EASCO & PowrKraft Wrenches

[goodfellow]

Probably the most overlooked (or forgotten) quality wrenches in recent years.

I'm referring to EASCO, and to a lesser extent PowrKraft. Even though they are now part of the Danaher Empire, EASCO wrenches especially are one of the best values out there.

I keep a separate drawer in my toolbox for wrenches I don't use that much anymore; which is a shame because I used to love these things but had opted for MATCO and MAC because of tool truck convenience. Here you see a set of mid 1970's metric EASCO wrenches and an early 1970's Montgomery Ward SAE PowrKraft set. IIRC the Wards set was manufactured by Thorsen Tool Co.



PowrKraft set -- notice the very wide "beefed up" contact areas on these wrenches. They are larger than on any other set I own, and makes these things very valuable for turning stubborn fasteners.











EASCO metric set









Ever wonder why these things didn't flex -- especially in the smaller most popular sizes (10,11,12mm)? just look at the forging of the box ends. Those walls are extra thick, and although not as useable in tight quarters, EASCO's smaller wrenches held up better than most tool truck brands. Here are the 10mm and 12 mm wrenches --

[Uncle Buck]

Thorsen combo wrenches in the day did have extraordinarily thick/fat heads.
That said, I experienced more spread with Thorsen open ends than any other brand of wrenches I ever used/owned. Also, the only sockets I ever had split were Thorsen which likely explains my dislike and avoidance of the brand. I have a few bits and pieces of the brand around, but not much.

[goodfellow]

Thorsen combo wrenches in the day did have extraordinarily thick/fat heads.
That said, I experienced more spread with Thorsen open ends than any other brand of wrenches I ever used/owned. Also, the only sockets I ever had split were Thorsen which likely explains my dislike and avoidance of the brand. I have a few bits and pieces of the brand around, but not much.

Thorsen was "iffy" over the years; as was SK. I still have several sets of Wards chrome 3/8" Dr. 12pt. Powr-Kraft sockets that were late 1970s manufacture and they have been outstanding. Used them on air impacts, long breaker bars, and all sorts of drivers. I keep them in the road box because they are indestructible. Bought the same set later in the 1980s and they were the worst. Just like SK -- Depends on what years they were manufactured.

[bonneyman]

Ever since I found out EASCO was a major supplier to Sears, I started looking for them. I have a small bunch of their stuff including ratchets, extensions, sockets and accessories, and wrenches.

I think they're solid tools for sure. Here's some of my tools.

[goodfellow]

Yeah, I don't think Sears ever offered a better ratchet than those EASCO RHFT models. Sure there were better looking and better ergonomic designs that came along later, but those old RHFT ratchets were gold.

[Uncle Buck]

The RHFT was hands down the best, most bulletproof ratchet Sears ever sold and I am sure was equally great regardless whose name was stamped on the handle.

The RHFT was the first 1/2" drive ratchet I ever owned and if I had to choose only 1 ratchet to keep and the rest would have go, that would be the one I would keep!

[bonneyman]

I agree the RHFT ratchet was a nice mechanism, but I just couldn't stand the Craftsman's I-beam handle. Then I saw the EASCO version with the round knurled handle, and that was that!

[Hickory n Steel]

I know this isn't a mechanics tool, but it is Easco branded.

I picked up this very nice NOS easco 16oz claw hammer at my favorite local closeout tool store back in January for $6.50.
Based on the overall head shape, half octagon handle, and double step wedges It was definitely made by Vaughan & Bushnell.







It originally had a laminate foil sticker on the handle,  but it was coming off so I took the opportunity to strip the lawyer and oil it.

[skfarmer]

easco hammer?

thats a new one. looks unused.

[goodfellow]

Classic! It looks too beautiful to use H&S. Like SK, I didn't know that EASCO made hammers. Too cool!

[Hickory n Steel]

Classic! It looks too beautiful to use H&S. Like SK, I didn't know that EASCO made hammers. Too cool!

I believe it was actually made for them by Vaughan & Bushnell.

[Hickory n Steel]

Easco also had Hacksaws & blades ( I have one with a pack of blades )
They had hex L keys ( didn't they buy Chesco at some point? ) too which are / were fairly nice ones at that.

I have also seen some imported Easco tools, they had their NOVA line of Taiwanese socket sets that were mostly exported to Australia I've heard.
Easco also offered adjustable wrenches that were made in Japan.

[Hickory n Steel]

easco hammer?

thats a new one. looks unused.

I have yet to use it, and it was absolutely NOS when I bought it.
They had a pile of them, but the rest were slightly different and probably a slightly lower priced offering originally.
Some had the black paint, some a dark maroon paint, and some a baby blue paint.
There were also a couple hammers in the pile that were identical to all the others but branded for some hardware store instead of Easco.

[Highland512]

I have a nearly complete set of Esco wrenches of this same style, except they are stamped NAPA. 

[AbiggerGarage]

Ever since I found out EASCO was a major supplier to Sears, I started looking for them. I have a small bunch of their stuff including ratchets, extensions, sockets and accessories, and wrenches.

I think they're solid tools for sure. Here's some of my tools.

I had one of those paintbrush style handles, but it was broken when I bought it and I could never find a rebuild kit.  The Craftsman ratchets, from the early 2000's seemed to go that style and felt good.

To a later post, I remember seeing some imported Easco stuff, at either Comb, or much more likely, our Cummin's tool store (we didn't get the tents, we had the store).  They had some good stuff I wish I would have bought *old metal socket holders*, and lot's o crap.  Those sockets looked good enough to work on fresh licorice bolts, and not much else. (made the $4.99 socket sets when I was a kid, look good)