Need an opinion on impact sockets...

[muskaman67]

As some of you may already know, I'm a technician at Toyota. Im looking to buy some impact sockets. I was thinking of going craftsman since theyre so much cheaper then the truck brands and just the fact that warranty is like a mile from my house. Does anyone have any opinions on their sockets? Good/Bad. Also, if i dont get the craftsman i would prob. end up getting cornwell since thats who comes to my stealership. Thanks guys. Are they really that much better then craftsman?

 

[fordbroncodave]

both very good options. i have found that the craftsman sockets like to shatter if they decide to break so it could cause a nasty cut or wound.

the cornwell sockets are nice, i haven't broke one of their impact sockets yet and i have had my set for 5 years. from what i heard from my dad, they are a little more maluable meaning they will round them selves out and stretch a little before cracking. could mean problems later down the road due to possibly striping or rounding a bolt head off but if you test the socket on it first to check the looseness you would know if you should use it or not

 

[pearl_dude]

A lot of people on here recommend Grey Pneumatic and they are not expensive. I plan on buying some of their impact sockets. I'm in the Toyota T-TEN program in college. Any advice you can give me will be appreciated!

 

[fordbroncodave]

i heard alot about the grey pneumatic brand but i never actually bought a set because i don't know where to warranty them

 

[muskaman67]

i heard alot about the grey pneumatic brand but i never actually bought a set because i don't know where to warranty them

thats exactly why i havent bought them yet. heard they're great, but i want the ease of warranty.

 

[muskaman67]

A lot of people on here recommend Grey Pneumatic and they are not expensive. I plan on buying some of their impact sockets. I'm in the Toyota T-TEN program in college. Any advice you can give me will be appreciated!

chances are they will prob start you off in the lube tech position first and then from there you can start watching other techs and go flat rate and then its a career. if you need any advice on what to get feel free to PM me.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Hands down PROTO impact sockets are the best. They're a little costly but they're worth it.

 

[kartracer55]

The only drawback is the limited size range

 

[Fedwrench]

Craftsman impact sockets on sale at half price are hard to beat. However, ease of warranty even with Craftsman might not be that easy. The sears in my area carry the impact socket sets but, they stopped carrying individual impact sockets over a year ago.
Grey pneumatic are a quality product but, I have no idea how to warranty them other than Matco sells Grey Pneumatic.
Cornwell impact sockets are ok. I've broken a couple over the years but, they are expensive compared to GP and Craftsman.
Try to get a set of Matco 3/8 impact swivel sockets as I think they are the best designed and the most durable I've used.

 

[wreckercologist]

The Craftsman impacts seem pretty good, especially for the price........

That said, I don't own any but my fellow mechanics at work do. They hold up well. The only issues I know of with them is the wall thickness. They're kinda fat in that respect. The guys that have them at work borrow my Snap-ons when their Craftsmans won't fit.

The Cornwells that I have are nice. Their shallow impacts are really shallow......shorter than my Snap-ons. My only two complaints with the Cornwells are 1: Sizes are hard to read ( I mean really hard at times) and 2: I don't think their 12 point sockets are Flank Drive style. Their 6 points are, but not the 12's (at least the set I have isn't.....bought new in 2008). Oops, make that three.............the Cornwells are a little thick at times too (deep impact sockets).

 

[wreckercologist]

Try to get a set of Matco 3/8 impact swivel sockets as I think they are the best designed and the most durable I've used.

I believe the Craftsmans are the same now, though probably not available in every size and configuration.

 

[Fedwrench]

I believe the Craftsmans are the same now, though probably not available in every size and configuration.

It's a Danaher product. You can find versions marked Matco, Craftsman , or Armstrong. There are differences like only the Matco versions are marked on two sides with high vis sizes and Matco offers the most complete size selections.

 

[Moltar]

Hands down PROTO impact sockets are the best. They're a little costly but they're worth it.

Do you know if PROTO impact sockets are the same as Mac? All of my non swiveling impact sockets are Mac and are the best I've used so far.

 

[byrd]

it is verry hard to get these words out of me but...the pittsburgh sets that harbor freight sell are actually decent. i guess you could say they are even good once you consider the cost. i bought the SAE and metric sets years ago when i first got into the equipment repair field and have found no reason to justify spending money on a "good" replacement for these. i beat the hell out of these poor bastards and have yet to have one fail! in my opinion they are a valid option.

 

[Chadro]

Back when I was changing springs and tires on trucks we used IR sockets on 1' impacts and they seemed to work pretty good. I never had one break, we'll just leave it at that.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I doubt it, but you never know!

 

[JustAHedge]

I have been using the craftsman impact sockets on a daily basis for about 3 1/2 years and haven't had a problem with them yet. Ive got both 3/8 10-19mm and 1/2 12-27mm sets in shallow and deep. I use the deep 3/8 and shallow 1/2 most often.

Its true they do have a thicker wall compared to other sockets, but I bought the 5pc metric thin wall set from matco for lugs with tight access on certain cars. http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2424&page=3&#42669

 

[TheGrooveking]

The SK impact sockets seem to be the narrowest I've found. They are thinner than my Proto or Matco impact sockets of the same drive.

TheGrooveking

 

[Skin]

If you're looking for impacts to use on air ratchets and cordless impacts and 99% of what you'd be doing with them is tightening lug nuts just about any impact sockets will do you. If you're going to be using them on the beefier air impact tools i'd probably go with a truck brand. Once you have a socket detonate in your face you'll understand why you'd want to spend the extra money. Plus a good set will last you the rest of your life so whats a few hundred bucks?

Wright Impacts seem to be fairly decent and are very cost friendly. I think you can scoup up their 16pc set for less than $200 and do any other filling in at $20-$30 a socket.

My only pet peeve is almost every manufacturer has holes in their sets that they simply dont make, e.g. Wright doesnt make a 25 or 26mm.

The one company who seems to actually produce the closest thing to a full set is Grey Pneumatic [very similar to Matco], who has a 10-36mm [sans a 31mm which is a real oddball] for an incredibly good price of about $140.

The SK impact sockets seem to be the narrowest I've found. They are thinner than my Proto or Matco impact sockets of the same drive.

TheGrooveking

Seen a couple crack. They arent the same SK from a few years ago, their quality has, unfortunetly, really dropped since they left Facom.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

both very good options. i have found that the craftsman sockets like to shatter if they decide to break so it could cause a nasty cut or wound.

Have you actually had a recent manufacture Craftsman impact socket shatter or explode with you?

I cannot say that I've ever seen an impact socket do anything other than crack, and then only with lots of abuse.

Charles

 

[hickmlg09]

My boyfriend goes with craftsman with some of his sockets. As he states it is better to have USA made tools than twian or china ****.

 

[TheGrooveking]

If you're looking for impacts to use on air ratchets and cordless impacts and 99% of what you'd be doing with them is tightening lug nuts just about any impact sockets will do you. If you're going to be using them on the beefier air impact tools i'd probably go with a truck brand. Once you have a socket detonate in your face you'll understand why you'd want to spend the extra money. Plus a good set will last you the rest of your life so whats a few hundred bucks?

Wright Impacts seem to be fairly decent and are very cost friendly. I think you can scoup up their 16pc set for less than $200 and do any other filling in at $20-$30 a socket.

My only pet peeve is almost every manufacturer has holes in their sets that they simply dont make, e.g. Wright doesnt make a 25 or 26mm.

The one company who seems to actually produce the closest thing to a full set is Grey Pneumatic [very similar to Matco], who has a 10-36mm [sans a 31mm which is a real oddball] for an incredibly good price of about $140.



Seen a couple crack. They arent the same SK from a few years ago, their quality has, unfortunetly, really dropped since they left Facom.

So they changed the type/grade/quality of steel? The reason for that comment is, I would think they are using the same machinery to produce the sockets or did were they produced in Chicago and now made at another plant.

TheGrooveking

 

[Skin]

My boyfriend goes with craftsman with some of his sockets. As he states it is better to have USA made tools than twian or china ****.

Danaher makes most all the craftsman hand tools including sockets. Many of them are produced in Taiwan. I'd be a bit surprised if their impacts are still produced domestically by Danaher. I say this because Ingersoll-Rand makes a set nearly identical to the craftsman one [52pc?] and their stuff is made in Tiawan by Danaher. Its a very good set. Everything that is made overseas is not "****"...

So they changed the type/grade/quality of steel? The reason for that comment is, I would think they are using the same machinery to produce the sockets or did were they produced in Chicago and now made at another plant.

TheGrooveking

Dont know what they did but i wish they'd undo it. I have some older SK tools that are fantastic. I've both used and seen the newer stuff and it simply is not up to the same standard that they had just a few years ago. Hopefully they dont keep it up or they wont last long especially being independent.

 

[Fedwrench]

Danaher makes most all the craftsman hand tools including sockets. Many of them are produced in Taiwan. I'd be a bit surprised if their impacts are still produced domestically by Danaher. I say this because Ingersoll-Rand makes a set nearly identical to the craftsman one [52pc?] and their stuff is made in Tiawan by Danaher. Its a very good set. Everything that is made overseas is not "****"...

The Craftsman impact sockets are still US made and each socket has USA stamped on it. They are actually clones of the currrent Armstrong impact sockets. Craftsman has also sold SK supplied impact sockets in the past. There are many branches to the Danaher tool brand tree and most of them are US made. The IR impact socket set you speak is actually made by Sunex in Taiwan not a Danaher company.

 

[JayL]

Happy with Ingersoll Rand metric impacts sockets here.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HGIP7M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HGMSGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mooman]

Do you really need impact sockets if you're just fixing stuck accelerators

 

[compman25]

Do you really need impact sockets if you're just fixing stuck accelerators

 

[muskaman67]

Do you really need impact sockets if you're just fixing stuck accelerators

HAHA damn man good one. Yes, a lot of our work is fixing the pedals, but its so fast and ive been able to turn around 100 hrs for a few weeks now with the help of the pedals so im not complaining.

 

[fordbroncodave]

Have you actually had a recent manufacture Craftsman impact socket shatter or explode with you?

I cannot say that I've ever seen an impact socket do anything other than crack, and then only with lots of abuse.

Charles

certainly. 19mm bust loose and cut my dads hand when he was using his impact wrench. i couldn't or didn't believe impact sockets actually shatter but craftsman ones to apparently. this rare occasion, one of the few times it happened.

 

[GM_tc]

Alot of guys in our shop and me personally, use Sunex impact sockets. So far i havent heard of anyone breaking them and they are alot cheaper than truck brands. If you're looking for swivel or universal impact sockets i would definately spend the money and get quality Mac, Matco, Snap On, or Cornwell.

 

[Eldogg]

After my Snap-On sockets got stolen I bought some Harbor Freight impact sockets. I think there are OK. Not Snap-on's but they are as good as the other cheap stuff out there. Bash Me!!!! See if I care!!!

 

[bmxr4life87]

I will say grey pneumatic all the way you can email customer service and they will give you contact info for distributors in your area! They offer the most complete sets at the best prices in my opinion that's why all my impact sockets are GP! Also if you have a napa in your area they have nice rebranded kd sockets labeled as napa pro tools they are very competitive price wise with grey in our area! My buddy paid $35 out the door for a set of napa 3/8 deep metric impact sockets 8-19mm and they are just as nice quality wise as grey plus napa here is awesome with their warranty if they don't stock it they can usually have it next day for us!

 

[tatra]

proto are good..........stay away from westward swivel impacts, total garbage........had 2 disintegrate on first usage...........wright is good stuff too..........snap on swivels are worth the money in my book.........

 

[yellowbox]

do not buy any from northern tool
i broke an 18mm swivel impact and they would not warrenty it , as a matter of fact they would not sell me a 18 mm as a single , wanted me to buy the whole set , again !!!
tool truck brand or sunex brand is the way to go

 

[mkdive]

I have sets of Mac, Matco, SO & Cman impact sockets. (The only swivel impacts I have are SO).....I have never had a problem with any of them...not even the Cman ones.....going on 15+ years using them.

 

[Valsmere]

I have had the Grey Pneumatic in both mm and sae for about 2 years now, and no problems at all. Would buy another set without hesitation.

 

[muskaman67]

thanks everyone for the replies.

 

[sberry]

I saw a set of ATD in the parts store flier, 14 sockets for 29.95. At 2$ a piece they are hard to beat. I have good ones and house brand cheapies, really beat them way beyond what one would ever on toties. I got about 50 of those Pitts also, never broke one. I think of the cheapie Duro ones from auto parts I broke about 3, they replace them the same day under warranty. Those were a 3/4, 15/16 and a 1 1/8, they were pounded hard repeatedly and didn't owe me much at 4$ for singles. The 3/4 had hammered thousands with heavy duty 1/2 gun.
I did get a set of metric deeps from HF or Northern, cant remember which but they were nothing to write home about, broke some of those, they were generic off brand and junk, only set I have ever had a problem with that didn't deserve it, replaced them as it happened with the 4 dollar specials.

 

[sberry]

do not buy any from northern tool
i broke an 18mm swivel impact and they would not warrenty it , as a matter of fact they would not sell me a 18 mm as a single

As I recall thats where I got those junky ones.

 

[Joe H]

I like sunex for impact sockets. Have not had any issues yet.