Harbor Freight Impact Socket Set

[afmrick]

Ah, ...Oops.

 

[geojag]

I wouldn't say it's close enough, though, unless you're doing low-torque stuff. I use my 19mm sockets quite a lot.

How many bolts are .002 out of spec? I would guess a lot. 19 mm is .748 inches. I doubt .750 is going to hurt. Could be wrong though, I am not an engineer.

It would annoy the hell out of me though.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

How many bolts are .002 out of spec? I would guess a lot. 19 mm is .748 inches. I doubt .750 is going to hurt. Could be wrong though, I am not an engineer.

It would annoy the hell out of me though.

I'm not saying it will never work. But would you use the wrong socket on your lug nuts? On a crankshaft pulley bolt (yes I've seen them in this exact size)?

I said low-torque is fine, and even I would be fine with it in some cases, but my point is that it's sometimes inappropriate.

Basically everything I've said in this thread has been along the lines of whatever product being fine if used within certain limitations. The right product for the job etc.

 

[Farmall450]

I'm not saying it will never work. But would you use the wrong socket on your lug nuts? On a crankshaft pulley bolt (yes I've seen them in this exact size)?

I said low-torque is fine, and even I would be fine with it in some cases, but my point is that it's sometimes inappropriate.

Basically everything I've said in this thread has been along the lines of whatever product being fine if used within certain limitations. The right product for the job etc.

I wouldn't hesitate to guess different manufacturers of the same size socket have a larger variance than .002" between them.

 

[geojag]

Basically everything I've said in this thread has been along the lines of whatever product being fine if used within certain limitations. The right product for the job etc.

We agree on that. Like I said, using the wrong tool would annoy the hell out of me. But if you need to, really, really close can work.

 

[NC-Shaun]

As mentioned above, the Pittsburgh Pro stuff is made in Taiwan and is excellent quality. And it sure does look and feel identical to the Kobalt stuff at bLowes.

The thing that really, really, truly cheeses me off are the missing sizes. Worse, they don't sell individual sockets so you can assemble a complete set. I use 19mm all the time, and 16 and 18mm are very common on 'merkin brand cars, especially in the suspension, where you're going to use an impact a lot...

I used my old sockets of various brands to complete my set, but I suppose I could have gone to bLowes and grabbed some individual Kobalt sockets. Seems silly -- I'd rather pay a few bucks more and end up with a complete set in the first place.

I agree totally, this is the reason i jumped ship and switched brands of impact sockets. To top it off, to get the 1 3/8 and 1 1/2 sizes I commonly use on Harley Transmissions would require me to buy 3/4 drive. I dont own, require, or have the space in my tool box for a 3/4 drive impact gun. Not to mention the added expense, which would negate any savings on sticking with HF impacts.

The brand I chose to go with had all of these sizes available in any configuration I chose ( 6 point/12 point/ 3/8 drive/or 1/2 drive) and allowed me to pick sets as I needed to custom tailor my selections, dont skip sizes and include their own cases. Albeit I upped my cost to purchase at about $150 for everything I needed in 1/2 drive, compared to HF which was about $90, I also took the opportunity to get my 3/8 drive shallows in both SAE/Metric, as well as Deep Wells adding another $90 to my cost.

That being said, I worked side by side with a man that owned nothing but HF Impact sockets and has been mistreating them for over 5 years, he loves them and has never broken one. His entire 56 inch box is chock full of HF stuff. They are a great buy if you dont mind the lack of sizes.

 

[SalahHH83]

I have a set of the HF regular impacts - They are good and get the job done but if I was doing it all over again, I would have saved my money and either gone with the HF Pro or coughed up a little bit more money for a better brand. The Cr-Mo ones do pass the look test. I have used the Cr-V ones on some very stubborn bolts and haven't had anything strip or any breakage of the sockets. I bought mine bc I was in a pinch and needed them quickly. That being said, I wouldn't buy the Cr-V again. If I was on a budget I'd take a 25% coupon and get the Pittsburgh Pro impacts although the skipped sizes is a huge negative in my book

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I'm not saying it will never work. But would you use the wrong socket on your lug nuts? On a crankshaft pulley bolt (yes I've seen them in this exact size)?

If they difference between ,748 and .750 makes one the wrong size, then I've done it many times and will do it again. I've got 3/4" chrome socket I use almost exclusively on 19mm lug nuts. I consider the sizes interchangeable.

I'd like to know if there's EVER been any damage caused by using a 3/4" socket on a 19mm bolt head. This isn't one of those iffy combinations like using a 13mm on a 1/2" bolt head.

Now, if we're talking about rusted fasteners, it's wise to forget whatever size it used to be and grab both sets and use whatever gives a nice, tight fit.

 

[NC-Shaun]

If they difference between ,748 and .750 makes one the wrong size, then I've done it many times and will do it again. I've got 3/4" chrome socket I use almost exclusively on 19mm lug nuts. I consider the sizes interchangeable.

I'd like to know if there's EVER been any damage caused by using a 3/4" socket on a 19mm bolt head. This isn't one of those iffy combinations like using a 13mm on a 1/2" bolt head.

Now, if we're talking about rusted fasteners, it's wise to forget whatever size it used to be and grab both sets and use whatever gives a nice, tight fit.

I have enough to think about while working on stuff without having to figure out which socket will fit "close enough" to work on a bolt without damaging it. Yes I have done it in the past, but prefer not to do so anymore.

 

[SantaAna12]

I was looking at the HF site for Pitt Pro 1/2.deeps. I do not.see.anything bigger than 1" for SAE?
Anyone know if they end at one inch?

 

[stage20]

whoever mentioned the kobalts, i believe its been posted that the kobalts are crv not chrome moly.

and the fact kobalts are only laser etched. you were off the etching and you dont know what size you have unless you engrave them yourself.

 

[bmxdad]

Did some playing around and found out that the 24% coupon will work where the 20% won't, soooo ...

The Pittsburgh PRO SAE Impact Socket set was on sale for $24.99 (down from $49.99) and they took the 25% coupon, which brought it down to $18.75.

Going back tomorrow for the metric. Only $5 more and got a complete set which looks to be better then the original set I was going for, not to shabby

Just in time too. Busted two sockets getting the lug bolts off the bolt trailer.

 

[kctyphoon]

honestly, there are so many brands of cheap impacts to buy from online i dont know what the problem is.. if you really want the skipped sizes, just spend a little more and get a different set.. if not, you can always just buy singles off ebay and be done with it..

 

[bmxdad]

Only $5 more and got a complete set which looks to be better then the original set I was going for, not to shabby

... Umm, I think I did?

 

[NC-Shaun]

I think people get hung up on the CRV or Cro Mo factor too much, I used one set of Campbell Hausfeld CRV impacts exclusively on a Matco Impact Gun daily for over 10 years. I still have that set. I am not saying I am right or wrong about anything, just providing my experience. Also, my buddy beat the **** outta his Pittsburgh Deep Well Impacts for over 5 years with not one failure, they are CRV as well.