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Quality socket set... which one?

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Kobalt is mid-grade Taiwanese. My experience...the fit of the wrench/socket on the fastener can be acceptable in some socket sizes and abysmal in others. Can be REALLY iffy if the fastener has been "shrunk" by rust. I think they use the same tooling to produce both SAE and metric sizes. The ratchet teeth in the ratchet handles do not appreciate multiple applications of heavy torque which can be a problem were the available space won't accommodate a breaker bar.
 
SK tools are very good! also check out Armstrong, also made in the USA, usually available at Industrial Distributors. High quality, same lifetime warranty, and a fraction of the price of a Snap-on or Matco set.
 
I guess 40 years of using Craftsman with only one minor issue with a very small wrench that I abused has me pretty much sold on Craftsman. Most of the hand tools are made in US (most - not all). Other than that one small wrench I had an an issue with (due to my misuse), I've had zero problems with Craftsman. That's my story and I'm sticking' to it.
 
Quick related story... When I was working on my 6 I actually broke the head on my Visegrips. No problem as it has a lifetime warranty. When I called them and explained what happened they said "no problem, return it to us with the receipt and we will replace it". Of course after 20 years, who has the receipt? The stinkers told " no receipt, no replacement." Lowes took it back with no problems even though I didn't buy it there!
 
I had a Craftsman breaker bar that I broke the head on about 10 years ago, their not designed for pipe extensions, and I just threw in in a box of old tools. One day I was going to Sears and for some reason I remembered that old breaker bar. I liked it as it was one of the 1/2 inch drives that had a shorter handle. I took it with me to get one with the same length, as the ones I had were longer. At the store I matched it up with a new one the same length, took it to the cashier to pay for it and she looked at the old bar, said this is a Craftsman, it has a life time warranty so the replacement one is free! I went back in the tool department and bought some more tools, about $80.00 worth! :encouragement: PJ
 
:iagree: Doc. a large potion of my tools are the upscale ones.

But I use to go to every swap meet I could find and head for the tool area. Picked up some nice stuff there.

In the kits in the boot of my cars you will find most anything except i keep good spark plug sockets extensions and ratchet handles with me when I travel.
 
I guess 40 years of using Craftsman I've had { Almost } zero problems with Craftsman. That's my story and I'm sticking' to it.

Well Basil 40 years ago that would work ,but today you have to be sure you have the "Craftsman" tool, because they also sell look alikes made every where.
 
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I think it depends when you bought craftsman tools. When I started buying my own tools(in the 70s) I bought craftsman. Mostly because thats what Dad bought. After breaking ratchet after ratchet and power tool after power tool, I will not buy ANYTHING from sears. I don't care if its free. I have my fathers SK sockets from the 50s and they are bullet proof. To me the lifetime warrenty is worthless when you are on your back, under you car with a broken ratchet or a split socket. It may be possible that the quality has improved, but I will never find out. Besides every year for the last 2 or 4 years the talk has been about sears going under. Who replaces your ratchet then?
 
Wow, I've never had any issues with Craftsman - neither with the stuff I bought 40 years ago nor the newer stuff. Oh well, what ever works (or doesn't) for you.
 
Keoke said:
I guess 40 years of using Craftsman I've had { Almost } zero problems with Craftsman. That's my story and I'm sticking' to it.

Well Basil 40 years ago that would work ,but today you have to be sure you have the "Craftsman" tool, because they also sell look alikes made every where.
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I've bought plenty of hand tools from Sears in recent years and have (so far) had zero complaints or problems. Maybe I've just been lucky.
 
George_H said:
.... talk has been about sears going under. Who replaces your ratchet then?
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You're already seeing craftsman tools in other places, like OSH and Ace Hardware.

My guess is Sears Holdings Corp is positioning the Craftsman brand to outlive the Sears retail stores. If/when the yard sale comes Craftsman is likely to keep going.
 
Basil said:
I've bought plenty of hand tools from Sears in recent years and have (so far) had zero complaints or problems. Maybe I've just been lucky.
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I think it may be more related to climate issues, more chance of rusted bolts and nuts up north and down here than where you're at. I think it has a lot to do with how much actual junk an individual works on too.


I've had the same experiences as Steve. I've broken Craftsman sockets on stuff that I had to use a HF socket to remove. It really pains me to say that, as I was literally raised on Craftsman. I haven't broken any of the professional wrenches, but I have needed to smash the open end of some wrenches back to spec in a vise to get them to fit correctly again after being stretched out, this was mainly on the smaller sizes. I have some wrenches from Advance that are actually a better quality.

Seems with hand tools now, you really get what you REALLY pay for but at all levels below that, you don't get what you pay for. I find the HF impact sockets are an incredible deal. I've pounded on those for years with an IR 2135 without a hitch. The funny thing is, I've broken Craftsman ratchets while using HF sockets. I do have Craftsman socket in my main box but I do break them regularly. I find the HF ones are as good if not better. I have the biggest problem with breakage using 6 point. I don't like them for a few reasons. (Doc and I have already discussed this). There are pros and cons on both sides so I'll just leave it at that.

From what I've seen with tools, it seems some companies are only selling a name while others are trying to make one.

I'm surprised at the amount of difference of opinion on this topic.
 
I don't have many tools but mostly Craftsman with good results over the years. I will go to HF if there is something odd that I'll maybe only use once a year. For the most part I find their wrenches and tools to be fatter, bulkier and as a result they don't fit tight places as well. I suppose thats due to a need with weaker metals. I wouldn't buy anything there that was going to be in the main drawer of the tool box.
I've also got a couple CDI torque wrenches that I'm very happy with.
 
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I have mostly Craftsman, 20 years and older. Only problem ever was an old and well used stripped 1/4 ratchet. Took it to the store and salesman said they don't make that one anymore like he wanted me to just buy a new one. I persisted and quickly got a new free replacement. I also have some S-K tools over 50 years old. Broke the breaker bar by jumping my 200 lb weight on the end while trying to break a Volkswagen rear axle nut. Local dealer said "They don't make that one anymore." Only replacement he had in stock was in a set with sockets. He broke the set and said "I'll just put the one they send me back in the set to sell it." I really appreciated that kind of customer service and I hadn't even bought it from him originally.
 
Bayless said:
I have mostly Craftsman, 20 years and older. Only problem ever was an old and well used stripped 1/4 ratchet. Took it to the store and salesman said they don't make that one anymore like he wanted me to just buy a new one. I persisted and quickly got a new free replacement.
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I never had someone at Sears try to get me to buy a new one, they always gave me a replacement. Maybe they were having a sales contest that day

At one time Hope Depot would replace Craftsman with Husky.............not sure if they are still doing this. You could bring in a craftsman and/or SK hand tool and they would give you a Huskey replacement. I once returned a Huskey tool and they gave me a little grief so I decided to stay with Sears

At one time they sold the Craftsman factory and Husky bought it. That was when Home Depot first started offering Husky...............I guess it's all made in China now. Bad for us car guys and for the people that used to work in the factories.
 
I have a Kobalt "dog bone" that I really like because the ends seem to be slightly smaller than anyone else's. I like it because it fits on the oil drain plug on the Impala. That is a very tight fit because of the proximity of the tranny oil pan. And it also fits the Spitfire... and the loaner buick. I have no complaints so far. I like the craftsman open end wrenches too because they seem to hold up well to being hooked together for more leverage.
 
I must be easy on wrenches - I've never broken a socket or ratchet, Craftsman or no-name Chinese. My trouble is with screwdrivers. They seem to last less than 6 months. Still looking for better ones.
 
John Turney said:
.... My trouble is with screwdrivers. They seem to last less than 6 months. Still looking for better ones.
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If you burn through them that fast, maybe it's best to stick with something from a big box store that has a good return policy.

I haven't had durability issues with US made screwdrivers from Craftsman, Husky, Pratt-Read or Klein. But I've found I just really like using very nice, precision made European tools. So lately I've been getting screwdrivers from PB Swiss, Wiha, Wera and the like.


pc
 
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