Broke my HF hex driver. Is there a hi-torque hex driver?

[wahoowad]

I have been using this cheap hex driver in my 20V Porter Cable impact wrench along with a set of impact sockets. It broke at the thin area...and will do so again if I buy the same cheap replacement.

Is there a torque/impact rated version?

 

[itsvegas]

milwaukee and dewalt both make impact versions!

 

[M6erfan]

Pretty much every manufacturer offers impact adapters...

 

[reptilezs]

there are impact versions as above but they all break

 

[wahoowad]

Thx. Found a Dewalt one on Amazon for under $4!

 

[ChrisLS8]

They all break for sure. If you need them alot you should look into getting a proper impact

 

[Provincial]

I have had good luck with the Milwaukee adapters. I don't have the latest and greatest Milwaukee 1/4" hex impact driver, so I can't vouch for how they hold up to them.

The HF ones cannot take much torque, and break when used with an impact driver. The HF ones hold up pretty well when used with a cordless drill.

 

[Wamsutta]

Has anybody tried an Apex with and impact driver?

 

[rpcraft]

The solution is to get a proper 3/8 impact and use a socket with it, otherwise you are trying to put more torque through the adapter than it can possibly handle if you are using any of the more modern battery powered tools.

 

[finn]

Are you surprised that a tool from HF broke?

 

[Wamsutta]

How about a big 7/16'' hex? But then it won't fit in the 1/4'' chuck.

 

[DFB]

Ya they all generally will fatigue and break after a while and especially if you're use larger sized sockets on them. It just the nature of the beast inherent to the design.

I find the Milwaukee Shockwave socket adapters the best for me. I like the shorter length and really do not cost much more than some others but I have numerous ones of all types of brands, HF, TSC, Ares, Titan, ITT, and some with no names I got from the counter display at the hardware store. Also have up 12" and now some with wobble ends.

I don't expect any of them to last forever under repeated pounding.

 

[djcslice]

I have Ryobi impact adapters from their 68pc set. Since they went to black oxide coating, I have not failed any of the adapters and I beat on them. For the price they seem like the best option I have found.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Steel-Impact-Driving-Kit-68-Piece-AR2026/300258087

 

[RedneckWelder]

Milwaukee shockwave is great.

 

[bwringer]

...I don't expect any of them to last forever under repeated pounding.

Yep. Just buy a decent brand and keep a few extras around. They all break eventually.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

The Milwaukee ones are nice, and often come in a pretty good bit set for ~20 bucks

 

[Professional Tool User]

All of them eventually break, including the 1/2 dr Makita one I had. Treat them as consumables or pony up the extra money for a cordless impact gun.

 

[impactsocket]

Milwaukee adapters

DeWalt adapters

 

[impactsocket]

Why not go with impact nut setters instead?

Nieko nut setters

Ares nut setters

Ares has limited lifetime warranty

https://www.arestool.com/

 

[DFB]

The only real problem I found with some the mag nutsetters (Nieko in particular) was the magnets break under impact. Never broke a Milwaukee magnet though. Other than that, the range of fastener sizes found is some of the imported sets is is pretty good though the shallow depth unless you get hollow shank ones limits where you use them. But for driving hex headed fasteners sure they're great.

 

[ChrisLS8]

On nutsetters I always end up breaking the walls, like a quarter chunk will fly off

 

[kctyphoon]

milwaukee and dewalt both make impact versions!

Answered on the first post.. it would only make sense the milwaukee’s would be designed to survive their own tools, which are usually some of the highest torque specs available. I’d be very surprised to hear a PC impact broke one.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Answered on the first post.. it would only make sense the milwaukee’s would be designed to survive their own tools, which are usually some of the highest torque specs available. I’d be very surprised to hear a PC impact broke one.

What if I broke 5 of the 3/8 Milwaukees with a DeWalt XR this week?

 

[Moparman390]

Answered on the first post.. it would only make sense the milwaukee’s would be designed to survive their own tools, which are usually some of the highest torque specs available. I’d be very surprised to hear a PC impact broke one.

He's just trying to talk up his favorite brands and talk down the ones he doesn't like, don't read anything in to this veiled shot at your tools, he does it all the time.

The answer to your question is any of the pro name brand impact bit adapters will work for ya. In fact, this weekend I went shopping for the same thing, ended up buying a Dewalt 2" and a Milwaukee stubby, both in 3/8". They probably won't last forever, and I have a couple of back up 2" ones lying around just for when one breaks.

 

[CR888]

The Milwaukee Chinese ones are tougher than other Chinese ones cause you pay 10x the price. If only they WERE 10x as good.....but sadly there not. They do make some 'feel' like they have a stronger adapter & the mind can be a powerful thing. If your breaking them constantly, you need to step up to a heavier duty tool. That's the real answer.

 

[nmantas]

I like my old 12 volt Dewalt impact driver, doesn't have the power to break one (even the HF ones).....but also doesn't have the power to damage chrome sockets either so I take the good with the bad.

 

[Cobradriver]

Yep. Just buy a decent brand and keep a few extras around. They all break eventually.

Yep.

I generally buy Dewalt and keep a couple of extras in my box.

Some day I'll move to an actual 1/4 and 3/8 impact....