Impact socket: GP, SK, Proto or Snap-on?

[Marauder470]

There is a huge price difference between those.

Ask your self these questions:

American or foreign?

Do I have a Snap-On dealer?

Can I afford it?

I'd wait and scoop up a good used set of Snappys from the classifides here.Or get a new Craftsman set.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

You guys are killing me, now I'm debating pulling the trigger on those williams socket set too.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-1-2-Inch-Drive-Impact-Metric-Socket-Sets

 

[jhelrey]

For home use, you will never ever need that many!

 

[e.ghillino]

I'm rebuilding the gearbox and engine of my car (Alfa spider). The gearbox layshaft nuts are 32mm and this thread started because of them. The crankshaft nut is 36mm. There are definitely many of the sizes in between, not all of them but a good set is definitely needed.

Ciao,
Enrico

 

[diesel research]

For home use, you will never ever need that many!

That really depends on what you do at home. The same car you work on at home is the same one a dealer would see in a dealership.

Cannot think of any car that uses all of those sizes, but MANY use sizes from that entire range (10-36mm) and even beyond.

I don't think a hub or cv shaft is entirely out of the question for many members. Suspension bolts come in a plethora of sizes as well.

Then to remember most households have multiple cars (usually different types)

I will venture to say you often need MORE than that when shallow well and SAE is counted.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

For home use, you will never ever need that many!

I might take em to work and bring my smaller (10-22 I think) set home.
Tony

 

[bentwrench54]

i have a set of pittsburgh (HF specials) sae and metric that i use everyday. i've had them for 9 years now.

just last year, i cracked my 19mm and 22mm sockets. replaced them with sunex.

if i didn't have the HF set, i'd probably get sunex.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

TheGrooveking

 

[muskaman67]

i personally would buy the craftsman set when on sale for 45 bucks and then just buy the axle nut set from sunex. I have techs at my job who have been using craftsman impacts daily for 20 years and have yet needed to warranty any socket. I'm very surprised. I have the craftsman impacts as well and the only one that looks even remotely worn is the one strictly for lug nuts.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Question on the craftsman Impact sockets and the Williams Impact sockets,
If I were to drop a regular lug nut into the socket, does it fall all the way into the bottom, or just about an inch into the socket.
I don't care for sockets where the nut can fall all the way to the bottom of the socket. My NAPA Impact set I have is like this.
Also My craftsman 3/8" chrome deep well's are like this.
Just don't care for it. If I need to set a nut in there to reach it up to start it on a stud say for instance, you can't do it.
Hope this makes sense.

Thanks,
Tony

 

[AdamsAutoAdvice]

For home use, you will never ever need that many!

You'd be surprised!

 

[TheGrooveking]

Question on the craftsman Impact sockets and the Williams Impact sockets,
If I were to drop a regular lug nut into the socket, does it fall all the way into the bottom, or just about an inch into the socket.
I don't care for sockets where the nut can fall all the way to the bottom of the socket. My NAPA Impact set I have is like this.
Also My craftsman 3/8" chrome deep well's are like this.
Just don't care for it. If I need to set a nut in there to reach it up to start it on a stud say for instance, you can't do it.
Hope this makes sense.

Thanks,
Tony

I do know that Williams impact sockets are like the latter in regards to the depth of the hex, they only have hex for about an inch and the rest is a small diameter round opening, which is big enough for the stud or bolt threads to go down into the socket, but the nut or head of the fastener will be at the end of the socket.

TheGrooveking

 

[tw33k2514]

I think you would be happy with the GP's. And if for some reason one gets broken, replace that one with one of higher quality if you like.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

I do know that Williams impact sockets are like the latter in regards to the depth of the hex, they only have hex for about an inch and the rest is a small diameter round opening, which is big enough for the stud or bolt threads to go down into the socket, but the nut or head of the fastener will be at the end of the socket.

TheGrooveking

Thanks,
That's what I needed to know.
Tony

 

[amolaver]

i will add that while almost all my impact sockets are Sunex or Genius, i do have a smattering of SK and recently got a set of 3/8 deep wrights. they've all held up well and i have no complaints with any of them. the wrights appear to be of materially different metallurgy, and frankly, i hope so since they are about 2x the price of Sunex/Genius/GP. time will tell how they hold up in comparison to the cheaper imports, but since wright seems oriented more towards the industrial, i'm guessing they'll do alright. too bad they don't make a semi-deep impact set as those are my go-to's, and it was a huge PITA to track down a set of the SKs.

anybody got a metric set of semi-deep 1/2 impact sockets they want to part with?

ahm

 

[mrbreezeet1]

You guys are killing me, now I'm debating pulling the trigger on those williams socket set too.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ools-1-2-Inch-Drive-Impact-Metric-Socket-Sets

Looks like there on back order, also anyone know what the shipping in like from this company?
Thanks,
Tony

 

[TheGrooveking]

McMaster Carr sells Williams, they do not list brand but call and ask them, they are usually kind of cagey about iving the details besides that they are American made, but I bought a 1/2" drive set of METRIC standard & deeps, a 3/8" SAE standard & deep sets for one of the maintenance tech carts and they all came in Williams. Of course being the kind of guy I am, that tech kit was assigned to a guy with the last name of Williams, I just had to.

TheGrooveking

 

[e.ghillino]

Hi all,

in the end I went for the JH Williams set MS-14-24RC.

I ordered it from toolsdelivered.com on Monday and received it on Thursday, A+ transaction! It looks like having all the characteristics I was looking for, long skinny nose, stamped size, torque design to work on side of the nuts, and heat treated.

At 209 dollars the price is just perfect. It really seems the twin brother of the Snap-On 800+ dollars set and I don't know what the differences can be.

I hope it will hold on its promises, so far I'm a very happy owner

Thanks to all for your invaluable feedback, I ended up buying a set I wasn't even considering and this is the power of this forum!

Ciao,
Enrico

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Hi all,

in the end I went for the JH Williams set MS-14-24RC.

I ordered it from toolsdelivered.com on Monday and received it on Thursday, A+ transaction! It looks like having all the characteristics I was looking for, long skinny nose, stamped size, torque design to work on side of the nuts, and heat treated.

At 209 dollars the price is just perfect. It really seems the twin brother of the Snap-On 800+ dollars set and I don't know what the differences can be.

I hope it will hold on its promises, so far I'm a very happy owner

Thanks to all for your invaluable feedback, I ended up buying a set I wasn't even considering and this is the power of this forum!

Ciao,
Enrico

Oh Good deal, I was waiting for them to come back in stock, and they did, but now I am waiting for the
1\4" Drive Enclosed Head Ratchet 5-1\4" Item Id: Williams M-52EHA.
(Out Of Stock)
And also I am getting the
3\8" Drive Enclosed Head Ratchet 10-3\4" Item Id: Williams B-52EHLA,
And the test light,
"Heavy Duty Circuit Tester Item Id: Cal-Van 70"
Thanks,
Tony

 

[e.ghillino]

Those ratchets look very sleek, I think I'm becoming a fan of the JH Williams brand!
Ciao,
Enrico

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Those ratchets look very sleek, I think I'm becoming a fan of the JH Williams brand!
Ciao,
Enrico

They are nice,
I have the 15" long 1/2" drive one already.
Thought I would get the long 3/8" drive and the
1/4" drive one to match.
Thanks,
Tony

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Hi all,

in the end I went for the JH Williams set MS-14-24RC.

I ordered it from toolsdelivered.com on Monday and received it on Thursday, A+ transaction! It looks like having all the characteristics I was looking for, long skinny nose, stamped size, torque design to work on side of the nuts, and heat treated.

At 209 dollars the price is just perfect. It really seems the twin brother of the Snap-On 800+ dollars set and I don't know what the differences can be.

I hope it will hold on its promises, so far I'm a very happy owner

Thanks to all for your invaluable feedback, I ended up buying a set I wasn't even considering and this is the power of this forum!

Ciao,
Enrico

Have you seen the snap on set in "Person"
(Live in socket?)
So they look the same?
Looks like they come on 2 separate racks, is that what it is.
Will be a nice set for work too, reason being, it has your axle nut sizes. 30, 32, 35, 36 etc.
wish toolsdelivered.com would get the 1/4" ratchet back in stock, so I could get my order placed.
Thanks,
Tony

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Oh Good deal, I was waiting for them to come back in stock, and they did, but now I am waiting for the
1\4" Drive Enclosed Head Ratchet 5-1\4" Item Id: Williams M-52EHA.
(Out Of Stock)
And also I am getting the
3\8" Drive Enclosed Head Ratchet 10-3\4" Item Id: Williams B-52EHLA,
And the test light,
"Heavy Duty Circuit Tester Item Id: Cal-Van 70"
Thanks,
Tony

Shipping will be about the same additional with the 1/4" ratchet , or the same shipping if I order by it self, So I went ahead and ordered the JH Williams set MS-14-24RC, 24 piece deep impact socket set.
Also ordered the 3\8" Drive Enclosed Head Ratchet 10-3\4" Item Id: Williams B-52EHLA,
And the test light,
"Heavy Duty Circuit Tester Item Id: Cal-Van 70"

Thanks,
Tony

 

[Keep]

I would have recommended Wright as well.

But you all missed: (and more)

16 pcs Wright set 10-27mm $123
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/12drsets/466.html

SK at $35

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/Sktools/416B.html

tsk tsk tsk!!

 

[e.ghillino]

I must say Wright looked good too, but I needed a deep socket metric set up to 36mm. Anyway thanks for the links!

 

[e.ghillino]

Tony let me know what you think of the tools you ordered, I might get those ratchets too. I'm glad we got the same socket set, let's see how it holds up.

Ciao,
Enrico

 

[WHT]

Hi all,

I need a set of deep metric impact sockets and I just can't decide which one.

After reading various post on the forum I restricted the selection to the following candidates:

Grey Pneumatic (GP) 1326MD, cost ~ 140
http://www.gpsocket.com/index.cfm?event=setview&productsetid=22301&id=4576

SK 4047, cost ~270
http://www.skhandtool.com/products/impact-sockets/product.aspx?ID=3420&view=view

Proto (J)74216, cost ~350
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default...216&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO

Snap-on 325SIMM, cost ~800
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=81829&group_ID=20767&store=snapon-

The general consensus seams to be that GP impact sockets are great, but I would be willing to spend a little more for better quality. Now which one of the above upgrades makes the most sense for the price?
I feel that not necessarily spending more the quality is better, I read a few complaints on the Snap-on impact sockets rusting easily, even though they look awesome.

Please help!

Thanks.
Ciao,
Enrico

Wright Tool: Hot forged with US chrome-moly steel. Price them at Royal Supply or similar before buying another brand.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Tony let me know what you think of the tools you ordered, I might get those ratchets too. I'm glad we got the same socket set, let's see how it holds up.

Ciao,
Enrico

OK ,
I can say I have been using the 1/2" drive one this week and like it.
I expect the 3/8 to be nice too, didn't order the 1/4" yet.
You can't beat the sizes at least so far on the Williams Impact's, the 28 MM and up is all your axle hub nut sizes.
Thanks,
Tony

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Have been using the 3/8" Ratchet, It has become my "Go To" Ratchet.
I like the length.
The Sockets seem good too, but just used the 21MM to take off a wheel. Seemed to have a nice feel to it, if that makes sense.
Still need to order the 1/4" Ratchet.
Thanks,
Tony

 

[KinzeMech]

What set is that in the bottom of the picture? I count 26 sockets, but I don't see a sunex kit in their catalog.with that number of sockets.

I'm presently considering a 29 piece sunex 3/4" socket set, but nowhere online is there a picture of what the case looks like when it's opened up.

 

[Fedwrench]

What set is that in the bottom of the picture? I count 26 sockets, but I don't see a sunex kit in their catalog.with that number of sockets.

I'm presently considering a 29 piece sunex 3/4" socket set, but nowhere online is there a picture of what the case looks like when it's opened up.

set number 2645 1/2 drive shallow, metric set.

blow molded cases and 3/4 drive sockets usually don't last. You would probably better off buying a small metal tool box for the 3/4 drive stuff.

 

[espyking83]

You can get SK impacts for ridiculously cheap from Epsteins.

 

[KinzeMech]

Yeah, that seems to fit.

The scale in that picture seems off. Even knowing it'a 1/2" drive set, the sockets still look like 3/4" drive. The ratchet looks like 1/2" drive, and the sockets look larger than that.

I've had decent luck with blow molded cases and, if they're quality to begin with, prefer them over steel cases. I usually take a sheet of closed cell foam and glue it in the top half of the case with headliner spray adhesive. The right thickness puts a tight grip on the sockets, but still allows the case to latch easily. When the sockets aren't rattling around in the case, then the case isn't wearing on the finish of the sockets, and the sockets aren't wearing holes in the plastic.

I rely on the cases for many of the tools I haul in my service truck. I've got several sets in 5+ year old cases that have probably seen 70K miles in that service truck and are still holding together.

I used to have a harbor freight 3/4 socket set in there. That was the crappiest blow molded case I ever saw, and it still lasted two years before it tore into pieces. It's in a steel box now.