Craftsman Pro Wrench Problems!

[nickc12]

Okay, so I have the craftsman professional wrench set just as a beginner set of wrenches! But I went to do an oil change the other day and the wrench just kept trying to round the corners of the drain plug! Popped a 6 point craftsman socket on there and took it right off! Well I thought nothing of it until it happened to me again today! I know there are a lot better wrenches out there (looking to get Mac Precision torques eventually) But a guy I work with has used craftsman raised panels for years (USA and China made) and hasn't had any issues! I feel these wrenches shouldn't round a bolt so easily. Has anybody else noticed their craftsman pro wrenches doing this? I bought these to get me a start in my career and I hate that I already feel like I need new wrenches! Do you guys think that it's a problem with this specific set of wrenches? Or do the wrenches just **** in general?


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[AL`]

Interesting. A while back it seems like the CM professional wrenches or full polish were pretty popular on this forum. Maybe something has changed with them? Were they made in USA or China? Regardless, if they are rounding fasteners that your sockets work just fine with, that's a problem you need to resolve. You could try taking them back and exchanging to see if the replacements do any better. If not ... go with another manufacturer would be my suggestion. I don't have any of the professional CM wrenches, just raised panel and some of the ratcheting wrenches which are full polish that came with the CM 540 pc mechanic tool set.

 

[vjquan]

Depends if the drain plug is rounded, you need to post a pic of that. A 6 point will always outperform a 12 point, except on 12 point bolts of course.

 

[Parabellum]

Just ditch the craftsman and go with Wright "WrightGrip" wrenches, they are a lot better that they will snap off the head instead of rounding it. Harry Epstein has some good deals.

 

[Wes J]

Was it the box end that was trying to round the plug? What size were you using?

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

From the looks of those wrenches, you got the lobster claw CM Pros and not the older Armstrong sourced CM Pros.

 

[nickc12]

Okay a little more info, this was a decently tight 13mm and I was using the box end. After I noticed it starting to strip I tried the open end and it REALLY sucked! The bolt was perfectly fine, not previously rounded or chewed up. Next time I'm in this situation I'll use my craftsman ratchet wrenches! Or gearwrench ratchet wrenches just for a comparison! (Side note: they feel just like a set of gear wrenches I have! Any info on if CMAN ratchet wrenches are rebranded gearwrench?) I cheaped out on my combo wrenches because I rarely use them. I prefer ratchet wrenches and I've used gearwrench mostly. I happened to grab the craftsman 13 just because it's longer and I wanted the leverage. I just got those wrenches and I'm actually quite disappointed haha. I mean i wasn't expecting much but It should've worked better than that.


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[Jeremy77]

In the past, the CM Proffesionals were rebadged Armstrong wrenches and were actually a steal for what they were priced at. The newer ones are now made in China by Apex, who makes GearWrench and Armstrong, but I'm not sure if the are GW rebadges. Certainly not Armstrong quality anymore.

 

[rednotch]

exchange them..... do it a few at a time or just the one's that you notice have a sloppy fit. Good chance they won't have the singles in stock and will have to ship a replacement. Every time I ordered a single craftsman pro I was shipped old stock USA Armstrong versions but I have not bought any in the past 6 months since I completed my sets. Stores here only have the china made one's for a couple years now and there pretty sloppy.


for the ratchet wrenches try to find a sears outlet near you and see if they have the dewalt sets still for $40, you can't beat them. Most around here have plenty of the Metric sets but sold out of the SAE kits. I like them a lot better then my gearwrench sets I have. I have the older Taiwan and newer china made gearwrench sets, flex heads, standard and reversible. All ways grab the dewalt set first now.