how is it that the cman pros and are held in pretty good regard but the sk gets trashed? it is a well known fact that the early cman and sk were one and the same wrench. there is actually very little differense from the old cman pro to the new danaher wrench. forget all the bs that some muddy the water with. you may hate the ones that someone else loves for no other reason than the size or shape of your hand. buy what you like after holding a few differant ones in your hand. some also like or dislike a particular wrench because of the type of work they do, wich may or may not even relate to what you do. good luck.
Opinions on Craftsman Pro Wrenches?
- Thread starter Joe H
- Start date
Mickey O
Well-known member
Bonney doesn't make the top ten list?
I used the Craftsman raised panels wrenches (20 something year old ones) for years on industrial work (repairing Quincy compressors and heavy machinery), they were fine. Never broke a Craftsman wrench, broke plenty of their ratchets, sockets and especially breaker bars. The best thing about Craftsman is being able to exchange them at any Sears store (they even covered my old Power Kraft tools). I also had Armstrong and loved them. The funny thing is I lived next door to a Snap On dealer who would have given me great deals, I probably should have gotten Snap On, I have some and they are very nice tools.
Now I have mostly Bonney and Mac, some Armstrong, Craftsman and older full polish S-K and a bunch of loose USA misc.
I heard that the Craftsman Pros were Armstrong wrenches, I saw them at Sears recently and they looked and felt nice, does anyone know?
I used the Craftsman raised panels wrenches (20 something year old ones) for years on industrial work (repairing Quincy compressors and heavy machinery), they were fine. Never broke a Craftsman wrench, broke plenty of their ratchets, sockets and especially breaker bars. The best thing about Craftsman is being able to exchange them at any Sears store (they even covered my old Power Kraft tools). I also had Armstrong and loved them. The funny thing is I lived next door to a Snap On dealer who would have given me great deals, I probably should have gotten Snap On, I have some and they are very nice tools.
Now I have mostly Bonney and Mac, some Armstrong, Craftsman and older full polish S-K and a bunch of loose USA misc.
I heard that the Craftsman Pros were Armstrong wrenches, I saw them at Sears recently and they looked and felt nice, does anyone know?
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
shame ain't it.........
all of the wrenches made by danaher are made in the same plant with QUESTIONABLE differences. that incudes armstrong, cman pro's and matco.
a danaher employee posted that a while back (i added the questionable because he wouldn't say what the differeces are, he only added that the finish was).
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't think anyone is trashing SK. I own lots of SK tools but, I personally don't like the balance, heft, and wide hips around the boxed end that SK wrenches have but, that's just me. Warranty service for me would be though the mail as there aren't any SK dealers in my area. It's been at least 10 years since SK made the long pro wrenches for Craftsman.
The are many excellent brands of wrenches out. However, many like Bonney are no longer made. Yeah, you find them on Ebay, at flea markets, and at garage sales but, if you need to your set to grow or a replacement wrench, those aren't really viable or dependable options for future purchases.
Buy and use the wrench that you like and meets your needs.
Mickey O
Well-known member
They're on my top ten list, at the top. I've got a few sets (need 6 point 14mm combo long), I'll take some pics when I get them unburied (in the process of moving and cleaning my tools.
One of those, either Craftsman or Armstrong, maybe both used to made here in Illinois (I did work in the plant), not sure if they still are.
On a side note I used to work right behind the Klein foundry (right next door to the Fel Pro manufacturing plant) and used to get great deals on their tools and warranty was a snap. Many of their tools are still made in the suburbs of Chicago.
wildman1
Well-known member
Buy and use the wrench that you like and meets your needs.
AMEN!
I have used Craftsman raised panel wrenches since I was a kid on farm equipment & to dismantle '40s - '70s vehicles for parts (I'm in Ohio - read RUST).
I have NEVER broken a wrench - as someone else said, I use the box end of a combination wrench to loosen a rusty fastener, not the open end. I have even (HORROR) hammered on a wrench end to loosen a fastener that I could not access with a socket.
Sure, I would love to have a box full of Snap-on tools, but you know what - when I was a kid they were too expensive (I always paid cash when buying tools), and unless I get a screaming deal on used, I still don't buy them.
I can still get the job done with what I have, and the net result is the same, regardless of the name on the tool.
No one should fell that they are at a disadvantage if they have Craftsman tools.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
number two only to snap on on mine.
i'd bet the older Cman pro's since SK is located in McCook. the newer wrenches are made by danaher and thier wrench plant is located in arkansas. if you worked at the plant you would remember the companies name...............it should have been printed on your paycheck
Got a set of C-man Pros on sale some years back and like them fine, but they're not my first choice in the garage. Being old school, I use open ends & box wrenches. They're all C-man raised panel, an issue I never gave much thought till I started reading threads like this one. I'm not a pro, but my much maligned stuff hasn't let me down yet.
rhastings80
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2009
- Messages
- 636
All of the Grainger's I been to in Minnesota don't have any Armstrong or Proto on display. They have a little Proto in stock but every time I want something they have to order it. I don't even bother going in person. I just order via the web and then don't have to wait in line either. Something to be said about saving time.
http://www.drillspot.com/ has good deals on some Proto stuff. Otherwise you can't beat Ebay.
orange02ss
Well-known member
Nobody has mentioned Wright? I actually prefer the Wright wrenches over the rest, I have the snap ons, the CM raised panels, some SK etc... The wrights are really comfortable and are on par if not better than the snap on,s. You can find them at a good price (not as cheap as the CM pro's but not too bad) American made, American steel!
Mickey O
Well-known member
number two only to snap on on mine.
i'd bet the older Cman pro's since SK is located in McCook. the newer wrenches are made by danaher and thier wrench plant is located in arkansas. if you worked at the plant you would remember the companies name...............it should have been printed on your paycheck
I didn't work directly for them, I worked for Trammel Crow, we had the maintenance contract for the building, I was only in there a few times, although I should remember the name, getting old.
Last edited:
rhastings80
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2009
- Messages
- 636
I don't think anyone is trashing SK. I own lots of SK tools but, I personally don't like the balance, heft, and wide hips around the boxed end that SK wrenches have but, that's just me. Warranty service for me would be though the mail as there aren't any SK dealers in my area. It's been at least 10 years since SK made the long pro wrenches for Craftsman.
The are many excellent brands of wrenches out. However, many like Bonney are no longer made. Yeah, you find them on Ebay, at flea markets, and at garage sales but, if you need to your set to grow or a replacement wrench, those aren't really viable or dependable options for future purchases.
Buy and use the wrench that you like and meets your needs.
Another think to keep in mind is I believe that all of the Union SK workers have been on strike for two months or so. I contacted SK twice for warranty stuff and both times it was a very long wait as they don't have much left in stock. Also makes me wonder how much longer they will be around.
Also what's interesting is how cheap or good deals you can get on SK now. Wonder if SK is trying to raise some money:
Here are a couple of great deals:
http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-94549.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAOQVC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CUUNAY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
mrshaun
Well-known member
Do the matco wrenches look real similar to the c pro wrenches?
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
IIRC fedwrench posted pics a while back........similar but not the same.
supertooljunkie
Well-known member
I have both the SO and C-man Pro in metric sizes. I use the SO out of my box and the C-man on road trips. I have no problem with the C-man Pro. I have never broken one or rounded a bolt or nut with one.
I don't work in a shop right now, so if I had a warrenty issue with my SO's I have to find my tool guy. If I have issues with the C-mans there are three Sears stores within 10-15 miles of me.
IMHO buy the best you can to get started and work up the what you feel you need. You see many truck tools for sale by students that spent the big cash only to drop out and take a hit when they sell.
I don't work in a shop right now, so if I had a warrenty issue with my SO's I have to find my tool guy. If I have issues with the C-mans there are three Sears stores within 10-15 miles of me.
IMHO buy the best you can to get started and work up the what you feel you need. You see many truck tools for sale by students that spent the big cash only to drop out and take a hit when they sell.
Mickey O
Well-known member
That's just great, I can't get Bonney's any more, Craftsman is going Chinese and now S-K, that just about cover all of my tools. I guess there is something to be said about the truck tools stil being around, although I do have some broken Vulcan tools.
Or you can buy used ones on crags list near retail, $200 firm: http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/tls/1446168182.html
stock z/28
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2006
- Messages
- 298
I have.
Snap On
Mac
Matco
SK
Kobalt (original style)
Armstrong
Williams
Napa
Proto
Craftsman
And a bunch of others, and I would have to say that the in my opinion the Pro Craftsman combinations are a great value. They are pretty thin in the box area, and I don't think I have ever had an instance where one would not fit a fastener because of that. I like them a lot.
Jeff
Snap On
Mac
Matco
SK
Kobalt (original style)
Armstrong
Williams
Napa
Proto
Craftsman
And a bunch of others, and I would have to say that the in my opinion the Pro Craftsman combinations are a great value. They are pretty thin in the box area, and I don't think I have ever had an instance where one would not fit a fastener because of that. I like them a lot.
Jeff
street131
Well-known member
Whats wrong with the craftsman raised panel wrenches that they arent any good? I know i dont use mine as much as a professional mechanic. i do use them very often and i bang the hell out of them with a handheld sludge hammer because i dont have a impact. I havent broke one yet. I cant really afford something as expensive as armstrong and i have found craftsman to be pretty good.
back2class
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,723
I like mine fine too. If there is any diefference I have not seen it. Stands to reason that they are good wrenches and I would not be suprised if they are strenght wise as good as some truck brands.
Stick Figure
Well-known member
My two problems are comfort.... this is something you really won't notice until you use a variety of other wrenches. Second problem is the open end spread. You can't always use the box end to break a bolt loose, and the craftsman will spread open easier than some of the other options.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
Craftsman Pros are/were SK wrenches.
they have been made by danaher since the late 90's IIRC. i have a set of the SK made stubbies labled for Cman i bought in 95, when i lost one a couple of years later it was replaced with a danaher made one.
cruiser808
Well-known member
They were in the early to mid-90's. After that, Danaher supplied them to Sears.
cruiser808
Well-known member
Krusty - I have the sae and metric stubbies from that era. One of the best tool purchases I ever made. These little guys have pulled me out of many a tight situation.
street131
Well-known member
ok stick figure, you made a pretty good point because ive NEVER used my craftsman open end to break a nut look, i always use the closed end, so im not sure how that would stand up.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
Krusty - I have the sae and metric stubbies from that era. One of the best tool purchases I ever made. These little guys have pulled me out of many a tight situation.
yep........and for $39.95 AND us made i couldn't justify buying snap ons
cruiser808
Well-known member
yep........and for $39.95 AND us made i couldn't justify buying snap ons
+1 on that!
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
personally i'd spend $400 on US made wrenches before i'd pay $40 for imports. i believe that's why the Cman pro's are being discussed here.........US made AND competitive prices
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't know why you're disappointed. This thread started off wanting opinions on Craftsman Pro wrenches. Toptul isn't in the subject area. I have Toptul wrenches hell, I have wrenches from most major brands. You can start a new thread asking for opinions on Toptul wrenches if you want. I think their quality has been discussed in the separate Toptul review thread.
pjcforpres2020
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2009
- Messages
- 262
C-Man Pro's are a great wrench at a great value! I have a set of the line wrenches, my brother has both combo's and lines, his have seen professional industrial use with no problems... heck his raised panel serve him just fine as well, although not as comfortable.
Really take a hard look at the cross-force ones, they are some of, if no the most comfortable wrench I have ever used, guy at my shop has a set, and while there are occasions they don't fit, it is very few and far between.
Really take a hard look at the cross-force ones, they are some of, if no the most comfortable wrench I have ever used, guy at my shop has a set, and while there are occasions they don't fit, it is very few and far between.
WSMC633
Well-known member
I've posted countless times re: my satisfaction with my Toptul Combo Wrenches. They sit in the drawer right next to all of my of SO. However that's not what this thread was about. The guy was asking about CMAN pros. It was bound to turn into a CMAN vs. Other USA brands. No need to turn it into a USA Vs. Import thread as well.
I have a MM set of the Pro's. Overall OK tools, definitely nicer than the current raised panel ones. They probably are not as nice as a full-polish/raised panel Craftsman stubby set I purchased years ago. I'd say those are every bit the equal of my SO stubby set. Maybe they were a pre-pro product?
CamarosRus
Well-known member
I've deleted my original post.................
and please accept my apology for expressing my thoughts in this thread !!!!!!!!
and please accept my apology for expressing my thoughts in this thread !!!!!!!!
9GUY9
Well-known member
i have c man Pro's. I really like the shape and how they feel in my hand. I use them professionally every day working on old and rusty vehicles. In the 3 plus years I have owned them I have never had to warranty one. I would have a hard time justifying the price of truck wrenches.
For what its worth, the other two techs I work with use regular raised panel craftsman's and have been getting by just fine doing so for over 40 combine years.
For what its worth, the other two techs I work with use regular raised panel craftsman's and have been getting by just fine doing so for over 40 combine years.
Merkava_4
Banned
Russel,
I'm used to you piggy backing your agendas onto other people's threads; no offense taken here.
Actually the combination wrenches come out of Arkansas, ratcheting wrenches come out of Texas. But yes regardless, Armstrong does come out of the same plant.
Stick Figure
Well-known member
i got by years w/out doing it, then came the day that i had a POS designed exhaust manifold by an aftermarket company, and the only way to try and get the lock nut off was w/ an open end wrench. My craftsman spread right open and slipped... then it was off to try and struggle w/ an air chisel. That was enough for me. Now i only keep a set at home, soon to be replaced and one set at work as back ups.
To put it simply, you should buy what you can afford. Out of the brands you can afford what do you (key word) like. Honestly, If I have learned one thing on this forum, it is that everyone can, and will have an opinion, but at the end of the day it is you who has to decide what you want.
Go feel some brands you can afford, and pick one.
That being said, remember one thing. There is no right or wrong when it comes to picking a tool that will make you happy.
Go feel some brands you can afford, and pick one.
That being said, remember one thing. There is no right or wrong when it comes to picking a tool that will make you happy.
OK: So I have read countless times on the forum that the SK Cman Pro wrenches were top quality and, from what I can tell, preferred over the danaher version.
Are the patterns the same as far as beam width / length go?
Where they identical to SKs wrenches?
Does anyone have pictures they can supply of the SK version and the danaher version side by side?
Can anyone supply part numbers of the SK versions vs. the Danaher versions for the long and short pattern?
Are the patterns the same as far as beam width / length go?
Where they identical to SKs wrenches?
Does anyone have pictures they can supply of the SK version and the danaher version side by side?
Can anyone supply part numbers of the SK versions vs. the Danaher versions for the long and short pattern?
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
in order.......
no the SK are wider at the ends......
yes........
IIRC the catalog numbers are the same.....