What Brand Impact Sockets Do You Use?

[hosz]

I need to get a set of 1/2 impact sockets and was wondering what most techs/wrenchers use.

I won't use them everyday. At most 2 or 3 times a month on my own or friends' cars. I don't want to buy cheap China-made C-man sockets. They look like **** and none of the stores near me still have USA made stock.

Most important for me is that they don't round off stubborn bolts or turn into shrapnel. If that is the case, am I stuck buying SO or Matco or are there other brands out there that are just as good but cheaper?

 

[purplezr2]

Snap ON !

 

[JamesBill]

I have Snap-On, Cornwell and SK. SK is very good and not too expensive.

 

[Monte]

Koken (Made in Japan) is cheaper and should be as good as the other major brands

 

[Squankum]

Grey Pneumatic is made in Taiwan and many people (even pros) on here are pleased with their quality. Me, I just got mine (amazon) and am just tickled by the price/value ratio.

Other folks are abusing HF impact sockets and having no issues, I think.

 

[dankicksass]

Snap-On, Williams, MAC, Craftsman-USA, Kobalt-USA, Stanley, and Astro Pneumatic; my impact sockets and accessories are diverse. If you just want impact sockets to do wheels though, I'd recommend a set of flip-overs.

 

[waterboy12]

I use mine everyday in a industrial/government setting and all I use are harbor freight impacts on my 3/8 and 1/2 guns. For my 3/4 I have sk impact sockets. I'm very pleased with the harbor freight impacts, there cheap but are holding up very well. One of the best buys harbor freight has as far as I'm concerned.

 

[amolaver]

Grey Pneumatic is made in Taiwan and many people (even pros) on here are pleased with their quality. Me, I just got mine (amazon) and am just tickled by the price/value ratio.

Other folks are abusing HF impact sockets and having no issues, I think.

this.

plus sunex, genius, kd/gearwrench, also great value. have a look at tooltopia, dska tools, and cripe for retailers. the HF stuff has repeatedly been shown to be good stuff, although i'm not a fan of their swivels. for standard short/deeps, the HF is incredible value. the GP/Sunex/Genius/KD are all a little more money i believe, and hold up great to professional use; they'll last essentially forever as an occasional user.

IMO the biggest cause of rounded off fasteners with impacts are almost never the sockets, but impatience. make sure the sockets are seated all the way and squarely before you pull the trigger. if you rush and only get them partway on the fastener, when you pull the trigger of even a moderately powerful gun, you cause yourself much grief..

ahm

 

[plinker]

I have mostly Sunex (labeled Napa) & some US Craftsman/Allen/K-D & S-K. My Dad has mostly Snap-on.

Sunex and Grey are the best socket's for the money, S-K & (US made) Williams for best value for USA made socket's. You have to pay attention to Williams if buying their USA socket's, as some of their impact socket's are Taiwan as well.

 

[trboxman]

Sunex and a few other brands.

 

[archirelic]

3/8" - Grey Pneumatic
1/2" - Sunex

 

[rlitman]

Snap On. I used to use a USA made Craftsman set, but they have a much thicker wall than the SO, which damaged the finish in the sockets of my rims. The SO sockets are worlds better.

 

[bcradio]

Snap On. I used to use a USA made Craftsman set, but they have a much thicker wall than the SO, which damaged the finish in the sockets of my rims. The SO sockets are worlds better.

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Dave.R]

Tekton, haven't broke one yet.

 

[JASTECH]

3/4" Williams USA, Puma
5/8" Snap-On
1/2" Snap-On, New Holland, Puma
3/8" Snap-On, Puma
1/4" Grey Pneumatic

 

[biscuit141]

If you have a Menards near by check out their MasterForce/Allen impact sockets. USA made by Danaher and lifetime warranty. I picked up a couple sizes to fill in some gaps in my SK sae set and was impressed with the quality and finish, especially since Sears does not have much selection in the way of individual impact sockets.

Also, just curious, HF offers two different types of impact sockets, the cheaper $20 set, and a $30 set with a indented grove around the bottom and easy to read sizes. Is there any difference in quality?

 

[Dave.R]

If you have a Menards near by check out their MasterForce/Allen impact sockets. USA made by Danaher and lifetime warranty. I picked up a couple sizes to fill in some gaps in my SK sae set and was impressed with the quality and finish, especially since Sears does not have much selection in the way of individual impact sockets.

Also, just curious, HF offers two different types of impact sockets, the cheaper $20 set, and a $30 set with a indented grove around the bottom and easy to read sizes. Is there any difference in quality?

One is a chrome vanadium, and one chrome moly.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I have a set of Urrea(Mexican Proto) that I use some buy honestly I beat the hell out of my harbor freight impact sockets and have never had a single one fail. The set I use the most is 5+ years old and have been abused and are still going.

 

[KPSquared]

Mastercraft Maximum from Canadian Tire.

Where I get all my tools. Don't know who makes them but they're tough as hell.

 

[bindernut]

Craftsman, but mine are 8 years old & made in USA.

 

[biscuit141]

One is a chrome vanadium, and one chrome moly.

Ah, and the Chrome Moly is supposedly the better material for impact sockets, right?

 

[CORTEZSS69]

Sunex for my 1/2 deep stuff, craftsman 3/8 deep,3/8 snap-on shallow stuff, Grey Pneumatic 3/8 metric swivels.

 

[MotoDave]

I have Snap-On, Proto, and Craftsman. They all work fine.

 

[rlitman]

Snap On. I used to use a USA made Craftsman set, but they have a much thicker wall than the SO, which damaged the finish in the sockets of my rims. The SO sockets are worlds better.

Pics or it didn't happen.

Sorry, that didn't come out right. The impact sockets weren't damaged by my rims. The Craftsman impact socket gouged up the inside of the lugnut recesses of my rims, because it was too big to fit well in their taper. And because it would not follow the lugnut all the way down, it also damaged them a bit too. The Snap On impact sockets are thinner wall, and have no problem following the lugnut all the way down, without touching my rims (and these are plain factory rims, nothing like the many aftermarket ones that you really need those special lug-nut sockets for because the space is so tight).

I'll try to follow up with a picture showing the difference in the outer diameter between the same sized sockets, when I can.

 

[biscuit141]

here is a nice set at a great price.

http://cripedistributingstore.com/kobalt-snap-on-12pc-6pt-5-16-1-deep-sae-impact-sockets-97669.html

 

[pipsters]

Sorry, that didn't come out right. The impact sockets weren't damaged by my rims. The Craftsman impact socket gouged up the inside of the lugnut recesses of my rims, because it was too big to fit well in their taper. And because it would not follow the lugnut all the way down, it also damaged them a bit too. The Snap On impact sockets are thinner wall, and have no problem following the lugnut all the way down, without touching my rims (and these are plain factory rims, nothing like the many aftermarket ones that you really need those special lug-nut sockets for because the space is so tight).

I'll try to follow up with a picture showing the difference in the outer diameter between the same sized sockets, when I can.

Width of Craftsman, SK, and Snap-On impact sockets in various sizes, about 0.85mm on each side bigger for the largest difference, some are smaller. I'd like to know what the definition of "much thicker" really is lol...

 

[Ign]

I use mine everyday in a industrial/government setting and all I use are harbor freight impacts on my 3/8 and 1/2 guns. For my 3/4 I have sk impact sockets. I'm very pleased with the harbor freight impacts, there cheap but are holding up very well. One of the best buys harbor freight has as far as I'm concerned.

x2. I understand the OP doesn't want China, but if you're on a budget the HF sockets are awesome and ridiculously inexpensive.

I've never trusted the Craftsman impact sockets, they always try to claim $90 regular price but as we all know they're on sale "50% off" multiple times every year.......which just makes me think the mark-up on them is huge, 'cause even at $45 Sears is going to be making a healthy profit I'd think or they wouldnt' run the sale all the time. IOW I suspect HF quality/cost to manufacture with a higher price tag.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Got some HF, Crafty and Grey Pneumatic

 

[bcradio]

I'll try to follow up with a picture showing the difference in the outer diameter between the same sized sockets, when I can.

I'd actually like to see this with the measurements (Cman vs Snappy) of the outside diameters of some sockets (ie 21mm and 3/4 possibly). I currently have Cman USA and if there is a dramatic size difference, might buy some Snappy's in the common lug sizes as to avoid possibly scuffing the rims in the future.

Thanks

 

[pipsters]

I'd actually like to see this with the measurements (Cman vs Snappy) of the outside diameters of some sockets (ie 21mm and 3/4 possibly). I currently have Cman USA and if there is a dramatic size difference, might buy some Snappy's in the common lug sizes as to avoid possibly scuffing the rims in the future.

Thanks

See above picture

 

[bcradio]

See above picture

Hmmm... picture doesn't seem to be showing up for me. Can you try it again?

 

[Full Throttle]

Proto

 

[woody 73]

Please don't burn me at the stake but I have just about every impact socket out there except Sunex and they all hold up well.

Woody

 

[oldtools]

HF, CM, Matco

 

[bcradio]

Please don't burn me at the stake but I have just about every impact socket out there except Sunex and they all hold up well.

Woody

 

[Dave.R]

Ah, and the Chrome Moly is supposedly the better material for impact sockets, right?

Its a little more tough, but truthfully CR-V or CR-MO. With Impacts the ductile factor means a lot. Thats why even cheaper High carbon impacts do pretty good.

 

[House Sparrow]

I have Snap-On and Proto. Both are pretty much indestructible. For the money, Proto impact sockets are a good value. I love my Snappys, but they're not cheap to buy.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Williams

 

[Rogue1987]

Wright, and HF Chrome Moly.

 

[mikester]

A few years ago I bought the mixed set from Ingersoll Rand. They have all held up so far and the few sizes that werent included were filled in with Toptuls.