Reasonably affordable snap-on tools for the Craftsman type guys?

[stioc]

As a DIYer most of my stuff is Craftsman and I'm quite happy with them. I have replaced some poor quality HF tools with Craftsman too - though not all HF tools have been bad.

I'd love to buy snap-on but one I've never really felt the need to step up to the professional quality stuff (and I do do a lot of work, clutches, timing belts, tearing down engines etc) and two they "seem" prohibitively expensive. So for a Christmas present to myself if I wanted to spend say $100 or so what would you suggest as inexpensive yet useful snap-on tools to test the waters? I don't need any more ratchets, sockets, wrenches or screwdrivers...my craftsman ones are just fine for me. What I could use are general specialty tools like 2 jaw pullers, bearing/seal drivers etc.

 

[Merkava_4]

I don't need any more ratchets, sockets, wrenches or screwdrivers...my craftsman ones are just fine for me.

It's a good thing you think that, because if you were to buy one S-O ratchet or wrench, you'd be wanting to throw all your Craftsman stuff out.

 

[a390st]

I like Craftsman Pro tools fairly well. I have a set of metrics, and though they aren't Bonney Matco, older Mac Tools, or Snap On wrenches, they aren't that bad. They don't fit as tight and feel like they spread more on stuck fasteners. It may just be that they don't fit as tight and it gives the impression that they spread, though. I've broken cheap junk wrenches by hand, though, so I suppose either is possible.

I think they make a good starter set or weekend grade of tool, and a usable professional tool. They just aren't the best, and they don't claim to be. Truck brand ratchets, though, I do prefer. I guess that's subjective. After a few problems with cheap Craftsman ratchets, I just don't have as much confidence in the Craftsman ratchets outside of the FTRH and Thin Profile.

 

[billymade]

This is exactly what you said you already have but a 3/8" ratchet (or whatever you use the most) is really where Snapon shines, IMHO! A Snapon ratchet was one of the first Snapon tools I bought, it was a 3/8" drive and that really impressed me and set me on a path of collecting and using their tools. A new dual 80 model 3/8" drive seems like a no brainer to me.....
Check out the whole Dual 80 line of ratchets here: http://www.snapon.com/dual80/

A classic choice would be a regular handle 3/8" drive ratchet!

Ratchet, Sealed Head, Dual 80 Technology, Standard Handle, 3/8" drive, 7 11/32" Stock#: F80 $76.25
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=81183&group_id=20864

You might check ebay; there were some "buy it now" ratchets for reasonable prices at one point and go with used or a older model as well: http://shop.ebay.com/items/__snapon..._fromfsbZQQ_ipgZ200QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14

WARNING: owning one Snapon tool; may result in uncontrollable urges and purchases of more before you know it; YOU"VE BEEN WARNED! Just ask the members on this board who have Dual 80 ratchets; they can't seem to just have "one"!

For "full effect" Snapon PROPAGANDA video about these new Dual 80 ratchets; check it out here: http://video.google.com/videosearch...ggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=1#

Also, keep in mind that Snapon.com has free shipping on most of the smaller items they sell!

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

The listing you gave out of what you already have is what Snap on has in their strong suit.

I would suggest Snap on dead blow or bronze hammers. Nice quality, nice looking and are easily warranted.

Their knurled extensions (either wobble plus, or regular) are great quality and work well.

Their Stork Pliers are awesome. Pistol grip versions work very well.

A Snap on Flywheel turner or hub cap remover are also favorites of mine!

-BWP

 

[bowtie3]

I think (even tough you dont need any) you should try one of SO's f80 series ratchets. I think that would really showcase the difference between the pro tools and your current tools. A puller or seal driver would not be a true test of something that you use on every job that you do, to see the whole story you need to compare your stuff to the pricey stuff side by side.

 

[krusty the clown]

What I could use are general specialty tools like 2 jaw pullers, bearing/seal drivers etc.

for pullers i would recommend otc and lisle for the bearing/seal drivers. like everyone else has said if you want to spend $100 on snap on tools your money would be best spent on hardline.

 

[wrenchr]

It's a good thing you think that, because if you were to buy one S-O ratchet or wrench, you'd be wanting to throw all your Craftsman stuff out.

Not true!!
You have not thrown away your 1/4 japan ratchet from pepboy's!!

 

[Nova72]

i would start with the stuff you use most. like a nice 3/8 ratchet. dont be shy to buy used stuff either.

 

[Merkava_4]

Not true!!
You have not thrown away your 1/4 japan ratchet from pepboy's!!

Point well taken.

 

[stioc]

OK you guys got me curious about the only one snap-on tool I own- it's a 3/8 ratchet. It was an impulse buy but I never really used it until I lost my regular Craftsman ratchet. The Craftsman one felt good as it wasn't too long or heavy but if I needed to apply any torque I reached for the breaker bar because the ratchet had a flatter handle and it hurt the palm of my hand. So initially it felt weird to use the Snap-on one but now I'm kinda used to it. I also have the Craftsman flex head with cushion grip handled which has a similar feel but I hate the flex head, any time I apply torque the darn thing clicks from 20 degree angle to 40 degree etc.

The part no on my snap-on ratchet says FL830. Is it one of the better snap-ons or am I playing with their lower end product.

The reason I don't want the ratchets, screwdrivers etc is because I don't want to amass too many of the same tools, I feel my money is better spent on tools I don't have already and trust me I have a garage set, a track set (both Craftsman mostly), a truck set (cheap Allied tool set) and a 'around-the-house' tool set and almost all of them include sockets, ratchet, wrenches and screwdrivers of varying quality...

I'll take a look at the Lisle and OTC stuff, is it any better than Craftsman? Thanks for the tip on the hammers etc but again while I'd love to have 10 hammers, my two ball peen, one 5lb sledge, a cheap rubber mallet, and a claw hammer are more than enough...no? Or am I really missing out on the soft face, brass, deadblow hammers?

 

[Crasen]

for pullers i would recommend otc and lisle for the bearing/seal drivers. like everyone else has said if you want to spend $100 on snap on tools your money would be best spent on hardline.]

+1 if you are happy with the hand tools you already have use that $100 to expand your tools like you said you wanted to do. Hopefully some people can give recommendations for these tools from the OEM of the tool truck brand specialty tools you want.

 

[a390st]

You really do have to watch out for the non-hardline items from the truck. Just one example is the tap and die sets that everyone from Craftsman to Snap On sell from the same OEM. There are crazy differences in price between some of those items. I have a fair number of Lisle specialty items and a few OTC tools, and they are quite good. It you are going to pay the truck price, try to get the items you can't get elsewhere for less.

 

[kwhitelaw]

You really do have to watch out for the non-hardline items from the truck. Just one example is the tap and die sets that everyone from Craftsman to Snap On sell from the same OEM. There are crazy differences in price between some of those items. I have a fair number of Lisle specialty items and a few OTC tools, and they are quite good. It you are going to pay the truck price, try to get the items you can't get elsewhere for less.

I agree. Im a SO guy by heart, cringed placing a Blue Point tool in my box (foolish I know).

After spending some time here with some of these tooll junkies, I've seen where SO has just rebadged some tools, blatently at that, to the point where spending double makes no sense other than if you need to take advantage of on the truck financing (where it seems the majority of guys on here dont have that need.)

kevin

 

[afazz]

I will second the Dead Blow hammer recommendation. I have a soft-grip 24oz (HBFE42)and 48oz (HBFE48), and they're definitely worth it! I've used Stanley compocast and they're a close second, but these are some of the best dead blow hammers I have ever used. Plus the SO hammers are only a few dollars more than a Stanley, not 4x or 5x more expensive like the sockets. In my opinion, a dead blow hammer should be in everyone's toolbox!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=1044&store=snapon-store

 

[Crawlin]

X3 on the deadblows. I bought the 36 Wednesday, and it is great, dunno how I survived with my cheapo Northern tool brand one for so long. The dead blow ball peens are very nice too.

 

[vssjim]

I've got many different brands of tools S-O included but I'm not throwing away any of my other non S-O tools away to replace them with S-O branded products and money is not the reason. Every body makes good and bad products don't put on blinders and only buy a tool because of a name.

 

[Merkava_4]

The part no on my snap-on ratchet says FL830. Is it one of the better snap-ons or am I playing with their lower end product.

Snap-on has no lower end products; why do you feel your FL830 is a lower end product?

 

[paramudduck]

The differences in the series numbers confuses a lot of people.
I have to stop and think about some of the xyz432 stuff.

How many average guys of the street would think that F is 3/8's L is long handle and 830 is the model. Isn't the last two numbers the tooth count as well?

 

[Danglerb]

Buying Snapon used takes out a LOT of the sting of the price, but like everybody else says a lot of SO is the same as Sears et al. outside of the main ratchet and socket lines.

If I am going to spend some money on a tool it isn't on a whim, its because the tool is going to do something for me. I have a SLHF80, but no SO 3/8" sockets, just a single small 1/4" drive set of SO sockets. I have SO line wrenches and a few in critical often used sizes. Tools that spend a LOT of time in my hands are ones I think about replacing in SnapOn. I'm not convinced of any special quality to hammers though.

To be honest I am a LOT more hot to get more Knipex pliers than just about anything by Snapon that I can think of.

 

[stioc]

Snap-on has no lower end products; why do you feel your FL830 is a lower end product?

Well to be honest I asked because while it's a nicer ratchet than my cheapo Craftsman one it's nothing to write home about either. Maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to really tell the difference and I don't abuse my tools enough to test their durability limits.

I kinda feel the same way about the hammers, it's a hammer what could possibly be so different about the Snap-On one? However, I too have heard enough good things about the Knippex Cobra pliers that I have the 6" version on my wish list.

 

[Danglerb]

Sears sells Knipex branded as Craftsman in the 7" and 10" cobra style, side by side its exactly the same with a local Sears warranty and price.

I don't really care for the old 830 ratchet, but the one I borrow is decades old and used daily, and my SLHF80 is brand new and still very tight and smooth.

Nothing beats using tools to see if you like them. I'm lucky to work on cars in a "open toolbox" environment so I can try anything I want, and its surprising when you have a lot of choices what you grab for first. Oddly for me its often the old 830, but could be just because its on top of the ratchet pile or that I don't want to get the "new" 80 dirty.

Getting a couple of SnapOn screwdrivers might give you a feel for looks the same, but you like it better.

 

[Merkava_4]

Well to be honest I asked because while it's a nicer ratchet than my cheapo Craftsman one it's nothing to write home about either.

I write home about Snap-on ratchets all the time! I put a note in an envelope addressed to myself saying "I LOVE Snap-on ratchets! xxoo - hugs and kisses."

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I write home about Snap-on ratchets all the time! I put a note in an envelope addressed to myself saying "I LOVE Snap-on ratchets! xxoo - hugs and kisses."

I believe it.

 

[stioc]

I write home about Snap-on ratchets all the time! I put a note in an envelope addressed to myself saying "I LOVE Snap-on ratchets! xxoo - hugs and kisses."

Are you sure? I heard all those letters were ending up at your neighbor Bubba's and it didn't exactly read "snap-on" but something that rhymed with it

Diesel, thanks for the tip on the Knipex, I'll look for the rebadged ones at Sears.

 

[TNToy]

I kinda feel the same way about the hammers, it's a hammer what could possibly be so different about the Snap-On one?

That is why it's the perfect purchase.

The week I started working as a pro wrench, I asked the guy next to me why he'd spent so much on his hammers, of all things. I mean, it's a freaking hammer. Why spend $50-100 on a hammer you could buy elsewhere for a fraction of that. A deadblow is a deadblow, right?

Long story short: I now own five Snap-On composite deadblow hammers.

Three sizes at work (big soft-face, small ballpeen, large ballpeen) and a large softface and ballpeen at home. I hate all other hammers for any automotive task.

So one of those would be a good choice.

But if you do any amount of work on cars, I recommend this pair of pliers:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...5&group_ID=761&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Yes. A freaking pair of needle-nose pliers. I'm serious.

I use them more than any other tool at work, all day long. They're my go-to pliers. Unplugging virtually any PITA electrical connector on a car? Check. Holding something waaaay up in there while I'm somewhere tight? Check. Tiny-*** vacuum line tucked up under the intake manifold? Check. You will use them everywhere. The jaws are bent just enough they'll work where straight ones will, and also nearly anywhere straight ones will not. I *rarely* reach for 45 or 90-degree pliers anymore.

I picked 'em up off the truck almost as an afterthought. If everything I own was stolen, they'd be the first pliers I bought.

And they're only $53. Buy them. A year from now, when there still isn't any slop in this super-long pair of pliers, but your short Craftsman's are all worn out in the hinge, and the vinyl is coming off, you'll see that there is a difference.

 

[skifish]

Try the TOPTUL stuff. I have some of the general things, screwdrivers - pliers etc.., but I know they have specialty stuff and you can get more for your money. it's not **** either not HF.

 

[Danglerb]

I'm going to get the Gearwrench set of extra long X pliers.

 

[TNToy]

Don't. I hate those stupid things.

Skip 'em. The photo doesn't shot it, but those snappy's are actually a good bit longer.

 

[Bolster]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...5&group_ID=761&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Yes. A freaking pair of needle-nose pliers. I'm serious... I *rarely* reach for 45 or 90-degree pliers anymore...

Dude, I'm listening. That's quite a testimonial, and you've got me wanting a pair. Question, they look like 45 bend in the photo...but you say you rarely reach for 45s, so that bend is more subtle than it appears in the photo?

 

[Crawlin]

That is why it's the perfect purchase.

The week I started working as a pro wrench, I asked the guy next to me why he'd spent so much on his hammers, of all things. I mean, it's a freaking hammer. Why spend $50-100 on a hammer you could buy elsewhere for a fraction of that. A deadblow is a deadblow, right?

Long story short: I now own five Snap-On composite deadblow hammers.

Three sizes at work (big soft-face, small ballpeen, large ballpeen) and a large softface and ballpeen at home. I hate all other hammers for any automotive task.

So one of those would be a good choice.

But if you do any amount of work on cars, I recommend this pair of pliers:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...5&group_ID=761&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Yes. A freaking pair of needle-nose pliers. I'm serious.

X2 I have the two piece set with those in it, around $100 and I was very impressed with the qaulity and Size!! I had no idea they were that large (bought them online) I couldnt live without them now.

 

[TNToy]

Dude, I'm listening. That's quite a testimonial, and you've got me wanting a pair. Question, they look like 45 bend in the photo...but you say you rarely reach for 45s, so that bend is more subtle than it appears in the photo?

I think it's about 30-35 degrees. Click the link, it should say.

And yeah, Crawlin, they're about 15" long. The long jaws kinda ruin your perspective when looking at the photo.

 

[eschoendorff]

I like Craftsman Pro tools fairly well. I have a set of metrics, and though they aren't Bonney Matco, older Mac Tools, or Snap On wrenches, they aren't that bad. They don't fit as tight and feel like they spread more on stuck fasteners. It may just be that they don't fit as tight and it gives the impression that they spread, though. I've broken cheap junk wrenches by hand, though, so I suppose either is possible.

I think they make a good starter set or weekend grade of tool, and a usable professional tool. They just aren't the best, and they don't claim to be. Truck brand ratchets, though, I do prefer. I guess that's subjective. After a few problems with cheap Craftsman ratchets, I just don't have as much confidence in the Craftsman ratchets outside of the FTRH and Thin Profile.

Uhh.. I would put the Craftsman Pro wrenches on par with just about anything else out there. Mine fit nice and tight - just like my Snap Ons. And I have never had the Pros spread - not even the Pro line wrenches.

The Craftsman Pro ratchet guts are basically the same as Matco and GearWrench... you are fooling yourself thinking that the truck ratchets are necessarily any better. But hey, it's your money....

 

[eschoendorff]

I will second the Dead Blow hammer recommendation. I have a soft-grip 24oz (HBFE42)and 48oz (HBFE48), and they're definitely worth it! I've used Stanley compocast and they're a close second, but these are some of the best dead blow hammers I have ever used. Plus the SO hammers are only a few dollars more than a Stanley, not 4x or 5x more expensive like the sockets. In my opinion, a dead blow hammer should be in everyone's toolbox!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=1044&store=snapon-store

I will third this. I LOVE my Snap On 240z dead blow ball peen... but don't fool yourself... it is a rebadged Trusty-Cook hammer that you can probably get cheaper from S*K.

 

[eschoendorff]

I'm going to get the Gearwrench set of extra long X pliers.

I have those ( and the bent nose) and they don not need nearly the same handle clearance as the Snap Ons do...

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

I will third this. I LOVE my Snap On 240z dead blow ball peen... but don't fool yourself... it is a rebadged Trusty-Cook hammer that you can probably get cheaper from S*K.

I was intrigued by this statement so I looked up Trusty-Cook. Those hammers look nothing like the new Snap-On deadblows. They do, however, look like the old Blue-Point hammers and the current Matco hammers.

http://www.trustycook.com/products_hammers.htm

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1044&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2113&select=&page=3

 

[eschoendorff]

I was intrigued by this statement so I looked up Trusty-Cook. Those hammers look nothing like the new Snap-On deadblows. They do, however, look like the old Blue-Point hammers and the current Matco hammers.

http://www.trustycook.com/products_hammers.htm

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1044&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2113&select=&page=3

Huh???? They look JUST like mine (which is the one in the S/O photo), albeit with a fancy grip.

 

[stioc]

Are these Craftsman pliers the same as the Knipex Cobras?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945433000P

If so, how come the set of two is $35 but the 10" alone is $40??

 

[rodm1]

If you need a grate dead blow hammer get a Vaughan. Laying the rubber handle in coolant and probable oil will make them puff and ruin them. But they are the very best in my book.

http://www.hammersource.com/dbal.html

 

[MAD]

Are these Craftsman pliers the same as the Knipex Cobras?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945433000P

If so, how come the set of two is $35 but the 10" alone is $40??

Yes that two piece set is made by Knipex and they are the same as Cobras.

As for the price difference, it is best not to expect Sears pricing to make any sense. That two piece set was even cheaper a few weeks ago.