Craftsman Max Axess "Flank Drive Type" Wrenches?
- Thread starter bagsanthony
- Start date
Stealership
Well-known member
Don't worry about it. He always gets defensive if you voice your opinion on Sears, Sears employees, or their "products".
I would have to agree with your first statement. The only thing they forgot on the ratchet was to integrate a screwdriver and possibly a prybar in it somewhere. Looks like it would make a good paint stirrer.
Fastbird
Well-known member
I was in Sears yesterday and got to get a good look at these. Initial impressions are not bad. The thinner profile would lend itself greatly to things like the multi-piece caliper pin setups on brakes that invariably spin when you try to remove the bolt, but the clearance is too narrow for a standard wrench to fit in.
But......A close look at the heads of the box end shows some pretty poor tolerances. I should have snapped a pic but I had a lot on my mind at the time. The mouth of the box ends were all over the place. Some centered, some were offset way to the left or right, and it was NOT consistent. Then the radius to the head of the box end coming from the shaft, same type of thing.
To the casual glancer, they look great, and they probably perform admirably too. But man, to the informed........nuff said.
But......A close look at the heads of the box end shows some pretty poor tolerances. I should have snapped a pic but I had a lot on my mind at the time. The mouth of the box ends were all over the place. Some centered, some were offset way to the left or right, and it was NOT consistent. Then the radius to the head of the box end coming from the shaft, same type of thing.
To the casual glancer, they look great, and they probably perform admirably too. But man, to the informed........nuff said.
So Sears had a display set up to show off how useful the wrenches are, but all I took away was how sloppy the fit of the open end was on the display fastener. Has anybody noticed this, or did Sears just set up a bad display?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
They were on sale today for $29.99. I looked at them and they could be rebadged Chinese (PRC) gearwrench because, the open end notches are the same. However, my gearwrenches (non ratcheting) look a lot better than those max axxess wrenches. the box ends lack bend consistentcy. I think the dewalts, which I think are basically a taiwan version of a full polished Proto ASD wrench, are a better wrench value but, that's just me. Of course sears had their 9 piece fully polished lobster claw combination wrench sets on sale for like $19 today too so, there were plenty of choices available.
Harrison2
Well-known member
I picked up the SAE LP polished set for $20, it did dawn on me the lobster claw size when I got home but they'll do for the time being. and my stores open stock is usa made so if i was to break one it would be replaced with usa made which i cant complain with.
OP
bagsanthony
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2010
- Messages
- 384
well i just thought of something..... I happen to "break" one, they do not sell the max access in singles, would they give me a USA made Craftsman pro????
rsanter
Well-known member
So they made the "lobster claws" so they could backpedal and sell these new ones as "smaller"....pure genius!
That's what I was thinking...
To me it means non-lobster claw
Bob
No on the Craftsman pro swap out unless you get a clueless salesman willing to do it out of ignorance.
What will happen is they will want to swap out the whole set. You "may" get them to break a set to give you a single but that is not a guarantee.
I bought a set of MM and SAE before Christmas for a dismal 14 bucks a set... still don't know how that happened. And have used them a few times. They're not bad for the money really. Wish they sold a more complete set though, or at least the option to expand the set.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Oi vey more pseudo 12 points. Just what no one wanted or needed!
Sorry sears, just saying.
Sorry sears, just saying.
These wrenches have the standard 12 point boxed end and are not the "Universal" ones. It is the open end with the "Cinch" drive that is the difference.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
I just get annoyed by all the 12 stuff. Personal preference.
What "12 stuff"? Sorry if I am not keying in on your implied sarcasm.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
12 point wrenches/sockets at stores. Wasn't being sarcastic. Not that I need anything but, typically that's what's always on sale wherever I go. I guess it's easier to manufacture than 6 point. I just don't like 12 point stuff. Never gonna use it for "critical" bolts.
OK, just seemed your comment about the 12 point on a box end wrench as a little odd since probably 95% or more of box end wrenches made and advertised regardless of brand are 12 point.
So it really is not an issue of Sears missing what the market is, just your personal preference of not liking 12 points.
anti-everything1990
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 47
I just got a set of these. Anyone have an opinion on them after some heavy use?
I played with these in a store tonight.
I have to say...I came away impressed. Regular Chinese raised panels are of insulting quality; these are the opposite. The finish is great, all of the broaching on both ends looked really good, and the extra length over normal raised panels is nice. I almost made an impulse buy for my home set, which currently has the "ok" US raised panels.
Honestly, if I didn't already have perfect wrenches at work, I'd even try these out there. That's tough for me to say about Chinese wrenches.
This is the standard that companies sourcing tools from China should demand. I don't know how they are after being broken in for a year or two, but they're at least damned nice up front.
The Taiwan-made DeWalt wrenches they had out there looked pretty good, too. Reminded me of Protos, but I ran out of time and didn't get to play with them for too long.
I have to say...I came away impressed. Regular Chinese raised panels are of insulting quality; these are the opposite. The finish is great, all of the broaching on both ends looked really good, and the extra length over normal raised panels is nice. I almost made an impulse buy for my home set, which currently has the "ok" US raised panels.
Honestly, if I didn't already have perfect wrenches at work, I'd even try these out there. That's tough for me to say about Chinese wrenches.
This is the standard that companies sourcing tools from China should demand. I don't know how they are after being broken in for a year or two, but they're at least damned nice up front.
The Taiwan-made DeWalt wrenches they had out there looked pretty good, too. Reminded me of Protos, but I ran out of time and didn't get to play with them for too long.
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gdocktor3
Well-known member
Any update on these after a few years of work?
WWheeler
Well-known member
I have the Gearwrench 24 pc set "surface drive plus" sae/metric wrenches. I've been using them a lot for a couple years now and they're still like new. I luv them. They look to me to be the exact same thing as these Craftsman. Both are made by Apex tools, so I assume the only difference is the brand name engraved on them, and the Gearwrench is available in a larger set.
sberry
Banned
The ratchet cant help but be an improvement. I have a couple older ones with that feature, use it only occasionally but dont find it to be a real problem but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I bought mine 20 yrs ago over the counter at the parts store for 10 more than it could have been at a HF if there was one near at the time,,, but,,, its better than any Cman from 1980 or so forward and Napa ratchet I ever owned and really about the best one I ever owned considering the wear it has got. Never a loose screw, never lubed and just now starting to feel a little wear.
If they changed design from the RP and got different mfg I wouldnt be scared.
It worked so well that I bought a baby version to replace a snap I lost, I like it as well or better. That Napa ******* cost 20 when I was in a jam and never did wo0rk right and the dealer pissed and moaned, its been replaced since and any scratches it has are from rolling around a tool box, I got 2 or so of those none ever worked well for mo0re than about 5 minutes. Its the same as the Sears with a shine on it.
If they changed design from the RP and got different mfg I wouldnt be scared.
It worked so well that I bought a baby version to replace a snap I lost, I like it as well or better. That Napa ******* cost 20 when I was in a jam and never did wo0rk right and the dealer pissed and moaned, its been replaced since and any scratches it has are from rolling around a tool box, I got 2 or so of those none ever worked well for mo0re than about 5 minutes. Its the same as the Sears with a shine on it.
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