Ideas on Impact Sockets

[Pete-FWA]

Looking for some ideas or experiences on 1/2" drive impact sockets

Currently I have an incomplete set of deep well and other impact sockets from various companies. While I'm not in the profession any more, I do value good tools; however, I'm not sure if spending the $$ on SK or Matco is a good idea if Craftsman or something else is going to be fine for my use.

Are the newest Craftsman deep well impacts good? I like their pricing and the related warranty. I'm close to a store, too. Then again, one problem and it can more than void my savings.

Know of any good Ebay or other online retailers?

If anyone has advice, I'm all for it.

Thanks

[Desertdawg]

Craftsman has a full "no questions asked" policy.

You ruin it, they will replace it. What more could you ask for.

[kpagel]

I worked for a Snap-on tools dealer for a long time. They, along with Matco, MAC, and Cornwell make some quality tools. At the same time, they are VERY expensive. For the weekend warrior, Craftsman is just fine. If you're a professional, it pays to have the toughest, best quality tools out there, thats where Snap-on, MAC and others come into play.

Supposedly the new Husky stuff (Home Depot brand) is good as well, and they have a warranty policy similar to Craftsman.

BTW, the Craftsman warranty isn't as good as it used to be. Its still very good, but they will sometimes make it a little bit more difficult to exchange a broken tool.

[Jeff Smith]

Not trying to get off topic here. Just wanted to note something while I was thinkng about it.

I was at my local K-Mart the other day checking out when they asked if I wanted a Sears Credit Card. I said no but after thinking about it asked Why K-Mart was pushing Sears Credit Cards. The lady said K-Mart and Sears have merged, this was news to me.

She went on to say that K-Mart was going to start carrying the Cratsman Line. This was great news for me as The closest Sears is about 40 miles away from me. Hopefully they will carry a decent selection.

Just thought it was worth mentioning.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Just my opinion, but I would buy the best impact sockets. I made that boo boo by buying cheaper sockets figuring that I do not use my impact that often so why shell out the cash. But after you snap a couple or round them off, then you will have to buy more anyway...

Tim

[kpagel]

Originally posted by 2hotford
Hey,

Just my opinion, but I would buy the best impact sockets. I made that boo boo by buying cheaper sockets figuring that I do not use my impact that often so why shell out the cash. But after you snap a couple or round them off, then you will have to buy more anyway...

Tim

Well, Craftsman is a good brand, and they do have that solid warranty policy. Just don't go shopping at Harbor Freight or something like that, and you'll be fine. Snap-on's set is pretty pricey, but when it comes to sockets they make the best**

This is what professional mechanics told me during my days working with a Snap-on driver, etc. There are some sockets that are made by an outside company FOR Snap-on AND MAC. Same socket, different labels.

[Accumulator]

For wheel lugs, these days I only use the kind of sockets that have plastic sleeves to protect the wheels.

The problem I have with Crafstman stuff is that when it fails you can be a) injured and/or b) unable to continue the job until you runn off and get that replacement. And I've had an awful lot of failures with Craftsman tools. E.G., I go through a lot of Craftsman ratchets (and Facom ones too), but the old Snap-On stuff I have (and I mean *old*, virtual antiques that were old 30 years ago) still work like new.

[Chubs]

I've worked in a garage for a school district. Working on buses, in that enviroment I will only use tools like Snap-on or MAC. I've seen the cheap ones ( even Craftsman) blow apart in your face like a plastic toy.
Now for me in my garage only working on my cars I have a set of deep well impact sockets from Craftsman and they work just fine for me.
If you plan on just doing the simple maintennace on your cars and that about it then Craftsman would work just fine. If your going to get into heavy repairs and getting into those siezed up bolts that your really hammering on with your impact. Then I'd spend the dough and buy Snap-On or MAC. When you have a Craftsman impact socket blow apart in your face, it makes you think twice if saving that money was worth it!

Chubs

[Pete-FWA]

Thanks for all the ideas

I definitely do not want a piece breaking.

None of the Craftsman impacts I do own have ever given me trouble, but they're older. I've heard conflicting reports on their newer pieces (5 years or less).

I'm leaning toward SK, if not Craftsman.

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by Chubs
When you have a Craftsman [tool] blow apart in your face, it makes you think twice if saving that money was worth it!

That's similar to what happened to push me over the edge regarding Craftsman stuff. I had a 3/8" drive breaker bar fracture at the joint-ears (no, I didn't have a cheater pipe on it, didn't step on it, just pulled hard with my bare hands). One of the pieces flew off with such force that it chipped the concrete floor. Thinking about how I could've caught that fragment in the face was enough for me. Instead of taking it back for a replacement, I kept it to show people

[kpagel]

Originally posted by Pete-FWA

None of the Craftsman impacts I do own have ever given me trouble, but they're older. I've heard conflicting reports on their newer pieces (5 years or less).

From what I understand, the company that actually makes the tools for Craftsmen has changed recently (within the last decade). When their contract was up, the company making the tools went to Home Depot and are now building the tools under the Husky brand. Craftsman are supposedly no longer making the same high quality tools that you or your father grew up with.