Alternatives to Craftsman 299 Ultimate socket set

[gsea]

I'm returning the 299-piece socket set as they turned out to be half made in China. It's a shame too because I really like the dual-marked sockets as they're easy to read quickly and you don't have to worry if the etched get's scratched off.

Looking around the internets, I don't real see any alternatives to a set like this. What I'm looking for a is a 100% complete all sizes for all drives set without anything else (ratchets, wrenches, etc.) in it. Sockets only.

I'd like to just buy them all at once rather than try and piece together a bunch of sets and then have to buy individuals to fill them out.

 

[d.mcfarland]

So price doesn't matter? Because if it does, you're going to need to do some work as far as piecing together a "set".

 

[ADSR]

Was the fit and finish bad? Not keeping them based on COO?

 

[oldldh]

I don't know if Taiwan manufacture bothers you, but here's my solution to your problem...

GearWrench---

#80314D---1/4" Drive---47 pc---5/32" to 9/16" and 4mm to 15mm---$37.47

#80718---3/8" Drive---63 pc---1/4" to 1" and 6mm to 24mm---$72.60

#80729---1/2" Drive---27 pc---7/16" to 1 1/2"---$87.93

#80730---1/2" Drive---37 pc---9mm to 36mm---$85.95

Just sockets/SAE and Metric/Shallow and Deep---Total $ 283.95+Freight...

www.tooldiscounter.com

I haven't found GearWrench tools for less anywhere else...There may be cheaper places, but I haven't found them...

The trays shown in the photos are included...

All sets are 6 pt, except #80730, which is 12 pt...

My Wife bought these four sets for my Christmas present...

HooRay!!!

 

[CNGsaves]

Best deal right now is 300 piece loose set at Lowe's for the Kobalt set.

It's $129 and you can get 10% off coupon using Post Office moving. . . or convince them to accept 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight.

Search other GJ threads as this have come several times in last couple weeks.

 

[QtrHorse13]

Best deal right now is 300 piece loose set at Lowe's for the Kobalt set.

It's $129 and you can get 10% off coupon using Post Office moving. . . or convince them to accept 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight.

Search other GJ threads as this have come several times in last couple weeks.

How is the quality of the Kobalt ratchets and sockets? The ratchets look nice.

 

[n8n]

How is the quality of the Kobalt ratchets and sockets? The ratchets look nice.

I don't have many of their sockets but I got a 1/2" ratchet with a super cheap socket set (I think it was something like $20 for a ratchet and a set of SAE and metric 12 point shallows, which I hardly ever use, but figured it was too good a deal to pass up) I have beat the **** out of that ratchet and it keeps on ticking. Much nicer than a Craftsman ratchet, and I like the Snap-Onesque handle. Only complaint is it is way heavier than a real Snap-On ratchet, but it's really rather good, honestly.

 

[jim1987]

How is the quality of the Kobalt ratchets and sockets? The ratchets look nice.

I have 1/4-7/8 and 7-19 12 point deeps in 3/8 drive. No problems yet. Ratchets are very nice.

My dad just got the 227 piece set in a box. Good deal.

 

[Kirbot]

Gearwrench would be my suggestion, but they're from Taiwan.
If you're looking for USA (as I would assume if you don't want the Craftsman) it's going to take some serious money.....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271625

 

[ChrisPace]

Here is my 299 piece craftsman set all organized and ready to find and use. When you buy that many sockets you will need to find a way to manage them or they are overwhelming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MrGiggles]

If you really like the Craftsman sockets, I think it's kind of silly to return them just because of their COO. You won't find anything made in the USA that's even remotely comparable in price.

 

[Knuckle Buster]

Best deal right now is 300 piece loose set at Lowe's for the Kobalt set.

It's $129 and you can get 10% off coupon using Post Office moving. . . or convince them to accept 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight.

Search other GJ threads as this have come several times in last couple weeks.

If the guy is returning his sockets because they turned out to be offshore ( not Made In USA ) then why point him at Lowes to buy Kobalt?

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ Cuz he's a greenhorn, never had any tools before. Bought Craftsman 300 piece set and only after-the-fact figured out they were Chinese. For a year, there's been thousand threads on GJ explaining offshoring by Craftsman.

For the money, the Kobalt set will be more than adequate for someone who has never had any tools before . . . . regardless of COO. For $120 he can beat the tar out of them, and get more at Lowe's if needed, but unlikely. Lowe's will be in business for long foreseeable future. Not so much for Sears.

 

[AndrewV]

Your only choices that are usa coo are Sk, Armstrong, Martin, Allen, Williams usa, and Proto/Blackhawk.
That aren't truck brands. Look for your deals accordingly.

 

[gsea]

^ ^ Cuz he's a greenhorn, never had any tools before. Bought Craftsman 300 piece set and only after-the-fact figured out they were Chinese. For a year, there's been thousand threads on GJ explaining offshoring by Craftsman.

Not quite, my friend. My overfilled Matco MB series houses about 200+ cman sockets, more if you include impacts, ranging from V to G2 series that I've acquired over the years. My problem is that half of them end up living in the road box, truck box, or on loan and I'm always hunting them down. Over the years they've gotten a bit mismatched with replacements and some missing gaps. It is a far better value to purchase a new set than it is to buy individual sockets to round out my others. I decided it was time to just get a complete, matching master set for the main box that stay put and then the others can be full-time road/truck/loaner/junkyard box residents.

If you check the forum, I've been waiting for this set to go on sale for quite a while and always seem to miss them. I have been lamenting the offshoring of craftsman since it began, and the 299-piece sets were still being reported as USA COO by members here long after the rest of the hardline tools started showing up from china.

At any rate, I picked this up from a Sears outlet and it was marked as being a complete USA made set. The handful I grabbed were indeed. Upon closer inspection at home, it turns out it is about 1/3 USA 2/3 Chinese and missing about 25 pcs. Therefore, this set doesn't accomplish what I was intending and back it goes.

I did compare a few of the Chinese sockets to some equivalent G series just for kicks and they are noticeably thicker (yes, I mic'd them) and the machining for the square drive was also inferior. This is besides the point that I try to make every reasonable effort to by US-made things whenever possible and I'm not going to pay the same money for imported stuff that is of lesser quality IMHO.

The fact that any future warranty replacements will be Chinese made has made me look at another manufacturer, though I really like the dual-marked sockets and think they're an outstanding value for the money.

Hope that answers your question...

 

[BeachBoy]

Here is my 299 piece craftsman set all organized and ready to find and use. When you buy that many sockets you will need to find a way to manage them or they are overwhelming.

wow how did you do the foam? the cuts look perfect

 

[sponfit]

wow how did you do the foam? the cuts look perfect

He didn't. Foamfittools.com

 

[CNGsaves]

Not quite, my friend. My overfilled Matco MB series houses about 200+ cman sockets, more if you include impacts, ranging from V to G2 series that I've acquired over the years. {clip}

Sorry for greenhorn comment, but surely you saw this coming! Often the main reason Sears Outlet had product in first place is mis-matched or incomplete set. Sears is a sinking ship, there are no guarantees anymore.

I've watched over past few months Sears close down a key anchor store in mall that has been there for 30+ years.

If the Sears Outlet set you got had 1/3 that were Made In USA and met your criteria, then maybe you should have just kept those 100 sockets from the 299 piece set since they were dirt cheap. Sell the rest on GJ Classified at cost, or even Pay It Forward and ship some to 16 yr kid on GJ that doesn't have anything!

Days of finding Craftsman Made In USA homerun scores in Sears retail outlets are over.

Good luck finding what you want to fill out toolboxes.

 

[defektes]

Not quite, my friend. My overfilled Matco MB series houses about 200+ cman sockets, more if you include impacts, ranging from V to G2 series that I've acquired over the years. My problem is that half of them end up living in the road box, truck box, or on loan and I'm always hunting them down. Over the years they've gotten a bit mismatched with replacements and some missing gaps. It is a far better value to purchase a new set than it is to buy individual sockets to round out my others. I decided it was time to just get a complete, matching master set for the main box that stay put and then the others can be full-time road/truck/loaner/junkyard box residents.

If you check the forum, I've been waiting for this set to go on sale for quite a while and always seem to miss them. I have been lamenting the offshoring of craftsman since it began, and the 299-piece sets were still being reported as USA COO by members here long after the rest of the hardline tools started showing up from china.

At any rate, I picked this up from a Sears outlet and it was marked as being a complete USA made set. The handful I grabbed were indeed. Upon closer inspection at home, it turns out it is about 1/3 USA 2/3 Chinese and missing about 25 pcs. Therefore, this set doesn't accomplish what I was intending and back it goes.

I did compare a few of the Chinese sockets to some equivalent G series just for kicks and they are noticeably thicker (yes, I mic'd them) and the machining for the square drive was also inferior. This is besides the point that I try to make every reasonable effort to by US-made things whenever possible and I'm not going to pay the same money for imported stuff that is of lesser quality IMHO.

The fact that any future warranty replacements will be Chinese made has made me look at another manufacturer, though I really like the dual-marked sockets and think they're an outstanding value for the money.

Hope that answers your question...

I respect and commend you for sticking to American made products and not just settling like others here would want you too.

One suggestion, although, it will cost more than you paid, is to keep an eye on Ebay for a set that is listed as USA. Or pickup a SK set.

 

[Wamsutta]

How is the quality of the Kobalt ratchets and sockets? The ratchets look nice.

That depends on how tool sensitive you are. If you take a Kobalt or GearWrench socket and pop it on an extension, the socket will not stop in the correct place. This is evident by pushing on the socket after popping it on the extension. The socket will push upwards and then snap back down again. Most people will probably never notice.

 

[stage20]

kobalt ratchets are nice and i havent had an issue with the quality of a kobalt socket but the laser etching kinda *****. they are not marked any other way. i have some metric 12pt that roll around in a case mostly unused and some of the marking is gone. i see them used at pawn shops in a bucket or at the flea markets and sometimes there is zero identification on them.

 

[gsea]

Sorry for greenhorn comment, but surely you saw this coming! Often the main reason Sears Outlet had product in first place is mis-matched or incomplete set. Sears is a sinking ship, there are no guarantees anymore.

I've watched over past few months Sears close down a key anchor store in mall that has been there for 30+ years.

Days of finding Craftsman Made In USA homerun scores in Sears retail outlets are over.

Good luck finding what you want to fill out toolboxes.

No worries, I figured that might be the assumption, haha. Yes, it's been sad to watch the sears implosion. There are only 2 stores left in the state here, and that's part of the reason I'm leaning towards another brand that will still be making quality stuff for the foreseeable future. I was thinking I may have been lucky and caught the last of USA scores. Oh well...

I respect and commend you for sticking to American made products and not just settling like others here would want you too.

One suggestion, although, it will cost more than you paid, is to keep an eye on Ebay for a set that is listed as USA. Or pickup a SK set.

Appreciate it. Many will say it is a silly think to insist on, but I try and vote with my wallet, so to speak, about things I feel strongly about. That's why I'm considering something like SK, as they have recently doubled-down and made an investment in US manufacturing into the future. I have no reason to believe they won't be around for a while, and at the same quality... which I can no longer say about craftsman, unfortunately. Either way, something solid... I believe in buying things once for a lifetime.... and hopefully my kids' lifetimes as well.

 

[ChrisPace]

SK would have good resale value as well. Good choice. I'm a Gearwrench fan too but I do think import tools have very little used resale value. Snap On trumps all brands when it comes to that. Gearwrench is the best import brand overall in my opinion. 120XP is awesome.

I remember buying a bunch of yellow handled SO screwdrivers and I paid like $24 for a set of 4 mini's, they actually sell today in used condition on average $17 for each individual one. Good return I would say.

I have a like new set of the Craftsman 299 piece sockets and I love them. Maybe the entire set might be worth something someday if I keep them in good shape.

 

[John in OH]

Appreciate it. Many will say it is a silly think to insist on, but I try and vote with my wallet, so to speak, about things I feel strongly about. That's why I'm considering something like SK, as they have recently doubled-down and made an investment in US manufacturing into the future. I have no reason to believe they won't be around for a while, and at the same quality... which I can no longer say about craftsman, unfortunately. Either way, something solid... I believe in buying things once for a lifetime.... and hopefully my kids' lifetimes as well.

Don't forget to take a look at Wright sockets. The socket stamping is BIG and easy to read and all still made in USA .... not cheap, but a lot cheaper than truck brands.

 

[n8n]

Don't forget to take a look at Wright sockets. The socket stamping is BIG and easy to read and all still made in USA .... not cheap, but a lot cheaper than truck brands.

Proto as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm a bit SK fan with a lot of their sockets both old and new, but both Wright and Proto make good stuff also.

Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk

 

[bpjr]

Since the box say made in USA...maybe you could take the incomplete set to a Sears store and exchange the china stuff for USA pieces. All the loose sockets at our local Sears is still USA. Sears might work with you if you ask.

 

[AE2]

I don't know if there is a Menards in your area but the Masterforce sockets are USA. Made by Allen and should be on par with Craftsman. They have a lifetime warranty as well. They have been on sale a lot recently. I don't know how complete of a set they have tho.

 

[nieuport17]

Another problem is that theres no guarantee any comapany will still be US made in 10 years... so warranty may get you something else.
There are only a handful of companies that i can think of that may still be US made in a decade.

 

[n8n]

Another problem is that theres no guarantee any comapany will still be US made in 10 years... so warranty may get you something else.
There are only a handful of companies that i can think of that may still be US made in a decade.

I'd bet on at least SK, Snap-On, Proto, Wright... and Williams is listing COO explicitly on their web site for each part number so it seems that they are cognizant of our concerns as well.

Now beyond 10 years... let's hope that they all keep their focus and if they do offshore anything it's on the basis of easier availability of a top quality product (e.g. Craftsman rebranding Knipex pliers) and not for reasons of exploiting cheap labor and disregarding other factors.

 

[tlpatter]

Has anyone ordered the 299 set lately? I want a USA set but if they are only shipping China sets now I think I'll pass.

 

[Hootbro]

Has anyone ordered the 299 set lately? I want a USA set but if they are only shipping China sets now I think I'll pass.

It does not matter what people are getting lately as it is a gamble whether you get USA or China sockets anymore.

Sears stocks and ships from regional locations and they are constantly getting in or shuffling old stock in addition to new Chinese production.

As time moves forward, the chance of getting all USA sets is less and less.

 

[Askme42]

L

I don't know if there is a Menards in your area but the Masterforce sockets are USA. Made by Allen and should be on par with Craftsman. They have a lifetime warranty as well. They have been on sale a lot recently. I don't know how complete of a set they have tho.

This. I Guess because menards isn't as nation wide as Sears is why they don't get recommended as much. I feel as far as value and quality and USA made the masterforce is as close to craftsman as you can get.