Are craftsman made in USA impact sockets always CR-MO?

[Goldhawg]

I recently got a complete set of grey pneumatic 3/8 impact sockets, but came across a pretty good deal on a complete set of deep/std metric & SAE 1/2 craftsman impacts. They are made in the USA, but owner says don't have any CR-MO markings. If they are CR-Vanadium I'll just wait till I can afford the grey pneumatics; but if they are all the CR-MO I'll snag these.

Plz advise for those in the know. Amazing its not listed on the features of the socket sets that Sears is selling right now (that I could find).

Thx!

 

[Goldhawg]

Bump for answer. Need to buy today if they are CR-MO, but don't want otherwise.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

yes they should be made in the us. Im not sure about what metallurgy they are made of but they should be fine.

I was thining about picking up a set because they are currently 10 dollars off thru the 15th

Good luck
Sean Scott

 

[Goldhawg]

Thx. Still looking for the answer: are they CR-MO or can they be CR Vanadium? If both, are there markings which show the difference? Since I think Craftsman brand will be gone in 5 years w/pathetic mgmt of sears, the lifetime warranty doesn't appeal as much. Want to know I'm likely to never need to use it!

 

[woody 73]

You might not like this answer but even if they were made out of tissue paper and they would fall apart tomorrow, then sears would replace it the same day.

I have craftsman impact sockets that have been going strong for years now without any problems. Now don't get me wrong I also have grey sockets and they are also very nice but if they break then getting a replacement will not happen overnight like the Craftsman socket.

Been there done that.

 

[pipsters]

Craftsman and Armstrong sockets are identical. Here is the Armstrong impact socket page:

http://www.armstrongtools.com/ECommerce/Category.aspx

It just says high alloy steel. I assume it's not CR-V. It might not even be CR-MO. It might be a combination. Who knows. Either way the Craftsman impacts I have are great. Tight fit, and little wear showing, better than my SKs. I don't use them every day but mechanics on here who do say they've used them for years with no issues.

 

[Deafautotech]

i dont know what kind of material but my tech friend has set of craftsman impact sockets that has been abuses for many years like 10 to 20 years even i just got a "vintage" craftsman impact socket and still strong...

 

[Goldhawg]

OK, if the guy calls back I'll buy them. I'll pay less than new HF Cr-MO, and get made in USA. Thx for your inputs. Sounds like I can't go wrong w/them.

 

[thesilverone]

Definitely cant go wrong. They're the same as Armstrong and Matco.

 

[craftsman47]

Definitely cant go wrong. They're the same as Armstrong and Matco.

I have been wondering this for a while
the material.

I sent an email....feel free to do the same.

http://www.armstrongtools.com/contact-us

 

[shoggoth80]

If they are the same as Armstrong impacts... buy with confidence. I've got the Armstrongs, and they've done me well so far. I'll go check the material stamping (if any) and post back?

Edit: There aren't any stamps regarding metallurgy on them. It wasn't something I was overly worried about when I bought them, and it's still not something I'd lose any sleep over.

 

[craftsman47]

I have NEVER cracked a CRAFTSMAN usa impact socket.

In fact, the newer ones look really nice. they have that radiused edge (flank drive) and always had the warranty if needed. The DEEPS are THIN wall....and that has advantages-----as long as it remains tough.

the never China stuff (impact) looks similar, but a glossy finish. Who knows what the material is.........


I would say 70% of my sockets are Craftsman USA and I may have cracked 1-2 sockets in 20 plus years.......

never a impact.

Been reading alot about impact sockets since I bought that monster Milwaukee 1/2 impact and also upgraded to a Aircat impact last year.

I used to run the IR Thunder gun, which was Badd ***, but too loud in the "residential setting" that I wrench in anymore...LOL

If they are the same as Armstrong impacts... buy with confidence. I've got the Armstrongs, and they've done me well so far. I'll go check the material stamping (if any) and post back?

Edit: There aren't any stamps regarding metallurgy on them. It wasn't something I was overly worried about when I bought them, and it's still not something I'd lose any sleep over.

 

[Fugio]

Craftsman and Armstrong sockets are identical. Here is the Armstrong impact socket page:

http://www.armstrongtools.com/ECommerce/Category.aspx

It just says high alloy steel. I assume it's not CR-V. It might not even be CR-MO. It might be a combination. Who knows. Either way the Craftsman impacts I have are great. Tight fit, and little wear showing, better than my SKs. I don't use them every day but mechanics on here who do say they've used them for years with no issues.

"Alloy Steel" could certainly mean cr-mo. Look at grade 80 (and higher) chain and you'll see it says allow steel, when in fact it does contain cr-mo.Because of it's high strength and greater elasticity, it would be a great material for impact sockets indeed!

 

[GSteg]

"alloy steel" is a very generic term. Both CR-Mo and CR-V are examples of alloy steel.


I have a USA made Craftsman impact socket made within the last 10 years and it's CR-Mo.

 

[90zcar]

Who cares....craftsman impact sockets have always been decent. I bought a shallow set of metric 1/2" ones 2 or 3 years ago and they are NOT made in USA EITHER. I think they are China or Taiwan.
The finish and fit tho are amazing and I love how big and deep the numbers are stamped into the sockets. I would have no problem buying these again. I'll post pics then.
They don't say if they are crmo or crv but it doesn't matter to me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lilcraigford]

...Either way the Craftsman impacts I have are great. Tight fit, and little wear showing, better than my SKs. I don't use them every day but mechanics on here who do say they've used them for years with no issues.

That is good to know! SKs are among my top choices for impacts if I buy new. I'll have to keep an eye out for Armstrong/Craftsman on the used market. I use impacts so infrequently I doubt I'll break either!

 

[1950mercury]

I have a 1/2 sae set still in the plastic case and it doesn't say what they are. I did notice that the 3/4 is stamped wrong, its stamped on top and the rest are stamped on the bottom

 

[Fedwrench]

You ever notice that US made tools hardly ever have what kind of steel it's made from stamped on it?

Whereas, the cheapest imported set will be stamped CR-V.

 

[Skin]

You ever notice that US made tools hardly ever have what kind of steel it's made from stamped on it?

Whereas, the cheapest imported set will be stamped CR-V.

I think this is more of a byproduct of what they're trying to copy and the Asians love to copy German tools for whatever reason and the Germans do stamp CR-V and Vanadium into their stuff.

I said this recently in another thread but you can make good impact tools out of either CR-V or CR-MO, really comes down to the metal quality since both are fairly generic types of steel. Point is you can have really good CR-V impacts and really poor CR-MO impacts and vice-versa.

 

[craftsman47]

NO RESPONSE from ARMSTRONG.

I guess they dont wish to disclose.

 

[MDK22]

I have a set of USA Craftsman impacts bought that master set they had in 2012. Let me put it this way I used a SO swivel maybe 4 times and it looked like my Craftsman after 2+ yrs. They are incredible. Almost all my stuff is stamped GK which relates to the plant it was forged in. Only socket that is not right out of the set is the 11mm because I lost it and replaced it with a Expert one.

Whatever you do though inspect the sets for dupes or missing sockets from the packaging they are bad about that. When I bought the chrome master set it had a bunch of dupes and missing sockets and 2 6pts instead of 1 6pt and 1 12pt.

Something to note about them that is rare if not seen any more is the tapered tip on the 10mm 3/8" Drive and a bunch of the 1/2" drive. It has helped me for getting into tight places where Matco and SO impacts would never have fit. GP do though .