Chrome Molybdenum Better for Impact Sockets?

[expfcwintergreen]

Chrome Vanadium better for Chrome Sockets?

How about wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers; what is the best steel for those?

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Chrome vanadium is most common for tools. Yes cm for impact sockets. Wrenches cv. The cheaper stuff is made of carbon steel usually.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Chrome-Moly. Much "tougher". Chrome-Vanadium will crack from the impact. HF sells both kinds so watch out !

 

[wafrederick]

Grey Pnuematic,Sunex and Matco ADV impact sockets are made out of chrome moly steel also

 

[Kracin]

Chrome-Moly. Much "tougher". Chrome-Vanadium will crack from the impact. HF sells both kinds so watch out !

depends on the socket and how lucky you are. you could talk to a bunch of guys who will say they never broke a single socket on an impact. and for me thats the truth, even on big impacts, i've never split or shattered a chrome socket (hf even) over the years. doesn't mean its the way it should be, but theres no reason to try to scare people with stories that rarely happen.

i'd buy into impact sockets more for their ability to transfer torque with an impact better and that they don't damage your impact over long term as well (worn down anvil where the socket attaches from the extra hard sockets wearing it down instead of the gun wearing the sockets down)

 

[Leadberry]

The only impact sockets I've ever split are thin-walled flip sockets, and I've split plenty of them over the years. Also, I'm not quite sure how impact sockets are any better at transferring torque. They're more durable, sure, and they forego chrome plating that would just get knocked off. But being better at torque transfer?

 

[Bullitt427]

Chrome-Moly. Much "tougher". Chrome-Vanadium will crack from the impact. HF sells both kinds so watch out !

Although it's incorrect to say, long story short Chrome-Moly is "softer" than Vanadium which is why it can take the impact hits.

Josh

 

[Kracin]

The only impact sockets I've ever split are thin-walled flip sockets, and I've split plenty of them over the years. Also, I'm not quite sure how impact sockets are any better at transferring torque. They're more durable, sure, and they forego chrome plating that would just get knocked off. But being better at torque transfer?

it may or may not, or may be negligible, but having something that flexes less on a fastener will provide better torque. a deepwell impact vs a deepwell chrome. my "**** dyno" has always felt like the impact sockets did a better job at breaking things loose than chrome sockets. probably just a placebo effect then, but they seem to transfer the impacts better

 

[Tronyadorable]

Impact socket makers have sorted this out for 70 plus years. Buy a recognizable name with a decent guarantee and move on with life.