Cornwell tools?

[iroc409]

Maybe I'm just not paying attention, but it seems people on here don't talk about Cornwell as much as the other tool brands (truck or not). How are these tools, and is there anything specifically desirable from their line?

I moved into a new neighborhood 6 months ago, and noticed there's a Cornwell truck down the street. I'm pretty well set for basic tools, and as a DIY don't usually get the tool truck stuff (have a couple of Snap-On ratchets), but wanted to find out if it's worth checking out.

 

[rmsg0040]

Check em out, they are good, but the trucks are very rare

 

[JMcFly]

I recently saw a Cornwell truck and I was ecstatic. I should have checked out what he had on board but I was driving to work.

 

[Brownsfan]

Great tools. The ratchets are awesome and so are the wrenches. Where are you from?

 

[3baygarage]

Great quality tools, but a Cornwell truck in Buffalo, New York is about as rare as a Bills Super Bowl victory!

 

[SMKS]

Cornwell is the oldest of the mobile tool dealerships I've known, although the smallest due to the fact that they are the only ones not to sell out and go public.

If they would sell the tools on their website like the other truck brands they would drum up more sales.

I would rather see them do that, although I still couldn't justify the cost of them.

 

[rusty65]

Cornwell tools are some of the best period. If you buy there sockets stick to 6 point. I always buy used cornwell And I have a almost complete set of 3/8 drive std deeps all the way up to 1in. And cornwell wrenches are some of the most comfortable I've ever used even more so then snap on dare I say that.


Sent From Snap On Headquarters deep in China.

 

[Bull]

Someone should figure out how to have a thread in which there is a map on which Cornwell truck sightings can be pinpointed.

 

[zkling]

I have a few misc cornwell tools, most really old and all used before I got them. No complaints from me. I think they are pretty well regarded, just not as commonly available as the other truck companies.

When ever I hear cornwell, I think of a guy that works with a friend of mine (pro mechanic). Everyone else in the shop has a large Mac, Matco or Snap On setup, then there is this guys large blue cornwell setup, full of only cornwell tools. One day I asked him why he chose cornwell over the other brands. His response, "They were the only ones that would finance me", IDK maybe they don't have as much demand so they are a bit more lax with the credit history of their clientele.

Someone should figure out how to have a thread in which there is a map on which Cornwell truck sightings can be pinpointed.

Better yet, why not just lowjack the trucks to a live GPS feed.

Kidding of course.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have a Cornwell and a SO truck around here. How are the prices between the two?

I think they are both good looking tools. And let's face it, most of us have an image to uphold

 

[d.mcfarland]

Not for nothing but used Cornwell are abundant and cheap on eBay. I'm going to order a new ratchet soon from their website only because I don't have a truck around.

Remember that Cornwell only makes hardline tools. The rest are re-badged. I think pliers are Channellock actually with red handles.

Check out the YouTube videos of Cornwell. Excellent practices they use during the production process.

 

[Outlawmws]

Someone should figure out how to have a thread in which there is a map on which Cornwell truck sightings can be pinpointed.

There is some sort of "ere are you located thing you can use for that, just label it "Where have you seen a Cornwell truck?

 

[larryq]

Someone should figure out how to have a thread in which there is a map on which Cornwell truck sightings can be pinpointed.

Here's a real-time map of just that. Let's put this sucker on the AppStore and Android marketplace and make some dough:

 

[twostall]

I saw a Cornwell truck parked in a Fastenal lot in Louisville once last autumn. I saw a Lamborghini Aventador not five miles from there just last week. But, hey, I've spotted the Oscar Meyer Weiner mobile four times since moving to KY 27 years ago.

 

[03protege]

I see the Cornwell truck driving aroung all the time. At least once every few weeks.

 

[kiatech]

When I lived in myrtle beach I coordinated a few meetups with the cornwell driver for a few members. Only thing I ever bought was 5.5mm socket from truck. When I lived there I didnt have the extra income to buy that kind of stuff. I never really knew how rare it was to see a truck.

 

[Brownsfan]

Cornwell in West Cleveland. And a friend of mine. Great tools for the money. Yes the USA made (ccl part#) are Channellock with orange grips. I love their ratchets. The chrome ratchets are the most comfortable of any full chrome ratchet I have ever used. The jr72 is one the best 3/8 ratchets period.

 

[scaron]

here in SE MI i see cornwell and matco trucks driving around all the time, snap on much less so and MAC never.

 

[ednomad]

definetly check them out, great tools just not as popular as snap on and mac

 

[Midman914]

I've seen the Cornwell truck in Ann Arbor, Michigan several times and the other brands too. Mostly I see them at the car dealers on Jackson road, but I'm sure they hit all the dealers in the area. I own a little bit of their stuff, but would like to a lot more.

 

[rusty65]

I've got to ask has anyone seen a Cornwell truck in the peoria,IL area? Thank you.


Sent From Snap On Headquarters deep in China.

 

[CRXPilot]

Alive and well in Race City, USA. I see the white and blue truck about once a month on my daily commute. The dealers for Cornwell have a lot of good things to say. My dad knows a former Mac guy that went Cornwell. Says he likes his job again.

 

[Davefr]

The dealers for Cornwell have a lot of good things to say. My dad knows a former Mac guy that went Cornwell. Says he likes his job again.

I bet they do. With so few dealers they can probably get huge territories. On top of that Cornwell Corp. seems unwaivering in support of their dealers. (ex: no online sales)

 

[d.mcfarland]

(ex: no online sales)

Not selling online only hurts the company nowadays.

 

[Brownsfan]

Not really. You don't have to be sold online to be successful. They feel their tools are better sold through their dealers and they do not want to take ANY sales from them. When I owned my Car Audio and Accy shop I only supported products that were not sold online(Memphis/ Arc Audio). My snap on guy hates that I can go online and buy them from SO.com. Contrary to popular belief he gets ZERO from sales online that are sold in his territory. My SO guy is very successful but he always wants more. My Cornwell guy has more customers than he can handle and is buying a second truck and hiring someone to drive it. Those are the only two trucks in my area. Matco and Mac are pretty much non existent. My Cornwell guy said that was his deciding factor when choosing a tool franchise(no online sales). He looked at Mac and Matco as well.

 

[SMKS]

Not really. You don't have to be sold online to be successful.

Well, that depends on the definition of "success." If the company selling more tools means they're more "successful," then selling online would make them more successful.

There's no doubt to me that they could sell more tools if they sold online. I understand about not wanting to hurt their dealers, but what percentage of GJ members, for example, actually have access to a dealer? I'd say it's a very small percentage.

It doesn't matter how great their tools are if most people can't buy them.

 

[pete379]

wasn't there a cornwell truck guy that used to post on this site ?? think he was from nw wa. state ?
pete

 

[SMKS]

wasn't there a cornwell truck guy that used to post on this site ?? think he was from nw wa. state ?
pete

There have been several.

The last one was running forum specials, then bailed and at least one member didn't receive the item he paid for.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210525

 

[MG44]

Cornwell driver in Southern Summit County, Canton & Massillon Ohio, his name is Mel he is a nice guy. They have good wrenches, sockets, etc.. but not much cheaper then the other guys. I think their wrenches have the best open end design.

 

[Bull]

We still have at least one Cornwell dealer on here, but he's in Britain.

 

[Brownsfan]

Well, that depends on the definition of "success." If the company selling more tools means they're more "successful," then selling online would make them more successful.

There's no doubt to me that they could sell more tools if they sold online. I understand about not wanting to hurt their dealers, but what percentage of GJ members, for example, actually have access to a dealer? I'd say it's a very small percentage.

It doesn't matter how great their tools are if most people can't buy them.

That's the thing. They don't want them sold to the masses. They market to the pro and that's it. That's their customer that's who they want the tools sold to. They are plenty successful selling only through Dist. That is there business model. They are a private company with no shareholders to satisfy. Only their dealers and their dealers customers. The normal garage journal member is not who they market to and they are fine not selling to them.

 

[wafrederick]

Had a dealer,he went under for some reason.I have sent in broken tools incuding wore out sockets,got replacements from Cornwell with no problems at all.There was one going around Muskegon,Mi area,Cornwell pulled his franchise for some reason a couple years ago.

 

[I van putski]

There is a dealer in Erie, pa.
They have a forging factory not to far from here too.

 

[crewchief888]

i've never seen a vornwell truck, and find very very little used cornwell stuff.

i picked up a stubby 3/8" dr cornwell ratchet for $5 at a pawn shop, after using it for quite a while it needed a kit put in it.

a couple emails to cornwell, and i had a free kit in my hands.

unfortunately, it was the wrong one.

probably my fault, i couldnt find a PN on the ratchet

couple more emails, and i have a new ratchet !

unfortunately, it was 1/4" drive

i searched the website, and found the one i needed the kit for,

couple more emails, and i finally have the proper kit

asked them for an RGA for the 1/4" dr they sent in error.

very polite email from cornwell, apologizing for the mistake, and inconvience,

and telling me to keep the ratchet


nice customer service

 

[redwrench60]

Cornwell man pulls in the shop every Tuesday like clockwork. He has the best stocked tool truck I've ever seen....really, you guys would **** if you saw. He cuts the best cash money deals of any tool man I've ever delt with. He is a long time toolman and knows his **** and really takes good care of us.

I dig me some Cornwell.

 

[Olafur]

I have a set of metric Cornwell flare nut wrenches I got from a member here and have fought few battles with them.

Absolutely fantastic wrenches; comfortable, well designed, very strong - and fit and finish is top notch.

 

[softailgarage]

Wow, I feel pretty damn lucky right now. We've got 2 Cornwell trucks in the area. Whats nice is if one guy doesn't have something I need, I just go to the other guy's house and get it (both are friends). We also have several Matco trucks and more Snap On than I can count, not to mention a German Tool truck (1 of 3 in the state, family operation...and a friend) that comes by the shop every other week. No MAC trucks, but I know their around...I can smell 'em

 

[Fedwrench]

Some of the nicest dealers I've dealt with over the years have been Cornwell reps. Unfortunately, most of them didn't survive the harsh mobile tool business.
Cornwell tools are pretty good but, some of their designs such as their 30 tooth ratchets and chrome sockets haven't changed in probably 60 years. Their chrome sockets still only have a hole on one side of the square drive for the drive tool detent ball instead of 4 scalloped cut outs found on everyone else's sockets.
Cornwell only makes a small portion of their hardline. If you look at one of their price lists, only the items in bold print are made by cornwell. Everything else is rebadged. Tool chests are currently made by waterloo in mexico. Screwdrivers are either Sunex made in Taiwan or German made by witte. Most of their torx/hex bit drivers are from Vim. Pliers can be from china, the USA, or Germany. Specialty tools run the gambit from OTC, lisle , and others.
I think a drawback to Cornwell is that they aren't a segment leader in anything. Their tools are nice but, they're not unique. Many people like the shape of their ratchet handles and thick wrench beams. I'm in the minority here as I actually have a Cornwell dealer. I have many of their tools and a 60 inch wide top and bottom Kennedy made box, their 7 drawer tool cart, etc.
I think the mystque with Cornwell is that they don't have the extensive dealer network of the other tool trucks.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

yeah, but some of the SO guys dont want to warranty unless you got it off them. So what good is having that brand tool,if they don't want to warranty my tool, cause I got it 20 years ago in another state.
IMO I would rather deal on line. On line/phone don't give me no **** like the locals have. Bam, the tool is in my mail, No Questions asked.
Of course YMMV.
( I don't work at a garage any longer.)

Not really. You don't have to be sold online to be successful. They feel their tools are better sold through their dealers and they do not want to take ANY sales from them. When I owned my Car Audio and Accy shop I only supported products that were not sold online(Memphis/ Arc Audio). My snap on guy hates that I can go online and buy them from SO.com. Contrary to popular belief he gets ZERO from sales online that are sold in his territory. My SO guy is very successful but he always wants more. My Cornwell guy has more customers than he can handle and is buying a second truck and hiring someone to drive it. Those are the only two trucks in my area. Matco and Mac are pretty much non existent. My Cornwell guy said that was his deciding factor when choosing a tool franchise(no online sales). He looked at Mac and Matco as well.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

but what percentage of GJ members, for example, actually have access to a dealer? I'd say it's a very small percentage.

It doesn't matter how great their tools are if most people can't buy them.

Thank You, Or warranty them.
Even when I worked 4 years at the DOT garage, the SO guy never came around.
So we were stuck with broken tools, unless I wanted To mail them.
I gave a tool to another garage that had a SO dealer, took 6 months to get my tool back.