Cracked a Craftsman socket.

[logan09]

Cracked a Craftsman and Snap-on socket.

Friend just sent me this picture. Asked if he was using an impact. Said he was just using his own 2 hands.


I guess the Snap-on couldn't handle it either.

 

[Wakefield]

How old was it? Was the working opening off center? (broach not centered such that wall was extra thin on one side?

 

[elronin]

I had a 1/4 long Craftsman 10mm socket crack like that on me, but only 3/4 of the way down. It happens. Good thing when you warranty it, most of the single sockets at Sears are made in the USA

 

[tjmonsen5]

I did that, on a lug nut. It was super tight, had to drill the lug nut out even an impact socket wouldnt cut it.

 

[Evan(CA)]

I've cracked a couple US made cman sockets. One deep 17mm and a deep 19mm.

 

[BigAl62]

It happens. I've never had one crack myself, but I've seen others do it. I guess I'm just lucky. I've only ever cracked cheap no name Chinese sockets. That being said, this is what warranties are for.

 

[RalphInCA]

I cracked a craftsman US-made socket not too long ago. Brought to the store got a new one. Easy.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Looks like the crack is in line with one of the four corners on the bottom. May be an engineering things i don't know about haha.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Why not create a thread titled like so: "I woke up today. Breathed some air."

 

[zakmartin]

I've cracked a dozen or so sockets in 30 years. The socket in the photo looks like it's 1980's - 1990's vintage and it's pretty banged up. Your friend probably got his money's worth out of it. ***** that he has to trade it for a Chinese socket if he wants to warranty it now. Might try getting a freebee replacement in the loose sockets thread.

 

[John in OH]

That happened to me once also on a 10mm Cman socket. But, I attributed the failure to the 14" long pipe I had on the end of the 3/8" breaker bar!

 

[BearCuda]

I cracked a 13 mm deepwell awhile ago. No Sears close by anymore ( ours shut down) so I replaced it with a snap on. Ill warranty it one of these days.

 

[GTA Matt]

Take a pic of the square end, you'll be able to tell if an impact has been used on it in the past.

 

[RCStocker]

I have rebuilt farm machinery, cars and industrial machinery. I have used pipes on the ratchets and in 60 years I can say I have only cracked 2 sockets and both were C-man. I would never put a cheater bar on any other brand. They take them back with no questions asked. I don't buy off of any tool trucks.

It happens. It is a 50 cent socket. there are buckets full of the out her in California at the swap meets. Most time they are a buck but many times much lest if you buy the entire box.

I could not get the lug nut off of my VW dune bugy years ago. I picked the entire back end up off the ground. I put a cheater on it and jumped on it. it broke loose. Then again I am almost 300 pounds. LOL

 

[senor fozz]

Why not create a thread titled like so: "I woke up today. Breathed some air."

WIsh i could have sadi that this morning. being sick blows.

 

[tweedlestan]

Why not create a thread titled like so: "I woke up today. Breathed some air."

I thought about posting "My Snap on PH2 screwdriver doesn't fit any screws worth a damn" today.

 

[Jason280]

What size socket?

 

[scw1991]

I'm going to assume that socket had suffered many years of fatigue/stress.

 

[dledinger]

I haven't yet cracked a Craftsman socket or broken a Craftsman wrench. I do remember breaking my Dad's SKs when I was a kid. Not to imply that Craftsman is better than SK, just that I've gotten smarter and tend to find something bigger nowadays.

I think if I'm ever in that boat, I won't bother with a Chinese replacement.

 

[Steinmetz]

Friend just sent me this picture. Asked if he was using an impact. Said he was just using his own 2 hands.

Next time, friend needs to wash his hands, and clean his fingernails before going worldwide.

 

[xtremek]

Broke a few Cman chrome sockets. Never put chrome on an impact. That's why I bought off the truck when I turned a wrench. Wore out many Cman tools.

 

[2mJps]

I bought a set of CM Metric deep 3/8 chrome sockets 20years ago and something was wrong with them i didnt use them hard but alot of them cracked i replaced them and they are ok.I have alot of CM tools and they have held up great. I bought a set of MAC sockets and one broke in 2 the first time i used it.

 

[outdoorsman310]

you cant get that stuff out. ive broken some craftsman sockets, it happens

 

[gearhead1]

I've broken a couple of craftsman sockets over the years, they're pretty tough overall.

A crack in a socket will usually start at the open end and will crack as the action on turning a frozen fastener on the hexes will try to 'push apart' the open end. It will propagate to a corner of the square drive as the square corner is a stress riser. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_concentration)

I've seen cheaper sockets that didn't crack, but became 'bell shaped' (and no longer able to turn a fastener) because the material was more ductile, it simply yielded. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ductility)

 

[stage20]

ive broke a few 10mm older craftsman sockets. if you notice, the 10mm on the old ones have a small body like a lesser size socket, it just seems to be"punched out" more for the 10mm sizing. ive got some newer ones that have a step to them.
one that is cracked but not all the way down i still use. not sure if the store has these old thin ones and they work good in tight spots on my header studs. 12 point sockets im referring to. the 6pts i have are in deed thicker material

 

[Allenw]

my boy broke a craftsman socket when he was 12, not hard to do. I've gotten tired of carrying tools back to sears, inherited a friends mostly proto tool set from the 70's and been buying more when I find them reasonable (cheap).

 

[logan09]

Next time, friend needs to wash his hands, and clean his fingernails before going worldwide.

Well most people are actual Mechanics unlike couch mechanics on here.

 

[sloppy]

Next time, friend needs to wash his hands, and clean his fingernails before going worldwide.

Why? This is a garage sight right?

 

[Danglerb]

Maybe he failed to warm the socket before using it?

 

[arms1970]

Why not create a thread titled like so: "I woke up today. Breathed some air."

 

[Hootbro]

I've cracked a dozen or so sockets in 30 years. The socket in the photo looks like it's 1980's - 1990's vintage and it's pretty banged up. ..................

That socket is not that old. It has that funky side retention system divots. That makes it maybe 5 years old or so at most.

 

[montanafordman]

That socket is not that old. It has that funky side retention system divots. That makes it maybe 5 years old or so at most.

I have some that look just like it, with the weird detents and the hash marks lllllll around the side that I bought sometime around 2002-2003. They've had that style for a while.

 

[RalphInCA]

That socket is not that old. It has that funky side retention system divots. That makes it maybe 5 years old or so at most.

Wow. You guys are waaaaay to focused on tools.

Go have *** with the neighbors wife or something. This kind of fixation on tools is just plain wierd.

(Just kidding)

 

[LandR]

I broke a brand new Craftman US made 11/16 3/8" drive this past weekend. First time using it on a bolt. Broke with a ratchet. Not even a cheater bar.

It happens. I've broken a fair amount of sockets. It comes with using your tools

 

[1950mercury]

Looks like he should have went up a size on his ratchet/socket