Your choice for affordable impact sockets?

[PT Doc]

The last 2 sets of hf impact sockets that I bought in both 1/2 metric and standard have a terrible finish on them. If like something with lifetime warranty. Looked st napa professional tools impacts , chicago pneumatic and ir. What would you get if you needed both standard and metric in shallow 3/8 and 1/2. Would like to keep it below 100 or cheaper. Thanks

 

[ryan_289]

Grey pneumatic make good impact sockets at a good price. I have a set of there standard sockets. I also recently bought a set of metric 25 pc Gearwrench brand impact sockets for Cripes for $45. Havent gotten to use them much but seem to be of decent quality.

 

[wafrederick]

With the cheap sets you have to watch out for something.Leave out 15mm and 18mm which are two commonly used metric sizes.

 

[BigAl62]

I've used Craftsman for years with no problems. Still have all the original 1/2' drive shallow SAE sockets in my first set that I bought 30 years ago (none have been replaced) and I've used them daily.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

grey is sunex ?

 

[Fedwrench]

grey is sunex ?

No, Grey Pneumatic comes in blue boxes and Sunex comes in red boxes. Sunex also has the size stamped (in tiny letters) in addition to the gold size marking.

Seriously, either brand will serve you well. However, I would watch Sears because they often have their impact sockets on sale at half off and that's your best bet.

 

[PT Doc]

While the grey is very nice I couldn't found out d sets of shallows for 100. Found a different hf set:

http://www.harborfreight.com/37-piece-38-and-12-drive-combination-impact-sockets-68011.html

Anyone seen this in person?

 

[davesnothere]

Sunex all day

 

[Ingram306]

I bought the Ingersoll Rand 86 piece set, SAE/ Metric standard and deep, the finish is nice and is holding up well, ive been beating on them lately and havent had any problems... The whole set was around 200 shipped... Would def recommend them

 

[kms]

Others have mentioned this deal on a standard set from Cripes. USA/Williams made Kobalt:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kobalt-12pc-6pt...ultDomain_0&hash=item5ad7fc8aef#ht_1684wt_799

 

[PT Doc]

When sears has sales on the impact sockets, do larger sets like this go on sale:

http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00915383000P

95 piece 1/2 and 3/8 standard and metric on shallow and deep for all.

Thanks

 

[back2class]

I have never had a complaint with any impact sockets. I use Sunex and Harbor Freight and both have been great. The sunex gold lettering does wear off and that *****, but performance wise I am 100% happy. Stanley also seem nice and were available at walmart cheap untill recently. Strange as of late...I think most HF tools **** and don't belong in any box, yet I find myself recomending their stuff the last few days. They make a few great values and Impact Sockets are one of them. I run a IR Tintanium 1/2 on them. I have had some truck brand impact come through my collection, but never felt the need to upgrade so they always get re-sold.

 

[PT Doc]

I bought the Ingersoll Rand 86 piece set, SAE/ Metric standard and deep, the finish is nice and is holding up well, ive been beating on them lately and havent had any problems... The whole set was around 200 shipped... Would def recommend them

239 for this set on amazon.

 

[PT Doc]

The cm 95 piece set is 319 currently. I've seen the impact sales for 50% off but never really looked if large sets are on sale.

 

[pipsters]

When sears has sales on the impact sockets, do larger sets like this go on sale:

http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00915383000P

95 piece 1/2 and 3/8 standard and metric on shallow and deep for all.

Thanks

You can save $35 off that by clicking thru here:

http://usa.visa.com/specialOffers/R...6&it=il_/vro/templates/member/mid_america.jsp

and using a Visa card to pay. If you need to ship, sign up for shipvantage to get free shipping - just cancel within 30 days (simple phone call). If you have already used shipvantage, create a new email and sign up again...

I bought the 1/2" set for $155 or so a few months ago, it's not much more than that now. I'm not sure if they ever put that 3/8" and 1/2" master set up for sale.

But I will say that my 1/2" set is awesome, and the fit on fasteners is much better than my HF ones that I used to have. The HF were an EXCELLENT value, although that was when they were selling the CR-MO ones. HF now only has CR-VR impacts for sale nowadays IIRC.

I believe the Craftsman impacts are actually an Armstrong product.

 

[dclassical]

I have a question about the finish... is it a cosmetic issue or is about durability?

I am asking because all my metric impact sockets (regular, deep, swivel) are SK and my SAE that I cannot remember using are HF (because of that). The finish of the HF is not as nice, but I don't find it bad (could be an older batch).

 

[pipsters]

When sears has sales on the impact sockets, do larger sets like this go on sale:

http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00915383000P

95 piece 1/2 and 3/8 standard and metric on shallow and deep for all.

Thanks

Looks like a lot of people thought it was a good deal - it's now out of stock!!

Happened to me several times on things I was buying, makes me feel good though that I made a good choice. Just have to wait for it to come back and then go back on sale, maybe 2-3 weeks tops.

 

[shampoop]

Love my sunex ones, zero complaints. Much better quality than the HF impact sockets I previously had. Plus they are cheap and come in excellent sets that don't skip sizes and you can easily buy each size individually in case you ever lose just one. IIRC the IR impact sockets are made in china. Sunex is taiwan.

 

[jdv]

I went with Craftsman because they were 50% off before Father's day. Don't have any complaints about them so far. I only use SAE though.

 

[Skin]

I have a question about the finish... is it a cosmetic issue or is about durability?

I am asking because all my metric impact sockets (regular, deep, swivel) are SK and my SAE that I cannot remember using are HF (because of that). The finish of the HF is not as nice, but I don't find it bad (could be an older batch).

the finish as in the coating? Use them enough and they all wear off.

When sears has sales on the impact sockets, do larger sets like this go on sale:

http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00915383000P

95 piece 1/2 and 3/8 standard and metric on shallow and deep for all.

Thanks

Yes it does go on sale but rarely. That set also goes in and out of stock a lot. You'd be better off keeping an eye on the seperate 3/8 and 1/2 sets.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00915820000P

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00983126000P?prdNo=21

I paid 270 out the door for both sets which is basically what they can be gotten for now. Theres an error when both sets are added together that causes the 1/2" set to show a compressor promotional discount which knocks 25% off the socket set. Sale + visa discount = 258.17 +tax for both.

 

[PT Doc]

You can save $35 off that by clicking thru here:

http://usa.visa.com/specialOffers/R...6&it=il_/vro/templates/member/mid_america.jsp

and using a Visa card to pay. If you need to ship, sign up for shipvantage to get free shipping - just cancel within 30 days (simple phone call). If you have already used shipvantage, create a new email and sign up again...

I bought the 1/2" set for $155 or so a few months ago, it's not much more than that now. I'm not sure if they ever put that 3/8" and 1/2" master set up for sale.

But I will say that my 1/2" set is awesome, and the fit on fasteners is much better than my HF ones that I used to have. The HF were an EXCELLENT value, although that was when they were selling the CR-MO ones. HF now only has CR-VR impacts for sale nowadays IIRC.

I believe the Craftsman impacts are actually an Armstrong product.

Thanks for the discount info through visa. Any other discount codes for sears besides sears2011?

Looks like I might go with the 2 separate sets. Sunex or grey or ir would also work but if there was a warranty issue it would not be as easy as cm since I have 2 sears right near me.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

My shallow SAE set is Evercraft (Napa) and they've been REALLY good to me for $30. I bought them back in the mid-90's and have never had a problem with them at all.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i have the $19.00 sets of stanley from wal mart. the finish is like a matt black paint but they have held up great. i'm not a pro wrench but i've stripped at least a dozen cars with them and haven't broken one.

 

[mikester]

I bought the Ingersoll Rand 86 piece set, SAE/ Metric standard and deep, the finish is nice and is holding up well, ive been beating on them lately and havent had any problems... The whole set was around 200 shipped... Would def recommend them

X2 on this IR set. I have them and theyre pretty nice for the money. The best thing is the set has almost all of the sizes out there.

 

[ohmfab]

I have a deep socket 1/2" Metric set from Northern Tool. It goes from 10mm to 24mm but does leave out some sizes (15, 18, 23). I've had good luck with them and they were only about $30.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_36447_36447

Omer

 

[pj_rage]

I was recently in this position, looked at a ton of options, and ultimately settled on the craftsman 52 piece set. I think it's $200 regularly, but I got it for like $170. They regularly have all sorts of sales. I think the one I had was for 15% off. It looks like even now there is $30 off when you add it to the cart, plus a mail in rebate for a $10 sears card.

The trays are flimsy and weak, and the laser etching is a little hard to read on a few of them (but great on the rest), but no biggie. The trays just went into a toolbox drawer. You can't transport them in the trays, but they do keep the sockets organized and readable. They seem to be of fine quality and the set I got at least is USA made (IIRC, have to double check).

I was looking at a few other options, but in the end, I opted for this set because of how convenient the craftsman warranty is. As a homeowner, if I ever break an impact socket, 9 times out of 10 it will be while I'm at home, while sears is open, and I can easily replace the broken one. I didn't want to get a set that had a warranty that was inconvenient to use (ie mail in). Even though the reality is that I will probably never break one.

Anyway, if you're looking at craftsman impacts, this set seems to be the best value by far. Comes with the 3 extensions and universal, and a good range of sizes in both metric and standard.

 

[pipsters]

I was recently in this position, looked at a ton of options, and ultimately settled on the craftsman 52 piece set. I think it's $200 regularly, but I got it for like $170. They regularly have all sorts of sales. I think the one I had was for 15% off. It looks like even now there is $30 off when you add it to the cart, plus a mail in rebate for a $10 sears card.

The trays are flimsy and weak, and the laser etching is a little hard to read on a few of them (but great on the rest), but no biggie. The trays just went into a toolbox drawer. You can't transport them in the trays, but they do keep the sockets organized and readable. They seem to be of fine quality and the set I got at least is USA made (IIRC, have to double check).

I was looking at a few other options, but in the end, I opted for this set because of how convenient the craftsman warranty is. As a homeowner, if I ever break an impact socket, 9 times out of 10 it will be while I'm at home, while sears is open, and I can easily replace the broken one. I didn't want to get a set that had a warranty that was inconvenient to use (ie mail in). Even though the reality is that I will probably never break one.

Anyway, if you're looking at craftsman impacts, this set seems to be the best value by far. Comes with the 3 extensions and universal, and a good range of sizes in both metric and standard.

100% US made.

 

[chadster1]

Look at Genius. You can find a lot of thier stuff on Amazon. I have not seen one break yet.

 

[Original Man]

I went with Craftsman because they were 50% off before Father's day. Don't have any complaints about them so far. I only use SAE though.

Ugh..why didn't I know about this.

I know people who have been using craftsman, sunex, and gp for years with no issue. They all seem to like them a lot.

 

[jdv]

Ugh..why didn't I know about this.

I know people who have been using craftsman, sunex, and gp for years with no issue. They all seem to like them a lot.

I posted it in the Hot Deals thread last week, I caught the 12pc 1/2" SAE deep set for $36 after it was $45 off, 15% online sale and 5% off with AAA. I'd imagine they will go on sale again soon. I picked up the 3/8" SAE shallow set the week before for almost $20.

 

[diesel research]

Beofre anyone buys into that nonsense "don't worry about the coating, they all come off soon anyways", I have quite a different experience.

I have found that quite a few american impacts quickly come off and leave that dull "gun metal" grey look. Hey that in itself is fine. What happens next is not so fine though. A few times, I came back to work after a long weekend (4day) just to find they turned orange, aka flash rust.

That was the craftsman and snap on in my box anyways. I didn't buy the craftsman, it wandered in there. Them and the kobalt didn't flash as fast as the snappys but it still happens.

Curious, I took a 7 year old sunex that I constantly use for suspension work. Finish was still great, it may have even got a bit better than when new. Smoothed out, but didn't flake or come off. I then proceeded to run it through our 8" bench grinder with wire brush. Shined the coating a bit, but didn't damage it.

The kobalt/cman/snap on ones obviously flaked right off. The snap on was even easier to read once it went through "accelerated wear" (wire wheel) the kobalt/cman etchings were not harmed a whole lot, but the black coating was gone instantly. Even with plenty of lube, they still seemed to flash rust. It's humid around here.

I do occasionally NEED the snap on sockets, they fit where the others don't sometimes. The sunex is definitely the go to sockets for me though.

3/8 set sae/metric ran me about $90. Don't recall any skipped sizes. Not huge and complete coverage, but the 1/2" drive stuff covers the rest. *IF* you do find holes/skipped sizes, a lot of them are available individually. Bought a few individual 12pt sockets for....12pt bolts. Didn't need yet another set.

Warranty shouldn't be too much of a selling point on such a durable item anyways. Chances are, if it failed it was abuse or simply worn, which I won't warranty anyways. There is always a possibility of a manufacturing defect, but those tend to rear their head pretty quickly.

 

[keilol]

For anyone interested, the IR 86-piece impact set can be found for $180 at toolbarn, http://www.toolbarn.com/ingersollrand-sk34c86.html?ref=base - seems like a very good deal.

 

[Dirtdude180]

diesel research, im sorry to hear that happens to you. although I didn't have a flash rust issue, some of my tools were still rusting much faster than I would expect (especially since I clean and oil my impacts somewhat regularly). I ended up getting these "de humidifier packs" that I put in my tool box (one per drawer with impacts). They help alot, heres a link

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0025OO8DO/?tag=atomicindus08-20


also for cheap impacts- craftsman all the way... unless you can get some used SK's at a tool swap.

 

[tankboy_taylor]

Sunex without a doubt I abuse my sunex larger sockets on heavy trucks and they hold up just as well if not better than the Snap On I have

 

[PT Doc]

Is there a general preference for cro moly or chrome vandium for durability and overall wear and longevity?

 

[pipsters]

Is there a general preference for cro moly or chrome vandium for durability and overall wear and longevity?

Moly is better, more durable vs. vanadium. Chrome vanadium are what the older higher quality chrome sockets used to be made of. The US made Craftsman (ie Armstrong) don't specify except to say "high strength alloy steel" so I believe (although I have placed a call to confirm) that they are a hybrid. Not CR-V, not CR-MO, but something different.

 

[quattrojon]

Ozat or Genius.

 

[Monte]

Koken

 

[teleman37]

Grey Pneumatic! My brother turns wrenches for a dealership and that is all he will buy. He talked me into buying a set, and they have held up fabulously!

 

[gnx547]

I have SK and they are great impact sockets