Craftsman 256 piece tool kit, 47% off at Blaine's

[SShooterZ]

Not sure if Craftsman quality is still good or not. I thought I saw that they still honor the lifetime warranty.

Either way, seems like a great deal for a beginner or someone needing an extra set of tools.

Link to the set.

 

[wavinwayne]

I watch a lot of tool related stuff on Youtube. The consensus seems to be today's Craftsman is OK for homeowners who wrench a bit. Their Overdrive stuff seems to be very good. Not tools you would find in a pro's box, but good enough for the average Joe. Amazon usually has the same set you linked to for $99.

 

[BHopkins]

The problem I have with a lot of the sets like the one that is linked to above, is that the majority of the pieces are just filler. They advertise it as a 256 piece seat, but probably over 150 of those pieces are in the driver bits and hex wrenches. Only 8 combination wrenches, probably 4 standard and 4 metric, is kind of a turnoff for me, as is the small range of deep sockets. My problem with sets like this, is it doesn't take too long to outgrow the limited range of the tools, so then you have to go out and buy a new set of sockets, and before too long the beginner set is pushed aside.

If I were to recommend a beginner set for someone, I would lean towards either of these from the same source, for just a few more $.

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1615670-dewalt-205-piece-mechanics-tool-set.html


This is even a better option, but they would have to buy a set of combination wrenches separately. It would give someone a set of tools that they could do a lot of work with.

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/969560-dewalt-192-piece-mechanics-tools-set.html

For what it's worth, that's my opinion.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Looks like a really nice set for the price even there are a lot of very small pieces in there to get the high tool count.

 

[fozzdesy2001]

Not sure if Craftsman quality is still good or not. I thought I saw that they still honor the lifetime warranty.

Either way, seems like a great deal for a beginner or someone needing an extra set of tools.

Link to the set.

This is what's in the set

 

[rijndael]

FWIW: The Craftsman gunmetal stuff is generally pretty solid. They're noticeably better than the regular ones.

 

[fozzdesy2001]

This is what's in the set

The link didn't work, sorry

 

[SShooterZ]

The link didn't work, sorry

Same here.

 

[ChrisMU]

That is half the price my folks paid for my very similar 2004 Craftsman set I received as a birthday/leaving the nest after college gift. I guess offshoring really lowers the price. With that warranty, I’d buy that set for my son.

 

[D60]

The problem I have with a lot of the sets like the one that is linked to above, is that the majority of the pieces are just filler. They advertise it as a 256 piece seat, but probably over 150 of those pieces are in the driver bits and hex wrenches. Only 8 combination wrenches, probably 4 standard and 4 metric, is kind of a turnoff for me, as is the small range of deep sockets. My problem with sets like this, is it doesn't take too long to outgrow the limited range of the tools, so then you have to go out and buy a new set of sockets, and before too long the beginner set is pushed aside.

If I were to recommend a beginner set for someone, I would lean towards either of these from the same source, for just a few more $.

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1615670-dewalt-205-piece-mechanics-tool-set.html


This is even a better option, but they would have to buy a set of combination wrenches separately. It would give someone a set of tools that they could do a lot of work with.

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/969560-dewalt-192-piece-mechanics-tools-set.html

For what it's worth, that's my opinion.

This is a good point. If I'm putting together a fairly comprehensive kit that still needs to be mobile, I try to maximize drive tools in a blow mold case. This is, of course, essentially ratchets, sockets and extensions. Bonus points if they include Torx or hex sockets.

Then I get inexpensive combo wrenches and toss them in a soft side tool bag.

Then in a second bag I keep pliers, screwdrivers, dykes etc.

That said, I don't think the posted Craftsman kit is terrible, but by trying to do everything it does nothing well.

 

[goblin]

Torque Test Channel had a test of Icon wrenches with a Craftsman Overdrive bit at the end, and they were very good. As mentioned above - the gunmetal-colored stuff.