Do I Need Impact Sockets?

[Rich M.]

To make things better for my aging body, I was thinking about getting an impact driver to removing small bolts. I do small engine repair/maintenance for my family, friends and neighbors and I thought a driver would help.

For those of you in a similar situation, is buying an impact driver worth it? Also, do you recommend buying impact sockets?

 

[Bogie1632]

Yes and yes.

Do you already have a cordless powertool platform? Plenty of good, inexpensive sets to be had or name brand if that's more your flavor. Even on small engines I would use impact sockets on impacts. Lots of good reasons to, but saving the chrome and drive ends are two big ones.

V/R
Bogie

 

[JoeMcGov]

Impact driver? Or impact gun? Just to be clear.

 

[65ranchero]

Impact driver is not a bad idea. I use one occasionally but most of the time my go-to is 3/8 impact air mostly some times cordless 3/8 .
Impact sockets will absorb shock and can take constant pounding won't shatter like chrome.

 

[Rich M.]

Impact driver? Or impact gun? Just to be clear.

Driver

 

[Rich M.]

Yes and yes.

Do you already have a cordless powertool platform? Plenty of good, inexpensive sets to be had or name brand if that's more your flavor. Even on small engines I would use impact sockets on impacts. Lots of good reasons to, but saving the chrome and drive ends are two big ones.

V/R
Bogie

Still have the C3 platform. Not looking to rebuild my C3 tools, but replacing them as needed.

 

[Professional Tool User]

For low torque bolts, impact drivers are worth it and will work fine. I would spend the extra money on impact sockets. They are made to be softer and therefore more
shatter proof. Also, they rattle less and are easier on the tool. Those square drive adapters for impact drivers have a tendency to eventually break, so anything that reduces wear on them helps.

 

[redragoon]

Buy a good electric 3/8" compact impact for most of your work and a higher torque 1/2" version for when it still doesn't come loose.

I also highly recommend a set of flex impact sockets. Those will help you get the impact gun onto bolts in tight spaces.

 

[gungatim]

LGR!

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Impact drivers are great for stuff under 9/16 or 14mm most of the time.

I DO recommend getting impact sockets, they are so cheap now it's crazy. Sunex or Tekton have them very "cheaply" for tools you'll probably never wear out. It's the correct and safe tool.

Another great option if you don't need the whole set of sockets is to get nut setters for your impact driver. VIM and Sunex have nice sets you can look at.

https://sunextools.com/products/9933-14pc-impact-ready-magnetic-nut-setters-set/

 

[unslow1]

I have impact sockets and don't bother with them for the 1/4 impact driver. Now for the 1/2 impact that can take off lugnuts I do.

 

[BrandoJames]

I use my Makita “impact driver” for screws, primarily to drive wood screws. You can buy socket adapters for it, but not sure why you’d buy an impact driver for that purpose. I’d recommend a Milwaukee 3/8” fuel ratchet if you’re primarily working with small engines. A 3/8 impact socket set is fairly inexpensive, e.g.,Tekton.

 

[Hammer1963]

The work that you described can be easily handles with a Milwaukee Fuel 3/8" impact and a set of 3/8" impact sockets will cover a wide range of sizes. These impacts are easy to control and learn the torque settings.

 

[SeisMec]

Yes, get an impact driver. After you use it on some project with 15 or 20 1/4"-3/8" bolts you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

And yes, get impact sockets. You can easily find 1/4" drive impact set that range up to 9/16"/15mm. Even an economy impact drive will be able to handle slightly larger sizes than that. If you want to work with some of those slightly larger nuts/bolts, singleton socket or two in 3/8" or 1/2" drive probably makes more economic sensible than a complete set.

My mid-range Ridgid will usually (90% of time?) handle lug nuts on small cars - 3/4" & 19mm. Even one step up in size and you've got something like a 10% chance the driver might conceivably spin it loose.

No, I'm not recommending the impact driver for any kind of lug nuts. (Use a 1/2" drive impact gun.) Just trying to give you a notion of the absolute upper limits for an impact driver.

 

[BrandoJames]

Are we all clear on the difference between an impact driver vs an impact wrench (gun). An impact driver is designed to drive screws. You can buy a socket adapter for an impact driver. Heck I sometimes use a screwdriver as a hammer. But that's not what that tool is designed for, and you're not going to get the best results.

I recommend that the OP buy an 3/8" impact wrench and a set of impact sockets.

 

[M635_Guy]

My impact driver (Milwaukee Surge) is, surprisingly to me, my most-used tool and I love it.

I did get 1/4" sockets for it, but haven't used them a ton. I wouldn't go without impact sockets for impact wrench, but especially for small, low-torque fastener work I think it would be fine (and has been for me).

 

[mopar66]

I am a serious DIY, and work on mostly cars, but will work on anything mechanical. Bought a Milwaukee M12 3/8 stubby impact wrench with a full set of Tekton 3/8 impact sockets that I use all the time. Then I decided to buy the M12 1/4 stubby impact wrench with a full set of Tekton 1/4 impact sockets. I use it all the time also. Really happy with them.

 

[Robinson1]

I use chrome sockets with an adapter on a cordless impact driver semi regularly. 2-3 times a month. Been doing this for over 10 years and never cracked a socket. I have however broken adapters.

 

[simnil]

I have good quality regular 1/2" sockets, both standard and long ones, and I have yet to destroy one with my Makita 18V impact gun. Yes, if you are going for a high torque 1/2" air impact you need impact sockets, for the 200-300Nm battery impacts, you don't. For small nuts and bolts, up to M8, I usually use my Makita drill with a fairly low torque setting just to wind it in and then tighten it by hand.

By the way, first thing I learned when I started working as a truck mechanic at age 20 was that you never use the impact on an old bolt before you have at least released it a bit manually first. The rapid impacts are extremely efficient in snapping seized bolts.

 

[Mr_B]

For sort of work you doing you want slim sockets be useful, I would go for duo sockets or slimmest impacts you can find in your price range or simply not bother unless you impacting the snot out of stuff ..
chrome sockets don't explode like the myths suggest, it does ruin the chrome and wallow the drive squares making them awful use by hand and does have some H&S risk used on power tools.

 

[Voi]

If this will be used with sockets more than for driving screws then I'd get an impact wrench and an adapter for occasional use with bits rather than the other way around.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Produ...ing/SHOCKWAVE-Sockets-and-Adapters/48-03-4410

Although for small engine work I assume you'd get the 3/8" wrench and therefore the 3/8" to 1/4" square adapter.

 

[Rich M.]

I used someone’s suggestion to look at YouTube videos and see what tools others that are in the small engine repair business use. So I watch quite a few videos and what they said or what they used in the video went in this order:

1 Impact Driver
2 Impact Wrench
3 Battery/air Ratchet.

Now for me, I do not plan to go into business repairing small engines. I just want to be able to use my free time to learn the ins and outs to help out family, friends and neighbors. I have plenty of free time so why not. I am hoping to keep my tool purchases to a minimum.

 

[Mr_B]

^
impact driver do you fine, I use a 12v one for lot of small engine work .
impact sockets not a must but save wrecking chrome set .
you will find chunky impacts a pain in the **** in tight scenarios of small engines, impact hex and torx sockets be useful if do newer equipment .

 

[Eric H.]

I use my Makita “impact driver” for screws, primarily to drive wood screws. You can buy socket adapters for it, but not sure why you’d buy an impact driver for that purpose. I’d recommend a Milwaukee 3/8” fuel ratchet if you’re primarily working with small engines. A 3/8 impact socket set is fairly inexpensive, e.g.,Tekton.

Because they are fast, lite and very easy to handle. I use a 1/2" adapter and can remove 9/16" lug nuts from my 3/4 ton Dodge Ram that were torqued to 110 ft lbs with my Dewalt. If I put the nuts on it will exceed 110 ft lbs. That's why so many companies make the square drive adapters for the 1/4" chucks. I've been a mechanic for 30+ years and it's one of my favorite tools. The only time I will reach specifically for an impact socket is a stubborn bolt that's giving me trouble. Many times an impact socket won't fit where you need it. Whichever socket is closest to my lunch hooks that fits the fastener I'm working with is the one I grab.

 

[seber]

I use plated sockets with my impact driver a lot. The only failure was when I tried it with a Crapsman socket. Snap-on and SK have never been a problem.

 

[Jland]

Yep.. impact sockets are needed if you plan on wrenching over 100 ft/lbs. the imports are so inexpensive and of a high enough quality that there is really no reason to not have a set, imo

 

[Sonknee]

Impacts sockets will prevent you from cracking your normal everyday sockets

 

[Rich M.]

I spoke to a friend to see what he did and found that he uses an air ratchet to remove fasteners.

I think I will borrow his spare ratchet and see how well it works.

Oh, another possibility.

 

[Mr_B]

If decide on air ratchet look at getting modern reactionless impacting air ratchet.
absolute game changers and compact too

 

[seagullplayer]

I use my impact driver all the time with sockets.

I do not use impact sockets 99% of the time.

I also have an air impact and an air ratchet. I use them rarely, the air line is a hassle.
Should you use air, make sure you use a hose reel. I should have hung mine from the ceiling. That may be why I don't use mine much...

 

[Rich M.]

You are right about the air hose. For me, I just bought a new compressor about three years ago so it is an asset that I need to tap into.

My thought is too pick up a few air tools to see how things go. With battery tools being so popular, decent air tools can be bought fairly cheap. If things go well, I can gradually switch over to battery tools as well.

 

[Mr_B]

I wouldn't bother with hose reels, they awful waste of money for no real benefit, tend be massive air flow loss on home setups with lower max psi to start which can become uselessly low after a reel assembly .
Just buy/cut decent 3/8 quality rubber hose 1 short length and 1 longer . The short length should be suitable for most common work area reach and not so long it becomes hassle .