3/4" drive socket questions

[KubotaSteve]

My dad bought the cheap 3/4" set from Harbor Freight and the sockets worked pretty good, but the wratchet broke in a couple of months as did the breaker bar (still usable, but the pin holding the end on broke) that came with it. Then he bought a Craftsman 3/4" set. We have used it quite a bit without any trouble. We had a 6 foot pipe on the end of the wratchet trying to break a bolt loose which we finally did. Another option is to get a 3/4" breaker bar and pick up a reducer then just buy nice 1/2" sockets that you can use with either wratchet or breaker bar. Dad bought one to go from 1/2" to 3/4" so he could use the harbor freight 3/4" sockets on his impact gun. Of course we always torque them with the 3/4" wratchet.

 

[Bird]

Yep, Steve, that's a good way to go. I never owned a 3/4" impact wrench, although I repaired/rebuilt several. And of course, both for my own use as well as my little sideline repairing air tools, I had several reducers or adapters to go from 1/4" to 3/8", 3/8" to 1/2", 1/2' to 3/4" and vice versa. I could even operate 3/4" impact wrenches on 1/4" air hoses to make sure they were working quietly, smoothly, etc., but of course they would not have anywhere near the power they were built for without going to half inch air lines.

 

[DonT-B7500]

I hae a set of 3/4 sockets but use a Craftsman 18 in. Slide Bar with a helper to break large bolts loose, once they're broken i'll go back to my 1/2 in to finish removing, the slide bar is considerably cheaper than the same size rachet and almost indestructable

 

[sandman2234]

My Ingersol Rand V-type of compressor probably has enough volume and pressure to run 3/4 drive ratchet, as long as I don't try to get a days work done in 15 minutes. Cut off is at 175 and cut on is at 140 or so. I would need to invest in some larger hoses if I wanted to run one, though. Mine came from a hospital that was vacant for about 10 years, and it didn't have much to do when it was new. I acquired it, then sold it to a friend who kept it for a backup to his shop, and in case they ever wanted to leave the CNC saw running overnight. He never hooked it up, so it sat another 10 years before I got it back when he closed his shop. I am pretty sure it will handle it, but if not, I was warned!Thanks,
David from jax

 

[Rara Avis]

Go to farm auctions and find a rust old Craftsman 3/4" set, buy it and then take it to Sears for new stuff...

Cheapest $50 I ever bid...

 

[AlanB]

Go to farm auctions and find a rust old Craftsman 3/4" set, buy it and then take it to Sears for new stuff...

Cheapest $50 I ever bid...

You may have a rough time with this as some, if not all / most (thats definitive eh ) stores will consider that abuse, and not something that needs to be warrantied.

While I certainly do not agree with all their warranty issues etc. I can see not covering rust and abuse of the tools.

Your local store may do it, but then again, they may not.

 

[Bird]

Cut off is at 175 and cut on is at 140 or so

I know I'm repeating myself, but for anyone who doesn't already know . . . Every impact wrench, air ratchet, and almost all other air tools are rated for a maximum air pressure of 90 psi. If you use them at higher air pressures (and many mechanics do), the tool will have more power than the manual says it does. But you also run a substantial risk of damaging parts and/or wearing out parts prematurely. Those 175 psi compressors were very good for my air tool repair business; helped me make money. And it may be that the extra power is worth the extra cost to repair and/or replace the air tool. Certainly nothing wrong with running them at higher air pressures as long as you understand the possible consequences.

 

[wushaw]

I know I'm repeating myself, but for anyone who doesn't already know . . . Every impact wrench, air ratchet, and almost all other air tools are rated for a maximum air pressure of 90 psi. If you use them at higher air pressures (and many mechanics do), the tool will have more power than the manual says it does. But you also run a substantial risk of damaging parts and/or wearing out parts prematurely. Those 175 psi compressors were very good for my air tool repair business; helped me make money. And it may be that the extra power is worth the extra cost to repair and/or replace the air tool. Certainly nothing wrong with running them at higher air pressures as long as you understand the possible consequences.

They obviously did not care for their tools if they did not want to run a regulator on their compressor at them pressures.

 

[diyDave]

As others have said, Buy the cheap stuff from harbor freight first, if you break that, then buy something better. I have owned and used a cheapo chinese 3/4 set for a lot of years (maybe 20). As long as you use common sense, and a breaker bar to break the bolt loose, they will last many years. I once was under a bush hog cussing a stubborn blade bolt, when the snap ring holding the cheapo ratchet together went whizzing past my ear landing god knows where. After getting the breaker bar and getting everything re assembled, I found the snap ring lying at my feet. Put the bugger back together, still usin it today!

 

[RancherSam]

I have a mix of Craftsman, Husky and Northern Tool. I bought a 3/4" SAE set from Northern Tool for $100 which comes with a lifetime replacement warranty.