Impact Wrench: Detent Pin or Hog Ring?

Never thought about this before, but I think I know the answer anyway.

Opinions?

I have found an impact with the hog ring removed changes sockets faster

Hog ring. Detent pin means you need a nail or punch to change the socket. If you're a steel erector and you dont want your socket falling out, get the detent pin model. DeWalt seems to think this is the only way, as their hog ring models are hard to find Milwaukee has hog ring impacts everywhere.

It depends... See above.

Hog ring for automotive use.

I got my Dewalt 3/8" hog ring style impact from Amazon, easy peasy.

I prefer the detent pin but i DETEST the square cut ones that you actually have to have another tool to release. The only one i ever owned like that i ground a taper on so that it worked more like a regular spring loaded detent ball.

Ring.

Detent pins are for stupid mechanics who free-spin universal sockets.

Along these lines, where can one get a new ring for the tip? I have a nice 3/8 impact and the ring snapped so sockets just slide off as they please

I actually have a ring-style IR Titanium impact i've had for like 12 years now and i gave up on the rings a long time ago. I just run it with no ring. Once you develop the habit of a slight forward pressure it makes no difference other than losing zero seconds of your life fighting to get sockets and extensions off of it.

My old cordless impact (18v nicad milwaukee, from around 2002) had a detent pin. Very annoying, so I tended to just leave a 3" extension on it all the time and pop the sockets on/off that.

Any tool repair place should have the ring. They're pretty universal.

We kept the one for the IR231 in stock when I had the tool repair shop, seemed to fit 99% of the 1/2" guns out there.

I was getting ready to order a new cordless impact when I noticed that it was offered both ways. I never thought that I would have the option, but I do hate the detent pin on my current DeWalt impact.

My brother used a rubber oring in place of the ring after it came off his 3/8 impact. He thought it was better than the steel ring, but I don't know...

Patrick wrote: Along these lines, where can one get a new ring for the tip? I have a nice 3/8 impact and the ring snapped so sockets just slide off as they please

Power Tool Repair in Tallmadge would have them.

EvanB wrote:

Patrick wrote: Along these lines, where can one get a new ring for the tip? I have a nice 3/8 impact and the ring snapped so sockets just slide off as they please

Power Tool Repair in Tallmadge would have them.

Thanks i'll plan a trip to them on a day off and hit Summit Racing to spend my summit bucks at the same time.

Tried o-ring, not big enough to hold.

I'm a pin guy, but I do grind them down a tad so I don't need to use a punch. I wore a couple electric impact hog rings out. They were nice until then.

Mostly I'm changing lug bolts so I don't want the socket pulling off.

And if I'm doing one-offs, I just slap the socket on with the pin hole facing away from the pin. Problem solved.

Oh and I wouldn't use anything but a pin, un-ground, on an air impact, period.

When I was turning wrench for a living I always had a tire tread depth gauge in my pocket which I also used for removing sockets from the pin type. I prefer the ring type however.

Oh and I wouldn't use anything but a pin, un-ground, on an air impact, period.

Man, i dont know. After i launched a wobble socket a couple of times, i just learned.

My old impact has seen so much action that the front part that would have retained the old ring snapped completely off! And.. it didn't affect me one bit. I just don't use the tool in such a way that things fall or fly off the front of it anymore. Let me tell you about all the hose clamps that have been tightened with my 1/2 impact! Trigger control is a thing. 1.375 ugga duggas!

not that you need an additional same opinion, but...ring. Pin sucks.

I am used to the DeWalt pin, I just make sure to put the socket on a side that doesn't have the hole. If the socket get stuck to the bolt I just push the impact from side to side to get the socket loose.

Every once in a long while that pin comes in handy

Vigo wrote:

Oh and I wouldn't use anything but a pin, un-ground, on an air impact, period.

Man, i dont know. After i launched a wobble socket a couple of times, i just learned. My old impact has seen so much action that the front part that would have retained the old ring snapped completely off! And.. it didn't affect me one bit. I just don't use the tool in such a way that things fall or fly off the front of it anymore. Let me tell you about all the hose clamps that have been tightened with my 1/2 impact! Trigger control is a thing. 1.375 ugga duggas!

Lucky.

One unlucky launch = one permanent eye patch, even if I'm wearing safety glasses. Some guys can rock that pirate look but I'm not sure I'm one.

I had a 3/8 drive milwakue with the pin when i worked on motorcycles. Every guy in the shop with one just ran a 1inch extension on it so we didnt have to deal with the pin. Im another vote for ring or nothing.

My IR 1/2 impact has the pin and with a little modification it's not bad. Take your 4" grinder and grind the pin into a ramp. It works perfectly as long has your sockets don't have holes.

My 3/8 impact has the ring. It works fine as well.

I'm torn myself. All my professional impacts have the ring. When it wears out it's useless, but you put a new one on and it has a death grip. I want the extra safety of strong clip/pin, but it needs to be able to change out easily. You don't have to be a "stupid mechanic" to have a socket fly off at triple digit speeds.

Being that I always have a pocket screwdriver on me at work, I could deal with a pin easily.

My last 36" extension was a pin style. Was great on those cant see bellhousing bolts using a well worn impact swivel socket. Sure beats chasing that socket down when you fling it off with the friction ring...