Over at Lowe’s, they came out with a new Craftsman homeowner tool set, model CMCLWSKITQ419.
The “V20 Holiday Tool Set” is said to include “a variety of products to help you get the job done.”
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The set comes with:
- Craftsman V20 cordless drill/driver kit
- Craftsman 19pc screwdriver bit set
- Craftsman 14pc drill bit set,
- Craftsman 25′ tape measure
- Craftsman folding utility knife
- Craftsman 6pc mini pliers and cutters set with case
- Craftsman 9″ torpedo level
- Craftsman 20oz hammer
Price: $199 – the set will DEFINITELY be reduced for the holidays
Update 12/5/19: The price of this Craftsman tool set has dropped to $99. How do you feel about this set now?
Discussion
Okay, so as far as “household tool sets” go, how’d you rate this one?
If you ask me, it has a decent selection of must-have tools. Add in a multi-bit screwdriver, a mini bit screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and maybe a 2pc pliers set, and you’ve got a great start.
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Price-wise, $199 isn’t good, I know I can build a better selection of tools for less. But, let’s wait and see what the holiday season or Black Friday price will be. With a $199 starting point, maybe it’ll be on sale for $149?
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “you’ve given me nothing!” and 5 being “a perfect start for the absolute beginner,” I’d rank this a solid 3.5. It packs in some must-haves, and gives you the freedom to pick your own screwdriver, adjustable wrench, and full-size pliers.
It doesn’t look to come with a tool box though. That’s a small bummer. Budget in some money for a VersaStack, tool box.
So, your thoughts on this “household tool set?”
Alternative Combo (Added 12/6/19)
Vards had a great suggestion in comments:
Drill Kit via Amazon (~$62)
DIY Tool Set via Amazon ($39)
With these two kits you get a Craftsman drill and a better selection of hand tools. You’ll need drill and screwdriver bit starter sets as well, but special buys can be found at any home center this time of year for ~$10 each.
This combo sets you back ~$101, which isn’t too far off from the now-$99 kit discussed above, but you’ll need to factor in another $20-25 for drill and driver sets. Or buy what you need a la carte, but that’s not the best approach.
James
Yeah, for a lower price I think this is a good set for a person moving into their first apartment or a new homeowner who doesn’t plan on doing much maintenance themselves.
It looks a lot like the hodgepodge of tools my wife brought with her when we moved in together. I agree that the price needs to be lower, and a cheap toolbox should be included as well.
Frank D
The rating would be a lot more favorable at half the cost …
Jon
Seems pretty expensive something that says Craftsman. Esentailly what I consider to be a red black and deck you could get more value for your money from Ridgid. Rating: 1, or 0
GEORGE MICHENER
something like https://www.lowes.com/pd/BLACK-DECKER-12-Volt-59-Tool-Power-Tool-Combo-Kit-with-Soft-Case-1-Battery-Included-and-Charger-Included/1000359049 makes more sense for a appt fixer kit. I’m surprised craftsman is going with a 20oz hammer vs a 16-
Dust
I want to hate this kit because I myself wouldn’t want it, and I could pick better tools to fit in the price. However, it’s not too far off for someone that doesn’t have any tools. Omit all those pliers and throw in an upgraded pair of dikes and I could see this being reasonable at $179.
skfarmer
not very high. nothing wrong with mini pliers but they are not a starter tool. it would be much better if they ditch the mini pliers and add a slip joint, side cutter, needle nose, water pump pliers and a 8 inch adjustable. the set really needs a couple full size screwdrivers or a good multi-bit driver as well.
Jared
I’m with you on most points. Odd not to include a multi-bit screwdriver and at least an adjustable wrench in a kit like this. Could do with less pliers if they were full size.
Nothing wrong with the kit overall as a starting point thought. You could get a lot done with this around the home if it was all you had.
Thom
Give them time. SBD knows for most people Craftsman =USA and is building a factory in Texas.
Scott K
$200 seems steep. I’m surprised to see the 6 piece mini pliers set rather than full size needle nose pliers, diagonal cutters, and pliers. I agree that an adjustable wrench would be a nice addition- I’d also like to see a set of hex keys. This is clearly meant for someone who doesn’t have anything and so I would think a toolbox to hold everything would make sense.
I was handed down tools in batches before I really needed my own and so this wouldn’t have been something I would ever have been interested in.
Scott K
I missed the lack of multi-bit screwdriver. That’s a must.
Jim Felt
I think this latest (non bankrupt) corporate iteration of Sears/Craftsman will go nearly nowhere with those of us who still recall the “glory” days of “Made in USA” Craftsman Tools.
These are “Craftsman” in trademarked marketing name only.
Darn. I’d at least hoped for better.
Mac
$100 and I think the choices of tools are off…I agree with the others…needs a flat bar, decent set of needle nose pliers, crescent wrench and channel locks.
David
This exactly. It’s overpriced, lacking important homeowner tools, and the mini pliers are way less useful of an option. For me, this wouldn’t even make my “maybe” list – I’d just walk down the cardboard display bins at one of the big box stores and build something more appropriate.
David Zeller
A basic set of tools without any screwdrivers? (I don’t buy the idea/benefit mentioned in the article about getting flexibility to pick your own. That’s true for all the tools.)
No pliers or adjustable wrench?
It’s like the intern’s position ended and they just went with whatever was written down so far…
Stuart
Maybe it’s done to keep costs down, or the assumption is that more users will already have a screwdriver or multi-bit driver.
I say you have the flexibility to buy your preference in other core staples if you don’t already have them. It is what it is. The set is incomplete. I chose to look at the bright side.
Mini cutters might come in handy, but it’s not something a beginner might buy. The same with the torpedo level. But a multi-bit screwdriver? I’m sure there will be a promo pack right next to these in Lowe’s final holiday displays. Beginners or gift givers can pick it up at the same time. Or they can go to Home Depot and buy a promo set there.
If someone thinks “oh, but I already have a multi-bit screwdriver” or buys say a cordless driver at the same time, they might be less likely to buy this set due to the overlap.
There’s not much excuse for leaving out an adjustable wrench though.
Robear
I think pretty much every homeowner already owns screwdrivers, so I think it was smart to leave those out. Seems to be a good assortment but the problem is price.
Tool Selection: 4/5
Price: 1/5
Scott K
I can’t imagine someone not also owning a tape measure and hammer…
Steve
My brother in law didn’t have any screwdrivers. His toilet was running and my father in law went over to help him. He had to use a dinner knife to tighten the screw. At Christmas a cheap set of Stanley screwdrivers from my father in law appeared for him.
NCD
This is something an uninformed woman will buy for her boyfriend/husband at Christmas.
Bonson
This appears to be a gateway set to get new homeowners into the Craftsman cordless system. Compare to Ryobi’s usual starter set which is all cordless tools for around the same price…this offers less value but more utility.
New customer acquisition costs are high. But if they expect a good portion of the target demographic but more of their cordless line, they planned steep steep discounts from that $199 price come holiday time.
As far as rating it, I’d give it a 3. Would have gotten a 4 if trading out the mini pliers for a multi bit driver. Add a solid wrench and it’s a 5.
Steve
Eh. Lowes actually offers some Kolbat homeowner tool sets that are pretty comprehensive if you buy the power tools and accessories separately.
Stuart
*Offered.*
Perry
Our local lowes still has the kobalt rolling homeowner set on display, I didn’t bother to look at price though.
Steve
They’re all still in stock online and at my local Lowes. Look under the “Household Tool Sets” section in the app.
Joe H
Aside from the other tools people have mentioned I would throw in a miterbox and backsaw so just about anyone can also cut a piece of wood and do it accurately. Also makes a lot of small common projects possible such as picture frames.
Eric
As it is I could see $129-$139.
To fix the kit I think get rid of the mini pliers and replace them with some standard sized pliers. A pair of needle nose, side cutters, slip joint, groove joint, and an adjustable wrench. Add in a 5-6 piece screwdriver set, and a bit driver with a greater assortment of bits, it doesn’t look like there are any torx bits in the set. Then a set of micro screwdrivers, or a driver and bit set. Also I think sets like these really need to come with a pair of safety glasses. Gloves would be nice, but the sizing would make it difficult. People buying sets like these aren’t going to have PPE laying around.
ca
People buying sets like these don’t need PPE.
Skye A Cohen
Looks great for what it is. I would never buy Craftsman though it’s about as un professional as possible, same level as harbor freight tools. I will say that it’s refreshing to see a homeowner tool set with a rip claw hammer
KevinB
those pliers are a headscratcher. Replace those with a basic bit holding screwdriver and a pair of locking pliers. For the current price also include a worklight/flashlight to take advantage of that second battery. I’d rate it a 3 .
mattd
It needs an adjustable wrench, channellock style pliers, needle nose, and either linemans or a normal set of side cutters instead of that mini plier set. I get that they get a decent drill and bit set, but honestly the price is a bit much. and again the pliers set is all wrong. this pliers set is what every “new” homeowner should get https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-10-Piece-Household-Tool-Set/50029436
Curtis
Meh! I’d rather get a top of the line Ryobi drill and then buy similar hand tools on special. Price would be a bit lower and I’d be buying into a cordless tool system that has 150 or something different compatible tools. You want a brad nailer, band saw, grinder, chainsaw, etc…? Yeah, Ryobi’s got that. Craftsman? Not so much.
I’ve got DeWalt and Milwaukee cordless tools as well, but I’ve never regretted having bought in to the Ryobi tool platform. They’ve got a huge selection of decent, low priced tools and they keep bringing out more.
Big Richard
Craftsman DOES have a V20 brad nailer, chainsaw, and grinder. Just no band saw.
Stacey
I’d give it a rating of 1. If the price was $80, I’d give it a 2. It’s not worth more…
Flotsam
i just about choked when i read the price of that. Waaaaay too expensive. Agree with Stacey more of a recommendation if it were only $80
Aaron
The kits I’ve seen in this space — drill plus hand tool kit– come from Black and Decker. My wife bought a B&D kit for her office. It has a much worse drill than this which does everything she needs and a better assortment of hand tools.
It was $50 on sale.
Craftsman seems to be aiming for a somewhat higher market than b&d, but anyone willing to pay this much for an upgraded drill probably wants either a better value or better curated set.
I wish more of these kits came with an electrical detector. It is a critical safety tool for homeowners but almost no amateurs but them.
Andrew
Pass especially for the price. I will say the tape, and drill bits are pretty nice. I assume the level is pretty good and just a rebranded fatmax. The rest are, eh. Could put together a better kit for cheaper. Lowes has better Kobolt kits for cheaper. Frankly I work with tools everyday and remodeling and none of those pliers would be my choice in any situation. A screwdriver set would be more useful, or a 6 in 1 maybe.
Patrick
At first I saw the drill, hammer, tape measure and box cutter and thought it might be good for my mother to have around the house. Then I saw the lack of screwdriver body (use the drill for ALL driving tasks? Hell no), no adjustable wrench or channel lock pliers and then that price.
Include better thought out tools and a good clean storage and I’d go $120-150. As is, I wouldn’t bother even at $100 because I’d need to invest another $30-50 to fix the holes left by the kit.
Wayne R.
To me, I see “Homeowner’s Set” and think the set offered will be both simple & comprehensive. Assortment of screwdrivers, a few types of (medium sized) pliers, a couple of adjustable wrenches. Some add-ons? Throw in a simple pry bar and electrical receptacle/GFCI tester.
It’s impressive that, en masse, American Marketing has frequently decided that our turning a fastener depends on a machine (with batteries, too). Our hands are just to hold the machine. There are no manual drivers in here at all!
And this kit has nice little pliers, but no bigger ones? That’s glaring too. Adding the knife & level are good; why not a simple laser level too? New homeowners need to line up their wall attachments.
There should be a small book about screw types, nail types, sheetrock anchor types, air filter types, valve types, switch/fuse/breaker stuff, etc., for the person who doesn’t even know what’s in their new home.
This set might be a base set for someone to buy as a component for a larger set to give as a gift, not for someone to buy isolated for themselves. I would not touch it, myself.
Jorn
I think it blows.
Everyone who visits this blog is going to hate this set of tools because we all like hoarding quality tools and building our own sets…
That being said:
-As mentioned; $200 for this set is a ripoff. At $100 I still don’t see much value in it.
-No screwdrivers? Anyone who has ever bought a new house has made a trip to Ikea. You don’t want to be assembling their “furniture” without your own driver. This set should include a multi-bit driver to make it even remotely useful.
-6 Mini pliers? Is this a home-owner set or is it intended for electronics makers?
Here’s my advice:
– Ditch the stupid mini pliers, replace those with a multi-bit driver and a normal pair of needle-nose pliers, a diagonal cutter and an adjustable wrench. Drop the price to $129 or so for the holidays.
Or don’t… since I would never buy this for anyone.
Wayne R.
I’d hand over an otherwise surplus set of decent screwdrivers for those mini-pliers, even though I’ve got plenty of both.
Nathan
change the pliers to be a set of needle nose (basic) and a channel lock style – then add some 6 inch or so adjustable wrench.
Then more screw driver bits less of the other bits and nut driver.
then throw in a screw driver bit handle non ratcheting
include some box or larger bag or something to hold it all
and sell it around 130-140. And it would be a great starter kit for a first home/apartment etc or a dorm room kit for college. etc etc.
as is – misses the mark a bit
Matt J
It’s not a bad mix and seems to hit the right notes as far as tools that EVERYONE will need at some point. In this respect, I like it a lot better than a lot of other kits out there that look like good deals but throw in one or two tools that “regular” people never use.
Price wise, it doesn’t seem to stack up. I priced out what I thought each of these items should cost individually and came up with $190. Even if I was a bit conservative on prices, I feel like buying a kit should save you at least 25% vs. going a la carte. This doesn’t come close.
Thomas A Kivler
Honestly I am an old Craftsman guy and have bought quite a few SBD Craftsman offerings but this is not a $200 set in my eyes, it is a $100 set at most. No screwdrivers? No slip joint pliers?
I think we will see this at $120 by black Friday.
CraftsmanForever
A lot of dads will get this for Christmas!
Carl J
And be sneaking it out of the house on Dec. 26th for a refund.
Andrew
I could buy an anvil homeowner hand tool set from HD for $25 some Ryobi bits for $20 and pretty much whatever selection of Ryobi tools I want and be under $200. I just feel like the new craftsman is just too expensive for what you get.
Reno
There no innovation here they just thru items together I would think with all the resources Stanly has they can to better
price and contents are a joke
Thom
Yes it does seem kind of slapped together by someone who doesn’t really use tools.
Kent
Rating: 1 out of 5. I wouldn’t recommend this to anybody.
The Craftsman battery situation – several different non-compatable batteries that have been sold in the past few years – makes this a non-starter. $100 is too much to pay for the non-powered tools, and I wouldn’t even consider buying CMan cordless tools.
In all honesty, I’d recommend Ryobi, Skill Porter Cable or even Harbor Freight before I recommended CMan.
Carl J
Agree 100%.
Matt
Pretty much the same here as others have said. It’s overpriced and the mini pliers set makes no sense. Replace that with an adjustable wrench and/or a larger set of pliers along with a couple of screwdrivers and it would be a great kit in the $120 range.
At this price it needs not only those upgrades but a few more as well all contained in a Versastack box.
Ray Rudolph
Buy the Makita 18 volt brushless drill black Friday price (last year ) for 100 bucks at the Depot . While there buy the Makita drill bits for 15 bucks. With the remaining 85 dollars go to H.F. and buy hammer, driver bits and pliers that you really want. The level is optional.
Thom
For $100 it looks a lot better.
Frank D
At $99. I’d say the price is pretty fair. The only thing somebody would quickly need in addition is a regular size combo kit of pliers, a slip wrench, adjustable wrench and vise grip.
Jp
Yuck and heck no. Never been tool minded. This set is too specialized. Ive lived in many places needing repairs. One needs hammers, pliers of standard sizes, wrenches for basic plumbing, tees, etc. Leveling usually not needed, neither are mini pliers. I guess they may have put this together with an assumption that the buter already has the items i mentioned. But i don’t get this set at all. Carpenters have better and more thorough sets. Home users need the above instead of a slim selection of nut setters and other stuff
mattd
you can compare it to this ryobi set that HD put out new this year : https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18-Volt-ONE-Home-Owners-Starter-Kit-P1971N/306526535 which costs $89. with the Cman set you get the mini pliers set instead of 1 needle nose plier, 2 batteries and a more robust looking charger, and a level. with the ryobi set you get some spade drill bits and some screwdrivers. overall if i was to recommend one It would be the Cman one. still I would also recommend something like this plier set to go with it. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-10-Piece-Household-Tool-Set-No-Case/50029436 that would solve a significant ammount of problems a homeowner/apartment dweller could encounter.
ktash
I’d go with the Ryobi set at link above. The craftsman set has a bunch of strange things that don’t exactly go together. If you don’t have a hammer you probably don’t have a multi head screwdriver, Or an adjustable wrench. Also the main point in the set’s favor is the drill and the battery and charger. However the Ryobi brand kit is better in that it’s more expandable for the homeowner who wants other power tools . It’s also got a proven track record unlike the new craftsman brand. If you look at I thought this kit by Kobalt was interesting as a starter kit if you wanted to spring for more for a new homeowner who was going to become a DIYer, $299 on sale.. Six relevant brushless power tools, +2 batteries and a charger.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-24-Volt-Max-6-Tool-Brushless-Power-Tool-Combo-Kit-with-Soft-Case-2-Batteries-Included-and-Charger-Included/1001045264
I sure hope the Kobalt 24-volt don’t get phased out. To my mind they are an excellent choice for a person starting out. They have plenty of power. Batteries extremely cheap. For hand tools, they have Kobalt kits starting at $39.
Vards Uzvards
These two items together make a more reasonable toolkit, IMO.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RR6FWXV/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KKGXFF5/
Total is less than two dollars higher ($100.80), both at Lowe’s and Amazon.
ktash
That combo makes a lot more sense.
Lloyd Worley
Walmart.com currently has the Black and Decker 128 pc project kit (LD120128PKWM) on sale for$94.88. It lacks the mini pliers set but ADDS a socket set, a set of combination wrenches, needle nose, slip joint and diagonal pliers, an adjustable wrench and nylon tool bag. Throw in a 10″ groove joint pliers for an extra $20 and call it good. This should handle anything an apartment or condo dwell would encounter.
Lloyd Worley
OR…Walmart.com also offers the STANLEY+Black and Decker 20V MAX 85 pc drill kit (BDPKSBD69CWM) for $75.16. This kit jettisons the socket set and combo wrenches but ADDS hex keys, a staple gun and a precision screwdriver set. I mention these kits as they are SBD products, same as subject CRAFTSMAN kit, yet offer much more content at less than half the price. And yeah, there are detail differences in the individual components, but given the target audience I don’t think they are significant. I think the differences in price and content reflect the premium that SBD is placing on the CRAFTSMAN brand, a premium that I don’t feel is wholly justified.
Charles
looks like junk. I’d say a fair value is $50. And even then I wouldn’t take it myself.
Get a Ryobi drill, bits, good $5 knife, & etc. and you can probably put together twice as good a package for 110, maybe lower this time of year. And it won’t be junk
Thebear Koss
Perfect at 99$ for my 10 year old nephew. Other than that, all of these would wind up in various junk tool boxes and drawers around the house… Any homeowner kit definitely requires a decent plier with wire cutters and strippers, slip joint/ channel locks, adjustable wrenches, and vise grip locking pliers.
Thebear Koss
Harbor Freight 30$ without the drill… https://www.harborfreight.com/Tool-Kit-with-Case-130-Pc-63248.html