Craftsman Universal wrench set

[wchamberlain]

Has anyone used these tools??? They claim to be able to use them on all fasteners.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...nt+Innovations&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=L4

Mac sells something similar to this at an astronomical price.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Look nice, reviews are mixed? No personal experience.
I hate when they skip a size, 16 is pretty common too.
Then of course, an 18 and 19 would be nice too.
Tony

 

[mkdive]

COO a concern? (made in china).

 

[klhitman]

Haven't used them but I like the way they look

 

[Old Donn]

A bit of advice if you decide to get these. Don't get rid of the holder they come in. They're shorter & the handles are thicker than standard issue Cman raised panels. The holder's all they fit in. Also, if you break one and want to warranty it, you've gotta return the whole set. Sears doesn't have singles of these or any of their other Made in China wrenches.

 

[Jbullfrog]

They are spline wrenches which have been around for years at a premium price.

 

[moparmuscle88]

16 mm is 5/8 so if you have a standard set then its just a double

also, im pretty sure all spline fasteners are military type which are sae, also all square head fasteners are SAE also, so the american set would be the set i would buy

 

[granitestater]

They seem like a gimmick to me. I prefer the exact wrench / socket to fit the fastener, 8 points for square fasteners, 6 or 12 points for six points and torx for torx. Sure, these may fit a brand new fastener that is not overly tight but what about a rusted on stuck bolt that is really tight. My guess is that they will slip, badly and damage the fastener and then you will spend additional time trying to remove the damaged fastener. Stick with the proper tool for the job and you will have far less troubles.

 

[kc-steve]

I would be interested in hearing someone's experience, but for now, I tend to feel that something that is "universal" might have the universal stigma of being a "jack of all trades, master of none" type of tool. Sorta like the "dogbone."

Steve

 

[DewittMotorsports]

I've heard the exact opposite about spline (spline in general, not these wrenches) such as the SK ratcheting wrenches or the Matco XL box end ratcheting wrenches. People that actually own them say they fit better than 12 point and much less slipping on a rusted/stuck on/stripped bolt head

 

[mrbreezeet1]

16 mm is 5/8 so if you have a standard set then its just a double

I understand that, but were talking a metric set here. If I'm working out of one drawer, and the car is all metric, I don't want to have to go to another drawer to get a 5/8" wrench, but that's just me.
I just hate when sets skip sizes, a lot of times they skip the 11 MM

also, im pretty sure all spline fasteners are military type which are sae, also all square head fasteners are SAE also, so the american set would be the set i would buy

Thanks.
Tony

 

[dede2897234]

wchamberlain,

GarageJournal member "xroad" commented about his first hand experience with the Craftsman universal wrenches here:
LINK.


Dave

 

[chewy7]

makes me want to go out and get some sk spline wrench's

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I bought a set for the "I don't really care if I lose it" aspect. They work really well for partially rounded bolts and those goofy 12 point bolts that Ford and Caterpillar have fallen in love with.

 

[landbruiser1]

One of my techs at work has the wrench sets. He liked them so much, he bought the socket kit also. There nice, but after using the longer handled wrenchs, it hard to go back.

 

[dodge610]

I tried them in the store they had them out to try out on the different fasteners i was impressed seem to work very well on there hands on display around the holidays.

 

[jkeyser14]

They seem like a gimmick to me. I prefer the exact wrench / socket to fit the fastener, 8 points for square fasteners, 6 or 12 points for six points and torx for torx. Sure, these may fit a brand new fastener that is not overly tight but what about a rusted on stuck bolt that is really tight. My guess is that they will slip, badly and damage the fastener and then you will spend additional time trying to remove the damaged fastener. Stick with the proper tool for the job and you will have far less troubles.

The geometry actually allows them to work like a flank drive wrench.

 

[Exceller8]

Anyone else buy a set? I'm thinking of purchasing an SAE set for when I have rounded bolts and this would also make a nice beater set. I know they're made in China, but I checked them out today at Sears and they looked pretty nice.

 

[shoturtle]

I like spline drive. Good for etorx. I use proto's. The cm at better then them lowes offering, as lowes unisize them with sae and metric. They do not fit as well as the cm with a dedicated metric and sae set. Omi size does not work well.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Anyone else buy a set? I'm thinking of purchasing an SAE set for when I have rounded bolts and this would also make a nice beater set. I know they're made in China, but I checked them out today at Sears and they looked pretty nice.

They work well on rounded nuts and bolts. They also work well in grabbing four point fill and drain plugs on old school manual transmissions, axles and transfer cases.

I've been using these since they first came out--no complaints

 

[Ditchdigger]

I have had a set for years that I have never opened, but I was thinking about picking up some metrinch stuff to see how well it worked on whitworth. Totally forgot about these. They will be going to work with me the next time I have a prewar Rolls Royce in my bay, which is unfortunately all too often.

 

[romeo]

Anyone else buy a set? I'm thinking of purchasing an SAE set for when I have rounded bolts and this would also make a nice beater set. I know they're made in China, but I checked them out today at Sears and they looked pretty nice.

I purchased the Craftsman 56-piece Universal Mechanics Tool Set to be used for these same reasons. The set I got is good quality. I use them around the home, mainly on the lawn mowers and my vehicles, and on the square head nuts and bolts used on wood decks. They work really great on rusted old nuts and bolts and have become my main go to set. A very industrial, rugged design, I wish I had a set like these when I was a kid growing up on the farm.

 

[5lima30]

I have a set and haven't used them alot. That being said they seem to be well made but... bulky and will not work well in restricted spaces IMHO.

 

[Exceller8]

Thanks guys!

 

[Paulkenosha]

I bought the 56pc set as well for a in the car/junk yard set. They are decent, i do worry at times with stuck bolts that they will strip them but hasnt happend yet. They have a decent quality about them considering its china ****, but all in all Im pleased with them. JUST DONT expect them to retain that nice black finish long at all! They start to look pretty beat up after minimal use.

 

[Exceller8]

I bought the 56pc set as well for a in the car/junk yard set. They are decent, i do worry at times with stuck bolts that they will strip them but hasnt happend yet. They have a decent quality about them considering its china ****, but all in all Im pleased with them. JUST DONT expect them to retain that nice black finish long at all! They start to look pretty beat up after minimal use.

I don't think the finish will last either but for a beater set they should be just fine. I wish they were US made as well...

 

[jmm]

I bought the 56pc set as well for a in the car/junk yard set. They are decent, i do worry at times with stuck bolts that they will strip them but hasnt happend yet. They have a decent quality about them considering its china ****, but all in all Im pleased with them. JUST DONT expect them to retain that nice black finish long at all! They start to look pretty beat up after minimal use.

You're spot on here. I got a set for the exact same purpose. Mine look like **** after a few months. So far the only thing besides regular hex bolts I've used them on are a few rusty old torx head bolts; they actually performed very well.

 

[Exceller8]

You're spot on here. I got a set for the exact same purpose. Mine look like **** after a few months. So far the only thing besides regular hex bolts I've used them on are a few rusty old torx head bolts; they actually performed very well.

Sadly that is what you get with import tools sometimes. They'll work just fine but the finish just doesn't hold up. Not all American made tools are perfect, but I usually don't have that problem with them. I've had some of my tools for over 30 years and they still work and look great. When people say they don't care if the tools are import or not I wonder what their collection will look like in 30 years?

 

[shoturtle]

Not all imported tool have oxide finish, and some of the chrome import stuff have stellar chrome and will last a long time.

I just do not think any oxide finish from any brand US or non will last.

 

[Exceller8]

Not all imported tool have oxide finish, and some of the chrome import stuff have stellar chrome and will last a long time.

I just do not think any oxide finish from any brand US or non will last.

Good point... I've found some of the Chinese made tools with fantastic chrome finishes.

 

[Gmonkee]

I recently built back up to a usable tool kit from nothing 7 years ago. If I still have these same tools and in working order at the 30 year mark should I even care what they look like?

Now in these days anything going three decades is a rare occurance. If whatever it still does its job and well that should speak volumes more than shine and polish ever will.

I'll be proud of them battered and beat but still working more than any shiny new bauble.

 

[romeo]

Yup, mine look just like a beater set should and I'm proud of it! Typically the rusty knarly nuts and bolts I use these on don't care what the wrench looks like. In fact, don't care if it's an English or Metric, whatever fits best, sometimes also with a little persuasion from a ball-peen hammer.

 

[Exceller8]

Yup, mine look just like a beater set should and I'm proud of it! Typically the rusty knarly nuts and bolts I use these on don't care what the wrench looks like. In fact, don't care if it's an English or Metric, whatever fits best, sometimes also with a little persuasion from a ball-peen hammer.

I've used the hammer and wrench method many times!

 

[Exceller8]

I bought the 56 PC set today for $79.99 on sale. I really only wanted the SAE wrenches but they were $24.99, so I opted for the 56 PC set which I could always use. Like I said, this is just a beater set...

 

[romeo]

I've used the hammer and wrench method many times!

Yup, a Craftsman Universal wrench and a ball-peen hammer = a poor mans impact wrench!

 

[Exceller8]

I used the set today around the shop today and I was really happy with the quality. I probably won't buy anymore import sets, but it's nice to see some import tools with decent quality.