Magnetic universal joints and extensions...

[EmptyWallet]

Anyone use universal joints with their sockets? I use extensions pretty often, but Cripe is blowing out the Sunex set for around $30 or so.

Never tried the magnetic flavor. They seem to have a tip on them that goes through the socket a bit to make the whole thing magnetic. Anyone ever tried them?

 

[Biomed]

Anyone use universal joints with their sockets?

Never tried the magnetic flavor. They seem to have a tip on them that goes through the socket a bit to make the whole thing magnetic. Anyone ever tried them?

A few of my co-workers use the piece of electrical tape in the socket or magnetize the socket to attempt and hold smaller hardware in a socket. I've never had much luck with those methods. I learned of some Snap-on and GearWrench adaptors, the SO looks like this:

These have worked pretty well for me but the magnets will not pass through the smaller diameter holes of smaller sockets, say smaller than about 5/16" or 9mm.

I just picked up an Armstrong 1/4" drive, 6-pt., power socket that looks like this:

Have not had much chance to use it yet. Although these Armstrong magnetic sockets are more expensive, I think they will work even better than the SO magnetic adaptors.

 

[OEXL16B]

The ones I tried were by GearWrench. I tried them once and took them back to the store. They protrude into the socket too far. They don't allow the socket to go all the way over the nut.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Those are both PERFECT answers and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!!