Craftsman 42 pc. Hex and Torx Bit Socket Super Set

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[billymade]

The Craftsman line of the bit in sockets... aren't exactly the strongest bits out there but not the weakest either! As with most things Craftsman; when on sale these are a pretty good value... think about what environment you are going to use them in. I figure the torx, hex are probably going to fail sooner then the external torx and other bits in the set. For high torque situations you might want to step up to professional grade tools; especially in the torx and possibly the hex type sockets.

 

[mikevango]

I have the craftsman standard hex drivers, they have held up good.
I think the screwdriver bits are filler. I'd like to see this set have tamperproof ROTC instead.

 

[reptilezs]

the hex bits are ok. they do break sometimes. the corners on the hex are not the sharpest so the fit is sloppy

 

[rsanter]

for home use they are good, if you are going to use them hard the allens will twist or round out.
I still have some as a backup but my primarys are snap ons and lisle

bob

 

[Kirbot]

for home use they are good, if you are going to use them hard the allens will twist or round out.
I still have some as a backup but my primarys are snap ons and lisle

bob

Lisle? Really?

I don't know about the hex sockets, but my experience with there torx sockets, is that they are garbage.

 

[sselander]

I snapped a C-Man Torx when working on my Chrysler. I was not even using a cheater.

The replacement one did not snap.

 

[mrholeshot]

I have a set of Craftsman back up hex bits that have been through hell and held up well. With Torx bits I don't find the craftsman very good. The E sockets are probably OK, the screwdriver bits are near useless. I know a few guys having pretty good luck with the HF Pittsburg Torx bits. As was mentioned earlier the Lisle are garbage. One of the Snap-On guys here sells an off brand (gunius?) and swears by them. I have a set of Snap-On and an older set of MAC back ups Torx. Both excellant.

 

[fr0mastaj]

I've had pretty bad experience with the craftsman hex sockets. Used it to tighten a 5mm hex cap screw and it rounded out after the 4th one. I have since gotten it replaced...but dont pull them out too often anymore.

 

[Skin]

e-torx are good, hex are good, torx are a bit on the mushy side. I dont use the screwdriver bits.

Its a cheap set for all the sizes you get and a few times a year it can be gotten down to $60 so i'd give it a thumbs up. Of course cheaper import sets that are probably just as good can be found but thats the same with a lot of things.

I'm a bit more partial to the version with the case myself. More tidy in the box and easy to locate. You sacrifice a couple hex sizes compared to the super set. I'll probably pick up another when it goes on sale again [$70].

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00934845000P

 

[trout]

I have the 56 piece version of that kit. Like everyone else has said they work great most of the time, but eventually you'll either wear them out or you'll end up trying them on a stuck bolt and they'll round out.

 

[Wes28376]

Lisle? Really?

I don't know about the hex sockets, but my experience with there torx sockets, is that they are garbage.

I agree. I have a lisle set and a craftsman set. The craftsman set works pretty good but wouldn't recommend it for anything more than home use. The lisle set is complete garbage. Two of the bits rounded off the first time I used them.

 

[Skin]

I have the 56 piece version of that kit. Like everyone else has said they work great most of the time, but eventually you'll either wear them out or you'll end up trying them on a stuck bolt and they'll round out.

when it comes to the smaller sizes they all wear out. I dont care what brand you buy. A lot of guys abuse the hell out of them and dont stop pulling until its twisted or sheared. The larger sizes are thankfully mostly idiot proof.

 

[trout]

when it comes to the smaller sizes they all wear out. I dont care what brand you buy. A lot of guys abuse the hell out of them and dont stop pulling until its twisted or sheared. The larger sizes are thankfully mostly idiot proof.

I bought a Snap On torx set since that's what I use the most, and under normal circumstances I haven't rounded one yet. The larger ones even hold up to impact use a few times before I need new bits.

The OP might want to check out this recommendation though:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1326152&postcount=14

 

[Skin]

thats a nice set. and a case!

 

[scott37300]

Looks like a pretty complete kit and a decent price. Probably not snap on quality but I believe a snap on kit like that is 7-800 dollars!

I have some craftsman torx and they work for the most part. About 5 years ago I needed to take the seat out of my 00 F150 and it was a T50 or T55 and I bought one at sears and it twisted off, went back 4 more times that day for warranty and used all the ones sears had on the shelf. Finally got it off. Not sure if other bits would of twisted or not but that bolt didn't want to come out.

And another vote for lisle crappy torx sockets.

 

[joshthedieseltech]

The Craftsman line of the bit in sockets... aren't exactly the strongest bits out there but not the weakest either! As with most things Craftsman; when on sale these are a pretty good value... think about what environment you are going to use them in. I figure the torx, hex are probably going to fail sooner then the external torx and other bits in the set. For high torque situations you might want to step up to professional grade tools; especially in the torx and possibly the hex type sockets.

looks like a good set but I too have had the hex ones break only to then be shown up by the $10 harbor freight metric hex set.

Also you might get a lot of sizes and even the phillips and flathead sockets too but really look at it and just think about the ones you'll really use, bet half thoses sizes with gather dust. When was the last tie you needed a flathead socket on a 3/8" ratchet?

disclaimer: in my experience only, others experience may differ

 

[Buckgnarly]

Re: Napa Hex & Torx Set

I found this Napa Hex & Torx set. What do people think of this compared to the Craftsman set?

I've had my NAPA T55 on an impact taking off the bed bolts on a Ranger, held up great. Never had a problem so far with NAPA stuff.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's been my experience that if you're going to use Craftsman bits, then you need to have a back up available for when you break one. For the money they're ok. A few observations: 1) on the larger hex sizes where the end is larger than the shaft that goes into the socket, this creates a weak spt that will twist off failing. 2) there's no tamperproof torx which are fairly common. 3)the e torx sockets don't include an E4 size which is very common on GM stuff like ignition switches.
Despite these drawbacks, it's a worthwhile set when on sale or not used on a daily basis. I would also consider the VIM master set with S2 steel bits.

 

[Avgas]

Anybody have any experience with the gearwrench hex?

http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/bit_sockets/hex/setdetails.jsp?part=80581