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