fine so far). They all got regular use when I worked for an independent shop. I've lost a couple pieces of my 3/8" set as opposed to breaking them. Lol. I've also used a couple of them to fill gaps in my work set of (mostly) issued tools.
 

rtole

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
366
I can't be any happier with grey pneumatic. Mine are close to 10 years old, pro use. The etching wears, but is still readable on all sockets. Even the 21 mm. Thats my most used socket. Up until a couple days ago until I lost it. I have broke a couple swivels, and torx and hex bits. Never a socket. I have not wore any out either. My snap on guy had some sets on clearance of snap on impact sockets that were near gp price, I passed. I have some snap on impact sockets and they wear quicker than the gp. The gp sockets do not round fasteners either. I tend to think overall snap on is the best tool brand........but not their impact sockets. Grey pneumatic has really impressed me.
 

rtole

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
366
I have 1/4 , 3/8, 1/2
Full sets metric and sae
Short, deep, and short swivels
I have tested them.
I have stopped using my chrome sockets and use my impact sockets to save cart space.
I have tested them and they don't let me down.
I love grey pneumatic
 
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