Safety First

Have you ever chucked a chrome-plated socket into an impact gun or cordless impact driver to tighten a nut or drive a handful of lag screws? You’re living dangerously if you do this. Chrome-plated sockets should never be used with an impact driver. Regular chrome-plated sockets can crack or shatter and send pieces flying.

Use only impact-rated sockets for impact guns, and impact-rated sockets or nut drivers for smaller cordless impact drivers. They’re specially hardened and much less likely to shatter during use.

Plus: Learn how to choose the best impact driver for your needs.

Use an Impact Driver When You Can

Stuck Fasteners Can Bite You

Lock on to Wrecked Heads

Pound a Combo Wrench

Pipe Wrenches Aren’t Just For Pipes

Sacrificing a Tool

Heat is the Last Resort

Whack Stuck Wheels

Don’t Mess Around—Cut It Off!

Try an Impact Driver

Drill Out Rivets

Stuck Receiver Hitches

Cheater Bar

Start With a Rust Penetrant

Then Hit It With a Hammer

Try a Socket on Your Air Chisel

Mangled Slot, Solution 1

Mangled Slot, Solution 2

Split a Nut

A Screw Extractor