First "Large" Socket Set Recommendations

[T45]

For new purchases/set building....

Looking for large sockets 30mm and up, do these need to be impact? and do they need to be deep? What is the modern/consensus view on extending chromes up to 30/32/34/36 in 1/2 drive? is this needless duplication? And any benefit of 6pt or is 12 point the one and done option (risk of rounding seems minimal)? Lastly will using cro-mo with breaker bars (not guns) start to wear out the square drive ends due to lack of hardness?

Figured I would ask here as alot of comments above are touching on some similar points.

 

[gdocktor3]

I think I have a 30 and 32mm and up to 1-1/2" in 1/2" drive, but that's the biggest. The rest is 3/4" drive. I have the Harbor Freight Cro-mo deep metric set I picked up dirt cheap on clearance that I've used with ratchet, but not my 3/4" impact wrench. I don't trust it. Then I have a 3/4" drive set of Craftsman USA 12 point shallow metric sockets I use and like a lot. With stuff that big, it is nice to have the 12 point option for clearance and obstruction purposes.

 

[bcradio]

Looking for large sockets 30mm and up, do these need to be impact? and do they need to be deep?

I would get impact for these if you have an impact they can be used on. Also, 6pt and shallow is what I'd get for impacts. If you don't have in impact that size, get shallow, 12pt, chrome.

What is the modern/consensus view on extending chromes up to 30/32/34/36 in 1/2 drive? is this needless duplication?

I would only get impacts of these sizes and say yes it is needless duplication. I would get 1/2' drive impacts in those sizes though, not just 3/4" drive.

And any benefit of 6pt or is 12 point the one and done option (risk of rounding seems minimal)?

I would buy 6pt impacts (don't get 12pt impacts unless using on a 12pt fastener) and then later get 12pt chrome if needed.

Lastly will using cro-mo with breaker bars (not guns) start to wear out the square drive ends due to lack of hardness?

No, this will not be an issue for you.

 

[T45]

Thanks lots of useful feedback in there

 

[General Geoff]

I have up to 36mm in deep wall 6 point impact, and up to 32mm in shallow chrome 12 point.

I prefer to have the deeps in impact style because I get more torque to the fastener if I don't have to use an extension with the impact. I also have the Pittsburgh Pro shallow impact sockets for places where a deep won't fit.