which craftsman tool set to buy

[NC-Fordguy]

I intentionally abused my Craftsman RP ratchet - put a pipe on it and tried to take a lug nut off I had just torqued to 80 ft-lbs. It broke (the ratchet). For light duty stuff they are great. In fact I put wheel bearing grease in them and they are so light you can easily get stuff on and off. You probably can't do 80 ft-lbs with your bear hands on a ratchet the size of the Craftsman RP so it's not a big deal but it's unfortunate you can't reef on it. I wish Sears sold upgraded internals for their ratchets, I'd gladly pay $10-$15 for a nice hardened gear set that was made in the USA (another lost opp for Sears).

I hope my thin profiles never break because I really like them, and they are USA made.

I have rp ratchets going back to the 1950s through to the modern day stuff. I've broke 2 or 3 of them over the years. Mostly the newer ones with the plastic reversing lever. They like to get caught in fan blades

The older ones (pre-danaher) are gold...never broke one of those

Should you ever break one of the thin profiles, the taiwan made ones are just as good. If you're one of the coo issue types, get a rebuild kit for it or ask that yours gets rebuilt.

 

[themiller]

kudos to the OP. I started many years ago with a ~100 piece craftsman set and (a few replacement parts later) it still is my go-to set as a hobbyist. Only time I ever break parts is when I do things I shouldn't with them.

 

[pipsters]

I have rp ratchets going back to the 1950s through to the modern day stuff. I've broke 2 or 3 of them over the years. Mostly the newer ones with the plastic reversing lever. They like to get caught in fan blades

The older ones (pre-danaher) are gold...never broke one of those

Should you ever break one of the thin profiles, the taiwan made ones are just as good. If you're one of the coo issue types, get a rebuild kit for it or ask that yours gets rebuilt.

I have two RP ratchets, a 1/2" and a 3/8", with oil holes. I don't know how old they are but my guess is old enough to be decent. I got them at an estate sale.

I am a COO type guy. Well I am when I buy a US tool, I don't want it replaced with an import. Otherwise I buy an import (have no problem with them, there are some really excellent imported tools that are better than US production IMO). Do you know if the imported gear will fit into the US ratchet? If so that makes me feel better. If I could buy some I would as well, but unfortunately Sears does not offer them for sale.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have two RP ratchets, a 1/2" and a 3/8", with oil holes. I don't know how old they are but my guess is old enough to be decent. I got them at an estate sale.

I am a COO type guy. Well I am when I buy a US tool, I don't want it replaced with an import. Otherwise I buy an import (have no problem with them, there are some really excellent imported tools that are better than US production IMO). Do you know if the imported gear will fit into the US ratchet? If so that makes me feel better. If I could buy some I would as well, but unfortunately Sears does not offer them for sale.

I have to look into it for positive confirmation, but I think they are the same.

From what I read on sears intranet the gears on the rp domestic and as the call it "asian" differ. Somebody here IIRC posted they were the same

Have you looked at sears part direct if rebuild kits are available for the thin profile? I know the nearby sears PMT has them hanging near his work bench

 

[turbodave]

I've got the Craftsman 255 piece mechanics set with the plastic case. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-255-...p-00935255000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

Had this for about 5 years now and it's been a great set to throw in the truck and have with me on the road, at the junkyard, or up at my barn. I use it quite often around home too. I added a set of pliers and screwdrivers to the box and I'm usually good with it for most automotive and household mechanical repairs.

My brother in law and a a good friend of mine also bought the same set (I think they were on sale for $169 when we got them) and both are happy with it also.

 

[stoveboltgunnut]

I appreciate everyone's input! This thread really took off though...lol. I bought the kid a 309 piece set. I'll put some extras in there for him too though. If anyone is interested, the 309 piece set is on sale for $212.48.

It was a good enough price that I bought a set for myself!

I'll throw it in the truck for a road set. Everything but the ratcheting wrenches are made in the US.

 

[KinzeMech]

This http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-dr...00930792000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=34&blockType=G34 is a good box for making a set like that portable. Great for when you gotta throw some tools in the trunk to run out on a job, or a trip to the pick-a-part, or what have you.

 

[LB-1911]

Great Job taking care of the nephew and getting him started with some tools.

In the event there is an issue with the contents, call the 1-800 number on the Parts List.

 

[Catamount]

I agree that the $30 blow molded case above is worth it's weight in gold. It'll organize your entire set and you won't be fishing through 120 sockets when you're trying to find the exact one you need. There is a place for each ratchet, each socket, etc.

It's worth $30 all day! Get it now!

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-drawer-tool-storage-box/p-00930792000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=34&blockType=G34&sid=I0084400010000100600&aff=Y

 

[pipsters]

I agree that the $30 blow molded case above is worth it's weight in gold. It'll organize your entire set and you won't be fishing through 120 sockets when you're trying to find the exact one you need. There is a place for each ratchet, each socket, etc.

It's worth $30 all day! Get it now!

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-drawer-tool-storage-box/p-00930792000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=34&blockType=G34&sid=I0084400010000100600&aff=Y

I have a similar case for my 263 pc set, and I agree it's well worth it.

 

[shoturtle]

Go largest you can afford, there is a place for both 12pt and 6pt. While the ratchets are not great, they work. When you can replace them with a fine tooth set. For the money, the craftsman thin profiles are nice, but the kolbalt low profile is a bit nice. Af if you are concern about coo, I would get the craftsman premium ratchet. That is a nice 84th, and pretty low profile.

 

[VANAMAL]

Ive been phasing out the craftsman tools and replacing them with snap on. Mostly ebay. A ratchet here and a socket set there. A couple years later you have nice tools

 

[shoturtle]

I have a similar case for my 263 pc set, and I agree it's well worth it.

I have it, it is also nice if you are working with 3/8dr out side, you can take the whole 3/8 tray with you.

 

[KinzeMech]

A neat thing about a set like the one he got (especially if you get the plastic case) is, even if later on, down the road, those tools are replaced with snap on, or something else, those tools still have use. A set to keep in the toolbox of the truck or the trunk of the car, or a set to have at home for basic things (who among us really likes hauling tools from work to home, and back again?)

 

[KinzeMech]

Yeah, I know I'm bumping an old thread, but it was the only way I could find back the link to the plastic case. 10 minutes searching sears website did not turn it up, but the direct link still works.

I just got one of these 309 pc sets on sale @ 199. Dad liked it so much he said to get him one too, IF I could find the plastic case to go with it. I'm actually quite relieved now when I go to work on his stuff I won't have to drag mine along.

 

[TwoInch]

not sure the 309 was offered in a plastic case like some of the others.

 

[KinzeMech]

It's not. You have to buy it separate and put the two together. It's almost a perfect fit. A few empty spots, and a few homeless sockets...

I could find the toolset just fine, but searching and searching sears website was not producing a hit on that plastic toolbox, yet the direct link shows it's still there. Go figure, not the first time their website has been screwy.

 

[KinzeMech]

I just ordered another one, and the plastic toolbox, to make a set for my Dad.

They changed the damned plastic box. It holds about half as many sockets now as the last time I bought one of them.

 

[jd_1138]

kudos to the OP. I started many years ago with a ~100 piece craftsman set and (a few replacement parts later) it still is my go-to set as a hobbyist. Only time I ever break parts is when I do things I shouldn't with them.

Amen.....I wish my uncle had bought me a huge set of Craftsman tools. I didn't start buying tools until I was in my 20's. I should've bought a huge honking big set to save money, but I just bought smaller Craftsman sets here and there. My main set was like a 95 piece Mechanic's set, and then I bought a screwdriver set, socket set, etc.. Then i realized half of what I had was too small to be of any use, so I bought sets of larger sizes.

 

[KinzeMech]

My day is just getting worse.

Last saturday I bought one of the 309 pc sets online, for in store pickup. I got it, and it was all USA except for the ratchet wrenches, as expected. I wanted to hurry up and get these while they were still USA made.

The second set I ordered for delivery came today, and it has import sockets in it. They look like ****.