Broke my first Snap-on Wrench today

[Skin]

If someone had dropped that wrench onto concrete or something before it was sold or used could that have caused an internal crack that was waiting to let go?
Is extreme high strength steel used to make the very thin box ends more likely to crack when struck on concrete?

uh what? its steel not stone

 

[redwrench60]

With your thinking of good tools having a warranty then you have put Craftsman, Stanley, Husky, Kobalt in the good catagory by your statment.

All tool companies have bad casstings. There might have been bad metal that ended up right there. It could have been in the heat treating.

I love to see Snap-on tools break. EVeryone is right that lesser brands would have been jumped on.

Years ago I had to take a strength in materials testing class at the University of Michigan. I took in sockets and wrenches along with breaker bars and ran them through strength test.
Snap-on did not come out on top. All the brands came in very close. The sockets broke about the same. I did not test ratchets. They are to expensive to test and we all know they ware out. I would post the results but they are in my file on the farm and I am in California for the winter.

Sorry it broke but you just proved it happens. I have never spread or broken a wrench. It makes you wonder about their quality control issues. I would like to know how many wrenches break or spread compaired to other brands.

You made my day.

I don't recall saying the brands you mentioned were bad, but we're on Snap-On right now. Who's wrenches are forged not cast (big difference) as you implied. Anything man made is subject to failure, it's just the nature of manufacturing. My experience as a tool user has proved to me that some tool companies have better batch to batch consistancy and SO is one of them. I have broken way more of the brands you mentioned then I have Snap-On plain and simple.

 

[Hiball]

Sorry it broke but you just proved it happens. I have never spread or broken a wrench. It makes you wonder about their quality control issues. I would like to know how many wrenches break or spread compaired to other brands.

You made my day.

If you have Never Broken a Wrench or been put in a situation where you had to Use a Open ended Wrench to remove a fastener that should have had a box end, You have a lived a sheltered Life.

Ive Used Just about Every Brand out there and None are Immune from Breaking or Poor Manufacturing from time to time.

Wrenches that are Cast? whatchutalkingaboutWillis?

 

[Trey T]

Looks like user-error. You shouldn't be using the open-end to properly tighten down the nut/bolt anyways.

The proper way to open or tighten a nut/bolt is to grip the head on all sides. Therefore, you shouldve been using the closed-end wrench.

 

[archirelic]

I'm surprised this thread has gone on this long. Just finished reading through it all. Tools break on occasion, even the higher-priced stuff. Get it warrantied and move forward.

 

[Hiball]

Looks like user-error. You shouldn't be using the open-end to properly tighten down the nut/bolt anyways.

The proper way to open or tighten a nut/bolt is to grip the head on all sides. Therefore, you shouldve been using the closed-end wrench.

If you read the OP's thread and or look at the picture, you can see that there was no way to get the box end on the nut. It's what separates Harry the homeowner assembling fisher price playhouses and someone who actually works on Automobiles/equipment. Sometimes you have to live with the consequences of using a tool outside of its comfort zone... And if there is a weakness/poor manufacturing it will rear its ugly head.

 

[-Brent-]

I'm never fortunate enough to just break the tool. I seem to always be scraping knuckles or getting a face full of wheelwell or the like.

I must have bad form... or body mechanics.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm never fortunate enough to just break the tool. I seem to always be scraping knuckles or getting a face full of wheelwell or the like.

I must have bad form... or body mechanics.

Learn/Train yourself to pull, not push. Something my Dad taught me a LOOONG time ago...

 

[Hiball]

Learn/Train yourself to pull, not push. Something my Dad taught me a LOOONG time ago...

Maybe Easier on the Hands, but Now your taking a chance on stabbing yourself in the face.. or knocking yourself out cold. Slipping/Breaking its all Bad... regardless if your pushing or pulling. Id say most of his get to the point where you know something bad is gonna happen, Some continue on the same Path while others find another way.

Here is Thread about our very own Dave Blank..

 

[Trey T]

I'm not saying that the guy doesn't understand what's he got himself into but people must understand that if you use it the wrong way, it's user-error. Every tool has its limitation for what it's designed for.

I'm just clarifying since people are all over about brand wars.

If you read the OP's thread and or look at the picture, you can see that there was no way to get the box end on the nut. It's what separates Harry the homeowner assembling fisher price playhouses and someone who actually works on Automobiles/equipment. Sometimes you have to live with the consequences of using a tool outside of its comfort zone... And if there is a weakness/poor manufacturing it will rear its ugly head.

 

[Hiball]

I'm not saying that the guy doesn't understand what's he got himself into but people must understand that if you use it the wrong way, it's user-error. Every tool has its limitation for what it's designed for.

I'm just clarifying since people are all over about brand wars.

You have to look past the "Brand" wars, I don't agree with the "user error".. (Its ok that we disagree ) It's just simply part of getting the job done. Now... If the user was using a "low profile/low torque" open end wrench In a situation where a full size open end would fit, I'd agree with your claim. I think the Op understands, it the majority who think that "Snap On" equals indestructible.

 

[hifi_hokie]

Sorry it broke but you just proved it happens. I have never spread or broken a wrench. It makes you wonder about their quality control issues. I would like to know how many wrenches break or spread compaired to other brands.

I assume they covered statistical power and inference in that materials testing course?

 

[Outlawmws]

Maybe Easier on the Hands, but Now your taking a chance on stabbing yourself in the face.. or knocking yourself out cold. Slipping/Breaking its all Bad... regardless if your pushing or pulling. Id say most of his get to the point where you know something bad is gonna happen, Some continue on the same Path while others find another way.

Here is Thread about our very own Dave Blank..

I'd say Dave's accident was a case of getting your face/head where it didn't belong, and would be a pretty rare occurrence.

Stabbed?

In any case, I stand by my advise, I can't ever recall getting hurt pulling and having something slip off. Pushing? Most of my busted knuckles happened that way, if not from a wrench slipping, but also from having a stuck fastener either break or suddenly come loose....

 

[Hiball]

I'd say Dave's accident was a case of getting your face/head where it didn't belong, and would be a pretty rare occurrence.

Stabbed?

In any case, I stand by my advise, I can't ever recall getting hurt pulling and having something slip off. Pushing? Most of my busted knuckles happened that way, if not from a wrench slipping, but also from having a stuck fastener either break or suddenly come loose....

Yeah.. Not every Broken/slipped tool results in someone getting Hurt.. And sure your welcome to stand by your advice. I just "Personally" dont see much difference between "Pushing or Pulling" and the Bodily damage that can occur.

Stabbed? Most of the Wrenches that i have broken have left a pretty Jagged edge. Obviously... it would take some "Stars Aligning" to Impale yourself with a Broken wrench but probably more possible "Pulling" towards the body versus away.. If you look at the OP's picture you can see the damage the broken wrench did to the Nut, Letalone what it could do to Human skin.

Not Arguing.. Just offering some insight from my Personal Muckups..

 

[Mad88]

Relax, it's not that bad. My friend just broke his combo in the same place 2 weeks ago (not S-O) and lo+behold I just broke this one shortly afterward.

There's something going around right now. It's like some kind of wrench virus or something.

Your wrench is made in England, that's the problem in your case. j/k

Probably you guy's are just too strong for this delicate wrenches.. ;-)

 

[redwrench60]

If you read the OP's thread and or look at the picture, you can see that there was no way to get the box end on the nut. It's what separates Harry the homeowner assembling fisher price playhouses and someone who actually works on Automobiles/equipment. Sometimes you have to live with the consequences of using a tool outside of its comfort zone... And if there is a weakness/poor manufacturing it will rear its ugly head.

Are we paying attention class? There will be a quiz later on these facts.

 

[redwrench60]

When I break a tool it usually doesn't surprise me. I mostly know the limitations of my equipment. If I line up on a fastener and pull hard and nothing happens I up the drive size (if possible) or switch to a more robust option. Other times like in the OPs case you just have to use the only option there is and ready yourself for the fact that something's gonna have to give, tool or fastener.

 

[ATC]

This is why you paid the money. Your dealer will actually come to your place of work, and put a new wrench directly into your hand no questions asked. That's worth the extra $$$ to me.

It's worth the extra money to wait a week for a replacement?

I'm glad I paid much less to have a replacement the same day with my Cmans and GW's


Gearwrench - 1
Snap-On - 0








:stirpot:

 

[NC-Fordguy]

If you read the OP's thread and or look at the picture, you can see that there was no way to get the box end on the nut. It's what separates Harry the homeowner assembling fisher price playhouses and someone who actually works on Automobiles/equipment. Sometimes you have to live with the consequences of using a tool outside of its comfort zone... And if there is a weakness/poor manufacturing it will rear its ugly head.

So now we know what you use your tools for

 

[Hiball]

So now we know what you use your tools for

Me and my Wife are trying to have a Kid , So hopefully very soon i can be assembling some Play toys.

This is the Kinda Stuff i get to Work on here in the Midwest.. The Start of my 3rd Full Restoration..

A Wee bit of Rust..

Chevy parts..

 

[vwsaabvt]

I broke one of mine today. I did hit my elbow pretty Damn hard when it broke, took a while to find the little piece too. I was pulling towards the piece that broke off.

 

[aussiek2000]

Looks like user-error. You shouldn't be using the open-end to properly tighten down the nut/bolt anyways.

The proper way to open or tighten a nut/bolt is to grip the head on all sides. Therefore, you shouldve been using the closed-end wrench.

What the hell are you talking about? Why does it even have an open end by your logic? Better question; have you ever even used a wrench?

 

[Skin]

I broke one of mine today. I did hit my elbow pretty Damn hard when it broke, took a while to find the little piece too. I was pulling towards the piece that broke off.

pipe or linked wrenches? Those box ends fail at around 200lb/ft. Not exactly a small amount.

 

[vwsaabvt]

Double wrenched

 

[Snapped-off]

Looks like user-error. You shouldn't be using the open-end to properly tighten down the nut/bolt anyways.

The proper way to open or tighten a nut/bolt is to grip the head on all sides. Therefore, you shouldve been using the closed-end wrench.

Appreciate the comment, one of the pictures i posted shows a 1/2" close pipe ****** directly above the nut.

If you could give me some guidance as to how I can get a box end onto the nut with this pipe ****** in place, please let me know.

 

[oldtools]

I broke one of mine today. I did hit my elbow pretty Damn hard when it broke, took a while to find the little piece too. I was pulling towards the piece that broke off.

There seem to be a Snap On wrench failure epidemic.