Craftsman Destructified

[nato]

All I was doing was attempting to remove the gear oil fill plug on the front diff. in a '00 Tundra. Aluminum plug, maybe an inch or so in diamter; seized inside an aluminum diff. case. Craftsman 10mm hex didn't have a chance!!!!

So, is S/O still the name in quality hex sockets????

 

[mkdive]

I guess the bright side is its covered under warranty. It damage the hex of the plug at all?

 

[arkangel06]

Better get a snap on

 

[stricht8]

Penetrating oil and an impact? I'm not so sure that a SO would even have a chance.

 

[tonydanzah]

At least it was a clean break, and no one was hurt. Unlike my 8mm, which help put a hole in my wrist.

<a href="http://s965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/?action=view&current=allen1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/tonydanzah_photos/allen1.jpg" border="0" alt="allen1"></a>

 

[MattT]

So, is S/O still the name in quality hex sockets????

I've been using SO hexes to swing on 12.9 capscrews for about 20 years and haven't snapped one yet or seen one snapped either. I have seen a few twisted. I reckon they'd either remove or destroy an Al plug without hurting the bit.

 

[Elroy]

At least it was a clean break, and no one was hurt. Unlike my 8mm, which help put a hole in my wrist.

These two failure modes are totally different. The first photo is a simple shear failure where your example that's broken on a 45 is a pure tension failure.

Take a piece of chalk and twist it. Chalk is weak in tension and fails on a 45 just like your example.

Shearing them off is easy compared to the tensile failure. Just ask Mohr

 

[tonydanzah]

So I should be excited?

 

[J.P.]

Craftsman hex bit sockets are junk. They want to round off and or break far to easily. I bought about fifteen 1/4 hex sockets in 3/8 drive because I use them all haying season to adjust set screws for swather guards. I went through three in an hour adjusting NEW set screws last summer. One twisted, one rounded off and a third broke. It took my father's fifteen year old Snap-On that had been used to death to finish the job. I'll never buy another one of those from Craftsman again, regardless of the warranty.

 

[MrMark]

The Craftsman are definitely weak, even the old ones from the 90's. I couldn't apply enough torque with the T40 to intake manifold bolts before the tips would twist. I had to switch to Snap on to apply the correct torque. I got tired of going to Sears for replacement. First Snap on tools I ever bought.

 

[Dust]

My Craftsman bit sockets tend to do what that 8mm did. I just warranty them out and keep going. Don't use them often enough to really invest in a high dollar set, plus it gives me an excuse to go to Sears.

 

[Mike83]

Tonight I rounded off a 6mm hex bit on a bike pedal. I'll get it warrantied tomorrow, but I'm seriously considering the step up to Snap-on. Luckily the pedal did not sustain much damage and there are also wrench flats as backup!

 

[BackTracker]

Use an impact if you can, I did this and the plug took out a pretty solid section of the transmission case. That wasn't cheap.

 

[Jack90210]

Wow. My Craftsman bits are 8-9 years old, and they must be constructed out of better materials than the ones made today. That's sad.

And after seeing so many horror stories here, I picked up a used SO set as "backup" -- just in case.

 

[Stick Figure]

i have a nice scar on my wrist from a 10mm craftsman hex. It would help if they didn't taper it down from 10mm to 8mm for the shank diameter. I would go Snap on, i have only broken the ball end off some of the smaller (5-6mm) sizes, and never even have the regular (non ball) show wear. Matcos seem to be okay but will wear more than the Snap on, and the ball ends round out pretty quick.

 

[d33pt]

Craftsman hex bit sockets are junk. They want to round off and or break far to easily. I bought about fifteen 1/4 hex sockets in 3/8 drive because I use them all haying season to adjust set screws for swather guards. I went through three in an hour adjusting NEW set screws last summer. One twisted, one rounded off and a third broke. It took my father's fifteen year old Snap-On that had been used to death to finish the job. I'll never buy another one of those from Craftsman again, regardless of the warranty.

damn i just bought a set of craftsman hex sockets and torx sockets today. should i return them? i just wanted to upgrade from the HF ones i've been using. can't be worse than that, can it?

 

[BackTracker]

damn i just bought a set of craftsman hex sockets and torx sockets today. should i return them? i just wanted to upgrade from the HF ones i've been using. can't be worse than that, can it?

no, no they can't. More over if you have been been getting by with HF the cmans should e just fine for you

 

[Merkava_4]

If autoace was here, he'd recommend you get a GearWrench hex bit socket.

 

[Kevin54]

Protos will do the same exact thing.

 

[nato]

lol, to those who suggested impact, it wouldn't fit. I strted 1st w/ a long 3/8 ratchet...then advance to my SF80 w/ impact adapter....boom!

I can't believe that some of your guys' breakages have caused injury! That's wild. But yeah, I do believe it'll be time to upgrade since I rounded off a Craftsman 6mm hex a couple days before.

 

[justinmc]

I've put some decent torque on my S/O's and never had any issues even in smaller sizes. I can't say I've used Craftsman but having held a few they seem more on par with a Harbor Freight set.

 

[Stick Figure]

I can't believe that some of your guys' breakages have caused injury!

Like i said when my 10mm broke once it was removing head bolts on a Nissan SR20DET engine. It uses a 6mm stud off of the cam bolts to hold the valve cover down. When the thing snapped my wrist caught one of those 6mm studs. Now i have a scar on my left wrist a little longer than an inch.

I still have the 10mm at home for emergency use, but have the snap on socket, and even a 1/4 drive snap on bit at work that i can bring home if i know i'm going to need them.

 

[nato]

In regards to stepping up to Snappy hex bits: I know probably the best idea is to buy the hex socket set that I need, BUT, what about using a regular 1/4" adapter that you can interchange any bit with and start using Snap On bits by themselves? Are these just strong as the complete hext bit socket?
Just curious before lenidng my wallet towards more high dollar tool purchases.

 

[stricht8]

How are the MAC hex sockets?

 

[MattT]

In regards to stepping up to Snappy hex bits: I know probably the best idea is to buy the hex socket set that I need, BUT, what about using a regular 1/4" adapter that you can interchange any bit with and start using Snap On bits by themselves? Are these just strong as the complete hext bit socket?

Good 1/4" hex bits are OK, but not as good as sq drive bits, up to 1/4". Beyond that the 1/4" hex is the weak link. 5/16" hex is also available but you run into the same problem past 5/16".

FWIW I wouldn't recommend buying a SO set because it'll likely include bits in the wrong drive size. My self assembled set is 1/4" up to 5mm, 6mm in 1/4" & 3/8", 7 & 8 3/8", 10mm in 3/8" & 1/2" then 1/2" only for 12mm and greater. You may not need that wide a range. I mostly posted it to show where I think the crossover between drive sizes should be.

 

[BigK600]

Just ask Mohr

Mohr's Circle You must be an engineer

 

[tonydanzah]

Jay mohr?

....

 

[Kev442]

Craftsman of the 80's & 90's wasn't any better. I got so sick of breaking the T45 or T50, I gave up. Moved on to Lisle, slightly better. A few years ago I asked for the GearRatchet pass through socket set for Christmas, it included Torx and Hex. Surprisingly, I haven't broke one yet, but Thank God, my needs for these has dropped considerably.

 

[cruiser808]

Protos will do the same exact thing.

Guys, now I'm concerned. The shearing of a tool under load is inherently dangerous. many years, ago, when I was poor, I purchased a set of Japan made Truecraft metric hex sockets. I must say, they served me well. One day though, I ran into a tough fastener and it twisted the hex bit like a pretzel. At the time, I thought it was that Truecraft made a junk tool, but now I understand that it's a whole lot better for the tool to "give" as opposed to exploding under severe torque. Recently, I saw the same thing with a 1/2" Mac long ratchet. The drive head snapped instead of the gear teeth stripping. This is not good for life and safety, something my present job is all about.

Unfortunately, it seems I bought Proto hex sockets in the hope I'd get a much higher quality and safe tool. But if that's not the case, please steer me in the right direction for some high quality bits. Money is no object when it comes to safety.

 

[plinker]

I think the point is any brand tool can/will break at some point.
Some more often then others (I.E. HF vs. S-O).

I have split a few sockets, mostly Craftsman and Snap-on and a couple of them split for no apparent reason. I have yet to break a hex bit socket( I have rounded one) but have snapped the tip off of a torx bit socket (dont remember the size).

 

[cruiser808]

I think the point is any brand tool can/will break at some point.
Some more often then others (I.E. HF vs. S-O).

I have split a few sockets, mostly Craftsman and Snap-on and a couple of them split for no apparent reason. I have yet to break a hex bit socket( I have rounded one) but have snapped the tip off of a torx bit socket (dont remember the size).

Hey plinker, thanks. For me, your learned and informed opinion is always welcome. Don't want to put you on the spot, but what is the best and safest hex socket in your opinion?

 

[wellstig1]

I have seen many brands break and twist, my snap on ons have never had a problem.

 

[cruiser808]

I have seen many brands break and twist, my snap on ons have never had a problem.

Thank you wellstig1.

 

[plinker]

My inch set has a mix of Allen/Napa (same as C-man) the larger ones (7/32 to 3/8) are Snap-on mostly because I got a deal on them.

My metric set is all Allen & Napa except for a long 6mm Armstrong. The only problem I've had with any of them(that I remember anyway) is my Brother rounded the 4mm doing something.

My Dad (heavy equip. & truck mechanic) has Snap-on's and has had a couple replaced (not bad for for 10-15 year old sockets).

As for the "best" bit sockets,

IMO, Snap-on is one of the best, but any quality made bit socket should last if used properly, I.E. using correct size, making sure it is fully seated in the hex. This has alot to do with rounding the hex in both the bit and screw/bolt.

 

[cruiser808]

My inch set has a mix of Allen/Napa (same as C-man) the larger ones (7/32 to 3/8) are Snap-on mostly because I got a deal on them.

My metric set is all Allen & Napa except for a long 6mm Armstrong. The only problem I've had with any of them(that I remember anyway) is my Brother rounded the 4mm doing something.

My Dad (heavy equip. & truck mechanic) has Snap-on's and has had a couple replaced (not bad for for 10-15 year old sockets).

As for the "best" bit sockets,

IMO, Snap-on is one of the best, but any quality made bit socket should last if used properly, I.E. using correct size, making sure it is fully seated in the hex. This has alot to do with rounding the hex in both the bit and screw/bolt.

.

Thanks plinker - then, for me it will be Snap-on.

 

[plinker]

I wouldnt say the Proto's you have already are anymore unsafe then any other brand.
I have no experiance with them(Proto), but I would think they should be on par with S-O, Armstrong, Mac ete..

 

[cruiser808]

I wouldnt say the Proto's you have already are anymore unsafe then any other brand.
I have no experiance with them(Proto), but I would think they should be on par with S-O, Armstrong, Mac ete..

I understand. But when the long handle Mac 1/2" drive exploded, I got scared.