i inherited a great air compressor and now i need some sockets. for your first set would you get deep well or regular? they are about 90 bux from sears. i have a standard impact gun. it would seem to me that its too big to squeeze in a tight place anyway so get the deep well. is there like an air ratchet? is it a can you get it in a tight spot? worth having one with short sockets?

 

I would get the shorties first. They are good for most of what you will need and they are better for getting into tight spots. As far as an air ratchet, yes they are out there and they work well as long as you get one with some torque. One thing to consider with an air ratchet is that they don't impact like an impact gun. They just spin. So it is important to be aware of that when you go to use it in a tight spot where your fingers can get pinched. I think that there are some impacting air ratchets out there but they are quite expensive. I hope this is helpful.

 

I use my deep impact sockets much more than I use my shallow impact sockets.

 

The shallow sockets are usefull with or without an air gun. If you need to use a breaker bar on something rally tight, its hard to do with a deep socket. However, with room the deep sockets are more usefull than shallow.

Look around at your vehicles hardware and see what will work most on what you will be tackling.
Both would be ideal of course.

 

i have found the best way to save money buying new tools is to only buy what i need when the time comes that i need it. then you not forking over $90 and $20-30 is wasted on tools you never use.

if you keep a tool budget handy at all times you are always ready to buy what you need, and you dont have to scrape money together or put things off do to bills.

 

Quality used tools galore at your local swap meet. Or in your part of the country, 'flea market'

 

Deep well.

But, I've always used my regular 1/2" sockets on my impact gun. The Snap-On dude told me that it was the chrome plating on regular sockets that will eventually damage the socket retainer on the impact gun. So, I use an impact style short extension on the gun and regular chrome sockets on the extension.

Snap-on 520 impact gun, 150psi, and Craftsman 1/2" sockets. Haven't broken one yet.

 

go to harbor freight and get both deep and shallow. when one wears out or breaks go get the singles from there to replace it. harbor freight may be cheap price and no name stuff, but i havnt had bad luck with them.

 

in my years of wrenching ive found that craftsman stuff is ok not bad ... there impacs are fine for the home guy i have about 10 snap on tools . cant afford 'em !!
i agree deep socket is better leverage when room allows i use the chrome plated in my sears 1/2" impact . not broken one yet never tighten lugs with a impact i have brioken off studs going this best to use a tork wrench . my 2 cents

 

yea. great idea. i have reg chrome sockets. i just go with craftsman because of the walk in replacement. i have a sears right near me. and cant afford snap-on right now. my deep well chromes only go up to 14 mm. maybe ill get the deep impact set. still thinkin tho. thanks for all the input yotatech.

 

Mid-Length sockets! No joke..

 

id go shallow just use extensions and i use craftsman 1/2 inch for the warranty

 

i work on heavy equipment for a living and ill be honest harborfreight impact sockets are the only way to go lol cheap and stong.. i have a broke snap-on, craftsman, proto, mac, armstrong.. but never broke one of my harbor freight impact sockets... well i take that back i bound up and twisted apart a 19mm 1/2 drive wobbly impact before.

 

and dont let idiots tighten your lugs with a snap-on 1/2in. impact while you have to pee....

they will tighten them..and tighten them..and then tighten them a LITTLE more...then when you check to make sure all the lugs are tight (because you didnt know they tightened em already) you break off the studs....yea..been there..my pass. front needs 2 studs...

 

the thing with deep or shallow sockets is not reaching for something...
its for a bolt that lets say goes into the frame and a nut is welded on the frame...therefor when you loosten the bolt..it backs out..with a shallow socket you might not have enough room..but with a deep socket you might?..

or tightening a nut on a stud..you need a deep socket if it is a long stud..

 

Replace your studs all ready !!

I never run more than 90 psi into my air system more than that blows things apart.

I never had any problems snapping wheel studs never seize going back on, Kroil if they are coming off the first time.

I will have to try the harbor freight impact sockets in 1/2 " you could get by with 14mm 17mm and 19mm then get the rest in 3/8ths 10mm 12mm 14mm if your money is tight right now.

 

i had to run 100 psi in my recent clutch job through my impact gun to whack those flywheel bolts