Hey guys as a young guy starting to build up my toolbox I was wondering what you guys thought were some of your favorite craftsman tools available at sears. My sockets and ratchets are all craftsman and so are my wrenches all U.S.A raised panel stock. I've been keeping an eye on the 41 pc. screwdriver set the 3 piece professional pry bar set and a 4 piece plier set but i've also been looking at a few other brands of tools at harry epstein that i'd like to get my hands on. However getting tools at sears is extremely convenient for me so i wanted to know what you guys thought.
Best Craftsman Tools
- Thread starter bigjeff94
- Start date
For me, I started buying in the early 1980's. At the time for a teen, doing work on hot rods, Craftsman ratchets and sockets and screwdrivers fit the bill well. At the time they were light years ahead of some of the dime store junk tools my father had where the screw driver stripped and the screw didn't LOL. I still have them, but mostly I really like the diagnostic stuff, I still have the dwell tach, compression, vacumm testers etc. All still work like new over 35 years later.
Thanks wagzilla. I'm studying to become a Mine Engineer but I'm working summers and winters as a repair welder at a materials processing plant and were expected to also be able to work with the millwrights so now that i'm getting to old to mooch off of my dads tools it's time i build my set. I'm looking for a set that'll make it through some tough industrial work and hopefully last a lifetime.
Toyota mechanic
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http://www.sears.com/craftsman-12-p...p-00929450000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6
The long pattern double boxes are a favorite for me to this day.
The long pattern double boxes are a favorite for me to this day.
oldldh
Well-known member
Tellingthem
Well-known member
I think the stubby wrenches are pretty good.(The USA 20pc set that is) http://www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-20-pc-standard-and-metric-full/p-00934956000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I think the pliers are simply ok if you get a set on sale,
They are not impressive, however good enough for my use
I do not see them standing up in an everyday setting...
speaking for the
8in long nose
8in slip joint
7in diagonal
6in diagonal
10in arc joint
buying individually NO WAY, way overpriced in my opinion
for made in usa they are the easily avail option
channel lock is another option
pros
easily available and on sale pretty often
made usa
warranty
con
plastic handle simply blows
not impressive
They are not impressive, however good enough for my use
I do not see them standing up in an everyday setting...
speaking for the
8in long nose
8in slip joint
7in diagonal
6in diagonal
10in arc joint
buying individually NO WAY, way overpriced in my opinion
for made in usa they are the easily avail option
channel lock is another option
pros
easily available and on sale pretty often
made usa
warranty
con
plastic handle simply blows
not impressive
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AceofSpad3s
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Off topic but I would suggest taking a good look at husky, I like the stuff for the price plus the warranty is really good. Considering sears is in deep **** and could go down if they do bad this Christmas from what I have heard,I would be cautious.
John in OH
Well-known member
I've always liked the red & black handled Cman Pro screwdrivers; however, Sears has discontinued them (grrrr!!). But, some are still available on the clearance racks (but not discounted in price). If you like these screwdrivers, they are available from SK as their cushion grip line .... but, of course, the handles are green & black!
Those long pattern double boxes referenced by Toyota Mechanic are also nice ... especially if you can find a USA set.
Those long pattern double boxes referenced by Toyota Mechanic are also nice ... especially if you can find a USA set.
I believe anything that is a craftsman must have is no longer for sale in stores
online there are a couple of things
3 pc full polished ratchet set $41 simply because it's a classic USA
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc...p-00944803000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I got these socket sets
3/8's 52pc USA
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-52-pc-easy-read-socket-set-6/p-00935747000P?prdNo=23
1/2 49pc
can't find the link anymore
be sure to use the save15 code on $75 dollars of merchandise
online there are a couple of things
3 pc full polished ratchet set $41 simply because it's a classic USA
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc...p-00944803000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I got these socket sets
3/8's 52pc USA
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-52-pc-easy-read-socket-set-6/p-00935747000P?prdNo=23
1/2 49pc
can't find the link anymore
be sure to use the save15 code on $75 dollars of merchandise
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wild cowboy
Banned
you can get the discontinued Craftsman Professional strikable pry bars under the Mayhew brand (Craftsman's OEM) - try zoro tools or Tooltopia for good prices.
FOCUS.FREAK
Well-known member
Craftsman 36in pry bar. Now on sale I think for another week at 16 and some change.
-Jordan
-Jordan
Hammer1963
Well-known member
The dark Brown wood handled Ball pein hammers, cross pein hammer, drilling hammer are all top quality
woody 73
Well-known member
I think you missed the sale but not to long ago Sears had the Industrial wrench sets in their outlet stores, you might have good luck if you use Ebay and pick up a set.
bcradio
Well-known member
skip the clear handle screwdrivers as there are better options.
The thin profile ratchets are nice if you are looking to upgrade your existing. Look at Williams or Wiha for your screw-driving needs.
The thin profile ratchets are nice if you are looking to upgrade your existing. Look at Williams or Wiha for your screw-driving needs.
3/8 premium 84t ratchet. I love it! Then I bought the 1/2" version. I love it more! They probably get close to the price of tool truck brands, but I live in the sticks, so that idea was out. I hope I don't get flamed for liking a Craftsman ratchet...
Moose97
Well-known member
I think the Craftsman line is a great way to go for a young guy starting out. I've had mine for years and they hold up great. Still buying them. Good selection and a good price.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I have a Craftsman 3 piece stubby, double box end set in SAE. Very handy. I wish they made the same for metric.
wild cowboy
Banned
hey young guy original poster:
let you in on a little secret,
There is very little, if any, difference in quality and durability among the USA and Taiwan tools from the following brands:
Mac
Matco
Craftsman (USA and Taiwan only)
Cornwell
Carlyle
Snap-On
Wright
Armstrong
SK
Williams
Proto
Kobalt
Easco
Taiwan-built Harbor Freight (not the China stuff)
and a few others I could name
Don't let price be an indicator of quality, in tools, once you are at a certain level of quality, it just doesn't get much better
In fact, many of these brands are made by other companies on this list, for example, Armstrong makes a lot of Matco tools, Williams has built many tools for Snap-On and Kobalt, my Carlyle roto ratchet is built for Mac and Cornwell, etc.
let you in on a little secret,
There is very little, if any, difference in quality and durability among the USA and Taiwan tools from the following brands:
Mac
Matco
Craftsman (USA and Taiwan only)
Cornwell
Carlyle
Snap-On
Wright
Armstrong
SK
Williams
Proto
Kobalt
Easco
Taiwan-built Harbor Freight (not the China stuff)
and a few others I could name
Don't let price be an indicator of quality, in tools, once you are at a certain level of quality, it just doesn't get much better
In fact, many of these brands are made by other companies on this list, for example, Armstrong makes a lot of Matco tools, Williams has built many tools for Snap-On and Kobalt, my Carlyle roto ratchet is built for Mac and Cornwell, etc.
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BirdMobile
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The 2 Cobra set of pliers marked "Made in Germany". They are Knipex, with different colored handles.
I personally paid more for actual Knipex brand, I can't stomach giving Sears any of my money any more.
JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
Well-known member
I am convinced you are either anti USA or you cannot afford top quality tools built in the USA. You're always dissing great brands in favor of Taiwan. Btw Williams is an industrial rebrand of Snap On, Snap on owns the Williams name. Same with Matco and Armstrong I believe. Craftsman used to make quality American tools but pissed a lot of people off when they started outsourcing to China. Regardless, I believe Craftsman is a cheap cost effective way to start out and build up a tool collection. Once you start wrenching more you'll discover what you would like to upgrade and you can go from there.
wild cowboy
Banned
everyone always beats up on Sears, and they have done some underhanded stuff, off-shoring some of our "forever warranty" USA made tools, but in their defense, who else has had a no hassle, no questions asked warranty on tools for the last 50 years or more?
beat up on the tool trucks, who charge 8 or 10 times the price for roughly equivalent quality tools and then want to give me flack on the warranty worthiness of my claim .... ugh!
For the love of god man... Not every thread on the forum revolves around your warranty problems.
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JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
Well-known member
Maybe his Snap On dealer doesn't like cry babies?
I've never had a problem warranting any tools I broke or had issues with regardless of whether is was Snap On or Craftsman.wild cowboy
Banned
I own more USA made tools than any other country, by a wide margin, I am not anti-USA or anti-Taiwan or anti-Germany or anti-Japan - I am pro-quality
I have a substantial amount of every tool brand I listed above, and 98% of the time, there isn't didley-squat difference in the quality
right now I am going through tools to return, got some Craftsman (USA) with cracking chrome, got a Snap-On semi-deep FSMS15 socket that sheared using a ratchet, have a Matco (USA) ratcheting wrench that has locked up due to rust and has never been left in the weather, so a few tools of all brands will fail, but 98% of ALL of those I listed above are fine, so I feel bad for the folks who got themselves buried in debt thinking that a certain brand was far better than anything else.
and I am not dissing any brand, but I am finding that the Taiwan stuff is holding up at least as well as the USA stuff, so far, and some of it is 20 years old, so I certainly got my money's worth, 10 fold!
I drive Japanese cars and trucks because they are far more reliable than any other country's cars and trucks, so could you send me some money for parts so I can drive 'murican?
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Don 18
Well-known member
This thread restorer is handy and I think it does go on sale cheaper from time to time:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-48-p...p-00942275000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
PS same manufacturer as the s.o. set
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-48-p...p-00942275000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
PS same manufacturer as the s.o. set
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Industrial use you probably want some of the armstrong (craftsman industrial) stuff. Don't need it right now though. Other stuff (even chinese) will do fine if you work in a fairly "torque safe" drive (1/2 or 3/4). Don't bother with the large driver set because no one is attached to a single style of screwdriver...no one!
Can't comment on the pliers, don't know the duty requirement they'll be used for, I work with far less (kobalt chinese) most of the time. Okay for me not going to be okay for industrial.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Best bet is to go to nearby stores and look at the far back of the tool stack on the shelf to see if there is NOS USA items that are now China. Use the shop your way rewards program also!
Please explain to me why I start to read a thread, then Wild Cowboy shows up and it turns to ****. Seriously dude get the bent stick out of your *** or stfu.
OP, here is what I would get. Some of it I have, some I'd get if I didn't have that kind. Keep in mind most of my tools are not super high end, some HF, some GW, some cman, a few SO, Knipex, Klein, CL.
Pry bars (mayhew not the solid red handles) especially that 10" that mofo is useful everywhere
thread restorer kit
bolt outs
snap ring pliers (unless you got deep pockets these are the best; the price gap from them to knipex or SO is huge)
Some things you can get but aren't 'soooooo much better' than similar priced options
flare wrenches (get a lot of mixed reviews here, my USA RP ones are fine but not overworked)
hammers
sockets, torx, hex bits, anything you put on a ratchet
wrenches (not the RP's, anything better can be great value on a good sale but regular prices are not a great bargain considering the warranty; this is where you would want to look at SK, Armstrong, etc)
Personally I would avoid most screwdrivers, impact stuff, power tools (some are ok but I can't think of a current one I'd want), pliers, ratchets, specialty ****, etc.
OP, here is what I would get. Some of it I have, some I'd get if I didn't have that kind. Keep in mind most of my tools are not super high end, some HF, some GW, some cman, a few SO, Knipex, Klein, CL.
Pry bars (mayhew not the solid red handles) especially that 10" that mofo is useful everywhere
thread restorer kit
bolt outs
snap ring pliers (unless you got deep pockets these are the best; the price gap from them to knipex or SO is huge)
Some things you can get but aren't 'soooooo much better' than similar priced options
flare wrenches (get a lot of mixed reviews here, my USA RP ones are fine but not overworked)
hammers
sockets, torx, hex bits, anything you put on a ratchet
wrenches (not the RP's, anything better can be great value on a good sale but regular prices are not a great bargain considering the warranty; this is where you would want to look at SK, Armstrong, etc)
Personally I would avoid most screwdrivers, impact stuff, power tools (some are ok but I can't think of a current one I'd want), pliers, ratchets, specialty ****, etc.
joseph.a.owens.9
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Yawn
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kbradley4333
Member
ive always like the craftsman usa raised panel wrenches, even more than the proffesional line it comes down to what feels best in your hands. what type of work are you looking to do?
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
98% of my tools are Craftsman. 90% of my tools are over 25 years old.
Lately I have been buying some "specialty" tools (extra long bent needle nose pliers, small hose grip pliers) and have found acceptable quality and excellent price at HF. Latest addition was a disc brake rewinder kit. Generic Chinese from eBay.
Lately I have been buying some "specialty" tools (extra long bent needle nose pliers, small hose grip pliers) and have found acceptable quality and excellent price at HF. Latest addition was a disc brake rewinder kit. Generic Chinese from eBay.
zakmartin
Well-known member
In my experience, Armstrong and Craftsman Industrial are miles apart in terms of overall quality and comfort. Armstrong comes out on top every time. I gave most of my Craftsman Industrial stuff (purchased in a 154 piece kit) away to my nephew. Compared to the Craftsman Professional tools I bought 20 years ago, the Industrial stuff is basically a joke. The first time I picked up a Craftsman Industrial RP "wrench", I said, "You have GOT to be kidding!"
chicane
Well-known member
Oh PAH LEEZE. Spare us this tripe. There are tons of pros here with Cman in their boxes.
chicane
Well-known member
Husky is ****. Craftsman will outlive Sears that is not even in doubt. Craftsman is basically a retail brand. Nothing more. They make NOTHING. They produce NOTHING. They simply pick and choose from various tool manufacturers and provide warranty services. As long as they can pick good manufacturers (hopefully US made) and provide warranty services Cman tools could be sold anywhere and for a very long time.
66354dream
Well-known member
sberry
Banned
I am a heatin and a beatin pro and I use Cman.
I am a pro and have some craftsman. If I was starting out I would buy (USA only [and that's my personal principal]) from craftsman
1) the 20 piece stubby wrench set. Best value anywhere in stubbies. Don't forget to add the 9mm, 21mm and 22mm (yes I use this one all the time). And the 1".
2) the 5 piece PRO prybar set. Same as what's sold on the matco truck for way cheaper.
3) the 299 chrome socket set. I still use cman chromes a lot.
4) a SAE pro/industrial wrench set. Most work is metric for me so I opt for snap on there but for less used SAE the pro wrench set IMO is fantastic.
The pro screwdrivers and torx screwdrivers are good but discontinued. Maybe still available in packages online. I agree with another poster, I'd go channellock for pliers if I did it again.
1) the 20 piece stubby wrench set. Best value anywhere in stubbies. Don't forget to add the 9mm, 21mm and 22mm (yes I use this one all the time). And the 1".
2) the 5 piece PRO prybar set. Same as what's sold on the matco truck for way cheaper.
3) the 299 chrome socket set. I still use cman chromes a lot.
4) a SAE pro/industrial wrench set. Most work is metric for me so I opt for snap on there but for less used SAE the pro wrench set IMO is fantastic.
The pro screwdrivers and torx screwdrivers are good but discontinued. Maybe still available in packages online. I agree with another poster, I'd go channellock for pliers if I did it again.
Toyota mechanic
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I am one of them............ Plenty strong, just not as pretty! lol