SK and Allen after Craftsman

[loubapache]

Hi, newbie here in this forum.

I have been using mostly Craftsman tools to maintain/repair my cars and they are fine. However, I would like to try some higher quality tools but not the truck brands so I am basically looking at SK and Allen.

The local Menards has Allen brand tools and their prices are pretty much the same as Craftsman.

For SK, I am thinking about the following, as a starter set:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAOQVC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MANQ9K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Any comments?

TIA.

 

[Mike83]

The second set has a nicer ratchet, but the palm control style is not my favorite. It has a tendency to reverse directions. Seems to me C-man sockets are fine...its the ratchets where most people spend a little more on quality and performance.

Allen and C-man are both made by Danaher.

Welcome, btw!

 

[kythri]

SK has nice looking gear, but it's probably about the same quality as Danaher produced stuff, which, as Mike83 said, is what Allen is.

The Allen and Craftsman stuff is probably the same exact design, on a lot of it.

 

[loubapache]

Thanks and keep them coming.

The second set has the universal spline sockets. I have done searches and read some posts but am not convinced yet on them.

I use a lot of allen (hex) bits and the Allen brand stuffs I got from Menards seem to be better than the Craftsman bits.

I do have lots of Craftsman sockets (6 pt, 12 pt, regular and deep) so maybe I should just get a set of SK ratchets for less than $100.

 

[T56 Impala]

First of..... WELCOME!!!!

You do know you will be infected with toolaholism buy join us, right?



Allen and Craftsman appear to many to be the exact same tools. As stated above, they are both made by the same company. I actually think the better quality stuff is the Craftsman line. Don't be too hard on you Craftsman tools. They are good tools.

S&K is good stuff too. I personally don't like some of their designs, but they are quality.

If you are looking to upgrade, you should consider exactly what it is you don't like about your current tools. DO you not like the action of the ratchets? Not like the shafts of the wrenches? Not like the finish?

After you decide that, then you can test several brands to see if any fit your need. It may be as simple as going to Craftsman Pro line stuff. Or.... maybe buying another brand ratchet will solve your issue.

Watch out, there are a lot of us who will preach one manufacturer or another to you. Each is convinced that the brand they like IS the best out there. They will be quick to tell you the faults of any other brand you choose! Just ask them!!!!!

I like Craftsman and Wright. I have some good Grey stuff too. I don't like Gearwrench or Snap On. Just remember, its up to you where you spend your money. Get what you like and what works for you.

Don't shy away from the truck brands either. They can be had for reasonable prices via eBay, Craigslist and pawn shops. Heck, you can find smokin' deals in the classified section here too!

FWIW, vintage tools are pretty nice too!

 

[Bo Heck]

I'll put a shameless plug in for Toptul ratchets, freakin outstanding. And in the same price range as C-man, cant beat that.

 

[davestlouis]

t56, I'm not infected with this toolaholic malady, wonder how I've escaped so far...

 

[krusty the clown]

t56, I'm not infected with this toolaholic malady, wonder how I've escaped so far...

sounds like your in denial

 

[Paladin]

Most of the Allen branded sockets I've seen seem to have a better chrome on them than C-man. Other than that, I'll bet they are the same. Anbody else notice that? The chrome on C-man seems thin compared to the Allen equivelant. I personally like SK and consider it a step above C-man and Allen. ESPECIALLY the ratchets. I love SK ratchets.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Yeah, I'm not so sure about the spline sockets for the hexes. The regular ones work just fine. Maybe others can chime in and say whether the spline SK stuff is ok or not.

Kind of sad, SK doesn't get much respect. Isn't it supposed to be up there with the truck brands?

 

[BigK600]

I have a set of Allen sockets and a set of Craftsman sockets and there the same. I should take pics. The Allens I keep in the car as my back up set because they come in a nice plastic case. The Allen ratchets and Craftsman ratchets (besides the craftsman 60 tooth pro) are the same however the handles are different shape, even the round head ratchets are the same. Allen wrenchs are different, however the Allen ratcheting wrenchs I pretty sure are just re bagged Gearwrench.

 

[BigK600]

Most of the Allen branded sockets I've seen seem to have a better chrome on them than C-man. Other than that, I'll bet they are the same. Anbody else notice that? The chrome on C-man seems thin compared to the Allen equivelant. I personally like SK and consider it a step above C-man and Allen. ESPECIALLY the ratchets. I love SK ratchets.

I should check that out tonight, they look the same but I have never really held them side by side.

 

[Paladin]

Yeah, every C-man socket I've seen next to Allen looked pretty rough. No where near as smooth and even a chrome-job as the Allen sockets. I really noticed it a couple months ago when I found a BUNCH of Allen sockets at a pawn shop. They were beautiful with the exception of the giant "KS" engraved into them. Needless to say, I didn't buy them. But the difference in finish quality was very noticeable.

 

[myslow2002gt]

Everything SK I have used/owned has been very good quality. I would definately recommend them as an upgrade over Craftsman

 

[philw]

I have the SK spline set. The ratchet is based on the Facom design and is excellent except for one problem. As Mike83 stated, it has a tendency to reverse directions. I figured out that mine was reversing because when I had a bolt loose I would change my grip and hold the ratchet by the top portion. Then when I would ratchet my hand would bump the reverse wheel and that combination would make it switch directions. Only seems to do it when I'm try to be super speedy with it.
The other side to that problem is that you can put pressure in the middle of the reverse wheel and it WILL NOT change directions which comes in handy at times.

Haven't had any problems with the sockets but haven't had a chance to try them out on torx yet.
Even with the ratchets problem I would take it any day over Craftsman or Allen. The SK Pro kit is hard to beat also. Not as many teeth for the ratchet but a very reliable design.

 

[John in OH]

Take a look at Wright tools. Very nice sockets and combo wrenches. Usually available at industrial supply or welding supply houses. Nice tools at a reasonable price ... more $ than C-man, but far less than SO. Another possibility is Proto ... very similar in quality to Wright. Available from Grainger and if you are a member of the Farm Bureau you get a slight discount.

 

[myslow2002gt]

Take a look at Wright tools. Very nice sockets and combo wrenches. Usually available at industrial supply or welding supply houses. Nice tools at a reasonable price ... more $ than C-man, but far less than SO. Another possibility is Proto ... very similar in quality to Wright. Available from Grainger and if you are a member of the Farm Bureau you get a slight discount.

I agree, Proto and Wright are also top notch. I wish I could find someone locally that sold them though.

 

[T56 Impala]

I have yet to find anyone that sells Wright. There are a few "suppliers" but they don't even return phone calls. The on line places I have found, even those suggested on the Wright web site, don't stock and don't seem willing to order industrial finish wrenches. (Yes, I like black oxide wrenches!)

I have 2 Proto socket sets. One 1/2" drive one 3/8" drive. They are very nice. I don't like the ratchets though. I do have the red metal cases for them around here somewhere....

 

[loubapache]

Thanks, everyone. I am also searching and reading but keep them coming.

I can see there are a lot of tool lovers.

The Craftsman ratchets are kind of rough, not as refined. I actually broke a 3/8 one but they gave me a new one last week.

I was at Lowes tonight and turned a few of their Kobalt ratchets and to my surprise, they were very smooth.

 

[billymade]

FYI, the Kobalt tool has gotten sucked into the Dahaher BORG as well...

 

[wrenchr]

Proto is a good choice as well!!! Williams.............

 

[Bo Heck]

the proto warranty, or lack thereof has steered me away.

 

[BigK600]

Ok I just checked out my Allen socket set and my Craftsman socket set and both sockets are exactly the same, same size, same shape, same finish. Only differance is, is that Craftsman are stamped a little deeper than the Allen. So going with Allen over Craftsman is nothing there the same.

 

[jerk_chicken]

How does the SO bit holder hold up in usage? I was thinking about trying one of them with the Wera Zyklop kit, but then kind of got steered away, now I'm steered back...

 

[BigK600]

Thanks, everyone. I am also searching and reading but keep them coming.

I can see there are a lot of tool lovers.

The Craftsman ratchets are kind of rough, not as refined. I actually broke a 3/8 one but they gave me a new one last week.

I was at Lowes tonight and turned a few of their Kobalt ratchets and to my surprise, they were very smooth.

Kobalts are the same as Craftsman/Allen/KD tools all are made by Danaher.

 

[BigK600]

Yeah, every C-man socket I've seen next to Allen looked pretty rough. No where near as smooth and even a chrome-job as the Allen sockets. I really noticed it a couple months ago when I found a BUNCH of Allen sockets at a pawn shop. They were beautiful with the exception of the giant "KS" engraved into them. Needless to say, I didn't buy them. But the difference in finish quality was very noticeable.

I dont notice any difference between my Craftsman and Allen sockets.

 

[Merkava_4]

I would like to try some higher quality tools but not the truck brands so I am basically looking at SK and Allen.

That's right ... outside of Craftsman and the truck brands, all that's left on the planet are SK and Allen.

 

[eschoendorff]

The second set has a nicer ratchet, but the palm control style is not my favorite. It has a tendency to reverse directions. Seems to me C-man sockets are fine...its the ratchets where most people spend a little more on quality and performance.

Allen and C-man are both made by Danaher.

Welcome, btw!

Yup. In general, Allen = Craftsman Pro.

I wouldn't ditch my Craftsman stuff to "upgrade" to S*K. I have not been that impressed by my S*K stuff, and I bought a good number of things thinking that the quality was better than it turned out to be.

 

[Bo Heck]

That's right ... outside of Craftsman and the truck brands, all that's left on the planet are SK and Allen.

I dont think thats what he meant lol. He's saying that's all he has locally...I hope.

 

[loubapache]

I dont think thats what he meant lol. He's saying that's all he has locally...I hope.

You are right , Bo (BTW, Bo is my legal first name).

I can get Allen tools from Menards and SK from Amazon.

 

[Paladin]

I dont notice any difference between my Craftsman and Allen sockets.

I'll have to buy one of the ones down at the pawn shop and take some C-man vs. Allen pics. Maybe the quality of Allen's sockets has changed since the sockets at the pawn shop were made.

 

[kythri]

If you're willing to buy SK from Amazon, there's a number of other brands you can buy on the Internet, so don't feel limited to Craftsman, Allen or SK.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

RE: Your last two lines of your post, I have a lot of what you are looking for, I just have to find them! More later

 

[loubapache]

Thank you all.

Just to put a temporary ending to this thread, I bought a Kobalt 3/8" ROTO ratchet today. I read the two threads about this ratchet here and decided to buy it (with the coupon expiring anyway). It is one smooth ratchet. However, it does not have quick release and thumb wheel.

I will also order a Craftsman Round Head Fine Tooth 1/2" the next time I buy from Sears.com.

Thanks.

 

[kythri]

FYI, the Kobalt tool has gotten sucked into the Dahaher BORG as well...

You say that like it's a bad thing...