The $100 Sears Armstrongs

[Zrexxer]

Someone was kind enough last week to post a heads-up that Sears online was clearancing Armstrong 3/4" drive metric socket sets with 17 sockets and two rails for $99.95.

I ordered a set, figuring that these were made in USA Danaher tools for about the price of imports. They arrived today and I have to say I'm certainly pleased with them, even more so for the money. They look a whole lot like Craftsman 3/4" drive stuff But at less then six bucks a pop for brand new BIG sockets, they were a helluva deal.

 

[ImportTuner]

Wow, excellent deal; great price and excellent sockets ..

 

[Nolan]

Someone was kind enough last week to post a heads-up that Sears online was clearancing Armstrong 3/4" drive metric socket sets with 17 sockets and two rails for $99.95.

I just checked the UPS tracking number that Sears emailed me last week and my set should be here tomorrow. Best of all, it was for not that much more money than just the 42mm socket that I've been needing would have costed.

 

[kwhitelaw]

link to this deal?

 

[Joe B.]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ls&cName=Auto+&+Mechanics+Tools&sName=Sockets
Just two left in stock. I thought about getting these but I already own too many tools that I don't use.

 

[justinmc]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ls&cName=Auto+&+Mechanics+Tools&sName=Sockets
Just two left in stock. I thought about getting these but I already own too many tools that I don't use.

Yeah I added one to my cart but deleted it. I've already bought too many tools lately.

 

[DynoDale]

Got mine yesterday. There was a flyer of closeouts in the box. Ordered a Hobart Airforce 625 plasma:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ProductDisplay?partNumber=00920660000P&storeId=10153&langId=-1&cmdStoreId=10153&catalogId=12605

 

[Nolan]

Yeah I added one to my cart but deleted it. I've already bought too many tools lately.

I know the feeling, but that was a really good price.

Come to think of it, I'd love to see them put the SAE set on sale for that price. Some of mine have gotten pretty ratty.

I think we might continue to see some pretty good price markdowns on slower moving tools as the economy continues to crumble in coming years.

 

[justinmc]

I think we might continue to see some pretty good price markdowns on slower moving tools as the economy continues to crumble in coming years.

Yup.. my goal when the times come is to be able to build and maintain anything I need... currently revising my investment portfolio to include guns, ammo and c-rations along with my current portfolio of tools, cars and parts. Hahaha..

 

[kwhitelaw]

Yeah I added one to my cart but deleted it. I've already bought too many tools lately.

just did the same, got too many other things to spend money on right now.

good price though

 

[Nolan]

Yup.. my goal when the times come is to be able to build and maintain anything I need...

This is the primary reason that I've been going thru my tools over the last few months. I've been getting the broken stuff warranted. Replacing the missing stuff, and buying this set for the 42mm socket. It was the only fastener on my tractor that I didn't have a tool to fit.

 

[Zrexxer]

Yeah I added one to my cart but deleted it. I've already bought too many tools lately.

I'm buying while there's blood in the streets. Prices like we've seen lately may not come this way again soon.

 

[Shocker]

I ordered up mine. I have no 3/4 metric and this was just too good to pass up.

 

[back2class]

Thats funny. I had them in my cart the other day and was checking out when I decided to pass. A great deal I just could not justify.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

Bought a set; thanks for posting this one up. The price is just too good to pass.

 

[boro_boy70]

I tried to buy a set but it keeps coming up as a broken link, must be sold out?

 

[Joe B.]

I went back to the link and when I clicked on 'Add to Cart', I got the following message: "This item is not available for purchase at this time."

It was in the clearance section so it looks like they are sold out because of this thread. Earlier when I posted the link it said that there were two left. I like that they provide the inventory count for clearance items now. Nice feature.

 

[srmofo]

they're gone....needless to say they have their **** together. I would of bought that set, Ive just got some cheapys from HF. They cost $50

 

[Nolan]

Re: The $100 Sears Armstrongs ROCK!

Mine arrived a little while ago. Pretty flashy looking. My friends will be envious. Another hearty Thank You to the person that originally posted the link.

It's a pretty good thing that I ordered the entire set verses just ordering the a 42mm socket which would have cost half of what the set did.

As it turns out, my conversion of SAE to metric must have been a little off. I just tried the new sockets for fit and it was a 41mm socket that I needed. That would have been a major bummer. Next time I'll use the metric vernier calipers.

The date stamp on the factory carton shows March of 2007. I see now why Sears had them on clearance. I thought that all of the companies here in the US had addopted the Japanese "just in time inventory" approach to stocking inventory.

 

[boro_boy70]

I went back to the link and when I clicked on 'Add to Cart', I got the following message: "This item is not available for purchase at this time."

It was in the clearance section so it looks like they are sold out because of this thread. Earlier when I posted the link it said that there were two left. I like that they provide the inventory count for clearance items now. Nice feature.

I wish I would have seen this thread earlier

Not that I desperately need them, just hate to miss out a a deal like that.

 

[The Muffin Man]

Armstrong's sockets are definitely under appreciated. Very nice set you have there Zrexxer

 

[back2class]

What made me really decide is that I have up to 32mm in my craftsman 1/2 set. I figured I only needed 7 pcs from this set for real world use. Great deal though.

 

[48548]

I would have got this also, but after I got the Koken set I couldn't buy another but it would have been nice to have made in the USA, but the koken set was a good deal and at least it was japan and not china, not to mention 12pt, mm sizes: 19,21,22,23,24,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,38 ,41,42,46,50,52,54,55,58,60,63. But I think this was a great buy and I had the money I would go for it.

 

[Underdog]

Just had my set dropped at the door. They look very well made. Now I'm set on large metric sockets.

 

[orange02ss]

The date stamp on the factory carton shows March of 2007. I see now why Sears had them on clearance. I thought that all of the companies here in the US had addopted the Japanese "just in time inventory" approach to stocking inventory.

It was an American that came up with "just in time". The Japanese just adopted it faster.

 

[Zrexxer]

Re: The $100 Sears Armstrongs ROCK!

The date stamp on the factory carton shows March of 2007. I see now why Sears had them on clearance.

The label on mine showed 2007 also, but that was a manufacturer's label, not a Sears label. Who knows how long Sears had them in inventory.

 

[MadMark]

I would have got this also, but after I got the Koken set I couldn't buy another but it would have been nice to have made in the USA, but the koken set was a good deal and at least it was japan and not china, not to mention 12pt, mm sizes: 19,21,22,23,24,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,38 ,41,42,46,50,52,54,55,58,60,63. But I think this was a great buy and I had the money I would go for it.

Hi, Can you give me a link to the Koken set. thanks

 

[carder69]

I added the Armstrong set into my shopping cart a couple of weeks ago, but never got around to checking out. Sears will keep the items in there 30 days and went in last night and they were still in there. I read this thread and decided to order and they shipped today. My tip is when you see something on clearance add it to your shopping cart, but don't checkout. But please do not do this for anything except evolve because you may be hurting my chances!!!!!!

ec

 

[HandyManny]

I can speculate as to why they are on clearance.

About 2 years ago someone at Danaher thougth it was a wise idea to stop stamping in the size, brand, origin, etc on the outside of each socket. Instead had the wise idea that only acid eteching this info was good enough and would save Danaher one more step and some manufacturing expense. I saw a lot of this with Armstrong, Craftsman, etc.

Well, it didn't take long for professional tool users to discover that the acid etched markings on the outside of the sockets faded pretty badly with daily use. This left thousands of sockets unreadable as to their size.

Danaher has since gone back to stamping in the lettering/numbering into the outside of the sockets, along with acid etching the info as well.

Are your Armstrong sockets only acid etched? Or arethey stamped as well?

 

[alex71]

they have both.

 

[48548]

Hi, Can you give me a link to the Koken set. thanks

I think they might be sold out, but you can search on here for koken 3/4 sockets, I am work and can't look that up right now.

Try this, this the seller, you can send her am email and ask if she has anymore.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Koke...Z180416452526QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

 

[Zrexxer]

Are your Armstrong sockets only acid etched? Or arethey stamped as well?

Alex is correct, they have both markings. I wasn't crazy about the big old billiard-ball etching, but I have to admit my old eyes can read that a lot easier.

 

[arkangel06]

damn those are some nice sockets and a wicked price to boot!

 

[Joe B.]

I added the Armstrong set into my shopping cart a couple of weeks ago, but never got around to checking out. Sears will keep the items in there 30 days and went in last night and they were still in there. I read this thread and decided to order and they shipped today. My tip is when you see something on clearance add it to your shopping cart, but don't checkout. But please do not do this for anything except evolve because you may be hurting my chances!!!!!!

ec

I just removed them from my cart. I got one click from chekcing out and Sears.com did not stop me. There is not a set available now but maybe it will show back up in the morning.

I have seen items in clearance on Sears.com that were never available on the site before that. My guess is that Sears buys closeouts when the prices are good just like Harry Epsteins. Don't know if that may be the case here.

 

[MadMark]

thanks, she only has 1/2 stuff on line now.

 

[scottmlew]

thanks, she only has 1/2 stuff on line now.

This is definitely a great seller...bought a bunch of stuff from her, through eBay and separately, and she's great to work with. If she has items you need, I highly recommend her!

 

[Nolan]

Danaher has since gone back to stamping in the lettering/numbering into the outside of the sockets, along with acid etching the info as well.

Are your Armstrong sockets only acid etched? Or arethey stamped as well?

All of mine have both types of markings except the 42mm. It has the etched markings. But as far as stamping, it only has Armstrong USA stamped on it. No part number or size.

I also noticed that among the smaller sizes, there are two different types of size stampings. The size stamped on the 23, 27, 29, and 30mm are about 2 or 3 times larger than the other sub 32mm sizes.

In addition, I think that the sockets under 32mm may be cast or maybe powdered metal construction. There are zero machining marks on the smaller sizes even under magnification as there is on the larger sockets which is easily visable with the naked eye and the internal configuration is totally differeent. I also think that there is a pair of mold parting lines 180 degrees apart in the 22mm socket between the base of the drive flutes and the bolt clearance hole.

I didn't think that anyone was making sockets using this method.

 

[Zrexxer]

I didn't think that anyone was making sockets using this method.

They aren't. Sockets are forged and broached.

 

[Nolan]

They aren't. Sockets are forged and broached.

I don't have a digital camera, but I'd swear that this is a mold parting line. Seriously.

It just occured to me that I do have a flat bed scanner, This photo is from it. The large socket is the 32mm of conventional construction. The smaller socket is the 22 mm. It sure looks like mold parting lines at about 9:30 and 3:30 to me.

I'll try to get more magnification and higher resolution. OK, done. Here's one. The two "lines" are raised metal. One was originally high enough to partially roll over.

Anyone else have these parting lines in their sockets? Since they are only visable on one of mine, it's possible that they are normally removed. Ideas anyone?

 

[Stuey]

That is a very nice photo of some nice looking sockets!