Craftsman Max Axess Vs. Craftsman Long Panel

[FOCUS.FREAK]

So, i have come to thee almighty Garage Journal Gods to ask a question.

Im looking to replace my craftsman metric wrench set 10mm-18mm NON U.S.A set with something a bit better.They work fine its just they dont fit in all the area's i need them too. I was browsing the sears website and i came upon their long panel wrenches(polished) and the Max Axess wrench set, the price is a bit different but when i when to compare them to each other i couldn't find any real differences. Now the max axess are not listed as a true long pattern wrench but in the description says they are.

The main thing the im looking for are...

-No lobster claw open ends
-long panel
-thin design


Can someone please steer me in the right direction. Pictures are just for reference. If you have either please can you chime in. The problem is that none of the stores near me stock the max axess wrench sets.

18.96 Max Axess

35.99 Polished long pattern

Thanks, Jordan

 

[wild cowboy]

-No lobster claw open ends

huh?

 

[stage20]

the pros and the max are china. The pro has a huge claw and for sure a thicker box. I use my max a lot. I like them over the china pros.

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

huh?

the pros and the max are china. The pro has a huge claw and for sure a thicker box. I use my max a lot. I like them over the china pros.

Thanks for the input! Trying to get in on these with the deal going on now.

 

[Wamsutta]

Can someone please steer me in the right direction.

Yes, I'm steering you towards Armstrong extra-long pattern combination wrenches right now.

 

[wild cowboy]

my favorite long pattern wrenches that are also a great value are the Taiwan made Carlyle set - the set's part number is CWL1211M - they are nearly as nice as my long pattern Snap-On set

 

[monomach]

I've only played with these sets in the store, but the Max sure seemed to be the better of the two. They looked to be just about the best wrenches I've seen come out of China. Remember, that's without actually using them.

They have the Gearwrench flank drive plus ripoff, too. I think they're the only Craftsman wrenches with that.

I'd still recommend digging through pawn shop bins and ebay before buying Chinese wrenches, though.

Are you locked into that $20-40 price range?

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

I've only played with these sets in the store, but the Max sure seemed to be the better of the two. They looked to be just about the best wrenches I've seen come out of China. Remember, that's without actually using them.

They have the Gearwrench flank drive plus ripoff, too. I think they're the only Craftsman wrenches with that.

I'd still recommend digging through pawn shop bins and ebay before buying Chinese wrenches, though.

I tried going out to pawn shops in my area and didn't find diddly squat. Sadly. I might take a chance and get the metric ones. See how they are.

-Jordan

 

[wild cowboy]

I'd still recommend digging through pawn shop bins and ebay before buying Chinese wrenches, though.

if they are China, that's one thing, but if they are made in Taiwan, that is better made than most USA made stuff, lately!

 

[monomach]

if they are China, that's one thing, but if they are made in Taiwan, that is better made than most USA made stuff, lately!

They're China. Craftsman doesn't have any Taiwan wrenches like they should.

I almost told him to go to Lowe's for Kobalt, but then I remembered that they stopped carrying long patterns.

The Carlyles I've seen are nice, but when I called for pricing last year, they were within $20 of the Wright set I bought. That didn't make sense.

 

[Toyota mechanic]

The Max Axess ones are fine, so are the long Max Axess, universal, long patten ones. Imported but GearWrench quality. No sense in getting the polished ones over the Max.... I mostly use my Long, double box Cman wrenches, the old USA ones, those are my goto wrenches.

You can't go wrong with the Max Axess for the money, fit and finish..

 

[Toyota mechanic]

These are good, have them....

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-9-pi...0943970000P?prdNo=43&blockNo=43&blockType=G43

so are these

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-9-pi...0939000000P?prdNo=12&blockNo=62&blockType=G62

My favorite are these, and still USA

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-12-p...p-00929450000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Right now the Max Axess you posted are less than 20 bucks... They are better than the Blue Point wrenches I used to have; that SO stopped carrying...

 

[Toyota mechanic]

Thanks for the input! Trying to get in on these with the deal going on now.

They really frigged up the regular raised panels, with the China move...... I just bought the master USA new, old stock set for 150 bucks for 'old times sake'

The traditional raised panels bring back memories, from projects done with my Grandfather, many years ago.

The China ones don't cut it, BUT, the China Max Axess and Universal Max Axxess are very good quality... WTF..

I have enough USA Craftsman to avoid the newer ones, unless they are made well, like the two China sets I mentioned above.

good luck!

 

[Harrison2]

buy the china long pattern set and all the sizes individually online. the individuals will be usa made...


then return which ones you think are the worse out of the two. they both have the same product numbers...

 

[wild cowboy]

The Carlyles I've seen are nice, but when I called for pricing last year, they were within $20 of the Wright set I bought. That didn't make sense.

I got lucky and got in on that ebay deal on the Carlyles for $35 that was mentioned in GJ Hot Deals earlier this year

 

[sbyrne92]

you could probably pay a few extra bucks and get a USA craftsman set off flea bay.

 

[stage20]

For sub 20 its the best nd least expensive china wrench ever made. I almost want to buy another set for my road box.

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

Well I bit the bullet and bought the set.... Well sets for under 50 for both. Will post pictures when I receive them

-Jordan

 

[zcbauer89]

I'm not sure, but I think the newer Craftsman wrenches aren't lobster claw anymore. The new stock at my Sears don't have the lobster claw, they might have changed them back.

 

[mhoss44]

I bought my son a Christmas present, a 200 plus piece Craftsman tool set, made in China. I have a lot of Craftsman I have collected over the last 40 years or so. I recently bought a 190 piece set for myself, for my personal shop. For General wrenching on lawn tractors and ATVs, light mechanic work, I think the Chinese stuff is just fine. But......collecting a what you consider to be a full set, is like collecting Baseball Cards. Get exactly what you want, quality stuff only. My pursuit, and a worthy pursuit. Have some great SandK that was my Grandfathers from the 50s, maybe earlier. I will tell my Son the same thing Dad told me. These are good tools, if you want to restore autos, or get real serious, you can pay high dollar for what you want.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

More pictures to come.

-Jordan

 

[nic6paul]

Was the $18 price a short lived sale?

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

Should be still up. I bought online and picked up in store had to wait like 2 days.

-Jordan

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

Some of them have some blemishes on the ends by the box end. But it's a very well built set. time will tell how these preform. I also bought the metric set as well. I'll have to try out the clinch drive set up too?

-Jordan

 

[Farmall450]

Keep an eye out for NOS Cman pro/industrial wrenches...great, US made, and long panel.

http://toolaudits.com/2014/08/craft...ssional-full-polish-combination-wrenches-usa/

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

Got to use the metric wrenches today.., fit and finish is great although like most polished wrenches they bruise easily and I mean easy. ill snap some pictures tomorrow.

Jordan

 

[sberry]

For under 20$ how big a risk is it? Hard to go wrong.

 

[sberry]

I am really a fan of stuff like this. It makes it so affordable and should be almost painless to own a decent set of wrenches.

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

For under 20$ how big a risk is it? Hard to go wrong.

Risk was already taken.

-Jordan