First Snap-On tools, initial thoughts

[Renaissance Man]

Hey all, I'm a lurker who finally decided to take the plunge and register.

I've been a Craftsman man from day one, I've held onto the original USA tools that I was given as a teen and have acquired more (USA Only, apart from Taiwanese thin profiles) through the years with no regrets.

That being said, I wanted to purchase a few Snap-on products and give them an honest chance before passing judgement.

I purchased a NOS F80 ratchet for $70 shipped, along with a lightly used F10lb breaker for a song and a dance.
The breaker was dirty, but cleaned up nicely and I'm super happy with the fit and finish. The head pivots smoothly, the lines are crisp, and all surfaces reflect a uniform reflection of objects. As for the ratchet, it is smooth and clicks both quietly and uniformly in both directions, and the finish reflects uniformly as well. My only real complaint with the F80 is the selector lever, which I feel has a cheap appearance and feel that detracts from an otherwise impressive tool.

Has anyone else found theirs to be similar in this regard?
If so, is there an alternative selector lever with a different finish that can be substituted?

I have yet to put either tool through the paces so to speak, so I'll post a more thorough and lengthy review after doing so. I'm not a mechanic by trade (I let my certification lapse years ago), but I turn wrenches for friends and family for the cost of parts and the occasional tool that a job requires. This keeps me fairly busy, along with my own automotive projects which never seem to end.

Thanks in advance, it's good to be here.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm looking at the selector for my FHF80 right now. I have no complaints about it. Looks fine to me. If you want to see a real ugly selector lever, look at the one on SK's new 90 tooth ratchet. It'll make you sick.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I had a rat with missing selector lever, and fabricated one from brass, it wasn't hard.

 

[JSharp]

all surfaces reflect a uniform reflection of objects

Are you fng kidding me? What you look for in tools is the uniform reflection of objects? Seriously?

 

[OHMS LAW]

You know what I look for?? Does it hold up to daily abuse. Will it fit in that tight spot under the dash. I could care less about the finish. It’s a tool. Not a museum piece.

 

[mdog892001]

All chrome tools are shining bright with a little love and polish


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dan360]

The selector levers are made the way they are, according to our Industrial rep, "in order to allow greasy hands a solid perch on the lever....." I took that to mean it's cheaper for Snap-on to make the lever that way and someone in marketing made up a cool story, bro. They don't usually break FWIW.

all surfaces reflect a uniform reflection of objects

Are you fng kidding me? What you look for in tools is the uniform reflection of objects? Seriously?

It's a 'reflection' of the quality of the chrome plating, pre-chrome prep, and the steel underneath. Sorta like eyeballing down the side of a car looking at the paint job.

 

[bmwrd0]

I only have one new Snap-on ratchet (plenty of old ones) and I agree with you on the selector. Cheap looking to me, compared to the recessed ones of the older models. Other than that, it is a nice ratchet. Couldn't say anything about the finish, I never thought about it, other than I not a fan of bright chrome.

 

[JimNC]

Guys, no need to bust his chops, he’s using the consistency of the reflection of the chrome as an indication of the plating quality and consistency. If you’re buying chrome tools you really don’t want that stuff flaking off, and if you’re paying for your first SO tool you want to admire it a bit before you ease into letting it bounce around in the box and drop to concrete from time to time. Everyone appreciates new tools, you’re likely lying to yourself if you say that you don’t notice their appearance.

 

[Tonyuk]

My first snap-on ratchet arrived with a thin patch in the chrome along the side of it,

Wouldn't of been happy if i never just bought it from ebay.

Works okay though.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I'm going to agree with the OP. The selector has a dull lead-like appearance. They could coat them, but I'm sure that would add to the price.

New ones are sent with a rebuild kit, and rebuild kits will be available for a long damn time.

 

[Renaissance Man]

all surfaces reflect a uniform reflection of objects

Are you fng kidding me? What you look for in tools is the uniform reflection of objects? Seriously?

There's no need to be so offended over something so silly.

When you pay for a premium product, it's reasonable to expect a premium product. When it comes to finish, a perfectly level surface beneath the plating will contribute to a more durable (ie long lasting) finish that keeps the tool performing for longer.

If you're still confused, a uniform reflection is indicative of a smooth and level surface.

 

[jonshonda]

^I agree with the OP that uniform reflection is a good indication of a smooth and even surface. I don't think he is trying to use is as a mirror for daily grooming, but if it had the "funhouse" effect, you would know they quality isn't the best.

 

[Renaissance Man]

I'm looking at the selector for my FHF80 right now. I have no complaints about it. Looks fine to me. If you want to see a real ugly selector lever, look at the one on SK's new 90 tooth ratchet. It'll make you sick.

You aren't kidding, the only one I've seen that topped that is the lever on an Allen 3/8 that I picked up for $2 because it was seized. I liked the mild knurling on the handle and I had a suspicion that it was simply dirty, so i ended up with a spare 3/8 with a moderately long handle (compared to Craftsman, at least) for $2 and 5 minutes of cleaning/oiling.

 

[Renaissance Man]

The selector levers are made the way they are, according to our Industrial rep, "in order to allow greasy hands a solid perch on the lever....." I took that to mean it's cheaper for Snap-on to make the lever that way and someone in marketing made up a cool story, bro. They don't usually break FWIW.

It's a 'reflection' of the quality of the chrome plating, pre-chrome prep, and the steel underneath. Sorta like eyeballing down the side of a car looking at the paint job.

That offers some relief at least; I don't anticipate beating on it too much, I was mostly just surprised that it was so rough in comparison to the rest of the ratchet. I was surprised that even the cutouts on the handle were smooth, after reading numerous complaints about sharp edges from others who compared them to prior models. The fit and finish definitely met my expectations for the price point. I compared it to my "Thin Profile" Craftsman 3/8 and the difference is night and day. The thin profiles were an enormous step up from the RP ratchets I started off with; while the ratcheting doesn't feel dramatically different than the thin profiles, I have a suspicion that prolonged use will make it even smoother. The gear is definitely clearanced far better within the head, I felt that the moment I popped a socket onto it and checked for play. The pawl design is interesting as well, I understand now why they are lauded as such a strong design, they engage far more teeth than the single pawl Craftsman offerings and I like that they are as thick as the gear itself. I've shied away from the dual pawl mechanisms such as the "120 position" ratchets in the past but now I'm wanting to tear into one first and compare the mechanisms. The more I read about all of this, the more I find myself wanting to experiment with them first hand.

My first snap-on ratchet arrived with a thin patch in the chrome along the side of it,

Wouldn't of been happy if i never just bought it from ebay.

Works okay though.

I'd have been pretty upset about that, too! Mine came in with a black smudge on the side of the head that I'm assuming was sharpie or similar. It had me wondering if it bore owner's marks elsewhere and wasn't new as it had been listed. I found the smallest, neatest marks I have ever seen on the breaker that I ordered along with it. They were so small that I didn't notice them until I cleaned and lightly polished it for a better inspection.

I'll admit that I've long been skeptical about the relative value of Snap-on to the improvement (performance-wise) over other brands. Granted, that was at full retail pricing, and I couldn't find flaws at 3" that I can see at 15-18" on my thin profiles. If the mechanism smooths out even more than it is straight from the factory, then I'll be even more impressed! The quality is definitely there for the fit and finish, I'm excited to see how it performs after a few weeks of frequent use! I don't foresee it getting worse, I'm actually eyeing some 1/2" flex options already, when I haven't even put this one through it's paces yet.

As much as I love having full matching sets of everything, I wouldn't complain about adding a few more ratchets to my little collection. I guess that's the beauty of standardized drives!

 

[Spacey_G]

To this day, I still wonder why Snap-on uses pot metal looking selectors...

I have never broken one of the selectors, though. They are a pleasure to use.

Powdered metal parts can be made in large quantities at low cost. That's a reason to use them.

You've never broke one (and it doesn't seem like it's a problem in general) so strength isn't a reason not to use them.

What is it you're wondering about, then?

 

[Professional Tool User]

I wouldn't care that much about asthetics. Chrome will eventually get scratched. I would only be concerned if the chrome peels off. As long as it functions as it should and doesn't break easily, it's fine. To me Snap on is as much about the customer service you get from the truck as the tool itself.

 

[RoundedNut]

Your ratchet is not a $70 ratchet. Included in the cost are multiple onsite rebuild/warranty claims. This is not free as you just pay for it upfront. Snappy expects their tools to be used daily by professionals who abuse their tools and will need warranty work on a regular basis. The selector switch is part of the rebuild kit.

If you want top shelf aesthetics as well, then you have to get tools where more of the money goes into the actual tool. Japanese brands like KTC/Nepros are a good choice.