Sears.

[volvo92906]

I just went into Sears to look for a few large size wrenches for work... Unfortunately, they didnt have anything over 1-1/2 except in a set, which I already had more than half of...

I was looking around a bit just to see what they had. Noticed how cheap their ratchets look now. That they carry a LOT more Gear Wrench stuff than last time I was there, and they have a big color selection of tool boxes. I saw a lime green and black one, a pink one, a white one... They were still kinda pricey though. 699.00 for a standard 26" two tier box. The little 2 drawer and cabinet bottom with a 4 drawer top was 165.00... Great for a 15 year old who has tools.

I did purchase a plastic truck box for my tire changing tools for the car (I think the stuff that comes with cars is junk) and also found some really neat little wrenches... They are Folding Clench Wrenches. Its a two set. I like to have something to carry in my pocket just for spur of the moment wrenching. I also always have my Gerber multi-tool, but using pliers on a nut is ill advised.

<img src=http://www.fastcodesign.com/multisite_files/codesign/imagecache/inline-large/post-inline/inline-clenchwrench-openstraight.jpg>

I was talking to the girl that worked there. I mentioned how Crapsman quality has gone down, and I mainly use Snap-On tools any more. I came in for some jumbo wrenches and they dont even carry those.. She agreed and said its sad, and she noticed their selection has gone down a lot.

Just a little story from my very eventful Saturday....... (Not really)

 

[kunkernator]

I have an older German made set of those clench wrenches called "one handers". They have serrated jaws, and work extremely well for grabbing rounded bolts. I do not know how good he Crapsman ones will hold up, but the design is promising.

And yes, it is sad about the quality going down.

 

[volvo92906]

They seemed to work pretty well on their little mock-up thing.. I will make a point to use them next week at work, just to test em out. In reality theyll be for those cases where you are out in the yard (at work) doing something and need a wrench and instead of running inside, hopefully itll be a case where you can pull this out and use it. Or for some kind of fitting on line or something.

 

[sberry]

While its true that Sears quality has gone down so has the pricing especially at set levels and a few things like that evolve stuff look good. Sears decided to follow a low road competition scheme, they should have went up and tried to land a spot just under SK but they decided to try to be one step above HF.

This has resulted in a slight quality drop,,, its really not that much of an issue for me considering cost, if I was paying 10 instead of 1 then I would feel way more critical. Lose the margins on sockets got to try to make it up with new gimmicks as in the plier above.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Thought the next word in the title was gonna be 'sux'!

CM tools and me?
Other than the Industrial/Professional 'closeouts' I've been picking up some of their old stuff (aka vintage).

Figure I'll need to get some throwdown HF/NT for the really stoopid things that happen - very long cheaters, real big hammer 'taps', floor jacks, presses, fork lifts....

 

[Coach James]

What is Sears price on the wrench set?

Coach

 

[sberry]

The Sears sets are great and some of the sales are good. Sets just dont get any better, that 301 pc for 299 when it comes around is a bargain. At 10 bucks a socket Sears would not have a following from me either but at a dollar I can live with a blemish or get a piece or 2 fixed if its a big deal.

Sears also did a lot of engineering in the sense that someone sat around and said,,, what do I need here. About everything in one needed to take an engine out of a car, change an alt or water pump, starter etc. Great student starter set.

I recently felt a lot different about a set of gearwrenches on sale at 3.20 out the door than I did at retail of 7.50 at best on some of the other sets and over 10 as singles. Half its list price, a few I will probably never use but am out 60 for 20 of them. Low risk.

 

[Gotmayhem]

The Sears sets are great and some of the sales are good. Sets just dont get any better, that 301 pc for 299 when it comes around is a bargain. At 10 bucks a socket Sears would not have a following from me either but at a dollar I can live with a blemish or get a piece or 2 fixed if its a big deal.

.

I second the sets being a fantastic deal, for what they are. I bought this set last year during Black Friday for only 199 and tax:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-309-...edirect=true&sLevel=0&redirectType=SKIP_LEVEL

A good percentage of the stuff has USA stamped on it and all the socket sets will fill up a drawer to the brim. The ratchets were pretty bad though but overall the quality was surprising. The overall fit and finish of the wrenches was great as well, I like them a lot more than I thought I would. I went through the whole set and very few blemishes were to be found. For only $200 it couldn't be beat.

 

[volvo92906]

What is Sears price on the wrench set?

Coach

This Clench Wrench Set was 29.99. Seems average for anything new with them these days.. 26.99 or something online.. But either I ship it and pay that, or I go to the store and still have to pay to drive there plus the priceless task of being on the road with idiots.

If youre asking what the jumbo wrench set cost.. I think it was around 90-100 dollars. 5 wrenches... Not sure what the smallest size was, but the largest was 1-5/16..... I think there were only 2 in the set I didnt have, and they are all 1-*/16 sizes. I am looking for stuff over 2" right now.

 

[volvo92906]

The Sears sets are great and some of the sales are good. Sets just dont get any better, that 301 pc for 299 when it comes around is a bargain. At 10 bucks a socket Sears would not have a following from me either but at a dollar I can live with a blemish or get a piece or 2 fixed if its a big deal.

Sears also did a lot of engineering in the sense that someone sat around and said,,, what do I need here. About everything in one needed to take an engine out of a car, change an alt or water pump, starter etc. Great student starter set.

I recently felt a lot different about a set of gearwrenches on sale at 3.20 out the door than I did at retail of 7.50 at best on some of the other sets and over 10 as singles. Half its list price, a few I will probably never use but am out 60 for 20 of them. Low risk.

I agree they are great for student starter sets.. And at deals like that, sure. But there are a few things that have ALWAYS bothered me about Crapsman sets..... Their wrenches only go to 15 (in the case of my set) or 18 in standard sets. They skip sizes in socket set, (and Gear Wrench sets. 12mm and 16mm are common, are they not?). Mix 12pt and 6pt in the sets.... Maybe that is because they are geared toward automotive work and you really dont need anything bigger except on occasion.

There was one set that was at least 700.00, but im thinking it was around 1300, I dont remember exactly. It came in a little tool box and it had EVERYTHING. The drawers on it were as packed (on the package) as a real tool box should be. Sockets side by side front to back. Wrenches crammed in to every square inch.... Etc. That surprised me. But if I open it up and see their pressure forged particle tools in a set like that, I get disappointed. But, thats just me.

 

[Trash Mech]

I never thought their big wrenches or 3/4 drive stuff was even close to worth it for the cost. If you spend the extra money to get c man over hf you don't have much more. Either get hf or step up to the tool truck for the big stuff.

 

[volvo92906]

I never thought their big wrenches or 3/4 drive stuff was even close to worth it for the cost. If you spend the extra money to get c man over hf you don't have much more. Either get hf or step up to the tool truck for the big stuff.

The only problem with HF for me is the drive... Nothing close. And by close, it isnt so much the miles, its the jammed city roads to get there. I absolutely HATE to drive these days... Which is kind of ironic for a 24 year old with a CDL.... I just dont like being behind people who just putt around all day cause they have nothing better to do.

Maybe I can go tomorrow morning. Its been a long time since ive been in a HF.....

 

[brickG-man]

While its true that Sears quality has gone down so has the pricing especially at set levels and a few things like that evolve stuff look good. Sears decided to follow a low road competition scheme, they should have went up and tried to land a spot just under SK but they decided to try to be one step above HF.

I am sorry, I think that the evolve stuff looks like **** and is ****.

 

[Trash Mech]

Maybe you wanna think about the 30in blue point adjustable. I think it goes to about 3 inches. I've wanted one myself

 

[volvo92906]

Maybe you wanna think about the 30in blue point adjustable. I think it goes to about 3 inches. I've wanted one myself

Ill look into it and see what it is.. I deal with a lot of large hydraulic hoses. Big bolts, engine and trans mounts.. etc. Its better to have wrenches that are solid around the bolt rather than an adjustable wrench. Plus, I usually use a deadblow to hit the wrenches if something is really tight.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

If youre asking what the jumbo wrench set cost.. I think it was around 90-100 dollars. 5 wrenches... Not sure what the smallest size was, but the largest was 1-5/16......

$64.99-retail

On sale cheaper from time to time

 

[Spudland_Dave]

While its true that Sears quality has gone down so has the pricing especially at set levels and a few things like that evolve stuff look good. Sears decided to follow a low road competition scheme, they should have went up and tried to land a spot just under SK but they decided to try to be one step above HF.

You think so? PERSONALLY one of the factors that got me to slow down on my Crapsman purchases is the higher pricing. I guess for me, I just never purchased any tools at MSRP pricing. It was always on sale, craftsman club, and coupons or whatever. After KMart took over no more sales on tools, no more craftsman club discounts, no coupons. At MSRP pricing for that level of quality, I was quickly scoping out the Kobalt offerings, if I dont like the Lowes version I go with my friendly local Tool Truck.

 

[volvo92906]

You think so? PERSONALLY one of the factors that got me to slow down on my Crapsman purchases is the higher pricing. I guess for me, I just never purchased any tools at MSRP pricing. It was always on sale, craftsman club, and coupons or whatever. After KMart took over no more sales on tools, no more craftsman club discounts, no coupons. At MSRP pricing, I just assume go with my friendly local Tool Truck.

Completely agree....

 

[sberry]

Yes, that is the set and I agree its far from perfect but generally ideal and look at the pricing. I am jealous I don't need it ha. I agree I would feel different about individual retail prices but dam thats a collection even with the junk ratchets for the cost of a really good drunk weekend back in the day, maybe even less on some days. At the 199 price you paid whats not to like, off to a good start. At 249 its a deal, less than a dollar a piece, cheaper than China.

There was one set that was at least 700.00, but I'm thinking it was around 1300, I don't remember exactly. It came in a little tool box and it had EVERYTHING.

Back in the day I had to tool up and I went down and bought the biggest set Sears had, I tried to look now but couldn't find it, but it was 3500$ as I recall in about 80 81 maybe and it had all the big stuff, taps dies both flavors to 3/4, sockets to 2 3/8, included about every tool they made. It was easy and I priced some on the tool truck at the time and whizzed past 30K at the time, didn't look back.

While many guys have character assets that allow them to be successful I really doubt wise tool buying had a lot to do with it past keeping you out of the bar or casino, its better than that but if it was automatic a guy would make more with better it would be all the business plan he needed, just keep buying more, it would be endless? Kind of like perpetual motion?

My neighbor is building some neat stuff now, its cool, some things we would never stop and do, he was questioning the capability,,, yes,,, its nice to have but we got no scheduled work for it any time soon. It will be great and we will use it but wont make much money, even though the way we do it is slightly left handed at the rate and the quality we can suffer a little lag, not worth the next layer of investment in tooling,,, care and feeding of etc.

 

[sberry]

That Kobalt is good, I bought a couple singles in metric combo we were limping with, super price and scored a couple std sockets we use on the clearance table for 50% A 10 MM and maybe a 7/16 was like under 4$ as I recall, its been a while. I was going to stop in at parts store to score a deep 15 impact we may have lost,,, its not over yet,,, but could have used it twice last week, who has the best single price? Maybe Lowes, last one I bought at parts store was 4$ maybe.

 

[sberry]

As I eluded to guys that builtbig collections ove long time have likely done so while they were sucessful not the other way around. Despite it in some sense. You worked hard with good time management or long hrs etc more than having better tools.

As for good mechanical work a couple of the best mjechanics I know have very little in the way of hand tools,,, just enough of the stuff they do use, they will make do for the one-off here and there, they dont prepare for absolutely everything asnd dont assume because they hacve a pricey tool all the got to do it toss it at the thing.

I remember a time, bout one of 2 that I been on the tool truck getting hosed for a couple replacement wrenches from a guy acts like he is pissed about it I am almost pushed out of the way for a guy from the worst shop in town gonna load up on a pile of **** he got no use for, ha

Could buy the evolve and own it for the first of 24 payments over top truck brand. I think its the Stanely maybe? Looks like it comes off the same line as other stuff I seen. I dont think they even bothered to cheapen it, its a tool with several brands stamped on it.