Impact universal sockets?

[Smitherines]

Lay it on me, Matco, Mac, Snap-On, SK, GW...who's the best for value, quality, etc? I'm finding myself needing impact universals more and more, the universal with a socket is too large for certain situations, and I'm going to have to invest in some new tools!

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=6437925

 

[back2class]

Matco is my fav. Best clearance I believe of the bunch.

 

[Smitherines]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=6437925

Thanks for being "that guy", posting up a search that didn't have anything to do with the questions that I asked. I'm not asking about the function of a impact universal socket, I asked about a few brand specifically, who makes the better product, and for the price.

 

[Farmer Joe]

I've only used the SO 1/2" universal before, but that was a borrowed one. I'm now also in the market for my own universal impact sockets. I didn't mind the SO one though, worked just fine.

 

[Griff93]

The Matco ones are a better design. I have broken the SO ones multiple times. I have yet to break one of the Matco ones. That said, there's nothing especially wrong with SO, Mac, or SK. I have some pretty powerful impacts and I'm rough on stuff.

 

[Flash21]

Matco or Armstrong pinless universal impacts are the best. The Craftsman I think are the same but not available in nearly the same range of sizes.

 

[Skin]

The pinless design Matco introduced some years ago is largely regarded as the most durable/best for extreme angles. That said the pricing on the SK sets cant be beat. My only concern with SK is if they'd warranty a swivel impact that blows up given their stricter stance on wear/abuse and if you're using them professionally and depend on them daily they will blow up.

If you're shopping new and want the pinless design keep your eyes peeled for Craftsman sets. Essentially the same design as Matco [just a hair deeper]. The only limitation is they only offer them in shallow 3/8 and 1/2 drive. No deep/semideep, no 1/4" drive. For the most part the most useful will be 3/8 shallow anyway.

If you dont mind used, just wait it out on Ebay for a relatively complete Matco or Craftsman set. $100-$200 will easily get your foot in the door on a 10-19 3/8 metric set. Just watch out you dont buy the older Matco pinned design by accident as there are still many of them out there.

 

[Obie]

Another good choice would be Craftsman Swivel Impact Sockets/Armstrong Maxx Universal Impact Sockets. Identical except for the name on the laser etching. Both are pinless, pretty damn rugged, lifetime warranty, USA made, and priced a hell of a lot better than the truck. We have a mix of both at work that I use pretty often, and I'm slowly working on saving up for some sets of either. Honestly, really no point in paying truck prices for these unless you want/need the pay over time.

Only thing that ***** though, is good luck finding the Armstrong ones online. Seems almost no one wants to carry them.

Craftsman (3/8" Drive):

Armstrong:

And here is a brochure for them https://www.armstrongtools.com/brochures/P9-168.pdf from their website.

 

[Black89LX]

I guess I'll throw harbor freight in there, their 1/2" impact universals are probly the best value, 30 bucks per set, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8

great deal, I havent heard anything bad, in fact a guy I know had the 3/8" impact swivels and he had a cornwell 15, hf set skips it, and it broke when the others didnt

 

[bobcatdan]

If you have ever seen a truck, cornwell will from time to time run damn near 50% sales on impact universals. Cornwell is kinda like SK in making really well rounded sets. I bought a master 1/2" set, 1/2 to 1 5/15" and 10 to 24" for $500 of so. They are old school pin style, but I use them everyday and have never broke one.

 

[GoBlue]

I have those harbor freight ones and love them. There are two styles however. The first was horrible. They had a clean exterior and the pin was held in place by an internal spring. Total ****. I honestly broke every one i ever used. The second and good style are the ones with an external spring keeper for the pin. They are nice and tough and hold up to everyday professional use.

 

[mt2marc1]

matco has theres on special right now actually 10mm to 19mm for 169, aswell as snap on, snap on's set isnt complete its like 7 sockets, missing the 19 and iirc 16 for 272 but they throw in the standard 5 pc set for free. And i almost forgot cornwells set from 8 to 23 iirc i could be wrong is on special for 400.00

 

[ssblood]

SO doesn't include 11, 16 or 19 as they have standard matches. I have the metric SO and standard Matco. Prefer the Matco by far. I can't begin to tell you how many truck transmissions they have pulled. Broke the 15 SO on an exhaust clamp of all things.

 

[Brentocool]

I use the **** out of mine! As a matter of fact I blew up a Snap on 1/2d 14mm today!! Theres a ring around the socket that holds the pin in. it loosens up and slides down and the pin flys out.

 

[Farmer Joe]

I thought we were talking about a universal socket, misread the question lol. I have a set of Grey Pneumatic swivels (1820), I've used them a a few times since I bought the set and they're working fine. I really like GP sockets in general

 

[sargentl]

I have used the craftsman universal (not swivel) pretty regularly and they work fine, but I seem to break them a lot. If I use them with an impact it just tares through them pretty fast, but Sears warranties them all the same.
I have a few Harbor Freight Universal Joints that have held up surprisingly well so their universal so their sockets might be a good choice.

 

[Smitherines]

Seems like I'll be going with the Matco swivel sockets then. The Harbor freight ones aren't comprehensive enough for me, I use 16mm, and I'd rather buy a complete set. That's the one thing that bothers me about the HF socket sets, they're missing the integral sockets that I need. Thanks guys!

 

[ssblood]

I use the **** out of mine! As a matter of fact I blew up a Snap on 1/2d 14mm today!! Theres a ring around the socket that holds the pin in. it loosens up and slides down and the pin flys out.

SO changed their design a bit and got rid of the ring.

Also, the 16mm is not included because it is a 5/8.

 

[Smitherines]

SO changed their design a bit and got rid of the ring.

Also, the 16mm is not included because it is a 5/8.

So when it comes down to SO and Matco, who comes out on top?

 

[Griff93]

Matco no question. I have both and use them daily. That said, I'd take SO second out of all the rest of them.

 

[Smitherines]

Matco has the SBUPM106V set on sale for 170 until November 20th. 3/8" drive 10-19mm. Seems like a deal and at the right time!

 

[Skin]

matco has theres on special right now actually 10mm to 19mm for 169

Matco has the SBUPM106V set on sale for 170 until November 20th. 3/8" drive 10-19mm. Seems like a deal and at the right time!

Unless i'm completely mistaken that set is imported and is pinned, essentially the same thing as GW/Sunex.

Looking at it on the site a few things hint me to that. The markings are not standard Matco markings. It doesnt mention a pinless design, and lastly its very cheap for a truck brand set even at full price.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/SBUPM106V/10PC-3-8DR-MM-UNIV-IMPACT-SKT/

Heres a true Matco pinless set

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/SBUPM106TB/3-8-10PC-IMP-MM-6PT-SKT-SET/

Just a slight difference in pricing

 

[Smitherines]

Well, there goes that! Haha

 

[diesel research]

Those ARE offshored pin type "ADV" economy line sockets.

Click here for image

Wouldn't call them a "screaming deal" either

$77
http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tools-3657.aspx

$87
http://www.tooltopia.com/grey-pneumatic-1210um.aspx

 

[nmk_61802]

Anyone got a good online source for the Armstong Pinless?

 

[mvptrukin]

^^^^
Unless someone has a better source--I have found that Amazon carries more of the Armstrong line than anyone.

 

[Steve_P]

Google the PN. I bought a set of the armstrong pinless months ago from a strange source- some type of cleaning supply company! They had the lowest price; they weren't in stock and it took ~2 wks for me to get them - which was fine with me.

 

[86k10]

The SK has been good to me so far. I dont know if they will warranty it when one fails but I will find out sooner or later.

I think I got both metric and standard 3/8 drive sets for $230-240.

 

[BJ42LX]

I had a broken SK swivel impact. No issues on the warranty.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149788

The SK has been good to me so far. I dont know if they will warranty it when one fails but I will find out sooner or later.

I think I got both metric and standard 3/8 drive sets for $230-240.