Swivel Imact question

[hossmwp]

Hello everyone. I have been lurking on your forum for a long time and signed up the other day finally. I have done some searching and wasnt able to find an answer to my question.

I am wondering if anyone would be able to give me some advice on 3/8 metric swivel impact sockets. I find myself often wishing I had them instead of just the swivel joint. Many times I have to take a different approach to jobs as a result. I was wondering if the Matco or the Snap on ones had a big advantage over each other and if there was something else I should look into. I would probably only need 10-15mm.

To give you a little more information - I am not a professional tech. I work with my family on a farm. We do all of our repairs that do not require special tools such as John Deere diagnostic tools and so on. I also have my own small shop at my house that I use to work on my track car as well as a few friends cars. I guess you could say that Craftsman tools and that level have served me well but lately I find myself going for the other brands mainly because of my age and I know I am in this for the long haul. I would guess my usage of these sockets would be 1/2 that of a professional but much more than an average hobbiest.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

Welcome aboard. I have MAC and Matco impact swivels. I prefer both over the Snap-On swivels. SO has a ring that goes around that socket that I find can be a hinderance in tight spots.

 

[krusty the clown]

i like matco's swivel impact sockets with the pinless design. the craftsman are the same for less money and would be easier for you to buy and warranty, unless you can get a matco guy to stop at the farm.

 

[hossmwp]

i like matco's swivel impact sockets with the pinless design. the craftsman are the same for less money and would be easier for you to buy and warranty, unless you can get a matco guy to stop at the farm.

Thanks, this is very valuable insight. I have been very pro SO and Matco lately. I have a Matco rep that stops out. He was hesitant then saw that 3 guys are there with tools. He has done well according to him mainly due to the larger items. At the farm many of the tools are 1/2 drive and up. My close friend has actually always taken care of all SO stuff for me as he is a tech and its simple to drop a tool off with him and he takes care of it for me as well as pick anything I need up.

I will look at the Craftsman ones also I am sure the price will be better and if they are similar I am sure they will hold up for me. I will not use them daily maybe a few times a week is all.

 

[justinmc]

I have a set of the S/O swivels and a set of Cornwells. The S/O "ring" as mentioned can sometimes be an issue but honestly I haven't run into that problem myself. The cornwells really don't seem to be any less "quality" than the S/O but the S/O stuff is maybe finished a little nicer. As a weekend wrencher unless you can find a deal on the S/O stuff then something from SK (I actually have a set of SK 3/8" swivels for sale at the moment), Cornwell, Craftsman, etc should do you find. If you really want the big names then Mac or Matco might be your ticket. S/O swivels seem to bring a mint even used.

 

[bushhawg73]

Try ebay and buy one at a time. You may luck up and get what you need at a fraction of the cost new. I have the Snap on metric and sae sets but I only bought the ones I used most. I am also a part time wrencher but like the quality of a well made tool.

 

[gofastman]

Thanks, this is very valuable insight. I have been very pro SO and Matco lately. I have a Matco rep that stops out. He was hesitant then saw that 3 guys are there with tools. He has done well according to him mainly due to the larger items. At the farm many of the tools are 1/2 drive and up. My close friend has actually always taken care of all SO stuff for me as he is a tech and its simple to drop a tool off with him and he takes care of it for me as well as pick anything I need up.

I will look at the Craftsman ones also I am sure the price will be better and if they are similar I am sure they will hold up for me. I will not use them daily maybe a few times a week is all.

Welcome,
I was wondering what you are doing with 3/8" stuff on a farm, I wont tell you what to do, but cant imagine how many "lower" torque aplications there are on that equipment

 

[hossmwp]

Welcome,
I was wondering what you are doing with 3/8" stuff on a farm, I wont tell you what to do, but cant imagine how many "lower" torque aplications there are on that equipment

haha, you got me there. Its not for the farm your right 1/2 impact is the smallest we use there. It for my track car. I often find myself using and looking for smaller stuff that I dont have. I started out using Craftsman to fill in the holes but I dont see myself doing this as a temporary thing so I have started filling in with the nicer stuff.

That being said the new equipment has a great deal of small fastners that the older ones didnt have. Recently we had to cave in and buy a great deal of metric tools. The past two pieces of equipment are completely metric. Unfortunately the SO sales rep wasnt interested when I called to come get that one big sale but the Matco guy was willing to sell 4 sets of 10-32mm wrenches, 1/4,3/8,1/2 and 3/4 inch drive socket sets complete with impact for the larger two. I love SO but our area rep is sort of blind at times. The Matco rep has been stopping out 2 times a month ever since and has always found a way to get a few sales. Very pleased with his service.

 

[autoace]

Matco, has the best impact swivels on the market, much to my Cornwell dealers dismay. I rate Cornwell over So, because of the higher pin location, then SO.

1)Matco(Sears new style,similar/or same)
2)Cornwell
3)SO