Recent content by shawndp

I have 80's era Snap-On chrome and impact sockets but they are not US made...

I learned that COO is a deal-breaker for some people, more so on GJ than elsewhere.

Absolutely true! My Matco dealer (Iain) is like this - which is probably the number 1 reason I have a 4s and not a SO Classic.

We use Forwards at work - acquired them at various points and since they have always been decent, we stuck with that brand. I have heard good things about Rotary and less good things about Bendpak. All the best!

OP is onto something... If you go to the Snap-On website, under "our customers" it has various classes - manufacture / oil / aviation / school / military. None of those are "home gamer". Cornwell will not even sell via website to someone not on their truck's route... It's an absolute travesty...

There are some holding their breath for a US built line of tools, and the will buy it if it is quality or not. It’s the sort of people who buy a Ford Focus over a Corolla - domestic doesn’t have to be quality

Lowe’s has the “new” Craftsman as made by Stanley - Black & Decker whereas Sears has the old “worst in the world and made in China” stuff...

It doesn't have to be complicated. There are too many people on this board over-thinking aspects of wrenching that have little to no impact on getting the job done. The first question you have to ask is - do you want a quality tool at a decent price or do you want to get choked up on Country of...

I used Gearwrench 120 almost exclusively for almost 2 years and they function really well - mine were the all metal sort and flex head. If Apex wasn’t such a bunch of (insert your favourite expletive) I would still be using them. One of my colleagues has a long 3/8 soft grip as his primary. If...

I was late to this party too - any idea where I can get my greasy paws on some?

I rather like PB over WD40 - gets a lot of stuff out that looks dodgy. I’m tempted to try the acetone-ATF mix.

I can comment on availibility of Matco ratchet parts - my 3/8 broke and my dealer didn't have the kit that day because he used it at a previous stop. He ordered one and returned the ratchet to me the following Friday (offered to have it back Wednesday, but I wasn't in a hurry). This would...

Sounds like a fascinating experience; to be able to peek into the other side of the fence. I like Gearwrench, they were my first "nice-ish" tools.

I'd like a couple of BP hammers in maybe 32oz and something else and a 43 flat-stubby dead-blow - also if they weren't red, that would be awesome! I came very close to buying the 32oz branded Carlyle as I like the colour.

I buy Matco if the price is close enough to OEM and just chalk the premium down to easy of warranty. Oh, and I bought a 4s... If I didn't have a good dealer, I'd probably never touch Matco - everything that I have ever bought just screams "you should have bought Snap-On for a few dollars more"