Impact Sockets

olds · Sep 2, 2024

Am I the last person to use them? See a lot of youtubers who use regular sockets on impact guns. What am I missing?

BoomerD · Sep 2, 2024

olds said:
Am I the last person to use them? See a lot of youtubers who use regular sockets on impact guns. What am I missing?

Broken sockets.

For light duty work, standard (decent quality) sockets are fine on a rattle gun, but not for serious work.

Torn Mind · Sep 2, 2024

Most consumer impacts are weak and won't stress a standard socket enough to crack them. But if you're using air or the big Milwaukee M12 Fuel, you better use the impact sockets or else you will be risking projectiles flying.

The M12 Fuel did cause a chinesium clone of a fuel pump removal tool to break it's square drive socket hole. It didn't shatter because it wasn't hard metal or even chrome vanadium. Whatever passes as metal for 20-25 speciality tool...pretty soft.

RLGL · Sep 3, 2024

I can't say how many sockets I have broken over the years, many due to lack of clearance for the size of the impact socket. I in particular split into 4 pieces, it was from Craftsman.

BoomerD · Sep 3, 2024

RLGL said:
I can't say how many sockets I have broken over the years, many due to lack of clearance for the size of the impact socket. I in particular split into 4 pieces, it was from Craftsman.

Just return them to any Craftsman dealer for free replacement. I destroyed a couple of Craftsman 1/2” ratchets using 3-4’ cheater pipes on them. Only once did I have a Sears tool dept. employee question it…and when I demanded the store manager, (yep, went full Karen on the issue) the manager fired the guy on the spot.

Torn Mind · Sep 4, 2024

BoomerD said:
Just return them to any Craftsman dealer for free replacement. I destroyed a couple of Craftsman 1/2” ratchets using 3-4’ cheater pipes on them. Only once did I have a Sears tool dept. employee question it…and when I demanded the store manager, (yep, went full Karen on the issue) the manager fired the guy on the spot.

Lowes has Craftsman now and processes warranty. Sears has only 10 stores left or something.

Quality can be suspect. Their flare nut wrenches are horrible.

RLGL · Sep 4, 2024

BoomerD said:
Just return them to any Craftsman dealer for free replacement.

I did, no questions asked. BTW I was using it as a tool to push out a bearing on a hydraulic press

BoomerD · Sep 4, 2024

Torn Mind said:
Lowes has Craftsman now and processes warranty. Sears has only 10 stores left or something.

Quality can be suspect. Their flare nut wrenches are horrible.

Craftsman tools are now owned by Black & Decker Stanley tools…

Back when Craftsman hand tools were made in the USA, they were decent quality…not PROFESSIONAL quality, but better than the average homeowner/shade tree mechanic needed.

Red Squirrel · Sep 5, 2024

I'll be honest I use regular sockets... I did not realize you were not suppose to until I read that recently. I should probably buy a proper impact set. The socket set I have was bought for me on my birthday probably like 25 years ago, and they made stuff better back then. I don't think a modern non impact set would take the abuse I put those ones through.

herm0016 · Sep 6, 2024

i use impacts on suspension parts and wheels, regulars on most other things on my battery powered impacts. I do most of my own mechanics work. I have husky impact sockets that are fine, and my regular stuff is all Tekton, which are very nicely made. I have not broken one yet. If i do, Tekton has a fantastic warranty. Its also a US based company in Michigan that sources from Taiwan and the US, even making stuff stuff in their own facility in Michigan. They tell you all the specs and source of things up front on the product page as well, nothing hidden.

mindless1 · Sep 6, 2024

olds said:
Am I the last person to use them? See a lot of youtubers who use regular sockets on impact guns. What am I missing?

You're missing that they are either too poor to own a set with the size/dimension they need, or too lazy/ignorant to bother getting the proper tool for the job... or they just don't care.

Same could be said about using a 12pt if there is no issue getting a 6pt on the fastener.

At the same time, I'll chance using around ~12mm or smaller on my 1/4" impact driver, because fasteners of that size or smaller, don't usually need much torque to remove, even if rusted, and the impact driver itself, and the 1/4" hex adapter, are both torque limiters.

I don't ever use non-impact rated sockets on my impact wrench. First thing I did after buying the wrench was buy a socket set for it, mostly using sizes between 15mm and 32mm. When I need one of those sizes, I am more likely to use an impact socket on a hand wrench than a non-impact socket on an impact wrench.

IMO the larger risk isn't sockets *only* breaking per se, but that if chrome plated, when it does break, the plating can flare out and be like a spinning razor blade. This is why impact sockets aren't just more malleable metal, but also not chrome plated.

dave_the_nerd · Sep 9, 2024

I managed to inherit two complete impact socket sets before I actually needed my own.

*shrug*

Shame about the deaths though.

BoomerD · Sep 10, 2024

HannahPeterson said:
You are right, I agree with you.

Oh…well… I’m sure we all feel better now.

Torn Mind · Sep 27, 2024

BoomerD said:
Craftsman tools are now owned by Black & Decker Stanley tools…

Back when Craftsman hand tools were made in the USA, they were decent quality…not PROFESSIONAL quality, but better than the average homeowner/shade tree mechanic needed.

Stanley owns them, yes. Lowes is the main distributor and primary point of contact at the moment.

The warranty policy seems YMMV now.

Anyone have success getting Lowes to honor Craftsman warranty?

Clearly the folks at Lowe's weren't smart enough to figure this out, typical. Call SBD, they'll send you a new one or perhaps the whole set. They are trying, perhaps futiliy, to maintain a good reputation for the brand.

www.garagejournal.com

Impact Sockets

olds

Elite Member

BoomerD

No Lifer

Torn Mind

Lifer

RLGL

Platinum Member

BoomerD

No Lifer

Torn Mind

Lifer

RLGL

Platinum Member

BoomerD

No Lifer

Red Squirrel

No Lifer

herm0016

Diamond Member

mindless1

Diamond Member

dave_the_nerd

Lifer

BoomerD

No Lifer

Torn Mind

Lifer

Anyone have success getting Lowes to honor Craftsman warranty?

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