Craftsman 3/8 universal

[junkyardjeff]

Broke one and went to the local Sears store and only a 1/4 and 1/2 and no place for a 3/8,went to the Ace hardware that sells Craftsman tools and the same so did they quit making 3/8 universals and maybe time to get a couple off the Snap on truck.

 

[ecotec]

Broke one and went to the local Sears store and only a 1/4 and 1/2 and no place for a 3/8,went to the Ace hardware that sells Craftsman tools and the same so did they quit making 3/8 universals and maybe time to get a couple off the Snap on truck.

The snap on ones are the best. They work at a 90 degree. They are really really expensive, though. I would give Carlyle a look for something cheaper. They do not work as well as snap on. They work better than the Craftsman design.

 

[Wamsutta]

Snap-on does universals very very well. They'll bend almost to a full 90 and keep turning. Same with their universal sockets.

 

[bob15]

First, Craftsman doesn't make anything, they put their name on the product.

Here is the C-man universal: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-universal-joint-3-8-in-drive/p-00904435000P

Snap-On's are nice, but so are Wright, Bonney, SK, Mac, Proto, KD universals that I've used in the past without issues.

 

[franzdom]

Nothing works at 90 degrees. Up to, but not at.

 

[Wamsutta]

It's probably about 87 degrees. The Craftsman wouldn't get anywhere close to that.

 

[mbshop]

I broke a cm 3/8 universal after using it a few times in
1971. I immediately got a snap on one and that was it. Now I have worn out many sonand mac ones through my career but they all took a beating. So just get a so or mac and be done with it.

 

[6PTsocket]

You lived with a Chinese Craftsman or best case bottom tier Apex made tool for who knows how long. It sells for around 10 bucks. A clean USED Snap On is 35 bucks on ebay. I can't imagine what a new one costs. That is like looking for a replacement Ford Fusion and when you can't,find one, deciding you need a Lamborghini. How about Tekton, SK, Wright or Williams that is SnpOn's industrial brand without putting the truck guys kids through college prices. If Craftsman was good enough, buy Husky or Kobalt.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[SMKS]

The Sears store surely would have ordered one for you. Multiple times in recent years Sears stores have ordered an item for warranty and had it shipped to my house.

 

[7avalon7]

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-universal-joint-set/p-00904250000P

 

[Stevenn1]

Sears is dead now and so is their customer service. I had all 3 CM universals and put them in a garage sale because the pins were hollow, thus just an accident waiting to happen. I bought all Snap-on ones and no issues. If you think about it you have a socket, universal, extension, and ratchet all hooked together - so what's the weakest link of the 4? The universal, so don't go cheap on that.

 

[junkyardjeff]

I should have talked to someone at Sears but thought that the people behind the counted would not know too much so I thought I would go to another store and see if it was the same,Snap on was about 52 dollars and the Bluepoint was about 17 dollars. I still have one more Craftsman 3/8 universal in my main tool box and when it breaks and find that I can not get replacements I will step up to a better brand,I do think I have two more in my junkyard box so it might be years before needing to look for a better one but would be nice to replace the broken one now.

 

[junkyardjeff]

It looks like I will have to see if the person behind the counter can get me one.maybe the stores just do not want to stock it these days.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-universal-joint-set/p-00904250000P

 

[Wamsutta]

One thing I should mention, I've got a USA made Williams 1/4" drive universal that's bad-***. It's a Snap-on made universal at a Williams price. It looks identical to a Snap-on without the signature grooves that Snap-on cuts into everything that make.

 

[junkyardjeff]

Just where does one get the Williams tools.

 

[Fedwrench]

Just where does one get the Williams tools.

www.toolsdelivered.com

 

[T45]

I like the idea of the williams universal... Universals and step-down adapters are a couple of things that run the risk of true failure (breakage). Worth it to get something decent if you are hard on them.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I got a snap on 3/8 universal at a pawn shop last Friday in their junk bin for a buck. Some on missed it when sorting the tools.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Just remembered I found a Snap On a couple of months ago at the flea market. Since then I have not needed one, that just proves how good they are lol.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I don't know if they make them or not, but I wouldn't want a new one. I had a set of old USA Craftsman Universals that treated me well for a long time. However, I finally broke the 1/2" version. I took it to Sears to warranty and they gave me a modern Chinese version and it's a piece of ****. It's probably one of the worst quality tools I have. The thing feels cheap, the finish is horrible, the joint is very sloppy and won't stay where I set it, and the sockets have a habit of popping off of it. This thing also feels like it's going to break even being easy on it.

A friend has a newer 3/8" version and it's the same way. It just flops around, it's not tight at all. It's just complete junk.

I don't know what other options are out there, but I'd definitely spend the money on a used SO before I'd buy one of the new Chinese made ones. There may be better ones inbetween though, I have no idea.

 

[Schurkey]

I had all 3 CM universals and put them in a garage sale because the pins were hollow, thus just an accident waiting to happen.

Hollow-pin universal joints are a laceration waiting to happen.

I won't allow them anywhere near me. A person can buy a LOT of tools for what it costs to take time off from work and get stitches.

 

[65k10]

I'm a little reluctant to recommend Williams 3/8 universals since I noticed the few I got in some service sets over the last year had double detents. I'm wondering if these were made for them at the Armstrong plant. I don't think anyone else makes anything with those detents and I can't imagine Williams would make this one item with them. Is it possible Williams had some contracted out for some unknown reason? Hope the attached picture shows what I'm talking about well enough.

 

[Wamsutta]

$12.23 plus whatever the shipping is:

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

 

[JohnDeere1]

I have a Williams USA and it doesn't have double detents ands modern style just older. Just passed on a snap on sliding t and swivel for $15 in 3/8 I usually buy them out of dollar bins depending on brands so I got a few.

 

[Jtels85]

I have "GK" USA Craftsman universals and they've held up great working on some tough jobs. I do prefer the Carlyle's I got from NAPA a couple years back and they take some abuse. As for Sears not stocking the 3/8" universal... the stores near me here in southwest Ohio have a ton of them. What I haven't been able to find at the 7 Sears locations I visit along my travels is the 5 pc. polished offset wrench set in SAE. They have metric, but not SAE. You can't even order it online from Sears to be shipped to the store or home.