Impact Sockets

[Jeremy5431]

Hi All,

My wife bought me a new cordless 1/2" impact wrench for Christmas. Now I need to go out and get a set of impact sockets. Any advice as far as what socket set to get?

 

[94yj]

this would be better responses if it was under general tool discussion as far as the sockets i would go with harbor freight and get a set of deep and shallow sockets also do you need standard or metric sockets

 

[mark5767]

I was in a similar situation, a nice new ½” impact wrench and no suitable sockets.

I got this mainly for lug nuts, so really I just needed a 19mm, but I wanted a few other sizes as well. Even the HF sets add up quickly $$ for metric plus SAE and I just couldn’t find a good solution there.

I ended up with a Campbell Hausfeld set from Wal Mart of all places and so far I like it even though I’ve used it just a few times. It’s a mix of both MM and SAE all deep sockets for $20.

They look pretty nice with both large white and stamped markings. Overall, this set just looked much better than anything I could find at HF and it comes in a nice plastic box also. 11 sockets total…

Metric: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19

SAE: 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Campbell-Hausfeld-1-2-Pneumatic-Socket-Set/13436888

 

[ken w.]

If your just doing work at home the Craftsman impact sockets are a good deal and they are on sale quite often.I have a set I use at home with no problems.

 

[RECox286]

Been using HF impact sockets for many, many years with

no problems and the price is always been right too.

Uncle Bob

 

[Spinaker01]

Sunex make some nice sockets at a reasonable price. A step up from HF for not much more $$

 

[ben98gs]

I have used standard sockets without any problem when I did not have access to the imparct sockets (and have never broken one) but have started to acquire the sets from Harbor Freight with the 20-25% off coupons. Just bought a torx impact socket set Mon. and they seem to be very good quality for the price and finished the brake job that broke my original standard torx socket.

 

[steel 35]

Our local SO dealer lost some business when he told a co worker he had to have all the broken pieces of a impact socket to get it replaced, ever try to find the pieces in a large shop? I am still pounding away on my deep HF set

 

[Cobra5150]

Northern tool had a nice set I found after buying several separate sets. Wished I had found it at first.

 

[Jeremy5431]

How are the craftsman sockets? I've been looking at a 62 piece set for $199. Is that a good deal or should I wait a bit?



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[theoldwizard1]

How are the craftsman sockets? I've been looking at a 62 piece set for $199. Is that a good deal or should I wait a bit?

Yes ! They go on sale occasionally or you can buy then NEW on eBay for a lot less !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many aftermarket wheels do not have enough clearance in the lug nut pocket for a standard impact socket. Buy these (or equivalent)

Sunex 2724 1/2-Inch Drive Deep Thin Wall Flip Socket Set, 4-Piece - Amazon $26

 

[94yj]

i would go the harbor freight route i picked up both sets for about 50 bucks

 

[stonesfan68]

I don't know why your budget is, but SK makes a nice set, and the Gearwrench are usually well regarded and not too much money.


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[CNGsaves]

Hard to tell what might work for you, since no country or any location listed.

Welcome to GJ, but very hard to get advice when you might be located in Bulgaria, or Mexico where there isn't a Sears or Harbor Freight just down the street !!

Update GJ Profile with a LOCATION.

 

[Jeremy5431]

Sorry about that. I updated my profile with my stats.

 

[holt2ton]

I got a set from Campbell Hausfeld 12+ ago when I was young and didn't have much money...I still have them and use them...not a lot but they have seen some heavy use and have held up well...If I were to do it again today I would shop around a bit...But,HF seem to be a good deal especially if you are not using them everyday in a shop/job environment...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

If you are willing to spend $200 on Craftsman impacts, I'd recommend going all out and getting the IR 83 piece set for $20 more. Has almost everything you'd ever need, and haven't had any problems with all the abuse I put them through in the truck shop.

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/ir/ingersoll-rand-83-piece-1-2-3-8-impact-socket-set

Plus it's an excuse to pick up a 3/8" cordless in the future...

 

[Evan(CA)]

I bought that set on ebay for 175 shipped a couple months ago and it's great. The price has gone up since then but you can still get it for less than 200 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-INGERSO...59285252?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item1e6be67904

I had a smaller 1/2" set before I bought the big one. I'll let it go cheap if you are interested.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220312

If you are willing to spend $200 on Craftsman impacts, I'd recommend going all out and getting the IR 83 piece set for $20 more. Has almost everything you'd ever need, and haven't had any problems with all the abuse I put them through in the truck shop.

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/ir/ingersoll-rand-83-piece-1-2-3-8-impact-socket-set

Plus it's an excuse to pick up a 3/8" cordless in the future...

 

[wafrederick]

Do have to watch it,most cheap sets leave out 18mm and sometimes 15mm.Grey Pneumatic is another brand to look into and the warranty is great with them.I broke 3 of their impact grade torx bit sockets so far,replacements the next day.I have a few K tool internationals too,holding up very well too.There is one sae socket you will have to buy which most of the tool truck brands have in their sets, 1 3/16".Most of the good cheap sets don't have this size socket.

 

[basspro]

I have a mix of random brands to make up my 1/2" set, deep and shallow. My dad bought the Klutch brand from Northern Tool for $100. Comes in a nice case and has some 3/8" in there, which you may or may not need. Not every combination of every size but a nice set for the price none the less. Tekton has some nice complete sets for cheap too, been beating on mine pretty hard at work, no problems. I'd suggest getting a set of deeps if you only need a few impacts.

 

[NC-Shaun]

I used a Campbell Hausfeld set 40-50 hrs a week for many years. They held up fine, no breakage. Still have em.

I needed larger sizes so I ended up buying the Harbor Freight deep impacts because I needed the larger sizes that are not included in the IR set.

I need metric 30-32mm so the Harbor Freight set was the set I chose. I also bought the Pro versions of the shallow 1/2 SAE/MM as well because I think they had sizes that the deep set left out.

The downside is I have to figure out how to store them, because I didnt get a case.Its ok though, because 26inch tool boxes dont like cases anyway.

 

[warweapon762]

Harbor Freight and Campbell-Hausfeld for me.

I buy them when they go on sale in the spring (get pretty damn cheap). They work great and have been REALLY abused with zero issues.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Do have to watch it,most cheap sets leave out 18mm and sometimes 15mm.

I filled out my missing sockets with Williams Taiwan, Sunex and Armstrong (Through Cripe Distributing) as I've needed them.

 

[Jeremy5431]

I went to Sears tonight to look at what they had. There was a nice 52 piece set for $199. The sales guy tried to tel me that as long as you have craftsman sockets don't bother with impact socket. He said that if they break Craftsman will replace them. I really don't agree with him. I'd rather get. A good set of impacts instead.

I have a northern tool close by I'm going to check out tomorrow.


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[Cap'n]

To echo others, be careful of some of the cheaper sets leaving out sizes. I bought a Mastercraft Maximum set and didn't realize it was missing several common metric sizes...my mistake for not checking the box carefully, I had just assumed it would have everything.
Very annoying when you go to work on something and don't have the right tools in the set you just dropped a hundred bucks on.

The other frustration with the mastercraft ones I bought is the markings on them wore off very quickly. If going for a cheap set, I'd strongly recommend stamped ones, not that laser etching or whatever it's called.

Those are really the only two issues I've encountered buying cheap impact sockets. Other than the marking issue, they all work fine (I have at least one of all the common brands that gets used by me on a regular basis).

 

[Cap'n]

I went to Sears tonight to look at what they had. There was a nice 52 piece set for $199. The sales guy tried to tel me that as long as you have craftsman sockets don't bother with impact socket. He said that if they break Craftsman will replace them. I really don't agree with him. I'd rather get. A good set of impacts instead.

I have a northern tool close by I'm going to check out tomorrow.


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No no no. Regular sockets can shatter I hear, and be dangerous.

That said, I can't lie, I have done it, but I was careful and wore safety glasses.

 

[basspro]

Dont listen to your sears clothing specialist, get the correct impacts, cheap impacts are better than expensive chrome on a gun. Your eyes and hands...and tools, with thank you later.

 

[Jeremy5431]

There is no way I'm going to use regular sockets on the gun. I thought the guy was smoking dope


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[kenburkholz]

I have used a set of Campbell Hausfeld for many years and they have served me flawlessly. I recently bought some H.F. sockets in larger sizes, and have been totally happy with them. Ken.

 

[GoodEnough]

I just bought the 13pc HF 1/2 deep impact set for $24.
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-piece-12-drive-metric-deep-wall-impact-socket-set-67904.html

10mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, 24mm, 27mm, 30mm, 32mm

Great price for $25, but it some missing sizes. Instead paying for the $125 Sunex, I will just fill in the set with some loose ones for $3/ea. off Ebay. Zorotools seems very cheap. I will just buy 11, 12, 16, and 20 for now. $12 total. Also picked up some impact adapters and u-joints as well. Total another $25.

For $50 total, I have all sizes from 10-19mm and 21mm, 22mm, 24mm, 27mm, 30mm, 32mm
Way less than $125.

 

[wafrederick]

Use of chrome sockets voids the warranty on the socket when it breaks called misuse too.This is with the tool trucks a lot,dealer sees the hammering marks and says warranty void.Does damage to the impact too and tears up the anvil.I don't use my chrome sockets and attachments on impacts anymore,impact grade only including hex and torx bit sockets.Chrome sockets are harder than impact sockets,the impact sockets take the beating from an impact.

 

[belvedere]

If you are willing to spend $200 on Craftsman impacts, I'd recommend going all out and getting the IR 83 piece set for $20 more. Has almost everything you'd ever need, and haven't had any problems with all the abuse I put them through in the truck shop.

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/ir/ingersoll-rand-83-piece-1-2-3-8-impact-socket-set

Plus it's an excuse to pick up a 3/8" cordless in the future...

+1 on this set. I've had one for a couple of years and it's been great. It's a bargain considering how complete it is. You can shop around for the best price.

 

[AV tinker er]

My 1/2 metric impacts are HF and are holding up nicely. If your looking for USA made I like SK impacts. You're gonna get (as you are noticing) a lot of opinions on this.

 

[92integra]

i would give a vote for both harbor freight and grey pneumatic. i got all the hf 1/2 impact sockets shallows deeps metric and sae for less than 100 bucks... they have covered me great so far. and grey pneumatic is just plain awsome for 3/8ths and 1/4in. sets. i have there duo sockets and they are sweet. pound on them with my mg 325 and m18 fuel 3/8 all day and no problems yet the sets are super complete all and all both were great socket sets for the money.

 

[mark5767]

Good to hear the Campbell Hausfelds lasted for a GJer... they look pretty good out of the box. They have thinner walls than the cheaper HFs which should allow them to access recessed lug nuts a bit better.

Also, the finish looks nicer, the cheaper HFs looked a bit rough.

These have stamped markings in addition to the printed markings so if the white marking wears off you still have a way to identify the socket.

Lastly I like having SAE and Metric together, nice to have all the bases covered with a single set. And these are priced on par with the cheaper HF sets.

For 1/4 and 3/8 drive I'm not too worried about using a polished chrome socket with a smaller impact wrench, but when you get to 1/2 I think impact rated is a good idea, especially with deep socket on a highly torqued lug nut!

 

[70C-10]

All my impact sockets are Napa since I can warranty them without leaving town. I wait until a 50% off sale before I buy. Believe a sale is ongoing until the end of the month

 

[Flivver250]

I have Snap-On and Wright. For the money Wright is a bargain IMHO. I have never broken any of them and they have been on some powerful guns. While lifetime warranties on cheap tools are nice to have, I'd rather have a tool that is harder to break. With only a few exceptions, I choose highest quality before lowest price.

http://www.hardwaresales.com/wright-tool.html

 

[nicksnothereman]

Hi All,

My wife bought me a new cordless 1/2" impact wrench for Christmas. Now I need to go out and get a set of impact sockets. Any advice as far as what socket set to get?

Well...if you want cheap and retail you can go with kobalt, craftsman or evolv, husky (I think they have them), autozone duralast, or harbor freight. Those are all cr-v I believe.

Harbor freight has a chrome moly set that's more expensive but probably worth it.

People don't have problems with internet or specialty brands either (sunex, tekton, etc). Personally, in impact I have a mix of kobalt, craftsman, and evolv sockets, with some kobalt, duralast, and tekton adapters and extensions (mostly kobalt). I mostly use the evolv sockets because I don't care if they shatter (and they never have). 20 bucks for a big set of those now at sears (made in taiwan) or you can get the small (5 piece) sets for under 5 bucks on clearance if they have them. At retail, I really like the kobalt stuff but not sure if they have an impact set; if they do it's probably not cheap.

 

[dsmnickk90]

I have USA Craftsman and Armstrong. I wouldnt hesitate to buy SK either. Get gome Craftsman/Armstrong/Matco pinless swivel sockets and you will hardly ever grab a standard deep or shallow socket