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Snap On Must Have Tools?

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Evan(CA)

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Mar 3, 2013
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I'm about to finish auto mechanic school and am going to place one last SO order while I can still use my student discount. My question is what is a must buy now while I can get it ~50% off? I'm going to buy a 3/8 techangle and a 1/2 techwrench electronic torque wrenches for sure but I'm not sure about the rest. I need a snap ring plier set but I'm not sure if I need a huge set or just one internal and one external. I'm also considering a stubby metric combo wrench set. Should I upgrade any of my current tools or just buy things I don't have?

Here is a quick overview of my tool box

Complete 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 craftsman socket and ratchet set, extension etc
Matco 88 flex head 3/8 ratchet
Cornwell 1/4 dial torque wrench
Gear wrench SAE+metric 3/8 swivel sockets
Snap On metric hex socket set
Gear wrench flex head ratcheting wrenches metric set
Craftsman sae+metric combination wrenches
Gear wrench 0 offset ratcheting combination wrenches metric and sae
Cornwell Sae flare nut wrenches
Matco metric flare nut wrenches
Matco Compression test kit
Matco Fuel pressure test kit
Matco fan clutch puller
Cornwell metric triple square set
Snap on 3/8 shallow impact set
IR 1/2 impact
IR 1/2 shallow metric impact set
Assorted Gearwrench and Cornwell Pliers
Matco Roll pin punch set
Matco Air hammer
HF 3/8 air ratchet
Assorted screw drivers
Cornwell 30-36 metric deep 1/2 impact set

I'm sure there's more but that's the gist of it.

Thanks for your help.
 
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Vinko

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I'm not a mechanic, but I do use the SO snap-ring pliers almost everyday, and my favorite are the Snap-On type and then one really old cheapo type. I also have a pair of Proto and Mac that are rebranded. I think Stride, who also (used to?) make for Blue Point. I saw a photo of the Knipex brand on this forum and if I needed another pair, I'd try those, but I've got too many damn pairs as it is.

I also had the chance to use Hazet and Stahlwille sockets. If I didn't already have a ridiculous amount now, of SO sockets, I'd probably go with them for sockets and keep the SO combo wrenches and ratchets. (I still have the majority of my first set of tools -- a Proto Challenger set that's pretty decent for sockets -- though I've come to appreciate how superior the SO rat's are when doing shade-tree repairs on my cars).
 
R

rockchucker

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Mar 27, 2010
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1,764
Location
Seattle WA
Good set of Snap-On Pry Bars. 1/4" Snap-On Ratchet. I don't buy tons of Snap-On stuff but what I do buy I use all the time. The 1/4" Ratchet is the first thing that comes out of the Tool Box working on a Z.
 
M

MattPersman

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Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
1,656
Location
Indiana
SRPC107 snap ring plier set forged
47cf pliers
Pwcs7 wire strippers
Bjp1 ball joint press
YAKS32a soldering iron
Assorted snap on hammers ball pien and deadblow
Pry bars 4 piece ser SPBS704g
Long pry bar 36 and 54 inch
Did not see Torx in there snap ons are great

Just a short list
 
I

ihateminimumwage

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Jan 26, 2012
Messages
3,960
Get some sets of Snap-On combination wrenches, you'll never bother with those Craftsman wrenches again (although I still think I like my Williams Supercombos more).

HBFE48 - 48oz deadblow hammer - Student discount makes it almost the same price as an Estwing at Home Depot.

SSDMR4B - Ratcheting Screwdriver - You will use it more than you can imagine.

SGASA204A - Red handled soft grip picks - With the student discount, you can't go wrong. Better than going through a half-dozen of the HF picks.
 
K

ken w.

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Aug 16, 2012
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Location
Western New York
If your going to get a big discount then I would invest in impact sockets. Impact swivel sockets in metric. I use my 3/8 set everyday.If your doing under car work it's a must have item.Get as many as you can afford.
 
D

dirtmister16

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Apr 6, 2011
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696
Location
wisconsin
get the tools you will be using everyday.
ratchets, sockets,impact sockets,wrenches, screwdrivers. stuff that you know you can get warranty from without issue at a moments notice.

also if you want a balljoint press from everyone ive talked to snap on has the the nicest and easiest around. ive watched there vids on youtube, sure seems the cats meow compared to the otc we have.



now if you want particulars.

snap on ratcheting screwdrives with hex bits and the 1/4" end. they are handy as can be, and sturdy.

ratchets 1/4" and 3/8" drive 1/2" depending on how much you use it and how much you want to spend.

screwdrivers if you like the snap on handle they are good, grip well so you won't strip out screws. i presonally got sk as i prefer the handle better.

torx and allen sockets, get both and in heavy duty if you will really put them to use. snap on has the best warranty on these so they are worth it im my opinion. ive never broke or twisted one yet.

snap ring pliers are a great choice, id get the set as snap on and many others are interchangeable to innner and outer rings. but having the set assures you won't get in a tight spot needing a small tip and all you have is big tip.

as far as sockets, yes they are nice. but you can get better deals on other brands. i guess sockets are a personal preferance more then anything. i have some snap on and the rest craftsman and i prefer my craftsman as they have the deep broaching. other brands have that deep broach compared to snap on and the shallow broach.


impact sockets go with a one of the tool trucks for easy warranty.

snap on are spendy but you know you can get warranty if one breaks on you. i bought sk for my home garage and dad has wrights from way back. we also bought a set of sunnex we have used for a long time now and they are holding up great. so even the lower end of impacts can hold up well. we were able to get a single socket that we lost with ease as well.



i would say a snap on 1/2" breaker bar as they are great, havn't broke any of them yet, other brands we have but not the snap on ones we have.


almost forgot to tell you get snap on flare nut wrenches, they are the best on the market if you ask me, i bought a whole set after using just one. havn't stripped a line since. get the ones that have the open end on one side, all you have to do is break the line loose then flip it over and work it like a normal wrench. much quicker! i bought mine used here in the classifieds love em!

there are other things im sure people perfer over other brands but those in my experiance are very much a must or very useful tools from snap on.

hope that helped.
 
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P

PSDEng

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Feb 5, 2013
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107
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Bellefonte, PA
I'd get that ball joint press (BJP1).....if I was still getting a student discount I'd be all over it. I'm looking for a used one now and am kicking myself for not getting it new when it was half off.
 
C

Caterpillar Cowboy

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Feb 7, 2013
Messages
75
Location
Wyoming
Their picks are great! I also like their hard carbon scrapers the type with a hard screwdriver handle. Also their striking pry bars they call em have the hard plastic handle are great too. Wrenches ratchets sockets screwdrivers also that they make are nice. Not sure your financial situation but I got all craftsman in high school and am about done getting all transferred to Snap On.
 
B

bob15

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Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
O-ring pick set
Pry bar set with the 36" bar
Gold colored heavy duty torx bit set
Hex bit sets....if you break one, take an Allen wrench cut it and re-insert (many other companies are designed not to allow this)
4-way angle wrench sets (SAE & met)....there is a difference!
Punch & chisel set
CJ2001P ~ bolt grip puller set
24" 1/2dr breaker bar



bob
 
P

Piles

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Apr 22, 2013
Messages
119
I have snap ons 1hp die grinder and it is awesome. IDK how much fab work or how often you would use it in automotive. But for me it was well worth the list price. I only used Princess auto junkers before and still do for the less power required tasks, but for any cutting, the snappy is the way to go.

I am pretty sure snap-on just rebranded some other company, but with your discount, and warranty being easier with SO, it might be something to look at if you use DG's much.

Their screwdrivers are tops also.

And crowsfeet.
 
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E

Evan(CA)

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Messages
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tank4114 said:
am i wrong or going crazy but isn't there like 10 other threads with the exact same topic
Click to expand...

There are several others and I read them all :) I wanted to make one of my own so I could list my tools to see if any should be replaced with Snap On while I can get them half off. Specifically the craftsman wrenches and sockets. They've been ok but I've broken several over the years just wrenching at home so I don't know if I want to use them on a daily basis professionally. I wish I had 10k to blow on tools right now to really capitalize on the opportunity.
 
K

knocker

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Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
220
Location
Peoria, Az
3/8 impact swivels for sure
1/2 breaker bar which I don't see on your list
THZLF72 1/4 ratchet for sure
Don't know where ur going but I use the hell out of my torx bit sockets and get the gold heavy duty set because you will twist them and yes they are warrantied but it ***** to have to wait for the truck to show up.
I'm going to just stop there because I could go on forever, man I wish I still got the student discount, buying off the truck ***** after that,
 
T

tjmonsen5

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Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Messages
1,341
Location
Crystal Lake IL
AT4101 blow gun! It feels VERY nice and has a great valve system for the trigger. Its lifetime warranty too. Seriously lightyears ahead of my old harbor freight blow gun which leaked and had a spongy trigger.
 
B

BmwManz

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Dec 5, 2013
Messages
28
Location
NC
dirtmister16 said:
get the tools you will be using everyday.
ratchets, sockets,impact sockets,wrenches, screwdrivers. stuff that you know you can get warranty from without issue at a moments notice.

also if you want a balljoint press from everyone ive talked to snap on has the the nicest and easiest around. ive watched there vids on youtube, sure seems the cats meow compared to the otc we have.



now if you want particulars.

snap on ratcheting screwdrives with hex bits and the 1/4" end. they are handy as can be, and sturdy.

ratchets 1/4" and 3/8" drive 1/2" depending on how much you use it and how much you want to spend.

screwdrivers if you like the snap on handle they are good, grip well so you won't strip out screws. i presonally got sk as i prefer the handle better.

torx and allen sockets, get both and in heavy duty if you will really put them to use. snap on has the best warranty on these so they are worth it im my opinion. ive never broke or twisted one yet.

snap ring pliers are a great choice, id get the set as snap on and many others are interchangeable to innner and outer rings. but having the set assures you won't get in a tight spot needing a small tip and all you have is big tip.

as far as sockets, yes they are nice. but you can get better deals on other brands. i guess sockets are a personal preferance more then anything. i have some snap on and the rest craftsman and i prefer my craftsman as they have the deep broaching. other brands have that deep broach compared to snap on and the shallow broach.


impact sockets go with a one of the tool trucks for easy warranty.

snap on are spendy but you know you can get warranty if one breaks on you. i bought sk for my home garage and dad has wrights from way back. we also bought a set of sunnex we have used for a long time now and they are holding up great. so even the lower end of impacts can hold up well. we were able to get a single socket that we lost with ease as well.



i would say a snap on 1/2" breaker bar as they are great, havn't broke any of them yet, other brands we have but not the snap on ones we have.


almost forgot to tell you get snap on flare nut wrenches, they are the best on the market if you ask me, i bought a whole set after using just one. havn't stripped a line since. get the ones that have the open end on one side, all you have to do is break the line loose then flip it over and work it like a normal wrench. much quicker! i bought mine used here in the classifieds love em!

there are other things im sure people perfer over other brands but those in my experiance are very much a must or very useful tools from snap on.

hope that helped.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting everyone. This really helps out with all the different threads and such. This was a great one. Making my list form the different ones I see.
 
N

not-required

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Mar 6, 2011
Messages
545
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Good advice already posted. Buy as much as you can afford with the student discount. Now that I'm out of school and working full time, I wish I took more advantage of the discount.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 
B

beatcad

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Sep 15, 2013
Messages
4,520
Location
NOVA
I have a lot of snap-on and I do like their stuff.
I usually wouldn't advise a young'un to spend that kinda bread on most of their stuff, but if you can get it at 1/2 off....
I would buy the big *** tap & die kit. I think it's normally a couple hunge.
it's a big set w/ SAE and metric in a nice case.
if you're going into auto repair industry it'll be more usefull than you think.
 
1

1950mercury

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Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Messages
2,246
Location
metro detroit
Pick set. Dead blow ball peins, ratchets, pry bars, locking extensions, mid length chrome sockets. Tap and die set. Fd+ comb wrenches
 
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mrborohachi

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Mar 27, 2013
Messages
841
Location
Berdoo Route 66
Leak down tester and the rebranded Knipex pliers. Hard handle ratcheting Screwdriver and 1/4 dr ratcheting t-handle or screwdriver what ever style floats your boat
 
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M

monomach

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Oct 8, 2013
Messages
1,489
Location
Illinois
I wrenched for some years. I've owned a number of things Snap-On, a number of things Harbor Freight, and a good deal in-between.

The only item Snappy sells that I consider a MUST-HAVE are the flare nut wrenches...both sets. No one else I've tried out compares.

Read all of the longer suggestions here with a word of warning: at the start of your career, you won't be making a ton of money. I've seen a lot of guys get in bad trouble carrying too much debt with their driver. If you research reviews and get picky and choosy, there's a bunch of stuff at Sears, Lowe's, and Harbor Freight that you can make a living with.

As for those stubby metrics you want... http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WilliamsD/WLMSTBY.html

Made by Snap-On, and in the USA. Just about the best deal in the world.
 
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K

kbeefy

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Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,439
Location
Harington, Eastern Washington
dirtmister16 said:
get the tools you will be using everyday.


snap on ratcheting screwdrives with hex bits and the 1/4" end. they are handy as can be, and sturdy.
Click to expand...

SGDMRC103A

I use mine every day, it's awesome. Can't believe it's listed at $140 now, I think I paid $60 for mine without a discount. The only drawback is the little cap on the end ocasionaly falls off, I've been thinking about epoxying it on there for years but I really like the convenience of different bits in it.


ken w. said:
If your going to get a big discount then I would invest in impact sockets. Impact swivel sockets in metric. I use my 3/8 set everyday.If your doing under car work it's a must have item.Get as many as you can afford.
Click to expand...


^this. Impact swivels are awesome. A set of those in a 3/8 drive and a 1/2 - 3/8 stepdown extension make transmision changes a breeze.
 
R

rhuff86

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Nov 25, 2013
Messages
316
Location
Hays, KS
+1 on the BJp1 Ball Joint press. I plan to get one in a week or so. I have been putting it off because of price but it will be so nice to have get it with the extra 5 piece set and you are set for ball joints on anything. If I could grab one half off I would do it in a heartbeat.
 
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BlksnshN

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I wonder how much school I have to attend to qualify for that 50% discount?
 
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Grigg

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Jul 31, 2010
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Lexington, VA
Ruffgeezer said:
The 3/8 head ratchet with the 1/4 drive body is fantastic, get it.
Click to expand...

I hate mine, stripped it out twice in short order when brand new about 14 years ago and now avoid using it. I hardly ever break a tool except for that one..
On the other hand my 1/4" 72 tooth long handle ratchet I use all the time and have never stripped it or been afraid I would.

The screwdrivers are excellent and I suspect the hard handle Williams are as good though cheaper to purchase, I only have experience with the Snap-on though.

Also recommend any other Dual 80 type ratchet you like the length and style of.

Add the open end flare nut wrench set to the list, one of my favorite sets.

Also really like the 12 point combination wrenches.
To save money get industrial finish if you want, when I got mine they were close to half price of the chrome.

Someone said get everything you'd use daily; that is very good advice If you can afford it or spread it out so you can. I have bought a lot of snap-on a little at a time and while I could have bought other brands I've been very pleased with most every snap-on tool I have.
 
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