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.
Craftsman not so successful innovations...
- Thread starter vjquan
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Red Green
Well-known member
I have a set of the mid length sockets I used one when I changed the thermostat in my Bravada the nut went on a stud but there was a bracket so I couldn't get the deep socket to engage all the way. I haven't used them much but if you do a lot of wrenching eventually you would find a use.
I had a robogrip wrench for a week before I took it back to sears and the new metric sockets with out the hash mark line all the way around are a pain in the neck.
I had a robogrip wrench for a week before I took it back to sears and the new metric sockets with out the hash mark line all the way around are a pain in the neck.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Exact same sentiments here.....
grillmasterp
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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
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
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klswvu
Well-known member
I don't have them... probably won't buy any either... however, the 90 degree twist handle as a GearWrench won Motor magazine Top 20 tool award... for what ever that is worth... it may keep them from pulling the design.
IanF
Well-known member
Do you mean these?:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...me=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Wrenches
I have SAE & metric sets (Christmas presents...) but have never used them... if I remember I have them, I may try them the next time I need to do brake line work - loosen with flare-nut wrench, spin off with this.
I have a couple of the old sockets with the plastic band... a bit of a pain to clean.
I've been curious about the cross-force wrenches... for one thing, I can see them nesting to fit in the wrench drawer nicely...
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Though the crossforce wrenches may have won awards, would they sell enough to keep production going? If you already have a set of combo wrenches as most of us wrenchers here on garage forum already do, would you go out and buy another set? As a tool collector - maybe, but out of necessity, I doubt it. They're not cheap either, although they're fully polished. The extreme grip wrenches I can see going away also.
Chris Adams
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I still have a complete set of the plastic band, no roll, sockets. They were good sockets and have seen a lot of use.
But the no roll feature?
Till I read this, I had forgoten that's how they were marketed.
I don't spend a lot of time chasing rolling sockets... these or any other sockets.
However, the black plastic 'ring' has knurling and that makes them good for finger turning, gives you a good grip and more leverage.
I have a 'sidewinder' ratchet, not a Craftsman that I would nominate for 'almost a good idea' over the no-roll sockets.
But the no roll feature?
Till I read this, I had forgoten that's how they were marketed.
I don't spend a lot of time chasing rolling sockets... these or any other sockets.
However, the black plastic 'ring' has knurling and that makes them good for finger turning, gives you a good grip and more leverage.
I have a 'sidewinder' ratchet, not a Craftsman that I would nominate for 'almost a good idea' over the no-roll sockets.
Uncle Buck
Banned
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.
Yes Snappy does still sell them.
strizzy
Well-known member
Funny I just stumbled on two of those today while cruising eBay. Not interested in buying them at all, just curious....
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-4-3-8-drive-c...goryZ303QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
grillmasterp
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Negative- not The Extreme wrenches
Here is an ebay auction for the wrenches -
"quick"wrench
look at the small notch at the open end of the wrench
http://cgi.ebay.com/6Pc-Craftsman-Q...categoryZ42260QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting
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Chris Adams
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Funny. Seeing your link, I went out to the shop and found my 1/2 inch stainless Craftsman. It's seen more or less constant use since 1985, when I bought it and the 'no roll' sockets in a large set.
It's a good ratchet, the black plastic is still almost perfect, no corrosion on the stainless, and the action and quick release still feel like new.
I use it a lot because it bends away from the wrench, allowing you to use it in tight quarters and the quick release is very handy. It has a fine tooth (well, for a Craftsman) with a very positive lock up.
Can't imagine a 1/4 and a 3/8 is worth anything like what they are getting on e-bay.
gotmud13613
Well-known member
I received those (quick wrenches) as a gift for x-mas one year. All I can say is what a waste of steel !!
grillmasterp
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I had a similar set of wrenches back in HS - They were sold under the Popular Mechanics brand at Wally world-
Found the set one day and gave it to my bro in law.
Yea, who came up with that toolbox? Too expensive for the homeowner, too much of a joke for the professional. I bet it has sold really well... BTW, from what I've read, I guess I am the only person that still uses their robogrips occasionally? I like that it adjusts itself but hate how it tears everything up, and you can't get alot of torque on anything. There is still that occasional use though.
Grant
grillmasterp
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I use my Robo-grips all of the time- Even bought extra jaw protectors on clearance.
johnny1290
Well-known member
I was wondering what happened to that quickwrench idea!
I remember the stainless ratchets...why are those worth $120 on ebay?!? Must be something I don't get
Funny how 'innovations' come and go.
I've seen the crossforce wrenches recently and been mulling them over in my mind...I haven't seen a snapon equivalent or anything, so the jury is still out in my mind. I can see how they'd be easier on the palm of your hand if you really have to put a bind on something.
I remember the stainless ratchets...why are those worth $120 on ebay?!? Must be something I don't get
Funny how 'innovations' come and go.
I've seen the crossforce wrenches recently and been mulling them over in my mind...I haven't seen a snapon equivalent or anything, so the jury is still out in my mind. I can see how they'd be easier on the palm of your hand if you really have to put a bind on something.
danski0224
Well-known member
I have a Craftsman 3/8 stainless steel ratchet, and it is my favorite "standard length". Wish I bought the other sizes at the time...
chad s
Well-known member
I have a set of those. Never used them, they came in a lot of tools I bought. They are definately much better made than current Cman raised pannel wrenches!
reversegear
Well-known member
The 'quick wrench' or ratcheting open end wrenches have been around in one form or another forever. Example:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaon/2091851039/" title="old_quick_wrench by Chaon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2091851039_463b36cc2b.jpg" width="500" height="405" alt="old_quick_wrench" /></a>
Even Snap-On has a U.S. patent for this idea, 5,551,322. But I don't know if Snap-On has ever sold anything like this.
I've never used one, but I've been told that the quick wrench open end works great when you have good access to the fastener, and can always have the wrench head flat on the fastener head. As soon as you use it at an angle, you round off the fastener real bad. Can anybody confirm this?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaon/2091851039/" title="old_quick_wrench by Chaon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2091851039_463b36cc2b.jpg" width="500" height="405" alt="old_quick_wrench" /></a>
Even Snap-On has a U.S. patent for this idea, 5,551,322. But I don't know if Snap-On has ever sold anything like this.
I've never used one, but I've been told that the quick wrench open end works great when you have good access to the fastener, and can always have the wrench head flat on the fastener head. As soon as you use it at an angle, you round off the fastener real bad. Can anybody confirm this?
Uncle Buck
Banned
Jeez! Did anyone notice how much they sold for(very stupid money)! Bad part is if they shoot craps Sears no longer has a gut kit for those models!
They did at some point. I used to have a 1/2" - 9/16" Blue Point of similar design made in the late 1940s or early 1950s. It was of questionable use to me, so I sold it to someone who just had to have it.
They are OK for low torque applications, but in most cases a ratchet and socket or a ratcheting wrench will do the job faster and more safely.
Chris Adams
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Jeez! Did anyone notice how much they sold for(very stupid money)! Bad part is if they shoot craps Sears no longer has a gut kit for those models!
Wow, maybe I should contact the winner and offer to 'complete his set' with my 1/2 inch, say for 80 bucks...
A set of three repair kits is on e-bay, or was a little while ago, one of each size, but priced to high for me to buy one just in case my 1/2 take a dive.
They are a pretty good ratchet, too bad they stopped making them.
Red Green
Well-known member
I have some of those also. I use them quite a bit they are lighter than a ratchet. I have alot of stuff with locknuts on it and they work pretty good. I use the ratchet wrench on the nut and the quick wrench on the bolt
1stwarrior95
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Hi guys!
Anybody know where I can find a set of those mid-length sockets? Found this forum searching the net for 'em.
I used to have a set of those stainless ratchets. Somebody else now owns 'em along with everything else they stole out of my truck...
Anybody know where I can find a set of those mid-length sockets? Found this forum searching the net for 'em.
I used to have a set of those stainless ratchets. Somebody else now owns 'em along with everything else they stole out of my truck...
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
got full sets of snap on semi deep
cost more than an entire set of sears with the tool box
cost more than an entire set of sears with the tool box
1stwarrior95
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Subscribing...
forgot that part.
forgot that part.
rsanter
Well-known member
I loved the craftsman stainless steel thin ratchets. mine were swapped out after they could no longet service them.
I have the snap on mid depth sockets and love them. I prefer them to the shallow
snap on has been selling the 'ratcheting wrench' or quick wrench for a long time. I love them, they are great. I have the set that has the extra thick open end on one end and the ratcheting one on the other end. break it free with one end and flip to the other end to get it out quickly. works great for areas you can get a socket into.
bob
I have the snap on mid depth sockets and love them. I prefer them to the shallow
snap on has been selling the 'ratcheting wrench' or quick wrench for a long time. I love them, they are great. I have the set that has the extra thick open end on one end and the ratcheting one on the other end. break it free with one end and flip to the other end to get it out quickly. works great for areas you can get a socket into.
bob
Merkava_4
Banned
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.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
sears tried that in the 80's.........it didn't last long. i don't think they'll try it again!
Red Green
Well-known member
I know I would never buy another Craftsman tool if that happened.
Merkava_4
Banned
Good! Now perhaps maybe you would go and say same in regards to Snap-on in my thread here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13880&showall=1
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Danaher is one of the largest, if not the largest tool maker around. I'm not sure if someone else could step up to the plate and make the tools they do for Sears and others. However, Danaher is expanding their Taiwan tool production. Take a look at the Gearwrench expanded line of ratchets, pliers, screwdrivers, and non ratcheting wrenches. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before those tools are seen with different names in Napa stores, on Matco trucks, or possibly in Sears under the Craftsman name.
Coach James
Well-known member
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
Coach
Merkava_4
Banned
I was thinking whoever is making the "Champion" line of tools for Sears could take over for Danaher; but like you said, since Danaher is producing more and more off shore anyway; maybe Danaher could continue to carry the contract for Sears without any interruption in productivity; at the cost of American jobs of course.
Merkava_4
Banned
You ought'a see the types of people that are shopping in Sears now; they don't care where the tool is made as long as it's cheap.
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.
Michael Bryce Winnick
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IanF or Chad S
Could any of you guys part with a 9mm e-z wrench or what do you want for your set?
THanks
Michael Bryce Winnick
[email protected]
Could any of you guys part with a 9mm e-z wrench or what do you want for your set?
THanks
Michael Bryce Winnick
[email protected]