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Do you use regular sockets with your impact wrench?

Do you use regular sockets with your impact wrench?

  • Yes

    Votes: 43 20.3%

  • No

    Votes: 72 34.0%

  • When neccesary

    Votes: 97 45.8%
  • Total voters
    212
T

tressler

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
69
Do you use regular sockets with your impact wrench? Or impact sockets with your regular ratchet? I have done both out of necessity.
 
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W

woody 73

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
11,546
Location
The Great State Up North
I can understand that time is money and a person must do what it takes to get the job done,with that being said I asassume they work in a shop that a tool truck will visit in order for them to get socket replacements.

I for one will only use impact sockets much safer in the long run.
 
M

murph64

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
240
Location
Mohegan Lake, NY
The only set of 1/2" sockets I have are impacts :) And I'm fairly sure I've never used regular sockets on the gun. Now using the Hi Lift handle as a cheater on the breaker bar, well, that's a story for another day...:bounce:


Andy
 
M

mrholeshot

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
8,043
Guilty as charged, I will throw a Chrome socket on an impact in a split second. In most cases I'm using a very strong 3/8 gun (IR2115TI) and snap-on sockets. I cant remeber the last time I broke one using the impact. Many times an impact socket won't go down in the hole where the Chrome ones will. Now where I draw the line is I wont use a Chrome swivel socket on an Impact (oh my eye! lol). I have no reservations about using an Impact on a regular socket. I don't know many technicians that do. For the pro thats one of the reasons you spend the big bucks on tools like Snap-On. I worry more about getting the job done that destroying a socket. Thats why I have a warranty and a spare.
 
S

Stick Figure

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2009
Messages
1,395
Location
Omaha, Ne
I have more in the past that now just because i didn't have another option to do the job. now that i have a better selection of tools my little 18v Makita is about all that sees some chrome. So its only 30lb-ft IIRC.
 
F

Falcon67

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
18,371
Location
Merkel, TX
Sometimes, depends. I wear safety glasses and don't cry "warranty" if I blow one up ;) Pieces of my older Craftsman 1/2 drive set has been on the air wrench quite a few times and never lost one yet. I do have a set of deep impacts 1/2 and 3/8, need to put some regulars in the box sometime.
 
F

fordbroncodave

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
4,555
do you use an industrial finish ratchet with chrome sockets?


what ever floats your boat i guess....

i prefer to not use chrome sockets with an impact wrench, they tend to get damaged a little more then an impact socket does
 
OP
T

tressler

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
69
How about the other way around? I have found that impact sockets are far too soft for use with a ratchet.

The reason I posted the question is: I just bought a "chrome" 36mm socket for axle nuts. It claims that you can use it with an impact wrench or ratchet/torque wrench.
 
M

mrholeshot

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
8,043
tressler said:
How about the other way around? I have found that impact sockets are far too soft for use with a ratchet.

The reason I posted the question is: I just bought a "chrome" 36mm socket for axle nuts. It claims that you can use it with an impact wrench or ratchet/torque wrench.
Click to expand...

Ive never encountered that problem with Impact sockets being to soft.
 
S

sberry

Banned
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
One thing to consider is that the 36mm axle socket will see limited use, its one thing using hard chrome on a gun with limited torque usually and for limited work but some of our common impact sockets see thousands of uses at hi stress levels.
 
OP
T

tressler

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
69
mrholeshot said:
Ive never encountered that problem with Impact sockets being to soft.
Click to expand...

I have encountered more problems with 1/2 drive impact extensions... whenever someone uses them with a breaker bar, them seem to twist and snap easily. Impact sockets tend to stretch, but that is less common.
 
OP
T

tressler

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2010
Messages
69
sberry said:
One thing to consider is that the 36mm axle socket will see limited use, its one thing using hard chrome on a gun with limited torque usually and for limited work but some of our common impact sockets see thousands of uses at hi stress levels.
Click to expand...

Good point! Before I bought it, I used a standard chrome Craftsman 36mm socket with my impact wrench, thinking to myself, I will probably never use that socket for anything else... And I would still be using it, if the last can I worked on hadn't had such a long axle.

I do not use these tools everyday, just a shade-tree mechanic here. I have however, used and worked with industrial tools for years...
 
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I

impulse922

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
408
Location
SA, TX
electric impact and chrome craftsman hasn't backfired on me yet. I've got flaky chrome on one or two, but who cares :dunno:
 
S

shotgunfatcat

Well-known member
Joined
May 19, 2010
Messages
1,263
Location
I am the Wanderer
If it doesn't fit in the whole, which sometimes happens. Low torque, or with my Milwaukee electric 3/8's battery powered impact. Maybe I should invest in some 3/8's impact sockets. MMMM, both sets from snap-on a mere 500 bucks. Better start saving my pennies.
 
C

Charles (in GA)

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
12,489
Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
Merkava_4 said:
My chrome sockets have never seen an impact and they're not gonna either. :headshake
Click to expand...

Yes, but thats only because they sit unused in the as new tool box while you sit at the computer. They are tools and if you want to get the job done, you do what you gotta do sometimes.

The brakes on Boeing 727's and classic 737's are bolted on, with 12 point bolts. I used to use a breaker bar and chrome socket on the head, and a chrome deep socket and extension on the nut side all the time when changing brakes. Never harmed the sockets doing this Thank goodness the newer commercial aircraft have brakes that simply slide on the axle and engage torque pins, no more bolts!

Charles
 
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Merkava_4

Banned
Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
14,518
Location
Clovis, CA.
Charles (in GA) said:
Yes, but thats only because they sit unused in the as new tool box while you sit at the computer. They are tools and if you want to get the job done, you do what you gotta do sometimes.
Click to expand...

Using a chrome socket on an impact is just flat out cheesy. That's as bad as installing a bolt without cleaning the threads first. Disgusting.
 
C

crewchief888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,751
Location
NW indiana
i been using chrome sockets onmy 3/8 drive impact for a long, long time.
i do use impact swivels.
1/2 drive, i have my popular (deep) sizes in impacts, but i do use chromies if i have to.
1/4 dr. whats an impact?

:beer:
 
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wafrederick

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
6,051
Location
Holton,Mi
My chrome sockets either never been on my impact wrenches and never will.I use impact sockets only.Using chrome sockets on impact wrenches wears the anvils out including the clip holding the socket on.The clips are a real pita to get on.I used to use chrome sockets on lug nuts for the aftermarket wheels since an impact socket will not fit through and that has stopped.I bought a set of thinwall impact flip sockets for this application from my Matco tool dealer.Always inspect the anvils on your impact wrenches.Ingersall Rands are known for wearing out anvils every 2 years due to use.
 
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