Tyler sent in a very detailed email where he discusses a tough purchasing decision that he’s facing. He’s looking to buy a new socket set and is going back and forth between Gearwrench and Craftsman as the 2 shortlisted brands.
Here’s the background information you need to know. Sorry Tyler, I couldn’t include the whole email here.
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I eventually replaced everything a few years later with a larger set (~150 piece mechanics set) in a blow-mold case and I operated out of that case from that point on.
I’ve decided to keep the set in the case as it is because I have a rental property and it’s nice to have this set to grab and go in a moments notice.
I bought a Masterforce (Menards) 46″ rolling lower cabinet and 16″ side chest to supplement my Craftsman combo. Naturally, I now feel the need to fill it. Plus I am tired of opening the blow mold case any time I need a socket and wasting bench space.
I’m a weekend warrior that doesn’t expect tool-truck quality, but I don’t want something that will give me grief.
I read a few of your articles, but these ones stuck out: Which wrenches and Sockets for Homeowners? | Reader Question: Who Makes the Best Socket Set?
I’m leaning towards Craftsman again or Gearwrench. My biggest question is if the Gearwrench sockets are that much better than Craftsman’s?
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[Tyler pointed out 2 deals that caught his attention – a Craftsman 334pc set that’s on sale for half off, at $200, and a Gearwrench set where you buy a 57pc 3/8″ inch and metric set for $120 and get a 51pc 1/4″ inch and metric set for free.]
[I only need 1/4″ and 3/8″ drive sockets as] I have more than enough 1/2″ impact sockets and a couple ratchets.
In reality are the modern Craftsman sockets that much or any worse than the Gearwrench sockets? I’m willing to spend extra to get a bigger variety of socket options (with a bonus of ratcheting combination wrenches) if the quality isn’t that bad. If the quality is questionable I might start basic and work my way up slowly from there.
If it’s between Craftsman and Gearwrench, I would go with the Gearwrench set, preferably the ones that come with a Gearwrench 120XP ratchet.
In recent years, even when Craftsman’s sockets were made in the USA, they still lacked the finer finish of other brands’ offerings. Certain aspects were just rough, sometimes literally, and the chrome plating wasn’t quite as good. But since they were made in the USA, backed by a lifetime guarantee, and incredibly priced, small flaws were easy to overlook. In my experience, Gearwrench’s tools are usually a small step above Craftsman. Other times, they are leaps better. Fewer times, they were on-par or lesser.
Not having used or even inspected the latest Craftsman sockets, I can’t say for sure that the Gearwrench sockets are your best choice. I’ve used Gearwrench sockets in the past, but don’t have any in front of me at the moment.
I do have Craftsman and Gearwrench combination wrenches in-hand as I write this, and can say that the Gearwrench tools are a little better, at least cosmetically. But it’s not just the quality of the chrome finish, but the dimensions of the tools, how they feel, how well they fit fasteners, and the overall user experience.
From what I have seen in the past, I like certain Gearwrench tools better than Craftsman’s. If those are the two brands to choose from for new socket sets, my gut tells me to go with Gearwrench.
That’s just my opinion, and keep in mind that I don’t have both brands’ sockets in front of me at the moment.
At the risk of making Tyler’s purchasing decision more difficult, I was hoping that ToolGuyd readers would chime in with their recommendations. Which do you think would be the better socket set option for him, or anyone else facing a similar purchasing decision?
Pablo
Honestly, Harbor Freight ratchets and sockets are unbeatable for the money.
They’ve really stepped up their quality in the past 3-5 years, and while the prices may have almost doubled in the same time frame (and coupons are slowly disappearing for their nicer items), the prices were peanuts to begin with. The sockets and ratchets are almost universally liked on forums (among those who’ve actually used them).
If you’re buying Taiwanese/Chinese made ratchets and sockets, I probably wouldn’t look any further (this is coming from someone with a mix of Beta, Snap-On, Wera, Hazet, Williams, Proto, SK, Armstrong, Sunex, Craftsman, and yes, Harbor Freight ratchets and sockets).
Paul Miller
I have to agree with the above post about Harbor Freight, their Pittsburgh Pro stuff is a steal and it’s a pretty good quality.
Daniel
Have to agree here, as well. While Craftsman sockets perform as good as any I have used, their finish leaves a lot to be desired and the Craftsman ratchets are pure junk. I’ve broken a few with relative ease. The Harbor Freight ratchets I keep as junk ones have taken a beating and haven’t broken a sweat. I’m kind of “meh” on the sockets but they are easily worth the money.
That being said, for long-term use I always get the best of the big US names.
Jeff
I have an assortment as well of old SK,old, made in USA, pre Snap On owned, Williams, and some Chinese stuff from Eastwood and HF. I needed a 1/2″ hex bit socket for the trailer hitch on my truck The spec was 250 ft-lbs. Not having the hex bit or a torque wrench that reads that high, I bought the HF inch bit set and used a breaker bar and a jack handle for a cheater. The SK breaker bar actually started to flex and I figured that was tight enough The HF bit showed no damage. I am a believer, however the black finish in the bits and impact sockets is not that durable but no big deal at those prices. Their impact sockets have been equally good. The big rollaway sets are a great bargain but the list of what you cannot use a coupon for, keeps getting longer. I just returned a lawn tractor lift for a totally AFU modified bottle jack that is the lift mechanism. It took 2 tries to get a working scale, a rubber tire caster wouldn’t hold air and a fluid pump wouldn’t pump. However, plenty of their other stuff works fine. I love my Earthquake inpact wrench. They say, never buy anything there that plugs in.
Mark Geoffriau
I don’t buy Craftsman sockets or ratchets any more. When I can’t find a good deal on SK or Williams or something like that, then my go-to is Gearwrench. I don’t know that the build quality itself is that much different, but at the very least Gearwrench seems to have much better quality control. With Craftsman it seems like every set has at least one socket with a casting flaw, or hazy, thin chrome, or poorly stamped markings.
Also, regarding that specific Craftsman set that Tyler mentioned — if I ever was going to reconsider Craftsman, it would not be the raised-panel ratchets. There are so many good quality, comfortable ratchets out there, don’t settle for ones that hurt your hands.
Jeff
Williams used to be a made in US A company. They went under, were bougt by SnapOn and trasitioned from USA to Taiwan. Gearwrench/KD is part of the Apex tool group and is today all Taiwan. The top of the line, made in USA, Apex brand is Armstrong. It is every bit as good as SnapOn for quality, fit and finish. and PRICE. SK has changed hands several times for better or worse. Today it is owned by Ideal and making very good, made in USA, but pricey stuff.
AndrewC
I’ve done a lot of work on my classic cars and have started to delve into woodworking the past 5 years. My sentiment towards combination wrenches and sockets is that, ignoring cheap tools that are cast and not forged, a hobbyist will not see a performance difference between brands of tools. Professionals who use their tools 8 hours a day 5 days a week will use their tools 100x more than you will, and they have a financial incentive to have the most efficient tool for a job, so tool quality for them matters. Not for us hobbyists.
I have some craftsman sockets that I got 20 years ago. Some are starting to develop surface rust. So? put some oil on them and they are fine. It doesn’t keep them from working.
Just get the cheapest of the gearwrench/craftsman (or even add Husky or Kobalt into the mix), and used the money you save to get nicer ratchets, like a 1/4 and 3/8in swivel head ratchet.
Hang Fire
I agree with most of this, but you leave out one factor that separates the good from the bad tools for even the most novice non-professional: rust.
For those of us living in the heavily road salted “rust belt”, busting loose a rusty bolt accompanies almost every job. Yes, you should use a breaker bar or box end wrench, but most people use the tools that come in their set, and that means a ratchet and socket. You don’t have to be a professional to crack a socket or bust a ratchet mechanism on a single stuck bolt.
6PTsocket
Amen. I had to use a 1/2″ breaker bar to get a 10mm nut off a transmission shift lever. That was after a long soak with Kroil. I had to cut up a rotor hub to get it off after a torch, rust buster and a big hammer failed I should move to the rust free zone. It’s a dry heat.
don
gearwrench craftsman and husky are all made by apex tools!
i found husky to be the best deal! they also sell inadvisable wrenches
so you can fill in any skips! i check out master force from menards first
because they are made in the us!
6PTsocket
The last I heard Apex took the Gearwrench/KD stuff to Taiwan. The Sears stuff is from China, these days. I don’t know if Apex still supplies it. Generally, I rate the Taiwan stuff in the middle, between U S and Chinese stuff. However, I have some HF Chinese stuff and it is not too bad.
don
apex tools are now made in china! they own a lot of tool company’s that are all made in china! Armstrong too!
google it you will see all the company’s they own!
you will be surprised! as was I!
Tom
I can’t speak for Gearwrench, but if you are buying a Craftsman set, count on upgrading your ratchets. Good ratchets can be found cheap these days, and the basic Craftsman Raised Panel ones are pretty bad. You have no idea how much a good ratchet will improve your life until you finally get one.
Andrew
I followed Stuart’s advice and bought an inexpensive socket set, the Stanley Black Chrome 69 piece set, and I am currently working to replace the ratchets that came with the set. Not that the Stanley ones are bad, they seem completely competent, but I am hoping I get a Zyklop ratchet or two for Father’s Day 😉
Hang Fire
I don’t recommend either brand, and for reasons that go beyond COO.
While the Craftsman brand is likely to survive the inevitable Sears bankruptcy, I expect there to be a several year hiatus in warranty service. Once the name comes back under new ownership, it is entirely up in the air what the new warranty status will be for Sears-era tools, since bankruptcy will relieve them of any need to honor the old lifetime warranty.
As for GearWrench, I bought two sets of their ratcheting wrenches 3 years ago the chrome is flaking off all the wrenches I use most (I have both SAE and Metric). After buying them I noticed they had just switched from Taiwan to China for manufacturing. Meanwhile at another forum, Taiwan made GW buyers are still crowing about the great quality of their tools. I can’t trust a brand name where I don’t know what I’m going to get. It’s not the COO but the actual performance of the tools and the old switcheroo that is the issue here.
At Sears GW is positioned as a higher end choice to Craftsman, but yet both brands are engaged in a high speed descent to the bottom.
My position: Avoid both.
Mike B in Sheecaago
Whoa, hang on a minute there, Hang Fire! Let me just say this as a preface: you can’t trust(and therefore shouldn’t) ANY major corporation. They are legally obligated to maximize returns to shareholders above any other considerations, even following laws or long-term viability. This is the primary reason why every sector is filled with corporations that no longer invest in R and D or distribution on profits as wages tied to increased worker productivity…the central bank(s) give out ‘loans’ at negative interest rates(in real terms) to borrowers like Sears or IBM or Apex or GM or Ford…and many others…and because of current tax and trade laws the executives just direct stock buy-backs. Then with less stock available, the individual share price goes up. Then the top tier execs get huge bonuses because of the companies sudden awesome, awesome performance. Then it’s time for lobbying and contributions and Elton John and the circle of life or whatever.
As for Craftsman…just bear in mind you nailed it when you used the term ‘brand’. That’s all C-Man is, and has been for many years-a label, a brand, and as many people discover at their own expense- a shitty one too. As a company in the business of manufacturing tools(in the style of say Wright or Stahlwille) they went belly up back in the 1980’s for all effective purposes. Craftsman DOES sell one thing that is OK, I guess. Their top-tier ratcheting wrenches, stubby and flex end included. Overpriced yes. Made with PRC(or Taiwan at best) originating ratcheting mechanisms-yes. But they are nearly identical to the Blue Point and JH Williams ratcheting wrenches.
As for Gearwrench, your experience with the bait and switch is super common. The old line that GW based their whole brand on are pretty darn good, a good value for sure. The new China ones…well you know. BUT, GW still puts out suprisingly good ‘normal’ automotive type ratchets and sockets. In fact Armstrong and Matco share a huge number of components with the GW lines. And the GW soft-comfort-type handle flex and roto ratchets are much, much better than 50% of the Snap-On quality level. And less than 50% of the price. Great clones really. It seems that GW brand is basically the same stuff as other Taiwan tools like Genius, Sunex, Titan, good Husky/Kobalt etc. but with a high standard for quality control for the Gearwrench labeled stuff specifically. Except for their notorious PRC swap on the core line ratcheting wrenches. With Bain capital now pulling the strings it’s probably only a matter of time before the whole brand becomes crap too, along with Nicholson files and all the other retail lines under the umbrella.
If I may, one last suggestion: if you are looking for good ratcheting wrenches, the top end Proto spline types are great. Also the black finish Proto import line is very good. The NAPA Carlyle are good. 6pt box ends on those. The Carlyle ratchets are pretty good too, if a little pricey, but at least have the NAPA warranty. And the Blackhawk ratcheting wrenches are well regarded. Of course, if you’re a secret millionaire or something the German brands like Stahlwille and Gedore are truly superior. Beta brand as well is super good. Hard to trust anything not traditional core type tools from the likes of Snap-On, MAC, and Matco these days. I’ve not seen the ratcheting line from Cornwell or Facom, but I am guessing they are good but sub-Gedore grade.
Oh, and for all you Vice-Grip searchers, who don’t just buy Grip-On brand…both Knipex and Facom make excellent quality locking pliers that exceed Peterson-era pliers. Knipex and Facom both seem to manufacture their locking pliers in-house as well, though Facom also offers some cheap Chines made locking pliers at a much lower price point.
Hang Fire
No need for lectures on how capitalism works. I am just doing my part in helping track where on the quality scale each brand falls, moment to moment.
As members of the Apex group it’s no surprise some of the same tooling or designs is used in Armstrong and GW. So far Armstrong has been OK for me, their US made sockets appear to be made on the same tooling as the old Craftsman US Sockets. But after some quality issues I’ve had to give up on Apex’s Xcelite brand and moved on to Xuron.
For locking pliers, I like the Blackhawk by Proto (COO Taiwan). Quality is good and the unlock lever moves in the opposite direction than most, which I prefer.
Mike B in Sheecaago
Yeah, those are good pliers, especially if you get the 5pc set for $45. Too bad Stanley seems to have discontinued those and the sister-line Stanley branded non-comfort grip types with the pull lever. Replaced with push release style, boo!
Hang Fire
Discontinued? Still on Amazon, still on the Proto/Blackhawk website: http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/searchlist/category-Pliers-%20Snips%20%2526%20Clamps/brand-BlackhawkByProto/subcategory-Locking%20Pliers%20Sets/
Stuart
Yea. The 5pc combo is a little more expensive than it used to be, but it’s still available as are the individual sizes.
Here’s Stephen K’s review of them from 2 years ago: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/blackhawk-locking-pliers-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Mike B
Jun 22, 2015
A local tool distributor rep claims they were discontinued and all Stanley locking pliers are now China sourced, or Grip-On rebrands. Said there is tons of NOS Blackhawk stuff, and the lock pliers and a bunch of other stuff will be popping up for sale from various tool liquidators. Then he told me about Grip-On’s new expanded offerings and availability in the USA, and he’d be more than happy to take my order. So maybe it’s just my local tool yenta. Maybe Stanley changed their mind. Maybe it’s nothing. All I know from way down here where I am is a decent pliers line is now priced a bit high for my blood. With a little rooting around, actual Grip-Ons can be had for just a dollar or three more per pair, which I personally think is a better value. Small potatoes really. Brands like Blackhawk and Blue-Point are funny. Some of the offerings are excellent quality. And some are…let’s just say…very profitable for the parent co’s. Though Blackhawk is still one of my favorite brands in general. And in a related(or not) matter, I recently saw some Proto and Facom impact guns in action, not sure of actual numbers/stats or how they compare with top IR or Cat or S-O etc guns…but these things had so much torque, I was worried they were going to tear a hole in the space-time fabric itself. Gave me nightmares.
Mike B in Sheecaago
and FWIW, I can absolutely confirm Craftsman did have a contract with Armstrong to sell their sockets. Flat-out rebrand, same alloy, factory, etc. It was only the fancy line though, C-Man Industrial I think it was called. Possibly the ‘Professional’ label for a time, can’t remember. Seems like it was twenty years ago at this point. Those sockets and comb wrenches are prob the best example of C-Man branded high-value-for-price tools that disappeared with no equal quality replacement that seems to be causing so much disappointment with once frequent Sears people/families.
don
apex tools now owns Armstrong tools also now made in china! google it!
don
gearwrench and craftsman are made by the same company! apex tools! china!
6PTsocket
Twenty years ago Armstrong was owned by Danaher, that owned KD, Jacobs, Armstrong and a few other hand tool divisions ,along with a bunch of very expensive industrial measuring tool divisions and stuff we would never deal with. The German owned Cooper Group made Weller, Plumb, Lufkin Crescent and and other well known hand tool brands. The two big groups got together and created a new corporation,Apex, consisting of all of Danaher’s hand tool divisions and all of the Cooper brands. Danaher now consists of their many high tech industrial divisions. I knew they supplied Craftsman with their regular stuff but it makes perfect sense that the top of the line stuff came from the Armstrong division. I hope Apex doesn’t take Armstrong to China as those tools were as good as it gets. Even a few years ago I had an Armstrong 10mm combo, at work that I used constantly. It was a work of tool art. SK is presently owned by Ideal, that makes the electrical crimping tools. A few years ago the just built a new SK plant in Illinois. Their warranty is rock solid. They are made in USA, not Taiwan,not China. Reviews of their quality are very good. They have recently introduced new designs. Some companies make money by making high quality products and not cutting corners. Snap On does not cheapen their tools to save money. I hear American made, Wright makes quality products too. It is mostly brands aimed at the mass market with no attempt to be a professional brand that usually has quality issues. There are reports that Husky/ Gearwrench torque wrenches, USA made or otherwise, are covered with warranty service that has a four or seven month turn around. You send it out and hope you will see it come back some day
don p
apex also owns ideal too!
Stuart
No they don’t.
Andrew W
Gearwrench and Craftsman are OEM’d by the same tool group and are very similar, but the designs of the deep sockets are different. Craftsman are broached all the way down, GearWrench is only nut deep. Some people like one, some people like the other. The partially broached gearwrench will allow you to put a nut or fasterner in the socket and hold it up without falling into the deep socket, but that means the whole socket/ratchet combination moves with the fastener. that might be an issue in tight quarters. The craftsman socket allows the nut to move within the socket, which is both good and bad. FWIW, Snap-On’s sockets are partially broached like the GearWrench ones are.
Mike B in Sheecaago
Last time I checked, Gearwrench traditional ratchets and sockets are all Taiwan made, in dedicated factories. Most C-Man ratchets and virtually all C-Man sockets are PRC manufactured, and Sears changes suppliers regularly, and has done so for many years. Like Blue-Point or Kobalt, Crafstman is just a label slapped on. Tool quality can be OK(and used to be so back in the day) but is not reliably so. And these days, C-man is probably low quality. Though some of their pass-thru type ratchet/sockets appear to be rebranded Gearwrench/Danaher/Apex. The ones that have separate SAE and Metric and bit sockets too. NOT the black finish or universal fastener types.
John
Having owned a mix of USA Craftsman (purchased 8-10 years ago), PRC Craftsman (small set of add on sockets purchased this year at a bargain price), and Gearwrench (purchased 2 years ago), I’d go for Gearwrench if I had to choose between those two only. They’re just an all around higher quality product. Sockets fit fasteners well, markings are clearer, chrome is brighter and more even, standard ratchets (even the 84 tooth) are a vast improvement over Craftsman raised panel that Craftsman usually includes in its sets.
If other brands are possibilities, I am quite pleased with the SK sets I bought last year and would take a closer look at the DeWalt offerings Sears has had at deep discounts sporadically the last month or so and hope for a great deal. I’ve heard of guys getting the 204 pc set for $119 and $99 plus tax. Hard to beat that price and I’m seeing open stock individual tools at a couple of places around Chicago – Berland’s Tools in Lombard as well as Farm and Fleet in Kankakee.
Grimmis
GEARWRENCH!!!!!!
DanG
Definitely Gear Wrench. Craftsman is garbage and now with them being made in China they are even more garbage than previously. I have been patient too long with Craftsman. I’m really disappointed that Ace Hardware store is putting that crappy Craftsman in their stores.
Brent
Gearwench and Snap on are my go to.
Stan
Personally, I’d choose a company that produces tools in the United States of America such as SK, Wright, Wilde, Snap-On, Proto etc as country of origin matters to me. Most people (who live in the United States) don’t care about this and if that is the case, you might as well buy the items at Harbor Freight.
Again, this is my thought process, if these tools don’t support American jobs, you might as well buy what is the cheapest (in this case) and what has the best warranty. That and if these become lost, it’s not as if these cost that much and were really worth anything.
With imported Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt and Harbor Freight items, the best feature of these items is the “lifetime” warranty. Just remember, these brands aren’t Snap-On or even Wright grade, so these might not last a lifetime though.
Nick
I highly recommend Harbor Freight pro series for a home wrench.
Kent
Craftsman used to mean US made, quality tools at a fair price. No longer.
New generation Craftsman tools just aren’t as good. Thinner chrome that peels off, horrible ratchets that break.
I haven’t seen GW ratchets & sockets, but the rest of their stuff is nice. If the quality is similar, it’s way better than Craftsman.
Mike aka Fazzman
Craftsman is mostly garbage nowdays,not all Gearwrench is Taiwanese anymore either. Honestly I like my Gearwrench stuff I have. They take abuse. Their dual pawl ratchets are awesome.
Yadda
It’s a toss up. Go with whichever gives you the most bang for your buck!
pete
I agree if its only for home wrenching the harbor freight pro is a good way to go. They are warrantied for life as long as they still make the tool. Simply bring in the broken tool or set if it was an entire set and they’ll let you swap for a new one right there. i swear by their extendable ratchets. i have warrantied one because the screws fell out and i didn’t care to fix/tighten/find the screws lol
If that’s not your cup of tea i would suggest kobalt. I have seen a much bigger single selection of replacement sockets there. If i was going to buy a complete “set” i would buy a stanley set of their black vandium chrome. They have a really nice blow molded case that holds them really well.
Jerry
Here and there, I still found a USA made Craftsman set, and like the ones I have. Yes, the finish is sometimes not perfect, but they were always incredibly strong. The new made in China wrenches look like lobster claws in comparison, and don’t seem any stronger. One thing of note, check the Sears website, as they sometimes have USA made craftsman Pro wrenches for a good price, I got a set arou d last Father’s day, for not hardly any more than the China made regular Craftsman set (combo wrenches). These are not chromed, but are very precision broached, and very strong. As an aside, at our local Ace Hardware, I started seeing some new stock USA made sockets again.
SteveR
As an older DIYer, my advice is to buy the best ratchet(s) you can afford. The sockets will generally do the job, regardless of make, but there’s no substitute for a well-made ratchet. Every time you have a job requiring a socket, you’ll need a ratchet to turn it. The better it works, (and the more comfortable it is in your hand), the better the experience while using it. You’ll rarely regret the money spent to buy a better ratchet; they look, feel and operate better than the cheap ratchet that initially came with the set.
If you’re looking to replace, then do just that. Go to the local hardware store/Lowe’s/HD/Sears and try them out. Read all the reviews you can find, but there’s no substitute for “hands-on” experience. Ask a friend or co-worker to let you try their ratchet if they have one you’re interested in. I would suggest you buy one that has at least a 72-tooth mechanism, has a flex-head (for getting into tight spaces) and has a comfort handle for gripping. You should also consider whether a “standard length” ratchet is sufficient or if you need a longer handle for leverage. After that, it’s your preference whether you buy foreign or domestic.
Hang Fire
Sure, try and buy a great ratchet, since that is the part of the tool in your hand, but I can’t agree with the rest. Comfort handles are great until they get in the way of getting the job done. Flex heads are great until they fold and fall off, instead of staying on the fastener you’re trying to turn. Locking Flexes (if you can find them) won’t do this.
I’ve cracked too many sockets to recommend the cheap ones.
Don’t rely on a 72 tooth ratchet unless you also own a 36 and/or a breaker bar. Those tiny little teeth just can’t take heavy stress. Really every socket set should come with a breaker bar. They don’t because they don’t want you to find out how cheap the sockets really are.
Jed
Many fine tooth ratchets are dual pawl. They aren’t individual tooth counts. hence DUAL 80. I would have hoped you would know this, with all the gum rattling going on.
Greg
My opinion is the 51 piece pass through set from craftsman not only it is small and compact and eliminate the need for deep sockets!!
tim
Gearwrench all the way.
I’ve never said to myself “man I wish I never bought that gearwrench tool.”
To me they’re absolutely professional grade.
SteveR
Stuart–Rather than answer the question, “Who makes the best socket set (or ratchets, or screwdrivers, etc.)?”, perhaps you should ask the question in return, “How much do you want to spend?”. That question should be followed up by asking, “And how will you use them (or it): As a professional mechanic, or as a weekend warrior?”. Whittling it down to one group or the other should help in crafting an answer that will be most helpful to that person.
Most of the people asking these questions seem to be in the second camp (that of the weekend warrior), so you and others can couch your answer(s) using those criteria. Knowing what they’re comfortable spending on a set of tools. wrenches, pliers, etc., should narrow down the options and shorten the time it takes to write a helpful response.
Tyler
Thank you Stuart and everyone for your feedback! I can be quite verbose at times so I understand why the email had to be summarized. Some of the items like budget, my needs, COO and overall expectations were covered but had to be cut. I’ve always had US made Craftsman tools, for awhile it was the only brand I owned. I had some stolen and had to resort to working out of the blow-mold set. My goal is to save for better quality and likely US made tools, but I would like something now that I can quickly and easily access from my box drawers. I’m hoping to spend a little now and use the balance to put towards a few sets from SK, Proto, Mac, etc. After evaluating all the feedback and looking at what I actually use in my existing set I am realizing that I don’t need the huge Craftsman lot because I won’t frequently use the 12pt items (If I need it, I still have the ones in my blow mold case) and I alredy have plenty of the allen wrenches and bits I need from my previous US made acquisitions.
After pricing out Harbor Freight I’m finding that in order to get the variety I need and want I would spend nearly as much as the Gearwrench set. With Gearwrench I would end up with less gimmicky sockets because a few of the colored sets would be needed to get all the sizes I need. It’s not the color that bothers me, it’s the flaking coat that the reviews state. I would also end up with better quality ratchets and additional extensions. At this point I’m leaning towards Gearwrench but have been searching local pawn shops and classified ad sites for decent used US made sets at a similar price point.
I had no idea Stuart would make a post about it so I appreciate receiving so much input!
Mike B
I would strongly support your current leanings. As far as sockets and to a slightly lesser extent ratchets are concerned, Gearwrench still offers the best stuff, unless you want to spend much more.
People seem to sort of slightly oversell Harbor Freight, because lots of people really hate on them because their tools used to be just awful. There is no question that Harbor Freight sockets, wrenches, and ratchets are much better these days, but they cost more too. Harbor Freight chromed tools are simply NOT as good as Gearwrench, DeWalt/Bostitch, NAPA Carlyle or even much of the Husky and Kobalt lines.
The poster below lists all of the best ‘gems’ of Harbor Freight: The Pittsburgh PRO impact stuff is good quality, and good value per dollar. Not sure if Gearwrench is a better buy or not for impact stuff, most people will get buy with HF PRO impact stuff. Composite ratchets and breaker bars are decent.
If durability is key: Proto, Wright, Armstrong, and SK sockets are very solid quality and reasonably priced. Ratchets are trickier: if you’re a DIY type, Gearwrench soft-grips are best value for flex and roto-heads. Their flex-head stubby is awesome for like $30, it’s literally just about as good as a Snap-on that sell for over $100.
However, many users don’t like soft-grip handles because they’re not fun to clean oil off of and they get nicked up over time. If you want a metal handle ratchet, once again Proto, Wright, Armstrong, and SK offer high quality durable stuff. Armstrong has a nice locking flex-head ratchet that was reviewed here on ToolGuyd, available at Epsteins and Amazon for around $60-70 dollars. Wright ratchets are solid always. Proto(anything basically) and Wright ratchets can still be ‘trusted’. SK and Armstrong are safe bets, typically solid, but SK is getting pricey. Also Kobalt offers a number of ratchets that many users LOVE. I would not bother with Harbor Freight ratchets, except the Tekton composite clones. Better ratchets can be had for the same $$$. as for Craftsman…it’s hard to even think of them as brand of actual tools anymore. More like tool-like substance or imitation tools or paperweights in the style of tools. If you hate your money, like to gamble, and refuse to deal with decent customer service there are the holy trinity: Snap-On, Matco, MAC.(which SHOULD be Stahlwille/Hazet/Gedore and Beta but Americans are stubborn) Some of their tools are actually still high quality. The fun is the mystery of finding out which ones! Oh…and Cornwell. Little more obscure but still a quality brand selling durable tools, though Taiwan is slipping in there a little bit these days. Several ratchets sold under Matco, MAC, and Cornwell can be found at NAPA(Carlye) with greatly reduced prices.
Jesse Neil
I’d go Gearwrench, between the two. I have a 1/4″ set that is fantastic, and I grab it over my US Craftsman set.
Usually when I’m working on my Jeep, I’m using my Milwaukee impact with Harbor Freight Pro impact sockets, along with a 1/2″ Harbor Freight composite ratchet, and Harbor Freight breaker bar. I’m really satisfied with the quality, and I don’t have to worry about them getting dirty or beat up.
Best thing I’ve learned in tool buying is to not get caught up with buying all one brand. I’ve been mixing and matching and getting the best bang for my buck for each item. Sometimes that is Craftsman or Gearwrench, but sometimes it is other stuff. My toolbox does not look like it came from a brand reps expo table..
Jonathan
I’d vote to go Gearwrench over Craftsman.
They seem nicer all around, build quality on the Craftsman stuff has really suffered these last few years.
I’m shocked at just how nice a recent set of Dewalt sockets I purchased was, so much so I ended up with several sets, in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch. Great little boxes for them, and the socket rails are the best I’ve ever seen. Lifetime warranty, no receipt (no in store swaps however).
Low end, the Pittsburgh stuff at Harbor Freight, especially the impact sockets, are darn nice.
Nathan
I’d hate to say it but if you’re buying something made in china anyway – then you should save some money and get the pittsburgh pro stuff from Harbor Freight – when you get their coupon too.
but I think the OP already bought something.
for a little more money (and I’ve not shopped it recently) I’d probably look really hard at Kobalt stuff when on sale, and I really like the SK stuff. Especially their ratchets. or rather the 2 I own, smooth as silk
JeffD
Many years ago when Crapsman switched to Chinese manufacturing I dumped their tools quick like. Now I own a combination of Gearwrench, Armstrong, and Beta.
The Gearwrench brand will do you well. At least they’re made in Taiwan.
Jonathan
You’ll be saddened that GearWrench switched to China too. Quality took a hit IMO. Still better than Craftsman.
Eric
I find it humorous that people crap on Chinese sockets but will gladly spend $600 on a iphone that is made in china. Surely if the Chinese can figure out how to make a high quality cell phone the can make quality sockets.
ccb
You said you have a Masterforce cabinet. Have you looked at the Masterforce socket sets? They seem pretty nice. The ones I have seen are made in the USA.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/hand-tools/tool-kits/masterforce-reg-115-piece-1-4-3-8-sae-mm/p-1503272-c-9159.htm
george
as a weekend warrior you should get whatever is easiest to get. most tools will outlast you. I would suggest looking into sk tools.
but in reality. if you really want tools that will work everytime then just go get mac or snap on.
Toolfreak
If you can get a USA-made Craftsman set, go for it. I would avoid China-made Craftsman sockets, ratchets, wrenches, etc. Some of the polished ratchets are made in Taiwan, those are ok, but still not as nice as the USA-made ones were.
GearWrench is ok, but they seem pretty overpriced unless you can find a deal. Sometimes the Sears website has “sale” prices on GearWrench sets, or you can find them on Amazon (which Sears later matches), but they still seem pretty high.
I’ve also read a lot of reviews where those fancy 120XP ratchets slip. I’d probably stick with their regular ratchets.
Otherwise I’d say get something from Stanley or their Bostitch line. You can get a set with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2″ sockets and ratchets for a heck of a price if you look around.
I’d avoid Harbor Freight at all costs.
Nick Marques
I love love love GearWrench products. They’re reasonably priced have very good build quality and perform well. I got some of the 13-or-so piece socket sets at Advance Auto Parts using their awesome online coupon codes, sometimes $40 off $100 or more. They don’t come with the ratchets, but I got those on Amazon.
don
i was a grearwrench fan too! i tried tekton impact sockets very happy with them.
no hassle warranty they have a form you fill out on line and they send you a new tool i order mine from home-depot the prices are better than harbor freight!
no skips in the metric sets! cant beat the price and quality! warranty outstanding!
Larry
I was looking at Craftsman’s 299 piece socket set, and their “Premium Ratchet Set”…But I dithered, and kept thinking…
Then I discovered Garage Journal, and the members turned me toward GearWrench…
I talked it over with Santa Claus, and “she” bought me the Master 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ SAE and Metric Sockets, and the 4 pc 120 tooth Flex Ratchet set…
All of mine were made in Taiwan, and they’re the best tools I’ve owned…
Being a 70 year old retiree, they’re better than I deserve, and the price is right…
So, my vote on the question is—GearWrench!!!
Tyler
I just thought I would update. I was leaning towards the Gearwrench options or the Menards Masterforce pieces since they are made in the USA. I even priced out Harbor Freight since pricing would be cheaper, they were imported anyway and I would have more options for returns. However, I happened to be walking through Lowe’s one afternoon and thought I would check out the Kobalt kit options and I came across their 300 piece kit. It was more than I needed but was priced very reasonably, not sure why. I picked up the kit for $140 and used a bunch of gift cards I had floating around. I haven’t used the tools a bunch, but I am pretty impressed with them for the price. The finish quality was surprisingly good and I inspected each piece as I put it away. I’m not used to combination wrenches other than the square shaped Craftsman wrenches I’ve always had so it took a little while to get used to a lighter and smaller combination wrench. I still go for some of my Craftsman wrenches if I want that familiar beefy feeling when I need a good grip. I haven’t used the screwdriver, screw driver bits or Allen wrenches (some of which are doubled up short and long) yet. They are filler parts to boost tool counts and I knew that going into it.
I was very open minded and knew what to expect. The only major issue I had was the exclusion of some socket sizes that left open slots in my socket organizers, thus driving me crazy. I know they are uncommonly used sizes, but I would have rather had a #18 6pt socket than a 7/32, 5/16 or 3/8 8pt SAE socket. I’ll be purchasing one-off pieces when I have some discount coupons just to fill the open slots in my organizers.
Thank you Stuart and everyone else for all of your input.
Lynyrd
Craftsman/Kobalt/Husky/Gearwrench(Apex Tools)/DeWalt/Channellock; Taiwan Ratchets and Tools are all made in the same foundry. Only the designs are different. Metal and build quality are all pretty identical.
Craftsman/Kobalt/Husky/Gearwrench(Apex Tools) Chinese made Tools are made in a few different foundries in China. Quality can vary more.
Old USA Craftsman/Craftsman Industrial and USA Made tools from Matco/MAC /S-K majority of their tools are made by Danaher. Designs vary.
There just isn’t much of a difference in any of these tools anymore.
TK
I bought the 334 piece set last year -_-
Jeff DeLay
Can anyone tell me about Danaher GearWrench ratchets? I’ve seen those advertised on the Sears website.
Stuart
What do you want to know?
My Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches came from Sears, and are decent.
Danaher no longer owns the brand in any way – they and Cooper Industries spun off their Apex Tool Group joint venture a few years ago.
don
Danaher group still owns apex tools! google it they also own Armstrong tools!
Jeff DeLay
I was under the impression that GW was made in Taiwan, so I was surprised to see a GW ratchet listed as a “Danaher GW Ratchet. I’m debating on which GW ratchet set to get, but given the reviews of the 120, I’m leaning towards their 84 teeth ratchet instead.
Cajun
The Gearwrench 84t ratchets are Awesome “
don
craftsman husky and gearwrench are all made by the same company!
apex tools makes them. id chose gearwrench over craftsman!
Brent Garvey
Do wouldn’t logic dictate they would all be of the same quality?
don
no not at all! the finish on gearwrench is a lot better than craftsman!
Louie
If a socket does the job without any issues, then by all means get the one you can afford. It really does not matter where it is made. Craftsman has a deal that is hard to beat. They are selling 299 sockets for around $300 or less when on sale. They’re made by the same company that makes Gearwrench, so I would think that the quality would be similar. Gearwrench vs Craftsman when it comes to the sockets is a moot point;, they are the same. When I bought a set of flex socket from Craftsman, there was one socket that was stamped with the Gearwrench name. This convinced me that Craftsman and Gearwrench sockets are the same except for the name.
don
husky craftsman and gearwrench are all made by apex tools!
Sam
I own probably $80,000 in tools it’s how I make my living I have lots of craftsman tools as they make good gifts from those who give me gifts at Christmas but I dont have many that I actually purchased myself on the he other hand I have purchased Gearwrench and still do ..after putting the snap on and mac tool mens children threw colledge gearwrench is a welcome addition and the quality is there as well. I actually keep the craftsman tools around for when someone wants to barrow a tool..cause it might not come back .