can you trust em?

[92integra]

now i guy's i know this is apples to oranges or worse then that but here recently i've been getting tired of using my wobble adapter. its nice all but hey i want some fricking impact swivel sockets and i am wonder how many of you guys out there have tried or trust the HF metric impact swivel set shown here http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-12-in-drive-metric-impact-swivel-socket-set-67911.html.

i know everyone is going to tell me to be a man and pony up to some real sockets like the one's shown hear http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/111132339508?lpid=82 but good lord those things cost more then my first car! maybe i'm a cheep *** but i just cant justify 600 bucks for some sockets.

all i really wana know is if anyone in garage journal land is using HF 1/2" drive impact swivels with any success. i dont want someone who's never tried them to tell me there going to come apart in a million pieces. But if you have used them give me an honest review of these things THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

[dbabicky]

Never had a problem with the one's I have. Don't use them every day but they always work when I need them to in my shop.

 

[zkling]

On the whole, HF's impact tools are really hard to beat for the $, especially if not used in a day to day environment or with one of the magnum guns. And yes I have used and have access to just about their entire impact offerings.

 

[ryanl925]

I never used harbor freight ones but I would get 3/8 over 1/2 because a lot of times the collar gets in the way. I use a 3/8 and 1/2 impact swivel a lot too. Idk if you have used them before but swivels plus impacts can be dangerous.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Well you know what brand would run $431.25 for the same sockets.

Spend the $27.99 (minus 25% LOL) and if you run one size hard and break it multiple times, pony up for that one in another brand.

 

[92integra]

thanks guy's i am going to run these thing's hard and daily so i suppose i will just keep my face as far away as i can cross my finger's and hope stuff works out!

 

[Givl Reggin]

maybe i'm a cheep *** but i just cant justify 600 bucks for some sockets.

Look at it this way; if you go out to dinner with another couple to a nice restaurant and pick up the bill... you're likely to spend at least that amount. While I enjoy spending time with friends, I think I would rather skip the outing this week and buy the tools instead.

 

[aaronrkelly]

When looking at a tool purchase like this I always factor in me, my time and what Im doing.

Me.....Im a lowly regular Joe.....in my regular job I make a whole $16 an hour. I dont wrench for a living, I just work on my own stuff.

So my time - about worthless. Im not working with tools these tools for a living.....so I wont loose out on money if they dont work correctly.

Worst case scenario (barring injury of course) - Im working on some of my own **** and using one of these sockets and it breaks. I have to drive into town and get a replacement......I kill about 45 mins of my almost worthless time. My customer is me.....so Im pretty sure Im coming back even if my car takes an extra hour to be finished.

So in less these things are so fragile that they fly apart instantly.....Id buy them without worry.

Your view may be different then mine.

Look at it this way; if you go out to dinner with another couple to a nice restaurant and pick up the bill... you're likely to spend at least that amount. While I enjoy spending time with friends, I think I would rather skip the outing this week and buy the tools instead.

**** man.....where are you going to eat? Im curious.

4 people.....a nice restaurant - over $600?

 

[mrborohachi]

Find a local Matco truck in your city and get the Taiwanese impact sockets off him. I Have a friend at Big-O tires and he has run them hard and hasn't broken one yet.

Tool truck support @ a lower price point.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Can't you just use a swivel and shallow impact if space is an issue?

Otherwise 600 bucks for a socket set? Ouch.

Interesting name there "givl reggin", just looked it up.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Not trying to piss off brand loyalists, and i will admit impact wobblers are something i have never used more than twice. I cant help but to notice that the HF, Sunex, and Matco look pretty much interchangeable.

 

[sloppy]

I grabbed a set years ago for ****** work. they are still all together.. I did end up upgrading a couple of the size's but not sure I needed to..

 

[Marvelicious]

Not trying to piss off brand loyalists, and i will admit impact wobblers are something i have never used more than twice. I cant help but to notice that the HF, Sunex, and Matco look pretty much interchangeable.

I've got a couple Sunex sets, and I've gotta say I've had suspicions that the current HF stuff comes off the same line.

 

[RidgevilleRob]

Only ones I've ever had an issue with are the HF ones with the exposed spring that holds the swivel together.. they come apart and it usually hurts..

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I got a 3/8 set of metric and sae snappy ones off the truck during a bogo deal. Best money ever spent. I use them every day on 3/8 guns, ratchets and 1/2 guns. Years back I worked under a guy with an sk set. Those were great sockets too. At home i'd be tempted to try the hf ones... Not at work though. It'd be like trusting your doctor to cut into you with a Harbor freight scalpel he bought with a 25% off coupon. No thanks.

That said, I know a few people who run the hf swivels and they seem to hold up.

 

[Stooge]

ive had the 1/2 metric HF swivels and actually use them fairly often (not professional tech often but a few times a week) and they have surprisingly served me fine since last summer. i had only bought them for a specific job and figured i would use them until they break, and then i would upgrade to something better, but other than seeming a little looser, they are still going strong. Great $20 investment and have earned their money back many many times over. when they do finally give out, i'll probably look at getting a full SK set , ( i have several SK sae swivels, just not a full set) or the matco/ armstrong ones.

thanks guy's i am going to run these thing's hard and daily so i suppose i will just keep my face as far away as i can cross my finger's and hope stuff works out!

to be honest, whenever i use the HF ones, i keep the bare number of fingers near whatever im working on and turn my head away just incase they finally decide to shatter apart

 

[sberry]

I use them as problem solvers and only rarely. I work a minute to get the right set up and length if possible with straight socket.

 

[gearhead1]

I will let you know, just bought a set. I love USA made stuff, 90% of my tools are, and while I much prefer it, I couldn't spend $400 if not using them to make a living. The other option is look for a used USA set.

 

[92integra]

thanks alot guy's and i was looking for some used stuff i think i got really luck last night got 3 snap one 3/8" drive swivel sockets 10mm 13mm 15mm 12pts for 39 bucks free shipping.... i think i am going to pick some up from harbor frieght the 1/2" drive set is actually really complete and just use those while i shop for good used deals on ebay

 

[crewchief888]

i've beat the **** outta my HF 1/2" dr wobble impacts, and havent broken one yet.

they dont get used everyday, but when i need one i've got them.


all my other impact swivels came off a tool truck, i paid more (from SO) for the last impact swivel i bought (to replace a lost socket) than i did for the set of HF's

 

[92integra]

nice crewchief you always give sound advice so the 1/2" drive sockets are going to be comming home with me today. just going to keep my face away when using them

 

[theoldwizard1]

On regular impact sockets, HF offers 2 different kinds, Chrome Vanadium and Chrome Molybdenum. Other have said the Chrom-Moly are "more durable".

 

[VC455]

For durability,your opinions on the Cross style v the pin style?

 

[crewchief888]

nice crewchief you always give sound advice so the 1/2" drive sockets are going to be comming home with me today. just going to keep my face away when using them

i've been wrenching on const eq for 30 years, and can count the amount of impact swivels i've broken very easily.

1/2", 9/16, 3/4" 13mm 3/8" dr
15/16" 1 5/16" 1/2" dr

all truck brand, pinned type


given enough time, i could f*ck up an anvil with a rubber mallet

 

[PFSard]

i think i am going to pick some up from harbor frieght the 1/2" drive set is actually really complete and just use those while i shop for good used deals on ebay

I'd be interested in hearing your evaluation of the HF and Snap-Ons, and what you eventually find on eBay. Once you've had plenty of time to use them, of course.

TIA
Paul