I'm in the process of upgrading some of my Craftsman tools to Snap On,Mac, ect. Since I have to do this a little bit at a time, I was wondering if you can suggest which tools I should upgrade first ? Which tools should I spend the money on, and which tools can I "cheap out" on, so to speak ? I'd really appreciate any advice you can give me.
upgrading tools
- Thread starter jgelack
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mayday0017
Well-known member
I would start with upgrading your Craftsman tools that arn't holding up, I am assuming that is why you are upgrading in the first place is because of quality issues?
if your coming from old raised panel coarse tooth craftsman ratchets thats what i would upgrade first. i would probably keep the sockets since you have a lifetime warranty and if your not a pro can stop at a store anytime to replace even in off hours.
That's an easy question to answer: You upgrade the tools that come in contact with your hand and you cheep out on the tools that don't come in contact. Upgrade your ratchets, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Cheap out on sockets and extensions. That's the way you do it. 
PinkLinc
Well-known member
That's an easy question to answer: You upgrade the tools that come in contact with your hand and you cheep out on the tools that don't come in contact. Upgrade your ratchets, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Cheap out on sockets and extensions. That's the way you do it.
This. And the first thing you should buy is a Snap-On F80, 3/8 ratchet.
FunkyfullWidth
Well-known member
I've had good luck with beating on my craftsman wrenches, screw drivers and sockets. Ratchets on the other hand.....
Upgrade the ratchets. So far my older 3/8 cman's hold up allright, the new ones not so much... I've played nothing but hell with the 1/2 craftsman breaker bars though.
btw... dont' trust anyone who's forum name is a snap on part number to give you a non biased answer on a "which tool to pick' thread....
ha ha... I kid, but seriously.
Upgrade the ratchets. So far my older 3/8 cman's hold up allright, the new ones not so much... I've played nothing but hell with the 1/2 craftsman breaker bars though.
btw... dont' trust anyone who's forum name is a snap on part number to give you a non biased answer on a "which tool to pick' thread....
ha ha... I kid, but seriously.Carbonblk46
Well-known member
Sent you a private message but as everyone has said the ratchets are the first thing i would upgrade
I would just rock with cman sockets unless you are working on vintage stuff then i would upgrade to snappy to get a bit of a better grip.
Mickey O
Well-known member
Extensions, hex & torx bits & ratchets, not sure if I'd go with a Snap-On or MAC ratchet, definitely not a MAC, I'd get Matco or preferably Armstrong Maxx. Wrenches eventually unless you have Craftsman professional wrenches then I'd just use those they are great wrenches.
bcradio
Well-known member
Definitely Hex/Torx/etc... bits, drivers, and bit sockets. Those **** when you strip one. I'd say extensions and sockets are fine to keep. Upgrade ratchets and screwdrivers as well.
Then do the rest as you break them or wear them out.
Cman pro USA made are fine and there'd be no need to upgrade these.
Then do the rest as you break them or wear them out.
Cman pro USA made are fine and there'd be no need to upgrade these.
genevabuck
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- Joined
- Jul 9, 2012
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Like others have said, there is nothing wrong with Craftsman sockets. Especially if you are like me and lose them all of the time. Start with upgrading your ratchets, screwdrivers and wrenches. You will notice a difference. Then hex and torx sockets. MAC makes great punches and chisels and makes a real nice pliers set.
Mastermind
Well-known member
i agree with pretty much all these others, still hace c-man sockets after yrs of upgrading otherstuffs, anything that goes into a fastner (torx, allen, screwdrivers etc) seems to be where things get much better than c-man offerings. i also love my 1/2 impacts that have alot nicer tolerances and features. Feel gets better on higher end ratchets, too.
lwlobo
Well-known member
My first upgrade would be a FL80 or FLF80 snap on ratchet.
After that, you are doomed.
After that, you are doomed.
My contribution to this thread will just echo what others have already said. For the most part, my whole tool collection was Craftsman for years. Last year after getting sucked into this forum (be careful!), I started replacing perfectly good tools with better ones. Like others suggested, I started with ratchets, and I've managed to collect quite a variety already. Snap On, SK, Gear Wrench, and even some Harbor Freight stuff. Since then I've also started upgrading my wrenches, but so far they've mostly wound up kust being drawer candy. I still reach for my ratcheting wrenches most of the time.
rsanter
Well-known member
Keep you'd cman stuff and add to it more than replace it
Sometimes you will need more than one of the same thing
1 ratchets
2 mid depth sockets
3 wrenches in the few sizes you use the most and then add from there
Bob
Sometimes you will need more than one of the same thing
1 ratchets
2 mid depth sockets
3 wrenches in the few sizes you use the most and then add from there
Bob
B18c_tuner
Well-known member
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- Jun 27, 2012
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- 167
He's right. Once you have used a Snap-on ratchet there's no other ratchet that can compare. I'm still converting from Craftsman to Snap-on myself.
eh. I bought a nice 80 tooth Snappy as my first upgrade. Since then I picked up two 60 tooth Gearwrench ratchets and to be honest, I use those more.
Every socket I own is cfaftsman. Very happy with them. I upgraded everything else a little at a time as I could afford to. Craftsman sockets work just as well as any sockets I have ever used, SO, Matco, Mac,ect,ect,ect I have no intention of ever replacing then unless one breaks. Good ratchets, and good wrenches are fun to use. Invest your money there
dsmnickk90
Well-known member
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- Sep 24, 2011
- Messages
- 711
I have never broken a cman socket. Even when I have used them on my IR titanium because i didnt have a 30mm impact socket at the time.
Mr Ratchet
Well-known member
Might help to know what you have first. I would also recommend to start with ratchets as well. I upgraded most of my CM ratchets with Armstrong, GearWrench, Matco, and Snap On. Neither is vastly better than the other and I like them all. You might also consider the 84 tooth Craftsman ratchets as they are much nicer than the rest of the line.
Knipex Cobra pliers and diagonal cutters is always a good one.
Screw drivers from the like of Wera, Wiha, Witte, etc is also a good upgrade over the standard CM screw driver.
Knipex Cobra pliers and diagonal cutters is always a good one.
Screw drivers from the like of Wera, Wiha, Witte, etc is also a good upgrade over the standard CM screw driver.
I pounded away with a 3/8" drive 17mm chrome Craftsman socket with my impact using a 1/2" -> 3/8" adapter on my control arm. I couldn't believe that it didn't break. That was a strong impact too, would easily pull axle nuts. I've been more than impressed with my Cman sockets.
PAPERMAKER
Well-known member
Are you breaking your craftsman tools or do you just want the Cool Kids Tools?
I personally have all craftsman sockets and never had any issues. However I have upgraded my ratchets to higher end craftsman as well as snap on ones.
I have a set of RP craftsman ratchets..kinda feel they should still be in the box just because of the classic nature of them lol..
I always grab my S/O hard handles though, even though my high end craftsman ones have finer teeth.
I beat on my RP wrenches with hammers and double wrench all the time and never had problems either.
Best to keep the cman stuff and add new stuff..remember you can never have too many tools..just too small of a tool box lol
I have a set of RP craftsman ratchets..kinda feel they should still be in the box just because of the classic nature of them lol..
I always grab my S/O hard handles though, even though my high end craftsman ones have finer teeth.
I beat on my RP wrenches with hammers and double wrench all the time and never had problems either.
Best to keep the cman stuff and add new stuff..remember you can never have too many tools..just too small of a tool box lol
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It looks like ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers and hex/torq bits for now. Pretty much any thing that comes into direct contact with a fastener. Glad to hear no upgrade needed for the Craftsman Pro wrenches , although I can still see me picking up a couple of those Snap On FD wrenches, especially in the sizes I don't have. I am a little bit suprised that so many people have had such good luck with the Craftsman sockets, not that they have ever given me a problem, I just THOUGHT the tool truck brands were so much more superior. I will take your word for it and keep my sockets. I really don't plan on getting rid of CM tools, just deligating some of them to the road box. Any suggestions on which hex/torq bits to buy? Thanks again for all your suggestions.
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kippieland
Well-known member
What everyone else has said! I have some really nice SK sockets and then 170 peice Craftsman.....SK looks pretty, but one they are all covered in grease, they all work the same.....its a socket! I would spend money on a nice set of ratchets (F80, Matco 88 or Armstrong 88/60), nice screwdrivers (I love my Wiha...amazon has great prices) and good pliers (channellocks.) For wrenchs, I like the RP wrenchs...durable and tough, but not the longest things. I got a set of KT pros for a good price and work great...a bit longer (plus I didn't have complete set of RP wrenches) but for hard things that I do a lot of I bought some nice wrenchs off of ebay (17mm Williams Supercombo and a 14mm SK long.) But I use ratcheting wrenches mostly so I would spend on those (I have Genuis rat. wrenches...love those things!) I would not through out good tools for pretty new ones.....because in the end they should all look like used....thats why they are tools!
kippieland
Well-known member
I have a set of Wiha (sockets made in Taiwan....bit in Germany...and the case in the USA.) Never have had problem with my Craftsman but they were shot. Heard really good things about VIM bit sockets. Bondus needs to make more socket bits...they are nuts! Got read the thread about the guy that found an Armstrong socket in his Craftsman set....Just because things cost more doesn't always mean they are better or different. The trick with tools is where to spend on and where not to....thats why GJ rocks!
