Craftsman Flex made in USA ratchets worth 60?

[2001ZR2]

Have the opportunity to buy 3 USA made Craftsman ratchets

1/2 Flex Head -V- 44984
3/8 Flex Head VVR 44815
1/2 STD -V- 44977

Ok used condition and not a need more of the usual factor.

 

[Tractorsellr]

Ive had that same 1/2 flex head forever, never failed to work.

 

[3baygarage]

You can break it down as 30, 20, and 10. Not the worst price, but not a screaming deal. Maybe they’d take 50.

 

[WWheeler]

If you look at the 'sold' listings on ebay, either of the flex heads routinely sell for north of $40.

 

[KnurledNut]

The 44984 1/2 QR flex with hourglass shaped selector was not a very strong ratchet mechanism given the long handle driving it.
The 44815 3/8 QR flex probably has more real world demand and higher resale value.
The 44977 1/2 is the most reliable of the three being a RHFT. That said, they are neither rare nor expensive.

Are they worth $60. Only you can answer that.
Personally, no.
I might give $15 for the 44984 because I need the guts for a busted torque wrench!
The 44977 is worth $20 IMO if you need a 1/2 ratchet.

 

[2001ZR2]

Hmm Thank you for the things to think about...I thought the price was steep until I checked Ebay but they will come down...

3 dollars

I will sleep on it and if someone else scoops it up so be it.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

The Craftsman name makes the RHFT ratchets a bit more costly then their regular ratchets. I bought mine when Sears still sold them. When I saw them used on Ebay, and found out they were also sold under different names, just a bit differently, I bought the Easco ones, with the SK style round knurled handle, for less. I actually prefer that handle style.

 

[rust in the eye]

$60, $50? I don't think you are getting hurt either way.
I have the 1/2 flex head and it has served very well for a very long time. Nothing particularly precise about it and not the most comfortable handle but does the job (my jobs anyway) just fine.

 

[Skellyii]

Have the opportunity to buy 3 USA made Craftsman ratchets

1/2 Flex Head -V- 44984
3/8 Flex Head VVR 44815
1/2 STD -V- 44977

Ok used condition and not a need more of the usual factor.

Picked up a 44815 at a hoarder sale last weekend, a 44977 a few months ago at an estate sale.

Both were in excellent condition and dirt cheap.

I see we're in the same area, try some of the estate sales around here, they have lots of Craftsman stuff. Some is reasonable priced, some dirt cheap and some is ridiculous.

 

[nh_yota]

I've had the 44984 for 20+ years and it's held up great considering how many times I've used it as a breaker bar. I retired it to my reserve tool collection a few years ago (along with most of my Craftsman hand tools) because it's no longer made and I don't want to break it.

 

[lund]

I've had the 44984 for 20+ years and it's held up great considering how many times I've used it as a breaker bar. I retired it to my reserve tool collection a few years ago (along with most of my Craftsman hand tools) because it's no longer made and I don't want to break it.

Not meaning to pick on nh_yota here or be a cantankerous old codger ... but I never understood the not wanting to use a tool since it might break thing. These are tools, not jewelry. Plus Craftsman lines are mostly ok but not high grade tools. Yes, I realize people sometimes collect or want complete sets of like brand in a collectors mindset (even if not fully collecting). No crime in doing that and to each their own, but I never understood the motivation for that mindset with a tool set. If you use mid-level mechanics tools reasonably, it is relatively hard to break them. I have a lot of ratchets (mixed brand) and use what fits the application within bounds within heavy and regular DIY use (with a good fraction of it in the rust belt which means dealing with many stuck fasteners). I do not think I have broken a single ratchet in 40ish years of regular use. I do not use pipes on ratchets and just go up in size when something is stuck for the higher strength and rigidity or go over to impact or a larger breaker bar if possible. An easy to open ratchet might get cleaned and lubed every 10 years and a harder to open one soaked in ATF, but that is it other than keeping them clean enough and lightly oiled (WD-40) post work flurries. If a ratchet ever did break, I would probably not even want to use it again enough to fix it vs go to something else since I would no longer trust it not to slip and bang my hand or worse. So I would trash it or repair and donate it to someone who might want it for more limited scope work.

I would add that the only mechanics hand tools (mostly Craftsman pro level and better stuff) that I have had trouble with over the years are crows feet and flare wrenches due to spreading, needle nose vice grips, and various pullers. Gauges, pumps, etc are another story ...

 

[nh_yota]

Not meaning to pick on nh_yota here or be a cantankerous old codger ... but I never understood the not wanting to use a tool since it might break thing. These are tools, not jewelry. Plus Craftsman lines are mostly ok but not high grade tools.

I have two houses and I have tools at each house. My Craftsman stuff (also known as my reserve collection) is kept at my smaller city house and is used less frequently than the tools at my country house. Most of my automotive tools are at my country house because that's where I have the space to work on my truck. I still use my Craftsman tools just not as often as my mix of Tekton/HF/Astro tools which are still under warranty.

 

[2001ZR2]

Picked up a 44815 at a hoarder sale last weekend, a 44977 a few months ago at an estate sale.

Both were in excellent condition and dirt cheap.

I see we're in the same area, try some of the estate sales around here, they have lots of Craftsman stuff. Some is reasonable priced, some dirt cheap and some is ridiculous.

I've been hitting the estate sales but not finding too many ratchets that are worth grabbing. Have picked more wrenches and sockets but I seldom make the 1st day of the sale.

Where was the "hoarder" sale last weekend? I must have missed it but was at few estate sales.

 

[Skellyii]

I've been hitting the estate sales but not finding too many ratchets that are worth grabbing. Have picked more wrenches and sockets but I seldom make the 1st day of the sale.

Where was the "hoarder" sale last weekend? I must have missed it but was at few estate sales.

I typically don't go on the first day either. I don't resell, I just get stuff I want or find interesting.

The hoarder sale was in north OP near the Milburn Country Club.

Did you go to any sales this past weekend? There was one up north on Sunday that looked interesting.

 

[mooman]

I'd be leery about buying these since the repair kits now seem to be non existent.

 

[2001ZR2]

I went to one in Shawnee...was interesting got a Snap On ratchet from the dollar tool pile. A GoJo container with 6 Snap On sockets in addition to the SK and Craftsman. An S-K box without any S-K items but a complete set of Benchtop 1/4 sockets and a near complete set of Walden sockets with a slide bar.

The second one I bought at was in Olathe were I got some smaller items but a Wilton Mechanics vise and a Proto 1661 ratchet.

 

[Skellyii]

I went to one in Shawnee...was interesting got a Snap On ratchet from the dollar tool pile. A GoJo container with 6 Snap On sockets in addition to the SK and Craftsman. An S-K box without any S-K items but a complete set of Benchtop 1/4 sockets and a near complete set of Walden sockets with a slide bar.

The second one I bought at was in Olathe were I got some smaller items but a Wilton Mechanics vise and a Proto 1661 ratchet.

Yep, I was going to go to those two sales, but we had lots of family stuff this weekend.

Sounds like you made out pretty well!