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Craftsman OVERDRIVE

merkyworks

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The Den of Tools just released a vid reporting on an early release of a new Craftsman line called ”OverDrive”. Not a lot of info but from the pics but it looks like full blown Mac RBRT grip technology for wrenches and sockets. Tools are made in Taiwan which is where RBRT tools are made so it adds up. Also ratchet is 180 tooth :eyecrazy:


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Andres26tnt

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Strait up rbrt design but for craftsman, looks like it's just regular pattern wrenches, not the long pattern unfortunately. The price is not bad, not sure how much a similar design sockets set cost.

But like always craftsman has flaws right out the bat. You can't buy any singles, what's with the gimmick ratchets. 180t ratchet lol, dual pawl probably, with a giant head. The name just screams toy. This sets always skip sizes.

Sockets/wrenches will probably perform great, good start on some legit design(rbrt). It's made in Taiwan. Will say this is a good starter set for those diy people not willing to pony up for the individual rbrt/similar tools.
 

nadogail

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In the continual effort for more sales, companies have a need to convince you that your older "Good Enough" stuff needs to be replaced with the "Newer Improved" versions of the product you have paid for and continues to work.

Has everybody forgotten about how the Tail Fins kept changing height so we would feel that we needed to buy a new car? For the younger members; I am talking about the 1950's.
 

d.mcfarland

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This may be related to them shutting down the USA production facility. I'd imagine that profit margins are much higher on these units.
 

Vpick001

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Given that Stanley Black & Decker owns Mac and Craftsman, it isn’t too surprising. Cool for folks that want Mac wrenches but don’t want to chase around a truck.
 
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merkyworks

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My take is SBD is pulling out all the stops to try and save craftsman brand name / $900M investment. RBRT is proven to be a very good fastener removal system.

Fair point on quality, std pattern not long and incomplete size run sets but for the "average diy person" RBRT tech is going to be a game changer. It definitely a differentiator among the diy/prosumer grade offerings and ”could" be what makes people want to buy craftsman again. That‘s of course is its marketed correctly
 

Citation

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I'm guessing the 180T is a dual 90T setup kind of like the Gearwrench XP120. It also is likely in the area where backlash vs tooth count drives the ability to work in tight areas.
 

m6z

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Or they could just focus on one line of decent tools like the V-series stuff..
 

seber

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A lot of RBRT here. But what the hell does Red Bull Racing Team have to do with sockets? Sorry, I did some searching and can't come up with anything that would indicate what those letters mean.
 

mike93lx

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A lot of RBRT here. But what the hell does Red Bull Racing Team have to do with sockets? Sorry, I did some searching and can't come up with anything that would indicate what those letters mean.
Googling Mac rbrt will quickly give you the answer.

Rounded bolt removal technology
 

Andres26tnt

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My take is SBD is pulling out all the stops to try and save craftsman brand name / $900M investment. RBRT is proven to be a very good fastener removal system.

Fair point on quality, std pattern not long and incomplete size run sets but for the "average diy person" RBRT tech is going to be a game changer. It definitely a differentiator among the diy/prosumer grade offerings and ”could" be what makes people want to buy craftsman again. That‘s of course is its marketed correctly
Exactly what I'm saying. I own a few rbrt products(great products), but the marketing is key. It feels like they just can't market the product properly. Overdrive is such a bad name lol, feels like a gimmick and a toy. being stuck to a blow molded kit with no singles is hurting the brand. Also why the heck is this under the regular craftsman name and not the V series? If they had rbrt under the v series, it would be flying off the shelves lol. They can clearly sell them at a cheaper price, they just don't make sense 🙄.
 

WWheeler

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Exactly what I'm saying. I own a few rbrt products(great products), but the marketing is key. It feels like they just can't market the product properly. Overdrive is such a bad name lol, feels like a gimmick and a toy. being stuck to a blow molded kit with no singles is hurting the brand. Also why the heck is this under the regular craftsman name and not the V series? If they had rbrt under the v series, it would be flying off the shelves lol. They can clearly sell them at a cheaper price, they just don't make sense 🙄.
They already did that with the Craftsman V-Series "X-Tract Technology" sets, which Stanley also borrowed their MAC rbrt design.

 

Andres26tnt

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They already did that with the Craftsman V-Series "X-Tract Technology" sets, which Stanley also borrowed their MAC rbrt design.

That's not a full rbrt tho, the overdrive looks exactly like my new rbrt wrenches. Well the designs, exempt this time under a regular pattern wrench. They gave craftsman regular line a full rbrt design, and the V line which is supposed to be the better line none of that.
 

Andres26tnt

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Looks like the 120t ratchet got an upgrade and serviceability. If that's the case then it won't be a bad ratchet.
 

WWheeler

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That's not a full rbrt tho, the overdrive looks exactly like my new rbrt wrenches. Well the designs, exempt this time under a regular pattern wrench. They gave craftsman regular line a full rbrt design, and the V line which is supposed to be the better line none of that.

Has anyone done a side-by-side comparison of the rbrt and the v-series x-tracts? I'd like to see that up close.
Also same with the rbrt and the Overdrive.
 
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merkyworks

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V-series x-tract is like RBRT Light, close but defiantly not the exact same.
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Going off the YouTube pics cause that’s all we have at this exact moment. From what I see OverDrive wrench closed/open ends are same as RBRT wrenches, with length and beam design being different. I have USAG 285x wrenches which are exactly same as Mac RBRT so have a pretty good idea what RBRT wrenches look like, the 6 point box end is a dead giveaway.
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Andres26tnt

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V-series x-tract is like RBRT Light, close but defiantly not the exact same.
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Going off the YouTube pics cause that’s all we have at this exact moment. From what I see OverDrive wrench closed/open ends are same as RBRT wrenches, with length and beam design being different. I have USAG 285x wrenches which are exactly same as Mac RBRT so have a pretty good idea what RBRT wrenches look like, the 6 point box end is a dead giveaway.
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You right the box end is a dead giveaway. I'm assuming stanley invested heavily in this design so they gonna plaster it all over their brands. This is good I would say, everyone wins. Tho I do wish they had offer them in the long pattern. This will deff be a good set now that I look at it completely.
 
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F-22

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They seem to use the same broach on a different wrench pattern. That may mean they're not even made in the same factory. If you want cheap RBRT I'd suggest the USAG version which seems to be exactly the same.

I wonder how much the Craftsman set will cost though.
 

Jtels85

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I wish they would just make a comprehensive mechanic's set without all of the skipped sizes and filler.

1/4" drive sockets from 4-14mm, 3/16" - 9/16", shallow and deep.
3/8" drive sockets from 6-19mm, 1/4" - 7/8", shallow and deep.
1/2" drive sockets from 10-24/27/32mm, 3/8" - 1-1/8 or 1-1/16.
Wrench sets from 7-19mm, 1/4" - 7/8".
3 ratchets and extension bars in all 3 drive sizes that range from 3" long, 6" long and 10" long.
Throw in some hex keys and maybe a few bits but leave it at that. Put it all in a blow mold case.

But no, we just get a few wrenches in metric and a few in SAE if we're lucky, a bunch of skipped socket sizes and tons of a bits and hex keys I don't want or need.

Craftsman's current mechanics tool set offerings are why I no longer take them serious.
 

m6z

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Oh look, another wrench set with skipped sizes and no individual wrenches available..

Does anyone actually buy this stuff? My old craftsman wrench sets were 7mm-22mm and 1/4 or 5/16 to 1 1/4. Does any "homeowner" brand offer a full set of wrenches anymore?

I ended up going with Carlyle a few years back when I wanted to expand on what I had.
 

Dakotadadv8

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For average Joe homeowner walking thru Lowes or Ace not too bad probably will never need the skipped sizes. I bought small socket sets of CM USA from Sears decades ago with skips, then upgraded to Snap on once I had more $ and did more DIY home improvements and vehicle maintenance. Comparing CM / big box tool sets (IMHO customers are Joe homeowner) to Snap on/truck brand (IMHO customers are pros) is not ideal. SBD and Craftsman not a bad strategy.
 

CHI_Tool&Die

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Oh look, another wrench set with skipped sizes and no individual wrenches available..

Does anyone actually buy this stuff? My old craftsman wrench sets were 7mm-22mm and 1/4 or 5/16 to 1 1/4. Does any "homeowner" brand offer a full set of wrenches anymore?

I ended up going with Carlyle a few years back when I wanted to expand on what I had.
Surprisingly, quite a few guys at work buy sets like the Craftsman ones. They like having combo wrenches in the most encountered sizes and then supplement the missing sizes with a few adjustable wrenches. Granted, as machinists we don’t use wrenches as much as mechanics and we are also limited by work to specific tool box sizes.
 

Sumboodie

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In the continual effort for more sales, companies have a need to convince you that your older "Good Enough" stuff needs to be replaced with the "Newer Improved" versions of the product you have paid for and continues to work.

Has everybody forgotten about how the Tail Fins kept changing height so we would feel that we needed to buy a new car? For the younger members; I am talking about the 1950's.
50s was my grandparents 🤣 born late 20s
 

srs2000

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They seem to use the same broach on a different wrench pattern. That may mean they're not even made in the same factory. If you want cheap RBRT I'd suggest the USAG version which seems to be exactly the same.

I wonder how much the Craftsman set will cost though.
11 piece metric set is $75, regular price, at Lowes. Slightly cheaper than than the v-series but it does have one less wrench. I was hoping this would be an easier to get and warranty version of the USAG set I had been considering.

Kind of looks like they put the rbrt broach on the gunmetal extra long wrench set.
 

Andres26tnt

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11 piece metric set is $75, regular price, at Lowes. Slightly cheaper than than the v-series but it does have one less wrench. I was hoping this would be an easier to get and warranty version of the USAG set I had been considering.

Kind of looks like they put the rbrt broach on the gunmetal extra long wrench set.
that's what it is, the gunmetal wrench with rbrt. not sure how much longer they are compared to other wrenches. regardless it is an actual good wrench made in Taiwan at a decent price too. Not sure what uses 11mm, I work with Toyota, and USA/UK Ford and never used the size. overall I think these kits will be good, tho I don't understand why they aren't in the V-line. it's like they did it backward and gave the lesser tech to the so-called professional mechanic line.
 

Chrome Vanadium Cody

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While not common in automotive I find I use 11mm/ 7/16” a ton for home renovation stuff and even just when I’m fabricating decent sized things out of metal since imperial fasteners are cheaper than metric. So still has some practical use in the USA
 

Andres26tnt

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While not common in automotive I find I use 11mm/ 7/16” a ton for home renovation stuff and even just when I’m fabricating decent sized things out of metal since imperial fasteners are cheaper than metric. So still has some practical use in the USA
Cool, but still it's not being marketed in that field.
Every promo/commercial/display is with the automotive world.
 

Citation

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While not common in automotive I find I use 11mm/ 7/16” a ton for home renovation stuff and even just when I’m fabricating decent sized things out of metal since imperial fasteners are cheaper than metric. So still has some practical use in the USA
7/16 is a common head size for SAE hardware. I can't imagine any homes actually using 11mm.
 

Madjik Man

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Saw these at Lowe’s on Friday.

I’m just. DIYer but nothing stood out to me as”must have.”

The 180t marketing also seems disingenuous. It’s obviously a dual pawl set up.
 

Fedwrench

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I can't get past the fat headed ratchet. It's FUGLY. :wtf:

Do the sockets have that double detent drive tool ball retaining notch **** on the female square drive end or do they use a single cut out?

To me, the wrenches look like Craftsman took a long pattern Dewalt combination wrench body and added RBRT open & boxed ends to it which could be a winner-winner- chicken dinner :lol: I like the look of the wrenches. they don't have the really nice beam found on USAG 285 series or the MAC RBRT but at $75 probably a bargain. :dunno: Why they couldn't just make a non skip set in 8-19mm is beyond me :wtf: I am happy the set contains 15 & 18 mm though :beer:

there were a couple of posts comparing these wrenches to the V Series that confused me. You might get a nice wrench holder and a better range of sizes but, The V Series are much shorter and don't feature anti slip open ends. Great wrenches on sale though.

Just curious as to how many of you peeps are going to actually buy this stuff?
 

Andres26tnt

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I can't get past the fat headed ratchet. It's FUGLY. :wtf:

Do the sockets have that double detent drive tool ball retaining notch **** on the female square drive end or do they use a single cut out?

To me, the wrenches look like Craftsman took a long pattern Dewalt combination wrench body and added RBRT open & boxed ends to it which could be a winner-winner- chicken dinner :lol: I like the look of the wrenches. they don't have the really nice beam found on USAG 285 series or the MAC RBRT but at $75 probably a bargain. :dunno: Why they couldn't just make a non skip set in 8-19mm is beyond me :wtf: I am happy the set contains 15 & 18 mm though :beer:

there were a couple of posts comparing these wrenches to the V Series that confused me. You might get a nice wrench holder and a better range of sizes but, The V Series are much shorter and don't feature anti slip open ends. Great wrenches on sale though.

Just curious as to how many of you peeps are going to actually buy this stuff?

That's because the wrenches are rebranded long-pattern Dewalt. Stanley basically rebranded most of the craftsman tool line. The overdrive sets are the gunmetal chrome with RBRT the same as Dewalt. In my opinion, underrated wrench and the only drawback is the missing sizes.

not sure why they are comparing them to the regular V line, interestingly enough the Gunmetal Chome and Dewalt variants have anti-slip just like the Facom 440. These are weird choices as the Facom 440 also has anti-slip, just the V-line uses the old 440 without anti-slip.

I would buy this, it is a bargain at 75$ the missing 11mm is a non-issue to me(never use it). Compared to the RBRT(200$) and 285X(130-150$) a deff contender if you ask me.
 

LOW1

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At what point does the brand name “Craftsman” cease to have value? Are we not already one generation past respectability for the quality of Craftsman tools? Will our kids assign any value to the Craftsman name?
 
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