Harbor Freight Impact sockets

[onecheck]

Anybody use them. A tech told me we uses them everyday and has had them for a year? Are they any good?

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpi...ge=1&resultsPerPage=10&resultsPerPageBottom=0

 

[Deafautotech]

my tech friend has harbor frieght impact sockets.. problems is it some has thicker wall which make more problem for where it wont fit in...

 

[Nova72]

they look about as think as regular snap on sockets.

 

[Rigmaster]

Hit and miss for me. I've had a couple sets of the 1/2 drive metric deep impacts, and broken at least 4 or 5 in what I would consider was light usage. I had a couple of them replaced, and I have 1 more to go back now. Seems like alot of variance in the wall thickness of these sockets. I have 1 set with relatively thick walls, and none have broken, then another set with thinner walls- and I think that's where all the broken ones have come from.


YMMV

 

[eschoendorff]

I have a couple sets of impact sockets from HF... mine are from a couple years ago, all Taiwan made, and have been excellent. Just as good as my Craftsman and Snap On ones.

The ones they are selling now are even nicer... I would definitely consider them.

 

[speed bump]

The set I use all the time has been used so much all the black oxide is worn off the 3/4" and 13/16" sockets but they do not appear to be wearing out other than that.

 

[autoace]

Buy Harbor Freights "expensive" impacts, with the smooth black finish, and you will probably be happy, with them. Below is an example, they are the Taiwan ones, they are better than the China or India ones, HF sells.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36649

 

[eschoendorff]

Buy Harbor Freights "expensive" impacts, with the smooth black finish, and you will probably be happy, with them. Below is an example, they are the Taiwan ones, they are better than the China or India ones, HF sells.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36649

I think that those are the ones taht I have. None of my HF impact sockets are from China or India; all Taiwanese.

 

[charlie_nj]

Same here. The first set I bought had the thin walls, and I broke two of them. Then I bought the thick walled set and they've been great, I've had them for a couple of years. I think they cost me like $15. If you do buy them definitely make sure they are the thicker walled version. These are both 21mm, you can see the difference.

 

[eschoendorff]

Wow, that is a big difference! The only time I've seen HF sockets that thin was in a 3/8 impact set that I bought. You could definitely tell that the QC was not a big priority...

 

[onecheck]

Buy Harbor Freights "expensive" impacts, with the smooth black finish, and you will probably be happy, with them. Below is an example, they are the Taiwan ones, they are better than the China or India ones, HF sells.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36649

Don't see the same quality sockets in metric
.Drop forged, heat-treated, chrome vanadium steel

 

[eschoendorff]

Don't see the same quality sockets in metric
.Drop forged, heat-treated, chrome vanadium steel

My HF metrics are the same quality as my HF SAEs...

 

[onecheck]

Can you please check your model # on the metric socket set. I want to purchase the thick wall sockets. I can match it up with the online catalog I do not want to get stuck with the thin wall.

Thanks

 

[charlie_nj]

I don't see a part number on my set anywhere, However, the set that Autoace linked to above is the set to get in SAE, in metric its this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34683

 

[MAD]

I did not have good luck with the 1/2" drive deep metric set I tried. I broke three in short order under very light torque. I threw them in the junk drawer after that because it did not seem worth it to pay the postage to send them back. Mine are Taiwan made so I would not use that as the Good Housekeeping seal of aproval. I may try exchanging them now since some folks have had good luck with them and there is a H.F. within driving distance from me now.

I think I would buy the Stanley impact sockets from Walmart first if I was looking for a cheap set of impact sockets. But if you drive by Harbor freight every day, I could see that being an option due to the ease of warranty exchange.

Craftsman, SK, Grey, and Sunex are all good options if you are looking for a step up without paying truck prices.

 

[charlie_nj]

Those look like the thinwall ones. I broke two of those too. The thick walled ones are 100 times better.

 

[yellowbox]

sockets are not too bad for the price i have broken some but i have also broken snap on sockets yeah i have quite a few of these .
come to think of it ... i have yet to break a c- man socket!!

 

[48548]

I have a set sae and metric, in the metal case, and never had a problem, and I have used them a lot on my milwaukee v28 1/2 impact, and it puts out a lot of torque. I have also used them on my 24 inch breaker bar and not had a problem yet. I think mine are about 5 years old or so.