T&E Multi-lock & swivel impact sockets

[Badasssapper67]

Has anyone used or seen T&E "multi-lock" sockets? Are they another version of "spline" drive?

I'd like to get my hands on Matco's "no pin" impact swivel sockets but MAN are they expensive. Anyone used those before or seen them, are they that much better that the would last that much longer? I can see it if you can really reef on them and they'll never break.

So until I know they're not some marketing gimic (since I've never actually seen one) I'll keep looking for the best bang for the buck impact swivels. I like Cornwells' look, and Macs, but might give T&E a try since they're made in the USA.
Any other suggestions, SK maybe?

 

[rival904]

Matcos impact swivels are the cats meow.

 

[Badasssapper67]

Is it true that Matco makes pin and pinless swivels? That would explain why some are much cheaper than other Matcos.

 

[Skin]

Matco doesn't actually make anything except tool boxes. They use to be a part of a large family of tool companies but Danaher, their parent company, dumped them all around 2010 and Matco is the only one remaining.

Matco's primary line is the pinless. USA made, very shallow profile. These are made under contract by Apex tool group (old Danaher tool companies). You can find the design elsewhere like Armstrong and Craftsman but for all intents and purposes many sizes/lengths are unique to the Matco brand.

ADV line is the far cheaper version which are made in Taiwan and are essentially rebadged Sunex. They're pinned and use a collar to keep the pin from walking out.

MAC and Cornwell have pins but peen the ends of them so they wont work free and as a result they don't require a collar. Snap-On started laser welding their pins on their impacts a couple years ago (something they've done to their chrome universals for a long time) and also don't require a collar any longer except the 1/4" drive which is still the old style.

They all work equally well in my opinion. Only notable differences would be in length and depth of the socket. Sometimes space is at a premium so brands that have shallower sockets (MAC and Matco Pinless for example) are superior in that regard vs a Snap-On.


MAC 19 Shallow -> Snap-On 19 Shallow / MAC 14 Shallow -> Snap-On 14 Shallow

 

[rival904]

Ive broken more "pinned" impact swivels than Id like to think about. Thats why I prefer the Matco pinless. IIRC the only pinned matco impact swivels are the ADV line and the older impact swivels which are no longer being made.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Got the pinless Matcos in 1/4" and 3/8" shallow metric, as well as the swivels themselves in 1-4-1/2". They are absolutely the s*** IMO. You can put full torque on them in any position they'll pivot to... they'll spin instead of bind, although at full pivot you do lose a lot of torque with an impact, but that's the nature of the beast.

If you're OCD about brands, the Craftsman ones are limited in selection, and honestly I'd be concerned about getting them warrantied (or at least easily) in the future. Armstrong has a better selection, but IIRC still just 3/8" and 1/2" drive... though a much better chance of having a warranty 5 years later.

I wheeled the Matco man down to $320 cash on my 3/8" set, and I happened to find the 1/4" set (the one without the 5.5mm and 9mm) on fleebay for something around $200. Expensive, but they're insanely handy, and sometimes just a lifesaver. I bought mine after doing an IS300 clutch, which has bellhousing bolts stuffed way up in the worst spot in the tunnel.

 

[Fedwrench]

ADV line is the far cheaper version which are made in Taiwan and are essentially rebadged Sunex. They're pinned and use a collar to keep the pin from walking out.

That's interesting because I always thought the ADV line was rebadged Gearwrench impacts.

 

[Skin]

Gearwrench doesn't make their own impacts as far as im aware.

 

[czgunner]

I scored the matco pinless sae and metric 3/8 set at the pawn shop for $120 for the pair. New in wrapper! I use them daily.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Gearwrench doesn't make their own impacts as far as im aware.

Define "make". They do have GW branded impact sockets, including swivel sockets. Who really manufactures them is anyone's guess.