SK Impact Sockets

[trout]

Seeing as I can't trust Craftsman anymore I'm thinking of picking up a set of SK 1/2" impacts. 26 sockets for $262. Was just gonna buy them but figured I'd ask here first. Never seen anyone mention them.

Anyone else have them? What's the good and the bad?

 

[soulstryke]

Probably abit pricier is the downside. I recently researched impact sockets and the most common answers were Grey Pneumatic and Sunex (also checked out Proto, which is probably similar price as SK). I decided on the grey's, and the thing i like the most was you can take the top off the case for neat storage in your toolbox, or leave the top on for easier transportation of the sockets.

The reason why i went with the cheaper sockets is because, most people mentioned that since they are made out of softer steel, even the pricier impact sockets will eventually round just like the Sunex or Greys.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

they are very good sockets. I would get them.

 

[zkling]

26 sockets for $262.

Ouch. From what I have heard they are very good sockets, just a bit pricy for what they are.

May want to look at others like Proto, Williams, etc.
I think lots of folks are happy with Grey Pnuematic and Sunnex especially considering the price, but they aren't USA made.

If you get lucky you MIGHT be able to find a set of old USA craftsmans at an obscure sears store in your area. My area has been dry (to my knowledge) of the USA impacts for months. There are reports of them still being found in parts of the country. Hopefully I never break one.

 

[CWP1616L]

I checked prices and the Proto version is $370 at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VY58PG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Rezeppa]

If I was to start all over again I would most likely have bought mainly SK impacts. In my opinion they actually hold up better than SnapOn

 

[mattygee]

I have both Grey Pneumatic and SK impacts... both have performed well and would recommend the GP's in light of their lower price.

M

 

[amolaver]

i've got craftsman, genius, gray, gearwrench (1/4") harbor freight, and sk. i've found myself using 3/8 semi-deeps more than any other, and that set is sk. 2nd most used is 1/2" deeps (craftsman) tied with 3/8 swivels (genius). both sk and craftsman (these are older US-made ones) are excellent. i haven't inspected/used the non-US craftsman impacts, so can't comment if they are the same. the genius swivels are not great. functional, but the collar for the swivel is significantly larger than some competitors. i have non-swivel genius that are fine (3/4).

short version, i think any of the brands (probably including the craftsman non-US made ones and harbor freight) are fine. make sure they are CR-MO (not CR-VA), and move along. swivels it may pay to buy the craftsman/matco non-pin type as their design produces a narrower product.

if you are using them all day, every day, they all wear out. nature of the beast, the drive end will wallow out given enough time. for most DIY folks, any of the brands will last essentially forever.

ahm

 

[Jawn]

I've got the 3/8 set... 40 piece shallow/deep, metric/standard. Great sockets. They also have the feature where you can take the case lid off and use it as a tray in the toolbox.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

why would you buy gp just because its cheaper there is a lot of threads showing that harbor freight sockets hold up fine and those are about as cheap as they get and nobody is recommending them.

I would buy the Sk made in USA sockets.

 

[03protege]

You can usually find the SK's for a decent price as part of those BOGO deals.

Currently it looks like the impact stuff is all 1/4" and 3/8" though.

 

[SMKS]

What's the part number of the SK socket set in question?

 

[signcrafter]

make sure they are CR-MO (not CR-VA), and move along.

What exactly is the difference here other then the obvious different metals? Is CR-MO always better then CR-VA?

 

[SMKS]

What exactly is the difference here other then the obvious different metals? Is CR-MO always better then CR-VA?

I'm no metallurgist, but I've done some reading here and some general googling on the topic.

Some people say Cr-mo is better for impact sockets because it's not as brittle as Cr-v, meaning it's less likely to crack.

You will see some impact sockets made of Cr-v. At HF, for example, the cheaper ones are Cr-v and the more expensive ones are Cr-mo.

 

[amolaver]

i am not a metallurgist, but my understanding is that CR-MO is a 'softer' alloy than CR-VA. CR-VA is more likely to break under impact use. i think if you look at truck brand impacts, they are all CR-MO. hardly scientific, but perhaps instructive.

ahm

 

[trout]

what's the part number of the sk socket set in question?

4047

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have SK, Proto, Matco, Wright, Snap On and Grey Pneumatic sets in 1/2" and can export the SK's are 25 years old and given me zero trouble.

TheGrooveking

 

[otis66]

All of my SK inpact scokets are great. Never had any problems. They are worth the money.

 

[trout]

Well thanks for all the responses. I ended up buying them and they're being shipped out today. Along with an impact adapter kit and some snap ring pliers. My first new SK tools. Only ever got SK used before, kinda excited.

Didn't think $10 an impact socket was a bad price. Only slightly more than what I paid for individual Craftsman sockets in the past. Just wanted to make sure there weren't any horror stories.

 

[86k10]

I got that set except it is the 15 piece that goes to 25mm or so and they are good to go. the larger sockets are full recessed and have AA stamped on them. I assume that they are newer than the rest of the set. But I also have a 6 y.o. set of CM standard deep sockets that are fine.

The 3/8 shallow impact sockets seem a little thin but they haven't cracked in over a year yet.

 

[TwoInch]

Seeing as I can't trust Craftsman anymore I'm thinking of picking up a set of SK 1/2" impacts. 26 sockets for $262. Was just gonna buy them but figured I'd ask here first. Never seen anyone mention them.

Anyone else have them? What's the good and the bad?

while i agree that craftsman is nearly out, i have to say, that at the current sale price of $44.99 for 12pc deep metric 1/2" drive sockets, and with some stores still carrying USA sets(4 sets at my local) they are a hell of a bargain, even if they are a one time buy, with no USA warranty replacements. the USA Cman impacts are tough, and i have not heard of many, if any needing warrantied.

at $3.75 per socket, they are practically throw aways

 

[trout]

while i agree that craftsman is nearly out, i have to say, that at the current sale price of $44.99 for 12pc deep metric 1/2" drive sockets, and with some stores still carrying USA sets(4 sets at my local) they are a hell of a bargain, even if they are a one time buy, with no USA warranty replacements. the USA Cman impacts are tough, and i have not heard of many, if any needing warrantied.

at $3.75 per socket, they are practically throw aways

I looked around for USA made Craftsman first. Couldn't find any sets, just some loose stock. I also thought about just buying some junky ones to get me by but the I couldn't get over the finish on the newer Craftsman or HF sockets which seems about the same now. Actually I found an old stock HF set that had a nicer finish than the new Craftsmans. But I needed a more complete set anyways.