Craftsman swivel socket wrenches.

[FTWingRiders]

Hello all..

I remember as a kid my Dad had a few swivel socket wrenches.. where one end is a wrench and the other is a socket, if that’s the correct name.. I’m looking to get a small set to have handy in a pinch hanging by a small bench in a remote corner of my shop, and I don’t see a lot of offerings.. Being a Craftsman guy of old, I’d like to find an old set of basic sizes. I’ve found a few sets on eBay.. but nothing in metric.

I realize they’re probably scorned by pros, but do see Snappy has a $625 offering!

So did they offer them in both ASE and metric? Also I’m not opposed to new if there was a decent complete set offered somewhere. I see a few brands I’m not familiar with offering some also.

Anyone have any info on what was offered by Craftsman or any recommendations would be appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[3baygarage]

I like Saltus wrenches too. Craftsman never had a metric set that I know of.

Funny story that I’ve told before. I bought a brand new 3/4 Craftsman Saltus when a Sears Hardware location was shutting down and everything was on “clearance” (first they actually raised every single price and then started the percentage markdowns). West Seneca, NY if anyone must know.

Anyway, I needed a 3/4 for my set. I bought the only shiny new one on the shelf. I first used it to adjust a bench grinder wheel. After using it, the wrench fell off the grinder or another stand and landed on the concrete floor, maybe 3 feet max.. I picked up the wrench and the socket was cracked from end to end on two opposing sides. Never seen anything like that. Needless to say I was very disappointed.

 

[geneg]

They definately have a place. I find that they're my go to for mower stuff. Belt guards & idler pulleys. Fewer tools to carry outside. I don't think I've ever seen a Craftsman metric set that I know of.

 

[FTWingRiders]

I'd never heard of them as Saltus wrenches.. learned something new, and that helped immensely when searching on line.. Thanks!
I remember my dad grabbing them when we needed to go fix something out in the fields, rather than sockets and wrenches when what was needed was unknown.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'd never heard of them as Saltus wrenches.

FYI...It's the name of the German company who invented and first manufactured them.

 

[geneg]

I'd never heard of them as Saltus wrenches.. learned something new, and that helped immensely when searching on line.. Thanks!
I remember my dad grabbing them when we needed to go fix something out in the fields, rather than sockets and wrenches when what was needed was unknown.

Mine are hanging on a harbor freight magnetic strip on the inside face of my shop door. That's also why I grab them to take out

 

[Zrxrunner]

Matco has a metric option...still pricy tho. Not as common, and not usa made, but pretty decent quality is truecraft. Made in Japan.

 

[Jeepster04]

My dad also had/has those same wrenches. I need to gather them all up and see what kinda set he has.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my Craftsman Saltus wrenches.

An S-K version is on the left side of this picture.
You might want to look for Mac metric Saltus wrenches. Here is the one I have.
-Don

 

[Benny Franklin]

Cool- I’ve seen those but never knew what they were called. I might actually have 1 or 2 in my tools somewhere…

 

[bonneyman]

I first saw them in use with a mechanic removing the cylinder head on an old flathead Harley. Super deep box wrench wouldn't work, and ratchets are too big. Though in todays tool world a semi-deep socket paired to a ratcheting wrench with socket adaptor might pull it off.

I have a mutt set in SAE. Two metrics - a 15mm Mac and a 10mm Truecraft.

You can make a multi-version from a Saltus wrench missing its socket. Mount a swivel knuckle on the end and you can use shorty sockets. Not a true Saltus (as the length isn't as compact) but might work in a pinch.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Well, not one to mess around, I found a 7 piece -V- series craftsman in very nice shape on eBay and pulled the trigger!
Too bad they never made a metric set, but I remember back then I never reached for metric unless it was on the kubota B6000. I’ll have to check out the Truecraft..
I’m building a little bench in an out of the way corner, and planning on having a hanging basic tool kit on some metal pegboard…

 

[FTWingRiders]

I have a mutt set in SAE. Two metrics - a 15mm Mac and a 10mm Truecraft.

You can make a multi-version from a Saltus wrench missing its socket. Mount a swivel knuckle on the end and you can use shorty sockets. Not a true Saltus (as the length isn't as compact) but might work in a pinch.

I swear my Dad had something like that… maybe it was a 1/4” swivel knuckle breaker bar, that I just might in the box I have up in the loft. I’ll have to dig through it tomorrow.

 

[bonneyman]

Sometimes my mind goes into dark corners and I slap together some tool to see if it can be done.

And sometimes they actually work!

 

[FTWingRiders]

Look at what showed up today.




The seller even threw in a free -VV- combo wrench! ( maybe someone here).. A bit more than I wanted to spend, but I’m a vintage Craftsman fan and they sure brought back memories!

 

[bonneyman]

Nice!

 

[bugnut]

Love them, been wanting a set need to get off the bankroll.....

 

[IMCA38]

Look at what showed up today.




The seller even threw in a free -VV- combo wrench! ( maybe someone here).. A bit more than I wanted to spend, but I’m a vintage Craftsman fan and they sure brought back memories!

That set even has the rare 11/16” one! Well done.

 

[captain14]

I remember those Saltus wrench sets in the Sears. Craftsman catalog.
I’m thinking you could buy the set or individually.

 

[FTWingRiders]

That set even has the rare 11/16” one! Well done.

Thank you! They are in really nice condition.. so I splurged a bit more than I planned, but I know myself, and I’d want all 7 so I’d have to find one eventually… even if I know I’ll probably never use it..

 

[IMCA38]

Came across a 7 pc set at an online auction, including the 11/16.
Had to up my bid a few more times than I wanted, but managed to snag them.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Came across a 7 pc set at an online auction, including the 11/16.
Had to up my bid a few more times than I wanted, but managed to snag them.

Nice score!! I’ve actually used mine a few times now for quick jobs. I also spent more than I originally wanted, but no regrets.. a nice addition to the tool box.

 

[IMCA38]

Made an interesting discovery when I went to put the new 7 pc set away.
As visible in the photo above, this set is marked —v—,
The 6 pc set that I got a few years ago is marked ==v==.
Can anyone shed light as to the approximate vintage of each set?

 

[four.cycle]

^
V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1946 - 1967

V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1968 - 1986 perhaps as late as 1991 as NOS

 

[Rounder]

Friend of mine is a mechanic, and I work once in awhile with him on my projects. Those are handy, little better cleatance than a socket too. His are snap on. rathcet wrenches in all the different types have probably replaced these, but these get into tighter spots and are on my someday list.

When looking on google, all I find is weird brands.

 

[Beerhippie]

The only Saltus (thanks, y'all--I didn't know the designation, either) Is a Japanese 14mm. It fits my snowblower for adjusting the skids and the blade bolts of my Honda mower. Pretty hand to stick in my back pocket when running either.

I actually have several, as other employees tend to lose the one I have mounted on the snowblower, so I buy another, then find the first one in the spring. It lives in a piece of pipe welded to the handle bar of the 'blower, so I'm not real sure how you go about losing it....