Strength of Impact vs Regular sockets?

[DiyType]

Is there a strength number for Craftsman impact sockets vs regular Craftsman sockets? There must be some math difference like 3x foot pounds etc.?

 

[yasha32]

It isn't that they are stronger exactly, they are designed to have give in them so they don't blow to bits when they get the rotary impacting force. As far as when they will let go, the impacts I mean, I'd imagine they would rate them for at least the strongest gun they make just to avoid lawsuits. It is hard to break an impact socket from use, mine all have worn the inner part out before they reached that stage. Although, I'm sure someone has more input with some numbers rather than assumptions.

 

[Murphy4570]

Impact sockets are made of softer steel, and the finish is not chromed, but more of a parkerized or phosphate finish of some sort, if not left plain steel (keep them oiled). They won't shatter like hardened chrome sockets are.

I'm sure you can get the strength and brittleness of the steel tested at a laboratory if you're interested in the actual physical characteristics and properties of the steel alloy itself.

 

[DiyType]

I have seen regular craftsman sockets almost rounded by using an impact gun on them....clearly softer metal I was thinking. The impact might be harder and I know they are a little thicker.

 

[Trucky]

The idea behind the impacts is to trade hardness for toughness. The regular sockets are harder, the impacts are more tough than hard. Not saying they're soft like aluminum here, but they're likely less harder than their chrome couterparts. You can't have a maximum of both hard and tough.. the more of one characteristic, the less of the other, in most all cases.

I liken it to carbide inserts for machining operations. There's hard carbide, for long uninterrupted cuts, and tough carbide, for interrupted cuts and short repeated passes with lots of restarts.

Just my theory here.

 

[yasha32]

Harder means more brittle, look into the metallurgy. If harder meant stronger no one would ever consider how hard to make something, it would just be overkill with no consequences.