Sarcasm doesn’t always translate well.
Shocked by bit socket prices
- Thread starter rust in the eye
- Start date
I don’t think so, as the mark up on less-warrantied items (eg: wrenches) is still the same.
We are both just guessing, unless you have inside info.
purplezr2
Well-known member
Wrench97
Well-known member
HD last longer but the set contains less sockets.
Do you seriously think that the price that SO sells something at doesn't include their expected warranty rate that's factored in?
SO is a publicly held company and google says that their net margin is currently ~22%. If they are selling to you directly, they are cutting out the dealer's 30%+ markup and are thus probably breaking even at 50% off.
The warranty is part of what you're paying for - they're selling tools to professional users and they know they'll be replacing the inserts for the user. Tools like a Torx bit socket are among the most likely to need replacement in my experience. They're also some of the easiest fasteners to damage or cam out.
The Snap On Torx tools are among the best fitting ones out there, which should reduce damage to fasteners and save the user time and money. Reading about someone going through multiple T55 bits to take off a truck bed...that'd drive me nuts if it was my own truck, but it'd be a big issue if it was on a shop's time. The time spent in pausing to go out and buy more bit sockets to do the job alone would handily pay for the Snap On set even as a privateer.
There are surely cheaper options. There are also cheaper options with lifetime warranties that are supposedly very easy to deal with. Gotta weigh it out and buy the tools that are the right value. I wouldn't spend Snap On money if it seemed frivolous.
Having not used the Koken Torx bits, what do you like about them? Everything I have used from Koken is very nice.
OP
rust in the eye
Well-known member
So paying for several up front is acceptable.
seber
Well-known member
Mainly the very precise fit both on the anvil and into the fastener.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I bought the 1/4 Zeal ones, the height of which are very nice. Fit was very good, minimal lead in taper, Zeal so the interface with the drive tool is very good. When I twisted it up I found the Snap-on low profile bits are basically identical, IIRC the snap on is a hair taller. SDMST30 for example, $6, got my Koken low profile T30 Zeal socket back in action, lifetime warranty on the bit.
It must be, if people are buying the product.
Maybe it’s like auto insurance and never filing a claim.
People that buy these sockets and use them once every two years are paying for those professional mechanics who break them on a regular basis
Up to you to decide if that has value.
I am not a big fan of Torx and find it's generally the sloppiest fit of any of the fasteners I encounter, so I am willing to spend a bit more to get a better fit and lower the likelihood of damaging things and stalling out when I can. Cheap Torx tools seem to wear faster for me than anything else. I'm looking for the best fit / tolerance and then the lowest cost over time. I'm curious about the Koken stuff mentioned by Seber as well as Gripedge's Torx tools, but Snap On has been the best I've used so far.
The tools have a one time cost. But if I round a fastener and then spend an hour removing it + an hour going to buy a new one then I'm making up the cost difference between a mid-range tool and a high end one just in time. Same for breaking a tool in the middle of a job and having to go out and buy another one. That's just my personal math.
Wrench97
Well-known member
We buy Snap On as a service, does it cost more yes but somethings it's worth have the service.
With Torx the HD are stronger then every other bit I've used but they still break.
There are several sizes I have multiple bits in, T30(GM rotor screws), T40, T45(found on Volvo HD trucks).
Snap On rep walks in knows where to look for broken tools takes them out to the truck and comes back with new bits inserted.
With Torx the HD are stronger then every other bit I've used but they still break.
There are several sizes I have multiple bits in, T30(GM rotor screws), T40, T45(found on Volvo HD trucks).
Snap On rep walks in knows where to look for broken tools takes them out to the truck and comes back with new bits inserted.
Madjik Man
Well-known member
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I trust that Nigerian prince who keeps emailing me than this listing.
four.cycle
Well-known member
okay... you made me to dig 'em out and look.
looks like the one marked "USA" is the only one that's been used - second from right.
so... THAT ONE would have been the lone survivor on the first removal of the bed on the Ranger.
when we bolted it back down, I hosed all six bolts with anti-seize after cleaning them up on a wire wheel, so they all came out easy (with the same no-name "USA" bit) when we had to replace the fuel pump less than a year later.
Sorry I can't tell you brand on it... it's only marked "USA" and "T55"
For reasons I probably don't need to articulate, I'd steer clear of the "Husky" - it looks sketchy right out of the box with that "tapered end" action going on there.
not sure where I found the plain black bit inserts. none have seen any use.
looks like the one marked "USA" is the only one that's been used - second from right.
so... THAT ONE would have been the lone survivor on the first removal of the bed on the Ranger.
when we bolted it back down, I hosed all six bolts with anti-seize after cleaning them up on a wire wheel, so they all came out easy (with the same no-name "USA" bit) when we had to replace the fuel pump less than a year later.
Sorry I can't tell you brand on it... it's only marked "USA" and "T55"
For reasons I probably don't need to articulate, I'd steer clear of the "Husky" - it looks sketchy right out of the box with that "tapered end" action going on there.
not sure where I found the plain black bit inserts. none have seen any use.
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finn
Well-known member
It’s likely that many break a regular Torx bit when trying to use it in a fastener designed for Torx +. They fit…sort of, but will strip out quite easily.
Maybe I’m the only one that thinks rusty or stuck torx and hex bit fasteners **** compared to hex nuts and bolts
OP
rust in the eye
Well-known member
No, me too, same for internal hex, to a lesser degree. Part of the problem is a shallow tool engagement and frequent use with washer head fasteners so even more fused area when rusty. I love them for things like construction screws.
Maybe I’m the only one that thinks rusty or stuck torx and hex bit fasteners **** compared to hex nuts and bolts
Torx, internal hex, Phillip, Pozi, etc. all present the problem of collecting rust or debris in the tool engagement area. Making sure they're clean and fully engaged with an undamaged bit goes a long way. Still a PITA
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I have a NAPA torx/hex bit socket set I bought roughly 15 years ago (Rebranded GearWrench). I have only ever broken a T30, otherwise I've beat the piss out of them and they held up well. Total investment was around $45 IIRC.
One of our heavy equipment techs uses Husky bit socket sets and doesn't have a problem with them.
One of our heavy equipment techs uses Husky bit socket sets and doesn't have a problem with them.
Wrench97
Well-known member
If you've ever worked on Volvo HD trucks, they use a lot 8mm button head torx bolts on the cab exterior grab handles, air shields and frame brackets for cooling lines, fuel lines, battery cable brackets etc, after about 5 years they don't come out and they are not torx +.
I am similar. I have a torx set from Ace Hardware that I picked up in the late 1990s. It is my main set and I use it every day. I think I replaced the 27 and 25 bits once each.
micromind
Well-known member
Maybe I’m the only one that thinks rusty or stuck torx and hex bit fasteners **** compared to hex nuts and bolts
I think the old square heads were best. If you had a 4 or 8 point socket, you'd never round the corners off.
GX460DIYguy
Well-known member
It took me forever just searching local shops but I did finally find a used set of the snap on heavy duty Torx for $100. They’ve seen some use, but don’t look like they were used on an impact so I figured it was a good deal since the bits can be replaced. I thought many times about getting a vim master set from eBay but held out.