Does a 1/4" air rachet need impact sockets?

[sasquatchpa]

I have a 1/2 impact in air and battery,and the corresponding sockets but they're big and heavy for a lot of stuff. I'm thinking about 1/4" but do I need to buy impact sockets?

 

[chammyman]

yes would be the health and safety answer.

But TBH I have used normal sockets on 1/2 and 3/4 drive guns for years and at most one cracked, but I used decent quality sockets.

 

[kythri]

What, you're supposed to use impacts on a 3/8" air ratchet, too?

I didn't think that they were considered an "impact" type of tool...

 

[epmills]

Just because it is air powered, doesn't mean you need to use impact sockets. Impact wrenches, preferably, but for a air ratchet, dont worry about it, you can use chrome.

 

[Ducroix]

I have a 1/2 impact in air and battery,and the corresponding sockets but they're big and heavy for a lot of stuff. I'm thinking about 1/4" but do I need to buy impact sockets?

I use regular sockets on any of my air/power tools except 1/2in and above, no broken ones yet

 

[Jbullfrog]

All of the Power Block shows on Spike show them using chrome sockets on impacts all the time.

 

[daveblank]

All of the Power Block shows on Spike show them using chrome sockets on impacts all the time.

Just because they do it does not make it right.

On a 1/4 ratchet it is not needed. Some people are from the school of all air tools require impact sockets & that's fine by me.

Withthat bieng said anything that has a hammer mechanism needs impact sockets.

 

[Fedwrench]

No. Most 1/4 drive air ratchets are rated at 20-25 foot pounds depending on brand. There's no hammering so, chrome should be fine. Impact wrenches are a different story though. Chrome sockets are more brittle than impact sockets and tend to shatter after prolonged impact use. It's not too healthy for the impact wrench either.

 

[kythri]

OK, that's what I thought...

I use impact sockets on my impact wrenches/guns, but chromes on my 3/8" air ratchet.

 

[nissan_crawler]

air ratchets get regular chrome sockets.

 

[Merkava_4]

I have a 1/2 impact in air and battery,and the corresponding sockets but they're big and heavy for a lot of stuff. I'm thinking about 1/4" but do I need to buy impact sockets?

That sounds like you're planning on getting a 1/4" drive impact wrench. If you actually meant Air Ratchet, then no; you don't need impact sockets for a non-impacting air ratchet.

 

[eschoendorff]

air ratchets get regular chrome sockets.

No impacting mechanism = no need for impact sockets. Doesn't hurt to use them if you have them though.