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Very dissapointed with Craftsman sockets

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iandh

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I just picked up the 204 piece tool set for $99 half off, thinking it would be a great cheap way to upgrade my sockets and get some more USA stuff in my tool box, but it really ended up being a downgrade.

I don't really mean this to be a bash thread; what I paid I still consider to be a decent deal, but the quality was truly horrid. I thought that they were pretty decent from what I'd heard here, but these aren't even close to decent.

Firstly, the chrome finish was mediocre at best; each group of sockets in the set was a different color of chrome. Some have chrome so poor that they're almost gunship grey in color. The insides of the sockets have all kinds of discolorations indicating very poor plating quality. Even the 99 cent socket rails from HF have better chrome.

There was NO surface prep or polishing other than maybe some vibratory finishing on the sockets. The sockets were not cleaned very well, if at all, before plating. There are discolorations all over the place, dull spots, milky spots, dark spots.

I guess craftsman switched to some new manufacturing process, because these are nothing like what I'm used to. The insides are horribly rough, like sandpaper, and there are all kinds of tiny metal particles stuck inside the sockets giving the surface a gritty feel.

The inside edges of the hex have a sharp edge on more than half of the sockets, where they were not properly deburred. Some are so bad that they have to be forced onto fasteners.



As I mentioned before, I purchased these to "upgrade" my HF Taiwan sockets, and they are inferior in pretty much every conceivable way. I'm kind of at a loss right now. Tomorrow when I have some sunlight for decent lighting, I'll do some comparison shots.

I try not to buy Chinese when I can help it, but I'm on a very limited budget at this time in my life, and it kind of seems like I have nowhere to turn... the only USA made tool within my price range is garbage (IMO), and the area I live in has NOTHING at yard sales/swap meet/craigslist. It's very slim pickings.


The worst thing is that the decent traditional chrome stamped lettering Taiwan sockets at HF are only sold in sets with ratchets and stuff unless you want to buy those funky black chrome laser etched ones (YUCK), so as soon as I lose/break one, I'm screwed as far as replacing it with a matching socket.

The second worst thing is that they are mostly only available in 12 point, again, unless you buy the funky black chrome laser sockets, which I just won't do. If I wanted black chrome, I'd just keep the craftsmans.
 
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oldtools

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I bought the complete Cmans socket set ($350). Hate the laser etching. Chrome not too good, but they are tough. I believe Armstrong made these. Kinda disappointed because I like Armstrong tools.
 
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iandh

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oldtools said:
I bought the complete Cmans socket set ($350). Hate the laser etching. Chrome not too good, but they are tough. I believe Armstrong made these. Kinda disappointed because I like Armstrong tools.
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I think the laser etched ones are marginally better; the standard stamped ones are just bad.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do. I'm teeter-tottering with just getting some gearwrench sockets.



For the sake of fairness, the sockets could be tough as nails for all I know... they'll still get work done. Also, for $99, it's one hell of a good sized tool set.

I just wish that they could have gone that extra step and actually polished the sockets. I would gladly have paid another $50.
 
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TireTracks

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My ones arnt that bad. Though I bought a set of 1/2" drive ones, they arnt bad, but there are some messed up spots on the chrome.

But for USA tools, they are cheap, thats why they arnt perfect, you want perfect? You gotta pay.
 
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autoace

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Merkava_4 said:
Craftsman is an embarrassment to American manufacturing capability; simple as that.
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Yep! it is made in the USA at the "**** on a shingle" factory.............it used to be good stuff, but now...................................heck!

I think Danaher is just trying to prove the made in USA does not mean quality these days, just to make their GW type tools look even better......................it is pretty much working. I would prefer GW over Cman at this point.
 
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iandh

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Merkava_4 said:
Craftsman is an embarrassment to American manufacturing capability; simple as that.
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I hate to say, I really agree with you.

I was a machinist by trade for ten years, and I literally would have been embarrassed to let stuff like that out the doors, even if it was done for cheap.

BTW, I hate the damned detents too. It makes it a pain in the *** to get them on the socket rails. That was the last nail in coffin for me.

TireTracks said:
My ones arnt that bad. Though I bought a set of 1/2" drive ones, they arnt bad, but there are some messed up spots on the chrome.

But for USA tools, they are cheap, thats why they arnt perfect, you want perfect? You gotta pay.
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I don't want "perfect", I just want "not ******".

It's pretty sad when a Harbor freight set that costs four times less, is twice as nice.

autoace said:
Yep! it is made in the USA at the "**** on a shingle" factory.............it used to be good stuff, but now...................................heck!

I think Danaher is just trying to prove the made in USA does not mean quality these days, just to make their GW type tools look even better......................it is pretty much working. I would prefer GW over Cman at this point.
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Honestly, GW is Snap-on when sitting next to Cman.

I'd be embarassed to use some of their latest stuff as a doorstop.
 
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Ser50

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in canada they dont even sell the american craftsman anymore, and we thought we were missing out!
 
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Danglerb

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On my list of things to do is to sort through all my craftsman sockets and take the ones with bad plating etc back to Sears and get them replaced.

They may work fine, but bad chrome means they could flake, which is totally unacceptable in engine assembly, or at best will get areas of rust.
 
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Fedwrench

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Merkava_4 said:
Craftsman is an embarrassment to American manufacturing capability; simple as that.
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That is just simply not true. Granted, they may not be as good as they once were but, then nothing else really is either. The bottom line is you pay pennies per piece and get the forever warranty. There are better choices out there but, not at the Craftsman price point. Besides, once the sockets are covered in grease, and get scratched from use, they won't win any beuty contests anyway.

Merkava_4 said:
The worst part is what they've done to the detents.
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True but, that plaque is spreading across the Danaher line from Craftsman, to Kobalt, and Armstrong. Craftsman is only a brand name. There isn't a Craftsman factory. It's a Danaher factory cranking out similiar tools with a bunch of different names on them.:lol:
 
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lipadj46

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I don't know I just bought the 260 piece cman set (mainly to get that many sockets at once) and setting the sockets side by side with my father's older cman sockets (probably from the 80's I would guess) they are not that bad. I have not had any issues with the detent either but maybe I have just not used them enough. Some of the sockets in the set had a funky coloring to them but it just wiped off. I have not noticed any bad chrome. I honestly don't think HF chrome sockets are better. The Taiwan HF sockets do look good though but I broke at least 4 HF sockets doing my head gaskets and had to go out and buy their impact sockets to get through the job.
 
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woody 73

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I can understand your disapproval ,about getting bad sockets,as it does happen from time to time. If you take back the very worst offenders,sears will replace them with no questions asked.

I buy older craftsman sockets at best they have little if any chrome on them,(mostly rust),but after a good cleaning and some oil they work really good.

Oh sure they will not win any beauty contest but as someone pointed out the bolt does not care what they look like.

If money is tight and you want shiny bright chrome sockets then try sk sockets,they will put your mind to ease.
Hope this helps.
 
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Aberdale

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I bought another set of Cman sockets last year. (My fourth set.) My eyesight isn't what it used to be, and I thought I would try out the laser etched set. When I compare them to my 30 year old Cmans, the plating is a different color, but they seem to be holding up well. I did inspect all of the sockets when they arrived, and I didn't notice any of the defects that you describe in my set. The chrome and laser etching was all consistent from socket to socket. There is no roughness inside that I could see. Maybe you just got a set that was made on a Monday or Friday? Is it possible that when they offer the sale price, that they bundle up seconds from the factory?

I guess the bottom line is that Cman tools are guaranteed to be free of manufacturing defects. So any of them that you find to be objectionable should be easily replaced, no questions asked.

Dale
 
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Teken

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Have to agree if you have a few sub par sockets, either take the individual ones back, or to be fast and simple return the whole set and pick one that suites your needs at the counter . . .

You're assured quality at that point, and if you miss it at the counter prior to paying its all on you! :lol_hitti
 
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Tom2

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The chrome plating is wearing off some of mine. Same with the laser etching. I took one back to sears a few weeks ago because you couldn't read the laser etching at all anymore.

Other than that, I have no complaints. And those are sockets I use pretty much every day abusively.
 
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X1 Mike

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Tom2 said:
The chrome plating is wearing off some of mine. Same with the laser etching. I took one back to sears a few weeks ago because you couldn't read the laser etching at all anymore.

Other than that, I have no complaints. And those are sockets I use pretty much every day abusively.
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Do you think the new chrome will hold up to brake fluid? :bounce:
 
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Tom2

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You should see my garage.. What a disgusting mess.

I actually just cleaned it. Must have went through at least 50 rags. I also have to touch up paint parts of the bike now. :shocking:

Practically needed to wear a wet suit.
 
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X1 Mike

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Tom2 said:
You should see my garage.. What a disgusting mess.

I actually just cleaned it. Must have went through at least 50 rags. I also have to touch up paint parts of the bike now. :shocking:

Practically needed to wear a wet suit.
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Looking forward to seeing what you say is your last project bike. :thumbup:
 
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olds394

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iandh said:
Firstly, the chrome finish was mediocre at best; each group of sockets in the set was a different color of chrome. Some have chrome so poor that they're almost gunship grey in color. The insides of the sockets have all kinds of discolorations indicating very poor plating quality. sockets giving the surface a gritty feel.
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If you look close at the larger Armstrong sockets in Teken's thread you will see examples...must be a widespread Danaher problem. They could do better. IMO

Post #27 second picture
 
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iandh

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My main problem is that on the few I tried, chrome was flaking as another poster mentioned, and that is a total no-go as I work in electronics.

I don't expect pieces of art for 50 cents a socket, but if they're junk, it doesn't matter what they cost anyways, because I can't use them.


RbrtAWhyt said:
Of course you do...:rolleyes:
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NO, I don't. :rolleyes:

A bash thread is when you start the thread for the sake of bashing a product. I made this thread to see if others have had similar experiences, and have seen the same problems.

Me having many complaints does not mean that the only purpose of the thread is bashing. I've been a craftsman guy for a good 20 years; it's just been years since I've gone and bought new stuff.

I'm surprised by how bad these are, and I'm trying to find out if it's the norm.
 
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c_mccann

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Just bought some new Cman swivel sockets, they seem fiine. The chrome is not what it was in the 80's, but what is? The swivel set was $50, the SO version is $150, mine will get used a few times a year. I have a hard time criticizing a product that is supposed to get beat up and punished and replaced for free and rag on the chrome quality. I am usually more impressed with the quality of the work I do with them rather than the chrome on the tools doing the work.
 
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Teken

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olds394 said:
If you look close at the larger Armstrong sockets in Teken's thread you will see examples...must be a widespread Danaher problem. They could do better. IMO

Post #27 second picture
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Yes its true in the couple of packages I received from my friend some of the sockets inside could have used some more time being processed . . . None of the chrome was a different color, flaking, or poorly machined otherwise . . .

I have to agree also that peeling, or flaking chrome is not only ugly, it is not safe if it should break off and hit you in the eye that stuff is sharp!

Shoot us some pictures when you have few moments so we can see if its really bad . . .

The one thing I did notice on a few tools was some sort of machining oil which made the one or two tools look to have a rainbow effect . . .

Once I wiped it down with a clean soft cotton cloth all was well . . . Some people like the color of the chrome from Snap-On etc.

I actually prefer the darker color of this chrome, don't know why it just seems classic and industrial to me . . .

As for the laser ID, I created a thread about if this part was covered by the warranty etc. The customer support rep said absolutely no questions asked!

As I informed her that the primary reason I purchased said tools was these old eyes have become tired, and any extra ID would make my afternoons a lot less stressful trying to figure out what I had from a distance . . .
 
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Stuey

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That's a pretty good review of what sounds to be some horrible quality sockets.

If you exchange the set, let us know if the new sockets are any different.
 
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SnowBlaZeR2

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iandh said:
I try not to buy Chinese when I can help it, but I'm on a very limited budget at this time in my life, and it kind of seems like I have nowhere to turn... the only USA made tool within my price range is garbage (IMO), and the area I live in has NOTHING at yard sales/swap meet/craigslist. It's very slim pickings.
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Ebay. I also hate the new laser etched ****. I haven't had the trouble you are having with them, but I still don't like them. I recently bought a few sets of older Craftsman sockets from ebay that I was missing and they are all better quality than the few individual laser etched sockets I have.

I think I got 1/2 metric, 3/8 deep metric and sae and 1/4 deep metric and sae all for under $60. I also buy every one of the older Craftsman hand tools I see at yard sales. I don't want to ruin one of mine(not likely) and have to get it replaced by one of the new ones.
 
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Michael Bryce Winnick

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I do not have any craftsman war stories. I also do not need pretty tools. I beat on my tools pretty good. I clean them up. They hold up well. The warranty is excellent. The cost is reasonable. The store and the web site make things easy. You got a great deal for a reason. There are some blemishes. The tools will out live you. You got a great deal. Danahar and Armstrong make ok stuff. You guys are a rough crowd.
 
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olds394

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For the record I have a set of 80's EE series Cman sockets. The chrome is nothing to write home about either. I think the bar has been raised.:beer:
 
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FordToughF250

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At least you can return them with no problem when they flake. I tried to trade in a snap on 7/16 wrench (1 of only a couple snap ons i have) that started to flake and the truck guy wouldnt do it.
 
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taylorboi

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i can also say im not impressed with the newer craftsman sockets the laser etched ones the size etched on the socket it rusts and ill have many different color sockets some really chrome and some like a dark chrome and the crack down the sides every so often its like there some in the bunch that just wasnt made strong
 
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J..D

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Well I am new but figured it was time to leave my opinion, I notice many people on this site seems to enjoy bashing Craftsman. I have been turning wrenches for some time and have NEVER had any problems with their tools in fact for the money I take them over Snap-on in a heart beat(I am not saying their better). I hear Embarrassment really how many American tools can you still buy at a good price with no hassle lifetime warranty? I hear detents having problem? I call ******** how can a double detent have a problem on socket rails? I think it's people who don't like the fact that an American brand is still making good tools and not ****** you in price. If you could only seen the murder my machine shop puts their tools in and how many Craftsmen come back for more you would also be shocked at the ignorance of some people. Sorry if I come off as angry but I have been reading post like this on this site for a while and this was my first response.
 
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