Carlye ball hex questions help

[gooblunar]

I have the standard and Metric Carlyle ball hex socket sets. These are my first sets of ball hex sockets I have used. I'm having problems with the sockets rounding off very easy. I have replaced a few. I have had some mess up under fairly low torque. I would think a ball isn't as strong as a standard but maybe these aren't strong. Is this common for other brands. If no I'm up for recommendations.
Thanks

 

[Harrison2]

from what ive seen on here ball hex isnt designed for high torque applications however your sound to be prematurely wearing. are you using them on a impact?

carlyle stuff is supposed to be up there with tool truck brands and isnt cheap, id contact carlyle or your local napa for warranty on the set or bite the bullet and go with snap on etc.

 

[gooblunar]

I'm thinking premature wearing may be correct. I Don't use an impact with them. Every time they fail if I can I check them with a regular L key and I always can torque up past where the sockets fail. Usually that's with a ball L key and the long end is being used to the fastener, and using the short side for leverage. I can easily torque more. I hate to spend the money on some better, because I don't use often but when I need they can be a life saver .

 

[defektes]

That's the thing about bit sockets, there is good and bad. No grey. Warranty them to NAPA and inform them of the issue.

 

[gooblunar]

Well I upgraded my carlyle ball hex metric and standard sets to the long SNAPON sets and there is no comparison between the the two. I used both sets. The Carlyles failed and the Snapons worked perfectly! This is a good deal . It makes me sick if I break my tools! Even with warranty.

 

[defektes]

Congrats on the new set, you should share your experience with napa.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I have the standard and Metric Carlyle ball hex socket sets. These are my first sets of ball hex sockets I have used. I'm having problems with the sockets rounding off very easy. I have replaced a few. I have had some mess up under fairly low torque. I would think a ball isn't as strong as a standard but maybe these aren't strong. Is this common for other brands. If no I'm up for recommendations.
Thanks

Technically not supposed to use ball at a 90 degree angle like a regular hex socket. Don't say I said this, I say a lot of things that people will fight tooth and nail (and lizard tongue) with on here.

Don't mean they should round off that easily but it probably contributes to the wear especially on the smaller sizes. I own some ball end hex and only use them when clearance is an issue and/or I need to torque. Typically this means larger size hex so they don't wear for me. On the smaller sizes I would avoid ball end completely and just go bit w/bit socket if possible to torque but probably only need to hand tighten anyway.

 

[Conductor562]

I've had very good luck with my Carlyle hex bit sockets, although none of them are ball ends.