Armstrong 15-299?

[drink]

Nope. My tool boxes are very diversified containing a wide variety of brands both domestic and imported, tool truck and non tool truck alike. I opt for what I like and what works for me. I honestly feel that no one brand makes the best of everything so, I use what I feel is the best in class from many brands.

Yep, What you are doing sounds good. I am not trying to be in a peeing contest with you. If they are advertised a certain way and not performing as they should then I would like to know. Some people use hand sockets on impact wrenches and really mess them up. Then they cuss them while saying how sorry of a product they are. Kind of like the Snap-On socket in the picture (left socket next to Allen) I bought on eBay without knowing what the square end looked like.

 

[drink]

I can buy "high alloy steel" sockets off eBay direct from China too. Those most be premium tools using the same steel as armstrong, no?

High alloy and alloy steel are unregulated terms that can refer to any type of steel. They're marketing terms, not scientific terms. Pretty soon we'll see someone advertising "super high alloy steel" or the like. Just because two marketing firms (Craftsman has a separate marketing firm from Armstrong/Apex) choose different terms to describe their products, doesn't make them any different. Unless they actual steel grades, or another term that has a scientific definition, there is no argument in saying a tool is better because one marketing department put the word "high" in from of alloy. And believe me, the descriptions for the tools were not written by the engineers- it was the marketing department who knows as much about tools and steel as mechanics know about nuclear powerplants.

In fact, pretty much anything the marketing department says should be ignored unless it's actually scientific and not meaningless words that make a product sound cool.

Are you Chinese? Do you work at a Chinese restaurant?

 

[ganymede]

.....

 

[bmwrd0]

I ordered VALUE tools from McMaster, and got Armstrong. PREMIUM and got Williams USA. As they were for 1/4" drive I was totally cool with that, as I don't put gnarley torque of that drive size. Also, I kinda like Armstrong...

 

[stage20]

The Allen sockets I have are made pretty good and I think they are better than the Craftsman sockets made during the past 10 years.

sure the allen sockets are better than the current sockets but 10 years ago the allen and the craftsman were the same sockets! the allen was no better, but their logo looked better on the socket, IMO.

allen, armstrong, dont forget the old non williams kobalt USA.... you guessed it. all the same along with craftsman.

 

[Wamsutta]

Several months ago I snapped a few pictures of a Craftsman socket compared to an Armstrong socket. They look a lot alike. However I have not used any precision measuring tools to really tell how close the machining and/or tolerances are.

Precision measuring tools are not good enough. You need to use an electron microscope to verify that the atoms are arranged in the same order.

 

[drink]

If you compare some of the other Armstrong socket sets they have in the catalog I think the Armstrong 15-299 is a good value.

Stage20: I own some Allen tools and I like them. They were marketed with the same specs as the Armstrong version. Once again, I don't know of any of the same specs being mentioned in any of the Craftsman catalogs. Craftsman says alloy steel and nothing more......no testing.....or anything else. Can you prove the Craftsman tools are made the same way?

Wamsutta: Can you post a video on youtube with a presentation of what you are saying?

 

[stage20]

If you compare some of the other Armstrong socket sets they have in the catalog I think the Armstrong 15-299 is a good value.

Stage20: I own some Allen tools and I like them. They were marketed with the same specs as the Armstrong version. Once again, I don't know of any of the same specs being mentioned in any of the Craftsman catalogs. Craftsman says alloy steel and nothing more......no testing.....or anything else. Can you prove the Craftsman tools are made the same way?

Wamsutta: Can you post a video on youtube with a presentation of what you are saying?

do i know for 100% certainty? no. but no way they use different metal to make the same socket. they all run down the same line until they get the name punched into them (or etched for the laser versions) hell i should just call the company and ask. they dont make craftsman anymore so it shouldnt matter.
ive broken armstrongs and craftsmans. they all split in the same spot. lol

 

[drink]

do i know for 100% certainty? no. but no way they use different metal to make the same socket. they all run down the same line until they get the name punched into them (or etched for the laser versions) hell i should just call the company and ask. they dont make craftsman anymore so it shouldnt matter.
ive broken armstrongs and craftsmans. they all split in the same spot. lol

I have never had a Craftsman or Armstrong socket to break. The Armstrong website says the Armstrong sockets in 15-299 are high alloy and Sears website says just allot steel. The high alloy is stronger steel.

 

[drink]

do i know for 100% certainty? no. but no way they use different metal to make the same socket. they all run down the same line until they get the name punched into them (or etched for the laser versions) hell i should just call the company and ask. they dont make craftsman anymore so it shouldnt matter.
ive broken armstrongs and craftsmans. they all split in the same spot. lol

Are you using your hand sockets on an impact wrench or ratchet with a long cheater bar? How much torque have you been applying to your fasteners? Do you break a lot of fasteners off?

 

[ganymede]

.......

 

[stage20]

you must work for armstrong, or have stock in the company.

that better steel they use must take a long time to make considering all the backorders or their products.

 

[drink]

you must work for armstrong, or have stock in the company.

that better steel they use must take a long time to make considering all the backorders or their products.

I currently do not work at Armstrong. However, I do own some Armstrong tools. Sometimes I find far better deals on Armstrong than other brands like Craftsman and Armstrong is made in the USA. Not to mention Armstrong is supposed to be a superior product compared to Craftsman.

The last I heard Armstrong had warehouses in SC and TX to get flooded. They reorganized and are supposed to have manufacturing back up and running.

 

[stage20]

I currently do not work at Armstrong. However, I do own some Armstrong tools. Sometimes I find far better deals on Armstrong than other brands like Craftsman and Armstrong is made in the USA. Not to mention Armstrong is supposed to be a superior product compared to Craftsman.

The last I heard Armstrong had warehouses in SC and TX to get flooded. They reorganized and are supposed to have manufacturing back up and running.

Sure sound like a salesman to me

 

[drink]

Sure sound like a salesman to me

I am currently not a tool salesman but it sounds like a fun job! LOL!

How would you like to buy a 15-199 and a 15-299 from Armstrong? I think they would be excellent sets of tools.

 

[stage20]

id pick up the armstrong ratchets and get some craftsman sockets dont need the case for my application save money and have tools to work with.

 

[drink]

id pick up the armstrong ratchets and get some craftsman sockets dont need the case for my application save money and have tools to work with.

How much are you willing to spend on a set of Craftsman sockets? Would they be both SAE and metric and what drive size?