Deep impact socket brands...

[hamburglar]

This is a question that has been asked in various fashions before, but what the heck, I like the sound of my own keyboard.

I've hit some instances lately when a set of deep 1/2" sockets would have been nice to have. I don't want to buy this twice, i'd rather my heirs or an estate sale dealt with anything I buy, and I also like the idea of just buying impact 1/2" sockets and using them for everything...at least in this case.

Anyhow, since I would just as soon have a fairly full set in a case (rather than on a rail or something) I wonder if there's any difference between SK and Grey sockets as far as strength, fit/finish, or clearance issues. The eBay SK's seem to cost about the same as new Grey (which aren't cheap on eBay for some reason) so without looking at them, it's hard to tell if one has a overly thick wall compared to the other brand.

I suppose I could keep my eye out for Snap On sets, but they seem to be going for about 2x as much (used).

 

[MarkH]

This is not as much a brand issue, but a requirement that frequently has us use a chrome to impact. how thick are the walls and how much area of taper do we have. This has us buying more expensive sockets for deep well impacts. I think a comparison of the old SK vs the new ones explains what I am talking about. The old ones a very short taper right at the end, the new ones a longer area that allows us to get into places that many other brands do not. There are multiple brands on the higher end that have that design now.

So that for us is the major consideration not brand, what am I using it on and does it fit. After that most impacts are fairly solid, that is why some of them are so thick.

 

[PoorOwner]

I would just go for grey 1319D, Grey 1326MD and call it a day around $200.. and it's complete, no skipped sizes..

I did all the number crunching before, although I am not sure about Ebay prices, to build a set with SK sockets are always higher (close to 1.5x - 2x), than Grey, at the big tool retailers on the internet. Although. SK are made in USA, Grey in Taiwan, if you care.

 

[ImportTuner]

You can't go wrong with the Grey Pneumatic ... can't break the stuff, it's so strong ... good price, complete set ... made in Taiwan, but you would never know it by using it ... Great stuff

 

[jay50]

Buy Cman when they are on sell; great sockets.

 

[Stanger]

I agree with jay. You can get a pretty complete set of Cman deep impacts for under $100.

 

[dxdexter]

This is a question that has been asked in various fashions before, but what the heck, I like the sound of my own keyboard.

I've hit some instances lately when a set of deep 1/2" sockets would have been nice to have. I don't want to buy this twice, i'd rather my heirs or an estate sale dealt with anything I buy, and I also like the idea of just buying impact 1/2" sockets and using them for everything...at least in this case.

Anyhow, since I would just as soon have a fairly full set in a case (rather than on a rail or something) I wonder if there's any difference between SK and Grey sockets as far as strength, fit/finish, or clearance issues. The eBay SK's seem to cost about the same as new Grey (which aren't cheap on eBay for some reason) so without looking at them, it's hard to tell if one has a overly thick wall compared to the other brand.

I suppose I could keep my eye out for Snap On sets, but they seem to be going for about 2x as much (used).

Are you looking for SAE or Metric? There are quite a few deep Grey Pneumatic SAE sets on eBay for around $60 in a case. It seems like a good deal.

 

[hamburglar]

Are you looking for SAE or Metric? There are quite a few deep Grey Pneumatic SAE sets on eBay for around $60 in a case. It seems like a good deal.

Both. It also wouldn't kill me to get deep + regular sets, although I do have a killer set of Apex metric regular sockets and extensions and so really don't need those. Honestly I haven't seen much on eBay that wasn't But It Now at roughly the web pricing from retailers.

 

[dxdexter]

Both. It also wouldn't kill me to get deep + regular sets, although I do have a killer set of Apex metric regular sockets and extensions and so really don't need those. Honestly I haven't seen much on eBay that wasn't But It Now at roughly the web pricing from retailers.

Check out these sellers:
http://search.ebay.ca/search/search...=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

http://search.ebay.ca/search/search...=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

 

[hamburglar]

You know, I think it's just darned hard to beat the regular web retailers...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Grey-Pneumatic-1...ryZ43993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=GRY1312D&source=froogle&kw=GRY1312D

 

[hamburglar]

The funny thing about these Grey sets, and I know that it has been brought up before, is that you can make a strong argument for just buying a crate of those (1/4, 3/8, 1/2, maybe lugnut set or some magnetic sets), and some ratchets and breaker bars and call it a day. Get completely out of the socket business at that point.

 

[dxdexter]

You know, I think it's just darned hard to beat the regular web retailers...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Grey-Pneumatic-1...ryZ43993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=GRY1312D&source=froogle&kw=GRY1312D

Your right, it sure pays to shop around. The eBayer probably buys them from the cheaper guys and resells them.

 

[hamburglar]

Of course, then you get into the feedback loop of too many choices. Rather than just up and ordering something, I'll price compare it to death...and now I'll probably crank through the conversions and see if there's even any point to getting both SAE and metric sets in large sizes, or just assuming that they become interchangeable as they get bigger.

 

[PoorOwner]

my experience with tool discounters was great, everything was new in wrapping, shipped out next day, the inventory for GP is also most complete there.
They are THE cheapest on the internet. I ordered one shipment over 70 lbs of GP sockets from them...!

The GP has better finish than craftsman, the craftsman look like they pre-wear it for you, and craftsman skip sizes...

 

[unclemat]

Crapsman are way too fat walled, even in big sizes like 19-22mm. Stay away.

GP or Sunex in smaller sizes taper and won't fit in tight places. I'd say skip them, at least in sizes 10-15. Over that they are fine.

Older SK (without laser imprints) smaller sizes don't taper until the end.. But I don't like fit & finish on SK sockets. Newer (with laser finish) taper half way.

Best are the newer style Snap-Ons hands down. Don't taper until the end and have very nice fit and finish. Note, older ones taper early, like GP/Sunex.

My choice - for 10-19mm - Snap On both shallow and deep, above that Sunex.