Impact sockets

[quilty]

Mostly working on powersports as well as passenger vehicles at home.

I have just about all of the 3/8" drive 6pt. chrome sockets in all of the flavors (metric & SAE in both shallow, semi-deep and deep) I also have a set of 12pts in both metric & SAE.

Just recently picked up an M12 stubby 3/8" impact driver as well as an M18 1/2" mid-torque impact driver.

For 3/8" drive - what would be the best impact sockets to get started with? Would it be a set of impact swivel sockets?

Same question for 1/2" drive - I'm assuming swivel would be a little less common here and something more traditional like semi-deep 6pt. sockets would be the way to go?

 

[Wubicon]

Mostly working on powersports as well as passenger vehicles at home.

I have just about all of the 3/8" drive 6pt. chrome sockets in all of the flavors (metric & SAE in both shallow, semi-deep and deep) I also have a set of 12pts in both metric & SAE.

Just recently picked up an M12 stubby 3/8" impact driver as well as an M18 1/2" mid-torque impact driver.

For 3/8" drive - what would be the best impact sockets to get started with? Would it be a set of impact swivel sockets?

Same question for 1/2" drive - I'm assuming swivel would be a little less common here and something more traditional like semi-deep 6pt. sockets would be the way to go?

I have a tendency to always reach for my 3/8" drive deep impact sockets for almost all tasks where they'll fit Whether I use an impact or not. Why? I don't know. Might just be where they are in the drawer it's easy to grab them?

 

[ecotec]

I, usually, use the smallest size that makes sense for a situation.

If I had nothing, and had to start over… I doubt that I would start with swivel sockets… though I do love them.

I would probably buy shallow and deep first, then swivel then the extraneous ones like semi-deep, extra-shallow or Astro Nano, deep swivel, magnetic…

Grab 12pt in shallow ARP sizes (8, 10, 12, and 14?).

I know a few pro mechanics that do fine with budget level impact sockets.

 

[Basskiller]

40% off this week.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/sockets-ratchets/38-in-drive-sae-and-metric-master-impact-socket-set-48-piece-58754.html

 

[ecotec]

My methodology has always been to buy sets at reasonable price points if I have to fill an immediate need. My favorite brand for this is Astro Pneumatic.

After that, I try to upgrade the reasonable price point sockets with sets or onesie twosie USA truck brand or industrial brand sockets from garage/estate sales and flea markets.

Ideally, I like to pay less for truck or industrial brand sockets than Harbor Freight or equivalent would cost.

I like Astro Pneumatic because they do sets without skips.

 

[Gangly]

My preference, and since you already have Milwaukee

https://www.northerntool.com/products/milwaukee-shockwave-impact-duty-3-8in-drive-6-point-socket-set-43-pc-sae-and-metric-model-49-66-7009-106886

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

40% off this week.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/sockets-ratchets/38-in-drive-sae-and-metric-master-impact-socket-set-48-piece-58754.html

What happened next?

Well, the people of Whoville say, his tool box grew two sizes that day.

 

[mikedodge]

My goto for impacts is deep sockets i have in cases. They get used more then shallows.

 

[Silver Lexus]

40% off this week.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/sockets-ratchets/38-in-drive-sae-and-metric-master-impact-socket-set-48-piece-58754.html

I picked up a 3/8 impact metric set for $31.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I have been very happy with the Icon impact sockets.
All 3/8" drive. I use 1/2" so infrequently, I keep them in a different box.
The swivel sockets have become the first ones I reach for.

Can't see them very well but I have Icon shallow, deep and the swivels. Only SAE - only fool around with old cars.

 

[AEAdam]

Mostly working on powersports as well as passenger vehicles at home.

I have just about all of the 3/8" drive 6pt. chrome sockets in all of the flavors (metric & SAE in both shallow, semi-deep and deep) I also have a set of 12pts in both metric & SAE.

Just recently picked up an M12 stubby 3/8" impact driver as well as an M18 1/2" mid-torque impact driver.

For 3/8" drive - what would be the best impact sockets to get started with? Would it be a set of impact swivel sockets?

Same question for 1/2" drive - I'm assuming swivel would be a little less common here and something more traditional like semi-deep 6pt. sockets would be the way to go?

I like what you are thinking. Swivels in 3/8”. I’d pick up a cheap set of shallows. Then 1/2” deeps first. Get the big ole clunky models and don’t pay much. I think that mid torque 1/2” impact will become your friend.

 

[zendriver]

Mostly working on powersports as well as passenger vehicles at home.



Same question for 1/2" drive - I'm assuming swivel would be a little less common here and something more traditional like semi-deep 6pt. sockets would be the way to go?

These have been my go-tos for years. Short set if fine as well, IME

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-impact-deep-socket-set-13-piece-69561.html

 

[richfinn]

Ko-ken, great range, high quality, half the price of Snap-on

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just mentioned this in another thread. I'd check out those Quinn sets from HF with the sidewalk sale going on.

 

[M635_Guy]

Mostly working on powersports as well as passenger vehicles at home.

I have just about all of the 3/8" drive 6pt. chrome sockets in all of the flavors (metric & SAE in both shallow, semi-deep and deep) I also have a set of 12pts in both metric & SAE.

Just recently picked up an M12 stubby 3/8" impact driver as well as an M18 1/2" mid-torque impact driver.

For 3/8" drive - what would be the best impact sockets to get started with? Would it be a set of impact swivel sockets?

Same question for 1/2" drive - I'm assuming swivel would be a little less common here and something more traditional like semi-deep 6pt. sockets would be the way to go?

I'm not sure if the powersports stuff would require it, but I've never needed a dedicated set of swivel sockets. I've got a universal swivel adapter that came with my Sunex set, but I use it rarely.

As far as the sockets, I don't think there a lot of mistakes to be made these days.

 

[mikedodge]

I'm not sure if the powersports stuff would require it, but I've never needed a dedicated set of swivel sockets. I've got a universal swivel adapter that came with my Sunex set, but I use it rarely.

As far as the sockets, I don't think there a lot of mistakes to be made these days.

In general I've always gotten away with the swivel adapter too. I have a couple in non impact ones I bought for removing transmissions where the adapter is too long.

 

[Rinspeed]

These have been my go-tos for years. Short set if fine as well, IME

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-impact-deep-socket-set-13-piece-69561.html

I've been trying to break one of those HF Pittsburgh sockets for five or six years, so far no luck.

 

[zendriver]

I've been trying to break one of those HF Pittsburgh sockets for five or six years, so far no luck.

The real irony is they have a lifetime warranty and now you can get a set for $20

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Mostly working on powersports as well as passenger vehicles at home.

I have just about all of the 3/8" drive 6pt. chrome sockets in all of the flavors (metric & SAE in both shallow, semi-deep and deep) I also have a set of 12pts in both metric & SAE.

Just recently picked up an M12 stubby 3/8" impact driver as well as an M18 1/2" mid-torque impact driver.

For 3/8" drive - what would be the best impact sockets to get started with? Would it be a set of impact swivel sockets?

Same question for 1/2" drive - I'm assuming swivel would be a little less common here and something more traditional like semi-deep 6pt. sockets would be the way to go?

Wording actually means things. are these really impact DRIVERS, or are these impact WRENCHES? Things like the cordless impact driver that comes as part of a kit with a drill, are measured in inch pounds, where impact wrenches, measure in foot pounds. Do you really need impact sockets for inch pounds?