Impact Swivel Socket Set vs Pinless Impact Swivel Adapter and Stubby Impact Socket

[Skeptic68W]

I was watching a real tool reviews video the other day where he showed why a set of the impact swivel sockets was superior to an impact adapter with a regular impact socket on it. They're shorter and therefore can get into tighter places.

I got to thinking though, I wonder if these:



Would be all that much better than the combination of these pinless universals:


and these Carlyle stubby impact sockets:



It would be a lot cheaper to go with the adapters and stubby sockets, and you'd have more functionality since the stubbys don't have to be used with the adapter. They may just not be quite as short as the swivel sockets...

 

[General Geoff]

As a DIYer, I can't justify the expense or extra drawer space that would be taken up by dedicated swivel sockets vs the standalone swivel adapters along with wobble extensions.

If I turned wrenches for a living and actually used them daily, I'd probably have the swivel sockets.

 

[kythri]

Sunex universal impacts are a great deal, addressing the expense issue...

 

[sk farmer]

sure it will work. just note that every time you add something between the tool and the work you lose effectiveness of the impact.

 

[General Geoff]

sure it will work. just note that every time you add something between the tool and the work you lose effectiveness of the impact.

Excellent point. Dedicated swivel sockets eliminate one point of slop between the wrench anvil and the fastener, so should deliver more impact torque to the fastener compared to a swivel adapter + socket.

 

[crewchief888]

my most used sockets are impact swivels...

i have both pinned and pinless


the only time i use an impact swivel is on a deepwell socket..

 

[Skeptic68W]

I saw RealToolReviews make the same point about torque loss. Definitely something to consider, but not a total deal breaker.

I certainly see the value in the swivels. My old man has a set and we used them quite a bit when I used to wrench with him in high school.

Stubby impact wrenches have come a long way too it seems. The new Carlyle one is rated at 600ft-lbs and is quite small. Pair that with stubby sockets and you've really changed the ball game in terms of what you can actually use your impact for. Right now, with my full-size Ingersoll Rand and my deep HF sockets...I'm pretty limited in that regard.

 

[gdocktor3]

Start out with shallow impacts and an adapter (since you don't already have shallows) then upgrade later on in life, if and when you need swivel impacts. I'm not a mechanic by trade, but wrench regularly and have made it this far in life with out needing swivel impacts. Actually, I have a cheap set of 3/8" metric swivel impacts that I have never used. Bought them from a retired mechanic "just in case" a few years back, but have found no real need to pull them out. I have used a swivel adapter with my 1/2" impacts a few times though. Not enough to justify buying entire sets though. That would be 4 more sets I don't have the room or money for. (metric, sae, deep, shallow) and there are mid lengths now too.....

 

[WhiffySpark]

I use my 1/4 swivels for everything. 3/8 all the time as well.

I was too cheap to buy 1/2. I just have swivel adaptors for those

 

[plinker]

Torque loss is a big consideration, you'd loose more with a 3" extension though. I have 3/8 swivel impacts but no real sets of 1/2, only four common sizes my brother had. Have not had a need (yet) to get complete 1/2 sets.

The extra shallow sockets are great, I have them in 3/8 & 1/2, I dont use my regular shallows as much since buying them.

One thing I do use more often then not are the Sunex impact wobble extensions. They are pretty nice.

 

[Mr_B]

Worth anyone who uses decent impacts and preferably a proper powered stubby to have decent pinless uj's and stubby set sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 .
Astro do the sockets pretty cheap and with the uj's you can have stubby standard and long by mixing with your normal impacts.
Not going work for everything but good versatile option for outlay and sometimes it going be the perfect combo.

 

[Odd-job]

I was watching a real tool reviews video the other day where he showed why a set of the impact swivel sockets was superior to an impact adapter with a regular impact socket on it. They're shorter and therefore can get into tighter places.



I got to thinking though, I wonder if these:







Would be all that much better than the combination of these pinless universals:





and these Carlyle stubby impact sockets:







It would be a lot cheaper to go with the adapters and stubby sockets, and you'd have more functionality since the stubbys don't have to be used with the adapter. They may just not be quite as short as the swivel sockets...

Torque loss aside this might be helpful. Gearwrench pinless 3/8 with an Astro Pneumatic 17mm. Then a sunex with the 17mm. The gearwrench seems to be an extra 2.5 mm or so taller although can be compressed slightly. Sorry not the best pictures. Maybe someone else can post the dimensions of impact swivels.









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