Impact wrench sockets (the black ones) vs. normal sockets

[Michael Moore]

OK, so to those in the know this is probably a way-dumb question, but here goes.

I just got an impact wrench, and it included a small set of SAE sockets, all black. I've also noticed at various hardware stores the impact sockets are black.

So does this mean I couldn't/shouldn't use my regular Craftsman sockets with this thing? Is the metal not hard enough on regular sockets?

Thanks for any advice on this one...

[Holden]

I've been wondering the same thing.

My guess is it needs to be more "rugged" as chances of slipping/stripping are higher (perhaps the lip of the socket is designed differently). I'd also guess the black/rougher finish is for dirtier/greasier environments.

[Langanobob]

Sockets made for impact hammer use are stronger, mainly because they have thicker walls.  They are usually also black, but I don't think the color itself has anything to do with the strength.  There's a process called Parkerizing that is a surface coating process and also black.  Parkerizing provides some corrosion protection and some wear resistance.  I don't know if black impact sockets are parkerized, but even if they are, it will not add any strength.

I sometimes interchange regular sockets with impact socket on impact wrenches and they do tend to get more torn up but I think mainly because they're thinner.

[erkishhorde]

I've used normal sockets on an impact gun before in desperate situations.

[He Man]

im sure theres a point where it matters, but i havent found it.

[mdriver]

Using a regular chrome socket on an impact gun will cause the socket walls to split in fairly short order. You can usually get away with it a few times depending on the size of the socket and the tightness of the fastener. Air ratchets are usually ok to use with thin wall chrome sockets but some of the newer 3/8 drive ones are strong enough to break them as well.

[needtorque]

Speaking from experience if you use a cheap chrome socket it is likely to break if the nut you are removing requires a lot of torque to remove.  The black sockets are thicker walled and I have never broken a good one but I have broken a few cheap ones.  I have also never broken a quality chrome socket on an impact gun either though. 

The black walled sockets are preferable to use if it will work on the application you need it for.  Many times the walls are too thick to fit into the place you need it to go and a chrome must be used instead. 

I had a set of thin walled, black, impact sockets but I found them to break even easier than the standard chrome sockets.

Moral of the story, if you have a set of chomes with a lifetime warranty (craftsman, snap-on, mac, blackhawk, etc....) then use what you like and if it breaks who cares.

[Michael Moore]

Thanks all. I've got Craftsman sockets, and generally speaking the electric impact wrench is going to be overkill for 99% of what I do, but for the Streetfighter, they have these big fookin' nuts that are torqued to 230nm (!) that I just couldn't budge with a breaker bar. Fortunately for those I have a special socket made by Speedy Moto.

So I'm thinking I'll get a basic set of metric impact sockets from Sears, and use the regular ones where space dictates, or where I don't have coverage in the impact sizes.

[needtorque]

Quick question.  What is the torque output of your electric impact gun.  My air gun has 1000 ft ibs in reverse and 750 in forward and I have yet to break a craftsman chrome on it.

[Michael Moore]

Quick question.  What is the torque output of your electric impact gun.  My air gun has 1000 ft ibs in reverse and 750 in forward and I have yet to break a craftsman chrome on it.

220 ft lbs - it's an electric jobbie by Kawasaki. (Hideous green and all...)

[He Man]

Quick question.  What is the torque output of your electric impact gun.  My air gun has 1000 ft ibs in reverse and 750 in forward and I have yet to break a craftsman chrome on it.

Damn 1000 lb-ft?!!! Is it insant or do you have to hld hte gun for a certain amount of time before it builds up to 1,000 lb-ft?

[Langanobob]

^  He Man, I think they rate those torque wrenches similar to how Sears used to rate air compressor HP.

I don't know what the formula is, but it's some sort of very short duration impulse torque.  As we all know 1,000 ft lbs of real torque will twist your wrench, wrist, arm and upper body into a bubbling gellatinatious (spell chekur is wrong) mass.

[needtorque]

Of course it is not a continuous 1000 ft lbs.  But it does hammer at that rate and that is what loosens those pesky ones.  You have to hold the trigger for 6 seconds before the full 1000 will click in but you can actually hear the change and then most nuts will release. 

Keep in mind that I was working as a mechanic at the time I bought it and I understand that most people would not spend $300 + on an impact gun.

[Porsche Monkey]

Generally non impact sockets are thinner wall. The reason impact sockets are black is because the chrome will flake from flex due to the constant hammering of the socket.

[brimo]

And don't forget that if those non-impact sockets come apart on your rattle gun, there will be some shrapnel flying that could take out your eye, so play it safe and use the proper sockets.