Pinned or ringed drivers on your impact wrench

[l_bilyk]

Which do you prefer?

 

[Fedwrench]

I prefer ringed because, I can quickly attach and remove sockets with one hand. The rings are also servicable. I would have to depress the the pin with something and remove the socket on a pinned model which costs time and those seconds add up quickly in the course of a full day.

 

[TNToy]

To the best of my knowledge, in 1/2" and below, a snap-ring on the anvil of your impact is pretty much the default position, as I've never seen anything else. It's also my preference. I just slap a new o-ring and snap-ring on my guns every 6-months or so at work, so they never get to the point where they're dropping sockets too easily.

Even my 3/4" impact has a snap-ring on it's snout.

The only pinned item I own is a 1/2" swivel made by Snap-On. I simply make sure to slip sockets onto it so that the hole isn't aligned with the pin. They stay on just fine, and don't require a punch or screwdriver tip to remove.

 

[vjquan]

Ringed. The pinned ones are a pain, and like TNToy mentioned, if you line up the pin with the hole on the socket, a punch is necessary to get it off. I had the Milwaukee 18V cordless 1/2 impact and it had a pin.

 

[rsanter]

the pinned are for use with sockets that you will not replace all the time (production work or tire changers, etc)
the ring is for easy socket swaps

bob

 

[Jason_D]

Ring. Easier/quicker to change sockets & are user serviceable.

 

[l_bilyk]

Ringed. The pinned ones are a pain, and like TNToy mentioned, if you line up the pin with the hole on the socket, a punch is necessary to get it off. I had the Milwaukee 18V cordless 1/2 impact and it had a pin.

I have noticed this too... for some reason my dewalt cordless has a pin, yet I have never come across any retail-oriented impact wrench with a pinned driver

 

[grillmasterp]

Which do you prefer?

I prefer a quick release application over locking
There are variations of pin detents -
rounded pin detent performs similarly to hog nose ring.

My milwaukee impact guns came with a locking pin detent which required me to depress the pin to remove the sockets-
I replaced the pin detents with a rounded pin (quick release pin) for convenience


For anyone with a Milwaukee impact with a locking pin-
You can swap it with
49-17-0410
Quick Release detent Kit