Thanks for the feedback and personal experiences. Good to see some positive comments on the HF sockets. What I'm looking for won't be used every day. I'll put HF/Pittsburgh, Tekton and Sunex on the list. Anyone of these brands will probably be more than enough.
In my early years of working on cars (mid 70's), I learned not to use "cheap" socket sets. From what I remember, I paid about $5.00 (in the 70's) for a 40-piece socket set. I twisted two 3/8" extensions like a Tootsie roll, and honed out a handful of sockets. From that point, I was willing to spend the money for something that worked.
For a home gamer there's not much reason to go anywhere other than Harbor Fraught for the impact sockets. I have some HF, some OG Craftsman, and a few Snap-On. Not much difference between any of them and I've never broken one. I've never heard of anyone breaking an impact socket, ever.
I'm a fairly serious home gamer. I'm fine with the HF impacts that I use. I also use them as seal and bearing drivers all the time. If you are going to hammer on a socket, make it an impact socket. Even if you don't break the chrome one you might flake off a piece of that razor-sharp chrome and the only way you'll find it is by slicing your finger down to the bone!
Many years ago, I used a manual impact wrench (1/2") to loosen a head bolt. This was a Craftsman 5/8" socket. It cracked the chrome, which eventually flaked off. Ended up having to sand down the socket to avoid the slice. I later learned not to "impact" any non-impact chrome sockets.
No, they were Pittsburgh but, slightly more expensive sets that came in a blow molded cases. They don't get used daily but, the do see a lot use use on old farm equipment. One thing I have learned is most times for removing rusted bolts a 36" breaker bar, if you have the space to use it, is more effective than a impact gun.
Thanks. I'll look for these.
