Craftsman 1/4 Drive Set

[Provincial]

Saturday I went to an estate sale in town. The wife had kept the deceased husband's stuff and finally passed herself. Lots of woodworking stuff in the garage, but very few old tools. The sale was run by an estate sale company, so few bargains.

I spotted this Craftsman socket case:

I opened the box and saw this:

Since the price was not a bargain, but not too bad for a complete Craftsman pear head set, I bought it. When I got home and looked at it again, I found this:

The ratchet works perfectly, and no damage to any of the components, except that the red tray is starting to fall apart. I had to put a piece of cardboard under the 1/2" socket to bring it up level with the rest, since the bottom was broken out of the tray.

Since this is a collector-grade piece, I think I will trade it for something that I will use, perhaps P&C combo wrenches.

 

[davethorik]

Very nice, I was finding a lot of 1/4 drive sets and they are always missing pieces. Cool you have the cross bar, nice find

 

[Bacon!]

Heh, I have a full set of 1/4 3/8 1/2 and use them regularly. Never really thought about them being collectors items but then they weren't yet when I first started using them, where just the old style with the funny lever and no quick release. Mine were bulk pack though, no case or plastic AFAIK, might've been bundled with a tool chest.

Now I'm wondering if I break a ratchet, should I keep it to rebuild instead of exchange for a new one. Anybody know if there are still compatible rebuild kits for these?

 

[jakemac]

Nice set !
Approx. 1960-1963. Rarely complete, you almost never see the cross bar and the plastic is often missing or broken up. Great grab !

 

[Rileysan]

Nice set! PM sent!

Brian

 

[Travisnd]

I have the exact same set that also includes everything. Very nice!

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have that set, Every thing looks like new old stock, Only thing that is missing is the red insert.

 

[maxcarp709]

Good Score!

 

[tym]

Very nice! My dad has the identical set, but missing one of the sockets. Would you mind listing what sizes are there? I haven't been able to figure out what size is missing from my dad's set (so that I can replace it).

Thanks!

 

[Provincial]

1/2, 7/16, 3/8, 11/32, 5/16. 9/32, 1/4, 7/32, 3/16. All are marked =V=.

 

[tym]

1/2, 7/16, 3/8, 11/32, 5/16. 9/32, 1/4, 7/32, 3/16. All are marked =V=.

Thanks! Will check against my dad's kit, which he acquired used in the 1960s. Someone replaced the missing socket with a 1/4"-to-3/8" drive adapter.

 

[bb_max]

I've got a small SO set that the plastic tray is about shot (duct taped together). I have thought about trying to use some sort of resin or epoxy to fill the back side of it, even if it makes it a solid (heavier) block. Have not figured out what exactly might work yet though.

 

[Makattak81]

I like the case!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Bacon!]

I've got a small SO set that the plastic tray is about shot (duct taped together). I have thought about trying to use some sort of resin or epoxy to fill the back side of it, even if it makes it a solid (heavier) block. Have not figured out what exactly might work yet though.

Solid epoxy would be really heavy.

To keep it light weight you could use tape to seal any cracks, put down a thin layer of epoxy in the bottom with it upside down, let it set, then overfill it with expanding foam, the standard insulation type sold in aerosol cans at hardware stores.

After the foam has set, cut it flush/flat with a fine serrated blade. This would be for your own use/benefit, as it could be hit or miss whether a collector appreciates that kind of repair or just considers it modified in a non-stock way. The epoxy is only used first because it's hard to get expanding foam into little crevices.

 

[four.cycle]

^ gah! you guys are making it too difficult.

two-part epoxy (use the slow-set stuff so you have time to work with it.)
fiberglass cloth.
lay a thin coat of epoxy on the piece you're patching.
apply the fiberglass cloth over the area large enough to cover the hole.
smear a thin layer of epoxy over the fiberglass.
don't try to get too fancy you'll just make a mess and have it all over your fingers.

piece of old cottage cheese or yogurt container makes a dandy spreader.

use this method all the time repairing plastic and metal lawnmower parts. works fine. can be painted after it fully cures.

 

[Bacon!]

^ IMO, fiberglass cloth isn't much fun to stuff into little crannies either, better for larger smoother areas.

There are other ways to reduce epoxy weight, like mixing in a generous amount of sawdust prior to mixing the two parts, considering this is just a filler without need for much strength, but that too is harder to get into crannies on the first pass.

 

[tym]

Interestingly, my dad's set, instead of having the driver with the golden acrylic handle, has a T-handle of the same vintage which I assume to be original to the set.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't think the driver handle came with it. Dad had the same set but the plastic insert died many, MANY years ago.

 

[four.cycle]

"...fiberglass cloth isn't much fun to stuff into little crannies..."

true. that's where the wooden matchsticks come in handy.

 

[Bacon!]

I don't think the driver handle came with it.

I was wondering the same thing, thought it might have been Fuller brand as they used to have some pieces that were translucent yellow with a red end like that, and that they were manufacturing in the US during that era.

 

[bb_max]

Thanks for the restore ideas guys. I've also considered drawing it up in CAD software and having it 3d printed, but have not been THAT bored at work for awhile.

 

[four.cycle]

the spinner looks like maybe it could be a "Companion" brand.

I don't think the driver handle came with it.

I think you are correct, because if you've got the ratchet, breaker, t-bar, 6-inch extension, and 2-inch extension, that little box is pretty full. trying to jam the spinner in there and get the lid closed on those sets can be a challenge.

 

[tym]

Here's a photo of my dad's set. It's missing the 3/16" socket; the adapter was added later. He'll see if the missing socket is kicking around; if not, I'll try to find a =V= replacement.

 

[four.cycle]

a 1/4" drive 3/16" 6-point =V= socket should be fairly easy to find on Ebay.
probably anywhere from $3-$5 - plus a couple bucks for shipping.

 

[tym]

a 1/4" drive 3/16" 6-point =V= socket should be fairly easy to find on Ebay.
probably anywhere from $3-$5 - plus a couple bucks for shipping.

Finally found one. It was in a lot of 22 mixed drive =V= sockets...all for only $22 shipped. So my dad's set is now complete, I have a full set of 1/2" drive sockets, and assorted other 3/8" and 1/4" drive sockets in good/great shape. Can't beat a buck a socket!

 

[maxcarp709]

I just picked up a similar Craftsman 1/4" set,and like yours the plastic tray was broken out where the 1/2 socket sits.Fortunately the broken piece was still there.After some scrubbing the decades of built up grease out of the tray,I was able to glue the piece back in using a LaserBond gizmo my kids got me for Fathers day.It worked out great!I didn`t even have to tape the broken piece on to hold it in place.The set came with a nice Patent# ratchet that is silky smooth,but its missing the 1/2 socket.I will have to track down a V series 1/2 socket

 

[tym]

If the sockets are =V=, I think I have a 1/2" one in the lot of goodies I just got.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Nice set! I pick those up anytime I can.