CAT tools

[alinc100]

Figured I might as well join the club with some swivel metric 1/2 impact sockets (10mm to 19mm). I know I was never going to pay Snap On's price for these which would be about $1275. It was $557 Canadian including $10 shipping as I didn't feel like picking them up from the dealer.

I don't know what shipping 5 lbs across the border would cost but with discounts my local CAT store is showing me a price of $192.41 OTD in USD.

 

[Steve_P]

Would it be possible for you to list the part #'s? I find CAT's website to be extremely difficult to navigate.

Sorry, the PNs are on those pages of this thread, not the catalog.

 

[Steve_P]

I had suspected earlier that the Snap-on and Williams and cap were all the same flare wrench but looking at a set of Williams compared to a set of Snap-on they are slightly different, sizes are a little bit different and also which dimensions are on which wrench are a little bit different. I'm assuming that the Snap-on is standalone and the Williams and Cat Flare wrenches are the same. This is a little bit older sets of Snap-on that I was comparing to and the Williams are excellent wrenches but you can see that they aren't finished to as high of a level.

Unless something has recently changed, the Williams flarenut are totally different from SO. Williams are a matte chrome finish and Taiwan made; SO are fully polished and USA Made. The Williams are very good wrenches for the $ though, just totally different from SO.

 

[mreisner]

Unless something has recently changed, the Williams flarenut are totally different from SO. Williams are a matte chrome finish and Taiwan made; SO are fully polished and USA Made. The Williams are very good wrenches for the $ though, just totally different from SO.

To complicate it even further there are Williams USA flare wrenches also. I'm still having difficulty posting pictures I do have a side-by-side picture of them and while similar they are definitely not the same wrench.

 

[mreisner]

Holy **** it finally worked

 

[kams1973]

I disagree on the top wrench being Williams. I've had alot of old Cat tools and that upper wrench is just like the Par-X/Blue Point wrenches Snap on sold from the 60's- 70's.
Snap on and Proto both made Cat hand tools. As far as I know the Cat tools made by Williams didn't occur until after Snap on purchased Williams. Vlchek, Billings and Armstrong made tools also, especially the tools that came in tool kits with the machinery.

I agree. The wrench looks more like the Par-X wrenches I own.

 

[kams1973]

Here’s a couple CAT examples I found to fill out my angle wrench set.

 

[dcg1]

I saw on another thread that the hose pick is now coming with a non Snap On handle(looks completely different). It used to come with a Snap On labeled handle.

Confirmed this was the case for me; I've updated my post.
Now made in Germany. Not the end of the world, seems like a fine tool, but I wouldn't have purchased if I knew.
Haven't been able to find any details on OEM; any ideas?

EDIT - Also, the metric hex socket set are gold, but the SAE are black. And despite what the CAT site says, the metric set does include a 6mm.

 

[Pinne]

EDIT - Also, the metric hex socket set are gold, but the SAE are black. And despite what the CAT site says, the metric set does include a 6mm.

That's the same as the Snap On ones. Weird about the product description, I ordered the 6mm separate and now have duplicates - their catalog is iffy.

 

[B_Bimmer]

That seal pick looks pretty nice. I almost prefer it.

 

[CoThG]

Confirmed this was the case for me; I've updated my post.
Now made in Germany. Not the end of the world, seems like a fine tool, but I wouldn't have purchased if I knew.
Haven't been able to find any details on OEM; any ideas?

EDIT - Also, the metric hex socket set are gold, but the SAE are black. And despite what the CAT site says, the metric set does include a 6mm.

That's how Snap-On differentiates metric from SAE hex sockets.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Confirmed this was the case for me; I've updated my post.
Now made in Germany. Not the end of the world, seems like a fine tool, but I wouldn't have purchased if I knew.
Haven't been able to find any details on OEM; any ideas?

EDIT - Also, the metric hex socket set are gold, but the SAE are black. And despite what the CAT site says, the metric set does include a 6mm.

Handle looks like Athlet/ HKR.

https://www.rotec.tools/en/pageid/athlethome

https://www.hkr-werkzeuge.de/en/index.html

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[dcg1]

Handle looks like Athlet/ HKR.

https://www.rotec.tools/en/pageid/athlethome

https://www.hkr-werkzeuge.de/en/index.html

Kind regards,
Olli

Thanks! Yes, appears to be a match. New brands to me; how is the quality?
I can't find a match to the exact product in either catalog; interesting that CAT is maybe having them produce a custom item when I can't imagine their volume is that high.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

The Athlet screwdrivers are high quality, same goes for the handles.

So here is what I think: I think that HKR makes the handles and Athlet pushes their blades into said handles. These handles can be found on different brand’s screwdrivers here (all private label, it’s what HKR does), I was never able to confirm whether they make the whole driver, or if they only make and supply the handles. Allegedly, both companies (can) make (full/whole) screwdrivers in-house.

So it’s entirely possible that the handle is HKR/Athlet but the pick itself is from another German manufacturer - and someone then marries them.

This goes way back and is typical for the region. Company A makes a really good X and supplies X to B, C, D, (…). They then fit X to their products.

For a company like HKR, who specialize in private label, it’s not a big deal to set up custom colors & print, it’s not that you need hundreds of thousands of units to make that cost effective.

—-

On a different note, what I find interesting is that this is already the 2nd “CAT” tool shown here in relative short order of German origin, that replaced a former Snap-On product.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Daytonaer]

The scraper ( 8H-8580 ) is made in China:



The wood handle rivet is loose.

A fair price for $9, but not a USA tool.

 

[Garagegho5t]

Cat is now selling Stahlwille manufactured 80-tooth ratchets.

 

[ChevyEFI]

That grey handle matches the cat seat covers I just put in my truck.

 

[Garagegho5t]

There’s a CAT parts discount code currently that works on hand tools. 25% off your online order, Up to $100 off total. ONLINE25

 

[Steel_Rain]

There’s a CAT parts discount code currently that works on hand tools. 25% off your online order, Up to $100 off total. ONLINE25

Thank you @Garagegho5t for posting this coupon, I saved a ton on these and other CAT tools using this last month:

 

[Steel_Rain]

Also, does anyone know who makes the vice pliers? Bacho (made in Spain) is the obvious first choice, but was just curious if someone knows for sure.

Doesn’t Bacho make them for SO as well?

 

[stonesfan68]

Also, does anyone know who makes the vice pliers? Bacho (made in Spain) is the obvious first choice, but was just curious if someone knows for sure.

Doesn’t Bacho make them for SO as well?

Grip-on

 

[wheeler916]

Here’s a couple CAT examples I found to fill out my angle wrench set.

I guess it might be best to compare William / CAT prices. I'm mainly interested in it for the made in USA tag. Thanks for reporting.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I guess it might be best to compare William / CAT prices. I'm mainly interested in it for the made in USA tag. Thanks for reporting.

I do love those! Williams screwdrivers....

Do you think that snap-on makes their own locking Pliers that are shaped differently? See the image below.

 

[wheeler916]

I'm pretty sure they do now since Irwin stopped making theirs in the US. Luckily, I've got a set of Irwin locking before they stopped. The CAT locking pliers are from Bahco made in Spain. I'm certain they are just as good as any but that is not my aim.

 

[purplezr2]

I do love those! Williams screwdrivers....

Do you think that snap-on makes their own locking Pliers that are shaped differently? See the image below.

Those look like the Malco Eagle Grips. Wonder what Snap on will do now that Malco closed the plant.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Those look like the Malco Eagle Grips. Wonder what Snap on will do now that Malco closed the plant.

I ordered this one very recently and they were out of stock.... So I assume that somebody is making them right now. I just wanted to try it and compare it to my malco pliers. Have not had time to do that yet

 

[cody1325]

I ordered this one very recently and they were out of stock.... So I assume that somebody is making them right now. I just wanted to try it and compare it to my malco pliers. Have not had time to do that yet

The story I've been told is that Snap-On bought the tooling to produce the pliers; and relocated it to an existing facility SO had here in the States. They did not reopen the plant.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I ordered this one very recently and they were out of stock.... So I assume that somebody is making them right now. I just wanted to try it and compare it to my malco pliers. Have not had time to do that yet

The story I've been told is that Snap-On bought the tooling to produce the pliers; and relocated it to an existing facility SO had here in the States. They did not reopen the plant.

I went a bit mental when I found out the Eagle Grips were going away and bought a ton. SO bought the tooling (and doubled the price), so I’m glad I got them when I did looking back:

 

[Ohio Andy]

I went a bit mental when I found out the Eagle Grips were going away and bought a ton. SO bought the tooling (and doubled the price), so I’m glad I got them when I did looking back:

Yeah in retrospect I wish I bought more of them... But for most things my other stuff does the job.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I just compared the Snap-On LP7WC against a Malco Eagle Grip LP7WC. Things that look the same:

1. Wire Cutter shaped the same.
2. USA stamps are identicle on the side.
3. Brazed point at top front point where the front top jaw meets the hood.
4. Additional Rivet for added strength (just behind that brazed point).
5. Springs look the same.
6. Power ring in front of the adjustment knob looks the same. And I have never seen anything similar on any other locking pliers.
7. Hex key to release / tighten the adjustment knob. And these knobs look ALMOST identicle. The Malco seems to have a slightly different (deeper) broaching / chamfer on the opening.
8. Stamp of a head wearing eye protection on the handle
9. Stamp on the bottom handle that reads "Genuine (R) MADE IN USA".
10. All dimensions appear the same.

What differes for sure?

1. Snap-On logo in the same place as the "EAGLE GRIP MADE IN USA" mark on the Malco.
2. Snap-On logo in the same place as the "DEWITT malco NEBRASKA" mark on the Malco.
3. As mentioned in (7) above, the broaching is very slightly different (less deep) on my Snap-On as compared to the Malco.

I will see if I can edit on my phone to add a picture.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I just compared the Snap-On LP7WC against a Malco Eagle Grip LP7WC. Things that look the same:

1. Wire Cutter shaped the same.
2. USA stamps are identicle on the side.
3. Brazed point at top front point where the front top jaw meets the hood.
4. Additional Rivet for added strength (just behind that brazed point).
5. Springs look the same.
6. Power ring in front of the adjustment knob looks the same. And I have never seen anything similar on any other locking pliers.
7. Hex key to release / tighten the adjustment knob. And these knobs look ALMOST identicle. The Malco seems to have a slightly different (deeper) broaching / chamfer on the opening.
8. Stamp of a head wearing eye protection on the handle
9. Stamp on the bottom handle that reads "Genuine (R) MADE IN USA".
10. All dimensions appear the same.

What differes for sure?

1. Snap-On logo in the same place as the "EAGLE GRIP MADE IN USA" mark on the Malco.
2. Snap-On logo in the same place as the "DEWITT malco NEBRASKA" mark on the Malco.
3. As mentioned in (7) above, the broaching is very slightly different (less deep) on my Snap-On as compared to the Malco.

I will see if I can edit on my phone to add a picture.

Good info Andy

 

[Ohio Andy]

Good info Andy

I bought that one to see what the differences were and after that it's like. Yeah I guess these are exactly the same.... Don't know if I'll buy anymore. I'll have to think about it. I probably have enough for my uses already

 

[four.cycle]

I still have one NOS pair of the large ones. Gave all the others out for "Secret Santa". Maybe I should have kept them!

 

[Ohio Andy]

I still have one NOS pair of the large ones. Gave all the others out for "Secret Santa". Maybe I should have kept them!

You were a good secret Santa....

I rarely NEED the better ones, but when I do I am glad I have them.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Same as a young man I sent a pair to: I don't want to get them all scratched up!