Matco Impact Sockets (not ADV) vs. Snap-On/Williams USA

[The Critic]

I have an opportunity to purchase a full 1/2" dr set of Matco's Opti-Torque Pro Impact Sockets (not the ADV's) for around the same price as a comparable Williams USA set.

My understanding is that these are now Made in Taiwan instead of the US. COO doesn't bother me too much as long as the end product delivers.

From my initial research, the Matco impact sockets appear to be a bit thinner than the Snap-On's. I am not too familiar with Matco's line-up, but I would think that it is easier to warranty a Matco socket once it wears out (than a Williams product).

Curious if anyone has recent experience with the Matco Impact Sockets and can provide some feedback. Thanks!

 

[Shiftless]

How much use does it take to wear out one specific size impact socket? Do you work in a tire shop?

 

[The Critic]

How much use does it take to wear out one specific size impact socket? Do you work in a tire shop?

This would be a “buy it for life” purchase, so I expect to wear out a socket at some point.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Williams doesn't warranty wear as far as I am aware.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

How much use does it take to wear out one specific size impact socket? Do you work in a tire shop?

It's not just the lug nut sizes. All the sizes wear due to stuck bolts. Sitting there and just rattling one a frozen piece of hardware absolutely trashes sockets.

 

[Ton ton]

Sometimes if you are bored you can check your impact sockets for hairline cracks no matter what brand you use. I would go with Matco if you have a reliable dealer to work with.

 

[Mr_B]

impact sockets are consumables.
Considering the price the Matco are not that great in design basics .
You got HUGE choice on impact sockets at wide price range .
Don't overlook self warranty options, That what i'm doing on basic impact socketry 1/2" and under & it saves huge amount of money & gives you better choices on socket design and the warranty will be impeccable and 110% to my liking for life ...

 

[Zewnten]

I’d vote no on the Matcos unless they’ve updated them from the older sets. I have the USA made gearwrench which is identical except the stamping and they ****. Broke a couple of the bigger sizes at a steep angle, they bind up quickly with consistent use, old matco dealer said he was going through a lot of warranties with them. I switch to Cornwell pinned set and it’s night and day.

 

[AEAdam]

Pretty sure YouTube testing indicates the mass of the socket is added to the mass of the hammer, making the heavier impact sockets more effective at removing stuck hardware (which I regard as the primary function of an impact wrench).

My guess is, thinner sockets are cheaper to make, and are targeted at customers looking to substitute impacts for chrome. Think: Grey Pneumatic “Duo” sockets, presumably thin walled impacts suitable for hand or impact use.

I have a couple impact guns, love them, recommend them, but use them sparingly. For me, I’d opt for the heavier thicker walled sockets for their greater performance at removing stuff.

 

[Steve_P]

Williams warranty is for defects in materials and workmanship, as should be because you are not paying the Snap On premium. And yes, impact sockets are definitely consumables, like nearly every other tool.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Why do people assume Williams = Snap-On? It doesn't. If the Matco's are new and carry a warranty, that seems a way to go. It doesn't sound like this is the case, though. As mentioned, impact sockets are consumables. I would not buy used.

My guess is, thinner sockets are cheaper to make, and are targeted at customers looking to substitute impacts for chrome. Think: Grey Pneumatic “Duo” sockets, presumably thin walled impacts suitable for hand or impact us

Socket thickness seems to evolve. A lot of "cheaper" impact sockets used to be really thick. So much so, they didn't fit places where an up-market socket would. I *think* companies like Tekton answered this call, and now have thinner sockets.... they used to be really fat.

Mass is a curious thing. It definitely matters, which is why you see the sockets with the donuts on them.... but how much mass matters for "normal" impact sockets is debatable in my mind. When is it a deal breaker? Does a thinner, shallow broached socket have more mass than a thicker, fully broached socket?

Goodness of fit (on both ends) of a socket is another important factor. The whole point is not to have the socket "recoil" between impacts. This is something that mass has, well, an impact on as well. It's also why I avoid used impact sockets.

-Ryan

 

[Zewnten]

Pretty sure YouTube testing indicates the mass of the socket is added to the mass of the hammer, making the heavier impact sockets more effective at removing stuck hardware (which I regard as the primary function of an impact wrench).

My guess is, thinner sockets are cheaper to make, and are targeted at customers looking to substitute impacts for chrome. Think: Grey Pneumatic “Duo” sockets, presumably thin walled impacts suitable for hand or impact use.

I have a couple impact guns, love them, recommend them, but use them sparingly. For me, I’d opt for the heavier thicker walled sockets for their greater performance at removing stuff.

I looked really hard into the duo sockets for a bit and tried out a coworkers but they wore down quickly and either because of the softness or the lack of mass they just didn’t seem to hit as hard as my Taiwan Pittsburghs or Protos

 

[AEAdam]

I looked really hard into the duo sockets for a bit and tried out a coworkers but they wore down quickly and either because of the softness or the lack of mass they just didn’t seem to hit as hard as my Taiwan Pittsburghs or Protos

Not saying they are bad….Just wondering out loud….might people be attracted to more powerful guns, because a lower torque gun “doesn’t work” without asking if, in fact, it’s the socket that’s not working. So their response is to get a more powerful gun, which only accelerates the wear to their thin impact sockets.

Maybe we’d be better off with heavy duty, hard impact sockets, and lower torque guns…..well, I guess that’s exactly how it used to be.

 

[Ton ton]

Milwaukee does a great job with low torque impact guns. Yes, I have a 1/2" high torque Milwaukee fuel. But it is a bit of a joke. I like the Milwaukee batteries though.

 

[AEAdam]

Milwaukee does a great job with low torque impact guns. Yes, I have a 1/2" high torque Milwaukee fuel. But it is a bit of a joke. I like the Milwaukee batteries though.

Really like that manufacturers like Milwaukee are making mid torque guns. Battery tool technology has come such a long way. These tools are small, light, and powerful. I know a lot of pro mechanics who love the Snap On 12v gun with the rocker trigger. It’s small, light, and powerful enough. Light to see more manufacturers pushing the low torque envelope.

 

[Shoreline_]

The only USA made impact socket I purchased from Matco was indeed thinner but not thin wall. Deep whatever size. I bought it for BMW e30/e36 axle nuts. I've never had an issue with it. I bought it in 2008. I don't use it everyday but quite a few times a year. I thought it was made by Armstrong. So a few years later when their impact sockets went to Asia, I went to grainger and bought an Armstrong impact one size up. It seems the sidewall is not thinner than comparable brands. So I don't know if it was special for Matco.