CAT tools

[young_buck]

I have heard that they are rebranded snap on tools, is there any truth to this? Does anybody own any CAT tools? What are the prices like? any and all info is appreciated

 

[wombat31x]

According to my Cat Tools & Supplies catalog,Cat tools are made by both Stanley-Proto and Snap On.

 

[volvo92906]

My CAT air tools (Angle grinder, Straight) are IR tools..... I dont care what they say. They are warrantied and since I work there, I get a pretty nice discount.

I also have some of those black plastic handle screwdrivers Snappy had before the new cushion ones... They say CAT on them instead of Snap On. Again, discount.

 

[Hammell]

My local CAT dealer showed me some prices. Looked like they were marked up from the SO truck. Ouch.. Phone the nearest one to you and get a quote or ask for a book. CAT tools are 10 out of 10 for being cool. I would love to have more but for the price. The ratchets and wrenches looked like SO but with CAT on them.

 

[DTB]

Most of the hand tools are rebranded Williams.Ratchets aren't Dual 80s,but the older 36 tooth.Wrenches are Williams Super Combos.I think the flare nut wrenches however are Snap On.That being said,from what I've seen of the Cat Tools,they aren't cheap.

 

[davesnothere]

The sockets are definately snapon made. And priced accordingly.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Some are priced slightly better than their Snappy counterparts, most aren't. Cat dealer employees usually get a pretty decent discount, and some shops will let the guys tack stuff onto parts orders and/or work orders (within reason) if a tool is needed to get a job done.

Usually they aren't a very good deal, but there are exceptions.

 

[relic7680]

Their current combo wrenches are JH Williams. I bought a set used and the 15/16 was missing. No big deal, right? Ended up paying $52.00 for that one wrench even with my buddy's discount. When I worked for Cat in 2004, I bought a mini right angle die grinder that was Blue Point and a small multimeter that was mid grade Asian. Unless you can really score on some used stuff, it's really not worth it.

 

[KnurledNut]

Out of the 2012 catalog:

And snap on:

 

[KnurledNut]

FWIW, they have their heavy duty 4.5 angle grinder listed as having a lifetime warranty.

 

[Rebelphotog]

I've got a long handled 1/2" or 3/4" drive CAT ratchet that I got from a buddy after he passed away. I've only used it once, but it seems to work great and felt really solid and smooth. Much better than my older Craftsman ratchets of the same size (for whatever that's worth).

I wasn't (and I'm still not, honestly) real familiar with CAT tools until I got this ratchet. I've got a few other CAT tools, but I'm not sure what all I have, or even where it's all at to be honest with you. Still trying to locate, organize and find space for all of my tools in my tiny little shed since I moved a year ago.

My dad ended up getting a ~41" CAT rolling tool chest from the same guy. I'm trying to talk him out of it as I'm completely out of room in my current box in a BAD way, but I don't think he's gonna give it up.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

I have quite a lot of CAT branded tools. The current crop is made mainly by Snap On Industrial JH Williams including wrenches and ratchets. The sockets and angle wrenches are Snap On as well as the tool chests and roll cabs.

They used to do a basic line which was made by Proto and premium line by Snap On. I purchased my first 1/4 drive socket set and it was a clone of a Snap On Par-X set.

I have a CAT road chest and it is exactly the same as a MAC MB9000.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

That set comes with a JH Wiliams ratchet now which does not properly in the plastic holder!

Out of the 2012 catalog:

And snap on:

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Some CAT tools of mine when they were new

 

[buremarey]

The ratchets and wrenches looked like SO but with CAT on them.

 

[cbalthazor]

They are JH Williams or Snap On at this time (tool boxes are Williams, were Snap On KRA's). CAT does jump around, so depending on the era, they could be Proto/Stanley.

About 50% of my tools are CAT, I really like the Williams Super Combo wrenches. They have stood up to being beaten on with 4lb and occasionally 8lb sledge hammers when needed.

 

[BullfrogJohnson]

Alot of my tools are Cat. I like most of them and get a very nice discount at work.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Be nice for others to post pics of their CAT goodness

 

[Rezeppa]

I have a 1/4 socket set nothing says cat on it but the 1/4 drive square screwdriver. All have cat part numbers. I paid very little but I think cat tools are retarted expensive and are not worth it most the time.

 

[silver2000]

Can you buy these online at all? Not even sure where there is a dealer near me.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

You have to order them from your nearest CAT dealer parts dept. They are pretty good and will usually have them for you in 24-48 hours. Warranty is very good as well.

 

[volvo92906]

Here are a few of mine....

View media item 28226
View media item 28227
View media item 28228

 

[Rebelphotog]

Here's my 3/4" drive Cat ratchet.. The only Cat tool I can locate at the moment.

It actually doesn't say CAT on it anywhere, but that's what it is/what the 9U-6639 part number comes back to.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

A lot of CAT tools made by Snap On just had the part number.

My set of 1/2 drive sockets just has the part number and Snap On date code. Nice ratchet by the way

In recent years they have started branding eveything with the CAT logo.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Anymore CAT tools to show. Maybe the moderator will give it a sticky as most people like to see them?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Just too bad you couldnt get em online somewhere...CAT Dealers are less the freindly with the general public. Unless your looking to spend 1/4 million bucks, they dont usually go out of their way for you....
My BIL works at a CAT Dealer, but I hate to bug him with stupid little questions only to find out the Screwdriver set costs 350.00...and the die grinder is 850.00...(CAT Pricing).

 

[HTGTS350]

When I worked for CAT I bought quite a few tools and some of them in CAT boxes were snap on branded, torque wrenches looked identical to SO but were CAT branded, screwdrivers were CAT branded SO hard handles.

 

[young_buck]

I start work Monday at a company that deals almost primarily with Caterpillar I will ask a journeyman or the fleet manager if they know anything about them and their pricing

 

[rusty65]

I have a cat wrench set and screwdriver set and a little 3/8 drive socket set ill post some pictures in a bit when I get on my computer.

 

[spotco2]

When I worked in a CAT dealer (20 years ago) I bought some CAT tools. Yeah, they were all Snap-On basically with a different part number. I've got a CAT version of a Fluke 88 that says CAT on the front and FLUKE on the back.

Yeah, they were expensive but we got our discount and they took a little out of our check each week for our tool account. A lot of tools were bought on customers tickets in the service department. Heck, back in the day we even put boots, hardhats, t-shirts, ball caps and everything else on service tickets under "Misc Shop Supplies." We knew who would pay for it and who wouldn't.

I'll try to dig some out and post some pics.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

I will dig out a take some pics of mine. Be nice to see some of the earlier CAT tools from the 70s and 80s including tool boxes.

 

[rusty65]

Alright here are the photos i mentioned earlier.

Group photo.

Snap-on vs. cat length

snap-on vs. cat thickness.

1/2 par-x by 3/8 cat extensions

Cat 3/8 socket set 3/8 to 3/4

Snap-on sockets compared to Cat sockets of same size 3/4, 5/8, and 3/8
I hope you all enjoy the photos and sorry if they are a little to big.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Nice photos Rusty thanks for posting. Love the wrenches with the cube C CAT logo.

I have the same sockets which just have a part number and a Snap On date code. I also have some CAT sockets by Proto which have the part number and CAT logo.

 

[young_buck]

I wonder if the cat screwdrivers they sell now are still like the snap on hard handles like rusty65 posted above, anybody know?

 

[rusty65]

The new cat screwdrivers look like the ones Volvo posted a picture of they use a more stylized logo instead of just the company name like mine.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I wonder if the cat screwdrivers they sell now are still like the snap on hard handles like rusty65 posted above, anybody know?

Should be. Williams still makes them, and CAT is mostly re-badged Williams USA stuff.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

As requested here is the screwdrivers new in package with the new logo.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

My CAT road chest.

 

[Skin]

Anyone know why they go through the trouble of having tools specially forged and packaged under their own label instead of just using Williams/Snap-On as a source directly? Seems odd.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Anyone know why they go through the trouble of having tools specially forged and packaged under their own label instead of just using Williams/Snap-On as a source directly? Seems odd.

Because everybody does it

CaseIH, Deere, and many other brands have "in house" brands...I've got a 3/8" Deere Ratchet...Stanley...nice ratchet for the money.