Craftsman Professional Screwdrivers...are back???

[oldldh]

Once upon a time, I really wanted the 50 piece Craftsman Professional Screwdriver Set...

But, alas, the set was discontinued...

No Joy...

So I bought a 36 piece set of Proto Professional Classic Yellow Handles...

Much joy...

It would appear that Sears is AGAIN offering the 50 piece Craftsman Screwdriver and Pliers Set...

For $ 429.99...this is an "Online Item Only"...COO---U.S.A.!!!!

That's a pile of money, but these drivers have many fans on this forum...I don't know, because I haven't looked, if these are available in smaller sets, or individually, or in the stores...

Just thought I'd post a heads up...

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I have all of them minus the torx, they are decent screwdrivers but I would still consider them middle of the road compared to others. My favorite are the regular sized handle with stubby shank, they come in handy a lot.

 

[jim1987]

I'm 99% certain thats the exact same proto set I bough off a member here. Word of advice, the protos are way better then the cman pros.

I take that back, mine are blackhawk. Same thing

 

[Jure]

how good they are compared to wiha or williams hard handle?

 

[KinzeMech]

I saw that set online recently, and was surprised to see it, but I suspect it may have been a website error. It was unavailable when I tried to add it to cart.

They are great screwdrivers, I have two sets, have been using them professionally for about 5 years now, and have only broken 2 or 3. They were broken doing things I should not have been doing with them. None have broken or disappointed me when used for their proper purpose.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I think I saw a smaller set on Amazon a while ago, but I would never get them. I'd keep the Protos.

 

[Formula]

I have a couple Craftsman Professional screwdrivers. I would guess I purchased them 10-12 years ago. They have an all black handle. Something about them feel a little awkward.

 

[stage20]

I have a couple Craftsman Professional screwdrivers. I would guess I purchased them 10-12 years ago. They have an all black handle. Something about them feel a little awkward.

I have the old black ones they have a really cheap feel to the handle but are cmfortable. The newer style have softer hndles and are really nice.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I have a couple Craftsman Professional screwdrivers. I would guess I purchased them 10-12 years ago. They have an all black handle. Something about them feel a little awkward.

The black handle ones I have that are like the professionals say "Craftsman Industrial" on them but they appear to be the same shape as the professionals.

 

[oldjamesy]

I have a smaller set of the red / black CM . When I got them I noticed that they looked very similar to a screwdriver Armstrong made .

Overall I like them .

The handles do get dirty and hold the dirt , and the red caps don't fit exact and had some rough edges .

 

[justme-]

I have a few of the cushion grip professionals - started buying them instead of the regular ones so my father in law would stop confusing my tools for his. I really like the handles - comparable to Instinct in my hand. Tips are fine for wear resistance even if they are not always the highest quality chrome or 100% perfectly shaped.
I have a few of the old black handled professional drivers too - the handles feel cheap and "junky" like dollar store tools but they work and hold up. I keep thinking they are china drivers and using them as pry bars and scrapers and trying to throw them in the junk tool box.

 

[Askme42]

Pretty sure this is an error. I found a torx set on clearance then pieced together the other most common sizes as singles. When doing this it said that set was online only but I couldn't add to cart.

No they aren't the highest quality drivers ever made but they are very nice. Sk and armstrong make the same ones just in different colors.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Those handles are really nice, second only to SO hard handles IMHO.

 

[Tellingthem]

The pro sets come back online and then go just out just as quickly. I've seen the 16pc and 25 PC sets also pop up from tine to time. I would bet they find a couple in a warehouse somewhere and then put them up. I've been keeping my eye on this one for awhile. I'm hoping to get the right combo coupon and sale to make it worth it. Not that I need it...but want is another story haha.

 

[bcradio]

I'm 99% certain thats the exact same proto set I bough off a member here. Word of advice, the protos are way better then the cman pros.

I take that back, mine are blackhawk. Same thing

Just like Cman and Cman Pro are the same thing.

$430 is a bit steep for those.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I never cared for the screwdrivers, but the pliers look nice.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

When I saw the OP, I thought "There's no way Sears is gouging that much, it must be a 3rd party seller...", but nope; Sold by Sears. I guess they're trying to go up to eBay prices for those sets...

Those handles are really nice, second only to SO hard handles IMHO.

Absolutely agree. Pissed I put off buying a set of the torx (and stubby torx) for all the years they were on sale, and now I'll be spending 2-3x as much on the SK sets, but at least I like the green handles better than red anyways .

 

[BJ42LX]

The pro sets come back online and then go just out just as quickly. I've seen the 16pc and 25 PC sets also pop up from tine to time.

The 25 pc. set is on sears.com now:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-prof...prdNo=3&sellerId=SEARS&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

 

[LB-1911]

The 25 pc. set is on sears.com now:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-prof...prdNo=3&sellerId=SEARS&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

YMMV

Shipping Temporarily Unavailable

 

[BJ42LX]

YMMV

Shipping Temporarily Unavailable

And now it's completely gone.

Sears is awesome!

 

[VictorBravo]

Just this morning, I picked up this USA made set at Ace Hardware for $19. The parts numbers on the handle correspond to the Craftsman Industrial catalog numbers, as near as I can tell:

 

[Parrothead]

I think most people are aware, but you can get the same cushion grip screwdrivers from SK, only instead of red, they're green.

 

[zkling]

Just this morning, I picked up this USA made set at Ace Hardware for $19. The parts numbers on the handle correspond to the Craftsman Industrial catalog numbers, as near as I can tell:

Those aren't the pro drivers, just their cushion grip series.

 

[rednotch]

When I saw the OP, I thought "There's no way Sears is gouging that much, it must be a 3rd party seller...", but nope; Sold by Sears. I guess they're trying to go up to eBay prices for those sets...


Absolutely agree. Pissed I put off buying a set of the torx (and stubby torx) for all the years they were on sale, and now I'll be spending 2-3x as much on the SK sets, but at least I like the green handles better than red anyways .

I think sears finally caught on to the ebay crowd selling old stock for higher then retail.

 

[VictorBravo]

Those aren't the pro drivers, just their cushion grip series.

Woops--got it.

I've never seen either before, locally.

 

[Wamsutta]

For $ 429.99...this is an "Online Item Only"...COO---U.S.A.!!!!

Is that decimal in the right place?

 

[Forsythe04]

I really enjoy these screwdrivers. On clearance by the singles at each sears store (limited to onhand quantities of course). I have pieced a nice set together with a little effort. I think they are my favorite screwdrivers to date! Clearance price varies from 3-5$ for each depending on size

Agree the set price online is a bit steep

They still stock the matching prybar set as well as pick/hook set with same handles

 

[stage20]

I have a few of the cushion grip professionals - started buying them instead of the regular ones so my father in law would stop confusing my tools for his. I really like the handles - comparable to Instinct in my hand. Tips are fine for wear resistance even if they are not always the highest quality chrome or 100% perfectly shaped.
I have a few of the old black handled professional drivers too - the handles feel cheap and "junky" like dollar store tools but they work and hold up. I keep thinking they are china drivers and using them as pry bars and scrapers and trying to throw them in the junk tool box.

. I don't think the cushion grips are under the professional
Line. Same shaf different handle. Husky pros are the same as the cushion grip cman, later just labeled husky I prefer the red and black professionals over the cushin grip.

 

[1950mercury]

Anyone who buy that set for that much coin is a fool

 

[jim1987]

Just like Cman and Cman Pro are the same thing.

$430 is a bit steep for those.

... Not sure if serious or sarcastic..

If sarcastic, the old proto and blackhawk yellow handle screw drivers were all the same..

 

[mmack66]

Do they still sell the Husky Pro version of these screwdrivers at Home Depot?

 

[KinzeMech]

Anyone who buy that set for that much coin is a fool

+1

I like these screwdrivers, and I'm disappointed they're disappearing, but they're not worth that price.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Do they still sell the Husky Pro version of these screwdrivers at Home Depot?

As far as I know, the Husky Pro screwdrivers have only been the clear handled CM clones from Western Forge. Unless you were talking about the older black handled CM Pros...

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Anyone who buy that set for that much coin is a fool

my thoughts exactly. fukin crazy....now, where's the Snap on truck?....

 

[mmack66]

As far as I know, the Husky Pro screwdrivers have only been the clear handled CM clones from Western Forge. Unless you were talking about the older black handled CM Pros...

The clear handled ones are just Husky. The Husky Pro were the same as the Craftsman, except for the branding.

I just looked at their website, and didn't see any. Too bad, as they had a decent selection.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I never cared for the screwdrivers, but the pliers look nice.

+1

TheGrooveking

 

[Danglerb]

When the C pro screwdrivers came out I bought the set of six or so on sale around $30, at least two of them had bad heat treat on the tips, too soft.

I'd still like a complete set, but only cheap.

 

[John in OH]

No they aren't the highest quality drivers ever made but they are very nice. Sk and armstrong make the same ones just in different colors.

SK and Armstrong don't make these screwdrivers. Western Forge makes them all ... for Cman (red & black handles), SK (green & black) and Armstrong (blue & black).

I really like these Cman Pro screwdrivers as the tips are decent and I find the handles to be super comfortable. Bummer Sears has discontinued them. I buy onesie - twosies whenever I can find them. Just bought two last week that I found stuck back in the corner of a Sears with a lot of other clearance junk.

 

[justme-]

. I don't think the cushion grips are under the professional
Line. Same shaf different handle. Husky pros are the same as the cushion grip cman, later just labeled husky I prefer the red and black professionals over the cushion grip.

Yes, you're right. I forget about the cushion grip drivers - they don't feel good at all and being newer... seems cushion is the new thing for driver handles. I got a 18 or 24" cushion grip Cman from HJE for short change to keep for those weird situations when you may need something like that.. and I'm very unimpressed with the quality of the tool Handle is not cushioned comfortable for me - nothing like Pratt Reid or Klien - tip is not well formed, chrome and nickel plating chipped right off the tip, and the shaft is not well finished - sanded/ground/polished. But for the cost it'll do just fine. That may be why HJE had them in the first place.

I think of the Cman Pro (red&black rubberised) as cushioned versus the old professional hard handles. If we could get WF to up their game on the steel and the precision of the tips... we'd have a fantastic #2 to the instincts instead of an acceptable runner up.

 

[stage20]

Yes, you're right. I forget about the cushion grip drivers - they don't feel good at all and being newer... seems cushion is the new thing for driver handles. I got a 18 or 24" cushion grip Cman from HJE for short change to keep for those weird situations when you may need something like that.. and I'm very unimpressed with the quality of the tool Handle is not cushioned comfortable for me - nothing like Pratt Reid or Klien - tip is not well formed, chrome and nickel plating chipped right off the tip, and the shaft is not well finished - sanded/ground/polished. But for the cost it'll do just fine. That may be why HJE had them in the first place.

I think of the Cman Pro (red&black rubberised) as cushioned versus the old professional hard handles. If we could get WF to up their game on the steel and the precision of the tips... we'd have a fantastic #2 to the instincts instead of an acceptable runner up.

if you dont have the forged tips those version of cushion grips have horrible tips. sears used to sell 2 different cushion grips. in my local store they were even in a different area. they have shafts like the professionals, and the other style cushion grips have chrome tips, which are worse than the phillips tips on the standard acetate handles, if that all makes sense. one kit is in a clear plastic type box (think radio control cars) and have the good tips. the other are in the molded packs like the standard screwdrivers.. the good ones were 39.99 and the budget cushion grips they still sell in stores are only 31.99 reg price in stores.