Impact Socket Set

[Craig-SM]

I thought the whole purpose of impacts is that they are not as hard as the chrome sockets, but also less brittle - meaning they don't crack when impacted, but because of that they are also thicker in their wall profile meaning they fit in less spaces than the chrome sockets do, hence justifying the need for both types.

Chrome sockets tend to splinter the chrome plating which is razor sharp and not much fun to pull out of your fingers. Impact sockets aren't plated for that reason and also heavier that adds to the impact force making them more effective.

BTW never use a non impact rated Universal Joint on a torque gun, non surprising that they break, surprising though that Bahco replaced free of charge.

 

[mightymig]

Chrome sockets tend to splinter the chrome plating which is razor sharp and not much fun to pull out of your fingers. Impact sockets aren't plated for that reason and also heavier that adds to the impact force making them more effective.

BTW never use a non impact rated Universal Joint on a torque gun, non surprising that they break, surprising though that Bahco replaced free of charge.

Makes sense probably adds to the reasoning rather than being a different reason. I googled and impacts are definitely lower rockwell, didn't contemplate the plating though that's a good point - I hate rusty impacts I soaked mine for ages in ACF lol.

That halfords kit comes with wobble adapters, which I use exclusively now because 'universal' in universal joint seems to mean about 5 degrees before they stop being useful and I hate em

 

[Migmac]

I bought a set of draper sockets. Cheap and cheerful. Haven’t ruined one yet

 

[timgunn1962]

Another vote for the USPro impact sockets. I have a 1/2" deep metric set that's taken everything I've thrown at it for a good couple of years. Mostly with a Makita DTW300, but more recently with a "520 nm" Fakita ("Gisam").

I don't necessarily believe the 520 nm claim, but it certainly outperforms the DTW300 (which claims 330nm) and it's the one I reach for first now. At least a couple of folk I know have bought their own after using mine. I paid under thirty quid for it, delivered, from aliexpress.

The 1/2" square socket has deformed a bit on the 30mm socket and I'd expect to need to replace it in maybe another 5 years or so. It has rattled the m20 nuts and bolts off a lot of pipe flanges, though. Most of them having been in place for over 25 years, outdoors. All the other sizes see much less use and are still as close to pristine as any tool can be after 2 years site use.

 

[knighty]

Another vote for the USPro impact sockets. I have a 1/2" deep metric set that's taken everything I've thrown at it for a good couple of years. Mostly with a Makita DTW300, but more recently with a "520 nm" Fakita ("Gisam").

I don't necessarily believe the 520 nm claim, but it certainly outperforms the DTW300 (which claims 330nm) and it's the one I reach for first now. At least a couple of folk I know have bought their own after using mine. I paid under thirty quid for it, delivered, from aliexpress.

The 1/2" square socket has deformed a bit on the 30mm socket and I'd expect to need to replace it in maybe another 5 years or so. It has rattled the m20 nuts and bolts off a lot of pipe flanges, though. Most of them having been in place for over 25 years, outdoors. All the other sizes see much less use and are still as close to pristine as any tool can be after 2 years site use.

but off topic.... but do you have a link to the fakita gun? my brother wants one

 

[Smallfry]

Had a Sealey set for years. Metric and imperial. My only problem with them is that they keep disappearing, being black.

US Pro are OK, but make sure whatever you buy is Chrome Molybdenum.

 

[Trevorleach]

Any of the cheap sets off ebay etc will do just fine for diy.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Onoff]

£80 is outside my budget

What about a bfo set from Temu like they advertise on the telly? Free I think for new accounts.

 

[ian f]

had these for a while without issue also do a deep set depends what drive you want and only upto 19mm so may need to buy bigger sizes individually

 

[Farside]

Had a Sealey set for years. Metric

Ditto, about 30 quid ten years ago for the deep set in a nifty steel case.

 

[Bornfree]

Cheap impact sockets also make excellent spacers for my hydraulic press.

 

[bricol]

I bought a Clarke set of metric deep impact sockets aged 19. I'm 55 now. All still in DIY use.