One thing I notice about this line of long comfort grip ratchets is the handle gets bigger with each drive size and I believe this is a feature not a bug and is designed this way to limit the amount of force one applies on a fastener. The 1/4” is really small but with a quarter inch drive ratchet that’s about a foot long you can run into issues and sheer off a bolt head before you know it if you get too comfortable and put too much elbow grease into your tool. The half inch looks like it would fit your hand better but the 3/8” grip looks like a nice size. I’m really jealous though I want the 3 pack of these long handled ratchets. I heard the comfort grip is really nice and has a tire tread like feel to it which you mentioned comparing it to a corvette tire. Too many tool snobs today give craftsman a bad rep because of what happened to them when they were sold by danaher around the time sears decided not to open up their business to the digital age and ultimately this lead to the death of the company. Then the brand was butchered and most things at that time were poorly made in china for a while as opposed to the once made in USA quality reputation sears had built for the brand. Then Stanley black and decker bought them and in my opinion have done their name justice with higher quality standards and Taiwanese manufacturing which is pretty top notch these days. People saying craftsman is crap now are just following the heard without doing their own research or just using the tools themselves. I have a lot of cheap tools but the biggest part of my stuff is Taiwanese craftsman and I really am happy with the quality and price of most craftsman tools.
I appreciate you jumping in and sharing your opinion my friend!! i am not loyal to anyone brand now!! back when sears stores were everywhere i was! i lived in those old sears stores!! i have tons of old craftsman tools!! the new craftsman, i think some not bad,other things they make im not impressed!! im going to do a video on old crsftsman tools today,i think you might like it,stay tuned my friend!!
Not sure what you are on about 😅. Craftsman was never sold by danaher. It's always been a sears brand name and was only sold to Stanley in name only as sears wasn't a tool manufacturer. Danaher aka apex tool group, private labeled tools for sear craftsman. Craftsman itself is hugely popular still and successful as it brings lots of money to Stanley. Obviously it is not all roses, they had blunders/mismanagement with their first ever/ return to USA manufactured tools. Unfortunately people, especially old customers expect flawlessness from a mid to budget homeowners brand. Craftsman has never been a top tier brand, it was the homeowner budget tool brand. Hugely popular for its budget tools, innovative lifetime warranty, and sears. By the way USA craftsman has a bunch of stinkers 😅, I busted my hands quite a lot with some of those.
Their flex head ratcheting wrenches are a much better buy, great tools. The V-Series ratchets are comfortable in the hand but a lot of backdrag. Bigger issue is the lack of serviceability. Already have some grit in mine from dropping them on a gravel driveway. For a similar price, get a Koken.
This is another interesting video. We are not getting most of these V series tools in western Canada. Watching your videos probably gives me a preview of things to come.
Another good video! The only flex-head ratchet I own is a Craftsman USA 3/8 in. quick-release, 12 inches long with black hard plastic handle. I bought it years ago at our only Sears store before closing down. It may be 36 teeth but not sure. It's seldom used except in tight spaces.
Good review! I have a hard time with confidence in craftsman. I feel they are still living with consumer confidence from the 80s. Very competitive market nowadays. But looks like a good ratchet!
I just can't bring myself to like Craftsman anymore. It looks nice, but that's about it. I like to be able to take apart, clean, and re-oil my ratchets when necessary. As dry as most ratchets are from the factory, I'd have to wonder.
Jeff, your review kinda mirrors my thoughts on craftsman V-series ratchets: Not horrible, but for the money, leaves a lot to be desired. Thanks for the review.
Hi don there decent ratchet,strong design with the yoke on the head,rather then the handle!! the grip could be bigger,it needs to be serviceable!! over all it will get the job done,its one of the best looking ratchet out there!! thanks don,as always!!!
Mine didn’t even make it through the first use e mailed the company sent me a new one out no issues with the warranty actually the best warranty I have used so far trying to get the old one apart lol.
Beautiful ratchet , The handle is a bit small , I guess that's why the nurling is about an inch up , Could very well have the tips of your fingers that high up , It is more than the icon , And the icon has a serviceable head , Longer handle , Really glad you did this one , Bixby want to go buy it all the more , Enjoy your weekend jeff take care ,
Great demo, Jeff! I love the look, don’t mind the handle style - feels good to me, but it is on the chunky side and has more back drag than i like…(need more Koken… kinda like more cowbell!). Nice fit and finish, though.
Great review, from reading the other comments I see I'm not the only one who believes they are using nostalgia to sell tools that are overpriced. Craftsman tools where not cheap back in the 60's and 70's but they where great quality. Thanks for another great review Jeff
Hi mike yea there trying to bring back the glory days,but lots of people lost faith in the brand when they sold out it went overseas!! i have tons of old craftsman tools,more then the average bear,i hang on to those but ,i dont care very much about there new tools!! thanks mike!!
These are definitely pricey, considering Craftsman is trying to claw its way back up the dependable tool ladder. I've gotten the 3 sizes in regular head and the 1/2" & 1/4", still waiting on a favorably priced 3/8' to appear on eBay 😂. I like them even with the back drag issue. I really like the new flexhead design like the new Snap-on's with the yoke on the head versus being on the shaft. From the engineering side of things, I believe it is a stronger design assuming the metal isn't inferior. But I do agree on the grip size, 3/8" & 1/4" both need more grip area. The 1/2" is approaching a full sized grip. Thanks for the video Jeff.
Hi doug its suppose to be a strong design!! with the yoke on the head,i did fail to mention that!!i just dont like the grips!! thanks for your thoughts!
Hi joe,the grips are very small,if you got big hands you wont like them!! the head is non servicable,a deal breaker for lots of people!! thanks my friend!!
Thanks, Jeff! I have the 3/8 and the 1/2....I really like them, but they're a bit pricey! Thanks for the review! Edit: I agree about the handle...it's too small.
Rebuilding; I think it all boils down to who these are marketed to, these are homeowner grade tools sold mostly through big box hardware stores. For one the average homeowner won't be rebuilding ratchets, second, I don't think the big box stores want to deal with rebuild kits, and where will you find a Craftsman service center? Stanley Black & Decker appears to have all their markets covered. It looks like Stanley and Black and Decker branded tools are bargain bin now, Craftsman for the homeowners, DeWalt for the contractors, Proto for industrial users, and Mac for professional mechanics. Proto and Mac users are the only ones who realistically will need to be rebuilding ratchets so they are the only rebuildable ratchets in their line up. Seems to me TTI and Apex employ a similar strategy. Me, I have to wonder if they have a lifetime warranty, will that come back to haunt them when whatever lubricant they put in them finally wears out or breaks down.
It looks like a nice ratchet I wouldn't mind trying it out for a couple days and see what I think but thanks for another great video just talk to you bye
Hey Jeff, I was wondering if these are similar to the Facom ratchets. I know we saw similarities between the v series wrenches and the Facom wrenches. Looking at pictures, I suspect the Facom ratchets from Taiwan are manufactured at the same factory as these as well.
It is a nice looking ratchet similar to a Mac Axis. The handle does look to be on the small side. Craftsman's lower tier ratchets can be disassembled for cleaning and lubrication. Why not the top of the line units? I feel that SB&D missed the mark with the V Series ratchets. There are a lot of other better options at a lower price point.
Craftsman sure has the shiny down but will they work when you need them most ? Jeff do you remember when Sears had those catalogs with those Giant tool sets. .?
If you say you don’t have big hands and you think the handle is too small then I really believe you. I can’t stand when they use smaller handles especially on 1/4” ratchets. Some of them feel like they’re meant for babies to grab and wrench with.
Nice ratchet...but there are ALOT of nice ratchets just like it for less money...(it's identical to my Facom JXL 171 3/8" extendable ratchet) my Facom head is slimmer though...But I'd still buy one..😅
Hi boosted it suppost to be a strong ratchet!! i just didnt care for the grips,and the non servicable head!!its a nice looking ratchet and probably would be fine until you needed to service it!!
V series has been a bit disappointing from what I've seen. You really hit the points I noticed when I looked at one of those. Thick head, sealed head, I personally don't like comfort grips because they're lots harder to keep clean and the square handle just doesn't feel good in the hand (I have the same gripe with the DeWalt ratchets in my car's crash kit). Not a terrible tool, but they ask for something of a premium over their normal craftsman ratchet which usually is serviceable, comes with a polished chrome handle and offers a similar or smaller head size at the expense of being 72 tooth rather than 80 tooth if memory serves. Plus, you find yourself at the mercy of Lowe's on warranty issues, and I've not had the best luck when they don't have the exact same SKU to exchange out.
Just letting you know Jeff. I have noticed this before on your channel and I have commented on it at least once or twice. I keep having to subscribe. I click subscribe...check it frequently for a few weeks and all is fine. Then a while go's by, I check to see...and I'm not subscribed again. I'd ask youtube WTF if I was you.
Hi steven that is fu# cked up!! im not happy about,i have reached out to them before,they dont really tell you why!! like yesterday i had - 5 for subscribers!! that doesnt make me happy!! you tube is crazy, sometimes it goes backwards with subscribers and you really never no why!! thanks steve for telling me that!!
The handles are to small. The do have another comfort grip design that squarsh that little bigger. The comfort grips seam to have more back drag at first and they do have a slim line now thats a lot thinner.
For me, Craftsman died with the Sears collapse. I consider them like Porter Cable - a once great name reduced to a generic subpar brand name slapped on some lower middle tier imports. Maybe they have a few winners, but I'm not going near them.
Very attractive ratchet but a closed head would be a negative for me. I’ve already had one of their standard ratchets lock up on me. I just don’t know how much trust I can put in the new craftsman ratchets. Thanks.
One thing I notice about this line of long comfort grip ratchets is the handle gets bigger with each drive size and I believe this is a feature not a bug and is designed this way to limit the amount of force one applies on a fastener. The 1/4” is really small but with a quarter inch drive ratchet that’s about a foot long you can run into issues and sheer off a bolt head before you know it if you get too comfortable and put too much elbow grease into your tool. The half inch looks like it would fit your hand better but the 3/8” grip looks like a nice size.
I’m really jealous though I want the 3 pack of these long handled ratchets. I heard the comfort grip is really nice and has a tire tread like feel to it which you mentioned comparing it to a corvette tire.
Too many tool snobs today give craftsman a bad rep because of what happened to them when they were sold by danaher around the time sears decided not to open up their business to the digital age and ultimately this lead to the death of the company. Then the brand was butchered and most things at that time were poorly made in china for a while as opposed to the once made in USA quality reputation sears had built for the brand. Then Stanley black and decker bought them and in my opinion have done their name justice with higher quality standards and Taiwanese manufacturing which is pretty top notch these days. People saying craftsman is crap now are just following the heard without doing their own research or just using the tools themselves. I have a lot of cheap tools but the biggest part of my stuff is Taiwanese craftsman and I really am happy with the quality and price of most craftsman tools.
I appreciate you jumping in and sharing your opinion my friend!! i am not loyal to anyone brand now!! back when sears stores were everywhere i was! i lived in those old sears stores!! i have tons of old craftsman tools!! the new craftsman, i think some not bad,other things they make im not impressed!! im going to do a video on old crsftsman tools today,i think you might like it,stay tuned my friend!!
Not sure what you are on about 😅. Craftsman was never sold by danaher. It's always been a sears brand name and was only sold to Stanley in name only as sears wasn't a tool manufacturer. Danaher aka apex tool group, private labeled tools for sear craftsman. Craftsman itself is hugely popular still and successful as it brings lots of money to Stanley. Obviously it is not all roses, they had blunders/mismanagement with their first ever/ return to USA manufactured tools. Unfortunately people, especially old customers expect flawlessness from a mid to budget homeowners brand. Craftsman has never been a top tier brand, it was the homeowner budget tool brand. Hugely popular for its budget tools, innovative lifetime warranty, and sears. By the way USA craftsman has a bunch of stinkers 😅, I busted my hands quite a lot with some of those.
Their flex head ratcheting wrenches are a much better buy, great tools. The V-Series ratchets are comfortable in the hand but a lot of backdrag. Bigger issue is the lack of serviceability. Already have some grit in mine from dropping them on a gravel driveway. For a similar price, get a Koken.
I really like mine and us it daily at work
Thanks jim for joining in and sharing your experience with the brand!!!
This is another interesting video. We are not getting most of these V series tools in western Canada. Watching your videos probably gives me a preview of things to come.
Hi dan i have more stay tuned!! got interesting video coming today!!!
Another good video! The only flex-head ratchet I own is a Craftsman USA 3/8 in. quick-release, 12 inches long with black hard plastic handle.
I bought it years ago at our only Sears store before closing down. It may be 36 teeth but not sure. It's seldom used except in tight spaces.
Made in USA,i know the ratchet your talking about!!thats was a good one!! thanks smith for sharing that!!
Good review! I have a hard time with confidence in craftsman. I feel they are still living with consumer confidence from the 80s. Very competitive market nowadays. But looks like a good ratchet!
Hi rob,i hear ya!!! lots of people feel the same way!! thanks as always rob!!!
I just can't bring myself to like Craftsman anymore. It looks nice, but that's about it. I like to be able to take apart, clean, and re-oil my ratchets when necessary. As dry as most ratchets are from the factory, I'd have to wonder.
Agreed and plus of there warranty went down the drain
Hi shadow,ill good points,thanks for joining in!!
Hi james,not like it used to be!!
Jeff, your review kinda mirrors my thoughts on craftsman V-series ratchets: Not horrible, but for the money, leaves a lot to be desired. Thanks for the review.
Hi don there decent ratchet,strong design with the yoke on the head,rather then the handle!! the grip could be bigger,it needs to be serviceable!! over all it will get the job done,its one of the best looking ratchet out there!! thanks don,as always!!!
I like the grip just as they are. Not too bulky. Very nice looking ratchet. They just need to fix the back drag.
I hear ya my friend,thanks for taking a look!!
Mine didn’t even make it through the first use e mailed the company sent me a new one out no issues with the warranty actually the best warranty I have used so far trying to get the old one apart lol.
Thanks for sharing that my friend!! when you get the one that broke apart,let us know what broke!!!
Beautiful ratchet , The handle is a bit small , I guess that's why the nurling is about an inch up , Could very well have the tips of your fingers that high up , It is more than the icon , And the icon has a serviceable head , Longer handle , Really glad you did this one , Bixby want to go buy it all the more , Enjoy your weekend jeff take care ,
Thanks for checking in!! always nice seeing you in the comments my friend!!
Nice looking ratchet, but I still miss the old Sears with the real USA craftsman
Me too, they had replacement ratchets for warranty at the checkout desks. In and out with a new one in 10 seconds.
Stay tuned for todays video,i think youll really like it!!
@@ezpz91 yes exactly. Also, if they didn’t have it in stock, they gave you a free upgrade.
Great demo, Jeff! I love the look, don’t mind the handle style - feels good to me, but it is on the chunky side and has more back drag than i like…(need more Koken… kinda like more cowbell!). Nice fit and finish, though.
Hi tom i think its a decent ratchet,i just couldnt get by the handle,im sure some guy like and use,comes down to ones preference,no doubt!!!
I really like these, they are just kinda pricey. I do have the 1/4" . I think they are real nice . I gotta get the 3/8. Thanks for the video Jeff .
Hi bigc there nice ratchets,just wish the head was servicable and the grip little bigger!! thanks thanks bigc for checking in!!
Great review, from reading the other comments I see I'm not the only one who believes they are using nostalgia to sell tools that are overpriced.
Craftsman tools where not cheap back in the 60's and 70's but they where great quality.
Thanks for another great review Jeff
Hi mike yea there trying to bring back the glory days,but lots of people lost faith in the brand when they sold out it went overseas!! i have tons of old craftsman tools,more then the average bear,i hang on to those but ,i dont care very much about there new tools!! thanks mike!!
I think it’s pretty slick myself. Gonna have to find one to add to my collection.
Glad you liked it!!thanks OCD for joining in!!
@@jefftovani5535 Thanks Jeff, Blessed to be here!!
These are definitely pricey, considering Craftsman is trying to claw its way back up the dependable tool ladder. I've gotten the 3 sizes in regular head and the 1/2" & 1/4", still waiting on a favorably priced 3/8' to appear on eBay 😂. I like them even with the back drag issue. I really like the new flexhead design like the new Snap-on's with the yoke on the head versus being on the shaft. From the engineering side of things, I believe it is a stronger design assuming the metal isn't inferior. But I do agree on the grip size, 3/8" & 1/4" both need more grip area. The 1/2" is approaching a full sized grip. Thanks for the video Jeff.
Hi doug its suppose to be a strong design!! with the yoke on the head,i did fail to mention that!!i just dont like the grips!! thanks for your thoughts!
Iam, with you Jeff on the opinion of this Ratchet that's why I haven't bought it yet.
Hi joe,the grips are very small,if you got big hands you wont like them!! the head is non servicable,a deal breaker for lots of people!! thanks my friend!!
I have Tekton’s flex heads now, but I really like them newer GearWrench 120xp’s
Oh the newer XP120 ratchet,there one of my favorites! thanks for checking in!!
Thanks, Jeff!
I have the 3/8 and the 1/2....I really like them, but they're a bit pricey!
Thanks for the review!
Edit: I agree about the handle...it's too small.
Yeani think its a solid ratchet,just didnt like the grip mostly!!
Craftsman V Series in the HOUSE 😄
It sure is!! thanks for checking in my friend!!
Rebuilding; I think it all boils down to who these are marketed to, these are homeowner grade tools sold mostly through big box hardware stores. For one the average homeowner won't be rebuilding ratchets, second, I don't think the big box stores want to deal with rebuild kits, and where will you find a Craftsman service center? Stanley Black & Decker appears to have all their markets covered. It looks like Stanley and Black and Decker branded tools are bargain bin now, Craftsman for the homeowners, DeWalt for the contractors, Proto for industrial users, and Mac for professional mechanics. Proto and Mac users are the only ones who realistically will need to be rebuilding ratchets so they are the only rebuildable ratchets in their line up. Seems to me TTI and Apex employ a similar strategy.
Me, I have to wonder if they have a lifetime warranty, will that come back to haunt them when whatever lubricant they put in them finally wears out or breaks down.
It looks like a nice ratchet I wouldn't mind trying it out for a couple days and see what I think but thanks for another great video just talk to you bye
Hi randy thanks for checking it out!! you might like it!!
Thanks for the review Jeff.
No problem jim!! thanks for checking in!!
Hey Jeff, I was wondering if these are similar to the Facom ratchets. I know we saw similarities between the v series wrenches and the Facom wrenches. Looking at pictures, I suspect the Facom ratchets from Taiwan are manufactured at the same factory as these as well.
Hi ratchet i never had a falcom ratchet yet!! ill take a look!!! thanks my friend!!!
It is a nice looking ratchet similar to a Mac Axis. The handle does look to be on the small side. Craftsman's lower tier ratchets can be disassembled for cleaning and lubrication. Why not the top of the line units? I feel that SB&D missed the mark with the V Series ratchets. There are a lot of other better options at a lower price point.
No argument hear my friend!! always appreciate your take on things!! thanks lieser!!
Thanks for the review. I just can't warm up to the "new" Craftsman.
Well mark your not alone!! thanks for checking in!!
You guys should go see Project Farms video on flex head ratchets, this took the most torque btw!!!
Project farms,yea the titan of tool reviews!! well ill keep at it,thanks for watching!!
Craftsman sure has the shiny down but will they work when you need them most ? Jeff do you remember when Sears had those catalogs with those Giant tool sets. .?
Tank i sure do!!!! im doing a video today on walking down memory lane with old craftsman tools,stay tuned!!!
Thx again, Jeff !
Thanks for stopping in steve!!
If you say you don’t have big hands and you think the handle is too small then I really believe you. I can’t stand when they use smaller handles especially on 1/4” ratchets. Some of them feel like they’re meant for babies to grab and wrench with.
Nick these handles are small!! thats the first thing that stood out!!
Nice ratchet...but there are ALOT of nice ratchets just like it for less money...(it's identical to my Facom JXL 171 3/8" extendable ratchet) my Facom head is slimmer though...But I'd still buy one..😅
Hi boosted it suppost to be a strong ratchet!! i just didnt care for the grips,and the non servicable head!!its a nice looking ratchet and probably would be fine until you needed to service it!!
V series has been a bit disappointing from what I've seen. You really hit the points I noticed when I looked at one of those. Thick head, sealed head, I personally don't like comfort grips because they're lots harder to keep clean and the square handle just doesn't feel good in the hand (I have the same gripe with the DeWalt ratchets in my car's crash kit). Not a terrible tool, but they ask for something of a premium over their normal craftsman ratchet which usually is serviceable, comes with a polished chrome handle and offers a similar or smaller head size at the expense of being 72 tooth rather than 80 tooth if memory serves. Plus, you find yourself at the mercy of Lowe's on warranty issues, and I've not had the best luck when they don't have the exact same SKU to exchange out.
Iron claw all valid points my friend!! craftsman is trying to get back to there glory days,i think its to late,will see!!
It looks like a very nice ratchet. The head seems kinda beefy
Yea the head is large and non servicable!! thanks for checking it out!!
👍😎👍
Hello pieman!!!!
Just letting you know Jeff. I have noticed this before on your channel and I have commented on it at least once or twice. I keep having to subscribe. I click subscribe...check it frequently for a few weeks and all is fine. Then a while go's by, I check to see...and I'm not subscribed again. I'd ask youtube WTF if I was you.
Hi steven that is fu# cked up!! im not happy about,i have reached out to them before,they dont really tell you why!! like yesterday i had - 5 for subscribers!! that doesnt make me happy!! you tube is crazy, sometimes it goes backwards with subscribers and you really never no why!! thanks steve for telling me that!!
I have some of the smaller comfort grip V-series ratchets. How is the best way to clean them when they get dirty? Without destroying the rubber grip?
Good question!!! ill do a video on this!! thanks for the feedback my friend!!!
Jeff, does the grip feel like it should rotated on the handle 180 degrees. So the flat section would be on the square drive sided.
thats a good question,its just so small id dont think that would help much!! thanks for checking it out my friend!!!
The handles are to small. The do have another comfort grip design that squarsh that little bigger. The comfort grips seam to have more back drag at first and they do have a slim line now thats a lot thinner.
Hi papa they do have a bunch of options!! but i dont know,what to make of this one!!
How far is the head next to a Pittsburgh
Hi craig i dont have a pittsburg ratchet to compare it,at least yet!!
I feel I can do better for the $$$
Louis there are lots of good options out there,no doubt!! thanks for checking in!!!!
Handle is way too small and the head is THICK. that's gonna be a pass for me.
I hear ya racoon,thanks for checking in!!
Super large diameter flex pin. That's a good thing.
I did fail to mention that,it suppost to be a strong design,thanks my friend!l
It looks nice and i would like to buy one but not being able to oil/grease it is a let down for me.
Your not alone my friend,thanks for jumping in!!
For me, Craftsman died with the Sears collapse. I consider them like Porter Cable - a once great name reduced to a generic subpar brand name slapped on some lower middle tier imports. Maybe they have a few winners, but I'm not going near them.
Lots of people feel the same way my friend!! im no different!! thanks my friend for joining in!!
Very attractive ratchet but a closed head would be a negative for me. I’ve already had one of their standard ratchets lock up on me. I just don’t know how much trust I can put in the new craftsman ratchets. Thanks.
Joe your not alone!! its never going to be like there hey days!! thanks my friend!!