Matco Impact Swivels

[Art From De Leon]

Any comments on these? They have the wierd looking 'spline' in the swivel that takes the torque off the pin.
It appears to be a good idea. Years ago, MAC impact swivel sockets lasted much longer than the Snap On ones did, just because the MACs were assembled in a slightly different way.
I don't need to replace any of my Snap On impact swivels, BUT????

 

[crbracing]

i have a 10 pice set of matco 3/8 swivle and there great. matco and craftsman dont use a pin like the mac, snap on, sk ect. the only ones i have used other than my matco ones are snap on and i think they are about the same. To me the matco just seams to be a better design without the pin.

 

[bmwpower]

Yea, they are supposedly a top notch design, but I never got a chance to try one out.

Are the 3/8" swivels by Matco the same design??

 

[Fedwrench]

I think they are simply the best impact swivel sockets I have ever used. The pinless joint is like a minature inboard cv joint and moves through its complete range of motion smoother. They also don't have the fat retaining collar found on most impact swivel sockets which means a thinner profile for improved access. I have standard and metric sets in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drives. Shop around on ebay and other places for the best deal. They have served me well.
Although the Craftsman impact swivels use the same pinless joint, the bases on the Craftsman impact swivels are taller than the Matco versions and not as compact.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

Matco Impact Swivels

Are the best in the business. Smooth as silk to use, great torque deliver, and as durable as I think you will find. They are my first pick for ANY swivel situation, impact or non. I have only the adapters, (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/8"-1/2"), as I have yet to run into a situation where using the adapters on impact sockets would not get the job done. It would be safer, due to a sockets tendency to fly off of a swivel adapter at 6,000 rpm, but I try to exercise extreme caution when using them, plus, a set of shallow AND deep 1/2" and shallow AND deep 3/8" would be getting into the $1500 range

One of my most money making tools is the adapter that has a 1/2" drive on the impact end, 3/8" on the socket end. WONDERFUL for things like suspension components, brakes, HUBS. At $40 a piece, these things are worth their weight in gold.

 

[Elwood77]

due to a sockets tendency to fly off of a swivel adapter at 6,000 rpm,

I've messed myself up with flying impact sockets.. I use locking impact extensions and adapters now to stop that.

I have metric Snap On and sae Matco swivels, I really like the Matco ones better.

 

[Merkava_4]

I think they are simply the best impact swivel sockets I have ever used.

Are the best in the business. Smooth as silk to use, great torque deliver, and as durable as I think you will find.

It's nice to know that Danaher is doing something right.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have the Craftsman and like them, but for the times I need a deep on a wobble, I prefer the Snap-On pin style impact for that. I would rather it not fly off.

I also use and recommend locking extensions.

 

[daveblank]

i have a 10 pice set of matco 3/8 swivle and there great. matco and craftsman dont use a pin like the mac, snap on, sk ect. the only ones i have used other than my matco ones are snap on and i think they are about the same. To me the matco just seams to be a better design without the pin.

Several years ago Mac switched to the pinless design also. IMHO pinless is the way to go. I've got a large mixture of both types. My fondest memories are of a S/O 17mm that I had a love/hate relationship with. The head was thin, so it would get into tight areas. But I would break the pin about every other month.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

It's nice to know that Danaher is doing something right.

You know, when I think about defense of Matco products (i.e. "Matco is just rebranded craftsman shite..."), this is the first product that comes to mind.
Now product number 2,3,4 and 5 require a bit more head scratching