Impact Wrench Sockets

Scream

Scream

Scream

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I need to purchase a set of impact sockets for my Snap On as the ordinary wrench sockets like draper seem to round the nut very easily as they never seem to be a good tight fit whether its to do with their cheapness or the number of sides in the socket itself.

I don't want to spend a fortune if I have to even though I forked out on the snap on but can anyone recommend a top quality set or I'm I better off buying a snap on set or Britool set at £120+.

There could be a set out there which is just as good at half the money if you know what I mean.

Cheers.
 
I bought a set of very cheap deep six point impact sockets designed for use with air tools about 5 years ago for something like £10 on Ebay. Still fine and never rounded a nut off with them yet.
 
Scream, you get what you pay for with impact sockets, I have never found a cheap reliable make yet, always went with Britiool,Teng,Mac or Snapon.

But the last ones I bought were from Deltec, a UK firm who make their own, seem very good, but they haven't had a hard life.

http://www.deltec.net/
 
The impact socket that gets the most abuse from me is a 32mm one that is a basic sealey job, not pro or anything. It gets serious abuse trying to undo crank pulley bolts, as well as fairly hard abuse with hub nuts. Countless years later, all good :)
 
Cheers for the input guys. Very much appreciated.

What is it that determines a good socket? Does the socket itself wear/grind away quickly resulting in nut slipping or rounding?
 
With impact stuff I'd be more concerned about it shattering.

Last time I had that happen was on a tractor wheel nut. We found enough bits of it to take back to the snap on dealer to get it replaced :D
 
Scream said:
Cheers for the input guys. Very much appreciated.

What is it that determines a good socket? Does the socket itself wear/grind away quickly resulting in nut slipping or rounding?
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The main differentiating factors between good stuff and rubbish will be things like the quality of the metal used, dimensional accuracy and overall robustness of the design. Cheap ones will use cheap materials that distort easily, will have too thin a wall thickness again leading to increased chance of failure under heavy load and won't fit the nut very well leading to a greater chance of rounding off.
 
Are these intended for hobby use or are they going to get some real abuse?

Beta do a lot of quality tools and I have used most of their range. Their ratchets and impact sockets in particular are very good quality.
 
I will be using them for steel erecting, vehicle and machinery work. Basically anything within the guns limits.
 
I bought a cheapo draper set of deep impact sockets when I was about 15.
Of the ones left that I haven't lost they are still in my main tool kit at work.
Impact sockets that get used on my Titanium Ingersol Rand gun (one of the best 1/2" ones out there for force (1054 Nm), never split, shattered or otherwise FUBARED one.
You're not going to go far wrong with anything that has a lifetime guarantee on them and the easiest option in the high street is going to be Halfords to be honest.
 
Scream said:
I will be using them for steel erecting, vehicle and machinery work. Basically anything within the guns limits.
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Ahh a battery gun then I suspect, no need to even worry about which sockets then really (as long as they are 6 point) Battery guns aren't that strong and if you're up in the cherry picker a lot you'll find yourself dropping and losing them before they have chance to wear out. :D
Been there, done that. :D :rolleyes:
 
My Snap On 18v will be on a rope as I've seen people watch them fall to their death. It's meant to be the best and most powerful cordless.

Anyhow, you say a 6-point so the less points the better the fit?

I have a set of Britool rachet spanners and they are 12 point and they are the best spanners I have had the pleasure of using. Nice and tight on the nut and never once slipped or rounded a nut.

I take it the impact from the wrench has something to do with why a 6 point is needed?
 
Fuzz said:
Ahh a battery gun then I suspect, no need to even worry about which sockets then really (as long as they are 6 point) Battery guns aren't that strong and if you're up in the cherry picker a lot you'll find yourself dropping and losing them before they have chance to wear out. :D
Been there, done that. :D :rolleyes:
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ctu6850?!
 
Naa I didn't mean dropping the gun, I meant the socket falling off the end of it. :D
6 point will grip more than the multipoint yes. The best sockets are the "surface drive" ones where the corners are actually relieved so the socket turns the nut/bolt on its faces instead of its tips. The 18v snap-on guns are good (800Nm ish) but they ain't no air gun;)
 
pepsilol said:
But you don't need that loud compressor going off and then having the pipe following you around?!
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I wouldn't even entertain using an air gun on steel erecting.
I mentioned it for comparisons to torque loads.
It's a good 200Nm weaker than my air tool. That was all.
 
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