Snobbish tools mystery buster

[Keep]

You think that maybe they just post here, for the YT views......

Seems to be the reason, no other discussion, just post link to YT videos "comparing" tools. click click click....

 

[pizza]

project farm is entertaining (kind of -- hey, it's better than that buffoon, wranglestar), but i wish there were more tool reviewers like "german tool reviews". i miss that guy.

most reviews i see are not well thought out and/or don't test the models i'm interested in.

personally, i enjoy @mr.lemons 's little unlisted videos a lot. they're usually not in depth, but sometimes you can show a lot more in a forum post with a video clip than with a picture and a few words.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Mine were changed. I used to worship at the Church of SnapOn (monotheism) and that was Before the Coming of the Dual-80.

But I am now a polytheist, favoring Ko-ken usually. I have come to appreciate the demi-gods Matco, Hazet, and Nepros. I even bought a Mac extension with a handle on it but must admit it was cuz I couldn't find a SnapOn one.

Epic response

 

[Walkers]

My father was a mechanic early in his career back in the late 50s. He is 81 now and unable to use tools. I have and still use his SO ratchet from 1959. I couldn’t find any HF tools that have lived near that long and still provided useful life and were still covered under warranty.

 

[M635_Guy]

I've never liked to Client Graphics channel. It's a strange clickbait channel that seems to measure stuff that doesn't prove anything useful for real-world application.

All the sweeping statements on both sides of this discussion are...strange. Zero facts, lots of folks stating opinions on tools they haven't used, etc. Not a very useful thread...

 

[dnschmidt]

Apparently the fact that man has walked on the moon makes some feel that building something as simple as a ratchet is an equal accomplishment. The basic science of ratchet making has existed for 100 years. By now there isn't a hell of a lot new going on with how to make a ratchet. My B-52 & B-54 Williams were my favorites in 1970. They still are. A ratchet turns a bolt (or a nut) it isn't rocket science. I built microchips for 40 years of my life. THAT WAS ROCKET SCIENCE.

 

[dnschmidt]

My father was a mechanic early in his career back in the late 50s. He is 81 now and unable to use tools. I have and still use his SO ratchet from 1959. I couldn’t find any HF tools that have lived near that long and still provided useful life and were still covered under warranty.

There are many sides to that argument. 1) HF didn't exist in the 1950's so there is no way to prove that theory. 2) I'm willing to bet that eight HF ratchets of whatever flavor will outlast one Snap-On ratchet while both cost the same amount of money. 3) There is a Harbor Freight that has a no questions asked policy with 1/2 mile of where I live and I can drive there in three minutes which makes exchanging one of my eight HF ratchets a hell of a lot easier than waiting for the next time the tool truck shows up. These people that are hung up on the tool truck visiting must live in the sticks not in a major city. I think Phoenix has 8 HF stores scattered throughout the city making exchanging a broken ratchet a complete non-issue.

 

[M6erfan]

There are many sides to that argument. 1) HF didn't exist in the 1950's so there is no way to prove that theory. 2) I'm willing to bet that eight HF ratchets of whatever flavor will outlast one Snap-On ratchet while both cost the same amount of money. 3) There is a Harbor Freight that has a no questions asked policy with 1/2 mile of where I live and I can drive there in three minutes which makes exchanging one of my eight HF ratchets a hell of a lot easier than waiting for the next time the tool truck shows up. These people that are hung up on the tool truck visiting must live in the sticks not in a major city. I think Phoenix has 8 HF stores scattered throughout the city making exchanging a broken ratchet a complete non-issue.

I live in a city of 1.3MM people. I gave up on trying to contact any local S-o truck. That was a few years ago though. maybe its changed.

 

[shawhite]

There are many sides to that argument. 1) HF didn't exist in the 1950's so there is no way to prove that theory. 2) I'm willing to bet that eight HF ratchets of whatever flavor will outlast one Snap-On ratchet while both cost the same amount of money. 3) There is a Harbor Freight that has a no questions asked policy with 1/2 mile of where I live and I can drive there in three minutes which makes exchanging one of my eight HF ratchets a hell of a lot easier than waiting for the next time the tool truck shows up. These people that are hung up on the tool truck visiting must live in the sticks not in a major city. I think Phoenix has 8 HF stores scattered throughout the city making exchanging a broken ratchet a complete non-issue.

Lol. That one snap-on ratchet also has free replacement so I think your theory is incorrect. And I will bet you snap-on will have parts to service said ratchet for many years to come. Let’s be honest here if snap-on was not around harbor freight would have no one to copy.

 

[shawhite]

Apparently the fact that man has walked on the moon makes some feel that building something as simple as a ratchet is an equal accomplishment. The basic science of ratchet making has existed for 100 years. By now there isn't a hell of a lot new going on with how to make a ratchet. My B-52 & B-54 Williams were my favorites in 1970. They still are. A ratchet turns a bolt (or a nut) it isn't rocket science. I built microchips for 40 years of my life. THAT WAS ROCKET SCIENCE.

Only rocket science is said microchip went into a rocket

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Yes ,HF didn't exist, but there were junky tools back in the late '60s ,early '70s. I know I bought some. Even Craftsman were outside of my means. Japanese made Oxwall sockets and American made Acton/Thorsen combinations.

Warranty, Snap-On, "Sorry, you weren't the original purchaser" . Proto and Gray , with the same explanation, "Sent it in."

There is a use for junky tools. At work the 3/4" drive set is company supplied. The set is always missing 1 5/16" and 1 1/2" sockets., the two most commonly used ones. So I bought a couple of Princess Auto, a Canadian chain somewhat like HF, sockets. Really crude with a big CHINA on the sides. With the 1' impact , one broke and the other stripped. The company replaced them with Proto. Which I still have, retired now, so rarely used.

 

[Walkers]

There are many sides to that argument. 1) HF didn't exist in the 1950's so there is no way to prove that theory. 2) I'm willing to bet that eight HF ratchets of whatever flavor will outlast one Snap-On ratchet while both cost the same amount of money. 3) There is a Harbor Freight that has a no questions asked policy with 1/2 mile of where I live and I can drive there in three minutes which makes exchanging one of my eight HF ratchets a hell of a lot easier than waiting for the next time the tool truck shows up. These people that are hung up on the tool truck visiting must live in the sticks not in a major city. I think Phoenix has 8 HF stores scattered throughout the city making exchanging a broken ratchet a complete non-issue.

HF started in the late 70s, I remember getting their mailer. I never ordered anything from them as this was pre credit card era, everything was still checks and guarantee cards, yet I don’t see any posts of surviving tools from then. I suspect part of it is just that when things are so cheap you just don't care about them. They get left out in the rain, loaned out, etc.
I don’t buy much there. I have found moving blankets and body shims are as good as anywhere. Power tools, no way. All the old Pittsburg hand tools, absolute ****. As far as the new line up goes, I have no experience with it at all.
As far as returns go, apparently they have gotten hard assed here, need to have the original receipt, etc, so that throws a monkey wrench into the return policy.

 

[dnschmidt]

Only rocket science is said microchip went into a rocket

Without which Neil Armstrong would be doing an excellent impression of Major Tom. Floating around dead forever in space.

 

[Mgdoug3]

The first Snap-on Dual 80 I bought I wasn't impressed but I spent the money so I used it. I got to noticing it felt better every day. After a month the back drag was as low as any 3/8 ratchet I ever used. Now I have three more Dual 80s. The other three never did break in as smooth as the first one but they're still great.

 

[Ralf11]

I live in a city of 1.3 mm people. I gave up on trying to contact any local S-o truck. That was a few years ago though. maybe its changed.

so they are very short and you live outside the US and... Botswana? Who else avoids the metric system?

 

[Ralf11]

The first Snap-on Dual 80 I bought I wasn't impressed but I spent the money so I used it. I got to noticing it felt better every day. After a month the back drag was as low as any 3/8 ratchet I ever used. Now I have three more Dual 80s. The other three never did break in as smooth as the first one but they're still great.

I put a bit on mine and chuck them in a drill - a few minutes and they are broke in

 

[Mgdoug3]

I think the first one broke in better because it's longer than the rest. Was able to put more torque through it. I'm not complaining one bit about the other ones. The back drag is still low, just not as low as the first.

 

[M6erfan]

so they are very short and you live outside the US and... Botswana? Who else avoids the metric system?

Lol, actually an ant colony. . .

FIFY

 

[Ralf11]

I can't stand big cities - they remind me of ant colonies...

 

[M6erfan]

Especially when you can't get a S-o truck there. . .

 

[Ralf11]

I'll guess there's no real estate that sells or rents low enough for a repair shop to be in that city

 

[M6erfan]

I'll guess there's no real estate that sells or rents low enough for a repair shop to be in that city

Tons of repair shops, tire places, quickie lubes, dealerships, etc. And I'm sure the trucks make rounds to all of them.

 

[carmantl]

I just saw a HUGE (at least 2 ton) Cornwell truck in Knoxville, TN. First one I've seen in twenty years.

 

[dnschmidt]

HF started in the late 70s, I remember getting their mailer. I never ordered anything from them as this was pre credit card era, everything was still checks and guarantee cards, yet I don’t see any posts of surviving tools from then. I suspect part of it is just that when things are so cheap you just don't care about them. They get left out in the rain, loaned out, etc.
I don’t buy much there. I have found moving blankets and body shims are as good as anywhere. Power tools, no way. All the old Pittsburg hand tools, absolute ****. As far as the new line up goes, I have no experience with it at all.
As far as returns go, apparently they have gotten hard assed here, need to have the original receipt, etc, so that throws a monkey wrench into the return policy.

I have never needed a receipt to return any broken Pittsburgh item as these are sold with a lifetime guarantee. Any power tool and most other stuff only has a 90 day warrantee so for that stuff you do but for sockets and ratchets and wrenches no such requirement exists to the best of my knowledge.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have never needed a receipt to return any broken Pittsburgh item as these are sold with a lifetime guarantee. Any power tool and most other stuff only has a 90 day warrantee so for that stuff you do but for sockets and ratchets and wrenches no such requirement exists to the best of my knowledge.

I've returned a couple hand tools for the guys at the shop and never needed a slip either. It was a little odd they didn't have any extras just go grab the whole set and take out which one you needed though.

 

[shawhite]

So this thread made me wonder. A lot of people attribute USA craftsman demise to their free replacement for life. If harbor freight begins to get the same fan fare as the old USA craftsman will they ultimately have to raise prices or curtail their generous replacement policy?

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

So this thread made me wonder. A lot of people attribute USA craftsman demise to their free replacement for life. If harbor freight begins to get the same fan fare as the old USA craftsman will they ultimately have to raise prices or curtail their generous replacement policy?

Interesting to see if HF's policy would mirror that of LL Bean, Nordstrom, and other retailers that were famous for their return policies only to have people abuse it or become too costly and have it changed. I think this is why you are seeing more and more "limited lifetime" warranties and the like in retail.

 

[Walkers]

I have never needed a receipt to return any broken Pittsburgh item as these are sold with a lifetime guarantee. Any power tool and most other stuff only has a 90 day warrantee so for that stuff you do but for sockets and ratchets and wrenches no such requirement exists to the best of my knowledge.

Perhaps what I was seeing was not hand tool issues, must have been power tool, but they were definitely requiring receipts.

 

[Xcursion88]

Which brand of ratchets most closely resembles a Jeep Wrangler with over 100K miles?

The renowned SK 45170 by far.
Not the fanciest. Definitely rugged.
Been around forever...if ever a change it's been subtle...but it just keeps doing it's thing day in day out.

Two things that just scream
America....
Jeep (real Jeeps...CJ's, Willys, Wranglers)
The SK45170

 

[Ton ton]

I just saw a HUGE (at least 2 ton) Cornwell truck in Knoxville, TN. First one I've seen in twenty years.

I love seeing tool trucks.

 

[Ralf11]

we need tool trucks made from Jeeps

 

[Xcursion88]

we need tool trucks made from Jeeps

Wwweeelllll.......

If you've owned enough real Jeep's (CJ, Wrangler, Willys)
You'd know that's already happened because you have to haul around tool truck inventory to make it home.

BTW... Love Jeep. Owned over 10 and counting




J E E P

 

[Ton ton]

My snappy rep keeps so little on the truck, he could almost fit it in a large Jeep.

 

[tarbellb]

You want your USA tool truck to be a French automobile?

 

[dnschmidt]

It's worse than that FCA is Italian not French. In order to get the worse that France has to offer you've got to buy a Nissan.

 

[RoundedNut]

Passed by a Snappy truck today in a mall parking lot and I can't see it holding a lot of tools. Don't know about others but there are large tool stores in my area that I like to loiter in:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[2ndGearRubber]

we need tool trucks made from Jeeps

I'd like it to actually make it to my place of employment from time to time. LOL


IDK why people get all bent out of shape arguing tool truck vs. "literally anything else". They each have their purpose. If you work in a shop, fixing other peoples ********, there's value in the business model. My $125 hammer has been replaced 5 times - you won't find a nicer hammer at $25. And yet, I used my $5 harbor freight ball-pein on the very same wheel bearing job today. It was convenient to where I was, of the correct weight, and has a wood handle which I prefer for filthy jobs. Love that hammer too.

Maybe 15% at most of my stuff is tool-truck brands... that's probably still high. But all my boxes are snap-on. I love my dual 80s, but the 'ol SK round head feels better in my hand. Got some HF tools on my everyday use 6 drawer cart. Heavy use stuff too. Yet I just bought a cornwell torque wrench....

 

[Ricky Joe]

if a Harbor Freight tool truck drove by, I'd think I was in an alternate reality

they seem to be trying to grow their brand and add quality, so maybe they'll try to move in on the truck market

but it's hard to get branded as low quality and then move up

Actually, many companies, including Snap-On, started out making lower quality products and progressed into higher quality as their bottom line improved. Hyundai, Subaru, Honda; look at any import car from the 1960s or 1970s and compare to the current product, as a graphic example. Import tools have also greatly improved. Forty years ago there was no such thing as a quality Asian tool. They made objects that looked like tools, but were virtually unusable. Now they can give a better warranty than Snap-On does. There is still a difference in quality, but not commensurate with the difference in price.

 

[Ton ton]

Passed by a Snappy truck today in a mall parking truck and I can't see it holding a lot of tools. Don't know about others but there are large tool stores in my area that I like to loiter in:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

That sounds like an amazing brick and mortar store.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

For hard line tools, the design of the tool should be the deciding factor. A HD mechanic told me of switching from Snap-On combis to the Jet brand. Jet in Canada, is an importer Taiwanese tools. Because of the design of the box end. I told him he should have gotten Stawille (sp) , it's even better. Cost wasn't a factor. But specialty tools are different.