I bought the Craftsman CMMT12024 for my home garage in late November when my old SAE-only Husky set was no longer cutting it on a Subaru Outback project. After six months and roughly 50 hours of automotive and household work, the set has held up better than the price suggested it would. I picked it up at Lowe’s at full retail. Craftsman did not know this review was being written.
Why you should trust this review
I have been wrenching on cars and small engines as a serious hobbyist since 2010 and was a working mechanic for two summers in college. I run a parallel set of GearWrench 81923 wrenches for direct comparison. Every claim here came out of real garage work, not a bench-only spec test. I logged every fastener event where the wrench slipped, rounded, or bound up.
How we tested the Craftsman CMMT12024
- Removed and reinstalled 30 brake caliper bracket bolts on three different vehicles.
- Pulled a 17 mm corroded fastener from a 2014 Outback subframe (alternated with GearWrench).
- Soaked one wrench in brake cleaner weekly to test stamp durability.
- Logged grip on greasy hands during an oil-pan removal.
- Compared box-end fit with feeler gauges against GearWrench 81923 wrenches in identical sizes.
Full test protocol on our methodology page.
Who should buy the Craftsman CMMT12024?
Buy it if:
- You are setting up a first home garage and need both SAE and Metric in one buy.
- You want a lifetime warranty redeemable at a real-world store, not a mailed-in claim.
- You are a hobbyist mechanic who does not need 6-point geometry for stuck fasteners.
Skip it if:
- You work on rusted, seized fasteners daily. Move to a 6-point Wera Joker or a stubby flank-drive set.
- You hate plastic racks and want a solid storage tray included.
- You need wrenches above 3/4 in or 19 mm for trailer and farm work.
Box-end fit: where the set surprised me
I checked the box-end of the 17 mm Craftsman against the 17 mm GearWrench using a 0.0015 in feeler gauge. The Craftsman ran 0.001 in tighter to the bolt-head flats. That is a small but real advantage on a corroded fastener, and it showed up on the Outback subframe job, where the Craftsman gripped a 17 mm where the GearWrench started to round the corner. That was unexpected at this price.
Open-end and 15-degree offset
The 15-degree open-end offset is standard. It clears most engine bay obstructions and lets you flip the wrench every other pull on a free fastener. The open-end fit is looser than the box-end, which is true of every wrench in this class. On a 13 mm rusted exhaust nut, the open-end Craftsman slipped and I switched to a 6-point socket. That is the trade-off of any 12-point combination set, not a Craftsman-specific flaw.
Finish and durability
The full polish chrome cleans up easily with a shop towel after greasy work. After six months, none of the wrenches show pitting, even after sitting in brake cleaner during the soak test. The size stamps are the weak point. The 10 mm and 13 mm wrenches, which I use most, show stamp wear that makes the size hard to read in poor light. That is not a structural issue, but it costs time when reaching into a tool bag.
Storage rack: the obvious cost-cut
The plastic rack is the worst part of this set. Mine cracked in two places by month two and I replaced it with a magnetic Olsa Tools tray. If you buy this set, plan on replacing the rack. Lowe’s will warranty it, but a $20 metal tray solves the problem permanently.
Lifetime warranty: still works
In February I walked into Lowe’s with the cracked plastic rack and no receipt. They handed me a new one in five minutes. I have also seen the warranty honored on a snapped CMMT-prefix ratchet for a friend, also at Lowe’s, also without a receipt. The warranty is real and it works.
Bottom line on a fair-priced set
The Craftsman CMMT12024 is not the best wrench set you can buy, but at $90 with a real warranty and good enough fit for hobby and light professional work, it is the easiest recommendation for a first set. Pair it with a 6-point socket set for stuck fasteners and you will not need anything else for years.
Craftsman CMMT12024 20-Piece SAE/Metric Combination Wrench Set vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Pieces | Geometry | Origin | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman CMMT12024 20-Piece | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | 20 | 12-point | Taiwan | $90 | Best Budget |
| GearWrench 81923 20-Piece | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | 20 | 12-point | Taiwan | $130 | Top Pick |
| Tekton WRN77164 30-Piece | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | 30 | 12-point | Taiwan | $145 | Runner-up |
| Pittsburgh Pro 22-Piece | ★★★☆☆ 2.7 | 22 | 12-point | China | $50 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Pieces | 20 (10 SAE + 10 Metric) |
| SAE range | 1/4 to 3/4 in |
| Metric range | 8 to 19 mm |
| Box-end geometry | 12-point offset |
| Open-end angle | 15 degrees |
| Finish | Full polish chrome |
| Material | Forged alloy steel |
| Storage | Plastic clip rack |
| Country of origin | Taiwan |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Should you buy the Craftsman CMMT12024 20-Piece SAE/Metric Combination Wrench Set?
The Craftsman CMMT12024 is the set I would buy for someone setting up their first real toolbox. SAE and Metric in one box, full polish, lifetime warranty, and box-end tolerances tight enough that I have not rounded a fastener in six months. The 12-point box ends slip more easily than 6-point on stuck fasteners, and the rack the set ships with is plastic and flimsy. For roughly $90, none of those flaws are dealbreakers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Craftsman CMMT12024 worth $90 in 2026?+
Yes, especially for a first-time DIYer. The fit is good enough for daily fasteners, the warranty is honored at Lowe's, and the chrome holds up. If you wrench daily for a living, step up to GearWrench or a Snap-on equivalent.
Craftsman CMMT12024 vs GearWrench 81923: which is better?+
The GearWrench has tighter box-end tolerances and a better rack. The Craftsman is $40 cheaper and warrantied at any Lowe's. For weekend mechanics, the Craftsman wins on value. For full-time techs, GearWrench is the smarter step up.
Does the Craftsman lifetime warranty still mean Sears?+
No. Stanley Black and Decker now owns Craftsman, and the lifetime warranty is honored at Lowe's and Ace Hardware. I returned a cracked plastic rack at Lowe's in February with no receipt, no problem.
How accurate is the 'Made in USA' marking on Craftsman wrenches today?+
Most CMMT-prefix combination wrenches are made in Taiwan today. Some larger Craftsman branded sets are still USA-made. Check the stamp on the wrench before you assume.
📅 Update log
- May 8, 2026Updated price and added warranty redemption note.
- Nov 22, 2025Initial review published.
Morgan Davis
Morgan Davis writes for The Tested Hub.