Socket Set question

bgott · Jul 2, 2004

Do you have any experience with the cordless impacts they have out now? The last time I was out at the local dirt track it seemed like everybody had one. I asked around and they all raved about how good the new ones worked. I figure they must tighten nuts at least fair, I didn't see any tires fly off that night.

KiotiJohn · Jul 2, 2004

I agree with Bird about deep well impact sockets. I have 1/2" drive air impact wrench that I will have to get an adaptor to 3/4" for some larger sockets I need for the brush mower, but otherwise, the impact deep wells I bought from Harbor Freight very inexpensively have really served me well. I have lots of other sockets and wrenches, but I find I use the impacts the most and standard well have not been needed. Since you already have the 3/4", and if you have the air power, I would simply add 1/2" air impact wrench, with 3/4" adaptor and some deep well sockets to what you have. John

bandit67 · Jul 2, 2004

Brad,

Another place to look for tools is at Costco. They carry decent quality tools, and everything (except computers) that Costco sells has a lifetime Costco warranty, regardless of what the manufacturer's warranty is.

If they no longer carry a product that you need to return, they will give you the full purchase price back in cash (or put it back on your Visa). I check Costco first now every time I need a new tool or accessories. And their prices are extremely competitive - many times better than the competition.

chim · Jul 2, 2004

I have SK and Craftsman ratchet tools, and recently stumbled on to a set sold at our local True Value store. It has a really nice selection of sockets and ratchets in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". It was only $99. Just what I wanted to carry in the truck. No major investment, and lifetime warranty.

On equipment, I use mostly 3/8" and 1/2" drive. Like some of the others said, my 1/2" impact has come in very handy..........chim

Boondox · Jul 2, 2004

Not sure how old you are, but speaking from that age at which reading glasses are increasingly a part of my life I really like those sockets with the laser etching in BIG numbers on the side! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Pete

Bird · Jul 2, 2004

( it seems to me that even a little compressor like mine can supply plenty of air for a short burst )

That's right, but while I don't have the numbers to back it up, I'll bet you don't get the full volume needed by that 3/4" impact for its full rated power through a 3/8" hose. When I was repairing air tools, I worked on quite a number of 3/4" impacts, including the IR261, and I could check to make sure they were working properly with a 1/4" hose, but you certainly were not going to get full power. Since my own air tools were 1/2" and smaller, I normally used 3/8" hoses, but every 3/4" impact I got in for repair came with couplers for a bigger hose (1/2" at least). I made up my own adapters so I could use the quick couplers on my 1/4" and 3/8" hoses in my shop.

So you're also right in that you have a huge mismatch between compressor, hose, and wrench, but if it has enough power to do what you want to do, so what, who cares? That's all we want from our tools anyway, isn't it; to do the job at hand. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

In most cases, a very short burst of air serves the purpose of breaking a nut or bolt loose, or even of tightening it back. But the "rated" power is usually either a 5 second air flow of its rated SCFM (sometimes referred to as working rating) or its "ultimate" power rating, which is continuing the rated air flow until it just stalls and can't turn a bolt any farther. And like horsepower ratings for tractors, it doesn't really matter what the number is if it's doing the job. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bird · Jul 2, 2004

( Do you have any experience with the cordless impacts they have out now? )

None, at all, Brad. I can certainly see how they could be handy at the race track, or for someone doing work in the field when he doesn't have a compressor or generator, but I don't know anything about them beyond the fact that such exists.

Egon · Jul 2, 2004

Cheer up Pete. Soon will come the day when you are placing wrenches by feel as the Bifocals are on the bottom instead of the top and of course they are not set for the distance you are working at.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dewave · Jul 2, 2004

$35 for both at the flea market, does the job, wrenches could have a better fit, eh couldn't pass it up.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

v8dave · Jul 3, 2004

Lots of good replies here. When I buy tools I go for the Craftsman tools like a lot of others here. One caution though, there are a lot of posts about impact wrenches. Impact wrenches need impact sockets. Impact sockets are hardened and usually (but not always) have a dull black finish.

Then why not buy all impact sockets you ask? As mentioned by several posters, impact sockets usually have thicker walls than standard sockets. There WILL be times that an impact socket won't fit over the nut/bolt you are trying to get at.

Another point is that, generally, standard sockets are 12 point sockets and impact are 6 point sockets (there are always exceptions to this, but they are not common). The 12 point sockets are easier to drop onto a bolt/nut without rotating the handle/socket much. The 6 point, of course is stronger for the impact.

You will always use a 1/2 inch drive. A 3/4 inch drive is just not a handy tool to use. for instance, it won't fit in your back pocket and you'll be afraid to lay it on the fender because its too big to just lay there or too heavy. I'll start a job with a 3/8" drive. If a 6" handle on a 3/8" ratchet won't work, I'll switch to the 1/2" drive. I have a 3/4" drive for the truly huge jobs and buy sockets one at a time as I need for this.

There will come a time when a cheater is required to persuade a nut to come off (because the impact drive you have won't fit in the space available). For this reason, I have round handle 1/2" and 3/4" breaker bars. That way a nice length of 3/4" or 1" pipe will fit over the handle as the cheater. [Breaker bars are socket wrenches without the ratchet, they usually have just a swivel joint at the head.]

Any new job is always the excuse for a new tool. Make sure to take advantage of that when undertaking household projects. Isn't that the rule you used to get your tractor? Well, it works for drills, saws and wrenches too!

Happy shopping,
Dave