Craftsman C3 Max Access first impressions

[Danglerb]

Sears being Sears had these priced high, now blowing them out cheap. From a value standpoint I am totally happy, $33 shipped with tax and I have a new C3 Lithium battery to replace the recently deceased NiCad C3 used with inflator and impact, plus this wonky new Max Access thing.

Its big, body is large in my large hands, and on the edge of heavy. Main issue, snapped in the 3/8 square drive adapter and its stuck, and that is a common problem related to tolerances on the retention groove and the wire internal clip.

Smacking it adapter nose down on a bench sometimes I have read in other reviews works, truth be told I don't have a great issue leaving it 3/8 drive and skipping the cost of Max Access socket sets. I've got a year to sort that out while I use the new battery in the other tools.

$33 shipped with calif tax, used $10 SYW surprise points on sale price of $39.95 with free shipping.

Battery is the small Lithium, charger is C3 Universal, manual says 2100mah max battery size. Charger is large and has a noisy fan while actually charging.

Kit comes with 3/8 sq adapter and 3 about 1/2" sockets, plus battery and charger.

 

[Ign]

I also found the charger fan obnoxious, just because I'm not used to my chargers making noise. My shop is noisy so it shouldn't matter, but it always threw me when everything else quieted down and I kept asking myself "What IS that noise??"

 

[Danglerb]

Pushing did nothing to remove the adapter, but sure enough not that much of a nose down tap on a table and it popped right out. Maybe a few cycles and the wire clip will loosen up.

Still unless I see a crazy sale I won't be buying any more Max Access sockets. Rarely used, and I have a cheapo HF manual ratchet pass thru set.

 

[Tsquare]

Sears being Sears had these priced high, now blowing them out cheap. From a value standpoint I am totally happy, $33 shipped with tax and I have a new C3 Lithium battery to replace the recently deceased NiCad C3 used with inflator and impact, plus this wonky new Max Access thing.

Its big, body is large in my large hands, and on the edge of heavy. Main issue, snapped in the 3/8 square drive adapter and its stuck, and that is a common problem related to tolerances on the retention groove and the wire internal clip.

Smacking it adapter nose down on a bench sometimes I have read in other reviews works, truth be told I don't have a great issue leaving it 3/8 drive and skipping the cost of Max Access socket sets. I've got a year to sort that out while I use the new battery in the other tools.

$33 shipped with calif tax, used $10 SYW surprise points on sale price of $39.95 with free shipping.

Battery is the small Lithium, charger is C3 Universal, manual says 2100mah max battery size. Charger is large and has a noisy fan while actually charging.

Kit comes with 3/8 sq adapter and 3 about 1/2" sockets, plus battery and charger.

This tool is a steal in the $30's. As far as the 3/8 sq adapter getting stuck, just hit it with a stiff rubber mallet. I have been charging lipo batteries for last eight years for my RC cars and the best chargers have fans, I like this charger having a fan - it's a nice safety feature.

 

[Danglerb]

No fan on my RC charger, Imax B6, no issues yet either.

Ebay is already filled (dozen or so) of people buying this and parting the kit out.