Recommendations for a best value in smaller (1/4 and 3/8 inch) impact socket sets?

[Dud]

As the title says, I am looking for "best value" recommendations for a set of both 1/4 and 3/8 inch impacts. I have a fairly extensive set of 1/2 inch impact but nothing in the other sizes. I guess that I've never needed them before. I am strongly considering a set of metric sets from both Sunex and Tekton. What do you think? Also, where do you buy?

Thanks ...

 

[Fedwrench]

I would add Capri tools to your list of options. Especially since Tekton doesn't offer 1/4 impact sockets. If you order from Capritools.com , they have free conus shipping and rewards points that spend like cash on future orders just as Tekton does on their website. Warranty is easy although I haven't had to warranty anything yet. As for Sunex, shop around for the best deal or a sale.

 

[Fly YX]

I would get the Tekton from Tekton website for regular for 1/4 impact I Sunex and some SK

 

[Zewnten]

ATD 1/4 drive master set, SAE metric with extensions and universal joint. Deep, standard and swivel sockets. Made in Taiwan and the case is nice

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Sunex, Tekton or Capri or Pittsburgh Pro.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If price is your main concern, your goal should be buying large sets to drop price per socket down. Idk about 1/4 drive but various companies offer 3/8 master sets with shallow and deep of sae and metric, a couple extensions and a universal joint.

After many good experiences, my to is typically sunex.

 

[infinite97]

All of my sockets are GP. They’ve been good.

 

[wafrederick]

Grey Pnuematic,hold up very well.Never broken or worn one out yet

 

[Dud]

Thank you all! ATD, Capri, and GP added to the list under consideration!

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

As the title says, I am looking for "best value" recommendations for a set of both 1/4 and 3/8 inch impacts. I have a fairly extensive set of 1/2 inch impact but nothing in the other sizes. I guess that I've never needed them before. I am strongly considering a set of metric sets from both Sunex and Tekton. What do you think? Also, where do you buy?

Thanks ...

I went with Proto when I bought my impacts to go with my M18 tools. Hunted online for the best deal and ended up buying from a couple of different suppliers.

 

[Al Borland]

Deep or shallow? Don't know about 1/4", but Horrid Fright has Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Pro sockets. One is kinda sooty black with stamped sizes, the other is sorta shiny black with gold size labels. Get the sooty ones, The labels come off the shiny ones when you clean them with solvents.

 

[dnschmidt]

Not trying to hijack but how much torque can you apply to a 1/4" socket that makes impact sockets a true necessity? Typically 1/4" stuff in limited to a maximum hex size of 14mm. typically bolts of this hex size limit out at about 30 ft-lb. Any conventional chrome socket should be able to handle that easily. 3/8" and 1/2" are a far different story and for those size impact wrenches impact sockets are mandatory.

 

[theoldwizard1]

1/4" and 3/8" impact sockets are a waste if money !

One exception. 3/8" flex impact sockets.

 

[dscheidt]

Not trying to hijack but how much torque can you apply to a 1/4" socket that makes impact sockets a true necessity?

I have wallowed out the drive end of a 10mm socket, using them on an impact driver with an adapter. That's not enough to go buy impact sockets, but it might if I were using them to assemble stuff all day or something.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

A couple years ago I bought Sunnex master sets in bot 1/4 and 3/8. I'm happy with them.

 

[Badgerstate]

You should take a look at Hart. Especially their 1/4" sockets are stupid cheap and they actually look to be halfway decent.

 

[Bruce57]

Sunex would be my first choice, Grey Pneumatic second. Amazon & eBay should have what you're looking for.

 

[Al Borland]

The Home Despot has Makita 1/4" drive sets with a hex adaptor for impact drivers. 10-12 bucks for metric or SAE.

 

[Slinger646]

I love my Sunex 1/4" set. No skips.

Amazon Link

 

[sponfit]

Sunex or Grey Pneumatic would be my recommendation

 

[Zewnten]

I buy the impacts because I don't like flaking chome on the hex end of my sockets, high to low end they all did it.

 

[claymont]

The Home Despot has Makita 1/4" drive sets with a hex adaptor for impact drivers. 10-12 bucks for metric or SAE.

I bought the Makita 3/8 impact sets in metric and sae to go along with my 12v drill/driver set; I like them. I bought them on Ebay, I think I paid around $15 a set a few years ago.

 

[Neggy]

Not trying to hijack but how much torque can you apply to a 1/4" socket that makes impact sockets a true necessity? Typically 1/4" stuff in limited to a maximum hex size of 14mm. typically bolts of this hex size limit out at about 30 ft-lb. Any conventional chrome socket should be able to handle that easily. 3/8" and 1/2" are a far different story and for those size impact wrenches impact sockets are mandatory.

I don't have any 1/4" impact stuff, but I have full sets of 3/8 and 1/2 inch from Snap-On, MAC, and S&K from the 1980's.

Why you don't use chrome on impact?

Because if you beat the snot out of them, the chrome plating can crack, and if you are like me and sometimes spin the sockets in an ungloved palm, cracked chrome is like putting a razor blade on tool and doing the same thing.

This is why when I am watching the various car shows on the Motortrend cable channel, I am screaming at the TV when I see a chrome socket on an impact tool.

Air ratchets are a different story, I have 1/4" and 3/8" M12 ratchets.... I will use my S&K Chrome sockets (1984 vintage) on them all day long, and even on my 1/4" M12 driver with a 1/4 inch el cheapo adapter, but when I go to the 3/8 M12 impacts it is impact or nothing. I'd have to be in a real bind to use chrome on something that gets hammered by a tool.

 

[Josh the IH guy]

I have HF impact sockets. The flat black ones. I'm not an everyday mechanic, but I have a farm, and work on 50+yr old stuff, so my sockets take a pretty big beating working on trucks, tractors and implements that sit in the weather. I've had them for years. 20 years probably. They are still going strong. My impact gun is a HF earthquake xt. And I also use a 1/2 ridged cordless impact. So they see 1k ft lbs at times...

 

[ZEN357]

I would get the Tekton from Tekton website for regular for 1/4 impact I Sunex and some SK

I like that Tekton does not skip sizes in their sets.

 

[Ton ton]

Tekton.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Tekton, Sunex, HF all going to be good and cheap for the most part. GP DUO sockets are my favorite and still reasonable

 

[tyyost]

Like others above I bought the Sunex master kit in 3/8 a few years back to go with my Milwaukee cordless impact. I looked at Genius, as I have a nice 1/2 metric set from them, and also at Gray Pneumatic. The Sunex kit was a good deal, but also the master set had everything you need to work, standard, deep, swivel, and extensions.

if I was buying 1/4 it would be hard for me to look at anything other than another Sunex master set.