Short 1/4 hex to socket adapters?

[mrjaw14]

Hey guys,

I've been using my impact driver with a regular socket adapter for a while now. Works great, but the shaft of the 1/4 hex to 1/4 or 3/8 square is excessively long on all the adapters I've found. I basically want something that goes into the locking hex chuck found on impact drivers with a shank that only extends until just after the chuck instead of having 1/2"-1" of extra shank before the square drive. see the pic for an example of extra length before the socket drive begins.

 

[hautpot]

Can your impact take these bits? or does it only use the power bits shank?

EDIT: this looks promising

 

[mrjaw14]

all 3 of my impacts take the power bits shank. I actually have one or two of the first pic you posted and that won't lock in. That Snap-On one looks interesting, I'll have to look at that. I also found an irwin one on toolguyd that looks almost exactly like that. Going to compare the overall length of both those

 

[hautpot]

I know on a snap-on screwdriver it can take both. My coworker took his small one inch bits and magnetized them so it would stay in his cheap corded impact.

 

[sam.coll]

all 3 of my impacts take the power bits shank. I actually have one or two of the first pic you posted and that won't lock in. That Snap-On one looks interesting, I'll have to look at that. I also found an irwin one on toolguyd that looks almost exactly like that. Going to compare the overall length of both those

If you cut a groove into it with a lathe or maybe even a grinder they will lock in

 

[Mohawk Dave]

It's been discussed on here before. But the Black and Decker ones are the shortest I think we all have found.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RH0NOE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wamsutta]

APEX has one that's 1-5/8'' total length.

http://mrotools.com/ex-370-b-apex-brand-power-drive-extension-with-3-8-male-square.aspx

 

[dcforbs8]

Similar as above but for the 1/4" socket drive:

EX-250-B Apex Brand Power Drive Extension, With 1/4'' Male Square

EX-250-B Apex® Brand Power Drive Extension, With 1/4'' Male Square. Hex Drive: 1/4'' Type of Lock: Ball Overall Length: 1-3/8'' / 35mm

mrotools.com

...or apex part number, if you are searching the web:

EX-250-B (ball type)​

EX-250 (pin type)​

How DeWalt (@dewalt) and other manufacturers can overlook such an OBVIOUS small bit need, is beyond me. They make the new hydraulic impact driver DCF870B, and it is super compact, but you have to put a long adapter bit on it just to use sockets, SMH.

I bought 4 of the Apex bits, one for each kit. I might even go get the new DeWalt hydraulic 1/4" impact driver

 

[cherrybomb]

K.C Tools has a selection

 

[tak1313]

Wiha makes one (don't know what the model number is, and it's only 1/4 - I don't think they make a 3/8):



The only 3/8 that I've seen that are that short were 5/16 hex (likely a strength issue).