Craftsman not so successful innovations...

[Major Ramifications]

I have a set of the sockets with the knurled band on them. I used them quite a bit working on cars when I was growing up. Sometimes, the band got in the way, but usually it was sweet to have it for running things down by hand. Also, they did not roll off of the inner fenderwell or wherever I placed them. Another good feature was the easy-to-read size markings on these. After a while, the bands slipped off of the most used sockets, and I retired that set to "trunk box" status. The extensions with those knurled bands were really good for running things down.

 

[Old Donn]

I'll have to dig up the part # or pics.
Craftsman discontinued a line of "E-Z?" combo wrenches with a small notch on the opened end of the wrench- You could reposition the wrench without lifting it off of the fastner.

Edit:
Here is a pic of the Quick Wrenches

Had a metric & fractional set of Quick Wrenches like the ones pictured, used the 11/16" once. Gave them to one of the kids. FYI, Sears has a new variation of this wrench. The notch now has a spring loaded tab in it. Shiny full polish and, made in PRC.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

i like mine too....not the first pliers i go for but they have their place....i know not to use them on something i don't want buggared up.....

I use my Robo-grips all of the time- Even bought extra jaw protectors on clearance.

 

[Aberdale]

Sadly true. People like us that actually care are fast becoming dinosaurs. I buy US tools whenever I get the chance.

I buy the junk when I have to, but every time I do, I die a little.

Just call me Tyrannasaurus Rex . . . I still buy Craftsman tools at Sears, and I do care about the quality. The only HF tools I own are the composite handled ratchets. (I bought them recently based on recommendations from the HF Pass/fail thread.) But most of my Cman tools are the go-tos, even more so than my SOs.

Back onto the thread topic . . . the Robogrips are the worst Cman tool I've ever used. I've never tried their "one size fits all" wrench solutions, but the three or four that I've seen look pretty poor.

I don't know if anyone remembers the EZ-Cut pliers. I use them for hoses, plastic, and gaskets. They are a bit gimmicky, but work pretty well if your wife doesn't try to cut piano wire with them . . .

Dale

 

[TireTracks]

Just call me Tyrannasaurus Rex . . . I still buy Craftsman tools at Sears, and I do care about the quality. The only HF tools I own are the composite handled ratchets. (I bought them recently based on recommendations from the HF Pass/fail thread.) But most of my Cman tools are the go-tos, even more so than my SOs.

Back onto the thread topic . . . the Robogrips are the worst Cman tool I've ever used. I've never tried their "one size fits all" wrench solutions, but the three or four that I've seen look pretty poor.

I don't know if anyone remembers the EZ-Cut pliers. I use them for hoses, plastic, and gaskets. They are a bit gimmicky, but work pretty well if your wife doesn't try to cut piano wire with them . . .

Dale

The ones with a razer blade type blade? my dad has one of those, worked great for cutting wires, hoses, radator hoses, etc. We just bust a box cutter blade to the right size and stick it in when it needs a new blade.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Ive got a set of 2 open ended, black, rubber handle, adjustable "ratcheting" wrenches.
one is large, the other is smaller. Supposedly the harder you pull, the harder it grabs. Then you can ratchet it instead of taking it off the bolt and putting it back on again. I only used it once, and it didnt work very well in a tight place. I threw it back in the box and used a regular wrench. I dont remember the name. Its colors are similar to the robo grip.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I do not have any of the old "no roll" plastic band sockets, nor did I ever want any! The band makes them too bulky for many tight quarters applications. Robo Grips? Please Lord no! The Extreme Grips are a gimmick that will go away like the "E-Z combo's referrenced above. The Crossforce will also just fade away in a coule of years. BTW, that gosh awful wired for sound plastic gimmick roll cab setup just introduced this year will go away as well in a year or so. For those that remember 2-3 years back sears also tried to sell an L shaped tubular wrench that had a socket on both ends and had holes that would accomodate long threaded rods or the like at the corner intersection of the L, does anyone but me remember them? In the mid to late 1980's Sears best ratchet was made of stainless steel! lasted 3-4 years then ****... gone like a fart in the wind! Of the tools mentioned above I have the mid deeps in both standard and metric, good stuff, I never regretted buying them. Snap-on used to sell the mid-deeps as well. I have no idea if they still do or not.

The tubular wrenches were from Facom. Sears started selling them when they started selling SK, as SK was then a division of Facom.

 

[Mazz]

As dumb as the people running Sears seem to be, I think even they realize that one of the biggest selling points for C-man is that so many of their hand tools are USA made.

Coach

Went to the major Sears store in my area today. You should go and look at the new wrenches... Craftsman on one side, Made in China on the other. Sad but true.

 

[plumbstupid]

I worked in the Danaher plant in Springdale, Arkansas for 10 years. They still make craftsman wrenchs and they are made on the same machines that make Matco,Allen,KD and Armstrong. They don't hot forge as much of their stuff anymore. I believe now everthing under an inch is cold-formed.

I was there when they developed the Quick-wrench and sold the idea to sears. The gear wrench was also developed there.

They had company tool sales and sold every size wrench for 25 cents each. That's not bad for Matco.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I think that they need to bring the old 90's Quick Wrenches back! Those things are the greatest tool ever invented for some of the aftermarket hydraulic fittings that show up from time to time.

 

[Capri driver]

I bought a couple of the Craftsman flat Stainless Steeel ratchets back in the day, and I really like them. I still use the 1/2" for nearly everything. I never had the 3/8" drive, but the 1/4" drive finally went bad 15 years ago.

I took it in for warranty and they tried to give me a cheap raised panel 1/4" as a replacement. I complained a little, and one of the other salesman came over and said that he remembered the SS were top of the line and that he would substitute the best one they currrently offered.

 

[tonydanzah]

I can see all of Craftsman (which is a brand name owned by Sears) not renewing their contract with Danaher and seeking a Chinese contractor for making the Craftsman line.

what a psychic

 

[Duker]

I have the stainless 1/2", 3/8", and 1/4" ratchets and sockets. I posted in another thread that I received a Husky polished set of wrenches for Christmas around 1993-94 and when I put them in my little tiny toolbox it made the rest of my tools look really pathetic so I went out and bought the best Sears had at the time which were these. Still kicking after all these years. I did however, buy the new (much maligned) quick release thin profile when it came out and while it may be lacking somewhat its comfortable to use.

However, I have spent way too much time on this site and I have become infected with the dreaded SO virus and this weekend I put in an order for a Dual 80 with comfort handle. I am afraid this disease may be life and budget threatening.

 

[otis66]

I remember Craftsman used to have anti-roll sockets. The sockets had a plastic band with a flat spot so the sockets wouldn't roll away on you. Anybody have those? What about the mid-length sockets from the not too distant past? I never saw the purpose of those. Can anyone recall any other items that used to be advertised but no longer sold? How about predictions for the future? I can see the Crossforce wrenches going away.

I still have one of these sockets 1 1/4". that plastic band ripped off after the first time I used it.