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Masterforce Socket Set

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Indy_500

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Menards has the 248 piece socket and wrench masterforce set on sale for $100 after rebate, plus i just got a $25 rebate thinger in the mail today. this set is originally $200 and i have a chance at getting it for $75. Is it any good? or should i wait for a black friday sale on a craftsman set? the only thing i dont' like about the masterforce sockets is that you can't buy them separetly so warranty exchange won't be easy (there is a lifetime warranty) any help would be appreciated.
 
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nolatoolguy

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As much as I hate CMAN nowdays, I would wait for black friday like ark said. Its a tad better then masterforce and the warranty.
 
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Indy_500

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nolatoolguy said:
As much as I hate CMAN nowdays, I would wait for black friday like ark said. Its a tad better then masterforce and the warranty.
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i know your not the only one that hates CMAN but i am no pro mechanic. i fix push lawn mowers and snowmobiles and i'm just a kid. i just want a full socket set and i figured you guys would say craftsman due to the warranty. But, i'm still curious to see what everyone has to say about masterforce socket sets
 
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RLRRLRLL

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im sure the masterforce set would work fine. i myself have a mixed socket collection, ranging from, Snap on (very few), Matco (sae impact), Craftsman (short 1/2 drive), Duralast (all 3/8 drive, and metric impact), Great Neck (all 1/4, and deep 1/2). I have put the great necks on my impact when i needed, and didint have a problem. This is a home set, i use it on my own vehicles as well as friends. When i worked at the shop i used everything from napa sockets to snap on sockets. If you like the masterforce, go for it.
 
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Teken

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I am personally not a fan of, or own any Craftmen tools . . . Having said that, I would offer to you that waiting for the sale for a whole set of C-Man in the long run will serve you better in terms of performance, reliability, and warranty . . .

Your cash, spend it like you stole it . . .
 
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expatriated

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Forgive my ignorance, but by Black Friday, do you guys mean the shopping day after Thanksgiving? Or is there another black friday?

That seems like a long time to wait if you need the tools and if I recall last year, the sales weren't even that great.

I also agree that CMAN is better than Masterforce.
 
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jethro29

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I would not use masterforce tools on a bicycle.a bunch of knucklebusting junk.jmo. Save your self a lot of aggrevation and pain and atleast upgrade to c-man.
 
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Indy_500

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expatriated said:
Forgive my ignorance, but by Black Friday, do you guys mean the shopping day after Thanksgiving? Or is there another black friday?

That seems like a long time to wait if you need the tools and if I recall last year, the sales weren't even that great.

I also agree that CMAN is better than Masterforce.
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yes, day after thanksgiving. I'm going to hope for the 182 or 260 or 204 pc. set to go on sale. They are normally always on sale but i'm going to hope for a really good sale. It's not that i NEED NEED them since i do have a HF 65 pc. socket set that does the job and if i don't have a socket my dad does. Oh, and if i don't get one by then, then i'll probably get it at Christmas, i could go out and buy it with my money but i think i'll wait. I got plenty of years ahead of me.
 
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Gunnar

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Not sure, but you could order it online and choose store pickup if you wanted to pick it up at Sears.
 
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Kev442

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I bought a Masterforce cheapie set on sale for like $39. I will go on record as saying the ratchets are about twice as smooth as the brand new Cman ratchets I just had to exchange because they broke yet again. Is the Cman warranty awesome? Yes. But having the gal toss your ratchets into a 5 gallon bucket full of broken ratchets is not awesome quality by a long shot. Hell, I still have my original Taiwan Master Mechanic 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets from the early '80's. Horrible action, about 16 teeth, but the grooves on them from putting a cheater pipe on them for 30 years are numerous!
I will have to actually break one of my Masterforce to test the warranty, but the Menards is about 4 miles closer to my house, which matters to me when the time comes.
 
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Mickey O

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I just saw a set of Masterforce wrenches in the new Menards sales flyer, it says they are made in USA. They also loosen or tighten nuts and bolts with ease.


masterforce.jpg
 
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malecat

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I know that this post is 6 - 7 years old but the Masterforce sockets are/were made by Apex... They were very high quality and a great bargain for the price. The only downside was that they didn't carry all the oddball sizes that you would get in a Snap-on set... Hold a Masterforce impact socket next to a USA Craftsman socket and you will see... I have been to Menards lately and they're phasing out the Masterforce USA and replacing it with Taiwan Gearwrench. I'm trying to buy up some of the remaining Masterforce while I can... I am a professional mechanic... I have used the Masterforce impact sockets and impact extensions and used the heck out of them and I can assure you that they will hold up as well as any Snap-on, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, etc... USA made, great fit and finish and tough... The Masterforce wrenches were satin finish but a great value for the money... The screwdrivers were/are top notch too...
 
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ishiboo

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malecat said:
I know that this post is 6 - 7 years old but the Masterforce sockets are/were made by Apex... They were very high quality and a great bargain for the price. The only downside was that they didn't carry all the oddball sizes that you would get in a Snap-on set... Hold a Masterforce impact socket next to a USA Craftsman socket and you will see... I have been to Menards lately and they're phasing out the Masterforce USA and replacing it with Taiwan Gearwrench. I'm trying to buy up some of the remaining Masterforce while I can... I am a professional mechanic... I have used the Masterforce impact sockets and impact extensions and used the heck out of them and I can assure you that they will hold up as well as any Snap-on, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, etc... USA made, great fit and finish and tough... The Masterforce wrenches were satin finish but a great value for the money... The screwdrivers were/are top notch too...
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I'm not sure Menards is actually phasing out the Made in USA stuff. Apex has (apparently) had an issue with a factory move, and in the process of being unable to get the new factory up and running has been unable to supply Masterforce's Made in USA line, among others. I think once they get that resolved, it will be back. I think they're filling in with GW because there were so many open slots and no options for people to buy.

Masterforce screwdrivers are Pratt-Read, not Apex, and there are no signs of that changing. (Not that it won't)

I personally wasn't impressed with the Masterforce/last Craftsman USA/etc... but to each their own. I do appreciate it's Made in USA, but I'd probably go with SK.
 
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