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Impact wrench socket recommendations

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Nazgul

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kctyphoon

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harbor freight - they have/did have 2 different versions.. the older set, and a newer set with a nicer finish and thinner walls.. OR -- tekton, porter cable, Husky, - honestly - even the $20 sets work well enough.
 
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d430

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Those are probably fine. I haven't found a need for expensive impact sockets. I've been using a set of PT Performance Tool from O'Reilly's for 5 years at a dealer every day and never had an issue. I have tons and tons of snap on for diag, wrenches, ratchets, pliers, etc but never saw the need for pricey impact sockets. The PT ones cost about the same as the ones in the link and you won't have to wait for shipping if you need them now. And they have shallow too.
 
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Nazgul

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Thanks for such quick responses! I am going to try HF we have closeby tomorrow.

Do I need to buy any socket adapters in addition as well? Or these just work by snapping over the friction ring of wrench.
 
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panknuckshovel

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Nazgul said:
Thanks for such quick responses! I am going to try HF we have closeby tomorrow.

Do I need to buy any socket adapters in addition as well? Or these just work by snapping over the friction ring of wrench.
Click to expand...

Be sure to go online and get the current 20% or 25% off coupon before you go.
 
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kctyphoon

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Just decide if you want or need them to come in a case.. If you don't need one, then HF is a good choice.. If you want cases - then tekton, Porter cable and such..
 
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Kirbot

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Another vote for Harborfreight.

The new Pittsburgh Pro Cro-Mo sockets are supposed to be an upgrade, but I haven't managed to break any of the cheaper CR-V set.

13 pieces up to 1 1/4", for $25. Plus you can always use the 20% coupon on top of that.

I use them on the (supposedly) 700lb Earthquake gun, and they're holding up fine.
 
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Kirbot

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Some more expensive sockets will be thinner, but on the rare occasions they're too thick, you can just use a chrome socket by hand
 
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zmotorsports

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For the money I think the Carlyle from NAPA are hard to beat. Very high quality and fairly priced.

I purchased a set of their swivel impacts and think they are very high end and use the hell out of them.

Mike.
 
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CamarosRus

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I want 6PT sockets for my 3/8" drive Milwaukie FUEL Impact

Using only occasionally for misc drag car chassis fasteners (yellow zinc plated)

Would mid length GEARWRENCH Chrome 6pt be a popular choice ????
 
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justme-

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Just want to throw out there - I bought a set (2 actually) of china or taiwan made impacts from Cummis (tool seller that had semi truck convoys going around the country) and have used the heck out of them with very little wear. Recently needed a set of deep 1/2 metrics for work so I got another set online that looked just like them. Wrong - 3 uses on a socket and it is almost stripped out.
I do have a set of Popular Mechanics 3/8 shallow metric impacts that are great...thinking it's worth buying something with a warranty at minimum (no I don't consider HF a warranty. you might, but I don't).
 
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MashBill

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I've been using Ingersoll Rand sockets for several years. No breaks or failures. I also like the large size etchings on the outside. I have SAE and metric deep well sets. Each set was less than $60.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
 
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drabe7

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CJM8515

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I have the stanley and HF pitts pro set. Pretty much same quality, the finish is a bit rough but they work well. I had the stanley first and its held up to constant abuse. Either one will do you fine.
 
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Mohawk Dave

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Nazgul said:
Thanks for such quick responses! I am going to try HF we have closeby tomorrow.

Do I need to buy any socket adapters in addition as well? Or these just work by snapping over the friction ring of wrench.
Click to expand...

They just snap over the friction ring. The friction ring slightly goes into the detents in the socket.

After enough use a friction ring will bend, break, or get weak. You can buy new ones for a buck or two and put a new one on.

When you first get the tool, it will be stiff to put a socket on. No worries. It will loosen up.

Cheers on your purchase!
 
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XxToolAholicxX

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Harbor Freight they are of a very high quality. For the price you wont go wrong.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the ToolMan wont give me no credit
 
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ihateminimumwage

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CamarosRus said:
I want 6PT sockets for my 3/8" drive Milwaukie FUEL Impact

Using only occasionally for misc drag car chassis fasteners (yellow zinc plated)

Would mid length GEARWRENCH Chrome 6pt be a popular choice ????
Click to expand...

I wouldn't personally run chromes on that impact, it beats the **** out of the anvil and the sockets.

Personally, I'm running IR impact sockets on my 3/8" Fuel, but if you're looking at Mid-Length/Semi-Deeps, get a set of Sunex impacts 3327 (SAE 5/16"-1") & 3328 (Metric 8-22mm). Semi-deep, not much more cost than the Gearwrench, a lot more sizes, and the right tools for the job.
 
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nicksnothereman

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Nazgul said:
I need a decent socket set for my new Milwaukee 1/2" impact wrench:

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2763-20

I am not looking to spend too much money, something decent in quality and not too expensive would be ideal. I looked at this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-97-125-2-Inch-Impact-Socket/dp/B000NIGON6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421974252&sr=8-1&keywords=impact+wrench+socket+set

Not sure what members here think. Any thoughts, recommendations?
Click to expand...

Impact 1/2 I straight up use evolv sockets (or wayward craftsman singles I have) 99% of the time except for axle nuts (obviously). 20 bucks for a fairly full set, they're good.

Professional quality maybe cornwell old stock/overstock is in your price range but might be 12 point; nick don't do 12 point especially in impact. Kobalt ain't bad but it's the same basic thing as the evolv sockets. You can buy crmo sockets but the cr-v taiwan is fine up to maybe 200 ft lbs which you will never get up to with normal sized sockets.

Disclaimer I picked up the evolv smaller sets (5 sockets I think) for like 3 bucks, bought a bunch of them still have only used the original shorties and deep I bought so...nick thumbs up.:bounce:
 
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bassbone52

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XxToolAholicxX said:
Harbor Freight they are of a very high quality. For the price you wont go wrong.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the ToolMan wont give me no credit
Click to expand...

^^^ yes, just make sure you get the Pittsburgh Pro line. They're CrMo.
 
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Nazgul

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dpaton said:
Agreed. The secret to HF sockets is to only buy ones stampd CR-MO. If the stamp says CR-V put them down and walk away.
Click to expand...

So I tried a friend's stanley socket set last night. They are the exact same ones as I showed in the amazon link, but my 2763-20 does not seem to take it :sad: I tried a few and the socket opening seems small compared to the square drive anvil (with pin) on the wrench. From what I can tell in the manual, its just pushing the socket onto anvil and does not involve anything else.

Not sure if I am doing something wrong, it says CR-V on the side of stanleys. I was going to buy the HF set today...
 
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56FordGuy

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Nazgul said:
So I tried a friend's stanley socket set last night. They are the exact same ones as I showed in the amazon link, but my 2763-20 does not seem to take it :sad: I tried a few and the socket opening seems small compared to the square drive anvil (with pin) on the wrench. From what I can tell in the manual, its just pushing the socket onto anvil and does not involve anything else.



Not sure if I am doing something wrong, it says CR-V on the side of stanleys. I was going to buy the HF set today...
Click to expand...


This may seem like a basic question, but were your friend's sockets 3/8" drive by any chance?
 
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geojag

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Nazgul said:
So I tried a friend's stanley socket set last night. They are the exact same ones as I showed in the amazon link, but my 2763-20 does not seem to take it :sad: I tried a few and the socket opening seems small compared to the square drive anvil (with pin) on the wrench. From what I can tell in the manual, its just pushing the socket onto anvil and does not involve anything else.
Click to expand...

When new that friction ring is going to be pretty tight. It will wear in where it is easier to install or remove sockets. It may help to rotate the ring so the break/split in the ring is even with a corner. Also make sure the ring is fully seated in its grove, if it weren't, that could prevent the socket from going on.
 
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Mechanical Noise

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If you're considering Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro impact sockets, double check that they are the thinner Chrome Moly sockets and not the thicker Chrome Vanadium sockets.

I got some HF Pittsburgh Pro deeps about a year ago and they were thick Cr-V sockets. I wrongly assumed the Cr-Mo sockets were a thing of the past and I got the thick ones anyway. I have since noticed plenty of nice looking Cr-Mo impact sockets on the pegs. Maybe it was some sort of supplier issue.

I'm not really bummed out or anything, the sockets seem strong although bulky. Still worth the $20.
 
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doojus

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If you go with Tekton you can get 3/8 and 1/2 metric and SAE deep and shallow sets for about $200... I was going to go with gearwrench for about twice that price but when I started looking at Tekton stuff it seemed like a no brainer for how often I use impacts.
 
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amolaver

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Nazgul said:
So I tried a friend's stanley socket set last night. They are the exact same ones as I showed in the amazon link, but my 2763-20 does not seem to take it :sad: I tried a few and the socket opening seems small compared to the square drive anvil (with pin) on the wrench. From what I can tell in the manual, its just pushing the socket onto anvil and does not involve anything else.

Not sure if I am doing something wrong, it says CR-V on the side of stanleys. I was going to buy the HF set today...
Click to expand...

Umm - 'with pin'? Did you get the pin retention model, not the friction ring? Pin retention requires you to depress the pin to slide the socket onto (and off) the square drive. Hateful devices.. If so, unless you have a specific use for the impact where one socket stays on it long term, I'd return it and get a friction ring type (sorry, don't know model#).

ahm
 
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Sal Bandini

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Mechanical Noise said:
If you're considering Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro impact sockets, double check that they are the thinner Chrome Moly sockets and not the thicker Chrome Vanadium sockets.

I got some HF Pittsburgh Pro deeps about a year ago and they were thick Cr-V sockets. I wrongly assumed the Cr-Mo sockets were a thing of the past and I got the thick ones anyway. I have since noticed plenty of nice looking Cr-Mo impact sockets on the pegs. Maybe it was some sort of supplier issue.

I'm not really bummed out or anything, the sockets seem strong although bulky. Still worth the $20.
Click to expand...

All Pittsburgh Pro are Cr Moly. Pittsburgh are Chrome Van. Just make sure it says "Pro".
 
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SMKS

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Sal Bandini said:
No need to check them. Pittsburgh Pro are Cr Moly. Pittsburgh are Chrome Van. Just make sure it says "Pro".
Click to expand...

Not so simple. See below. There's a weird set that's cr-v, the packaging is marked "Pittsburgh" but the sockets themselves are marked "Pittsburgh Pro."

Mechanical Noise said:
If you're considering Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro impact sockets, double check that they are the thinner Chrome Moly sockets and not the thicker Chrome Vanadium sockets.

I got some HF Pittsburgh Pro deeps about a year ago and they were thick Cr-V sockets. I wrongly assumed the Cr-Mo sockets were a thing of the past and I got the thick ones anyway. I have since noticed plenty of nice looking Cr-Mo impact sockets on the pegs. Maybe it was some sort of supplier issue.

I'm not really bummed out or anything, the sockets seem strong although bulky. Still worth the $20.
Click to expand...

The reason you were confused is because HF currently has three different versions of impact sockets, at least at my local stores.

Plain 'ol Pittsburgh - CR-V, most of the ones I see are made in Taiwan. Thick walls.
Weird, in-between set - The packaging says just "Pittsburgh," but the sockets themselves says "Pittsburgh Pro." The ones my local stores have of this level are made in China and have thick walls.
Pittsburgh Pro - Cr-mo. These skip a couples sizes in the deep sets, but they have thinner walls and use Cr-mo. These are made in Taiwan.

There are pictures in this thread. The labels may have been updated by now, but at my local stores they still sell these same three types of impact sockets.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166732

IMG_1069-1000-800.jpg
 
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SMKS

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Sal Bandini said:
That thread is from 2012. Every time I've been in there they were all Cr Mo
Click to expand...

Look a little closer. Note that only the sockets are marked "Pittsburgh Pro" on the in-between cr-v set. You might be missing that if you're only looking at the tags.

In my local stores, at least, that info still seems to be accurate and there are three different sets being sold. Two cr-v sets (one with Pitts Pro on the sockets themselves) and only one version that's cr-mo.

The point is, anyone shopping for them needs to make sure they're labeled cr-mo and not just look for the name "Pittsburgh Pro."
 
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ITE Corp

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Our company has always bought Sunex. We have not broke one in 20 years. Thin, but not too thin.
 
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