Recommend a 3/8 Impact Socket Strategy

[johninct]

Yesterday I used my HF 3/8" impact wobble extension and it made the job easier with that little offset.

 

[Hohn]

I use a 3/8 air ratchet a lot-- a 3/8 impact, very little.

Mostly it tends to depend on whether I'm tearing apart or putting together. I don't use impacts for assembly because I'm most working with small little fasteners that are M6, M8, or M10 at most under the hood of either a Honda or Toyota. The air ratchet gives some speed here, fits where an air gun will not, and wont break off a bolt and cause massive delay. The low torque of the air ratchets (typically 50lb-ft or less) is a good thing because I they are easy to control and I rarely worry about breakage. Then I can just hit it manually or follow up with an actual torque tool if needed.

For suspension work and such with bigger fasteners, I'll use an impact for assembly. But then it will tend to be 1/2" because I'm going to be seeing lots of 17mm and larger heads.

That new little Astro air ratchet in 3/8 is super slick. At 700rpm it really leaves most air ratchets in the dust.

I'd like to post an update to my prior post on this as over the last few years of wrenching I think a bit has changed.

I got some Wright 3/8 Metric regular depth impact sockets.
Just a a refresher, here's what I've got for impact sockets:

• 1/2" shallow: sunex
• 1/2" deep: Cheap Pittsburgh
• 1/2: Nano: Astro obviously
• 3/8" Deep: none, I do not own 3/8 deep impacts
• 3/8" shallow: Wright
• 3/8" Nano: Astro, of course.

I now own a cordless 3/8" impact that I didn't own before, a little Makita since I'm in that battery tribe.
I'm starting to think that chrome sockets are less and less relevant and useful.

These days I almost never reach for Chrome in any size if I have an impact option. The main reasons are:
1) never any chrome flaking risk
2) always compatible with whatever extension or such I grab
3) A texture I've really, really started to prefer quite strongly as I get more arthritic. A bit of oil on your hands or gloves and a chrome socket is all but useless. Especially wrenching on mostly older stuff with rust and leaks, I really, really prefer the surface of an impact socket.
I like the idea of replacing sockets at the wear out rather than replacing anvils or extensions. I think it makes a lot of sense to have the socket be slightly softer and more ductile in the overall drive scheme.

The downside of impact sockets having thicker walls have almost never been a real issue for me.
As handy as the Nanos are in so many cases, there's nothing like the Wrights for sheer joy of use. The feel in hand and on the fastener is just something special. I love them.

I'll almost certainly end up with some deep 3/8 metric impacts soon. The only question is whether I'll splurge again for Wright or whether I'll just grab the Icon and call it good.

 

[mikey03]

I'd like to post an update to my prior post on this as over the last few years of wrenching I think a bit has changed.

I got some Wright 3/8 Metric regular depth impact sockets.
Just a a refresher, here's what I've got for impact sockets:

• 1/2" shallow: sunex
• 1/2" deep: Cheap Pittsburgh
• 1/2: Nano: Astro obviously
• 3/8" Deep: none, I do not own 3/8 deep impacts
• 3/8" shallow: Wright
• 3/8" Nano: Astro, of course.

I now own a cordless 3/8" impact that I didn't own before, a little Makita since I'm in that battery tribe.
I'm starting to think that chrome sockets are less and less relevant and useful.

These days I almost never reach for Chrome in any size if I have an impact option. The main reasons are:
1) never any chrome flaking risk
2) always compatible with whatever extension or such I grab
3) A texture I've really, really started to prefer quite strongly as I get more arthritic. A bit of oil on your hands or gloves and a chrome socket is all but useless. Especially wrenching on mostly older stuff with rust and leaks, I really, really prefer the surface of an impact socket.
I like the idea of replacing sockets at the wear out rather than replacing anvils or extensions. I think it makes a lot of sense to have the socket be slightly softer and more ductile in the overall drive scheme.

The downside of impact sockets having thicker walls have almost never been a real issue for me.
As handy as the Nanos are in so many cases, there's nothing like the Wrights for sheer joy of use. The feel in hand and on the fastener is just something special. I love them.

I'll almost certainly end up with some deep 3/8 metric impacts soon. The only question is whether I'll splurge again for Wright or whether I'll just grab the Icon and call it good.

Really great thinking there man. And I’d look into the new tekton mid length impacts

 

[pbon]

I recently bought the big Sunex 3/8 metric impact set on Amazon. Deep, standard and swivel to 22mm. I like 3/8 for its size. I am impacting more these days and my 3/8 set was not very complete. I never go beyond 24mm for my DIY car work, and I have that size in my 1/2 set.

 

[Hohn]

Really great thinking there man. And I’d look into the new tekton mid length impacts

I saw their email and it definitely caught my eye. Especially since I tend to use standard and shallow much less than deep, and Tektons have always proven sufficient for my demands at a reasonable price.