Mine came as a Snap-on.
CAT tools
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Yeah, every one I've ever seen has been the red Snap On instinct handle.
Like I said/showed, it's even pictured in the CAT catalog as Snap On.
Thanks, what about the telescoping mirror; I am surprised that CAT only offers a 6-month warranty; are they also sourced from SO?
The Koken stuff is nicely especially extension bars; the ratchets though are crazy expensive
Not really a fair comparison. Unless it's changed, the CAT ratchets are essentially older Williams 36t versions. Physically and monetarily different than Koken.
Part #9U-6182.
But no idea. The offerings from Snap On are actually BluePoint and rebranded from Ullman. Made in China.
However, Snap On does have an actual SO branded mirror and pickup tools now with a version of their soft grip Instinct handles. Those came out late last year. They sell them individually now. Stupid expensive.
The $37 24 tooth Knurled ratchet has many similarities in performance to the Cat Williams.
Attachments
A few 3/8 Koken options under $50 on Amazon.
Can't recall seeing that version of Koken ratchets before. Definitely not what I picture in my head when I think of Koken ratchets.
Those remind me more of the old Proto ratchets.
PsRumors
Well-known member
We just bought new Mini X's, Cat 304s & 305s. Each one came with a 19mm ratcheting wrench for use with the Pin Grabber coupler. Before my brother realized each machine had a wrench he was using a Gearwrench brand to demonstrate to the crew leaders how to change buckets.
Once I showed him the Cat wrench he got all excited. He ended up ordering a full set of ratcheting wrenches. Just over $200.
Not sure if it is a Williams or a SnapOn but nice wrench.
Once I showed him the Cat wrench he got all excited. He ended up ordering a full set of ratcheting wrenches. Just over $200.
Not sure if it is a Williams or a SnapOn but nice wrench.
They are Williams. CAT doesn't rebrand the actual Snap On ratcheting wrenches, they're too expensive.
They don't sell extension sets that I'm aware of. None listed in the catalog. But I've not used them or recall seeing them.
I don't know if they're Snap On or Williams, or where they're made. I also don't know if they the older style with no knurling, etc.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
Does Williams still have a USA line? They used to have both (for instance) USA made flare nut wrenches, and imported ones. Unsure about now.
FWIW... I bought the Cat ratchet, indeed it was a Williams style coarse tooth ratchet, and more expensive than just buying the Williams version. Hard pass, I returned it. My Cat tools conclusion was that other than maybe the three-piece plier set, there really isn't that much available through cat that is a particularly great deal, and dealing with the local Cat dealer (Wagner) is a bit of a hassle. They are truly antiquated in their data systems which makes purchasing stuff kind of a PITA.
On the Koken side, I have a good number of Koken Z-eal ratchets and absolutely love them (the new 72 tooth low profile). I also recently picked up a Koken 3753N, the older style 24 tooth ratchet.
I bought it primarily because I wanted to check it out and it was relatively inexpensive ($34 when I pulled the trigger. Beautiful knurling, nicely made, but as a *tool* (go figure), not all that special.
You can spot the Koken 24T right at about 12-oclock in the picture below, with the Koken Z-eal ratchets directly to the left of it.
On the Koken side, I have a good number of Koken Z-eal ratchets and absolutely love them (the new 72 tooth low profile). I also recently picked up a Koken 3753N, the older style 24 tooth ratchet.
I bought it primarily because I wanted to check it out and it was relatively inexpensive ($34 when I pulled the trigger. Beautiful knurling, nicely made, but as a *tool* (go figure), not all that special.
You can spot the Koken 24T right at about 12-oclock in the picture below, with the Koken Z-eal ratchets directly to the left of it.
I don't disagree. Unfortunately prices went up several years ago, post 2020 I think.
CAT definitely made/makes it difficult to buy tools. I'm not sure why. They completely removed tools online for a few years, it's only recently they started to show up again. But still not even close to everything in the catalog is online or even available at all.
Along with the 3-piece pliers set, the only real "deals" are on some of their socket sets and the SAE angle wrenches (non-flank drive). Beyond that, there are a few misc items, but generally there won't be much difference between buying directly from Snap On vs CAT.
Also the CAT version of things are often older models or styles. Warranty can also be a concern.
Overall I think this whole thing is exaggerated and over hyped.
TheToolEnthusiast
Well-known member
Does anybody know which Snap-On equivalent pliers are currently in the 3 piece set? Also are the 10-piece combo wrench sets Flank Drive?
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I was a bit hesitant to say that, particularly in a thread dedicated to Cat tools, but I completely agree... Even the sockets, while decently priced, aren't that great of a deal to be worth it (to me) to give up the Snap-On name, ease of warranty, and even future resale value. Heck, if I just want to save a few bucks, I'll just buy some lifetime warranty Icon or Tekton sockets.
mreisner
Well-known member
Some things are Made in Taiwan, definitely something to be weary of as Amazon and Zoro listings are notorious for not being accurate with COO
Absolutely. The standard Williams SuperCombo and CAT combination wrenches are a good example of the USA Williams products.
They look as if they were made with the same first forgings as the Snap-on standard combination wrenches with different finishing forging.
I like them both a lot, but the SuperCombo’s wider/rounder beams are more comfortable.
Hannahranga
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2023
- Messages
- 211
Does also depend on how convenient your snapon dealer is, I don't work somewhere that gets a weekly visit but my local cat dealer is open 24/7
That's nice. Dealer I worked for the public facing operations and parts dept. were only open 8-5pm Mon-Fri. Some locations and dealers those hours can and will vary.
Warranty could also be a potential issue. Snap On won't warranty CAT branded tools, so anything warranty related would have to go through CAT. Again, it will vary by dealer and location. Some tools are kept in stock, others are not.
But Snap On potentially won't be any better. Frequently even the most basic items I wanted to buy or needed to warranty had to be ordered. That process can take weeks or even months.
They both have pros and cons.
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KnurledNut
Well-known member
They do, but not all products are available in both lines. For example, they only offer fractional flare wrenches in the USA line, but both fractional and metric are available in the imported line.
3/8" drive 8-19mm 6pt chrome socket set:
- Snap-on: $260
- CAT: $52
- Tekton/Icon: $35
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Yes, the 3/8" sockets appear to be decent deal, though I'm not sure they are the current snap-on flank drive version... Perhaps. "Across the entire range" isn't really applicable since Cat offers such a minimal selection. A handful of offerings but no transparency or solid info on what is Snap-On, what is Williams, and what is something else. Not worth the hassle for me, YMMV.
Cat Torx is also a good value at $55 with quality Snap-on bit sockets. It's a complete set & for some reason, they include a E8 1/4 etorx socket.
This should be the Snap On equivalent of the CAT set.
Snap-on Store
As for the wrenches, I highly doubt it. The CAT stuff tends to be older designs/versions. I'm sure someone has posted about the wrenches elsewhere in the thread.
All of the sockets are Snap-on, they are all Flank Drive. Off corner engagement has been ubiquitous for decades now so I wouldn't sweat it. But, that's the value of a forum like this one IMO - being able to get that info. I learned about the CAT stuff on GJ and it was worth the hour of research to me.
For your bread and butter sockets, CAT's prices are truly unbeatable when it comes to US made. For around $600 you can have a full range of shallow and deep metric sockets in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 along with Hex and Torx bit sockets. I've spent far more than that on Snap-on, and I will continue to buy tools from Snap-on as they are often the best, so I'm not criticizing anyone's choices. But if I were starting from scratch my sockets would be mostly CAT...then I could buy more Snap-on ratchets with the savings hah.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
For those that don't know, the flank drive is the box end of the wrenches, so there is no way the DOE wrenches would have that. If they would have something, it would be the PLUS, where the teeth are in the open end.
I looked at Wrights version as well, because the Wrightgrip would be teeth in the open end, but they don't offer those either.
Sorry... Flank Drive PLUS.
All better.
But regardless, the CAT angle wrenches have smooth open ends.
Retired dozer fixer
Well-known member
I can appreciate all of you for wanting to save money on quality tools but just remember that Caterpillar is in business to sell heavy equipment….not tools. Just saying…..
You say that… but I would love to know what percentage of Caterpillar profits are from licensed products.
Stores all over this area carry their products. Even if it is a minuscule percentage of their sales… is probably very much worth the effort.
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Yes, and their tools are meant more to be purchased and used by techs and customers, not so much the general public.
I think that's part of why they are/can be difficult to get and why the "Dealer Service Tools Catalog" is not [supposed to be] publicly available.
It's also why some dealers won't sell to the general public, or at least to anyone without an account, which they generally won't be able to open without an associated business.
cody1325
Well-known member
Well, I finally used the free shipping promo running on CAT Parts to give myself an excuse to order a few (but not a lot) items.
Not ordering any sockets until I fully go through 100% of what I have, organize it, and then ditch the cheap junk (unmarked China and Taiwan).
Got the PH2 as a "sampler" to try these Williams rebrands--and I wanted a CAT screwdriver....
The 213-1983 don't follow the "6V" as the rest it seems. They also don't look like Snap-on.
Found a set on eBay--Wilde or ProAmerica? Seller still says "USA". They definitely don't look like cheap junk!
Decided I'd still buy the 6V-6192 anyway since it's known to be Snap-On.
Not ordering any sockets until I fully go through 100% of what I have, organize it, and then ditch the cheap junk (unmarked China and Taiwan).
Got the PH2 as a "sampler" to try these Williams rebrands--and I wanted a CAT screwdriver....
The 213-1983 don't follow the "6V" as the rest it seems. They also don't look like Snap-on.
Found a set on eBay--Wilde or ProAmerica? Seller still says "USA". They definitely don't look like cheap junk!
Decided I'd still buy the 6V-6192 anyway since it's known to be Snap-On.
I don’t think that any angle wrenches that I have ever seen have an anti-slip technology.
I don’t think that you would want anything biting into the hydraulic fittings.
All of the newer ones from Snap On have their flank drive plus.
Snap-on Store
Most of their adjustable wrenches also have flank drive plus "teeth". I'm guilty of using them on hydraulic fittings.
Guys I worked with would often used pipe wrenches on hydraulic fittings.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Wilde still uses nut and bolt.
I believe ProAmerica will be riveted on that model.
ProAmerica slip-joint pliers
But don't go that route.
Go with the Wilde "Flush Fastener" model if you're going to buy slip-joint pliers.
Serious game-changer.
