#impactsocket

3/8" DR Deep Impact Socket Set (12pc, 8-19mm QGDAD1201)

Perfect for heavy-duty jobs, durable performance, and professional results! Don’t miss out on this deal—limited stock available.

Difference Between Impact Socket and Regular Socket: Which Is Better?

Implements used to tighten or loosen fasteners have changed over time, but as the production of steel became more reliable and consistent grade/quality of steel became possible, fastener manufacturing became rapidly standardized along with a litany of tools and implements to fasten them.

Ring Spanner Wrench

Torque wrenches also started having ratcheting mechanisms, which brought forth the advantages of the sockets.

Let us understand what a socket is:

The amount of torque applied and the socket selected is decided by several factors:

Diameter of Bolt and Nut A/F (Across Flat) size

Torque applied

Geometry of the socket as per space restrictions

Material of the socket

Steps to select sockets for torqueing and detorqueing:

The diameter of the bolt and the Nut A/F (Across Flat) size.

Once this is understood, depending on the environmental factors, the lubrication around the bolt, one can calculate the torque required.

Selection of the right torque wrench is the next step.

Once the square drive size of the wrench is known, one can select the appropriate material for the socket that shall be used.

The socket can now be selected according to the square drive size and the Nut A/F (Across Flat) Size.

Difference between Regular Sockets and Impact Sockets:

Regular Sockets and their wrenches are made for use with manual and select electric torque wrenches, which provide light torque capacity for applications such as automotive applications, and everyday uses.

Whereas, Impact sockets are meant for industrial applications wherein the torque value is much higher and the use of power tools such as impact wrenches, hydraulic torque wrenches, pneumatic torque wrenches, electrical torque wrenches along manual torque wrenches and torque multipliers is a given.

Then, What makes impact sockets well-suited for industrial applications:

There are several factors that make them better, viz.

Better Material Selection: The materials used for impact sockets usually are made from Chrome Molybdenum Steel Alloy grades such as EN19, EN 24 & EN 47. A known characteristic of this steel allows the socket to sustain shocks and impacts from impact sockets and have a long durability in the face of repeated use.

Heat Treatment: The Steel billet, post machining must undergo heat treatment such as annealing to relieve stresses caused by the processes and add to the resistance against shocks and torsional forces.

Anti Rust protection: The sockets undergo black zinc plating, this layer is sufficiently applied to allow resistance against rust and other abrasion.

Precise Machining and Geometry: Apart from adhering to standard dimensions for impact sockets, shapes introduced such as rounded edges to openings allow the torsional forces to be applied to the flanks of the sockets instead of the corners this disallows crack formation at the edges.

What type of Impact sockets exist:

Impact sockets can be classified into several types such as the following:

Square Drive Size: The square drive sizes of wrenches are usually divided to imperial sizes in inches most common ones being — ⅜”, ¼”, 7/16”, ½”, 9/16”, ⅝”, ¾”, 13/16”, 1”, 1–½”, 2–½”, 3–½” and #5 Spline Drive. As we know an inch is divided into 16 parts of which these sizes are usually present.

Opening Type: According to the Nut location and space restrictions, use of Allen head bolts, we can select from

6 Points Hexagon

InHex Male Hexagon Driver

Male Square

12-Point Double Hexagon Sockets

4 Point Square Socket and many more….

Types of Sockets Opening

Sr.No.

Type of Socket Opening

Symbol

6 Points Hexagon

Nut Size: The Nut size changes according to the Bolt and whether it is a heavy hex nut or a finished nut, Sockets can be selected accordingly

Materials and Socket Geometry: According to the Square drive to opening ratio 4 different predominant geometry types for impact sockets exist. Additionally, the impact socket materials can be selected according to the amount of torque and

Variant according to function: Various functions call for different types of sockets such as the following:

Magnetic

Extenders

Torsion Bars

Thin Wall Long

Long and standard length

Loss of Vibration

Adapters (Male to Male / Female to Female)

Insert Adapters

Universal Sockets

Conclusion:

Industrial Heavy Impact sockets find use with proven power tools such as Hydraulic Torque Wrenches, Pneumatic Torque wrenches, pneumatic impact wrenches, electric torque wrenches, battery torque wrenches, manual torque wrenches, and Torque Multipliers.