I'm a Tech at an Acura dealer in NYC , I just wanna say think you for your awesome reviews. as a mechanic we are always buying new or replacing older tools. your reviews help a lot.
I completely agree, that pry bar set is the best deal going at Sears right now. Even before they added the striking caps they were a good deal, it's even bettet now.
I have the 1/4" and 3/8" T handle drivers and love them. They're great for auto work where fasteners are deep in the engine bay and are too delicate to use power. Huge time savers and very well executed tool.
Sears also had a 17 piece made in USA screwdriver set for about the same price as the pry bars. I picked up both for my brother and another set of pry bars for myself.
Thank you for this review! I know I will be picking up a set of those pry bars for sure! I really like the "T" handle tool. If I can find a set of long allan and hex bits I will buy that and skip a full stand alone "T" handle set.
I agree 100% on the multi-meter ! I've owned it for about 3 years now and it still performs like day one and all because of that monster rubber outer shell !!! I dropped it off my 20 ft extension ladder onto the driveway from about 15 ft !
Just bought the tray and volt meter. Craftsman ratchets are real good. Solid metal and feels sturdy for heavy jobs than the one I got from HD. Worth a serious look.
I appreciate you looking into craftsman. Most home mechanics use only Craftsman because of the warranty and accessibility. I personally would rather go to Sears and get craftsman then find a SnapOn or MatCo dealer.
Great Video! I picked up the pry bars a couple weeks ago and they're wonderful. Also, they have some pretty good deals on Gearwrench stuff right now, and if you combine it with their shopyourway points, surprise points, and coupons, it can almost feel like stealing. For example, I was able to get 85988 (12p XL double box end wrenches) for $80 and the 81216F/81306F (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 84T flex ratchets) for free. Also, paid nothing for the pry bars. If you're willing to do the shopyourway stuff, you can get incredible deals.
Since my older brother is a new, recent home owner I picked him up a 19.2v Craftsman Lithium Ion cordless drill for Christmas. Our local Ace Hardware had a pre-Thanksgiving sale last month and had the $80 model on sale for $60. I got it for $44 and change with tax since I had an Ace Rewards card. :)
I have a brass Craftsman garden hose nozzle I have had for years. It is made from brass and is solid as a rock. It always works great .Every few years a little O ring in it will wear out,but I have a whole box of various sized O rings I bought from Harbor Freight and I just swap one out.and keep on going...
I don't know about the t-handle. There really isn't anywhere I would be able to use it in a car. Most bolts/nuts are in awkward areas without long lines of sight. But those pry bars are a great deal and I use them all the time!
Good video. I would like to say something about the the seat coming off of the chair. After you sit on it for a few days the pneumatic cylinder should wedge itself into the seat permanently. after that you'll need a pipe wrench to remove it.
I too saw and picked up the 3 Piece, Pry Bar Set on sale at Sears for $19.99 on Black Friday. That was such a good deal, it even beat Harbor Freight's lowball price for their pry bars which are similar but not as good from a quality perspective.
Other than the T-handle, I own everything featured in the video. The prybars have gone as low as $14.99; I paid 19.99. Made by Wilde Tool. Remarkable value. Bought the multimeter for a fin as a daily special some years ago. Nothing to complain about for the price. I like the chair very much, especially the back. Really helps out when sitting in one spot for a while. The magnetic tray is very good. I buy one every time see it on sale. Unlike some others, its magnet doesn't detach itself in time. I also have several of their dual magnet trays. They go on sale for $9.99 - very good quality, as well. Too, take a look at their feeler gauges. Made in the US, excellent quality, reasonable price.
I made a haul at the pre black Friday sale last November and the one deal that really stands out for me is a set of extreme grip screwdrivers with so called diamond tips for 20 bucks. I have since attacked some rather nasty rusted screws with them. I must say I am impressed. The feel of the handles and the way they grip. The set would make a nice gift for just about anyone in my opinion. Especially someone who does around the house odd jobs. They are a very nice screwdriver in that respect and beat the snot out of the Stanley variety you get at Walmart for the same money.
Bought the T handle in the 1/4 & 3/8 size for less than $1. A local Sears was closing and they had a large overstock and they marked them down to 4.99 and 3.99. I had points so I couldn't be happier at the price point. This tool is really convenient, hoping it lasts as the bearings that control the adjustable slide doesn't seem to sturdy.
I purchased a mutlimeter simalar to the one you bought several years ago. other then replacing the battery it has been an awesome tool. The T handle driver looks like a useful tool I may pick one up along with the pry bar set.
I have had the pry bars for a few weeks and also got the 31" for 17.99 and the 36" for 24.99 of the them are well worth the money and just as good as my snap on pry bars.
I stand corrected, the T-handle thing I like, too - probably the only Mach series that's worth money. I wish I had that newer version of the pry bar set although I'd be scared of the handles shattering when striking them.
Great video! Very informative and objective and not really biased and judgmental, just the facts. I think that stool is a great buy after seeing you display it yourself.
Some deals I found and bought today... GearWrench 32 Piece Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set with Stubby Wrenches and Carrying Case $72.00. Craftsman 7 pc. Standard and Metric Locking Flex Ratcheting Combination Wrench Sets, $68.00 "per" set (2 different sets at $68ea).Might have to go back and get the pry bars, thanks for the heads up.
Hello you made a video of Westling socket holders . I bought 6 of them so far . I called in my last order because they had sent the wrong ones but I made them work . At that time I had ordered more . I told them I saw them on your videos and that I was sad to see that you no longer do videos . Told them they have a great product . Thanks for your past videos .
I have been buying harbor freight for home use since they opened in my area ten years ago have not been disappointed with them with the tools as they have a good replacement policy have burned up a few electric motors on the power saws doing work around the house have a friend who set up a large chop saw and cuts small logs up for his fire place they are around 9 inches thick works great has used it for five years so far
You forgot the Craftsman Knipex rebrand cobra pliers. Those are the usually cheaper than the red handle Knipex. Also most of their pliers and hammers are USA made and usually a pretty good value. I would not recommend the multimeter. I bought one and after a few uses the results are all off.... That or my house is at 160 volts and my car's battery is now up to 18 volts! Thanks for the video Daniel! Great as always!
One Craftsman tool I've always thought was a good deal is their "Dual heat soldering gun" item# 00927320000P. These are just re-badged Wall-Lenk irons. If you buy the iron as a Wall-Lenk you pay about $100, but the identical Sears model is just $60. I have 3 of these irons I like them so much. Work like nothing else for heavy electrical soldering. They claim to be dual heat, and are, but you have to buy another tip for them to make them 400 watts. I think they are a great buy and made in USA too.
After watching this video I went to sears and bought the 3 piece pry bar set. Wow they had a price special of $17 even a better price. Yep I have a new set now.
Hi, Yes, I 100% agree with your top five pick for the best Craftsmen's tools for the Christmas season. No I do not know of any other good Craftsmen's tools because I have not tried any of the new Craftsmen's tools that are at sears store.
Good follow up from the "top 5 bad Craftsman tool" video you did. I liked all five of the picks you choose for this video, but you only made mention of the pry bar set being made Stateside, so I reckon the other items were made in good ole Chiny. I bought the Harbor Freight version of that Craftsman magnetic bowl and I had it stuck to the inside of the lid on my Craftsman top chest. One day I was going to make use of it while working on my wife's truck, so I pulled to take the bowl with me, and it came along, but the magnet stayed where it was. So now when I want to use the bowl I have to pry up the magnet with my fingers to make sure it comes along, too. Have you done any tool reviews of the Craftsman Professional series mechanics tools? I'm unsure if those items are still available though aside from eBay. Then I wonder about warrantying a tool since Sears are closing stores down.
nice job on the video bud. Im really happy to see that Craftsman is still making some of there tools in America. I thought that only the Pro stuff was still made here. Thats good to hear. All those things you shown looked nice and seemed fairly priced. Ill be taking a ride to my local Sears in a few days and pick up that pry bar set. $20 is an awesome deal. Im still very upset over the fact that if my old Usa made ratchets, wrenches, sockets ect... break and i go to swap it im forced to take a crappy chinese made tool in return for my quality American made tools. They should at least make them in Taiwan. At least they have good quality control over there these days. Thats why i buy Tekton instead.
I’m an auto enthusiast and not a full time tech that relies on their tools to make a living. I have used that multimeter and can vouch for how awesome it is. I’ve tested batteries, light bulbs, light fixtures and even found a parasitic drain in my older BMW. The bowl is also awesome. I’ve used it countless times in the last 5 years while doing car repairs and it’s the perfect size, well priced and cleans up really easy.
You can seat the cylinder on the stool by raising it up a little then putting all your weight down on the seat with one knee, and it will never come out. I use to assemble and deliver office furniture. Including a ton of chairs with the exact same cylinder.
I own and like the pry bars, magnetic tray, and the hydraulic seat. However, I've lifted and moved my hydraulic seat quite a bit and the seat never separated from the legs.
You would have a bad day sitting on that stool without the seat :) The pry bars are a good deal. Love the end caps, they probably finally realized that everyone was striking the ones without an end cap anyways.
Keep in mind that I had to find 5 good deals.....it took some effort. Also, the HF versions are 4" I think? I have another one of these 6" Craftsman versions & it has worked well for a long time --- but I agree, most of them are the same other than size/shape.
D4x4Bronc I agree most of the stuff from hf/nt is on par with one another, I was more comparing the craftsman sale price to nt full retail. I will also say, as a professional auto technician, the hf mag ashtrays fall apart a bit quicker than the rest, they work and I'm sure hold up just fine for the hobbiest workshop, I've just personally come to not care for them
I like the ratcheting screwdriver. I barely ever grab a normal screw driver anymore. Item number is 47144 and is 20.00. Also I have compared it to the black Snap On one we have at work and they are spitting images of each other.
I was recently in a Sears and was disappointed. Nobody around to wait on you. Much out of stock and selection sucked. I have gift cards and need to use them before Sears goes out of biz. Thanks for showing me good buys ... provided they are on the shelf. I was a Craftsman customer all my life and my dad was also. I am 74 ... so sad to see a good brand go down the tube.
The pro series Craftsman prybars are not made by Craftsman ,rebranded Mayhews.Mayhew whom also makes prybars for Matco and Mac also makes them for Craftsman
The pro series pry bars are not discontinued. www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-3-piece-curved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3#
I have had the chair for years. The only complaint is the back loosens up quite often. Add some Teflon tape to the threads to remove some of the slop in the fit.
@@FourDollaRacing Although the Sears Hometown stores are independently owned, they are completely dependent on Sears to supply the SHT stores with Sears branded merchandise. The new Sears, if it survives, is trying to buy back the SHT and Sears Outlet stores.
I love all my Tekton tools. They're cheap, not made in China and they hold up perfectly. You should do a Tekton review. I actually have some tools coming Friday from them. I do plan on going and getting a craftsman fuel pressure kit though pretty soon.
I spent 7 years in the NAVY on submarines and ran the reactor . I used a lot of meters and tools. It was bad a few times when I had to go to sears or radioshack for things that would cost 100 times what it was worth . I was in during the 80 s so on 1 of the subs was built in the late 60 s . Things like the MK 19 gyro had over 100 tubes and when something went wrong you had to completely replace all the tubes. I went out to radio shack and bought a tube tester . I can say my dad was a master mechanic for over 40 years and he taught me a lot about mechanics He always told me to buy good tools and back then it was craftsman or snap on and all was made in the usa . Now both of them have a lot of tools made over seas . I do not like the meter you said was good as it is not a true RMS meter which can give you false reading on AC power and it does not have freq reading
great job on a video dude. from picking products and review them to video and sound quality. can you do same top 5 for Lowes and harbor freight sometime?
My problem with Sears/Craftsman stores is I have no store to buy them. I own two homes in different cities,, and there used to be a Sears in each of those neighborhoods. But both have closed. Now I'd have to drive a long way to find a Sears.
I bought one of those $10 multi meters, after losing several much more expensive ones ( I do a lot of field work) and I have to say it switches or reads voltage so slowly it is difficult to diagnose an intermittant circuit like a blinker. It's fine for steady conditions, but useless for anything else.
Sears offers lifetime replacement on many tools. The stores now have tools that are not lifetime so ask when you purchase. Now my story! Purchased the majority of my tools in the "70s" and worked as a technician on many different items. I have always fixed my own cars, including Motor Home and Fords, Chevy and Honda. Ratchets wear out and will get sloppy allowing you to skin a knuckle when the ratchet slips. Went to sears with two ratchets (1/2 inch Drive) Model 44809 and asked for replacement. Counter guy got out a tool box with several rebuilt ratchets, same model and part number. Some looked almost new and some were scratched but seemed OK for use. Best looking unit skips and does not have positive forware/reverse lock. Scratched unit works perfectly. I will go back again to replace the "Pretty Model" and see what I get this time. Home depot has a good variety of Craftsman but, most made in Rice Land factories. Hardest thing that I could not find was a Half inch drive 18 mm socket. Went to Amazon and got the correct one in two days (Prime Shipping) to work on my Saturn Vue 2002 that I am restoring. It's also interesting that I have offered tools to my Millenial Grand kids and no takers. Guess that if it breaks you take it to a dealership. Trained dealership technicians for 9 years for GM and found that techs are very good, but, GM didn't offer tech manuals in Spanish. GM had to do them in French due to Montreal, Canada forcing them to do so. Hope my story helps you get replacement Craftsman tools that still work and meet "Made in America" standards.
I am glad you mentioned the price. I went to the local Sears store and the pry bar set is $39.99. WTF? Do they not want to stay open or people buying their stuff? My Harbor Freight set handle broke. This set is much stronger.
good advice, I now have a few more ideas for Christmas presents. ..too bad this brand might go out of business since sears has been in the red for a while
I recently got into a few purchases of the Ryobi One+ system, (The trimmer/edger and the Miter saw) I notice you have a lot of their tools reviewed, would you consider doing a top 5 and a bottom 5 review of their line so I could see what else is worth it and what can be avoided?
I sure like that speeder T-handle, might have to get me one. I like those pry bars pretty well. As far as the multi-meter, there are ones with more features for a similar price. The stool has to be the worst designed due to the height range, it should have started at the high end of the low stool you contrasted it to and ended at its beginning height to be useful in a garage or shop.
My top 5 Craftsman tools are: 1- Prybars with stricking cap 2- Rebranded Cobra pliers 3- Rebranded Vessel impact screwdrivers 4- USA made hammers 5- Mach series ratchet and diamond tip screwdrivers.
I work in aviation and use that t handle driver a lot. Almost daily. It's well worth it and very handy. One of the few "gimmicky" tools craftsman sells that is actually worth a damn.
I like the T-wrench but in a tight place, it fails because it lacks a ratcheting mechanism and I can't find an attachment that would give it such a function.
Yeah the first one you can get like 1/3rd the price and does the same thing. It is just a bowl with a magnet. It does not have to be from Craftsman or anything else. Hell you can make your own if you felt like it. Most of the time I look at them they have them in multipacks of different sizes for about $5 and you get three. That chair though you are missing a possible point. That can be used as a roller base. If you needed it for it. Other than that I would suggest the Max Access Socket Set preferably the chrome set. It is a strong set and some cases better as the rachet handle sets lower to the bolts giving a bit more room and a bit more stable on the bolt head plus the ability to use the extension allowing you to even use them with spark plugs.
As far as the meter, that battery could very well be nearly dead. The only way to test a battery is under load. For example, put the leads across the battery and have someone hit the starter and watch the voltage drop. There are battery testers for cars that put a load across the battery. Craftsman sold this type years ago. The same goes for small AA, C, D cells. Some meters have a battery voltage option, this puts a small load on the battery. As another person mentioned Craftsman Quality goes down, down down and the prices keep going up, up, up. I' have a Craftsman Mechanics tool set which came in it's Craftsman Multi Drawer box. It was a birthday gift from my dad in 1960 when I became interested in fixing cars and started a specialty automotive school. This set is still in excellent condition with a replacement tool here and there. The original finish is still on the tools and they've been stored in the tool-box in the garage or shed all these years. I seriously doubt if any Sears-Craftsman tool purchased now could hold up that long.
i wish you had demonstrated the pry bars to see if they bent easily. i had been interested in them but was unsure of there strength. i mean ill probably get pros, but i was curious about these because of price.
Free multimeters from harbour freight work just fine. I compared a 1500 dollar fluke brand multimeter accuracy to that of 4 different free multimeters I got from harbour freight. All read rite together. Amazed me that anything free could work so good.
So, the first two, the magnetic parts dish, and the VOM.... are items you can get FREE from Harbor Freight very often a chair? I'm not sitting down, I'm trying to work... the T handle is a nice one though.
The professional pry bars are not discontinued. www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-3-piece-curved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3#
I guess that’s typical corporate value extraction. I’m sure they had a vice president who thought cheapening out the brand was a good idea during the typical two-year stint.
All former Sears products went to crap! 8 month old fridge just now getting fixed, new sockets crack under normal usage. Now defunct, let’s screw the customer as we close the doors. Anyone have any suggestions for a quality tool like the Craftsman tools from a few years back. Harbor Freight is okay for some things but I don’t care for the quality of things like sockets and screw drivers. Snap-on is over priced.
I'm a Tech at an Acura dealer in NYC , I just wanna say think you for your awesome reviews. as a mechanic we are always buying new or replacing older tools. your reviews help a lot.
Awesome! I am happy to hear that the reviews help you! :)
Real Tool Reviews yea bro i love your reviews also, im kinda addicted to them haha. im just disappointed that most craftsman tools are made overseas
*thank
Adriel Jimenez y
T Handle spinning wrench.....! Rules ! My son and I have found these are the BEST for working on our Moto-Cross motorcycles.
The T handle is on my list now, looks extremely useful.
I completely agree, that pry bar set is the best deal going at Sears right now. Even before they added the striking caps they were a good deal, it's even bettet now.
I have the 1/4" and 3/8" T handle drivers and love them. They're great for auto work where fasteners are deep in the engine bay and are too delicate to use power. Huge time savers and very well executed tool.
Sears also had a 17 piece made in USA screwdriver set for about the same price as the pry bars. I picked up both for my brother and another set of pry bars for myself.
that t-handle thingy looks decent
Thank you for this review! I know I will be picking up a set of those pry bars for sure! I really like the "T" handle tool. If I can find a set of long allan and hex bits I will buy that and skip a full stand alone "T" handle set.
I agree 100% on the multi-meter ! I've owned it for about 3 years now and it still performs like day one and all because of that monster rubber outer shell !!! I dropped it off my 20 ft extension ladder onto the driveway from about 15 ft !
Just bought the tray and volt meter. Craftsman ratchets are real good. Solid metal and feels sturdy for heavy jobs than the one I got from HD. Worth a serious look.
I appreciate you looking into craftsman. Most home mechanics use only Craftsman because of the warranty and accessibility. I personally would rather go to Sears and get craftsman then find a SnapOn or MatCo dealer.
Great Video! I picked up the pry bars a couple weeks ago and they're wonderful. Also, they have some pretty good deals on Gearwrench stuff right now, and if you combine it with their shopyourway points, surprise points, and coupons, it can almost feel like stealing. For example, I was able to get 85988 (12p XL double box end wrenches) for $80 and the 81216F/81306F (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 84T flex ratchets) for free. Also, paid nothing for the pry bars. If you're willing to do the shopyourway stuff, you can get incredible deals.
+Josh Lampe I had Shopyourway at one point, but they spam emailed me CONSTANTLY!! Do they still do that?
Real Tool Reviews - Yes they do. I have a junk email account I use for it and other sign up related stuff.
Since my older brother is a new, recent home owner I picked him up a 19.2v Craftsman Lithium Ion cordless drill for Christmas. Our local Ace Hardware had a pre-Thanksgiving sale last month and had the $80 model on sale for $60. I got it for $44 and change with tax since I had an Ace Rewards card. :)
I have a brass Craftsman garden hose nozzle I have had for years. It is made from brass and is solid as a rock. It always works great .Every few years a little O ring in it will wear out,but I have a whole box of various sized O rings I bought from Harbor Freight and I just swap one out.and keep on going...
I don't know about the t-handle. There really isn't anywhere I would be able to use it in a car. Most bolts/nuts are in awkward areas without long lines of sight. But those pry bars are a great deal and I use them all the time!
Good video.
I would like to say something about the the seat coming off of the chair. After you sit on it for a few days the pneumatic cylinder should wedge itself into the seat permanently. after that you'll need a pipe wrench to remove it.
Thanks! And I agree.....now that I have sat on it for a few days it will not come back off....thanks for pointing that out!
The T handles 1/4 and 3/8 drives are great. I also love your RC sign in the background.
I found the now discontinued Craftsman Professional screwdrivers at the local sears outlet for 2.50 not long ago, i bought every size.
I too saw and picked up the 3 Piece, Pry Bar Set on sale at Sears for $19.99 on Black Friday. That was such a good deal, it even beat Harbor Freight's lowball price for their pry bars which are similar but not as good from a quality perspective.
Other than the T-handle, I own everything featured in the video. The prybars have gone as low as $14.99; I paid 19.99. Made by Wilde Tool. Remarkable value. Bought the multimeter for a fin as a daily special some years ago. Nothing to complain about for the price. I like the chair very much, especially the back. Really helps out when sitting in one spot for a while. The magnetic tray is very good. I buy one every time see it on sale. Unlike some others, its magnet doesn't detach itself in time. I also have several of their dual magnet trays. They go on sale for $9.99 - very good quality, as well. Too, take a look at their feeler gauges. Made in the US, excellent quality, reasonable price.
I made a haul at the pre black Friday sale last November and the one deal that really stands out for me is a set of extreme grip screwdrivers with so called diamond tips for 20 bucks. I have since attacked some rather nasty rusted screws with them. I must say I am impressed. The feel of the handles and the way they grip. The set would make a nice gift for just about anyone in my opinion. Especially someone who does around the house odd jobs. They are a very nice screwdriver in that respect and beat the snot out of the Stanley variety you get at Walmart for the same money.
most excited for the ugraded pry bars. I've had the others for over a year and they are very durable.
Bought the T handle in the 1/4 & 3/8 size for less than $1. A local Sears was closing and they had a large overstock and they marked them down to 4.99 and 3.99. I had points so I couldn't be happier at the price point.
This tool is really convenient, hoping it lasts as the bearings that control the adjustable slide doesn't seem to sturdy.
Pry bars look to be a good buy. I'm not so sure about the T-handle thing. Thanks for another good review. Keep 'em coming.
I never gave much thought to those magnetic bowls. I can tell you there are a couple in my future now! Thianks for the great videos!
You can find coupons online for free ones with any purchase @ Harbor Freight FYI.... and thanks! 👍
Those bowls are great. Keeps small parts from getting lost.
I purchased a mutlimeter simalar to the one you bought several years ago. other then replacing the battery it has been an awesome tool. The T handle driver looks like a useful tool I may pick one up along with the pry bar set.
I have had the pry bars for a few weeks and also got the 31" for 17.99 and the 36" for 24.99 of the them are well worth the money and just as good as my snap on pry bars.
I stand corrected, the T-handle thing I like, too - probably the only Mach series that's worth money. I wish I had that newer version of the pry bar set although I'd be scared of the handles shattering when striking them.
Great video! Very informative and objective and not really biased and judgmental, just the facts. I think that stool is a great buy after seeing you display it yourself.
The pry bars are great I bought 2 sets for home and work and have seriously abused them for over a year and they are still going strong.
Some deals I found and bought today... GearWrench 32 Piece Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set with Stubby Wrenches and Carrying Case $72.00. Craftsman 7 pc. Standard and Metric Locking Flex Ratcheting Combination Wrench Sets, $68.00 "per" set (2 different sets at $68ea).Might have to go back and get the pry bars, thanks for the heads up.
Hello you made a video of Westling socket holders . I bought 6 of them so far . I called in my last order because they had sent the wrong ones but I made them work . At that time I had ordered more . I told them I saw them on your videos and that I was sad to see that you no longer do videos . Told them they have a great product . Thanks for your past videos .
although im not a manual ranging fan, ive always loved hte craftsman dmm's. great value for the dollar.
I don't see how the average person could go wrong with this one for $10.....not quite Fluke quality, but works fine ;) haha
I really like that T-handle thing and those prybars!
Thank you for the tip on the pry bar set. They were $17.99 on-line yesterday (Dec. 12).
They are 40$ now a days
Dec 2019
I have been buying harbor freight for home use since they opened in my area ten years ago have not been disappointed with them with the tools as they have a good replacement policy have burned up a few electric motors on the power saws doing work around the house have a friend who set up a large chop saw and cuts small logs up for his fire place they are around 9 inches thick works great has used it for five years so far
You forgot the Craftsman Knipex rebrand cobra pliers. Those are the usually cheaper than the red handle Knipex. Also most of their pliers and hammers are USA made and usually a pretty good value. I would not recommend the multimeter. I bought one and after a few uses the results are all off.... That or my house is at 160 volts and my car's battery is now up to 18 volts! Thanks for the video Daniel! Great as always!
I got those pry bars for $20 - really helped out working on the suspension.
stapleboss That's why I bought them.
One Craftsman tool I've always thought was a good deal is their "Dual heat soldering gun" item# 00927320000P. These are just re-badged Wall-Lenk irons. If you buy the iron as a Wall-Lenk you pay about $100, but the identical Sears model is just $60. I have 3 of these irons I like them so much. Work like nothing else for heavy electrical soldering. They claim to be dual heat, and are, but you have to buy another tip for them to make them 400 watts. I think they are a great buy and made in USA too.
After watching this video I went to sears and bought the 3 piece pry bar set. Wow they had a price special of $17 even a better price. Yep I have a new set now.
The Craftsman 4 piece pick set is awesome also.
Hi,
Yes, I 100% agree with your top five pick for the best Craftsmen's tools for the Christmas season. No I do not know of any other good Craftsmen's tools because I have not tried any of the new Craftsmen's tools that are at sears store.
Great suggestions. Just ordered the pry bar set.
Good follow up from the "top 5 bad Craftsman tool" video you did. I liked all five of the picks you choose for this video, but you only made mention of the pry bar set being made Stateside, so I reckon the other items were made in good ole Chiny. I bought the Harbor Freight version of that Craftsman magnetic bowl and I had it stuck to the inside of the lid on my Craftsman top chest. One day I was going to make use of it while working on my wife's truck, so I pulled to take the bowl with me, and it came along, but the magnet stayed where it was. So now when I want to use the bowl I have to pry up the magnet with my fingers to make sure it comes along, too. Have you done any tool reviews of the Craftsman Professional series mechanics tools? I'm unsure if those items are still available though aside from eBay. Then I wonder about warrantying a tool since Sears are closing stores down.
nice job on the video bud. Im really happy to see that Craftsman is still making some of there tools in America. I thought that only the Pro stuff was still made here. Thats good to hear. All those things you shown looked nice and seemed fairly priced. Ill be taking a ride to my local Sears in a few days and pick up that pry bar set. $20 is an awesome deal. Im still very upset over the fact that if my old Usa made ratchets, wrenches, sockets ect... break and i go to swap it im forced to take a crappy chinese made tool in return for my quality American made tools. They should at least make them in Taiwan. At least they have good quality control over there these days. Thats why i buy Tekton instead.
I’m an auto enthusiast and not a full time tech that relies on their tools to make a living. I have used that multimeter and can vouch for how awesome it is. I’ve tested batteries, light bulbs, light fixtures and even found a parasitic drain in my older BMW. The bowl is also awesome. I’ve used it countless times in the last 5 years while doing car repairs and it’s the perfect size, well priced and cleans up really easy.
The craftsman bowl is great, had it for years works like new. Rubber does not come off like the HF one which lasted a few months
You should do a review on the Milwaukee gen2 1/2 impact. Or a comparison between the makita 1/2 compact impact and milwaukee.
Hft has a much larger rectangular parts holder which is very nice too.
Dave, I have the harbor freight holder. The rubber slips off . Not glued in well.
You can seat the cylinder on the stool by raising it up a little then putting all your weight down on the seat with one knee, and it will never come out. I use to assemble and deliver office furniture. Including a ton of chairs with the exact same cylinder.
I own and like the pry bars, magnetic tray, and the hydraulic seat. However, I've lifted and moved my hydraulic seat quite a bit and the seat never separated from the legs.
Same mag tray free at HF every few weeks.
You would have a bad day sitting on that stool without the seat :) The pry bars are a good deal. Love the end caps, they probably finally realized that everyone was striking the ones without an end cap anyways.
Haha yeah.....I don't think that would be too comfortable ;)
Jon HVAC lol a bad day with length adjustments for your needs lol
Harbor Freight Mag Bowl for free. How's that Craftsman one a better deal?
Keep in mind that I had to find 5 good deals.....it took some effort. Also, the HF versions are 4" I think? I have another one of these 6" Craftsman versions & it has worked well for a long time --- but I agree, most of them are the same other than size/shape.
Bizzobb Foshizzle exactly he has no idea it's just a copy of hf for more money. same with multimeter.
same price full retail at Northern tool, rubber pad on magnet and all
Doug Briske northern copies hf but puts a higher price on some of their tools
D4x4Bronc I agree most of the stuff from hf/nt is on par with one another, I was more comparing the craftsman sale price to nt full retail. I will also say, as a professional auto technician, the hf mag ashtrays fall apart a bit quicker than the rest, they work and I'm sure hold up just fine for the hobbiest workshop, I've just personally come to not care for them
I like the ratcheting screwdriver. I barely ever grab a normal screw driver anymore. Item number is 47144 and is 20.00. Also I have compared it to the black Snap On one we have at work and they are spitting images of each other.
I was recently in a Sears and was disappointed. Nobody around to wait on you. Much out of stock and selection sucked. I have gift cards and need to use them before Sears goes out of biz. Thanks for showing me good buys ... provided they are on the shelf. I was a Craftsman customer all my life and my dad was also. I am 74 ... so sad to see a good brand go down the tube.
I have always enjoyed your reviews. Keep up the good work!
The pro series Craftsman prybars are not made by Craftsman ,rebranded Mayhews.Mayhew whom also makes prybars for Matco and Mac also makes them for Craftsman
The pro series pry bars are not discontinued. www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-3-piece-curved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3#
I have had the chair for years. The only complaint is the back loosens up quite often. Add some Teflon tape to the threads to remove some of the slop in the fit.
too bad sears is going belly up. wish a company would step in and save craftsman and bring production back to the USA
Matt Perry Sears just sold the Craftsman line to Black and Decker/ Stanley . I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not ..
Also, Ace Hardware has carried Craftsman for years! It should stay afloat with the Sears Hometown Stores....
@@FourDollaRacing Although the Sears Hometown stores are independently owned, they are completely dependent on Sears to supply the SHT stores with Sears branded merchandise. The new Sears, if it survives, is trying to buy back the SHT and Sears Outlet stores.
I love all my Tekton tools. They're cheap, not made in China and they hold up perfectly. You should do a Tekton review. I actually have some tools coming Friday from them. I do plan on going and getting a craftsman fuel pressure kit though pretty soon.
Those pry bars are AMAZING!!! I LOVE THEM!!
I spent 7 years in the NAVY on submarines and ran the reactor . I used a lot of meters and tools. It was bad a few times when I had to go to sears or radioshack for things that would cost 100 times what it was worth . I was in during the 80 s so on 1 of the subs was built in the late 60 s . Things like the MK 19 gyro had over 100 tubes and when something went wrong you had to completely replace all the tubes. I went out to radio shack and bought a tube tester . I can say my dad was a master mechanic for over 40 years and he taught me a lot about mechanics He always told me to buy good tools and back then it was craftsman or snap on and all was made in the usa . Now both of them have a lot of tools made over seas .
I do not like the meter you said was good as it is not a true RMS meter which can give you false reading on AC power and it does not have freq reading
For a homeowner....not for testing nuclear subs....
great job on a video dude. from picking products and review them to video and sound quality. can you do same top 5 for Lowes and harbor freight sometime?
Thanks! And yes.....we have a lot more Top 5 videos planned....stay tuned!
Ooo I'm going to go get those pry bars!
The pry bars are a helluva deal, best bang for your buck if your a mechanic,,,
Any chance on a review of the different ratchet models from Craftsman?
My problem with Sears/Craftsman stores is I have no store to buy them. I own two homes in different cities,, and there used to be a Sears in each of those neighborhoods. But both have closed. Now I'd have to drive a long way to find a Sears.
I bought one of those $10 multi meters, after losing several much more expensive ones ( I do a lot of field work) and I have to say it switches or reads voltage so slowly it is difficult to diagnose an intermittant circuit like a blinker. It's fine for steady conditions, but useless for anything else.
Wild Goose yep def get whatcha paid for on that one
I have the 1/4 drive T wrench and like it a lot.
Doesn't Sears sell a version of the Knipex pliers wrench? That should be a pretty good tool also. Thanks for your reviews!
Yes. They sell three sizes singly or as a multi-pack. Can get all three on sale for $30-40 sometimes.
thanks for posting...your videos are very informative and saves us DIYers $...
Sears offers lifetime replacement on many tools. The stores now have tools that are not lifetime so ask when you purchase. Now my story! Purchased the majority of my tools in the "70s" and worked as a technician on many different items. I have always fixed my own cars, including Motor Home and Fords, Chevy and Honda. Ratchets wear out and will get sloppy allowing you to skin a knuckle when the ratchet slips. Went to sears with two ratchets (1/2 inch Drive) Model 44809 and asked for replacement. Counter guy got out a tool box with several rebuilt ratchets, same model and part number. Some looked almost new and some were scratched but seemed OK for use. Best looking unit skips and does not have positive forware/reverse lock. Scratched unit works perfectly. I will go back again to replace the "Pretty Model" and see what I get this time. Home depot has a good variety of Craftsman but, most made in Rice Land factories. Hardest thing that I could not find was a Half inch drive 18 mm socket. Went to Amazon and got the correct one in two days (Prime Shipping) to work on my Saturn Vue 2002 that I am restoring. It's also interesting that I have offered tools to my Millenial Grand kids and no takers. Guess that if it breaks you take it to a dealership. Trained dealership technicians for 9 years for GM and found that techs are very good, but, GM didn't offer tech manuals in Spanish. GM had to do them in French due to Montreal, Canada forcing them to do so. Hope my story helps you get replacement Craftsman tools that still work and meet "Made in America" standards.
pretty much all hand tools they replace, its the power tools they don't guarantee
I am glad you mentioned the price. I went to the local Sears store and the pry bar set is $39.99. WTF? Do they not want to stay open or people buying their stuff? My Harbor Freight set handle broke. This set is much stronger.
+Qiong Jia they are $19.99 in the store as far as I know & even cheaper online (check description for a link)
good advice, I now have a few more ideas for Christmas presents. ..too bad this brand might go out of business since sears has been in the red for a while
I recently got into a few purchases of the Ryobi One+ system, (The trimmer/edger and the Miter saw) I notice you have a lot of their tools reviewed, would you consider doing a top 5 and a bottom 5 review of their line so I could see what else is worth it and what can be avoided?
Hey bud what kind of vise is that? Thanks for the video. Those pry bars on sale are the best deal ever. Made in USA
I sure like that speeder T-handle, might have to get me one. I like those pry bars pretty well. As far as the multi-meter, there are ones with more features for a similar price. The stool has to be the worst designed due to the height range, it should have started at the high end of the low stool you contrasted it to and ended at its beginning height to be useful in a garage or shop.
My top 5 Craftsman tools are:
1- Prybars with stricking cap
2- Rebranded Cobra pliers
3- Rebranded Vessel impact screwdrivers
4- USA made hammers
5- Mach series ratchet and diamond tip screwdrivers.
Angel Ortiz you are spot on about the "cobra" (or water pump) pliers. Same as Knipex for way cheaper.
I work in aviation and use that t handle driver a lot. Almost daily. It's well worth it and very handy. One of the few "gimmicky" tools craftsman sells that is actually worth a damn.
I like the T-wrench but in a tight place, it fails because it lacks a ratcheting mechanism and I can't find an attachment that would give it such a function.
Pry bars are a great deal.. i picked up both sets.
I got the first two as "free gifts" from Harbor Freight! And, more for my friends....
Great picks!! Thanks for letting us know.
dig that pry bar set
Yeah the first one you can get like 1/3rd the price and does the same thing. It is just a bowl with a magnet. It does not have to be from Craftsman or anything else. Hell you can make your own if you felt like it. Most of the time I look at them they have them in multipacks of different sizes for about $5 and you get three.
That chair though you are missing a possible point. That can be used as a roller base. If you needed it for it.
Other than that I would suggest the Max Access Socket Set preferably the chrome set. It is a strong set and some cases better as the rachet handle sets lower to the bolts giving a bit more room and a bit more stable on the bolt head plus the ability to use the extension allowing you to even use them with spark plugs.
I got that stool last week at that sale price and like it for the price but agree that the friction fit is odd.
Belated comment. I was eying that t-handle at Sears the other day. This video just made it really hard not to buy it! The pry pars are fantastic.
The pry bars are a fantastic bargain. The steel is excellent. I have the 36" bar, the steel is 5/8 inches thick.
As far as the meter, that battery could very well be nearly dead. The only way to test a battery is under load. For example, put the leads across the battery and have someone hit the starter and watch the voltage drop. There are battery testers for cars that put a load across the battery. Craftsman sold this type years ago. The same goes for small AA, C, D cells. Some meters have a battery voltage option, this puts a small load on the battery. As another person mentioned Craftsman Quality goes down, down down and the prices keep going up, up, up. I' have a Craftsman Mechanics tool set which came in it's Craftsman Multi Drawer box. It was a birthday gift from my dad in 1960 when I became interested in fixing cars and started a specialty automotive school. This set is still in excellent condition with a replacement tool here and there. The original finish is still on the tools and they've been stored in the tool-box in the garage or shed all these years. I seriously doubt if any Sears-Craftsman tool purchased now could hold up that long.
i wish you had demonstrated the pry bars to see if they bent easily. i had been interested in them but was unsure of there strength. i mean ill probably get pros, but i was curious about these because of price.
Free multimeters from harbour freight work just fine. I compared a 1500 dollar fluke brand multimeter accuracy to that of 4 different free multimeters I got from harbour freight. All read rite together. Amazed me that anything free could work so good.
Generally speaking, pre Christmas and pre Father's Day has the most sale prices at Sears.
So, the first two, the magnetic parts dish, and the VOM.... are items you can get FREE from Harbor Freight very often a chair? I'm not sitting down, I'm trying to work... the T handle is a nice one though.
the problem with Craftsman is the quality went down and the price did not
The professional pry bars are not discontinued. www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-3-piece-curved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3#
I guess that’s typical corporate value extraction. I’m sure they had a vice president who thought cheapening out the brand was a good idea during the typical two-year stint.
Right you are! Black and decker took over and made it super cheap low quality at the same retail price.
So they and the seller make more money
the sockets are rusted coming out of the box, HF is far better, I hate to even say that ...
All former Sears products went to crap! 8 month old fridge just now getting fixed, new sockets crack under normal usage.
Now defunct, let’s screw the customer as we close the doors.
Anyone have any suggestions for a quality tool like the Craftsman tools from a few years back.
Harbor Freight is okay for some things but I don’t care for the quality of things like sockets and screw drivers.
Snap-on is over priced.
Wilde tool company makes the pry bars. They sell a 6 pc. set for around $100 bucks.
I got the pry bars yesterday. They have a WL stamp, I'm assuming Wilde makes these?
Go the Pry Bars today. Amazing!!
I got those pry bar really nice great deal
great video and good info
The magnetic tray is a hard tool to screw up! The pry bars look legit.