warmpancakes
Well-known member
hang onto the card that comes inside the kit, has the kit part number and says forever warranty,
Snap-on and Craftsman Rethreading Kits are exactly the same
- Thread starter Packard V8
- Start date
hang onto the card that comes inside the kit, has the kit part number and says forever warranty,
mrbreezeet1
Banned
Yeah, might have said this already, but I paid top dollar for the SO one, before I knew better. Thought I really had something cause it was snap on.
We tried our best to invite you down in 1812!
Its Langtools.com..... Are we sure they make this kit ? On their website its $112 and that seems steep
Conductor562
Well-known member
I bought the Craftsman branded set about 8-9 months ago. Outside label says forever warranty but a slip of paper inside says not so.
thebeekeeper1
Well-known member
OP, there IS indeed a difference--$300. 
Math fail.OP, there IS indeed a difference--$300.
Snap on, $125, Sears $70, on sale today at $60$125-$70=$55 (Regular price)
$125-$60=$65 (current Sears sale price)
The individual taps and dies are all listed on snap-on's website, and I couldn't find one that was more than $5 (except the thread files @ $14/ea).
Do they really dull/break that easily? The cheap HF set I bought just to have something quick until I had the cash flow to replace it with something better, has lasted three years without breaking one yet (one or two are starting to dull a little bit). Mind don't see daily use. Maybe once a week, on average.
I do like the idea of being able to warranty them easily if they're dull. If I had a dull one, I'd eventually end up breaking it off inside a piece of work. That always makes for a fun day...
Stooge
Well-known member
I usually buy Hertel/ Kennametal, sometimes interstate if I want to save some money on some larger sized ones. When I'm cutting new threads or fixing rusted or crossed threads, the smaller sizes seem to dull quicker which seems to eventually lead to breaks, than when it's just cleaning grime or paint out of existing threads. I usually retire the cutting taps a little earlier to avoid any headaches from snapping one.
trout
Well-known member
Math fail.
$125-$70=$55 (Regular price)
$125-$60=$65 (current Sears sale price)
The individual taps and dies are all listed on snap-on's website, and I couldn't find one that was more than $5 (except the thread files @ $14/ea).
Do they really dull/break that easily? The cheap HF set I bought just to have something quick until I had the cash flow to replace it with something better, has lasted three years without breaking one yet (one or two are starting to dull a little bit). Mind don't see daily use. Maybe once a week, on average.
I do like the idea of being able to warranty them easily if they're dull. If I had a dull one, I'd eventually end up breaking it off inside a piece of work. That always makes for a fun day...
I wouldn't say easily, but it does happen. I have the Lang branded kit and the 3/8" coarse tap on mine finally went after a particularity rusty project involving an old AMC. And I never used cutting oil like it recommends. I also lost the 3/8" die.
It said it had the lifetime warranty but considering how often it was used and what I put it through I just decided I should buy the replacement. Got them from Snap On since the convenience was worth the cost and they were identical, right down to the ID stamping.
Monkey Milk
Well-known member
x2 same as above
bwringer
Well-known member
Anyone know if a metric-only version is available? I never use SAE.
Still, $60 or so strikes me as a pretty reasonable price for the set.
Still, $60 or so strikes me as a pretty reasonable price for the set.
trout
Well-known member
I don't know of any in a box, but there are ebay sellers who list just the threads and dies as sets.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/METRIC-THRE...538?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20ce947df2
warmpancakes
Well-known member
i use the heck out of mine, especially the 3/8 one
polarmike74
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Some really good info on this site, thanks to all. I just got a Kastar thread restorer kit on e bay brand new with free shipping for 71.00. It is the same as the craftsman and snap on set. Made in Racine Wisconsin. Craftsman one in 69.00 online. Snap on is a 129.00 about. I was bidding on a snap on set on e bay before i researched this on the forum and it sold for more than i could buy it from snap on NEW. Crazy but i have seen this with snap on and e bay before. FYI Kastar is now called Lang tools as someone bought someone but still Racine Wisc. made. If you go to lang tools.com you can see it there also about the same price as snap on...Thanks
outdoorsman310
Well-known member
yeah the mac or matco one has a few more pieces. one of my taps went missing and i got one from snapon. it was like 2 bucks
GoodEnough
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Is a thread restorer kit....the same as a tap & die kit?
Should you get one or the other, or both?
Should you get one or the other, or both?
They are not the same. Buy both if ya can afford to...
I am sure glad I found this thread because I sure had the snap on set on my want list...I have now replaced it with the craftsman set on my want list. maybe it is the former accountant in my but I have a spread sheet with tools that I want/need and the price all tallied up and nice and neat. one tab is nothing but snap-on and the other is for all else. I sure have nothing against taking something of the snap-on list and replacing it with another brand since finding this forum. Like for instance since I am going to school for automotive tech and most modern cars even domestic use metric fasteners it is not very likely I will use SAE sockets and wrenches as much as metric stuff...So instead of buying SO SAE stuff I will buy the USA Williams stuff to save money and have almost the same quality. I will still get the SO metric stuff for the ease of warranty though.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I've seen this said before in a thread on here, but couldn't find the difference based on current website listings.
Which pieces?
Murphy4570
Well-known member
Not the same, at all.
Thread restorer kit will clean up slightly boogered up threads and bolts. If threads are shot all to hell, forgetaboutit.
Get a tap & die set, and call it good. I've used my taps to clean up threads for years now, have never had any problems.
Thread files come in handy though, get those as well. You'll need them when you booger up a CV axle nut or axle threads. Those things are HUGE, you will NOT have the tap to clean them up. 30mm threads at least on some of them.
Taps cut, they cut in every pass they make so fit gets looser.
Thread restorer reforms the shape and doesn't cut.
No idea why you would use either without oil.
I found the results kind of so so...
But its better than nothing.. I run the chaser, oil, blow out shavings- repeat
Doesn't really fix stripped transmission holes over tightened by impact
Usable... but you don't get something from nothing, great to clean out the grit though
Helicoil is probably better at that point
But its better than nothing.. I run the chaser, oil, blow out shavings- repeat
Doesn't really fix stripped transmission holes over tightened by impact
Usable... but you don't get something from nothing, great to clean out the grit though
Helicoil is probably better at that point
montanafordman
Well-known member
I have a 31 Model A and while restoring all mechanical components I found myself using the craftsman rethreading kit frequently. It was great for chasing threads to clean them up slightly without removing metal like a tap would eventually creating a loose fit. For applications such as my vintage car cleaning things up so assembly went easier with 80+ year old slightly rusted parts it was invaluable. I agree with others though that if threads are really bad you might be better off with a tap set. And I did use oil.
GoodEnough
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I just use a $1 wire brush to clean up rusty bolt threads.
And some anti-seize on the way back in.
Seems to work ok.
And some anti-seize on the way back in.
Seems to work ok.
montanafordman
Well-known member
True but if the threads are slightly buggered there's only so much a wire brush can do, especially when its the inside of a nut that's also damaged slightly. +1 on the anti-seize
The two square thread files (or whatever you call it) in the kit is also handy and if available separately without buying every size rethread tap and die it would be worthwhile. Its got the various thread pitches on each side and end that allows you to dress a nicked thread without having to run a die over the bolt.
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outdoorsman310
Well-known member
the matco one has 1 more metric tap, one metric die, and one more file. it also costs alot more! I bought the craftsman one for 40 because i got the people at the store to discount it.
GoodEnough
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Is this just a subset of the Kastar kit?
I'm not sure if I should get the entire $60 kit, or just this for $18.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Same here. Sears hardware has them for $49.99 the mall store has them for $59.99. I always try and buy from the hardware because they are independently owned and operated. Plus they have more USA made stuff left.
It has the most common sizes. I have a file already and don't need SAE. I will get the spindle die kit when I get funds. File on axle threads is a waste of time.Hyster Gareth
Well-known member
I have the kit made for Cornwell. It saved four bolts which were NLA from Ford I use mine quite a lot especially on older cars and equipment.
Those bids that are close or over U.S price are probably from foreign buyers - who either don't have access to Snap-On locally, if there is a local Snap-On it's not available as a catalogue item or the mark up from local Snap-On versus U.S is insane causing them to look for alternatives.
Steinmetz
Well-known member
OP, there IS indeed a difference--$300.
The price of admission to the Snap-On Cult.
Does Lang make this for Matco too? Looks like it and it comes with an extra m8 (not sure what pitch) tap.