Show off your.... Carlyle Tools!!!

[Airframer]

Needed a certain size socket for a rudder removal several months ago (don't remember which size) and ended up with a Carlyle one due to the fact I needed it right away! It is a very well made tool.

 

[franzdom]

Well that didn't take very long.

 

[Fedwrench]

My Carlyle 3/8 90 tooth 13" long flex head ratchet junked out today.Never really used this one that much because I have my Matco mostly but it won't engage fully into reverse so it just grabs and then slips and free wheels.It will tighten the bolts up just fine tho.Back to Napa I guess...Funny thing is I have the shorter 9" 3/8 flex at work and use the heck out of it and don't have any trouble with it.

That Carlyle 9 inch or so 3/8 drive comfort grip flex head ratchet is my favorite along with the short 1/4 drive comfort grip ratchet. I like the 90 tooth action, good balance, and mine have been problem free despite daily use. I'm surprised you had problems with it. The Carlyle line won't make you give up your tool truck brands but, if you have access to NAPA and need something with out breaking the bank, it's a good choice.

 

[Skin]

My Carlyle 3/8 90 tooth 13" long flex head ratchet junked out today.Never really used this one that much because I have my Matco mostly but it won't engage fully into reverse so it just grabs and then slips and free wheels.It will tighten the bolts up just fine tho.Back to Napa I guess...Funny thing is I have the shorter 9" 3/8 flex at work and use the heck out of it and don't have any trouble with it.

No idea if Napa is using a float pawl same as the Danaher stuff but when I got my Matco 15" 3/8 drive it did the exact same thing right out of the package. My Snap-Ons, especially my 72s, make a pop sound and skip some teeth every once in awhile too. Point being they all have their defects. As long as there is good customer service and they replace it in a timely fashion I wouldn't be too put off.

 

[danielhp89]

Cousin owns a NAPA store, I will probably be buying lots more just for the ease of warranty, oh and the family discount.

 

[muskaman67]

carlyle inverted torx,
metric hex stubby, ball hex and deep ball hex

the inverted torx look just like my mac set. wonder if they share the same manufacturer.

 

[silviaboy89]

saw these today the Napa guy said they were made by snap-on. idk if thats true or not but they did look good and shiny

 

[Skin]

Snap-On? Hah. Clearly they're made by Duralast.

No but seriously Carlyle isn't made by Snap-On. They're being sourced from Taiwan by Napa directly.

 

[CWP1616L]

saw these today the Napa guy said they were made by snap-on. idk if thats true or not but they did look good and shiny

Your NAPA guy is either an idiot or a liar.

 

[silviaboy89]

Your NAPA guy is either an idiot or a liar.

yea probably. i guess he was trying to get me interested in the tools. they did look nice

 

[Fedwrench]

saw these today the Napa guy said they were made by snap-on. idk if thats true or not but they did look good and shiny

How often do you get wrong parts from him?

NOT true. taiwan made not by snap on.

Carlyle are nice but, they're not Snap on. Counter geeks lose credibility when they mouth off like that.

 

[CHERRY GT]

I was told that Carlyle tools are sourced in Taiwan by NAPA from 2 global manufactures that produce some of matco, mac and snap on's global tools.
We have never been told they were made by snap on !

 

[03protege]

Snap-On? Hah. Clearly they're made by Duralast.

No but seriously Carlyle isn't made by Snap-On. They're being sourced from Taiwan by Napa directly.

I was told that Carlyle tools are sourced in Taiwan by NAPA from 2 global manufactures that produce some of matco, mac and snap on's global tools.
We have never been told they were made by snap on !

I'm almost 100% sure all the Carlyle stuff is just rebranded Gearwrench products.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I'm almost 100% sure all the Carlyle stuff is just rebranded Gearwrench products.

lolz.

"Some" likely may share a common GW mfg.

"All" made me LOL.

Presumptuous much?

 

[plinker]

I was told that Carlyle tools are sourced in Taiwan by NAPA from 2 global manufactures that produce some of matco, mac and snap on's global tools.
We have never been told they were made by snap on !

I would be willing to bet that Rotar (Toptul) and Gearwrench/Danaher/Apex are both OEM'ing the tool's.

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm almost 100% sure all the Carlyle stuff is just rebranded Gearwrench products.

NOPE!!!

Now the Napa professional hand tool line that Carlyle replaced was rebadged Gearwrench/KD tools.

Who makes the Carlyle stuff in Taiwan is anyone's guess but, There are some definite similarities to some Titan products. I've always said that there's one factory making everything for everyone in taiwan. Only the packaging, colors, and name is changed.

 

[CHERRY GT]

We expanded our stock of Carlyle !
Lookin and sellin good !

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Carlyle club discounted purchase.

I'd like to hear how well these work out for you

 

[belvedere]

Posted these pics in another thread, but didn't know this thread existed!

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Those are nice wrenches

 

[belvedere]

Those are nice wrenches

Thanks...and how are your wrenches holding up by now?

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Thanks...and how are your wrenches holding up by now?

They've done just fine.

I bought a bunch of this line, sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, bit sockets.

Not a single failure

I'm satisfied

 

[andyray]

I need a new set of 6pt deep 3/8 sockets, 12 pc set is on sale for $37 through carlyle club. ....but I can get a Gearwrench 14 pc with a coupon code at Advance for $21. for someone who has used both, is the Carlyle set worth the extra dough?

(Yes, I realize either is an excellent value lol...). Thanks!

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Ease of warranty is the biggest factor I would take in to account.My Napa has most available in open stock if one would break,or they can have it in the next day if not.Only plus I have with them over Gearwrench,plus I'm in good with the local Napa so I've got a few deals.So far my screwdrivers have worked out great,and I've been trying to use the wrenches as well.Don't use the ratchets much,other then the 1/2" drive flex.

^this

Warranty would be easier.

Deep sockets are more prone to splitting. Outside of screwdrivers it's the most common hand tool I'll break.

I have yet to split a Carlye socket but I know it will eventually happen.

 

[CWP1616L]

Deep sockets are more prone to splitting. Outside of screwdrivers it's the most common hand tool I'll break.

How are you splitting deep sockets all the time?

 

[NC-Fordguy]

How are you splitting deep sockets all the time?

I said nothing about all the time. It does happen though

Mostly on junk yard Dana 44 and Dana 60 front axles. It's not uncommon for these to be sitting out in the weather for 20 or 30 years

 

[andyray]

Ease of warranty is the biggest factor I would take in to account.My Napa has most available in open stock if one would break,or they can have it in the next day if not.Only plus I have with them over Gearwrench,plus I'm in good with the local Napa so I've got a few deals.So far my screwdrivers have worked out great,and I've been trying to use the wrenches as well.Don't use the ratchets much,other then the 1/2" drive flex.

Thanks for the feedback -- I'll probably end up with GW. I pass several GW dealers on the way to NAPA, so GW is probably easier to warranty.

 

[CWP1616L]

I said nothing about all the time. It does happen though

Mostly on junk yard Dana 44 and Dana 60 front axles. It's not uncommon for these to be sitting out in the weather for 20 or 30 years

Are you splitting those sockets by hand with a breaker bar?

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Are you splitting those sockets by hand with a breaker bar?

Usually at times. Broke some impacts as well.

One of the junkyards nearby has a school bus thats been cut open making essentially a big flat bed truck. It's full of axles with some of them being there for who knows how long. Many of them have all of the steering linkages/track bars/ tie rods still in place. Many axles were essentially torched out of a truck and thrown in the pile

I'm now to old to pick these things up intact by myself so I'll remove parts so they are light enough for me to pick up and throw in the back of my truck.

Another place I'll break deep sockets is removing 30-40-50 year old body mounts. There's typically a metal bushing around the body mount bolt. These thing will fuse to a bolt making it a mother to get out. Translates to either ringing a bolt or splitting a socket. Saws all comes out sometimes to deal with these.

Newer stuff, not very much breakage. Older rusted up stuff or trucks that lived there life up north before coming down here, well it happens

 

[Carlyle_tools_guy]

i agree it is hard to make an informed decision about quality, feel and performance based on a picture, that is why i asked what makes them so special? because all i can gather from the pictures is lots of shiny chrome and nice packaging which dosent mean they are any good or other wise as far as im aware these tools arent available in UK so i am unlikely to handle them myself , thats why i asked the question.

Carlyle hand tools are very very strong and feel great and they look better than my snap ons....we sell to 4 different coal mines and the guys there say they are the best tools that they've ever had and at my store we sell a lot of them

 

[TwoInch]

Carlyle hand tools are very very strong and feel great and they look better than my snap ons....we sell to 4 different coal mines and the guys there say they are the best tools that they've ever had and at my store we sell a lot of them

you dont say??

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Carlyle hand tools are very very strong and feel great and they look better than my snap ons....we sell to 4 different coal mines and the guys there say they are the best tools that they've ever had and at my store we sell a lot of them

Yea Carlyle tools are good tools

Better than everybody elses?? Doubtful

I have just about every brand of hand tool out there. Carlyle brand doesn't impress me any more than any other brand I have

 

[AMC31B]

1st Post here! I have been lurking for a while and finally joined. I really like reading the tool forums here. Anyways, I am a big fan of Napa and I was excited when I learned about Carlyle tools. I picked up a few Carlyle odds and ends and I am very happy with them. I have most of the essentials for hand tools but I look forward to adding more Carlyle tools in the future, these things are nice!!!

 

[vamcaptain]

I was driving by the local NAPA and saw Ron Capps funny car sitting outside so I stopped in. Wile there I filled out a card for a door prize. I won this Carlyle 3/8 drive set and I will tell you what I think.

First, many of you are wondering who makes Carlyle. A Taiwanese company called King Tony makes these for NAPA. Before anyone begrudges King Tony because they are foreign I can tell you that their standards of manufacture are very high. Currently they are certified as ISO 14001 compliant as is Snap On. If you go here you can get more information about King Tony: http://www.kingtony.com

When I first opened the plastic box with the tools I notice right away that all the tools were in their respective location, nothing had shifted around. That's nice to have all the tools not move around or fall out of place.

The chrome is top quality and I tried but failed to find any blemishes on any of these tools. My favorite tools are SK, especially the ratchets. I like the knurled hand grips on the SK's as opposed to the smooth finish on these. The pawl is a 72 tooth design and feels very smooth and quiet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93067244@N03/10563158696/

My SK 3/8 round head on top, SK "Tuff One" small head in middle, and the Carlyle 3/8.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93067244@N03/10599662666/

The set comes with a breaker bar, two extensions (6 and 3-inch), and a universal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93067244@N03/10563202934/

The sockets are finished on the inside and the downloadable King Tony catalog shows a different process of making their sockets stronger when the forging takes place.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93067244@N03/10599655964/

The female end is also blemish free and the tolerances are perfectly snug.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93067244@N03/10599892323/

I would say that I am impressed with this set and I will probably buy more in the future. I would like to purchase a pair of their roto-head ratchets in 3/8 and 1/2 drive. Click on the thumbnails below for larger pictures and better detail.

Mike

 

[Fedwrench]

First, many of you are wondering who makes Carlyle. A Taiwanese company called King Tony makes these for NAPA. Before anyone begrudges King Tony because they are foreign I can tell you that their standards of manufacture are very high. Mike

How do you know King Tony makes Carlyle?

 

[vamcaptain]

Good question! About a year ago I had a neighbor that was a regional manager for NAPA. He had mentioned a large tool contract with King Tony for NAPA, although I did not think much of it at the time. I only became interested after seeing Ron Capps racing for Carlyle and then winning a door prize at the local NAPA.

There has been mention of a KT Pro but I have not seen them locally. King Tony also produces that line.

Mike

 

[kythri]

King Tony may produce some of the line - there's some similarities there - but I doubt they produce all of it.

 

[Skin]

Hard to place a single name on Taiwan tools. I'm fairly convinced there are only a few factories producing all the different brands of tools and if you think about it globally there are tons. As far as im aware King Tony is just another brand stamped on stuff, not a manufacturer like PTP, Kabo, or High Five. If im wrong im wrong but I never heard of the brand until about 5 years ago so that's why I think its a cover brand like how Sunex -> PTP and Toptul -> ROTOR group.

Its already been pretty well established the wrenches are from Infar.

 

[CWP1616L]

Those be generic tools.

 

[AMC31B]

Those be generic tools.

Just like the tools that the tool trucks sell!

Look closely at the Carlyle and Matco specialty wrenches. Examples are the Half moon and offset double box wrenches... They are exactly the same, even the packaging! The only differences are the markings on the tools and the branding on the box. The Carlyle says "Carlyle tools" in the upper left corner, the Matco says "Matco" on the bottom middle. Both are made in Taiwan but the Matco costs twice as much as the Carlyle.