Craftsmanomania?

[qqzj]

Finally is a pair of claw hammers that I have shown in some other threads. My collection is pretty weak on claw hammers. So getting these two means a lot to me. I esp. like the bigger one with a rip claw. I think this is the best looking claw hammer from Sears.









They fit right in place among their 'domesticated' immaculate hammer buddies!

 

[qqzj]

Not Craftsman, but these work well enough that I never bother the Craftsmen. Got the larger one for $10 from HD and the smaller one for $5 from yard sale. They work as well as hammers can!

 

[71goldss]

The other set is more interesting. It is a set of nut removers.









It is a nut remover, I guess, because it is different from my other Cman removers. The two one the left are my regular bolt removers. They have female square drive holes. These new-to-me removers do not have female square drive holes. Instead they are turned with a wrench. So they are used to remove fasteners with a long shaft sticking up in the middle. Kind of a pass-thru design.

I don't understand why the seller has difficulty selling them for only $5. Maybe other buyers think 5 pieces are missing? Not to long-time Sears shoppers! I remember Sears sold them like that. The other 5 pieces come in a separate package without the case. So you need to put two sets together to fill the case. But I am also puzzled where #6 and #11 are missing. Any clues?

Sorry I’m late to this thread. Maybe this is common info, but my bolt removers are different than both of yours. Mine have both inside square drive holes and outside six point for wrench or socket. Bought mine new a few years ago, so probably newest design? Have yet to use any of them. BTW, mine doesn’t include the #3. Also, all made in the USA.

 

[qqzj]

Sorry I’m late to this thread. Maybe this is common info, but my bolt removers are different than both of yours. Mine have both inside square drive holes and outside six point for wrench or socket. Bought mine new a few years ago, so probably newest design? Have yet to use any of them. BTW, mine doesn’t include the #3. Also, all made in the USA.

That does seem to be a more versatile, and therefore better, design overall. One concern is that whether it is possible that the female square's inner circle is smaller than a totally round hole and therefore does not allow some rod with larger diameter to go thru? Small probability, of course.

 

[qqzj]

Let me change gear a little. Instead of buying stuff all the time, I am trying to take care of the pliers i bought in post 117. Here are the two pair of pliers. I worked on the smaller one today.



We can see that near the tip of the right jaw, there is a pretty serious rust spot. There is also a similar sized spot on the other side, just above the rivet. There is also a smaller spot on the other side, very close to the handle. So today I followed this guy's method to remove the rust, i.e., vinegar plus salt. I let it sit for one day. The result is okay.

The large spot of rust on the right jaw is gone completely. Same for the big spot on top of the rivet on the other side. If we look closely, a smaller spot on the top piece near the handle is the same. But the drawback is also clear. First, the places with thick rust coverage have their finish permanently damaged. There is some pitting going on. It will never be as smooth as the other places. Second, the beloved Craftsman logo is gone! Man, how I wish the logo was stamped on, instead of etched on.

There was also a third problem. The pliers were all covered in a thin coat of black stuff. I tried all kinds of cleaners w/o luck. Finally, something interesting worked. It is LA Totally Awesome Grill and Oven cleaner. With some buffing, I largely removed that layer. I believe if I use the pliers often enough, the black stuff might be gone by themselves in the years to come.

Any comments and suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Wolley]

I use straight vinegar then a small wire brush to scrub after the soak. The black could be from the reaction from the vinegar. Those pliers seem to of had a coating on the steel like laquer or something that could be reacting too.

Too bad about the logos, I guess you'll have to find some more. I have 2 craftsman prybars, different from yours, still used alot about 20 years old. I like that green color on them.

 

[logical]

About 5 or 6 years ago I was sorting through all the duplicate tools I had and with a full set in the garage, a basic set in the basement, minimal sets in the house, truck, car, ATV, motorcycle and tractor I still had extras.

I separated off the USA Craftsman socket sets I got new in the late 1970's or early 80's and started building an all USA, mostly Craftsman kit for my son. NOS and barely used stuff was still reasonably priced and available back then. He is still living in a place without a garage but one day he'll get a nice garage warming present. I may do a picture tour one of these nights but it's all packed away at the moment. I did go non-USA on the chest...I have my limits.

 

[qqzj]

I use straight vinegar then a small wire brush to scrub after the soak. The black could be from the reaction from the vinegar. Those pliers seem to of had a coating on the steel like laquer or something that could be reacting too.

Too bad about the logos, I guess you'll have to find some more. I have 2 craftsman prybars, different from yours, still used alot about 20 years old. I like that green color on them.

Thanks for reminding me about the lacquer layer. What can I buy to restore that layer? I do notice that the larger pair of pliers is a lot shinier than the one I worked on.

 

[Komet]

Finally needed a 3/8 12pt socket, decided it would be most economical to get a small set that would seemingly cover my 12pt sae needs. Scored this set on ebay for $20 shipped. Inverted G era, none of them appear to have turned a bolt, just super minor shelf wear:

 

[qqzj]

Finally got my paws on some additional good stuff from Craftsman!

What is more perfect than having your cake and eat it too? Yes, you can!



These high visibility socket sets get pretty hot these days on eBay. I am not sure why. I also heard that there are two batches of these sockets with the first type being the wrong type but ending up more valuable. Still not sure what is going on. Anyone can give me some advice? Thanks.

 

[qqzj]

I've got set of those Craftsman flat ground, black handled pliers, about 22 different ones, basically NOS. They're really some of the nicest pliers I've seen but I have so many others I never needed to use them. They've been sitting in one of my roll cabs for maybe 20+- years with a load of other unused tools I've accumulated over the years. Most are marked Western Forge - WF C and a 9 . One water pump plier is just marked France with a 5 digit Craftsman number. I think it's actually Facom made for Craftsman, Maybe I'll put them up in the sale section.

They are for sure better investment than money in the bank.

I forgot to mention that near the end of last year, I got a truck load of NOS Craftsman in my best deal ever.

Hit a jackpot today :) Let's see the comments!

I was smiling ear to ear on the way back. I did not even stop at the local Harbor Freight with a 25% off coupon in the phone :) (Still wondering how that could happen though :unsure:) Anyway, the total amount I spent, with gas money, is $175. Keeping that in mind, let's see the goodies like a 5...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Years ago I bought a refurbished Craftsman Router, model 315.1750. There was a date of 1988 scratched into the casting. So likely bought it around that time. I had pushed it pretty hard and bang she packed it in. When I reset it all that would happen is both the feeding to fast and the feeding it too slow lights were flashing. Thought it was cooked and then thought what the hell maybe some brushes. After disassemble I thought wonder if I can reassemble. Brushes appeared good checked the net they said a new armature would be needed. Thought I am in this deep so took some 220 grit sandpaper and managed to shine up the copper field.
Reassembled and turned it on and the damn thing came to life. I’m still in shock.

 

[qqzj]

Finally some good stuff! Deep offset (professional?) wrench 10-23mm no skip. I like them so much that I might buy a wrench rack for them.

 

[qqzj]

Next their SAE cousins. Looks like I am missing a 9/16 x 1/2.

 

[qqzj]

But the best has yet to come. Next is the NOS 1/2 thin profile wrench, with the premium wrench I bought before.

Wrench for wrench, I would rank the premium first just because it is more valuable. But if I ever need to use one, I think I like the thin profile more. It has quick release and a more conventional look. Also it is shorter because I would break bolts with breaker bar first and I don't need long wrenches afterwards. Nowadays, all the premium wrenches are securely in the hands of collectors, these thin profile ones are becoming like the new 'premium' wrenches.

 

[qqzj]

The next starts to get truly unique. Titanium bottle opener, baby! My beer game is looking up

Add a 3/8 premium ratchet there just to show that it is truly blue.

 

[qqzj]

Finally, the best for today and I bet nobody sees it coming! Drum roll please.



This is my first d-bag tool set! Tools that are not meant to be used. Even though all these tools are not going to be used ever. This is the only one that is not meant to be used by anyone. People make fun of golden tools, but if I can have a full drawer of golden tools, I don't mind being made fun of. However, this gets even better




3/8 titanium thin profile ratchets and sockets! This special thin profile vs 3/8 premium, I don't know which one is more satisfying. Anyhow, I recently got a **** load of Cman tools. The rest has to wait.

 

[qqzj]

Finally got my paws on a set of ignition wrenches and observed the difference from midget wrenches

What is the difference between Craftsman midget wrenches and ignition wrenches?

They look really close to my eyes. Can someone please let me know what I am missing? Thanks. This is midget wrench This is ignition wrench Thanks in advance!

www.garagejournal.com

Also a set of flare nut wrenches in ok condition.

 

[qqzj]

Picked up two more NOS socket sets. Should be No. 8 and No. 9 for me. I don't know what to say. I guess there are different levels of NOS tools.

 

[dsh]

These high visibility socket sets get pretty hot these days on eBay. I am not sure why. I also heard that there are two batches of these sockets with the first type being the wrong type but ending up more valuable. Still not sure what is going on. Anyone can give me some advice? Thanks.

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but at first the hi-viz sockets only had the laser etching which eventually faded away. Once faded, you couldn't tell what size a socket was. Craftsman then corrected by selling hi-viz sockets with stampings too (like the ones you have). That way even if the laser etching fades, the sockets are still labeled.

 

[qqzj]

Found this thing in total disgrace today in a garage sale. Bought it for $2





Open it up, a few squirts of brake cleaner anywhere I saw rust. A couple drops ATF down the easy release and switch gear compartment, and a whole lot of Super Lube until the gear sounds like plastic when clicking. Put it back, and good as new!



This one does not have the oil port, so I am quite confused why it has a lower product number than those with oil ports. I thought older ratchets like this have oil port.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

The government printed trillions of dollars in the last few years but Craftsman stopped making US-tools a long time ago. The money has to go somewhere.

People are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for Monkey JPEGs these days (NFTs) so a few hundred bucks for a used toolset seems reasonable in this clown economy.

 

[Cruzan80]

The one on the left is actually newer than the one on the right. The way to tell is the Pat Pend only applies to V2 of the quick release. Sears was never great about putting things in numerical order.

 

[qqzj]

Found a pretty unique socket set today! A thin profile ratchet with the politically wrong, but highly collectible, first gen easy-read sockets! I realized recently that Sears made quite a few special socket sets like these with the thin profile ratchets and they are very nice. They are probably the most desirable socket sets among those that are meant to be used. Relatively speaking, the premium ratchets only came in very basic plastic bags. Maybe one day, these special socket sets with thin profile ratchets might out-compete the premium ratchets in the collectible market?

 

[qqzj]

Folks getting pretty aggressive over at FBMP

 

[Meursault74]

Folks getting pretty aggressive over at FBMP

Big nuts for that asking price, guess that's a usable tool for them.

 

[BusterofKnuckles]

When I first started turning wrenches there was a Sears next door. So, I started buying there for 3 reasons: Sears & Craftsman had a good name; a lifetime warranty; and convenience. That was a long time ago. Craftsman is not my favorite tool and it's not the best tool on the market but I made a living with them. I'd do it again.

That said, there are some things I would find an alternative source for. The first set of line wrenches I had would flex under pressure and round-off carburetor fuel nuts. I think I still have them somewhere but will never use them again.

I had a compression gauge that I screwed into a VW hole once. When I tried to remove it the hose had loosened on the fitting and wouldn't come out. The spark plug hole was very deep and could not be seen without a mirror. It was a nightmare and took a couple of hours to get out. Never bought another 'hosed' item from Craftsman.

Yep, it was a long time ago, but Craftsman put the hurt on me and I never 100% trusted them again. Still bought wrenches and the like, but quit for good when they went Chinese.

Sears destroyed their flagship tool line by their own hand. They forgot their customer.

 

[milky2k]

Found a pretty unique socket set today! A thin profile ratchet with the politically wrong, but highly collectible, first gen easy-read sockets! I realized recently that Sears made quite a few special socket sets like these with the thin profile ratchets and they are very nice. They are probably the most desirable socket sets among those that are meant to be used. Relatively speaking, the premium ratchets only came in very basic plastic bags. Maybe one day, these special socket sets with thin profile ratchets might out-compete the premium ratchets in the collectible market?

These are my favorite Craftsman ratchets. They look so nice, felt hefty, and had a high tooth count. I had the 1/2 drive one for a long time but then when I noticed they were starting to move their production overseas I snatched up the last of the USA made 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets. It makes me sad to think of what could have been if Lampert had not nosedived Sears in to the ground.

 

[qqzj]

These are my favorite Craftsman ratchets. They look so nice, felt hefty, and had a high tooth count. I had the 1/2 drive one for a long time but then when I noticed they were starting to move their production overseas I snatched up the last of the USA made 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets. It makes me sad to think of what could have been if Lampert had not nosedived Sears in to the ground.

Totally agree with you. These look great, feel comfortable in hands, high tooth count, very thin, and have easy release button. They’re my favorite cman ratchets too. But I am also aware of another version of very thin craftsman ratchet. I only have the China made version and in 1/4 drive size. So I can’t make a direct comparison. Let’s wait and see if I can find some later.

 

[ike]

I appreciate your dedication to this thread OP. I also love my thin profile ratchets, although I generally grab my Armstrong Maxx flex ratchets first. I do think Craftsman ratchets from this era were great.

 

[qqzj]

I appreciate your dedication to this thread OP. I also love my thin profile ratchets, although I generally grab my Armstrong Maxx flex ratchets first. I do think Craftsman ratchets from this era were great.

Craftsman was the dominant provider for tools, at least home bound ones, for so many years. There are quite some rare and interesting items. I hope more people bother to show off their favorite craftsmen tools

 

[Dankotaru]

Also a set of flare nut wrenches in ok condition.

Those Craftsman Professional flare nut wrenches were made in the USA by SK, called SK Facom in the source book at the time.

 

[Dankotaru]

Finally some good stuff! Deep offset (professional?) wrench 10-23mm no skip. I like them so much that I might buy a wrench rack for them.

Those are Craftsman Professional, and they were made by Armstrong at the same factory as the Craftsman Professional full polish combination wrenches. I have the same wrenches, complete metric and standard sets, and they are my most used wrenches. I just prefer using the offset box for clearance, and they have been great.

 

[milky2k]

I appreciate your dedication to this thread OP. I also love my thin profile ratchets, although I generally grab my Armstrong Maxx flex ratchets first. I do think Craftsman ratchets from this era were great.

It's like looking in to a mirror!

 

[milky2k]

Totally agree with you. These look great, feel comfortable in hands, high tooth count, very thin, and have easy release button. They’re my favorite cman ratchets too. But I am also aware of another version of very thin craftsman ratchet. I only have the China made version and in 1/4 drive size. So I can’t make a direct comparison. Let’s wait and see if I can find some later.

Are you talking about the ones that look like the low profile ratchets but have "84T" stamped at the end? I almost bought one of them by accident when I went looking for the 3/8 and 1/4 versions. They looked identical and back then I wasn't aware of the tooth count war but as soon as I gave the ratchet a spin, I knew it sounded different and I had to take a closer look at them.

 

[milky2k]

Thought I'd share my Craftsman ratchets I've acquired over the years. It all started with the 3/8 raised panel and the 3/8 RP flex because I read a Popular Mechanics article that said those were the first two ratchets you should start with. Not bad advice. A little later on I got the 1/4 RP and then the 1/2 low profile. We fixed and built many things together. There is lots of good juju in them. The ratchets with blue tape are flea market finds that are broken or used for donor parts to keep the others going. My latest acquisitions are the round head fine tooth. I like the thumbwheel feature but one of them needs a new snap ring.

 

[qqzj]

Thought I'd share my Craftsman ratchets I've acquired over the years. It all started with the 3/8 raised panel and the 3/8 RP flex because I read a Popular Mechanics article that said those were the first two ratchets you should start with. Not bad advice. A little later on I got the 1/4 RP and then the 1/2 low profile. We fixed and built many things together. There is lots of good juju in them. The ratchets with blue tape are flea market finds that are broken or used for donor parts to keep the others going. My latest acquisitions are the round head fine tooth. I like the thumbwheel feature but one of them needs a new snap ring.

Nice! Among yours I have 10, but am missing the other 13. Wow. Still a lot of work left.

 

[qqzj]

Are you talking about the ones that look like the low profile ratchets but have "84T" stamped at the end? I almost bought one of them by accident when I went looking for the 3/8 and 1/4 versions. They looked identical and back then I wasn't aware of the tooth count war but as soon as I gave the ratchet a spin, I knew it sounded different and I had to take a closer look at them.

Sorry. I have a China made 72T 1/4 ratchet. I remember it's very thin. But I compared with some gear wrench ratchets and they're about the same. Memory no longer so good.

The premium ratchet is the only USA made one with 84 teeth. AFAIK. Once thin profile ratchets are moved to Taiwan/China, the increased teeth count to 84 from 60

 

[qqzj]

Found an old torque wrench with some history! When I found it, The reverse switch was locked up. I took it apart and realized that it is not rust. In that time period, Sears used a yellowish grease and over time, the grease itself solidified. I sprayed some WD40 (my only choice at the time) and after a while, it was moving again. WD40 is pretty good even tho it is not a true lubricant.

I am pretty surprised that the TW uses a collar to lock/unlock the mechanism to set torque. This is much better than using a knob at the bottom b/c I often forget to tighten the knob. But the most interesting part is that it says Simpson-Sears Limited. I googled it, it seems that it was made by the former Sears Canada. But that should be called Simpsons-Sears Limited. So it seems that this TW has a spelling error on it? BTW, when pulling down the collar, there is a mark '1/79'. I guess it is made Jan. 1979? The name was changed to Sears Canada in 1984.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I have a 25 year old made in US craftsman claw hammer. I long since put It in storage because once I learned better, I have a dislike of claw hammers. I never claw with them. If I need to remove nails from drywall I will use pliers Rather than mark up the paint with the claw levering off it.

Someone in another thread commented that claw pliers can make a decent prybar at times if that’s all you have. And I realized, that using my preferred hammers which are a double sides soft dead or a mini sledge is actually kind of silly for stuff that you don’t need the weight. Maybe like plumbing. So might as well use a claw hammer and give yourself an improvised pry bar.

Im adding the 25 year old 16oz claw craftsman hammer to my plumbing kit