Craftsman 85pc Max Axess

[malibulvr]

So, mother in-law heard I like tools and decided to buy me a set for Christmas. I have to say I like the look of these tools and that they fit many different size/type sockets. I have not used these yet. I am a little concerned about where they are made...wait for it...CHINA! These would be my first Chinese Crapsman tools, has anyone had any luck with these? Should I not tell her and take them back? LOL.

 

[85camaro]

Big deal, so they're made in China. It only counts against you if you bought them yourself.

 

[retDAC]

Look over the sockets very closely. The final machining on the working ends sometimes is poor. You won't get perfect so just go for fairly good if you need to exchange any.

I suspect the painted on markings will wear off with heavy use. You can get premade stick on size labels. If you need a light color to help find dropped ones, you best paint them ahead of time.

One caveat regarding all Craftsman spline tools (Max Axess non-hex and Universal): They will not turn partially rounded fasteners. All the other claims regarding 6 point, 12 point, 4 point, E-torx, and spline they should do at least fairly well with.

Remember you didn't pay a lot for this for what it is. Somewhere on this board someone took prices from some '60s C-man catalogs, adjusted for inflation, and discovered the same or equivalent items today are actually lower priced.

 

[GoodEnough]

Say thank you and use them

 

[Jswain]

Throw them in the car and you may thank her when you need them

 

[oldldh]

Say thanks to the nice lady, and use them as intended...

After all, the price was right...

 

[nicksnothereman]

So, mother in-law heard I like tools and decided to buy me a set for Christmas. I have to say I like the look of these tools and that they fit many different size/type sockets. I have not used these yet. I am a little concerned about where they are made...wait for it...CHINA! These would be my first Chinese Crapsman tools, has anyone had any luck with these? Should I not tell her and take them back? LOL.

That's a lot of access. You working inside a 2 foot x 2 foot box on a space shuttle?

It's funny because most of the other thru socket sets are taiwan (for now). But hey, free is free. Quality wise these are probably okay. They look okay to me. If they're not the ones that are both metric and sae (probably because there's so many of them) then they're probably less like to strip bolts which is a plus.

Something about looking a gift horse in the mouth and not to do it that I never understood because I don't know who's giving horses with gingivitis as gifts and whether or not it offends the gift giver or the horse itself. All I know is you're not supposed to do it.

 

[malibulvr]

Going to keep them, will break them out tomorrow, have some wrenching to do.

 

[Aquaticbob]

Going to keep them, will break them out tomorrow, have some wrenching to do.

If you have other tools, that box is perfect for putting in the trunk as a just in case. I'm building a trunk tool set currently

 

[kenburkholz]

Never having used a set like this, I can't say, but the concept looks very interesting, I would like to try them. Use the snot out of them, and thank her for the great gift! Ken.

 

[Skin]

Should I not tell her and take them back? LOL.

I suspect this is sarcasm but if it isnt don't ever be a tool snob to the point where you lose your morals and start insulting people and making them feel bad.

The GW version actually gets rave reviews (also made in China). They're actually very useful sets and given what it costs you, i'd personally be pretty happy were I in your shoes. My only complaint with that particular set is its spline which has been hit and miss with me. The good news is it doesn't seem like they're trying to pass it off with sizes that fit both standard and metric which earlier sets did so they didn't work that great around corrosion. Spline needs to fit 6pt fasteners snug to work well. All in all I think you did pretty well. She could of gotten you a bionic wrench. USA made and most useful as a paper weight.