KC Tool Haul #78: German Impact Sockets

[@LilasTools]

The finish on the Stahlwille looks great! 👍

[@boosted2.4_sky]

LET'S GO 🏁 I've had my Wiha Terminator bit set for years they have never failed me.. 3:28... Exactly right.. I have seen impact sockets from the German brands and they are above my pay grade...lol they are not cheap... Stahwille for me...looks great 👍..appears to fit very well and a good thick wall...

[@lonestarmopars]

Haha, glad someone commented on the Terminators. They really are great bits. I bought (4) more here recently for around 70 cents vs the $2.39 or whatever it was. Can't beat the clearance prices. I agree on the Stahlwille...only concern is that it is a pretty straight cut...afraid it might round off corners more than the others.

[@randysmith9636]

My go too impact sockets are my 30 year old Snap On. The 1/2" is some seriously heavyweight sockets. I bought a set of Milwaukee impact sockets and I am very impressed with them. Very good weight, pretty thick walls. Not quite Snap On thick but close. For maximum nut busting power the heavier the better. A heavy thick wall socket will out perform a thin wall socket every time. Thanks for the review brother, stay strong.

[@lonestarmopars]

Nice...I'm still a big Proto/Wright fan, but not using Metric as much I can play around a little. The biggest issue I find with quality impacts is just that over time the drive end wears and they basically don't stay on the anvil of the impact...We have never really run pins, or o-rings...you just have to learn to hold the socket on, or gun upright, and then set it down into place. Takes time, but you get accustomed to it. I agree on the weight...I always want a thick socket. Thin walled are just for special circumstances.

[@zvonimirfrankovichjr4854]

I'm debating getting upgrading on the wear cuz of you review

[@chadroy16]

biggest tangible difference i found between the three was finish. i find stahlwille to be the best but the hazet finish while looking the worst actually holds up amazingly well

[@chadroy16]

most german impact extensions have a lock under heavy spring tension on the drive that requires a pin to remove. they wont insert unless you line up with the lead in the socket, or manually hold the lock down

[@chadroy16]

I am so bad for commenting before the video finishes lol As for a choice on the three having personal experience, I'm not sure I have a favorite yet. only been 6 moths on majority with Hazet being about a year. I do use them a lot during the day, 5 days a week. size wise is 10mm-36mm All my shallow 1/2" impact sockets are German made, the same 3 brands you have. only 6 months usage but zero complaints. I'd own their deeps but they don't really have a comprehensive set. Gedore does do a tray of deeps from 13mm-27mm (ct1500 series) and you can get a textile case to put them in but I ended up going ko-ken. power tools don't do much for me either but i did get a sweet deal on a Milwaukee. Also a big thanks for all the content over the years, means a lot. If someone did want to contribute to the channel, what would be the best way to go about it?

[@lonestarmopars]

I agree on Stahlwille looking the best and Hazet the worst, lol. Happy to hear the Hazet's out perform their aesthetic. Also cool you have been using all (3) brands. Do the Stahlwille impacts round corners off? That is my only knock on them initially. I might bring in a few of the extensions. I was looking in the catalog last night and saw that...looks like the little Wera impact adapters, but heavier duty. My broken flat blades serve as good pin releasers, haha. I've noticed the same on the lack of comprehensive deep sets. I get that they may not be popular in Germany, but you would think they would market them accordingly to other countries preferences. For example, if I was selling tools, despite using SAE 90% of the time, if I was going to enter a European, or Asian marketplace, I would have to expand to Metric to capture the market share. If German retailers complained my 8-32 no skip sets weren't selling and customers wanted a 4 piece 10-13-17-19, I would adjust accordingly. Thanks! I know you can set up a donation page and stuff...I've just never gotten around to doing it. Maybe at some point.

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars I've only got a 4 piece set from hazet and they've held up quite nicely. It's a very odd finish, burnished and oiled. I'm looking at a 13-24mm, no skips, super shallow set from Hazet that is in a 1/9 foam that fits in a smart case. I've had zero issues with any of the brands rounding anything off. Bolts or sockets. Did you run into this issue? I scored some 3/8" NOS stahlwille extensions and sockets, I like the lock on them so long as you have a dedicated tool to release them nearby. Yeah kind if like the wera locking system without a switch I guess. Haha whatever gets the job done and repurposing broken flat blades is always nice. Just don't let the blade heat up if altering the shape. They must have been in the mindset of have the products available and they'll sell internationally because of the reputation for the last however many years and they all seem to have given up, probably sales related. What I found is you can get cheaper sets that exclude some sizes and the sets that do actually contain everything are super expensive. There are a lot of comprehensive sets you can get if you don't mind buying more than just your favourite brand. I sacrifice buying my favourite brand for more functionality which includes not skipping sizes. Maybe set up a patreon? Seems to be low maintenance. I'd share your stuff but that would achieve nothing lol. Maybe I should try again with the instagrams

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars for reference the 1/2" german impact sockets I have are Hazet 24-30-32-36mm 4 piece shallpw 12 point impact set Gedore 10-13-17-19-24mm shallow impact set in a case, plus 16 and 18mm Then random NOS stahlwille shallow impact sockets being 12-14-15-22-27mm. They came individually boxed with a certificate of quality haha. The boxes were in perfect condition until they shipped them and used tape

[@vr66luke]

I use koken impact sockets. But I love my stahlwille 1/2” chrome stuff

[@lonestarmopars]

How have the Koken held up impact wise? I'll eventually bring one in...they hit clearance every once in awhile, but it is usually an oddball size like a 12mm that I'd probably never use. I do like that they offer thin walled options. That said, I can actually get German impacts a bit cheaper than Koken, which is odd considering how reasonably priced Koken's chrome sockets are.

[@derekace7471]

I have no problems spending top Dollar on Chrome sockets but impacts I can't swallow dropping tons of cash on. They take a lot of abuse and I've had really good luck with the 94 piece Klutch set from Northern Tool. I have a few Wera sockets but the majority of what I still use are the Craftsman USA ones, you can't kill them! I would like to get some SK's down the road, but for what I do and how many of many size sockets I already have, it may take awhile for me to have to go down that road.

[@lonestarmopars]

Kind of the same way...especially at home. I spend on 1/2" since it is what I usually run pneumatic, or a more powerful gun. I nearly bought a Klutch set several years ago. The SK Flex Zone are pretty nice, but I always forget that I have them, lol. Light duty impacts just don't warrant the big spending imo.

[@Tools_and_Guitars]

Strictly based on seeing the comparisons in this video, my gut tells me Stahlwille is likely to end up being best. But all the sockets you featured seem to be of top-notch quality.

[@lonestarmopars]

That was my gut instinct as well.

[@zvonimirfrankovichjr4854]

I like your wera sockets you did a review on I own matco about 30 years 10 24 no problems haven't broken one they show we're wallowing out on both ends

[@lonestarmopars]

That is exactly what a good impact should do. The Wrights and Protos at work are the same way. Protos seem to wallow out on the drive end more...still functional, but you have to get adjusted to holding the socket on the impact before you pull the trigger.

[@sirkdopsah1081]

To my knowledge I've never used a German impact socket. Only 🇺🇸, 🇹🇼, or 🇨🇳. Don't think I've ever used any from 🇯🇵 either unless it was some outsourcing from Sears or Stanley back in the day.

[@BrentKung89]

Man i was really debating on getting that 4pc socket and ratchet set from stahwille, was on sale for a helluva deal on KC

[@lonestarmopars]

I love it...despite it being the worst Stahlwille ratchet I own. It doesn't feel the same as the others. I've had several say the same thing and mention they just opened it up and lubed it and got better results. I've still never done that...It is honestly good as is, but compared to my other Stahwlille's it comes up short...which really says more for how good they are. I'd buy it again with zero hesitation if it goes on Tool of the Day, or a seasonal special etc. If I get time, I'll open it and a 3/8" up and compare how they are lubed etc.

[@zvonimirfrankovichjr4854]

The gadore doesn't say Germany on it

[@metavto9322]

Gedore impact - OZAT@@3202to