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Had to choose between a 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch drive impact for a stubborn flange bolt on a feedwater heater. Went with the 1/2 inch and a cheater bar, got it on the first try.
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the_mary1mo ago
Ugh, I always go for the 3/8 with a good socket, less chance of breaking stuff.
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the_linda1d agoMost Upvoted
Honestly, I'm with you on that. There's something about the 3/8 that feels like the Goldilocks zone of tools - not too big, not too small. I've seen guys wail on stuff with half-inch impacts and just snap bolts clean off, and then you're really in a world of hurt (been there, done that, got the drill bit to prove it). Plus, a good 3/8 socket set just fits in tighter spaces when you're working around other stuff. I'll reach for the bigger stuff when I absolutely have to, but my first instinct is always the 3/8. It's just more... polite, you know?
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wilson.joseph1mo ago
Hell yeah, that's the move right there. Honestly, you just can't beat the extra torque from a half-inch drive when things are really stuck. I had a similar fight with a rusted caliper bracket bolt last winter, and the bigger gun with a long pipe was the only thing that saved me from rounding it off.
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