Do "shallow" (as opposed to "low profile") impact sockets exist?

[JradM]

I often use my manual impact driver for stuck screws. I was just thinking - could work it for bolts too?


The thing is, when you hit it with a screwdriver tip, the downward impact and twisting force are both applied to the stuck screw. If you stick a socket on it instead, the socket often bottoms out before it touches the fastener.

It will still apply twisting force - but not the downward impact (unless hitting the surface your fastener is screwed-into counts). If you had a shallow socket though... then it would bottom out on the fastener and work just like it does for screws.

I realize that's basically the same work "bolt breaker" pneumatic hammer bits are doing. I just figured you could get a similar effect without an air source - if you had the right sockets.

 

[Leroy]

Just a guess but I'd say you'd be better off using an impact gun for bolts.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

A little toy impact driver works great for rotor screws which are m6x1.00 thread typically.

It's not going to do **** to "real bolts". You'll just wear wearing you arm out and potentially whack your hand with a hammer. Even a weak sauce impact like an m12 stubby is going to be radically more powerful than a hand impact driver.


It's like guys I work with trying to use an M18 mid torque as a "real" impact gun. It doesn't have any balls, just like the little hand impact driver.

 

[Zewnten]

Yes shallow impact sockets exist. Almost every manufacturer on the planet makes them. A single internet search would have shown this. But I agree with 2gearrubber that other than small bolts and screws that tool isn’t going to get much done.

 

[darkzero]

Yeah standard length sockets are considered shallow length sockets but I get that's not what you mean. I think what you might be referring to are sockets with a shallow broach or in other words not a full broach. But these are usually for deep sockets.

Still that won't solve the problem as bolt heads & nuts thickness can vary. But it's not actually a problem that needs to be resolved, well IMO anyway. The "downward impact" is not really needed for a bolt head or nut. It's usefull for a screw to help prevent camming out.

 

[JradM]

Yes shallow impact sockets exist. Almost every manufacturer on the planet makes them. A single internet search would have shown this. But I agree with 2gearrubber that other than small bolts and screws that tool isn’t going to get much done.

I think you misunderstood me. I don't mean standard or low profile sockets, but sockets where the internal broaching is shallow so they rest on top of the bolt rather than covering it and contacting the surface of your part - darkzero did a better job than me in describing it.

 

[JradM]

It's not going to do **** to "real bolts".

I don't mean for this to replace my DCF899. I have "real" tools to work on "real bolts".

I think I did a bad job explaining. This idea occurred to me as I'm removing the m6 SEMS bolts from my current project. They're small - something you would install with a 1/4" ratchet.

I'm trying to be patient and it's mostly working. All the fasteners are pretty frozen, but I'm only breaking say 1 in 20 using heat, slowing going back and forth with a breaker bar, using a small impact gun when I can't get any movement and lots of penetrating fluid. That's slow, but still faster than drilling and extracting.

I figured a little impact hammering might help. I might just pick up a cheap 10mm socket and grind it down like I'm describing to see how it goes.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I don't mean for this to replace my DCF899. I have "real" tools to work on "real bolts".

I think I did a bad job explaining. This idea occurred to me as I'm removing the m6 SEMS bolts from my current project. They're small - something you would install with a 1/4" ratchet.

I'm trying to be patient and it's mostly working. All the fasteners are pretty frozen, but I'm only breaking say 1 in 20 using heat, slowing going back and forth with a breaker bar, using a small impact gun when I can't get any movement and lots of penetrating fluid. That's slow, but still faster than drilling and extracting.

I figured a little impact hammering might help. I might just pick up a cheap 10mm socket and grind it down like I'm describing to see how it goes.

Often a low profile socket will have a high enough broach to accomplish what you're trying to do.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I often use my manual impact driver for stuck screws. I was just thinking - could work it for bolts too?


The thing is, when you hit it with a screwdriver tip, the downward impact and twisting force are both applied to the stuck screw. If you stick a socket on it instead, the socket often bottoms out before it touches the fastener.

It will still apply twisting force - but not the downward impact (unless hitting the surface your fastener is screwed-into counts). If you had a shallow socket though... then it would bottom out on the fastener and work just like it does for screws.

I realize that's basically the same work "bolt breaker" pneumatic hammer bits are doing. I just figured you could get a similar effect without an air source - if you had the right sockets.

The downward force doesn't have any benefit when you're using a socket since it doesn't have a tendency to cam out like a screwdriver.

 

[mreisner]

Why not stick some washers in the most shallow sock that you have that should give me pretty close. Astron Nano's are pretty shallow.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Look at the Astro Nano sockets. They might be shallow enough to work like you are thinking and are handy to have around even if they don't do what you are thinking of.

 

[Lucid Moments]

The downward force doesn't have any benefit when you're using a socket since it doesn't have a tendency to cam out like a screwdriver.

I think I get what OP is talking about. The added shock of being struck at the same time as being twisted might be enough to break a smallish bolt that is rusted (Or otherwise siezed) in place loose.

 

[JradM]

I think I get what OP is talking about. The added shock of being struck at the same time as being twisted might be enough to break a smallish bolt that is rusted (Or otherwise siezed) in place loose.

Yep, that's it. I don't know if it will work or not, I was just trying to brainstorm more ways to help me get these out without breaking.

I think I'll try those nano sockets - they look like what I was imagining when I asked the question.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Yep, that's it. I don't know if it will work or not, I was just trying to brainstorm more ways to help me get these out without breaking.

I think I'll try those nano sockets - they look like what I was imagining when I asked the question.

Let us know how they work out. I have had similar thoughts, but I live in Georgia so I haven't needed to find out if the idea works or not.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I got luck once and had a steel ball (from a bearing) that fit the inside of a socket and was just the right size for the head height on the bolt. Other times I've put a nut inside the socket to get the right depth. Still worked but didn't feel as solid of a hit as that ball did.

 

[Steve_P]

Why not just actually use a real impact gun? If you have room to swing a hammer, don't you have room for a compact impact gun? Yes, feel free to shorten sockets for 4-6mm engagement so you can whack the F out of the head and accomplish a fraction the same thing...

 

[Mr.N]

I often use my manual impact driver for stuck screws. I was just thinking - could work it for bolts too?

I learn and built one of those in the 90's... didn't work too well. I'd rather use a manual impact driver and/or heat.

 

[Zewnten]

OP I understand what you’re after now. Sorry I couldn’t picture it in my head. Unfortunately I don’t know of any very shallow broached sockets, snap on and U.S.A. SK are somewhat shallow. If I needed it more so I’d probably grind down the socket until I got the depth I wanted. I’ve had to do that where the lead in chamfer of the socket messed with engaging very thin nuts