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Impact Sockets Snap-on vs Wright?

The Shop

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Mar 2, 2012
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Texas
I'm a apprentice at a heavy diesel shop and im in the market for a professional set of 1/2" deep impact sockets and i've narrowed it down to either Snap-on or Wright. But, I can't decide which set is better. My Snap-on guy quoted me $322 for a Snap-on set 1/2-1 1/4. But, I can get a Wright set 1/2-1 1/4 off amazon for $175. And at the shop we use impacts all day long so were not easy on them. :D So, please help me end this great debate, so I can get on with my life.... which involves looking for the next tool to buy. :lol_hitti
 
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SMKS

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I'd personally choose Wright, because all my Wright tools have been good quality and the cost savings is big over SO.

But, I'm just a DIY'er, so even Wright impact sockets would be way overkill for me.
 

Super Sport

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Impact sockets are a tool that work pretty much the same regardless of the name on it.

For saving $150, I'd go with the Wright.
 

woody 73

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Most of the time I would say go with the best that you can afford, but I must agree with the above GJ member JJThrasher buy the HF impact sockets they are very tough.

Or buy the sunex or grey and save your money for buying more snap on tools.
 

MJB24

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Minnesota
Wow that is a huge difference in price between the HF and the Snap On or Wright.

You could buy 2 sets of the Harbor Freight even and that way you have a backup until you can warranty one.

But I go with support Wright. I haven't used there impacts and only a few days ago got some chrome sockets from them but I like what I see.

Better yet buy a set of the Wright and a set of the HF and you still have left over money and if you have a warranty delay on the Wright you will have the HF ones to use until you get a replacement.
 

rusty65

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Pekin,IL
From what I have found out wright made Macs impact sockets back in pre Stanley days. So I would say go with wright because they are darn nice impacts. Plus industries use wright and do you think they would use a ratchet or impact first just saying.
 

TwoInch

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i absolutely say wright out of the two option listed by the OP

impact sockets are one of those things, all the good ones are so similar in quality and fit that there is absolutely no reason to pay snap on prices for them.

others i would not hesitate to use in any field are
Williams USA great quality great prices, 24pc deep for about $200
SK USA great quality
Proto USA great quality under $200
Allen USA
Grey
Sunex import
 
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byoungblood

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Wright. Same grade tool, half the price. You aren't paying for an expensive business model and truck financing that you obviously aren't going to use.
 

TheGrooveking

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An alternate reality in a parallel universe.
From what I have found out wright made Macs impact sockets back in pre Stanley days. So I would say go with wright because they are darn nice impacts. Plus industries use wright and do you think they would use a ratchet or impact first just saying.

I know that Wright made Matco's sockets from 1978 until 1994, but never before was MAC used Wright. Maybe a MAC expert can chime in or is this common knowledge and uncommon to me?

TheGrooveking
 
OP
T

The Shop

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Texas
Wright. Same grade tool, half the price. You aren't paying for an expensive business model and truck financing that you obviously aren't going to use.

Well that pretty much summed it up. Wright it is.:thumbup: And i did notice that my coworkers snap on impact sockets did seem to mushroom rather easily at the drive end. Also, your post should be the new Wright tool slogan. At least i think so.
 

wafrederick

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Holton,Mi
Matco went on their own in 1979 splitting from Mac tools,not 1978.Matco was still part of Mac tools in 1978.Sunex,it takes longer to get a socket replaced and have been through this once.
 

rednotch

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south nj
Sk would be my vote, US made, lifetime warranty and you can get both the deep and shallow 28 pc set from 3/8- 1 1/4"for the price of the wright kit if you look search for SK 4051
 

ladrones

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NM
I have a mixture of CAT, wright, proto, williams made kolbalt and my 3/4" drive impacts are williams.

Most of the techs at the cat dealer I worked at where buying the grey pneumatics and they worked just fine at a lower price point. I think one of the tool trucks had the GP's at a really good price.
 

dirtmister16

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wisconsin
my dad has had a set of wright impact sockets since before i was born. we have used them for many years and have never ever had a issue with them. also have a set of sunex that be bought because they had bigger sizes, had them a few years now and no problems as of yet. we lost one somehow and got one from the company, didn't take long(had to pay as of course as we lost it)

i have a set of the SK impacts up to 1 1/4" and have had them not a 1 whole year yet. i havn't had any issues with them yet at all, holding up well. not always used daily but id say 3 times a week at the low end.

hope this helps. i would go wright and save the money for more tools.
 

John in OH

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I'm retired from the electric power industry ... generation side. Lots of big, heavy machinery there ... pumps, valves, turbines, pulverizers, crushers, gearboxes, etc. No TLC given to the tools used to maintain that equipment ... and most of the tools used by the mechanics in our power plants were Wright.
 
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