Are Craftsman Sockets Worth Keeping?

[liliceman13300]

A local pawn store is selling like new craftsman sockets for about 60 cents each and they have a few hundred of them. I bought around 70 to fill up my Hensen's but I'm wondering if I would be better of re-selling them and upgrading to SO, Hazet, SK, a better brand basically.

Are the Craftsman sockets worth their weight? I would just sell them for a buck each and use the money to buy a better product. I know they aren't terrible, but I don't want to be breaking sockets.

 

[liliceman13300]

Forgot to mention the models....brain fart I guess...

Here are two examples of the series:
http://secure.nhbragg.com/product/craftsman-9-43549-3-8-drive-chrome-socket-722466/
http://www.commercial.sears.com/comsale/industrial/toolcat/ti.cgi/keyitem.ti/?tool=9-44432

 

[Syndicate]

It is a matter of opinion and choice. I own all SO sets. I do have some odd ball Cman laying around, but do not use them, those are for people who come over to use. I know pros who have boxes full and they make their daily living with them so they can't be all that bad. I personally have found that they do not hold up, but I also am rough on tools. Impact non impact sockets, oh did I just say that...Anyhow if you are just starting out, I would keep them. I would buy fer way cheap, pawn shop or yard sale a couple snap on items and see how they work for you. If you like them, (which I am sure you will) you can upgrade. Just know it is about 8 times the cost of Cman for your snap on goodies.

 

[ultimase]

I'm not a mechanic, just someone who tries to keep up the maintenance on 3 vehicles and isn't afraid to grab his tools to fix or put something together.

Since that's out of the way the majority of my tools are craftsman or harbor freight. I do own some snap on as well, and I've spent quite a bit of money on them. I've never been let down thus far. For 60 cents each I wouldn't have hesitated to pick them up, nor would I feel like I'd need to swap out to another brand.

 

[Need4racin]

C-man sockets imo are good. I use c-man on my personal vehicles, I'm not a tech. Only bad sockets I have come across are no name china ones. I have a bag full of them I use for pounding something out or grinding/welding to make something work.

 

[Knuckle Buster]

Forgot to mention the models....brain fart I guess...

Here are two examples of the series:
http://secure.nhbragg.com/product/craftsman-9-43549-3-8-drive-chrome-socket-722466/
http://www.commercial.sears.com/comsale/industrial/toolcat/ti.cgi/keyitem.ti/?tool=9-44432

Nothing wrong with the sockets you listed. I've had good luck with 'em, but I also grab a heavier tool for the job when a heavier tool is needed.

 

[woody 73]

I have been using craftsman sockets for the last 40 years and yes they are worth keeping; but as a side note I do not like the ones that only have the just the laser print and not the deep print. That print tends to wear off with heavy use.

I think today they all come with what they call dual print (both laser/and stamped) that will work for me.

The only other thing is the funky socket detents but they all seem to work ok.

So yes Virginia (there is a santa claus) they are worth keeping!

 

[concealer404]

I have been using craftsman sockets for the last 40 years and yes they are worth keeping; but as a side note I do not like the ones that only have the just the laser print and not the deep print. That print tends to wear off with heavy use.

I think today they all come with what they call dual print (both laser/and stamped) that will work for me.

The only other thing is the funky socket detents but they all seem to work ok.

So yes Virginia (there is a santa claus) they are worth keeping!

+1 to this. I like how easy the laser print ones are to read at a distance, but hate how badly they hold up.

For 60 cents per, i'd probably grab some to round out a collection, but i don't think i'd bother buying an entire new set at that price.

 

[Steevo]

50% of my sockets (and I have a lot of sockets) are Craftsman, and about half of those I have used regularly for so many years that the writing is worn off of them. I have cracked a few over the years, but always caused by abusing them with an impact gun.
I think they are good quality sockets.

 

[Fedwrench]

How can you go wrong with a US Made, lifetime warranty, 6 point socket at 60 cents each? You really can't. They're worth getting, keeping, and most of all using. Yes, there may be prettier, stronger, better finished, and better marked options out there but, often less is more. Craftsman sockets have been going strong for 85 years. The fastener surely doesn't know the brand of tool you're using on it.

 

[BobsurUncle]

All my sockets are Craftsman. The only ones I have broke, were broke due to impact use.

Those were my fault, due to abuse. I didn't even warranty them, just bought new ones.

 

[theoldwizard1]

They are worthless !

Send them all to me !!

(45 years of Craftsman non-professional socket use - never cracked one.)

 

[4x4gearhead]

They are decent but not worth anything come time to sell. Its pretty much the reason you got them for such a cheap price.

 

[powertrip]

How can you go wrong with a US Made, lifetime warranty, 6 point socket at 60 cents each? You really can't. They're worth getting, keeping, and most of all using. Yes, there may be prettier, stronger, better finished, and better marked options out there but, often less is more. Craftsman sockets have been going strong for 85 years. The fastener surely doesn't know the brand of tool you're using on it.

What he said.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have been using craftsman sockets for the last 40 years and yes they are worth keeping; but as a side note I do not like the ones that only have the just the laser print and not the deep print. That print tends to wear off with heavy use.

I think today they all come with what they call dual print (both laser/and stamped) that will work for me.

The only other thing is the funky socket detents but they all seem to work ok.

So yes Virginia (there is a santa claus) they are worth keeping!

 

[Outlawmws]

They are worthless !

Send them all to me !!

(45 years of HEAVY Craftsman non-professional socket use - never cracked one.)

Quoted for truth, and Fixed! (for me at least)

 

[Outlawmws]

I've been picking up a ton of Craftsman sockets to create and fill-in sets I intend to use. These seem to be available everywhere for cheap.

I'm curious though... what is the cut-off series for decent sockets? I have several that go up to G1, and I don't want to get too current.

When they started importing them is where I would cut off, but not sure when that happened. (but a very good point! Did they change the maker markings then? )

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I've been picking up a ton of Craftsman sockets to create and fill-in sets I intend to use. These seem to be available everywhere for cheap.

I'm curious though... what is the cut-off series for decent sockets? I have several that go up to G1, and I don't want to get too current.

When they started importing them is where I would cut off, but not sure when that happened. (but a very good point! Did they change the maker markings then?

That's my thinking too.

Looking at my sockets as I can type this:

G looks like the older solid ones - picked up these here in the classifieds section. Has detents inside drive end. Definitely USA.

GK looks like the G listed above. My NOS 3/8" mid length metric and SAE socket sets are these.

G1 are the majority in my 128ish piece set I got in the late 90s as a Christmas gift from my dad (Ratchets in this kit are VR; OE wrenches are VV). (I found one or two G and GK sockets - could have been switched when working with other tool sets). "Made in USA" stamped on the outside of that blown case. The 1/2"dr have detents like the G; the 3/8"dr and 1/4"dr have stepped detents.

G2 is the individual new socket I got off Ebay. Looks like G1.

A local pawn store is selling like new craftsman sockets for about 60 cents each and they have a few hundred of them. I bought around 70 to fill up my Hensen's but I'm wondering if I would be better of re-selling them and upgrading to SO, Hazet, SK, a better brand basically.

Are the Craftsman sockets worth their weight? I would just sell them for a buck each and use the money to buy a better product. I know they aren't terrible, but I don't want to be breaking sockets.

They'll be fine for the typical home wrencher. They're not made out of candy like those yummy necklaces are.

 

[4x4gearhead]

G2 is the individual new socket I got off Ebay. Looks like G1.

And still US made im guessing? (g2)

 

[pipsters]

I bought a set in 2006 IIRC and most were G2 some larger SAE sizes were GK. GK I think is just an older date stamp. GK also was on my newer USA impacts. G2D are the new dual marked ones that came in my 299 pc set. All Craftsman chrome is still USA at this time.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

And still US made im guessing? (g2)

Yes, still USA made. Exact to G1 except that it's marked G2.

 

[philw]

The only Craftsman sockets I would shy away from are the old style that grips the corners of fastener. IIRC Snap-on came out with sockets in the early 70's that would grip the flats, not the corners and wouldn't round off fasteners as easily and started the trend (although Bonney had a similar design...I do not know who was first). I have Craftsman sockets from the early early 90's and haven't had any issues with them and they look like they use the same or similar design as the Snap-on's.

I think most manufacturers use some form of this design now. I am not sure when Craftsman switched their design but I would guess it was probably during the 1980's. You will be able to tell the difference by the corners inside the socket. Old style will be sharp and the new style have a slightly rounded corner.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think we have some inconsistencies in the "G" series sockets:

I have some Gx series I picked up over the weekend:

"G" 4mm in 1/4 drive Shiny new bright Chrome, Marked USA: no detents at all!

"G1" Partial set in std and deep metric, clearly older, not a shiny chrome (Yellowish), Marked USA: all have 4 detents.

 

[Outlawmws]

I bought a set in 2006 IIRC and most were G2 some larger SAE sizes were GK. GK I think is just an older date stamp. GK also was on my newer USA impacts. G2D are the new dual marked ones that came in my 299 pc set. All Craftsman chrome is still USA at this time.

I thought they started outsourcing the sockets recently? (like towards the end of 2011?

 

[pipsters]

I think we have some inconsistencies in the "G" series sockets:

I have some Gx series I picked up over the weekend:

"G" 4mm in 1/4 drive Shiny new bright Chrome, Marked USA: no detents at all!

"G1" Partial set in std and deep metric, clearly older, not a shiny chrome (Yellowish), Marked USA: all have 4 detents.

How are they inconsistent?

G
G1
G2
G2D

Just date stamps

Personally I like the stepped detents but that's just me

 

[pipsters]

I thought they started outsourcing the sockets recently? (like towards the end of 2011?

Have you even been to a Sears lately to see for yourself? If not, why do you keep saying they are outsourced?

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I think we have some inconsistencies in the "G" series sockets:

I have some Gx series I picked up over the weekend:

"G" 4mm in 1/4 drive Shiny new bright Chrome, Marked USA: no detents at all!

"G1" Partial set in std and deep metric, clearly older, not a shiny chrome (Yellowish), Marked USA: all have 4 detents.

Yea. I think this research might have to be portioned down to include drive sizes and possibly metric or sae categories. There's very like some transition period sockets as well - early mid or late production of each code.

 

[-Brent-]

I've got US made ones, I've broken a few over the last 20 years but, overall, I've had a good experience with them. Now, if I break one, I'm not sure what do. I'm not a fan of the new style.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's my thinking too.

Looking at my sockets as I can type this:

G looks like the older solid ones - picked up these here in the classifieds section. Has detents inside drive end. Definitely USA.

GK looks like the G listed above. My NOS 3/8" mid length metric and SAE socket sets are these.

G1 are the majority in my 128ish piece set I got in the late 90s as a Christmas gift from my dad (Ratchets in this kit are VR; OE wrenches are VV). (I found one or two G and GK sockets - could have been switched when working with other tool sets). "Made in USA" stamped on the outside of that blown case. The 1/2"dr have detents like the G; the 3/8"dr and 1/4"dr have stepped detents.

G2 is the individual new socket I got off Ebay. Looks like G1.






They'll be fine for the typical home wrencher. They're not made out of candy like those yummy necklaces are.

I think we have some inconsistencies in the "G" series sockets:

I have some Gx series I picked up over the weekend:

"G" 4mm in 1/4 drive Shiny new bright Chrome, Marked USA: no detents at all!

"G1" Partial set in std and deep metric, clearly older, not a shiny chrome (Yellowish), Marked USA: all have 4 detents.

How are they inconsistent?

G
G1
G2
G2D

Just date stamps

Personally I like the stepped detents but that's just me

GGirl has inconsistencies in detents in her own sets, and inconsistencies to mine...

 

[Outlawmws]

Have you even been to a Sears lately to see for yourself? If not, why do you keep saying they are outsourced?

"Keep saying?" I said it once in the above post, and that was admittedly based on comments others have made here on GJ. If all the sockets and (I think) RP wrenches are still made in the US, what is all the outsource griping about I keep seeing on GJ? Is it only ratchets? (I could have misremembered)

 

[ckadams00]

No.

But I know where to dispose of them so they won't continue to bother you. PM me for my address.

Glad to help.

 

[osborn.ozzy]

imo they are just as strong as any truck brand but they may not be as shiny. My socket set ranges from -v- to G2D date codes and they all perform flawlessly.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I vote for keeping them as they are good sockets. In addition to some full time mechanics using then, most maintenance guys I know use CM sockets for their everyday livelihood and don't have any issues with them.

I have mostly CM sockets with Armstrong sockets filling in the holes and a couple of Blue Points. In the close to thirty years I have owned my CM sockets. I think I returned one or two.

 

[Need4racin]

Forgot to mention the models....brain fart I guess...

Here are two examples of the series:
http://secure.nhbragg.com/product/craftsman-9-43549-3-8-drive-chrome-socket-722466/
http://www.commercial.sears.com/comsale/industrial/toolcat/ti.cgi/keyitem.ti/?tool=9-44432

Was there any 1" or larger c-man sockets in the 60 cent bin?

 

[Outlawmws]

snip
G
G1
G2
G2D

Just date stamps

Lastly, they are not "Just date stamps" They are primarily makers markings tied to the actual manufacturer. In the case of Danaher, there is considerable over lap in dates for some codes, so probably different plants for different tools.

G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979

G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004

G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011

GD = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2003 - 2011

GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 1999 - 2003

GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. ? - 2008.

Credit where credit is due:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807

I have a 90 pc metric set I bought 12 years ago in 2000:

-V- ; Allen wrenches
V^ (upside down V) ; Wrenches
G, G1 ; Sockets
VN : Ratchets
H, G Extensions.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

GGirl has inconsistencies in detents in her own sets, and inconsistencies to mine...

Yup. Also I do not have a full set of 1/2"dr, just the larger of the sub1" sockets since it came in the set with a lot of 3/8"dr sockets.


Also an observation, some G series sockets of mine are very new and shiny and some are the older non-shiny gray (which tell me the G spans a large number of years and makers as Outlaws info shows). Some in my entire collection are bright chrome. Some are more of a yellowish shiny.

Outlaw, PM incoming.

 

[Jim C.]

I think so. I have a couple hundred sockets. All of them are Craftsman from the 80s and early 90s. I also have a few that I bought a few years ago. They're fine. I'm not a pro but I use them a lot and have had no problems with any of them. Sixty cents per socket is a great price. Pick out the ones you need and send the rest to me!!

Jim C.

 

[plinker]

If I found them for 60cent each, I'd buy the tub full of them & re-sell the extras.
Cant go wrong with them.

 

[pipsters]

Lastly, they are not "Just date stamps" They are primarily makers markings tied to the actual manufacturer. In the case of Danaher, there is considerable over lap in dates for some codes, so probably different plants for different tools.

G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979

G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004

G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011

GD = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2003 - 2011

GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 1999 - 2003

GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. ? - 2008.

Credit where credit is due:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807

I have a 90 pc metric set I bought 12 years ago in 2000:

-V- ; Allen wrenches
V^ (upside down V) ; Wrenches
G, G1 ; Sockets
VN : Ratchets
H, G Extensions.

For the sockets in question, they are just date codes. I called Apex and asked why I had some GK and G2D sockets in the same set they shipped. You are correct for other codes and times but not for the ones I posted. All Danaher produced.

Edit...just saw I wrote G, so yeah early G's would be another company.

 

[pipsters]

"Keep saying?" I said it once in the above post, and that was admittedly based on comments others have made here on GJ. If all the sockets and (I think) RP wrenches are still made in the US, what is all the outsource griping about I keep seeing on GJ? Is it only ratchets? (I could have misremembered)

Well I suppose its because they continue to ship more overseas. I bought a ton of Craftsman in 2011 and almost all of what I bought is now Chinese. That being said I don't blame Sears.