(Remember, our Craftsman Max Axess socket set giveaway ends this Friday. So if you haven’t entered yet, get on over there and do so!)
We’ve been casually testing one of Craftsman Max Axess pass-thru socket sets for a couple of weeks now, and have really grown to like it.
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What’s HOT:
- High quality ratchets
- Great build quality all around, perfect finish
- All-in-one system fits in a low-profile carry/storage case that we actually want to keep!
- Ratchets come with adapters for regular 1/4″, 3/8″ sockets
- Pass-thru sockets can take the place of deep sockets, wrenches, or specialty sockets in many cases
- Low-profile ratchet + shallow sockets = great for limited clearance applications
- Compatible with Gearwrench pass-thru sockets, screwdriver bits, and accessories (at least all the ones we tried)
What can be improved:
- What about a 11/32″ socket? (Yes, we’ve got unusual needs)
- Fit of spinner handle could be a little better
- How about a screwdriver bit adapter?
In all, there’s not much to complain about. As you can see, most of our criticisms are trivial. What we would really like to see come out is a smaller kit that includes the 1/4″ ratchet, a bit adapter, a few screwdriver bits and a storage case as nice as the one this set came with. The regular price of $70 is a little steep, but we feel that sale prices of $55-60 make this a great buy.
Buy Now(via Sears)
The Max Axess set is featured on page 5 of Sears’ 2011 Holiday Catalog.
Don’t forget to use coupon code SEARS2011.
Thank you to Craftsman for providing the sample for this review unconditionally. Review samples are typically returned, donated, or in some cases retained for further testing or benchmark and comparison purposes.
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Ashley
This is exactly what my dad is wanting for Christmas!!!! And I’m sure when my husband sees it, he’ll want a set too.
BRIAN
I think this would be great as I keep all my sockets in the house and I always have to run back in the house and to the basement to get my deep well socket since the small ones always seem to not fit. This would save me alot of time and would let me carry less tools when working on my car or bike in front of the house. This would also be great to take to the junkyard as well.
Adam Chamberlain
This looks like a really well-made set of sockets. The ratchets remind me of the Craftsman 60T/ Thin-Profile/ Next Gen units Sears has been selling for several years now.
Mel Osmond
I think you’ve got a Big Winner with Max Axess tools. I personally prefer the chrome set(more sockets) . I think Max Axess is better than the low profile sets offered by Snap – On tools!!
Johnie Mitchell
I have used the Craftsman Wrench set for the past 20 years. They are very reliable and I have had nothing but success. In the last past 5 years I have been plagued with severe Rheumatoid Arthristis and thought that I would not have the ability to use my Craftsman tools but I can to do minor car repairs with a little more ease. My wife saw the new Universal Craftsman Socket set and I went on line to look at it. I’m glad to see that Craftsman came out with something new and Universal.
susano
It’s ashame sears stop carrying the Gearwrench Vortex line. IMHO it was a much better deal than the MAX access.