New Craftsman Extreme Grip tools
- Thread starter Tellingthem
- Start date
02camaro86
Well-known member
that locking adjustable seems really handy
Bobcat753
Well-known member
The sockets and screwdrivers look interesting. The other things are just plain stupid. Guess I'll look at them on my break tomorrow.
tjpavlov
Well-known member
I wonder whether western forge is making the screwdrivers...
lilcraigford
Well-known member
Hmmm... I hope this isn't Craftsman/Sears' response to those feedback threads. 
MrJason
Well-known member
Am I the only one who thinks that the locking adjustable wrench is just over compensation?
If you have enough room to use that, then you have room to use more applicable tools.
Gimmicky and a useless attempt at relevance. IMO.
Jason
If you have enough room to use that, then you have room to use more applicable tools.
Gimmicky and a useless attempt at relevance. IMO.
Jason
jlh92
Well-known member
1/2", 12mm, and 13mm in one wrench? Yeah, no thanks.
Hmmm... I hope this isn't Craftsman/Sears' response to those feedback threads.
No kidding! They need to give their heads a shake.
the74impala
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Trying to go light weight / minimal space, they might be just right. Not for at home/pro use, but on the road might make a lot of sense.
thecody59
Well-known member
The screwdriver set looks pretty good you can use a $10 of $20 coupon to get the price down. But still seams pricey for Chinese screwdrivers.
the74impala
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In fact, covering maybe 15 wrenches with 5 in the back of the car, would be nice if the price is right and they actually worked. The screwdrivers are well made, they look good too.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
I don't understand what I'm looking at with the sockets and wrenches.
Diamond tip screwdrivers? They done lost their mind.
Don't get me wrong...new stuff is never bad. Just uh make sure it works as intended okay guys.
Those "pocket sockets" are actually pretty good at holding punches and chisels. I think every guy got a set of those years ago. This new line reminds me of that Skil wrench that came out this past Christmas, which seemed like a real knuckle breaker. This is a gimmicky line of tools, that may be okay for the kitchen junk drawer, but would waste space in any tool box, or my tool box anyway.
My "muscle wrench" adusts from 8 mm to 19 mm. Makes for a very short 19 mm and a very thick 8 mm. 11mm of adjustment is too much. Its not a good tool at the extremes.
This sports that off corner broaching and adjusts 12 - 13mm for a range of about 1.5mm adjustment total. That brings ( or should ) head size into a tighter range and length also where you would be able to use it as intended more easily.
Moviing parts make it a little thicker than a fixed size wrench. But not nearly as bad as other efforts like the Bionic wrench and its Asain clone were in bulk issues.
A downside l see is 6 pt box ends make 30 degrees of movement between positions and this is where we lose pros and head deep into daddy's day gifts, a 12 pt box end gives 15 and has become regular in auto work. Then decor them with rubber grips and drive that home.
Then the screwdrivers, to maximize on the name more than innovate maybe? Every handle variation short of a cube has been tried over the last century so this has to be easy efforts by marketing dept. more than a breakthrough design.
This sports that off corner broaching and adjusts 12 - 13mm for a range of about 1.5mm adjustment total. That brings ( or should ) head size into a tighter range and length also where you would be able to use it as intended more easily.
Moviing parts make it a little thicker than a fixed size wrench. But not nearly as bad as other efforts like the Bionic wrench and its Asain clone were in bulk issues.
A downside l see is 6 pt box ends make 30 degrees of movement between positions and this is where we lose pros and head deep into daddy's day gifts, a 12 pt box end gives 15 and has become regular in auto work. Then decor them with rubber grips and drive that home.
Then the screwdrivers, to maximize on the name more than innovate maybe? Every handle variation short of a cube has been tried over the last century so this has to be easy efforts by marketing dept. more than a breakthrough design.
out mexican corespondant is pretty quick at figuring the ins and outs of tools from pictures. most of what you say seems spot on.
a slightly better attempt with similar poor results.
tjpavlov
Well-known member
I think that it's safe to assume that these will all be 50% off for father's day.
Zrexxer
Well-known member
That's just shot-blasted before plating. I actually kind of like that finish, just not the wrench it's on.
Parrothead
Well-known member
Highly unlikely - If you look at one of the closeups, it's stamped AE plain as day.
tjpavlov
Well-known member
What does the AE stand for? I don't remember seeing that code before.
From the background pics, it looks like a ratchet is coming too.
From the background pics, it looks like a ratchet is coming too.
Date code. Most of the new Craftsman stuff has it.
AA = 2011
AB = 2012
AC = 2013
AD = 2014
AE = 2015
See the pattern?
Some tools will have have a prefix pattern like "L-AD", "S-AD" and similiar. Those prefix letters are either a country of origin code and/or manufacturer code.
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Pstychologist
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I had a locking adjustable wrench about 25 years ago, so it's not a new concept. I really liked it on the farm because I could put it on to hold the other end of a long bolt and it would stay. I wonder where that went to?!
Parrothead
Well-known member
Confirmed the screwdrivers are made in China
Me: Model #25006 if that helps?
Stephanie G: Let me try if I can pull it up.
Stephanie G: Thank you.
Me: xxxxx is my zip code
Stephanie G: I was able to pull it up, Sir. Please give me a minute or two to verify where it's made.
Me: No problem
Stephanie G: Thank you for waiting. This is made in China, Sir.
Me: Okay, that's what I thought. I am sorry to hear that, I won't need to purchase these then. Thanks for your time and effort.
Me: Model #25006 if that helps?
Stephanie G: Let me try if I can pull it up.
Stephanie G: Thank you.
Me: xxxxx is my zip code
Stephanie G: I was able to pull it up, Sir. Please give me a minute or two to verify where it's made.
Me: No problem
Stephanie G: Thank you for waiting. This is made in China, Sir.
Me: Okay, that's what I thought. I am sorry to hear that, I won't need to purchase these then. Thanks for your time and effort.
tjpavlov
Well-known member
I wonder what that says for the Western Forge Partnership. The wood chisels seem to be going chinese right now. I wonder how long the regular screwdrivers will last before they get outsourced.
This just my theory but I believe the only reason the regular Craftsman screwdrivers have not gone off shore is that WF makes enough drivers for economy of scale pricing that offshore drivers and shipping cost to get them here does not make them cost advantage to outsource yet.
It is now pushing into the 4th year since Sears has started to convert over the majority of their previously USA made hard line tools to overseas sources. One would think if getting foreign made drivers was cheaper, they would have already.
My only caveat to my thinking is maybe Sears/Craftsman had some long lead contracts with WF that has yet to expire?
Craftsman needs to come to the realization that gimmick tools are not an acceptable substitute for bringing back quality USA made tools to their store shelves. They are going the wrong direction. Kobalt did the gimmick tools thing for a little while as well...now their tools are mostly junk these days.
Parrothead
Well-known member
On some level, I agree with you. However, I suspect the contract is running out at WF and this will be the end of WF for Sears/Craftsman. Watch the pliers and adjustable wrenches follow suit. If they've been dumping all of the other stuff, why not the drivers too? Get it while you can, because it's never coming back.
upgrading
Well-known member
Disappointing news on the screwdriver COO.
panknuckshovel
Well-known member
This will all look good next to the MACHy Mouse line of ****.
LordPsychon
Well-known member
Not a fan of the MACH line, hmmm?
Evolv, Dunlap, Sears, Mach or this one its not the CM core line of old that most expect. Because even they know its a short run to cash out on fast. Hype sells and the unsuspect ing will buy, hell, l'd buy the sockets and the wrenches on clearance table prices.
just because we'll never see this stuff again.
l really am curious about how that socket is designed to adjust. Those have been marketed before but much chunkier . This looks like Bionic wrench tech gone micro.
just because we'll never see this stuff again.
l really am curious about how that socket is designed to adjust. Those have been marketed before but much chunkier . This looks like Bionic wrench tech gone micro.
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nicksnothereman
Well-known member
I just got the 1/4" t handle set for $7.50 at kmart. It's nice man...real nice.
I think it has the mach label probably didn't deserve such a fate. Ain't nothing mickey mouse about the glorious fit&finish on that t-handle.dede2897234
Well-known member
The Craftsman Extreme Socket set is very similar in concept to Grip-Tite's to using internal moveable pins to provide more grip to removing rounded and rusted fasteners. However, as you can see below, the Craftsman socket uses less and wider pins than the Grip-Tite model.
I hope the manufacturer of the Craftsman sockets does not use plastic parts (Amazon reviews for Grip-
Tite) like the Grip-Tite sockets. Otherwise, the customers of the Craftsman Extreme Socket sets will be taking full advantage of the full warranty.
Dave
I hope the manufacturer of the Craftsman sockets does not use plastic parts (Amazon reviews for Grip-
Tite) like the Grip-Tite sockets. Otherwise, the customers of the Craftsman Extreme Socket sets will be taking full advantage of the full warranty.
Dave
Attachments
dede2897234
Well-known member
For slightly more than $6 a screwdriver at introduction on 5/16/15, Craftsman should have incorporated a hex bolster between the handle and driver shaft of their Extreme Grip diamond tip set. If this screwdriver is intended to drive out slightly rounded or rusted fasteners (slotted and Phillips), this tool should be full featured like the competition.
Besides, the set is made in China. The ********* tool consumer will not buy this set because of this fact. However, it won't stop the DIY crowd from buying it if the price is right like on sale around Father's Day.
Dave
Besides, the set is made in China. The ********* tool consumer will not buy this set because of this fact. However, it won't stop the DIY crowd from buying it if the price is right like on sale around Father's Day.
Dave
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Pstychologist
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I noticed that a lot of reviews for this sort of product start with "I got my husband this for X" and how happy they are with it.
IF your wife is buying you tools you didn't pick out, of course you are happy, but that doesn't mean you'd ever buy that tool yourself.
IF your wife is buying you tools you didn't pick out, of course you are happy, but that doesn't mean you'd ever buy that tool yourself.