Flex Head Sockets

[dink]

Would you consider these a must buy....or Later down the road buy??????

http://www.skhandtool.com/images/itemimages/3910.jpg

 

[Luckydevil]

I'd say just get a flex attachment and be done with it.

 

[dink]

I'd say just get a flex attachment and be done with it.

Yea I have the flex attachment....but looking at these I wonder if people swear by these or not....just curious on people thoughts

 

[bmwpower]

I wish I had these many times. The reason being the overall length of those sockets are shorter than a swivel + socket. When trying to get it tight places that may be just a hair off axis, these would work wonders.

The downside is, for whatever reason, they're always pricey.

 

[Jared]

I have a couple of the sears ones and they are horible the u joints move to freely so you really put any leveradge on them.

 

[dink]

I wish I had these many times. The reason being the overall length of those sockets are shorter than a swivel + socket. When trying to get it tight places that may be just a hair off axis, these would work wonders.

The downside is, for whatever reason, they're always pricey.

Probably because its a type of socket that not many manufacturers have I would think......but if you think about it....its the same thing has just a universal

 

[vmo]

I work on commercial aircraft, and they are an absolute necessity. A lot of the spaces that are available for access are very restrictive, and a flex-socket is necessary. In 35 years of work, I am still on my original set of snap-on 12 point sockets. By the way, when they loosen up, the judicious use of a ball-peen hammer can tighten them right back up. If you're afraid to use a hammer, slip a piece of heat-shrink over the flex-joint and shrink till tight.

Dusty

 

[dink]

I work on commercial aircraft, and they are an absolute necessity. A lot of the spaces that are available for access are very restrictive, and a flex-socket is necessary. In 35 years of work, I am still on my original set of snap-on 12 point sockets. By the way, when they loosen up, the judicious use of a ball-peen hammer can tighten them right back up. If you're afraid to use a hammer, slip a piece of heat-shrink over the flex-joint and shrink till tight.

Dusty

Good thoughts....as for the Sears brand.....I probably wouldnt buy this type from sears because it is movable and flexible...SK is probably much tougher and tighter on the part that flexes so you dont get much dangling

 

[kartracer55]

They have thier uses, def. not a necessity. If you are going ot get them, spend the extra $$$ and get the impact version. The swivel that impact sockets use is WAY better than chrome in terms of funtionality. Its quite easy to round off a nut or bolt with these, becaause you cant always give direct pressure. Trust me... buy swivel impact sockets... way easier to use.

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

They have thier uses, def. not a necessity. If you are going ot get them, spend the extra $$$ and get the impact version. The swivel that impact sockets use is WAY better than chrome in terms of funtionality. Its quite easy to round off a nut or bolt with these, becaause you cant always give direct pressure. Trust me... buy swivel impact sockets... way easier to use.

Jim

Funny, but I always kinda thought the same thing. I actually use my impact swivel joints on my hand ratchets instead of the traditional chrome universal joints. They just feel more direct.

 

[kartracer55]

Yeah, When I first bought the Impact universal, I fell in love (so to speak) Since then i have wondered why they continue to use the other inferior design on chrome sockets!! Granted, a bit less "swivel" but anything more than the 30 degrees an impact universal provides leads to uneven pressure on the nut... IE one side higher than the other or offset, so it will just get rounded off. The only drawbacks to the Impact swivels is that the socket is thicker

Jim

 

[l_bilyk]

I would only buy them if they were on sale, and I didnt need anything else.

Regular sockets with flex joint do pretty much the same thing

There are odd occasions when you need one of these, but usually a flex head gearwrench will work

 

[dink]

Yea I am starting agreeing with you all this should be one of those buy it way down the road only if you need it....or i just want to buy something

 

[79rallysport]

I have one set of Craftsman that I got in a big set. The quality ***** but in certain circumstances there is no other tool that will get the job done. I've used my set quite a bit and I can't imagine working on my car without them. I agree with Kartracer that the flex-impact sockets have a better design but they are very bulky and combersome, which in some situations will negate the purpose of using the flex socket. In those cases a universal+socket would probably do the same thing.

 

[l_bilyk]

Yea I am starting agreeing with you all this should be one of those buy it way down the road only if you need it....or i just want to buy something

Get all the sockets you're missing. Buy more gear wrenches! Maybe a set of quick release ratches unless that facom is quick release?

 

[kartracer55]

Quick release ratchets are really nice when your hands are all oily, but the only SK I know of with quick release is the tear drop, adn the only snap on with it is the one with the weird shaped head on it.

 

[dink]

The Facom is not quick release....the only quick release is my tiny 1/4 Craftsmen ratchet

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

my boy worked in a transmission shop were they are a must BUT he said the only ones to get are the ones that have a ball type swivel. the others hang up. I actualy have set of cheapo HF ones that work well but will not hold up as the snap on and some others do. Ed ke6bnl

 

[dink]

my boy worked in a transmission shop were they are a must BUT he said the only ones to get are the ones that have a ball type swivel. the others hang up. I actualy have set of cheapo HF ones that work well but will not hold up as the snap on and some others do. Ed ke6bnl

Yea I agree I think the ball style is much more practical

 

[kartracer55]

Yeah, but those only come in impact... which have really thick sidewalls.... so why cant they just make chrome sockets with that type of swivel???

Jim

 

[dink]

Yeah, but those only come in impact... which have really thick sidewalls.... so why cant they just make chrome sockets with that type of swivel???

Jim

Probably because either polished or chromed would get all scratched up and woulldnt look to pretty after awhile

 

[kartracer55]

Id rather have a tool that looks a bit beat up but is alot nicer to use than a shiney tool that ***** (relativly)

 

[dink]

Id rather have a tool that looks a bit beat up but is alot nicer to use than a shiney tool that ***** (relativly)

Yea but shiny metal on shiny metal wouldnt be a good match...no thank you