NAPA Tools

[theo2]

Anyone use them? Are they worth buying ? Thinking of wrench sets and sockets and ratchet

 

[four.cycle]

older Easco-made stuff isn't bad. same as Craftsman from that same era.

newer stuff I have no idea. there are some "Carlyle" fans on here.

 

[plinker]

I've got a fair bit of their stuff. They went from the Craftsman equivalent Danaher tools to Gearwrench then to Carlyle. The impact sockets Sunex oem.

All has been decent and what issues I've had have been taken care of in short order.

 

[Vantastic]

They changed suppliers like crazy through the years but have always been pretty solid tools. I have a lot of them - metric wrenches, nut drivers, screwdrivers, ratchets, impact sockets probably more and have no complaints

 

[SS5150]

I've got some of their older stuff, worked for years with 1/4 & 3/8 socket sets, I currently have the witte made screwdrivers at work and at home, and I picked up a nice 1/4 flex head Carlyle ratchet a couple years back that is pretty nice and my main ratchet here in the garage.

 

[Unruh]

I have three NAPA’s close, each one carries different tools. Only one has Carlyle a different one has Witte screwdrivers and a the last has some other brand that I can’t think of right now. Is that pretty commonplace?

 

[VocaTexas]

I've got some of the NAPA store brand as well as the NAPA Evercraft line. I've had good luck with all of it. Even the cheaper Evercraft has held up well to farm and ranch use. I've broken a couple of older Craftsman sockets and wrenches, and ruined a couple of Snap-on tools, but I have yet to have any of my NAPA tools fail. EVER.

 

[M6erfan]

I have three NAPA’s close, each one carries different tools. Only one has Carlyle a different one has Witte screwdrivers and a the last has some other brand that I can’t think of right now. Is that pretty commonplace?

Pretty much. There are Napa corp. stores and franchisees, so stock will vary somewhat from store to store

 

[buffalobill]

I like carlyle tools, i liked their napa brand line that was mainly usa made as well.

If i had to build up a box right now, one of the carlyle master sets seems like a great deal, iirc biggest set is 2500 or so, and includes a majority of the hand tools you would ever need. Makes warranty simple too.

 

[anndel]

I have older NAPA New Britain tools at my mom's house and they are great. Same for some newer Carlyle I have at my current home shop.

 

[kythri]

I have three NAPA’s close, each one carries different tools. Only one has Carlyle a different one has Witte screwdrivers and a the last has some other brand that I can’t think of right now. Is that pretty commonplace?

NAPA-branded Witte? That's NOS gold, right there.

Other brand, maybe Silverline or Evercraft, maybe?

 

[kb1982]

older Easco-made stuff isn't bad. same as Craftsman from that same era.

newer stuff I have no idea. there are some "Carlyle" fans on here.

What do you know about this 1/4" Napa ratchet. Manufacturer, tooth count, etc. Thanks for any info.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Over the years, the variety of NAPA's tool contracts and brand names reminds Me of women's clothing fashions..

The large number of brick and mortar stores conveniently located throughout the country are their greatest asset... If anyone is looking for tools other than NAPA brands; check the SALES FLYERS on the parts counter. NAPA has some terrific buys and fast service on special order items.

 

[Unruh]

NAPA-branded Witte? That's NOS gold, right there.

Other brand, maybe Silverline or Evercraft, maybe?

Performance Tools. I don’t know much about them, but I see the local O’Reily’s has them as well.

 

[Wamsutta]

I wouldn't be surprised if NAPA contracts with Tekton next.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

New stuff (Carlyle) or old stuff (Armstrong or Gearwrench)?

I've been using a lot of NOS Napa tools from HandToolsforLess (sellular216 on eBay). No complaints so far.

 

[four.cycle]

What do you know about this 1/4" Napa ratchet. Manufacturer, tooth count, etc. Thanks for any info.

It's a model NM40 made by Easco and it appears to be a 32-tooth mechanism.
For the price on that one right now, it's okay if you don't get caught up in a bidding war ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-1-4-NAPA-RATCHET-MADE-IN-USA/152897816389 ) - I think I got mine for about $11 bucks including shipping.

I believe the same model was available re-branded as Craftsman.

I am not overly impressed by its disproportionately "heavy" feel. Maybe that's because I'm accustomed to using lighter units.

I just ordered this NM46 (36T) - another Easco-made model - that I think might be a better alternative.



For the money, that KAL 1049 is a better unit.
Offer him $6 bucks, he'll probably take it: https://www.ebay.com/itm/112784078196

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I have a NAPA branded 3/8 allen socket for GM caliper pins I know I bought new in 1993.
No problems yet.

 

[Fedwrench]

Other the years NAPA professional Series hand tools have been great performers. They've been quietly getting the job done for years. Think of them as solid, no frills tools.
Some NAPA tools are better than others. I think the current Carlyle offerings are head and shoulders above the quality of the Gearwrench clones they recently offered. The US made NAPA professional series wrenches are one of my favorite wrenches to this day. Nice chrome, excellent balance, off corner engagement on the boxed end. only drawback was it wasn't long pattern.

 

[bcradio]

Resale value is usually pretty good also once i slip on a Snap-On grip and buff off the Napa logo.

 

[kythri]

I just ordered this NM46 (36T) - another Easco-made model - that I think might be a better alternative.

That's recent Danaher production right there, well after Easco. Equivalent to USA Craftsman. Direct swap parts kits and everything - only different in the parts kits is the selector lever shape.

 

[lincwelder225]

I just ordered this NM46 (36T) - another Easco-made model - that I think might be a better alternative.

I have that same ratchet....finally had to get a rebuild kit for it after 16 years.

 

[lincwelder225]

The trade school I attended "gave" you a set of Napa Professional USA tools. I still have them and use some of them to this day 18 years later. They are good quality tools.

 

[John in OH]

I've started buying Carlyle tools from my local NAPA as needs arise. So far, I've been very pleased with the quality of the Carlyle items and the price is quite reasonable ... especially if you can get them while on sale in the quarterly deals flyers. Most seem to be made in Tiawan.

The local stores near me (in both in VA and OH) carry both Carlyle and Evercraft. Carlyle are kept on a big rack behind the counter but Evercraft are out in an aisle. Interestingly, whenever I ask about a specific tool, the counter guys usually refer me to the Evercraft rack first. I have to specifically tell him that I want the Carlyle rather than the Evercraft.

Here is a great GJ thread where you can see a lot of Carlyle eye candy and the thoughts of others:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158341&highlight=show+carlyle+tools

Note, the linked thread starts way back in 2012 so a lot of the older posts aren't so relevant as those on the later pages.

 

[Tallpilot]

That's my assessment as well. The sale prices provide reasonably good value. The regular list prices are a little high. If you have a commercial account and get delivery from a store they will usually bring you warranty replacements the same day as well as 25% or so off list. So in that regard they can be even better service than the truck.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I've got a Napa 3/8 socket set I bought new in 1987. Never had any issues with it except a couple sockets upped and vanished over the years.

 

[uncwstudent]

I actually had a MAC Axis 3/8" flex head ratchet that I sent back and got the Carlyle 3/8" locking flex head ratchet instead. The ratcheting action isn't as smooth as the MAC but for 1/3 of the price, the fact that it is locking, and that it has a quick release, the Carlyle was the better option for me. In fact, it has really become my go-to ratchet and I've been really impressed by the quality for the money. I think that Carlyle is probably the second best bang for the buck as far as mid-level tools (behind SK).

 

[four.cycle]

"That's recent Danaher production right there..."

ahhh... okay.. good to know. thanks. I had assumed it was Easco.

 

[Tallpilot]

I actually had a MAC Axis 3/8" flex head ratchet that I sent back and got the Carlyle 3/8" locking flex head ratchet instead. The ratcheting action isn't as smooth as the MAC but for 1/3 of the price, the fact that it is locking, and that it has a quick release, the Carlyle was the better option for me. In fact, it has really become my go-to ratchet and I've been really impressed by the quality for the money. I think that Carlyle is probably the second best bang for the buck as far as mid-level tools (behind SK).

With better QC. No offense to the SK fans.

 

[Parrothead]

Performance Tools. I don’t know much about them, but I see the local O’Reily’s has them as well.

I can speak on Performance Tool as I own some.

Basically I needed quantity in a pinch as all of my stuff was stolen! So...I picked up a bunch of stuff at Pep Boys, and surprisingly most of the Performance Tool has held up pretty well. The sockets were good and they had a good range of sizes, the ratchets at the time sucked, but never actually broke. I did replace those pretty quickly.

Given the options today I’d just get the Tekton set from Amazon and be done.

 

[kythri]

I've got a few pieces of Performance Tool around - the first one I can think of off the top of my head is a Ford fan clutch tool.

Not flashy, but I've had no complaints about it. Probably wouldn't be my first choice if I had other options, but what I've got has worked.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Performance Tool was formerly "Wilmar". Originally a low-end Asian-import line of marginal quality, founded in 1971 in Renton, Washington by one William B....? (I can't figure out how to spell his last name.)

Wilmar Corporation is still the parent company: http://www.wilmarcorp.com/

We started buying little 1-1/2" ton hydraulic bottle jacks from them in the early 1970s - one of their very first items. By the mid-1980s they expanded the line to include individually packaged wrenches, sockets, and ratchets.

I think I have a Wilmar 7/8" combination wrench here that we used for the propane tanks up at the cabin years ago.

Not a clue on "Performance" - I know O'Reilly's carries it but I've never even looked at it.

 

[PJNJ]

Carlyle tools seem to be pretty good quality and, as others have said already, a good value when on sale. I bought the 1/4 locking flex with qr last year and I have really gotten to like it. Small head, good ratcheting action and a long handle make it one of my favorites. And I'm starting to get spoiled by the quick release.

And I want to say thanks to the posters who provided background on their tools and Performance tools. Learned some new things - one of the best reasons that this forum exists.