Good deal on complete socket set w/o "fluff"?

[mtnwkr]

I have a nice wrench set, allens, etc. Looking for a complete socket set w/o all the extras for a good deal. Best thing I can find is the 260pc Craftsman USA set in the hot deals, but can only find it at the $150 price(165 shipped). Still seems like a good deal, just don't need the extras. Anyone know of anything better I might be missing? Looking for lifetime replacement warranty. Want this to be the last set I ever have to buy!

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

That's a good question. I have been pondering the same thing myself, as I already have the ratchets and wrenches that I need. I looked around and you can buy individual socket sets from Lowes (Kobalt brand) for prices comparable to Craftsman and they have the lifetime warranty. So you can buy sets for each size and type. I think this is how I will go. I have one of the easy to get 10% off coupons and I am waiting until Labor Day next weekend when I am sure they will have sales.

Here are a couple of examples of the sets I am talking about. They have them for 1/4 3/8, 1/2, standard & impact, 6 point, 12 point, deep, etc.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_338637-2542...rrentURL=?Ntt=kobalt+1%2F4+6+point&facetInfo=

http://www.lowes.com/pd_338636-2542...rrentURL=?Ntt=kobalt+1%2F4+6+point&facetInfo=

 

[CNGsaves]

OP, you could really help yourself by Updating GJ Profile with your City / State as another GJer might buy you the 260 piece set on the cheap and ship it to you.

These sets have been as low as $75 in past week !!

 

[mtnwkr]

Updated, and if anyone wants to help me out that would be great!

 

[TwoInch]

http://www.searsoutlet.com/299-piec...d=8285&mode=buyUsedOnly&itemSelectionType=all

all the sockets you could need, and not a single piece of filler. almost guaranteed USA too

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

There is a big sale on Gearwrench 120XP ratchets going on through a forum sponsor at the moment. He has pretty killer deals on socket sets, which also include ratchets.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208385&page=10

 

[diggerrick]

http://www.searsoutlet.com/299-piec...d=8285&mode=buyUsedOnly&itemSelectionType=all

all the sockets you could need, and not a single piece of filler. almost guaranteed USA too

"Reconditioned" means some parts may be missing.

 

[rednotch]

"Reconditioned" means some parts may be missing.

yep but it goes on sale a few times each year in the standard sears stores, just gotta keep an eye on them.

 

[TwoInch]

"Reconditioned" means some parts may be missing.

wrong, reconditioned means that someone bought it and parts were missing, and they sent it back. its been fixed/parts replaced and being sold at the outlet store, usually because the packaging is not perfect.. IE torn open, bags ripped open or missing, etc...

those socket sets are one of the best deal out there for sockets, period, even more so at steep discounts. if you order the set and something ends up being missing, you call the apex number that is provided with all craftsman sets, and they send you the missing parts free of charge/no shipping.

here is the recondtioned statement on searsoutlet

http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/static/faq.jsp#tip19

its all lifetime warranty, if some of the sockets are screwed up, go get the new ones. its real easy. open stock is all USA still in every sears i have been to.

 

[pipsters]

wrong, reconditioned means that someone bought it and parts were missing, and they sent it back. its been fixed/parts replaced and being sold at the outlet store, usually because the packaging is not perfect.. IE torn open, bags ripped open or missing, etc...

those socket sets are one of the best deal out there for sockets, period, even more so at steep discounts. if you order the set and something ends up being missing, you call the apex number that is provided with all craftsman sets, and they send you the missing parts free of charge/no shipping.

here is the recondtioned statement on searsoutlet

http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/static/faq.jsp#tip19

its all lifetime warranty, if some of the sockets are screwed up, go get the new ones. its real easy. open stock is all USA still in every sears i have been to.

I have that set. 20%-30% will be rusting within the year. It's unfortunate because the ones that are good are really good. They just couldn't make a consistent product.

 

[TwoInch]

if you use them, they wont rust.

those are the same sockets that you get in any other craftsman set or open stock... your post sorta seems like you think that set is unique or contains different sockets. i dont have the big set, but i have a mishmash of craftsman socket sets that have been purchased over the last ten or twelve years. they all will rust under the right circumstances. they are not hex-chrome, they will rust easier.

i have my roller in a uncontrolled environment, so all mine rust if they are new un-used. i wipe them down once in a while with an oily rag and all is well. those 30% would not rust if preventive measures were taken.

at less than a dollar a socket, they are a great deal, even if they have minor issues. they work well, and are plenty tough.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

if you use them, they wont rust.

.

^This

 

[diggerrick]

wrong, reconditioned means that someone bought it and parts were missing, and they sent it back. its been fixed/parts replaced and being sold at the outlet store, usually because the packaging is not perfect.. IE torn open, bags ripped open or missing, etc...

those socket sets are one of the best deal out there for sockets, period, even more so at steep discounts. if you order the set and something ends up being missing, you call the apex number that is provided with all craftsman sets, and they send you the missing parts free of charge/no shipping.

here is the recondtioned statement on searsoutlet

http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/static/faq.jsp#tip19

its all lifetime warranty, if some of the sockets are screwed up, go get the new ones. its real easy. open stock is all USA still in every sears i have been to.

If you mouse over the "reconditioned" icon in the link it says "...may be missing manuals, parts, or accessories."

 

[cburnscrx]

If anybody is really worried about the reconditioned part of the equation, just buy them new...still a great deal!

 

[dcm223]

I have the Craftsman 145 pc set I picked up on sale for $159.

All dual marked 6 point sockets and none of the little stuff they usually include.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-145-pc-all-steel-easy-to-read/p-00934142000P?prdNo=5

 

[mtnwkr]

just buy them new...still a great deal!

The 260 set comes to 180$ shipped after tax. Hard to stomach that knowing people are finding them for $75..

 

[pipsters]

if you use them, they wont rust.

those are the same sockets that you get in any other craftsman set or open stock... your post sorta seems like you think that set is unique or contains different sockets. i dont have the big set, but i have a mishmash of craftsman socket sets that have been purchased over the last ten or twelve years. they all will rust under the right circumstances. they are not hex-chrome, they will rust easier.

i have my roller in a uncontrolled environment, so all mine rust if they are new un-used. i wipe them down once in a while with an oily rag and all is well. those 30% would not rust if preventive measures were taken.

at less than a dollar a socket, they are a great deal, even if they have minor issues. they work well, and are plenty tough.

So enlightening. I wiped 'em all down with Boeshield T-9 and still rust on the outside chrome on about 20%-30% of them. Nothing you can do unfortunately.

The ones that are good are really good, the ones that aren't noting you can do about. I swapped out a bunch but still am left with quite a few that have rust. Frustrating. I would've paid more for better quality control, but they don't offer that option.

 

[03protege]

wrong, reconditioned means that someone bought it and parts were missing, and they sent it back. its been fixed/parts replaced and being sold at the outlet store, usually because the packaging is not perfect.. IE torn open, bags ripped open or missing, etc...

those socket sets are one of the best deal out there for sockets, period, even more so at steep discounts. if you order the set and something ends up being missing, you call the apex number that is provided with all craftsman sets, and they send you the missing parts free of charge/no shipping.

here is the recondtioned statement on searsoutlet

http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/static/faq.jsp#tip19

its all lifetime warranty, if some of the sockets are screwed up, go get the new ones. its real easy. open stock is all USA still in every sears i have been to.

Also to add onto this, whenever I have purchased a set with missing pieces (every set I've bought ) I call the Apex tools Craftsman line and they send me out what I need. Some times they don't even ask for proof of purchase.


Also my stores sockets open stock are mainly China, wrenches are still USA for now. I bet what distribution center your store pulls from makes a difference with this.

 

[dr_clyde]

For 3/8" drive I would strongly suggest SK. They have a really nice set that is affordable and has no fluff. I have one, and have had no complaints. I personally use Blue-Point 1/4" drive sockets because they have the most complete socket set available. Up to 5/8"! If you want USA or don't want to pay blue point prices, SK makes a nice 1/4" set too. I would buy used tool truck 1/2" drive stuff. It's not used very often unless you work on big stuff. Or just get impacts and skip 1/2" chrome altogether. That's what I did until I found a swingin deal on some USA Mac chromies.

 

[mtnwkr]

Well, I ended up pulling the trigger on the c-man 260 pc set from the hot deals. Paid the $150 for the new set, couldn't find it for the $75 anywhere around here. With Coupon code Summer10 it was only $160 shipped, which was still a good deal.

 

[TwoInch]

So enlightening. I wiped 'em all down with Boeshield T-9 and still rust on the outside chrome on about 20%-30% of them. Nothing you can do unfortunately.

The ones that are good are really good, the ones that aren't noting you can do about. I swapped out a bunch but still am left with quite a few that have rust. Frustrating. I would've paid more for better quality control, but they don't offer that option.

rusted through oil? i dont believe that. sorry

come one man..... maybe you go those extra special super rust version craftsman was putting out a while back...

craftsman sockets are too common, we all have a million of them. they are well documented. its known they rust if they are left dry.

sounds to to me like you are expecting top notch quality for dollar bin pricing. to each their own. you should understand that when you get tools for less than a dollar a piece, they are not going to be top notch perfect QC anyway. they are lifetime, take em back until you are satisfied.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have the 1/4 and 3/8 SK sets with about 47 pieces each. They seem "non-fluff" to me and will probably be my 1/2 set in the near future, though that's up for debate still.

 

[Ponkotsu]

Just bought the 299 piece set from a Searsoutlet for $159 and had it shipped to me. It's missing one entire set and 4 other sockets. For a total 20 missing. Said nothing about missing parts, so I'll call and see if I can't get them replaced. Even if not, it was still a bargain. If you keep checking the outlet site the do pop up pretty often, although I've never seen one for $159 before, which is why I snatched it up.

I've got some older USA made Craftsman sockets that are at least 20, maybe 30 yrs old. Most of them are in great condition, but even some of those have rusted over the years. I think a lot depends on where you are. If you live in the Florida Keys, you need to keep everything oiled and maybe put some desiccant packs in your box. If you live in an arid climate like me, now worries.

Quality of these sockets looks just fine, although probably not quite up to where they were 20-30 yrs ago. But at $159 for 299 sockets, I'm not going to complain! And like others have said, if they rust you can return them.

 

[scaron]

I have the 1/4 and 3/8 SK sets with about 47 pieces each. They seem "non-fluff" to me and will probably be my 1/2 set in the near future, though that's up for debate still.

+1 on those SK sets they are really nice, i have same in both 1/4" and 3/8". for 1/2" drive i went with proto (nothing against SK, just got a real good price on the proto, and it makes it more interesting to mix things up a bit?)

generally with all the really good makes you're going to have to buy each drive size separately; they don't tend to make many (if any) sets with combinations of different drive sizes.

that craftsman set is a ridiculously large amount of sockets, LOL.

 

[Ponkotsu]

that craftsman set is a ridiculously large amount of sockets, LOL.

I expect I will use 5% of them 95% of the time. 5% will never be used. (Thinking about banishing the 32's sizes to my bottom drawer.) But which ones do you leave out? Certainly I would never buy most of those sockets individually at retail. But I had quite a number of missing ones, and this set was actually cheaper than filling in the blanks. My biggest problem is that I was short on metric sizes. Most of my stuff was bought 20-30 yrs ago before I used much metric.

Now I'm working on a way to organize them all into one drawer. I made a nice socket tray from HF plastic clip and some steel plate. Its a hybrid between some other systems I've seen. I'll take some pictures and post once its all done.

 

[kythri]

I have that set. 20%-30% will be rusting within the year. It's unfortunate because the ones that are good are really good. They just couldn't make a consistent product.

Weird, because I have that set, too.

Bought it in November of 2011. It's stored on Kobalt peg trays, kept in a non-climate-controlled shop with only the ceiling being insulated.

The shop is in Oregon (so, perennially damp climate). Throughout the fall/winter, I end up finding little specs of rust on the the drive end of ratchets that I clean up, or other such things.

Between the ~750 Craftsman sockets I own (That would be the 299-piece kit I bought, the ~299 "mismatched" Craftsman socket set that I built prior to buying the kit, and the ~150 Craftsman sockets in my travel box), there's not a spec of rust on any of them, and, as mentioned, they're not stored in any special way.

Do you keep any kind of nasty chemicals near your stuff? Because I have noticed that ever since I relocated all of my chemical stuff (paints, cleaners, etc.) about 20-30 feet away from my tools, what bits of rust I had seen has been significantly reduced.

 

[Ponkotsu]

Sometimes it's the person also. Some people have sweaty palms and salt or some other chemical that excretes from their skin that corrodes things really badly. I worked with a guy years ago that couldn't touch anything. We had to have him wear gloves all day in the machine shop because anything he touched would leave rusty finger prints. You could literally see his paw prints on the parts the next day.

 

[Ponkotsu]

Regarding Sears policy on missing sockets. My bargain set from the SearsOutlet was short 20 sockets. I called this morning and asked about it. They asked me for a list of the missing socket PN's, my name and address. That was it. They didn't even ask for a sales order number. They will ship out the missing sockets in 1-2 weeks. So that should put anyone's fears to rest if they are considering purchasing something with missing items from the Outlet store.