posted by
someone claiming to be diyer
on
Sun Mar 12 09:45 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Anyone got an opinion based on personal experience with most of the major brands as to which brand you prefer and why? The reason I ask is that I found an old file I copied from the Internet years ago that stated (guy was a welder and used these tools quite a bit, and he was always honest with me):
" ... Impact sockets are the sockets I use most. I use mostly Harbor Freight!! Yep, the cheapest ones around! But, they are also the very best at holding up. I have killed Snap-on, Mac, Allen, and many others in half the time that a H-F one lasts. BTW, Sears gets their impact sockets from Ingersoll-Rand and I-R buys them from H-F just like all their air tools. Same deal on these. So, the next time you're at sears, look at the air body saws that were selling for about $159.00. This same saw can be had from I-R for $189.00 and from H-F for about $50. Same saw inside just some minor outer case changes and a major price difference."
Hmmm, I called Sears and they said Danaher Makes their impact sockets. I'm skeptical. Perhaps Sears changed vendors.
Of the brands I was considering, they are as follows: Sears are the lowest price (on sale now), but most of the prices I was quoted are all within $10 of each other, otherwise.
Craftsman Impacts --- Mfg by Danaher for Sears, three forgings not dedicated
Williams Impacts --- One forging not dedicated
SK --- One forging not dedicated
Armstrong --- Mfg by Danaher for Sears, three forgings not dedicated
What I mean by dedicated forging is that each bar stock of steel is of its own diameter, so that all the sockets made are proportional. When a single bar stock is used for more than one socket size, the result is that the smaller of the two sizes has a wall thickness of approximately 2 mm too much. When they are proportional the difference in wall thickness is approximately 1 mm, either smaller or larger. I find proportional sockets more desirable. I dislike seeing the unnecessary fatter walls.
The other question I have is about the sizes I was advised to get, which are:
12 thru 19 mm, and then 21, 22, 24, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36 mm. I have personally used 12 thru 19, 21, 22, 24, and 36 mm, but nothing else. I wonder what some of those sizes are for?
I was told not to buy: 10 and 11 mm, stating that a 1/2 impact with break the bolt easily. Skip 20, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, mm as they are rarely used if ever.
Opinions please?
thanks diyer
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I have a set of Snap-On impact socket (8mm - 36mm) which I bought from ebay.com a couple years ago. I love it and it never turns me down. I also have a set of Sears metric socket. I personally like Snap-On because of it's quality and their special tools. Sears is good for getting replacement parts if the socket is broken or else. Snap-On needs original purchase reciept for broken part replacement. That was what I learned when I got my set of Snap-On Torx bits from ebay and the T27 bit was broken when during the repalcement of sway bar endlink. I had no original reciept so no replacement bit from Snap-On. Don't listen to those ebay sellers talking about the lifetime repalcement from Snap-On. If you have no original reciept, no replacement at all.
Ching-Ho Cheng
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1995 855 NA, Bilstein Strut & Shocks, Volvo Protective Grill, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, ClearCorner Light, Alpine CD-Changer, AutoDim RearView Mirror, 6000K HID
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Granted I am a professional and am in the trade but I have never ever had to produce anything that resembled a receipt to warranty any thing off of the tool trucks, whether they be Snap-On, Mac, or Matco. I do not know what you did to piss off the tool shark but just go find another one or better yet if you have a friend that spins wrenches for a living ask him to get it done for you.
Mark
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I did nothing to piss anyone off. All I did was to call the Snap-On customer service and told them my torx bit was broken when fixing my car. I was asking for a replacement, politely. They told me to send in the torx bit along with the purchase receipt. I told them that I got the torx bit from ebay, then they told me that no replacement without any original purchase receipt. I ended up buying a new one from them via Snap-On online store.
Unfortunately, I am just a DIY, so no connection or friends with any local garages. :(
On the other hand, Sears never ask for any receipt. I just show them the broken socket or wrenchs, I get my replacement right away.
Maybe Snap-On lifetime replacement without original receipt only apply for the garages/car dealers, not DIY. It is because local garages/car dealers buy their tools via the tool trucks. I never have any chance to buy a Snap-On tool from the tool truck because I don't know their time schedule and I also don't know whether they will take charge card or not. Snap-On tools are not cheap. I only buy Snap-On tool via their online store such that I can pay via charge card.
Ching-Ho Cheng
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1995 855 NA, Bilstein Strut & Shocks, Volvo Protective Grill, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, ClearCorner Light, Alpine CD-Changer, AutoDim RearView Mirror, 6000K HID
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I think you know more than most people here, so I would go with what you know...you've done your research. I will say however that the 10mm bolt (thus socket) is used considerably though out my Volvo and so I keep one in my car with a 1/4 inch rachet (Harbor Freight) all the time. Never know when I'll need it. I also keep a good variety of torx drivers as for some reason Volvo must have bought stock in these bolts some time ago.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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posted by
someone claiming to be diyer
on
Sun Mar 12 14:31 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Ok. Btw, 10 mm is "THE" most common size found on vehicles that have metric hex fasteners on them.
diyer
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I am a professional so I prefer Snap-On but that is just because of the service and the fact that they are often times viewed as the best. I have found that most impact sockets are half ways decent and if they are of CrV or chrome vanadium steel they will hold up fine. I have been beating the hell out of the same set of Snappy 6-point deep metric impact sockets since I bought them in '85 or '86 and I have never worn one out. The 19mm which is used every single time I pull a lug nut or bolt is absolutely polished smooth from spinning in my hand and it has never let me down. Being as I am a pro I use my air tools all day every day and I would not be found without a 10mm 1/2" drive socket. But I do agree with the statement that a 1/2 gun on a 10mm bolt head is way over kill. It is mostly a matter of pride but I would not own the HF stuff as my main line go-to tools. You might find them as a spare set, and at the prices they charge you can justify it, laying around the garage but never as the go-to stuff. I would not have any problem running any of the brands you have listed. In fact I have used tools from every single one of those companies, I particularily like Williams out of the ones you listed.
Mark
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