Grey Pneumatic swivel impact sockets...

[TheGrooveking]

I was curious as to quality of the Grey Pneumatic swivel impact sockets so figured I would ask. I have Armstrong MAXX universal impact sockets in 3/8" & 1/2" drive and love them, but a few of the newer techs don't have the $ to pony up for them so I was wondering if any of you guys have used the Grey Pneumatic brand swivel impact sockets and if you had any quality issus before I point these guys in that direction.

TheGrooveking

 

[Fedwrench]

I had some in the past. They hold up fairly well. Like all other tools, they will wear out eventually. I didn't care for the fat collars they have on their bases but, aside from that they were ok. Whoever is looking at them needs to shop around because there's a huge price gap between vendors. You can easily find a 3/8 drive metric set for less than $90 which is 1/4 of what a comparable tool truck set goes for. Everyone can ***** about where stuff is made but, Grey Pneumatic impact sockets are one thing that Taiwan got right.

 

[wisconsin_cowman]

I got 1/2 and 3/8 drive Grey Pneumatic swivel sockets in deep and shallow. Metric and SAE and they have been good for me. Only one I broke was the 15/16 in ½” drive shallow using my IM75 (3/4” drive impact) on it. I know what you mean the truck brand swivel sockets are expensive not going to spend that kind of money when I can spend it on something else from the tool trucks. For the money and the sizes you get in the sets you can’t go wrong .

 

[pipsters]

Just read their warranty page carefully before you decide to buy them from a particular place.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do ask that you purchase any Grey Pneumatic product from an authorized dealer. Any Grey Pneumatic Product purchased from an UNAUTHORIZED dealer is NOT covered under our warranty.

Please Note: All Sockets for Warranty Consideration must be returned to the place of purchase for replacement. In cases where there is a question regarding warranty, the distributor has the right to return the socket to us for determination before a replacement is issued.

Only authorized distributors are allowed to handle warranty replacements. For a listing of Authorized Distributors in your area, please contact us.

http://www.gpsocket.com/index.cfm?event=pageview&contentPieceID=807

 

[Farmrod]

I have the GP sets in 3/8 SAE and Metric shallow and use them daily they hold up well but as someone mentioned the collar is large and sometimes gets in the way.. as far as quality i have had to buy a couple individuals off the truck and i believe my GP sockets have better quality then the few MAC sockets ive bought

 

[mrholeshot]

I kept a set of GP impact sockets in my wrecker (not swivel) and over 10 years of hard use never broke one. Like FedWrench said "Its the one thing that Taiwan got right" I would say that for several things but have as much confidence in GP as Snap-On impact sockets and have used them adapted down from 3/4 often.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I also noticed that that they are identical to the Gearwrench impact socket/sets, only difference is the cases. Thanks for the info guys I'll let the guys know its okay to buy them as long as they get them from an authorized dealer.

TheGrooveking

 

[Fedwrench]

I also noticed that that they are identical to the Gearwrench impact socket/sets, only difference is the cases. Thanks for the info guys I'll let the guys know its okay to buy them as long as they get them from an authorized dealer.

TheGrooveking

Nope. The collars on my Gearwrench models are a lot thinner than the Grey Pneumatics I had but, they were older. They're almost like the older Matco versions from 10 years ago or so. I wished Gearwrench would have spent less money on the storage cases and made their impact swivels the pinless type. The Gearwrench storage case is one of the nicest built cases I'll never use though.
As for the Grey Pneumatic warranty, I'd probably blow it off. A new 3/8 impact swivel socket runs about $10-12 at Tooltopia depending on size. Mailing a broken socket in and waiting probably isn't worth it to me. If I had a few though, that would be a different story.

 

[Skin]

something like that where theres a good chance of wearing it out or breaking it i'd purchase from Sears if they could warranty on the spot. I dont think its worth mailing 1 in for warranty which is what i'd have to do since i have no local GP dealers.

 

[ngk22r]

Matco and snap-on (special order through snap) sell grey pneumatic sockets and if you have an issue they send it back. But since matco usually stocks GP they would be the place to buy them from. I have the 1/4 and 3/8 swivels from them and the regular 1/2 impact sockets, no issues yet after 2 years.

 

[pipsters]

something like that where theres a good chance of wearing it out or breaking it i'd purchase from Sears if they could warranty on the spot. I dont think its worth mailing 1 in for warranty which is what i'd have to do since i have no local GP dealers.

Keep in mind you can't send GP sockets back to corporate, they must be exchanged from the authorized dealer you bought them from. Read the warranty I quoted above.

 

[GSMotorrad]

Keep in mind you can't send GP sockets back to corporate, they must be exchanged from the authorized dealer you bought them from. Read the warranty I quoted above.

Does anybody know if "TOOLTOPIA" is an authorized dealer for Grey Pneumatic? I'm hoping so.

 

[rtole]

I have alot of gp. I have metric and standard shorty swivels in the 3 sizes. Not one failure yet. They seem to eat alot of power.......i will be using one, and the gun wont take the bolt off, then I switch to my impact swivel with the same size socket and it comes right of. Dont know why, but the swivels have held up great for me. So has everything else gp

 

[Stooge]

Does anybody know if "TOOLTOPIA" is an authorized dealer for Grey Pneumatic? I'm hoping so.

I think tooltopia just tells you to go through the manufactuer warranty, atleast thats what i was told by them a few years ago.

Under the Returns sect.http://www.tooltopia.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx#returns

 

[GSMotorrad]

I think tooltopia just tells you to go through the manufactuer warranty, atleast thats what i was told by them a few years ago.

Under the Returns sect.http://www.tooltopia.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx#returns

I called GP and they said NO. They told me to (pay shipping fees and) return my purchases to ToolTopia and pay a lot more from an authorized retailer, or they'll have zero warranty at all. What a bummer.

If there's any chance a DIFFERENT "authorized" dealer would be willing to help, should that need ever arise, I'd love to keep them, but it would be at the discretion of whatever future authorized dealer I meet wants to do - (so I'd have to kiss-*** and hope they like my personality, I guess - I can warranty anything at sears without any charisma at all) I don't know what I should do now and I'm bummed out.

 

[McKay]

I have had great luck with mine. Bought full sets in both deep and shallow for both metric and SAE. I am not a pro mechanic. If I was I would go with SO or MAC. But for my use when needed they are great and well under a 1/4 of the price of SO. I have SO for most everything else but just could not justify the cost.

 

[3/4 drive]

I tried a set a couple of years ago to go in the tool truck don't use them alot but no problems and for the price you can't go wrong.

 

[pilotman81]

I've had my 1/2 and 3/8 sets for a couple of years and have never broken one. I also have a 3/4 non-swivel set that is also excellent. I am a fan of GP, maybe even over my Snap Ons.

 

[marinusdees]

Grey Pneumatic in general is good stuff. Nobody's perfect.

 

[92integra]

just a side note to guys looking to warrenty a gp socket.... i see them on the matco and cornwell truck all the time so if your in good with either of those guys you might be able to get them to warrenty for you.... i also love gp got there duo sets in 3/8ths and 1/4 sae and metric they take a lickin and keep on tickin

 

[Technicality]

I'll cosign that the 3/8 swivel impacts are bankable

 

[GSMotorrad]

I'll cosign that the 3/8 swivel impacts are bankable

Good to know. I'll go ahead an open an impact account in 3/8 then.

What kind of "non-detergent oil" should I use to coat my new chromoly DUO socket set with? I'm thinking something with less carcinogens than motor oil, since they'll be used with bare hands mostly.