Mechanics - Chrome vs Black Sockets - mix/match

[happyheathen]

OK - I know the black oxide finish denotes sockets intended for use on impact wrenches, and chrome is all other read: hand tool of whatever kind.
Q: Can i use an impact soket on my trusty old ratchet, or is that a no-no?
I can see a socket beingf too weak to handle an impact wrench, but, after strengfht of mateials, isn't a socket a socket?
Have the nice Snap-On/Mac et al folks been selling the pros a bill of goods all these years? "yea, you'll end up buying the grown-up stuff in a few years, but first, buy the shiney, pretty ones...

[dynamitedave]

We have few proper impact sockets; but haven't had an issue using them with hand tools. They just seem thicker than normal sockets, but not by much.

However we use a lot of "normal" sockets with the rattle gun. But our sets are "name" brands and we rarely bust out a socket. It really depends on the torque input and we use our judgement. Most times the rattle gun is brought out to speed up a job, mainly when there's lots of nuts/studs to attack. If the fastener is really tight (say wheel nuts), it's often "cracked" with a 6ft bar first, then after the blood is stemmed, unwound with the rattle gun.

[Tuckerfan]

It all depends upon the sockets. Some of the ones designed for impact wrenches use a larger opening for hooking them up to the impact wrench.

Using an ordinary socket with an impact wrench wouldn't necessarily do damage to the socket, unless you were dealing with a particularly stuck nut/bolt, or you overtightened it to a great degree.

[danceswithcats]

I've used ordinary finish sockets with the butterfly or speeder, but I'm not torquing the bejesus out of anything, either. For the big 1/2" gun, only black impact sockets. You can't hurt an impact socket by putting it on a ratchet wrench or breaker bar (unless you add a 4' piece of Schedule 80 1 1/2" pipe to the handle, but who would ever do that?). My set is a mix of Mac, Snap-On, S-K, and Craftsman, and one of the impact sets is a cheapo Harbor Freight product.