craftsman max axess

shoturtle · Jun 4, 2012

Been thinking about getting a pass through set. And with all the fathers day sales and discounts. I am considering the 51 piece and the 80 piece. 50 dollars vs 70. I have all the torx and hex sockets for regular ratchets and have bit drivers for tight areas. Is it worth the 20 bucks more to get the set with the hex and torx socket.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00932820000P

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-51-p...p-00929309000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

What do you all think?

metaleltr · Jun 4, 2012

I am considering getting the 80pc set.

Does gearwrench have a similar set?

shoturtle · Jun 4, 2012

not in the those sizes. The GW sets are smaller.

shoturtle · Jun 8, 2012

with all the discount and my points. I just went and got the large kit for 61 dollars.

Link-Belt · Jun 8, 2012

I picked up the smaller 19 PC. Set a few weeks ago at my local ACE hardware store for 33 and some change. Didn't really know of a need for it but could see the need to have it. Funny thing was as soon as I got home I found a good use for it on the neck fixture of my MC frame jig.

shoturtle · Jun 9, 2012

I got the set today, overall it is not bad. The socket holding is sloppy as actually pretty loose, quality is not to bad, not as nice as the taiwan made ratchet. But the ratchet is very smooth. The set is not worth 100 dollars imho. But pass for around a 60 dollar purchase.

btbsandman · Jun 9, 2012

I looked at that set in the store, and almost bought it. Then I remembered I have "Gearwrench" Ratcheting Combos at my house. I put the set back down and left it behind.

franzdom · Jun 9, 2012

btbsandman said:
I looked at that set in the store, and almost bought it. Then I remembered I have "Gearwrench" Ratcheting Combos at my house. I put the set back down and left it behind.

There are definite uses for these sockets that can't be handled by ratchet wrenches, my favorite use for them is strut top nuts which are down inside a strut mount, and you have to hold the strut inside it to keep it from spinning.

btbsandman · Jun 9, 2012

franzdom said:
There are definite uses for these sockets that can't be handled by ratchet wrenches, my favorite use for them is strut top nuts which are down inside a strut mount, and you have to hold the strut inside it to keep it from spinning.

I see some uses for these sets. Im a shadetree mechanic. I didnt have it ten years ago, and dont see how I need it now.

shoturtle · Jun 9, 2012

I have to say, the ratchet is beefy compare to a ratchet wrench, so if you really need to crank down on a nut, it will take allot more then the ratchet wrench. The wrench getting into much tighter places.

But if you do get a set, they are 75 dollars online for craftsman club member and 10 off with june10. So it is 65 dollars if you have not points. Not a bad deal. The set gives me coverage on sae wrench sizes. On on the metric side it does cover form 3.5mm to 19, my ratchet wrench set only covers 7-19mm.

I did not know it till I got it, the torx and hex sockets fit standard ratchets as well. So it you do not have a torx or hex set for the ratchet. You have it covered with this set.

This set is worth 75 dollars, glad I got it for less. But I would not spend 100 on it.

This is my first chinese made craftsman item.

Mr Ratchet · Jun 9, 2012

I have the Kolbalt (Danaher) 1/4" and 3/8" sets with locking flex head ratchets. I'd put the Kolbalt ratchets a little above the CM MA ratchets. I also have a few adapters and longer extensions from gearwrench (Vortex). I just recently got a CM 3/8" MA to 1/4" MA and a 1/4" MA spinner handle.

The pass thru type sets are good as very low profile where a wrench may not have enough reach. They are also good for fasteners that may be counter sunk with a longer protruding shaft/threads.

I don see much of a point in the bit set. There are low profile bits or you could just cut one down if needed. They are nice in that they can be used in the pass thru style as easiely as a more traditional squared drive.

I just used my pass thru set the other day.

I could have hacked the threads down and used a standard deep wall. It was far faster and easier to slip on the pass thru socket and extension and tighten it down with the ratchet.

6-Speed · Jun 10, 2012

I bought a set and discovered the 3/8" drive 18mm socket would not seat all the way on the ratchet handle; turns out the socket had a small burr defect. I exchanged the set and made sure all the sockets seated properly before leaving the store. Aside from the poor quality control, this set has utility; it offers pass-thru 6-pt sockets that IMO are an improvement over 12-pt ratchet box-end wrenches.

shoturtle · Jun 10, 2012

they made you exchange the whole set. They have them as individual sockets at the store. I am surprise they did not just exchange that 1 socket. The only socket they do not have at the stores yet are the hex and torx bit sockets.

mgideon · May 17, 2013

re: craftsman max axess

I had a socket set 40 years ago just like this except to reverse direction you fliped rachet over.

rickhigginshtbr · May 17, 2013

when I worked for Sears Hardware, it was the set I store used and kept in my desk so no one else could touch it. I wouldn't trust that ratchet on something you need to put a ton of torque on... broke the 3/8" one.

Chadwilliam1 · May 18, 2013

I have the gearwrench 1/4 and 3/8 drive set. my 3/8 drive has the locking flex ratchet. It is very nice, I don't use it very often but one thing I like is it is compatible with my gearwrench ratcheting tap handle.

Rezeppa · May 18, 2013

btbsandman said:
I see some uses for these sets. Im a shadetree mechanic. I didnt have it ten years ago, and dont see how I need it now.

I have the Matco special forces set and these sets are not needed. They are fancy ratchet wrenches with worst side tolerances. I bought it because I wanted a set of metric and standard in the basic sizes in one case. I have used it once. I would stay away unless it was a discount like stated earlier.

The Ratchet Man · May 19, 2013

On sale for $67.99...

80 piece Max Axess

craftsman max axess

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