Just curious? Anybody not buy crome sockets and just use impacts for all their socket needs? Seems to me if a guy was on a tight budget he could just buy quality impacts and not have to purchase the duplicate crome socket size. The only draw back I see is the impact has a thicker wall and getting into some areas might be a problem.
Impact only?
- Thread starter kyoung
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wrigh003
Well-known member
I think most people probably wind up with regular non-impact sockets by default. All my sockets came as part of two tool sets I have been given over the years, one all-metric when I was about 17, courtesy mom and dad, and one metric/SAE combo shortly after I got married from my inlaws. I've not been deep enough into the car hobby to justify buying a compressor/impact gun until just recently (still haven't) and as a result have all these sockets. Got a toolbox/rollaway at Christmas and am trying to figure out how to transition from the blow-molded cases to storing my stuff in the toolbox. That's a project in itself.
Anyway, back on topic- I think most of the people in my family wouldn't know the difference in an impact socket and a regular, except the chrome finish- up to not so long ago, I might not have either.
Anyway, back on topic- I think most of the people in my family wouldn't know the difference in an impact socket and a regular, except the chrome finish- up to not so long ago, I might not have either.
strizzy
Well-known member
For my 1/2" drive sockets I only have impacts as far as deep sockets go. For my use I have yet to be in a situation where I really needed the thin wall of a chrome for an application. So for me I have yet to see a need to purchase them as I have a list of tools that would be way more useful to buy.
ba614
Well-known member
All my metric standard and deep 1/2" drive sockets are impact sockets ... I will just use these on everything until I find a need to buy chrome sockets
chevy302dz
Well-known member
kyoung said:
I use chrome in 1/4 and 3/8, and have both in 1/2, but you are correct as long as you don't run into clearence issues impacts are the way to go when choseing just one type.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Same exact thing I did.strizzy said:
When I started turning wrenches another mechanic told me to buy all impact sockets instead of chrome, so I bought all snap on 3/8's and 1/2" drive impact. I have only ran into clearance problems once or twice, not enough to worry bought buying chrome for work. If I were to do more engine, diff, or trans work I would have a set of chrome sockets so I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning my sockets before putting everything back together.
kartracer55
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Its not uncommon. The main tech at my shop has only impact sockets in 1/2 drive, and primarily chromes with impact swivels in 3/8.
My 1/2 stuff is mostly impact... Metric and SAE deep and shallow in impact. I only have chrome shallows.
My 3/8 stuff is a mix of both. I have Metric and Standard, deep+shallow in chrome. I have Metric Deep and Shallow impacts, and Shallow SAE impacts.
1/4 is all chrome
A good chrome socket should handle a normal 3/8 impact fairly well, but an IR ti or Nitrocat will lay a beating on them, so I just went for Impacts. It is alot more conveniet when you can just grab any socket and impact it rather than saying "oh damn, let me look for the impact"
If your on a budget, but Impacts in 1/2 and Chrome in 3/8 and 1/4
Jim
My 1/2 stuff is mostly impact... Metric and SAE deep and shallow in impact. I only have chrome shallows.
My 3/8 stuff is a mix of both. I have Metric and Standard, deep+shallow in chrome. I have Metric Deep and Shallow impacts, and Shallow SAE impacts.
1/4 is all chrome
A good chrome socket should handle a normal 3/8 impact fairly well, but an IR ti or Nitrocat will lay a beating on them, so I just went for Impacts. It is alot more conveniet when you can just grab any socket and impact it rather than saying "oh damn, let me look for the impact"
If your on a budget, but Impacts in 1/2 and Chrome in 3/8 and 1/4
Jim
sha_ba_do_bang
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I'm a tech in a transmission shop, i have alot of tools
All my 1/2" stuff is impact, all my 3/8" is chrome, except i have impact swivel sockets. All 1/4" is chrome
Thats what my dad did and he has been in the trans business for 40+ years, so thats what i do
I beat the **** out of my 3/8" snapon chrome sockets with my IR composite, they hold up very well
Brendan
All my 1/2" stuff is impact, all my 3/8" is chrome, except i have impact swivel sockets. All 1/4" is chrome
Thats what my dad did and he has been in the trans business for 40+ years, so thats what i do
I beat the **** out of my 3/8" snapon chrome sockets with my IR composite, they hold up very well
Brendan
kartracer55
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sha_ba_do_bang said:
Have you ever tried matco? it seems like the square ends on snap on chromies deform alot more than the Matco's do.
TNToy
Well-known member
Need an example of why chrome AND impact are eventually needed?
Changed the glow plugs on my brother's Jetta TDI yesterday. A 10mm deep chrome socket is the only thing that will fit down between the intake runners. The wall on an impact is too thick. I run into that situation every couple of weeks.
You will eventually need both. But while my impacts are mostly snap-on and some Matco... all of my chrome sockets are non-truck brands (SK and Craftsman mainly).
Changed the glow plugs on my brother's Jetta TDI yesterday. A 10mm deep chrome socket is the only thing that will fit down between the intake runners. The wall on an impact is too thick. I run into that situation every couple of weeks.
You will eventually need both. But while my impacts are mostly snap-on and some Matco... all of my chrome sockets are non-truck brands (SK and Craftsman mainly).
Deafautotech
Well-known member
i have all impact socket set (metric in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drives as deep and shallow) and i have all chrome in all three set and i have more sockets and more impact sockets than other tech in my work. but i did use a lot of impact swivel sockets because area that make me to use swivel impact socket. i dont use much of chrome but i had to have it so i dont have to worry about it......
Deafautotech
Well-known member
better to have both chrome and impact sockets so you can beat a lot on impact but if you need chrome to do clearance problem then you had one to use or you have to ask other tech to borrow... i cant borrow other tech because i already own more tools than other techs..... that mean i can do more work instead ask to borrow tool....
Canadian Charlie
Banned
My impacts are mainly 1/2" drive deep and shallow in both metric and SAE. I also have a set of 3/8" impact swivals both in metric and SAE.
Then there are the chrome sockets, 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive deep and shallow both in metric and SAE
Better to have the right socket on hand than to be sorry
Then there are the chrome sockets, 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive deep and shallow both in metric and SAE
Better to have the right socket on hand than to be sorry
Deafautotech
Well-known member
i have over hundreds of sockets 1/4dr to 3/4dr (all metric and sae sockets execpt 3/4dr socket set is sae) i can do more of works than other techs in my work but problem is i am part time while i am in college as on last semester before graduate....
Deafautotech
Well-known member
both impact and chrome sockets....sometime i had to use chrome socket to do tight clearance work. i got it fixed early but still need loan to other tech because they need my socket..... one tech have no money to buy tools because he had to make payment for toolbox (snap on)..... also he dont make more bill hours.....
I have recently pondered this very subject myself. I only work on my own cars at home and not to make a living. I decided not to buy any impact sockets at all since I've used the regular, chrome sockets semi- irregularly over the years and haven't broken one- yet. Besides, my sockets are Craftsman, so if I do break one, well another excuse to go to Sears Hardware
and get a replacement for free.
and get a replacement for free.And buy more tools at the same time ...Herb said:I have recently pondered this very subject myself. I only work on my own cars at home and not to make a living. I decided not to buy any impact sockets at all since I've used the regular, chrome sockets semi- irregularly over the years and haven't broken one- yet. Besides, my sockets are Craftsman, so if I do break one, well another excuse to go to Sears Hardware
Deafautotech
Well-known member
ha ha i would do that so it is save my trip... but i already had most of craftsman tools that related to automotive not wood crave or something...
IntrstlarOvrdrve
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yep, thats why it is lifetime warranty...so that people like us will come in and browse the store while they are there.
I had a tech friend tell me when I was first getting into wrenching to buy only impacts. I however bought all chromes, and cheap HF impacts. It's worked for me so far, I got all of my chromies 50% off with a vocational discount. The impacts arent as bad as you'd think, theyre actually pretty good for the money in my eyes. I have since replaced some of them with snap ons and a set of SK's, just as I find them at swap meets etc.
I had a tech friend tell me when I was first getting into wrenching to buy only impacts. I however bought all chromes, and cheap HF impacts. It's worked for me so far, I got all of my chromies 50% off with a vocational discount. The impacts arent as bad as you'd think, theyre actually pretty good for the money in my eyes. I have since replaced some of them with snap ons and a set of SK's, just as I find them at swap meets etc.
Deafautotech
Well-known member
for my use in my work then i must have both impact and chrome sockets. the impact sockets are best for heavy use so i dont have to have chrome sockets break every minute i use it. the chrome sockets are best for transmission work and tight clearance.
i have lot of chromes sockets at home because i always use hand ratchets at home because air tools are junk at home as i used it then it is screwed it up. it is junk.....
i abuse my impact sockets a lot and none of them is crack or broke.....
i have lot of chromes sockets at home because i always use hand ratchets at home because air tools are junk at home as i used it then it is screwed it up. it is junk.....
i abuse my impact sockets a lot and none of them is crack or broke.....