Using impact wrench sockets on a chrome-vanadium socket wrench...Yes or No?

[Pupik]

Is it safe to use an impact socket with a (standard) chrome socket wrench and/or torque wrench?

Another words:

This...

...inserted on the end of this:

I would imagine a chrome-vanadium socket would probably shatter in an impact wrench, so I will not even attempt that. (I don't have an impact wrench anyhow.) But if they use the same socket drive size (in this case, 1/2"), it shouldn't be a problem, I imagine.

But I am concerned that an impact socket may damage to the drive end of a socket wrench if too much torque is applied, but I want to be sure that an impact socket will not damage it immediately (I prefer to use it with a torque wrench to be sure).

I have been looking for just the right deep metric socket size, but I cannot find it in several stores, except in impact socket size(s). I can't find a site anywhere on the 'net with an answer to this, so I was wondering if anyone had any experience in this department.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

Yes you will be fine. If anything would break it would be the socket first. I am 31 and have been using tools most of my life and have never seen a 1/2" drive socket wrench (ratchet) break. But I have seen sockets break.

 

[Pupik]

The only time I've seen a socket wrench break was when a customer brought me a 3/8" drive socket wrench that he broke when using a 1/2" adapter, and accused us of over-torquing the lug nuts. I know that was an error on his part, not the mechanic's. Just making sure the weakest link will not be my trusty torque wrench.

For the record, I received a "yes", a "no", and a "huh?" at the various tool places I've been, so that answered nothing.

Thanks for the advice, I know you've worked on a few cars.

 

[wfooshee]

Not a problem.

Other way around . . . . Busted sockets all over the place.

FWIW, as a general rule of thumb, the darker the metal is in a tool, the harder it is. Plated tools are the worst, because you don't know the metal under the plating. Cheap, anyway.

On your broken socket wrench, sounds like he was using a 3/8" to do lug nuts? That's just asking for trouble!