Napa tools?

[sorensen1987]

What is everyone's view of Napa tools? I just boug a 10 pc socket set made in the USA at a local pawn shop. I thought why not? It was only 8 bucks.

 

[3baygarage]

Nothing wrong with that. They were the same maker as Craftsman when made in USA.

 

[AndrewV]

Napa is just like craftsman. They've never made their own tools, contracted companies do.
Thier Carlyle line is good (if you don't mind mostly foreign), old usa napa stuff is just as good.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Good buy, if you happen to break anything it will be warrantied with Carlyle stuff, which is pretty good stuff.

 

[Packard V8]

The older NAPA is the same as the Craftsman and Easco raised panels.

jack vines

 

[Petey156]

That's a good buy , I have a set in my truck tool box, I would say they are good middle of the road tools

 

[SweetD]

Didn't New Britain Tool Co. make stuff for NAPA for years?

 

[pauls_workshop]

Yes, I have some New Britain NAPA tools. They made them before 84. Top quality stuff in that era. New Britain was Napa's premium tool line then. - Paul

 

[woody 73]

Didn't New Britain Tool Co. make stuff for NAPA for years?

Yes NB made tools for many years for Napa, the account kept NB going strong for many years. Funny thing that screws with my brain is the year dates, because long after NB no longer made tools for them, Napa would not change the markings on their tools making it impossible to know when NB stopped and another company took over.

But to answer the op's question I hunt for Napa tools all the time and I feel they are very nice tools.

 

[sonvolt]

I have some NAPA USA sockets as well good quality for the $$

 

[John in OH]

Here is a related thread from a couple years ago regarding NAPA combo wrenches.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189163

General speculation here was the subject NAPA full polished wrenches were made by Dahner and were identical to the K-D, Allen and Easco wrenches produced at that time.



I've got no complaints as they are nice wrenches.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Here is a related thread from a couple years ago regarding NAPA combo wrenches.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189163

General speculation here was the subject NAPA full polished wrenches were made by Dahner and were identical to the K-D, Allen and Easco wrenches produced at that time.



I've got no complaints as they are nice wrenches.

Yes, that would be the post NB era relationship with NAPA. Before that, they would be New Britain wrenches and say New Britain on them also. - Paul

 

[Richard Cranium]

That is funny that this pops up now, I just purchased 3 napa ratchets at a flee mart yesterday, I got
1/2 drive NS41
3/8 drive NB56 flex head
3/8 drive NB46
I thought that they looked a lot like craftsman-Rich

 

[Doylee4693]

Back from the dead.. i recently found a 1/2” napa usa ratchet at a garage sale for free. The print on it reads NS41. It appears the old new britain ratchets all have print on them starting with NS also. Could it be made by NB or is it a craftsman?

 

[plinker]

Back from the dead.. i recently found a 1/2” napa usa ratchet at a garage sale for free. The print on it reads NS41. It appears the old new britain ratchets all have print on them starting with NS also. Could it be made by NB or is it a craftsman?

Napa continued to use the New Britan part numbers for the Danaher made tools (post NB to '07 IIRC), the Gearwrench clone tools as well ( from '07/08 to about '11/12 IIRC, only 3-4 years). Not sure on the current Carlyle stuff offhand. I might be a tad early on the dates, going from memory.

That same era of Craftsman tools were also made by Danaher and kits are generally interchangeable, same 36 tooth set up, QR or not QR being the difference, could be either. Craftsman didnt make anything, they had tools made by others with their label/stamp.

 

[lardy1]

My favorite set of combination wrenches are New Britain made NAPA in satin finish. They just fit my hand the way I like.

 

[Al Borland]

That looks like Danaher

 

[Doylee4693]

That looks like Danaher

I can tell by the way the switch moves when ratcheting that it has that batwing pawl. Can’t be too bad of a ratchet. Never had a batwing pawl break on me, ever.