I recently posted about incredibly good deals on Craftsman’s top-tier V-Series hand tools, and it looks like Ace Hardware is also getting in on the fun.
Over at Ace, they are matching Lowe’s pricing on select Craftsman V-Series tools, most notably the 38pc 1/4″ metric tool set.
This compact tool kit comes with a 1/4″ square spinner handle, 1/4″ full polish ratchet, a selection of 6pt sockets, drive accessories include extensions and a universal, and 1/4″ hex screwdriver bits along with a socket adapter.
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$40 is a fantastic price for what you get here.
While not quite identical, the very similar Facom 38pc set tends to be priced at around $100 and up.
Ace also has select Craftsman V-Series ratchets on sale for $20 each.
I found – and bought – the same at my local Lowe’s store. It looks like Lowe’s has the ratchets available for free shipping on $45 orders, at least in my region.
The free shipping threshold is lower or absence depending on your Lowe’s free membership perks.
Should You Buy Them?
If you’re on the fence, yes, and keep your receipt handy in case you need to make a return. Think too hard about it, and you’re likely to miss out.
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Craftsman V-Series tools are the best mechanics tools the brand has made since around 12 years ago when Sears killed the Craftsman Professional and USA-made tool lines.
The brand has changed hands since then, and while Stanley Black & Decker did a fantastic job with the new Overdrive tools and low-profile ratchets, their V-Series tools are in a different league.
From what I have seen, most V-Series tools are copies of SBD’s pro-grade Facom and USAG hand tools, but rebranded and packaged for sales in the USA.
I feel that the pricing was high, but fair. These holiday promotional prices are not normal – they seem inexplicably low to me – and I didn’t hesitate to take advantage of them.
I already have a bunch of V-Series test samples and purchases in my kit, and thanks to these deals I now have a whole lot more.
If you’re on the fence and want to be talked down to the “don’t buy it” side, I’m not quite sure how to do that. Give them a try, and return them if you change your mind.
I can’t tell if this is some kind of clearance, or if it’s an experiment to gauge if lower prices can drive a surge in interest. By the time anyone figures that out, good luck trying to find these deals in stock anywhere.
I could of course be wrong. What I’m saying here is the same as what I’d tell myself or close friends or family. Regulars have probably seen that I try to be analytical and even discouraging at times with deals. This kind of deal has no time for that – I believe these are “blink and they’ll sell out” promotions.
There are plenty of ratchets in stock at my local Lowe’s stores, but the tool set was in much more limited quantities. These deals are listed as online-only at Ace, and it’s not clear how many units they have in stock.
Nathan
Are you getting the impression it’s the final hurrah? It feels a bit like that to me
Or is this a push to bring on more ?
Biggest issue I have with the ratchets and it’s a personal thing is no quick release
eddiesky
Ah yeah. Push release is nice. I have a Husky 3/8″ ratchet and love the push and off the socket goes. But I do like the recessed direction lever… wonder if my broken Craftsman extended flexhead 3/8″ could get a V replacement? 🙂
Stuart
I shared my thoughts in the other post. I really don’t know what’s going on here – it doesn’t fit any patterns.
Jared
This seems too big and widespread to be a “clearance” event, just my impression. It must have been planned.
If they can sell tools of this quality at THESE prices, that’s a change though.
DRT42
Nathan, you’re not the only one. I noticed the lack of quick release immediately, and for me that’s a deal breaker. No quick release, me no buy.
Mopar4wd
I’m going to say not a clearance thing. This seems like a coordinated push too get the tools in more hands, almost like a brand building excersice and I expect pricing will go back up but not all the way back home if they can hit the volume they want with this push.
Andres
I believe this now that I had few days to think. They build up inventory, displays and only put 2/3ds of the line on sale. Such a weird way of going about it. But just look of all the momentum they crated, it would be dumb to just drop it. All they have to do is lower the price to match their competitors, have more inventory and fix a few issues.
NoDak Farming
I’m only going to echo what others are saying on the noticed lack of quick release. I know it’s personal preference. But if I’m working with hydraulic oil or grease etc. on my hands, a quick release ratchet is too handy to bypass. Especially if one of my hands is already tied up, and I have to swap sockets one handed. That’s one reason, whenever I’m in the market for new sockets, I always take into account character lines or knurling that can help with grip. I wish the above sockets matched the handle of the above ratchet. That little compact set featured at the top of the story is so handy looking though… I may buy one, and just try to swap in my own preferred quick release ratchet.
JML
I picked up the 3/8″ metric socket set, the metric wrench set, and the screwdriver set at Lowe’s, and then spotted the 38pc 1/4″ metric tool set for $39 on display. This is all for a toolbag for a second car, so I don’t have to swap all the trunk bags between cars. Amazon has a set of the V-series Torx screwdrivers for $24, so I ordered that, too. (My regular toolbar has Wera, Tekton, Gearwrench (the older line), Wiha, Knipex, and other stuff in it.)
At my local Lowe’s these were not in the tool section. Not anywhere close to the other Craftsman stuff in that location, but in the special “deal” display far, far from the tool section. No V-series tools were shelved or displayed with the other Craftsman tools.
Kentucky fan
The overdrive line is probably gonna replace the v-series. The overdrive stuff is excellent honestly between it and the v-series the current era may be the best hand tools ever under the craftsman banner.
Andres
Nope, that’s a specialty tool line. The V line is the “professional mechanics” line. Basically what the industrial/professional line was for sears.
Stuart
Overdrive has wrenches and sockets, and that’s about it.
V-Series incorporates some new tools with many of SBD’s European tool designs from Facom and USAG.
Overdrive tools are pretty good, but doesn’t include things like screwdrivers, compact sets, bit ratchets, hex keys, tool boxes, or similar.
Pat
I think the v-series are made on the exact same tooling as Facom. I have both, and the metric set has all of the same thickness, dimensions etc. I think the biggest selling point is, as you mention Stuart, the box itself. I like that I can grab these and know that I have more than I need and if something is missing I can see that from a mile away when I open the compact box. Climbing up on a roof to troubleshoot an RTU I take two seconds to open the box in my backpack to confirm nothing is missing. Good luck if you lose a socket however: nothing but Facom or V-series fit in the socket holders.
Kentucky fan
They have some comprehensive overdrive sets at Lowe’s and ace now.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/sockets/2033684
I’m gonna say that will be the direction sbd goes. The v series stuff is awesome but they didn’t market it well at all.
Stuart
It was announced last year – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/craftsman-overdrive-mechanics-tools/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Kentucky fan
I didn’t know it was announced back then but either way that’s an overdrive branded kit that contains hex keys in short and long pattern along with a decent bit set and nut drivers.
Regardless as someone with several v series tools and overdrive as well it would suck if either line got killed because they are genuinely awesome tools. The overdrive combination wrenches are out of this world for the price and all the v series stuff I have had hands on is fantastic.
I seriously feel like if sbd would have brought craftsman in to Lowe’s with this lineup of hand tools they would have had a license to print money. Instead I feel like the brand has a somewhat sour reputation now. That’s a shame because as much as I’m a patriotic guy these two lines of tools are probably better than any of the USA craftsman I have ever seen.
Matt
I had written off the Craftsman brand altogether. This got me to buy their tools. Do I love that it still isn’t USA? No. But at these types of prices I couldn’t expect it to be. Like some said in the other thread, if they can make the regular pricing of these a bit better they may be on to something, and build brand interest through these sales. At the original prices, they were too close to wright and others imo.
Tekton users, any comparative reviews between these V series and Tekton? I’ll admit I don’t have any Tekton so I have no basis of comparison.
Andres
Tekton has slightly lower quality in my opinion. The chrome on the V is much better, the screwdriver design is excellent. Has a nice handle and bolster for extra leverage. The wrenches are also great, nice fitment, fantastic I beam design. They are short, so not quite what most want in length. Sockets are nicely finished, off corner design. The pliers wrench is very good, on par with knpx or channellock. It’s made in France so it’s quality. Overall they are high quality.
What tekton beats them on is selection and price. The v line only offers a few tools, no singles and the wrenches have 1 or 2 sizes missing. The non sale price is high but fair for the quality. But this is craftsman so it’s to high for its core customers. The ratchets are the “worst” tool is the ratchets, big unserviceable heads, high backdrag and the handle are quite small.
Matt
Thanks!
ColeTrain
I am at my third lowes in the last 2 days and these seem to exist nowhere in the store. I’m looking everywhere but Feels like I’m being ghosted. Lol, I was looking for a reason to like Craftsman again
Mike
You gotta search your local lowes inventory on the web at the lowes page store for that location your interested in then just search the term “V-Series” then the results will load then in the menu select in store pick up today.. that will narrow down all the v series tools in that store or it will also show local stores close to that store that have the v series tools in stock lowes website is slow and hard to navigate downt forget once yo click on like a socket set to roll down on the age to look for other size offerings orsae metric, long or short size lowes does horrid everything like they don’t want to make money I don’t get big box stores I just buy on Amazon just search V-Series on Amazon a ton of stuff pops up just not a lot on sale.
Stuart
Lowe’s links are here: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/craftsman-v-series-tool-deals-lowes-2024/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Amazon’s selection of sale items keeps varying and I have also found them to be very difficult to find.
Chris
Oct 31, 2024
I should have posted my Ace syore pickup cancellation here… Whoops
Chris
it arrived! weird they wouldnt ship to store…
The ratchet seems very rough for a “pro-line” i have a koken 1/4 i.may swap out and keep this as a car emergency kit.
SteveP
When I looked for the V-Series tools at my local Lowe’s, they were nowhere to be found. But they claimed in-stock online, so I ordered when I got home and picked up the next day. As I suspected, they had not been unpacked and had all been hiding in a mound of unopened boxes in the promo area
Weird that the metric ratcheting wrenches skip 15mm, though
Greg
I think they are getting rid of the v series sadly
Mike
You gotta hunt these tools down it’s been a frustrating exercise to track down everything in the series line up. By time I hear about something that interests me im always late but here’s the deal I own over 100k worth of shop hand tools dating to the 60s 70s 80s 90s from all the old usa brands SK, Matco Snapon Williams stanly USA Craftsman, MFalcom Weira Kinipex Chanelock Husky USA. BLUEPOINR USA and on the V-series tools in the new lineup are on point and top quality and having been made in Tiawan only makes them better in everyday all the top endtools globally are commingiut of Tiawan production facilities with super high quality, craftsmanship and materials. Heard of Gwarwrench? They are the new Snapon at 1/8 the price and the warranty us their. So I am not a mechanic but I’m a heavy kife long diy, classic car restoring 45 year old second gen ownership of most my tools from dad gifting to me and I’m very fortunate but if you jump on these v-series tools while you can at this price do it now because who knows what’s the angle here why missing honestly guys these are top grade tools with a bad branding associated to craftsmanship fall and sale from usa but imagine the craftsman name not part of these at all and refer to their global rebrand names like Facom and USGA tools and the price point they sell fir in Europe fir same tools is 8 fold higher than these sale prices, iv dropped around 1500 bucks in all the v series stuff I can find both sale and non sale I beleive I know have at least 2 of every tool set, ratchet, driver, wrench that vseries offers it’s hard to tell cause no lists of production master list exists but these tools iv picked up are incredibly constructed, the ratchets all need to be soaked in oil and exercised in a drill chuck to break them in but once you do they are like singer sewing machine ratchets in yur hand. Hope that helps Mike WA state here.
Stuart
Gearwrench is NOT “the new Snap-on at 1/8 the price.” They’ve always been about mid-quality at reasonable pricing, but they’re definitely not Snap-on. They closed their pro tool business, Armstrong Tools, a few years ago.
MM
In my opinion Gearwrench’s quality has been slipping.
I bought my first Gearwrench product in 2007, it was a set of metric flex-head ratcheting combination wrenches. These were very good quality and I still use them very often. They weren’t on the level of Snap-On but they were definitely better than most “mid tier” brands. I finally got around to buying the fractional set two years ago. The fractional set has a higher tooth count which means a smaller swing arc, and the markings are filled in with paint so they’re a bit easier to read a glance (at least until it wears out) but they do not have the same quality feel as the older metric ones. None of them stick but they do have significantly higher backdrag than the metrics, and if you feel them in your hand the action is not as smooth–both the ratcheting and the head flex. And just to be clear, I made sure to compare against sizes that I rarely use so it wasn’t like I was comparing old well-worn tools to brand new ones that hadn’t been broken in yet. I also own ratcheting wrenches from Snap-On and Kabo (Taiwan OEM, aka Mountain, EZRed, Icon, Platinum, etc.) There is certainly a question as to whether Snap-On is worth the money, but in my experience the quality of their ratcheting wrenches is above most others.
In my experience Gearwrench is good value for money, though not as good as they once were, and they are not beating Snap-On anywhere but price.
JR Ramos
Just a historical note: Gearwrench when it was formed, was never about mid-quality at reasonable pricing. They were maybe a little higher quality then than they are now and they were comparatively quite expensive at the time. I still have a couple of the original models that were given to me by the company rep (I was a purchasing agent at the time). It was quite some time until they introduced new wrench models and then eventually expanded the line into other areas…and then what they’ve become now. But mid-quality was never their goal and they priced their tools at a premium. The choices they made in quality just naturally fell in line with outsourcing everything as they expanded, but they were formed based upon their unique and desired offerings – they didn’t even have a vision of growth or expanding beyond those initial two product lines (I will say that as a fact, which was true for some years after they came onto the scene).
As global competition increased and the quality of the lower and mid-priced tools also increased incrementally, Gearwrench had to change things up a bit. They’re a little hit and miss these days – still some great stuff and they’ve kept several of the KD tool solutions and such, but I don’t consider them a first-look company simply due to pricing/value because they are typically higher than what you can get in some other brand for the same thing. They also seem to have taken a little of the SBD approach to design, which I quite often don’t care for in hand tools. Very different company now than when they started out.
The recent comparisons to SnapOn with so many brands…I find it kind of funny. I don’t know if HF started that or just got on the train at some point but it’s often ridiculous and counts on people not really knowing tools, tool quality, or in this case maybe actual SnapOn tools in use. But that said, lots of mid- to mid-upper quality tools can do the same job most of the time and save pennies for the user. Plenty of things won’t be up to snuff, though, or maybe just for a job or three, and that is where the high quality of SnapOn and other true professional quality brands really becomes apparent.