Socket Set question

[Bird]

Brad, I may be a little different from some of the other guys, but I had both some very expensive sockets and some very cheap ones. In my opinion, you definitely need half inch drive sockets as well as three-eights (I had quarter, three-eights, and half inch). I had 6-point half inch impact sockets in both deep and standard size, and almost never used the standard well; but used the deep well sockets for nearly everything. And while I had to buy some, especially very large sized, expensive impact sockets, I never broke any of the cheap ones. In a couple of my largest sockets, I could not find them in half inch drive; had to buy three-quarter inch drive. So I just used an adapter to go from my half inch drive impact wrench, ratchet, and break over bar up to the three-quarter inch socket. Perhaps not ideal, but it worked, and never broke anything. I also had both standard and impact three-eights drive deep well sockets that saw a lot of use, while I had some non-impact as well as impact sockets in the standard depth that were never used; finally gave them away. I had a rather large set of standard depth, non-impact, 12-point half inch drive sockets that saw a fair amount of use. I sold most of my tools when I had to move back to town, but I did keep sets of open end/box end wrenches in both SAE and metric and I did keep my three-eights drive deep well sockets in both SAE and metric as well as my Allen (hex) wrenches in both SAE and metric.

 

[RonR]

I bought some Harbor Freight 1/2" deep Impact six point metric sockets for about $20. I already have 1/2" SAE, so this will about cover it for the Kubota.

Someday, I might buy a HF 3/4" but I would never use it enough to justify buying top quality.

Ron

 

[SPIKER]

I agree with MAHALLERS 100%:

for a GOOD set stick to SEARS as they are best for garentee: take it back and get new, NOTE: stay araw form the stuff that says SEARS, and get the CRAFTSMAN stuff as the SEARS stuff is NOT lifetime garenteed...

I have 3 or 4 really ful sets laying all over. of that I keep my crafsmen stuff secure but use tons of HF cheap o tools for stuff that can get lost worn or broken and not worry about it as cost is nothing short of scrap metal price. 19.00 for a full set of wrenches is CHEAP and they are lifetime stuff too but I have never tried to turn any back in but I usually LOOSE them prior to them getting broke or I CUT them up so I get it into a tight spot or weld some thign on at an odd angle... You get the point. get METRIC and SASE. 1/2" drive stuff and below will do 99% of tasks and for that 1% therer is the big monkey wrench aka cresent wrench. (also make sure it is good quality cresent wrench! 12"+ get two one chepo and one good one.

again like others said, WE here at TBN can spend you money VERY FAST /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[thebigc]

A 1/2" electric impact gun is a very versatile tool to have. Makes removal of MMM blades a snap. Buy one, use it, and you'll wonder how you lived without one /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I agree that shallow impact sockets are usually unnecessary. After all, if you're putting an impact gun on a nut or bolt, clearance usually isn't an issue. Deep impact sockets should be all you need.

 

[Bird]

I've owned two half inch electric impact wrenches; Black & Decker and Craftsman (both good and never a problem, and my brother carries a Craftsman now in his RV. Like you said, they're handy in many cases, but . . . ., they cost more than an air impact with the same amount of power (and you can get much more powerful air impact wrenches) and they're heavy. If you do not have an air-compressor that can power an air impact wrench, then I'd get the electric, but if you have the air-compressor, go with the air impact.

 

[thebigc]

I agree. If you've got a suitable compressor, air impact tools are the way to fly. No pun intended.

So far, I've resisted taking the plunge into the air tool pond.

While we're on the subject of sockets, anyone have experience with Truecraft tools? I have several of their products and for the price, I thought they were hard to beat.
Their ratchets were nice and their knurling was actually useful which was a plus when your hands were greasy. Did this company get bought out or did they go belly up??? Thanks!


Donny

 

[OkieG]

I have SAM's Club, Crescent brand versions of MikePA's tool kit. One for the truck and one for the garage. 1/2" drive and smaller works great for everything I do...except brush hog blades. You mentioned "rotary cutter" in your opening post, I thought I would comment since brush hog blade removal is the biggest, toughest socket job I have.

Like Birdhunter and Glenn, I have a 3/4" drive air wrench. Mine was bought specifically for removing brush hog blades. I tried a (1/2" to 3/4") adapter for my 1/2" air wrench, but it worked pretty hard just to make the 1 11/16" socket turn in the air. No way was there enough power to loosen the blade bolts. I don't feel comfortable trying to sharpen the blades while still attached to the deck, so for me, nothing else would do the job. If you're lucky, your 1/2" drive might work.

Impact wrenches are particularly good for removing mower and rotary cutter blades. They take a difficult, potentially dangerous task and make it a piece of cake. An impact wrench (or two) would make a useful addition to your socket weaponry.

OkieG

 

[755inNY]

Some lines of Harbor Freight tools offer life time replacement. Read the description when selecting the tool. They are still very reasonably priced. I have no direct experieince with replacements but my neighbor had an impact socket split. HF prompltly sent him a whole new set. Seems they don't have the ability to replace individual pieces. All this took was a toll free phone call. No running back to the store although he had to wait for delivery.

Jeff

 

[Bird]

OkieG, apparently you have a 3/4" impact and enough air to handle it, but for those who are contemplating buying one, everyone needs to be aware that the power produced by different brands and models of air impact wrenches varies considerably; i.e., you can buy a half inch air impact that will not produce more than 250 ft./lbs. or you can buy one that will produce 600 ft./lbs. Similar differences exist in the 3/4" impacts. And all the ones I've ever seen were rated at 90 psi. You can get more power with higher pressure, but you may either break something in the tool or simply wear it out prematurely. But the other consideration besides air pressure and which impact you buy is air volume. When you go to a bigger impact wrench, for example a 3/4" over a 1/2" you may not actually have much more, if any more, power if you're using the same diameter hose.

 

[OkieG]

<font color="blue"> a 3/4" impact and enough air to handle it </font>

I know you are very familiar with many of the impact wrenches out there. My 3/4 drive is an IR261, rated at 600 ft.lb. Perhaps that's on the weak side for a 3/4" drive? My Craftsman 1/2" drive is rated at 450 ft.lb.

My air supply is a Craftsman 25gal, 4.5hp that flows 7cfm at 90psi...a weakling among compressors. I believe the IR is rated to be able to use 15cfm. First impression is that there is a huge mismatch between wrench and compressor, but I'm not so sure.

Bird, I've given this some thought, and please correct me if I'm wrong---The compressor pump fills the tank to 120psi, then cuts off. The wrench takes just a few seconds to loosen the blade nut. Usually, the nut is loose before the tank bleeds down enough for the pump to kick in. The pump may be able to maintain only 7cfm at 90psi, but the tank and air hose flows much more than that as it bleeds down from 120psi to 90psi (3/8" hose). I get the feeling the impact wrench is getting all the air it can handle for those few seconds that it needs it. Obviously, it's not a good situation for sustained air requirements where a larger compressor would be needed to keep the psi at 90. But, it seems to me that even a little compressor like mine can supply plenty of air for a short burst. A big compressor is on my wish list.

<font color="blue"> the power produced by different brands and models of air impact wrenches varies considerably </font>

Yes, that is a spec worth checking before you buy. I found that out as I was shopping an air wrench for the brush hog blades.

OkieG