Tekton or craftsman professional wrenches?

[atownmack]

I need your help. Currently the price of craftsman professional series wrenches have dropped in price to about the same price as tekton wrench sets. Which would you go with? I have heard that craftsman professional is comparable with snap on, proto, and some other higher end wrenches. Give me some feedback. Let me know what you think.

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[Skin]

Cman Pro, the actual wrenches stamped USA and Professional on the beam, haven't been readily available for 3-4 years, keep that in mind when reading impressions. Closest thing to the USA made are going to be through Armstrong, and I think Craftsman Industrial-not sure since I wrote their hardline off when they started offshoring everything. Regardless what you're looking at on their site and shelves today is a full polish knock-off made in China.

Wrenches are like creeds around here. A lot of recommendations of whats best, most made in this thread will be way out of the price range you're looking it, and opinions on whats best varying all over the place.

 

[atownmack]

Cman Pro, the actual wrenches stamped USA and Professional on the beam, haven't been available for 3-4 years, keep that in mind when reading impressions. What you're looking at is a full polish knock-off made in China.

Are those any good, or just the same as the regular series?

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[Flivver250]

Craftsman professional is an oxymoron. I would not go with either brand, but that is me.

 

[Skin]

Are those any good, or just the same as the regular series?

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No idea, never held one. From what I've actually used

SK, Cman Pro USA (Armstrong made), Armstrong, Snap-On, Gearwrench, Matco (another flavor of Armstrong), all offer solid combination wrenches. The only cheap available brand of those is Gearwrench, which I think is a great value particularly because the quality is quite good and their sets are huge and you can often score both metric and standard sets, together, for less than a $100.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

The Tekton are very nice, and should be fine for home use.

FWIW, I use SK at work

 

[JonnyMac]

I say support tekton. They are a company that are clearly trying to support usa manufacturing where possible and sears is dying through their own neglect.
Plus tekton are supported here by a member... i have their stubby wrenches and for the money they are just fine.

 

[blackwire]

Some of the reviewers claim the newer Craftsman Pros are made in China. The Tektons with the plastic wrench holder is made in Taiwan. I would go with the Tektons.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-professional-13-pc-metric-12-pt-full/p-00945964000P

 

[jlipsky14]

I would go with the tekton wrenches over the made in china craftsman pros. I have both the metric and sae tekton 15pc wrench sets. However I got the tektons to have a full line-up with no skips allowing me to only have to purchase the common sizes for the gearwrench flex heads and wrightgrips.

 

[RatZ1LLa]

I have the Tekton's Full Polish sets in both SAE and Metric and they are work great. If you buy them on Amazon though do not buy the set for $97, buy them separately for $41 and $42.

Also the wrench rack is pretty tall, it wouldn't fit in one of my two inch drawers that has about 1.75" of clearance. I ended up purchasing a Ernst low profile wrench rail to clear the drawer.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZJMWUI/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZJN3PQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[gungatim]

I say support tekton. They are a company that are clearly trying to support usa manufacturing where possible and sears is dying through their own neglect.
Plus tekton are supported here by a member... i have their stubby wrenches and for the money they are just fine.

how do you figure that? they are MIT, Michigan Industrial Tools, they started importing all the cheap china and india junk way back in the day. owner lives or lived a few miles from me...I like Tekton Taiwan tools, but don't let the name fool you...and some are China so you need to check that, although they seem pretty decent (the ones I got on clearance).

 

[jlipsky14]

how do you figure that? they are MIT, Michigan Industrial Tools, they started importing all the cheap china and india junk way back in the day. owner lives or lived a few miles from me...I like Tekton Taiwan tools, but don't let the name fool you...and some are China so you need to check that, although they seem pretty decent (the ones I got on clearance).

Some of the tools are USA made such as some pliers made by Wilde. They are not trying to bring the cheapest tools to market like craftsman has started to do, they are trying to bring the best tools at a particular price point.
The wrench wrack of their polished wrenches are USA made if that means anything

They pop up in the deals section of amazon every once in a while. I was able to buy the sae set for $30 that was in no different packing/condition as the metrics I ordered.

 

[Zion21]

Craftsman professional is an oxymoron. I would not go with either brand, but that is me.

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I agree, unfortunately the quality of both has seriously degraded after they moved production around overseas.

 

[gungatim]

Some of the tools are USA made such as some pliers made by Wilde. They are not trying to bring the cheapest tools to market like craftsman has started to do, they are trying to bring the best tools at a particular price point.
The wrench wrack of their polished wrenches are USA made if that means anything

They pop up in the deals section of amazon every once in a while. I was able to buy the sae set for $30 that was in no different packing/condition as the metrics I ordered.

no I wasn't knocking them, just trying to clarify they started out as cheap tool importer, and continue to import. they have definitely gotten better, like HF, their tools today vs. the '80's are light years ahead. I've only bought sockets and wrenches from them on clearance, but they are definitely great quality for import tools. I think they used to market/import the really cheap junk under G.R.I.P. brand...

 

[AmishFury]

the tekton taiwan wrenches are the best deal for someone looking for wrenches on a budget

if you can stretch the budget a bit more gearwrench does offer sets with anti-slip open ends but it seems lately gearwrench is a COO dice roll

 

[theoldwizard1]

If you can find Craftsman Professional and the price is right, I would buy them. Just know that you will not be able to "add on" to that set.

The Craftsman Professional line has been replaced by Craftsman Industrial. They are carried by a few mail order places, but I wonder how long they will be around. The "full polish" Industrial line is some what limited. Their non-polished line looks identical to the Craftsman "raised panel" line except "Made in the USA"

 

[atownmack]

If you can find Craftsman Professional and the price is right, I would buy them. Just know that you will not be able to "add on" to that set.

The Craftsman Professional line has been replaced by Craftsman Industrial. They are carried by a few mail order places, but I wonder how long they will be around. The "full polish" Industrial line is some what limited. Their non-polished line looks identical to the Craftsman "raised panel" line except "Made in the USA"

So the craftsman industrial has replaced the craftsman professional series? I looked into those, and they do look like the regular raised panel craftsman.

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[atownmack]

No idea, never held one. From what I've actually used

SK, Cman Pro USA (Armstrong made), Armstrong, Snap-On, Gearwrench, Matco (another flavor of Armstrong), all offer solid combination wrenches. The only cheap available brand of those is Gearwrench, which I think is a great value particularly because the quality is quite good and their sets are huge and you can often score both metric and standard sets, together, for less than a $100.

You say go with gear wrench? There sets are comparable priced as well.

GearWrench 81923 28-Piece Full Polish Combination Non-Ratcheting Wrench Set SAE/Metric https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IQSETQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

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[248superduty]

I went with the HF Pittsburg Pro fully polished sd/mm normal and stubby sets. I did this for two reasons. One, I absolutely HATE any wrench that has a raised edge on it at all. And two, they had a decent sale going on at the time.

 

[atownmack]

I went with the HF Pittsburg Pro fully polished sd/mm normal and stubby sets. I did this for two reasons. One, I absolutely HATE any wrench that has a raised edge on it at all. And two, they had a decent sale going on at the time.

The only thing about hf is that they skip sizes for some odd reason.

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[Negen]

i have a couple full sets of c-man pro made usa bought around 2005. While not bad I cannot say they compare to the higher end professional stuff. If buying texton I believe the ones in the plastic trays are the ones your looking for rather than the the sets in the rolls. ROC vs PRC. Gearwrench is another top choice for wrenches on a budget.

If your really on a budget I always wanted to try these to compare them to regular proto. Stanley-Proto Pitboss

 

[atownmack]

i have a couple full sets of c-man pro made usa bought around 2005. While not bad I cannot say they compare to the higher end professional stuff. If buying texton I believe the ones in the plastic trays are the ones your looking for rather than the the sets in the rolls. ROC vs PRC. Gearwrench is another top choice for wrenches on a budget.

If your really on a budget I always wanted to try these to compare them to regular proto. Stanley-Proto Pitboss

Yes I was looking at the ones that come in the trays.

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[nine4gmc]

If you can buy a more expensive tool for the same price as a less expensive tool, why would you even consider buying the cheaper tool? Craftsman for the warranty and price imo. Even if Sears flops, which I doubt will happen, ACE hardware and other places carry Craftsman now. The brand is solid, despite what the koolaid drinkers say.

 

[248superduty]

The only thing about hf is that they skip sizes for some odd reason.

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Yea I saw that but ill grab a 15mm and 16mm for the sets. The SAE one looks to be pretty complete.

 

[jlipsky14]

If you can buy a more expensive tool for the same price as a less expensive tool, why would you even consider buying the cheaper tool? Craftsman for the warranty and price imo. Even if Sears flops, which I doubt will happen, ACE hardware and other places carry Craftsman now. The brand is solid, despite what the koolaid drinkers say.

That is assuming the more expensive tool is a better tool.

I feel the made in Taiwan Tektons are better than the made in china craftsman professionals. I do have a sears hardware roughly 5 minutes away that is pretty good on warranty and I still purchased the Tektons.
Tekton is now my go to over a made in china craftsman (not made in usa craftsman) unless I need something right away.

 

[sberry]

Is it really that big a deal?

 

[jlipsky14]

Is it really that big a deal?

I agree, just get one of each and see what ya think.

 

[Squankum]

I vote for used Cman Pro (old enough to be American) from CL or ebay if you can. There are better wrenches, but they cost bunches more. They're a great value.

Failing that, if you're in a hurry, anything new from Taiwan is pretty damned good, and great for the price.

 

[Squankum]

Wrights are a nice US-made quality/value, too:

http://www.harryepstein.com/index.p...nation-wrench-set-7-15mm-17mm-19mm-12-pt.html

(Just the first hit I found, there are others there, I'm sure, SK, too.)

OK, another hit:
http://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/wright-full-polish-wrightgrip-metric-wrench-set-7mm-19mm.html

 

[1950mercury]

Six to one half a dozen to another

 

[Parrothead]

Some of the reviewers claim the newer Craftsman Pros are made in China. The Tektons with the plastic wrench holder is made in Taiwan. I would go with the Tektons.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-professional-13-pc-metric-12-pt-full/p-00945964000P

I have the Craftsman Pro USA versions, and the Tekton's as well. I would have absolutely no problem with using the Tekton's going forward. When I see some of the stupid prices for Craftsman Pro I think about selling them anyway. I have no interest in the imported Craftsman "pro" versions. Just my .02

 

[lightning02]

I want to get a set of the new Tekton wrenches. Just wish they came in bigger sizes as well. Maybe they will offer bigger sizes soon.

 

[RatZ1LLa]

I want to get a set of the new Tekton wrenches. Just wish they came in bigger sizes as well. Maybe they will offer bigger sizes soon.

They don't go much bigger, but from their site you can buy a 23 and 24mm polished. SAE goes up to 1-1/4". You have to look at their individual wrench section.

 

[AmishFury]

I want to get a set of the new Tekton wrenches. Just wish they came in bigger sizes as well. Maybe they will offer bigger sizes soon.

the taiwan wrenches range from 6-24mm and 1/4" - 1-1/4"

part numbers for the individuals not included in the 15pc sets

metric
18275 6mm
18276 7mm
18294 23mm
18295 24mm

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q01ONQA/?tag=atomicindus08-20


SAE
18267 1-1/16
18268 1-1/8
18269 1-3/16
18271 1-1/4

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q01O50O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

links have dropdown menus for individual sizes