Craftsman 282 Pc. Gunmetal Set @ Lowe’s

[Jtels85]

Hi guys!

I’m not sure how long this has been out as I seem to recall the 150 Pc. Gunmetal set to be the largest quantity offering... but Lowe’s now has a 282 Pc. set available for $349.99. There’s some filler in there, but not much. It looks like a fairly comprehensive set. I stopped by Lowe’s yesterday for some things and went to check it out. It comes in a cardboard box, not a blow mold case of any kind.

For those of you who own the Gunmetal tools, I have two questions.

1. Do the sockets have that double detent on the drive end or are they a completely new design for Craftsman?

2. I know the 120 ratchets are not serviceable. How do you guys like yours and do you think they’ll hold up to the test of time?

Thanks!

 

[Jtels85]

Anyone?

Maybe not that interesting of a topic?

 

[PhantomEB]

If I didn’t already have a fully loaded socket tray in all Chrome, I so would go the 282.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I haven't actually seen the drive end of those sockets. Design wise the Craftsman/Stanley Fat Max gun metal chrome ratchets are very similar to the GW 120XP ratchets. I don't see why they won't hold up fine. That being said, I'd buy the 120xp ratchets if they are cheaper and because of they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

 

[850csi]

Does anyone have any experience with this set? I bought it recently on sale for $160 and trying to figure out if I should keep it or look for something else.

(DIY mechanic)

 

[qqzj]

This is a pretty good set. I would keep it if I don't already have several sets. BTW, some information is strong. I read these cannot be serviced, and they're similar to GearWrench ratchets. But GW ratchets can be serviced. What is going on here?

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[Andres26tnt]

This is a pretty good set. I would keep it if I don't already have several sets. BTW, some information is strong. I read these cannot be serviced, and they're similar to GearWrench ratchets. But GW ratchets can be serviced. What is going on here?

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It's a sealed ratchet, the mechanism is similar to the gear wrench(two pawls).
this in all honesty should be no issue, only a few people buying this ever "service" a ratchet. this forum forgets that the majority of people buying tools at lowes arent tool addicts.

 

[seber]

I have enough trouble keeping my plated tools rust free. I can't imagine the maintenance headache of that set.

 

[Made in USA]

the set is gunmetal chrome plated. So it is plated, just more of a grayish chrome.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-282-piece-Gunmetal-Chrome-Mechanic-s-Tool-Set/1002618996

 

[qqzj]

How is it sealed? Most GW ratchets have snap ring on the bottom. These tools are always locked in a box, I can't play with them. Also it seems this is a premium Craftsman set that Lowe's won't carry no more. If it's discontinued, future warranty is less than satisfactory.

It's a sealed ratchet, the mechanism is similar to the gear wrench(two pawls).
this in all honesty should be no issue, only a few people buying this ever "service" a ratchet. this forum forgets that the majority of people buying tools at lowes arent tool addicts.

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[qqzj]

There's a YouTube video here. The ratchets are indeed non service able. Wow, I didn't see that coming. This is really unusual. Why would Craftsman do this?

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[ike]

They are just rebadged Stanley ratchets. Stanley was selling those ratchets in cheap socket sets back before they purchased Craftsman.

I looked at Craftsman tools at Lowes the other day, not to buy, just to browse. I was pretty surprised by the prices. Pretty steep prices for Chinesium tools.

 

[Kscardsfan]

They are just rebadged Stanley ratchets. Stanley was selling those ratchets in cheap socket sets back before they purchased Craftsman.

I looked at Craftsman tools at Lowes the other day, not to buy, just to browse. I was pretty surprised by the prices. Pretty steep prices for Chinesium tools.

I make a point to say something about bringing home production whenever I see a new social media post from them. If I want Chinese communist re-education camp assembled tools, I’ll buy them at harbor freight without the premium price.

 

[Fedwrench]

The ratchets are indeed non service able. Wow, I didn't see that coming. This is really unusual. Why would Craftsman do this?

Perhaps it reduces production costs

I do know that Craftsman's parent company Stanley, possibly produced non serviceable ratchets first. Facom/USAG also offer non serviceable ratchets along with Wera. I'm sure there are others too.
It's probably ok given the lifecycle of modern tools but, I prefer the option of being able to take a ratchet apart to clean, inspect, & lube as needed versus soaking the head in ATF.

 

[American Locomotive]

There's a YouTube video here. The ratchets are indeed non service able. Wow, I didn't see that coming. This is really unusual. Why would Craftsman do this?

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...because Craftsman doesn't really exist as an entity. It's just a name now owned by Stanley Black & Decker.

A brand that has to compete against SB&D's other brands that all sell hand tools in the US:
- Proto
- Mac
- Stanley
- Irwin
- DeWalt

...and then it also has to compete against all of their Power Tool brands too:
- DeWalt
- Porter Cable
- Black and Decker
- MAC
- Bostitch

Do you think SB&D is going to have 8+ different design teams, engineering teams and factories producing all these brands? Nope. They're going to consolidate as much as they can under one roof, slap a different sticker on the tools and call it a day.

 

[Fedwrench]

...because Craftsman doesn't really exist as an entity. It's just a name now owned by Stanley Black & Decker.
Do you think SB&D is going to have 8+ different design teams, engineering teams and factories producing all these brands? Nope. They're going to consolidate as much as they can under one roof, slap a different sticker on the tools and call it a day.

I've got no problem with that. However, I wish the stanley people would have chosen Blackhawk or Dewalt mechanics tools to rebadge as Craftsman instead of bottom rung Stanley stuff.

 

[Jacobson]

Anyone?

Maybe not that interesting of a topic?

Everyone on this forum has owned a mechanic's set for many years.
That is the last thing anyone here is shopping for

 

[qqzj]

That's too bad. I thought badge engineering has been proved a bad strategy by GM.

I am going to retire my USA Craftsman tools, so I was eyeing this set seriously. I would always give the benefit of doubt to Craftsman over Husky or Kobalt. Now I have to reconsider. The 243 piece set from GearWrench is nice, but that's almost triple the price.

So disappointed.

...because Craftsman doesn't really exist as an entity. It's just a name now owned by Stanley Black & Decker.

A brand that has to compete against SB&D's other brands that all sell hand tools in the US:
- Proto
- Mac
- Stanley
- Irwin
- DeWalt

...and then it also has to compete against all of their Power Tool brands too:
- DeWalt
- Porter Cable
- Black and Decker
- MAC
- Bostitch

Do you think SB&D is going to have 8+ different design teams, engineering teams and factories producing all these brands? Nope. They're going to consolidate as much as they can under one roof, slap a different sticker on the tools and call it a day.

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[Jtels85]

Everyone on this forum has owned a mechanic's set for many years.
That is the last thing anyone here is shopping for

My bad, I didn’t realize you spoke for everyone on GarageJournal. I’ll think twice next time before I ask a question.

 

[MJO]

Love the trays they come in, wish I could buy just the trays, for the tools I'm sticking with USA made new or used.

 

[bushmechanic]

My bad, I didn’t realize you spoke for everyone on GarageJournal. I’ll think twice next time before I ask a question.

Was the question posed on a weekend?

People read Garage Journal when they're supposed to be working... It's slower when people are on their own time.

 

[56Mark]

They have got to be better than the set I bought about 10 years ago at a black Friday sale at Sears. I guess this was before Stanley was involved. It was one of those sets in a plastic 3 drawer box that had basic 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drives in SAE and metric and a basic set of wrenches in both, plus the Allan wrenches to get the tool count up. I will have to say these have to be the worst sockets and ratchets I have ever owned, not near as good as old USA Craftsman. I keep this set in the truck tool box in the bed of my truck and they have been handy but I fuss every time I use them. And, I am not high end hand tool owner and consider these junk. These really turned me off to Craftsman.

 

[Jacobson]

I am going to retire my USA Craftsman tools, ]

Why would you do that?

 

[qqzj]

Since I won't get a USA made replacement, they essentially don't have warranty now. One of the ratchet went bad on me, and it took me a long time and a lot of money to get an identical copy from eBay.

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[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve looked at those sets they seem nice but I don’t know considering I’ve broken almost ever Stanley Craftsman tool I have their impact sockets are horrible so I’m going to steer clear of the brand for awhile I think The Backwoods Mechanic on YouTube likes the Gunmetal ones really well he made a video about them.


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[sk farmer]

Since I won't get a USA made replacement, they essentially don't have warranty now. One of the ratchet went bad on me, and it took me a long time and a lot of money to get an identical copy from eBay.

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so let me get this straight. you searched ebay for an identical ************* ratchet and paid too much for it.

unless it was a rhft with thumbwheel you should have just pitched it in the **** and searched ebay for a decent ratchet. almost anything is better than that. as far as most any other tool there are guys here with buckets full of sockets along with pawn shops. a broken cman ratchet? somebody here probably had the parts to fix it. they are easy to come by.

you looked in the wrong place.

 

[qqzj]

I took it to Sears and they told me that there's something wrong with the blank ratchet. So it cannot be fixed. They gave a USA made v series ratchet, though.

The USA cman set, for whatever reason I don't know, has higher market price increasingly. I can easily sell my set for a lot more than what I paid for. So to me, they're better tools than more expensive one. Anyhow, I actually don't care whether they are **** or not, as long as they are mine, I took care of them anyway I can.

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[qqzj]

The Backwoods Mechanic on YouTube likes the Gunmetal ones really well he made a video about them.
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That guy just likes to talk and offers his opinions. In the end, opinions can only be useful to a degree, esp. given everyone has different opinions. Client Graphics is a much better channel. A lot of things like maximum torque and back drag can all be measured. And the results from measurement can often be very different from the common opinions offered by guys like Backwoods. I much prefer to watch youtube videos that show how to use certain tools than rating tools just by opinions.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

That guy just likes to talk and offers his opinions. In the end, opinions can only be useful to a degree, esp. given everyone has different opinions. Client Graphics is a much better channel. A lot of things like maximum torque and back drag can all be measured. And the results from measurement can often be very different from the common opinions offered by guys like Backwoods. I much prefer to watch youtube videos that show how to use certain tools than rating tools just by opinions.

He does use some of them from time to time. In my opinion he is great so is Client Graphics


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[Jtels85]

He does use some of them from time to time. In my opinion he is great so is Client Graphics


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I like both of those guys as well. They have good, informative content in their channels.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I like both of those guys as well. They have good, informative content in their channels.

I agree. The Backwoods Mechanic just put out a new video of him actually using some of his newer tools to review so that was good.


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