Future tools to replace Craftsman

[ckucia]

So I've been organizing the garage. Most of my mechanics tools are Craftsman - that's what Dad always bought. I have a smattering of other brands when it was too hard to get to a Sears store back in the day.

Anyhow, I'm missing some sockets from my extra sets. Have a few worn out ratchets. Missing a wrench or two. We moved a few times over the last couple of years and things got chaotic.

I see Lowe's carries Craftsman now...

First impulse is to just replace the missing/broken with Craftsman next time I'm over at Lowes (which is an hour away).

But I've read about Craftsman going down hill. Several threads about Lowe's mechanics tools being phased out or nosediving in quality. I'm now living in a very rural area so the lifetime warranties only matter if I can mail the broken parts in for replacement. The tool truck guys are pretty much out of the question unless I can buy online. We have Advance, Walmart and Tractor Supply locally - everything else is an hour away minimum.

So, going into 2020, what's the consensus on tool brands for a high-use home mechanic? Is Craftsman still viable? If not, what's the best choice? I'm thinking needing 16 sockets, a few wrenches and a couple of ratchets is a good time to switch brand loyalty if I'm going to do so, and I might be able to get a little help from Santa if I move fast enough...

I've read a lot of threads but it seems like things are changing every few months with tools. I just want to replace my missing stuff and get back to work.

 

[redragoon]

I have a set of the Kobalt sockets from Lowes. Ratchets are OK. I think 36 tooth. They moved them to a small corner once they started stocking Craftsman.

Lowes Craftsman toolboxes are not bad, but the tools seem overpriced for the quality.

Husky tools from Home Depot have also been ok for the few I have bought.

I have started buying Gearwrench for most of my needs. I won't ever need higher price tool truck brands for my home/DIY use and most of the Taiwan made pieces are good quality. Some lines have been moved to China production which is the same quality as my other tools.

If you want good USA Craftsman, you may be able to find the missing pieces at a swap meet or flea market for cheap.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I would go with Tekton in your case. Their made in Taiwan sockets and wrenches are decent. Also, they are rolling out some USA made stuff every now and then. Best of all, they warranty stuff via email with a photo of the broken tool. Your replacement comes in the mail.

 

[chstrumpetdude]

I was in the same boat and went with Tekton. If you live in a rural area with internet, you can just send a picture and they will send the tool to you. No need for returns. Lots of reviews on here and other places on their company philosophy and tool quality (which keeps expanding and improving).

They state that they contract out their designs, which is what Sears used to do. I personally invested in them since I could no longer buy good Craftsman. There are a several reviews of their stuff and their wrenches are abysmal compared to even what they were putting out at the end.

 

[Parrothead]

If you’re not a matching type guy, just replace what’s missing with Tekton. I’ve been very pleased with the stuff I own. Warranty in your situation is perfect, should you ever actually need it. Take a picture, **** replacement tool.

 

[ckucia]

Tekton seems like the answer. Is this some sort oh GJ record - a consensus within five posts?

Thanks everyone.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Tekton is as solid as they come. I'm holding out for some of the new US Craftsman tools personally to see how they stack up

 

[m6z]

Tekton is a good option.

Still might be cheaper to buy a Craftsman set from Sears right now. They've got several sets for 50% or more off.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Tekton seems like the answer. Is this some sort oh GJ record - a consensus within five posts?

Thanks everyone.

Brands that can be bought and warrantied online without sending anything in are ideal for your kind of situation. Tekton just happens to be the best known among them.

 

[lardy1]

Online auctions seem to offer a lot of used old Craftsman. I don't know fair prices but I do see a lot of it available.

 

[yrly]

Tekton is a good option.

Still might be cheaper to buy a Craftsman set from Sears right now. They've got several sets for 50% or more off.

Nothing wrong with Texton. Sears stuff will be fundamentally cheaper for now so it’s not a bad time to take advantage of it. I mean it’s far cheaper than Lowe’s if you look for deals. The stuff without the raised panel designs (stamped Z-AH) seems far nicer finished and made than a lot of the stuff they had been carrying. I put some pics of the ultimate collection (now called ultimate assortment) sets in the new tool arrivals post.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8196364&postcount=48735

 

[DFB]

Obviously he wants to go different otherwise 16 loose sockets to round out his Craftsman wouldn't be a big deal

Buy the KOBALT 200 pc socket set being offered deal at LOWES for $99 be done with it

China is China lol!

 

[Don53]

I COO matters, SK might be worth a look.... I think they bring a lot of the same benefits that Tekton provides (good product, good customer service, easy warranty, etc.).... but USA made (with corresponding USA made pricing).

Don

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[grassman]

Can I ask where in WV are you located? Kinda sounds like Spencer. It won't help you out but Carlyle is a decent brand. Sold at Napa.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Most anything you buy will be fine. High use home mechanic might see less work per month than I see in a day. Craftsman will be totally fine.

 

[ckucia]

Most anything you buy will be fine. High use home mechanic might see less work per month than I see in a day. Craftsman will be totally fine.

Old Craftsman would have been OK I think. Maybe I'm on the high end of home use. Recent Craftsman I find I'm cracking more sockets and wearing out more ratchets these days. That's a big part of the reason that I now have primary and backup sets of sockets.

Now that I live where I can't just run up to a store 10 minutes away and replace them when they break, the slipping quality is starting to be a pain. I don't do enough to justify the truck brands, but I need something better than what Craftsman is putting out.

 

[ckucia]

Can I ask where in WV are you located? Kinda sounds like Spencer. It won't help you out but Carlyle is a decent brand. Sold at Napa.

PM sent...

 

[gungatim]

For sockets, i've got tekton, Icon, Husky, Kobalt and they all are pretty much the same. Husky is pretty much my go-to now in my working box after getting rid of most of my Craftsman. (I keep a "Tool Truck" brand box as well as a backup with mostly Snap-on/S-K but those are my tool polisher tools and see less use).

I've never had to warranty any of them so can't say how easy it is, but at least Husky is available at HD with 3 locations near me. Tekton isn't really available locally anymore since several places stopped carrying them. I think Meijers still sells them but they are much more expensive than Husky.

Also have some "Bluehawk" which was lowes lower tier under Kobalt for a while. dirt cheap and actually pretty nice, almost identical to Husky or Icon. I still keep a few 1/2" drive sizes to fill in missing ones and keep a 1/4" drive set in the truck. wish they still carried them, they would go on sale cheaper than HF stuff...

so for me, local availability plays big, which is why I like the HF Icon and HD Husky stuff. If you like buying/warrantying online, it sounds like Tekton is the go-to, but I've just never found anything special enough about them to pay more, and their earlier stuff was kinda junky (especially 1st gen screwdrivers and wrenches).

 

[ckucia]

I COO matters, SK might be worth a look.... I think they bring a lot of the same benefits that Tekton provides (good product, good customer service, easy warranty, etc.).... but USA made (with corresponding USA made pricing).

Don

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Thanks. I would prefer to buy USA made if I can but yikes, S-K is proud of their stuff.

I compared a 6 point 18mm standard depth 3/8 socket. Lowe's wants $4.48 for Craftsman. Tekton wants $5.50. S-K wants $12.

Snap-On wants $19 so at least S-K is a bit of a bargain by comparison.

I really feel for you guys that have to buy the truck-based tools because your living depends on it. Seriously, if I had to buy Snap-On in order to work on my vehicles, it would cost more than the savings I see doing it myself. It would probably be cheaper to take everything to the dealer than to spend what I would need on tools at those prices.

 

[Shane6377]

Thanks. I would prefer to buy USA made if I can but yikes, S-K is proud of their stuff.



I compared a 6 point 18mm standard depth 3/8 socket. Lowe's wants $4.48 for Craftsman. Tekton wants $5.50. S-K wants $12.



Snap-On wants $19 so at least S-K is a bit of a bargain by comparison.



I really feel for you guys that have to buy the truck-based tools because your living depends on it. Seriously, if I had to buy Snap-On in order to work on my vehicles, it would cost more than the savings I see doing it myself. It would probably be cheaper to take everything to the dealer than to spend what I would need on tools at those prices.

Individual sockets are always priced higher (per socket) than sets.
Everyone has their opinion but IMO SK sockets are the same quality as Snap on. Proto is the same. There are little differences like knurling or depth of broaching that may cause you to prefer one over the other but quality... they are equal. I own some Snap on, SK and Proto as well as many other brands.


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[Fly YX]

If you go SK look at Circle C Supply they have the cheapest prices for SK that I have seen so far.

 

[Shark Pilot]

Proto: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VXZ4XI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not outrageous price wise for high quality made in USA. If on a budget, then go to Advance online and order Gearwrench with a 20-25% coupon and pick up in store if they have what you want in stock locally. A rail of 3/8 drive metric sockets will probably be less than $20.

I went from cman to Carlyle at NAPA a few years ago and am glad I did, although the prices have gone up recently. Best to use the quarterly "real deals" flyer in print or online:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/promotions/real-deals

Lots of folks on here like Tekton as a budget tool brand as well.

 

[ckucia]

If you go SK look at Circle C Supply they have the cheapest prices for SK that I have seen so far.

Thanks for the tip. That same socket that was $12 on the S-K site is $7 on Circle C's.

 

[jgromada]

Probably the least expensive thing you could do and buy a set of new Craftsman sockets to use as fills for the ones you are missing. Prices of single sockets are always going to be higher. If you're not particular about having mixed sets Gearwrench or Tekton would be great too. The reality is if you're a backyard mechanic a set of 6pt 3/8 metric sockets would be a great start to meeting the majority of your needs. Suspension work could probably benefit from 1/2 sockets in either standard or impact form.

Its funny that Craftsman has been denigrated for a while though i have yet to hear about a rash of broken Craftsman sockets. It's just not true. Its more about COO and i have to admit I am a fan of SK, Proto & Williams but you just have to pay so much more.

 

[Shark Pilot]

Never broke a cman socket in many years, granted all of mine is USA of various vintages. The issue I have had is there have been a fair number of times when I have rounded off fasteners. Honestly, with Carlyle (and some Ko-Ken) that never happens anymore. I do live in the Northeast and have a few older vehicles that I work on. So, yes most sockets will work fine 97% of the time. The difference in quality only shows up when you are dealing with tough situations.

 

[Peoria Man]

So I've been organizing the garage. Most of my mechanics tools are Craftsman - that's what Dad always bought. I have a smattering of other brands when it was too hard to get to a Sears store back in the day.

Perhaps if you find you need some other random socket or wrench size you don't already have, just buy them as singles at Walmart or Farm & Fleet? That's gotta be cheaper than buying sets just to fill in the missing gaps, some of which you may or may not ever need. I don't have, for example, 11mm or 23mm sockets, as far as I know.... But not having them has never worried me once, since I've never needed them. But for the sizes I use all the time, I have spares. And spares for the spares.

 

[giants]

Can I ask where in WV are you located? Kinda sounds like Spencer. It won't help you out but Carlyle is a decent brand. Sold at Napa.

There was a thread on GJ about warrantying issues, and someone bought a new Carlyle kit from NAPA on-line and received a used one. He had lots of problems warrantying it.

I suggest if you buy NAPA stuff, you either buy in store or have delivered there, then inspect it before you leave.

Finally, if delays in warrantying damaged tools and being without those certain tools is going to be a problem, why not buy duplicates as back-ups?

 

[1foxracing]

You might want to look at some of the Dewalt mechanics kits as well. They are all 6 point sockets and come in decent blow molded cases. If you need to warranty stuff you just call their 1-800 number and they mail you replacements no picture taking required.
If you have a NAPA near by I can also recommend Carlyle.

 

[Sloper0204]

I suggest if you buy NAPA stuff, you either buy in store or have delivered there, then inspect it before you leave.

I suggest that if you actually have an issue that you call and explain your concerns to customer service.

I received a wrong item in a Carlyle order not very long ago and all it took was time explaining to the CS agent that the part numbers were close, but not correct. After that it was exchanged without any further concerns.

 

[mike93lx]

There was a thread on GJ about warrantying issues, and someone bought a new Carlyle kit from NAPA on-line and received a used one. He had lots of problems warrantying it.

I suggest if you buy NAPA stuff, you either buy in store or have delivered there, then inspect it before you leave.

Finally, if delays in warrantying damaged tools and being without those certain tools is going to be a problem, why not buy duplicates as back-ups?

Is that the approach you learned in your legal training?

 

[sberry]

Why worry about it all? Warranty is ok but its just a bunch of junk, the pieces you have work and you own them. Sometimes its not ultra economical to replace or add a piece at a timje from singles but I do it anyway.
But if I wanted sets to charge it up and replace a couple ratchets would score them at discount stores starting with HF. They got good screwdrivers cheap in singles too. Some of the farm stores got singles, they are cheap but they are good and actually under warranty if it matters much on a 2$ commercial tool.
Auto parts stores often have good working stock, they aint always cheapest but are economy and get the job done when you need it. When I was managing fleet and commercial where time was money they were great, one was SK dealer, replacement or additional socket 7 or 8$, China Duro Impacts 3 and 4$, warranty and deliver on account.

 

[sberry]

I see the local has 12 inch adjustable 11$ and its a really good wrench. Not a gut wrenching decision if and when a guy needs it and return in an event, own it free and clear for lunch money.
Channelock 15 $ thru a discount vendor. I use 440 mainly. I use them a lot. I will use what I got to but have 6 pair and could use a couple more. I am still mastering them.
I got a lot of stuff but we had problems the other day, kept simplifying till we got down to vise grips and eventually Channelocks before we solved the problem. A succession of progressively simpler tools.
Sears knew, 99% of it was socket and extension length. They included the combinations to make them every inch longer. The wobble on some extensions is good and for a home brew might even get by with a simple flex set in 3/8, there are times they really are the answer but I do it straight if humanly possible and use all that other **** as a last resort. Still don't own a set of flex ratchet wrenches despite having 100's of combo and dozen dbe I use a lot, tight stuff on equipment.

 

[sberry]

For Joe avg that is really asking about tools,,, there is a difference about everyohnes feelings but as a matter of convenience and utility would buy economy on most of it with some splurge on hi use and specific items but a lot of common stuff world be common stuff, not ordering, not warranty but simply bought as when needed. Need Torx, need a hex,,, still got some I bought on Sunday from Walmarts, had every intention of buying better, thought they would make 1 job, using them 20 yrs later.
Loss is a bigger issue, **** cheap to replace, upgrade, cost so little don't have to insure. No one steals a collection of HF sockets.

 

[sberry]

My Bud just bought HF boxes, said he couldn't help himself, was like a school girl. Said,,, My last box cost 6K for the bottom, this was 600 for the whole big set, all smooth as glass. Said, I wish I would found this HF 20 yrs ago, would have saved a pile.

 

[sberry]

I needed stuff now, its the reason I got it. I didn't want to be a collector and did buy a few things on opportunity but I wanted it now and the goal wasn't to build a collection per say as a hobby.
Sears has sales on mini sets all th time, once in a while I bought an extra sale set of 10 deeps for 10$, added a lot of stuff like that. Hit a super sale of Clocks and v grips, bought 10 of each, same with a collection of adjustable and added a screwdriver or 2 to each electric parts order.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Old Craftsman would have been OK I think. Maybe I'm on the high end of home use. Recent Craftsman I find I'm cracking more sockets and wearing out more ratchets these days. That's a big part of the reason that I now have primary and backup sets of sockets.

Now that I live where I can't just run up to a store 10 minutes away and replace them when they break, the slipping quality is starting to be a pain. I don't do enough to justify the truck brands, but I need something better than what Craftsman is putting out.

Recent Cman...

Are you talking Sears Cman or Stanley Cman? There's a difference.

 

[ckucia]

Recent Cman...

Are you talking Sears Cman or Stanley Cman? There's a difference.

Not sure. I used to get all mine at Sears. Then I started getting them on Amazon/ebay until Lowe's started selling them. Got some at Lowes.

It's not something I paid attention to - isn't that why we have brand names in the first place - so you know what you're getting?

 

[DFB]

Recent Cman...

Are you talking Sears Cman or Stanley Cman? There's a difference.

Interesting to know that...

Now curious what are the major differences, especially in sockets

 

[sberry]

All the difference in this generic junk doesn't mean squat. Little more feature difference than real quality.

 

[TigerDude]

Thanks. I would prefer to buy USA made if I can but yikes, S-K is proud of their stuff.

I compared a 6 point 18mm standard depth 3/8 socket. Lowe's wants $4.48 for Craftsman. Tekton wants $5.50. S-K wants $12.

Snap-On wants $19 so at least S-K is a bit of a bargain by comparison

Wera is $7.08 at KCTools, made in CZ I think, but the quality is outstanding. German quality without the German price tag.