The coolest part of my paid partnership with Home Depot is that cool new tools show up every 3 months. But that’s also the toughest part.
For this past quarter, I’ve been quite busy, but not a single project involved the use of impact sockets, at least not 1/2″ drive impact sockets. I did use some 3/8″ sockets on a cabinet assembly and installation project.
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Part of the quarter’s tool haul included some very sweet impact tools. Sorry, I can’t think of a better descriptor. When I unboxed them, that’s the first thing that came to mind – sweeeeet.
First up, Husky sent over a 64-piece SAE/metric impact socket set, including shallow sockets, deep sockets, extensions, and swivel adapters.
I played around with them a little when they first arrived, as some of the sockets were jostled in the blow-molded case, and quickly determined that they would be “keepers,” at least for a while. Eventually, they’ll be donated, as is my goal with all review samples.
I wish that maybe the size markings were a little easier to read, but that seems to be the case with all impact sockets.
You seem to get a lot for the money.
Price: $199
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I also received a Husky click-style 1/2″ torque wrench, with 50-250 ft-lbs torque range and ±3% accuracy in the upper 80% of the range.
It’s pretty easy to adjust, and comfortable to use. The torque setting locking ring is a little different, but it was easy to figure out.
Price: $85
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This new Dewalt 20V Max brushless impact wrench, DCF894B, has a Precision Wrench control feature which pauses the tool in the forward direction before impacting, to help prevent over-tightening, and when in reverse, it lowers the speed when it detects that a fastener is loose, to help prevent nuts from flying off threaded fasteners.
It has a 1/2″ anvil with detent pin, and can deliver up to 330 ft-lbs of max fastening torque. It weighs 3.48 lbs, and has 3 mode settings to suit a variety of applications and fastening needs.
Dewalt says their mid-torque cordless impact wrenches are ideal for working on grooved couplings, pipe flanges, wheel lugs, concrete anchor settings, and other applications where you need a lot of torque in a compact space.
Price: $199 for the bare tool
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Combined with the Husky impact socket set and torque wrench mentioned above, I’ll be nicely equipped for my next project that might require the use of 1/2″ impact sockets. Well, maybe my breaker bar and dead blow hammer will have to make a cameo, in case I have to break extremely stubborn fasteners free first.
Questions? As mentioned, I hadn’t had any recent opportunities to put these new samples to the test, but there is one project that’s coming up soon.
Thank you to Home Depot, Husky, and Dewalt for the test samples!
Pete
My biggest problem with husky impact sockets is that they don’t go big enough.
I can’t wait for the m12 impact wrench!
Jim Felt
Given the cofounder and largest shareholder of the public entity known as Home Depot hails from Long Island, NY I’m wondering why there is no corporate incentive to source simple metal products like these in the US?
They aren’t hi tech or difficult to source in any way that comes to mind.
So really. Why not HD?
Asking for a friend.
Gordon
It’s the simple fact that HD’s average customer is not willing to pay more for USA made, or even sourced materials. They generally look at the price first, then the brand to see if it’s one they recognize. People like you are more educated, and more willing to shop around for the best tool for the buck.
Flotsam
That statement about the average customer just not caring sums it up perfectly
Jim Felt
I wish you guys were wrong but especially here we all know you’re not.
I may be cheap* but never without a search for the best tool/thing/item I can find.
*Self diagnosed.
Framer joe
Husky makes decent sockets for the price, but I only buy American made sockets and tools or German made , definitely not Chinese made……
DC
Ditto but I do buy Husky tools for the emergency truck box and my other emergency tool bag. I only look for Made in Taiwan for the Husky tools. If made in china I look elsewhere like Harry J. Epstein’s, Amazon for either USA or Taiwan-made tools.
Adam
I grabbed a set of Husky pass-thru sockets as they were on clearance, just for the once in lifetime chance I know it will save me a ton of time to use over any other ratchet/wrench. Still sitting new in the case, though my Dad tried using them, and ended up moving on to another task because they were to “complex.” lol
While I do prefer USA & select foreign made tools, don’t forget the ability & convenience to run into a HD and warranty swap the tool for a new one.
Jared
I’m interested to hear what you like about the sockets Stuart. Husky hand tools sometimes hit the sweet spot for me where they’re functionally good enough – and the warranty reassuring enough – that it’s just not worth spending more for a premium product.
Sockets are definitely candidates since there’s a substantial price jump to better brands, yet they’re not something I’m likely to break or notice a substantial difference in function.
fred
These days many if not all of the Husky brand sockets, torque wrenches and similar items are sourced from Apex Tools. When Stanley “sold” the brand name to Home Depot – many of the same sorts of tools came from Stanley’s National Tool. Other Husky items that you see at HD may come from other OEMs – notably Campbell-Hausfeld for air tools. But HD sometimes sources from folks like Iron Bridge tools – like for the Husky pliers that Stuart posted about several years ago:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/husky-flex-handle-pliers-set/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Evadman
Can you measure the outer diameter of a few of the sockets, such as the outer diameter of the 17, 19 and 3/4″ deepwell ones? I have several sets from harbor freight that have lasted me forever, but the walls are very thick. That leads to issues on some newer aluminum wheels that do not have a lot of space around the lug nut. I need a new set of impacts, and these may fit the bill. I tried craftsman, but I had a socket explode in my face with my 1 inch gun, so I am not a fan of craftsman impacts anymore.
Does the DCF894 work with torque sticks? I currently have the high torque DCF889 and the pod style DW059 and neither of them work well with torque sticks. The torque usually ends up 7 to 10 ft/lbs under the stick rating when using those guns, but with my IR 231C, I end up within 1 or 2 ft/lb according to my clicker torque wrench.
fred
I’ve seen what have been advertised as “thin wall impact sockets” – but I always thought that was an oxymoron. I guess with the right alloy and proper forging / heta treatment they can make them. I’ve seen several sets (many from brands I’ve never heard of) sold on Amazon – with a variety of reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/Ken-tool-KEN30259-Drive-Impact-Socket/dp/B00CDDCUNC
Bill
I’ve had success with theTEKTON 4950 1/2-Inch Drive Lug Nut Service Tool Flip Impact Socket Set from Amazon. It comes in the sizes you mentioned.
Raoul
A little trivia, 19mm and 3/4″ are almost identical measurements and the difference is within each others tolerances. That’s why 19mm are usually the ones missing from socket and wrench sets (I read this somewhere).
I like the flip set of lug nut sockets I got on Amazon. 6 sizes on 3 sockets color coded by Tekton.
I have the impact wrench and it is fantastic.
Nathan
Few things – you need to do a brake job on a truck to test out your hardware there. Or send them to me and I’ll happily do it for you.
wink wink.
I’d say those sockets look to be pretty good for impact rated sockets and in a few cases look to be thinner than the ones I have now. I like they included the extension.
On the Dewalt torque wrench – that’s one of the ones I’m looking at buying. You mentioned a rated fastening torque – what is the max rated torque? IE does it have a higher loosening torque capability. 330 should do most of that you would need under a car short of a few notables like the crank pulley bolt on a LS3. (seems to need 500 ft-lbs) but otherwise it looks like a capable item. I’d like to see a impact wrench review if possible if you have others. I suspect that model dewalt will have a MAC counterpart soon.
I have that same lug nut service tool and I love it- even bought 2 sets so as to keep one in the emergency road trip kit that has a breaker bar for wheel removal.
Stuart
The fact that there’s no mention of fastener breaking torque suggests that it’s more aimed at construction fastening tasks. I would assume that the reverse torque would be similar, otherwise there would have been a bullet point or obvious mention in the product marketing copy.
Chris
I did some digging online and it has 500 ft lbs of breakaway torque
Nathan
I asked because their other high torque device lists it’s max torque in the removing direction. or common removing direction I guess I should say.
Incidentally there is a MAC device that looks fairly similar to this newer Dewalt offering. But I’m not 100% sure it is. Eitherway from an automotive use case both look like a good choice which is why I’m very interested in them.
John Hooper
Those impact sockets look pretty with their glossy finish….but are they tough enough???
Joe
This is an oil impregnated black oxide (Shiny Black) vs. a standard black oxide (Flat rough black). In testing, this has held up better to moisture preventing rust and corrosion. The sockets are manufactured from Chrome Molybdenum (Chro-Mo) steel which is industry standard for Impact Sockets.