Metric impact sockets

[Robinson1]

One big gaping hole in my tool inventory is a good set of metric impact sockets. I've got a few randoms I've picked up over the years but nothing that resembles a complete set.

Been looking at Sunex, Tekton, and Gear Wrench.

I keep coming back to the Sunex 2569 metric master set. Seems to be the best value for what you are getting.

 

[ZRX61]

I like the Sunex ones.. however, I've had Horrible Fright impacts for years & have yet to break one.

 

[CJM8515]

I have the sunex set, well worth it for the money. The only gripe-they are impact sockets and the detents are straight, they are meant to be used with a hog ring type setup. So if you intend to use them on a ratchet you MUST make sure the hole in the socket is aligned with the ball or it will fall off the ratchet. For the money the they and the 3/8 master set are worth it


I will also say ive had horrible freight ones with no issues either.

 

[M6erfan]

I have the Sunex 2646 1/2" set, going on 6 years. They're fine. One thing that bugs me is that Sunex doesn't chamfer the female drive end.

 

[Ton ton]

Following.

 

[demarpaint]

I've no problems with HF impact sockets. They're a good bang for the buck.

 

[kd3pc]

I have two sunex sets and both have held up very well, using them full time.

price is right and they do go on sale fairly often.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I've used sunex for years. DIY use will likely never wear out that master set. It's usually what I recommend when friends want impacts.

 

[Tallpilot]

As others have mentioned Sunex impact sockets are the least ‘feature rich’ of the Taiwan choices. They are however usually the best value and likely to last a lifetime in DIY use. I am hoping (attention Dave@Tekton) Tekton updates their impacts with the features commonly found on higher priced selections.

If your budget allows I recommend Grey Pneumatic.

 

[M635_Guy]

Also have the Sunex set, and I'm happy with it.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have the Tekton set. Most of the sockets haven't been used so I can't give a good review. I can say this though, the 19mm has been put through the test. A lug on my truck was on so tight that neither the high torque Milwaukee nor my IR231 could budge it. It finally came off, very slowly at first, with my 310 pounds pulling on a 30" breaker bar. If there was a weak spot in that socket, I would have found it.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have several sets of the HF impacts and have been trying to break one for five years, no luck. It's one of the few tools from HF I recommend when people ask.

 

[Formerjeeper]

Check out the classified post titled “tool liquidation - I need room” (not mine), the guy has several sets of Carlyle impact sockets at Sunex/Tekton prices. Good guy to deal with and I have bought several things from him including a master impact socket set.

 

[gearhead1]

I’m not a pro as in I don’t turn wrenches for a living, but I do all my own work and use them far more than the average home owner. I bought HF ones for a road/travel/take to the racetrack set and haven’t broken one yet either.

 

[87FoRunner]

Williams USA from zoro with a coupon worked my 3/8 SAE sets to lower than Gray and Sunex at the time.

 

[xOccupantx]

Grey Pneumatic is my impact go to

 

[M635_Guy]

Check out the classified post titled “tool liquidation - I need room” (not mine), the guy has several sets of Carlyle impact sockets at Sunex/Tekton prices. Good guy to deal with and I have bought several things from him including a master impact socket set.

Same - bought several ratchets and it was a solid transaction.

 

[bratwurst]

Got a set of snap on used for 140$ off eBay 10mm-24mm

 

[M6erfan]

If your budget allows I recommend Grey Pneumatic.

Agreed. GP are a bit nicer for a bit more money.

 

[Fedwrench]

The only real problem with Harbor Freight's impact sockets is that they don't have open stock.

It's really hard to beat the durability, affordability, and wide selection of sizes across drive sizes that Sunex or Grey pneumatic offers. It's really up to you if you like red boxes or prefer blue blow molded boxes.

Another excellent choice is NAPA's Carlyle when on sale.

If you have to have US Made, then Proto would be my recommendation. They offer a wide range of sizes across drives sizes especially in Metric. SK is another US made option but, i feel their impact socket walls can be on the thick side.

 

[CafeTools]

If you want quality and a nice tray, with a good warranty go with harbor freight icon.

 

[M635_Guy]

Check out the classified post titled “tool liquidation - I need room” (not mine), the guy has several sets of Carlyle impact sockets at Sunex/Tekton prices. Good guy to deal with and I have bought several things from him including a master impact socket set.

I think he's sold out (of metric impacts), but worth checking.

 

[Odd-job]

Are we talking shallows and/or deeps? Harbor freights pro version has served me well and doesn’t have “funky” skips. Got a set of Carlyle deeps from said member. Perfect match. Think all in I got a set of taiwan cromo metric and deep sockets for $65-70.

 

[Handyandy23]

Pretty hard to go wrong with impact sockets, just because they are built quite thick and from more ductile material.

I've got Mastercraft Maximum (cheaper Taiwan ones sold in Canada through Canadian Tire), Kobalt, Sunex, and Astro. I've never broken a single socket from any of them.

Some of them do have some unique offerings though, if your looking for something different. The Astro Nano's are my go-to short sockets and in tight spaces. They are ridiculously small, but still strong. And Astro is just a stand up company.

My Sunex set is a "mid length" which I like as well. Comes in handy when you need a deeper socket, but you're still somewhat limited on space.

I'd personally recommend buying 3-4 sets in different lengths / depths of more affordable brands vs buying one or two expensive sets. They just don't break enough to spend huge money on them, and it's much more practical having several depths as options in different situations.

 

[pascal32]

wow, I must be really hard on my impact sockets - I split several HF impact sockets using a HF earthquake impact - granted this is in the rust belt, probably 5-10 years ago & the quality might have improved. I'm a HF fan for some things & feel they deliver great value to the DIY-er for many thing, their impacts just didn't work out for me. Moved over to Tekton and haven't broken any including a rust-belt CV axle nut last week on a Milwaukee high torque impact. The sunex looked good also when I was replacing the impacts, deciding factor for me was knowing the warranty exchange would be easy if I needed it. The premium tools (MAC, Snapon, SK etc) are appealing, not sure if its the hype or what, I've just never been able to justify the price.

 

[mfewtrail]

Knox is another option from ToolTopia that's even cheaper than Sunex for comprehensive sets. One potential downside to them is that they are only laser etched, no stamped sizes.

Short metric
https://www.tooltopia.com/knox-tools-knxs1227ms.aspx

Long metric
https://www.tooltopia.com/knox-tools-knxs1227md.aspx

 

[HenryAZ]

I've had both Sunex and SK sets in different sizes for several years. Both brands are holding up well. I would go with Sunex given the need for another set.