How Often Do You Break Tools?

[Roots]

So how often do you break tools, where you actually need to warranty them?

 

[e30bradley]

Not very often.. and the more I get rid of my crapy tools and upgrade to snap on the less it happens. There was one time when I broke 4 13mm sockets in like 10 minutes.. I didn't have 1/2 drive tools with me and I was taking the head off a 2.3 from a ford ranger. I broke a HF, a MAC, a Snap on and a Craftsman.

 

[jetmech09]

I keep breaking snap-on needle nose. They are just too hard/brittle.

 

[metaldad]

Depends on what I'm doing. (Imma Service Pipefitter - performing a wide range of skills)
The stuff that I have broke, and have turned in under warranty, usually has not been a problem - sears.
Now that you mentioned it - I do have a Proto # 7653 impact 3/4 to 1/2 adapter with a sheared ball. I don't remember where i got it, Any input?

 

[osborn.ozzy]

Only thing I ever need to get replaced is picks and screwdrivers which is maybe 2-3 times a year.

 

[odelay01]

I broke a Craftsman 20mm wrench a couple or weeks ago.

 

[smothers33]

Ive only been wrenchin professionaly for about 3 years but never had a single tool break on me. only thing Ive ever had a problem with is some HF security bits. A couple of the smaller torx bits deformed on me but even those still work. They dont fit perfectly(really didnt fit all that great to begin with) but still will turn a torx bolt if unless rusted or lots of torque needed to break it free

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Maybee one or two a year.

Odd thing is 2 of the last 3 were snap-ons... Thought they never broke

 

[woody 73]

Here of late I broke a few proto and craftsman sockets. I tend to have drill bits break but I grind off the top and then I grind out another drill bit only it will be shorter in length; it still beats those cheap bits coming out of China. I sure don't want too ask what they are made of.

 

[Jim C.]

I recall cracking a Craftsman socket about 20 years ago and I also had to rebuild a Craftsman 1/2" drive ratchet about 10 years ago. I can't think of any other tools that I've broken.

Jim C.

 

[wreckercologist]

As often as possible.

 

[davesnothere]

Just broke a s/o deep 10mm 3/8" drive socket today.

 

[warmpancakes]

at least 1-2 tools a week, some times its my fauly for improper usage today it was a pair of needle nose snapped because I was to lazt to grab a cotter pin tool

 

[XaqNautilus]

Although I've only been tooling for a few years the only tool I have ever broken was an Imperial Eastman 1/2" tube bender. I broke the pin on the turnable handle so the handle wouldn't stay on. When they were sent in for repairs they always come back pooched. Cheap tool. I doubt a Swagelok tube bender would ever break.

 

[Humble Mechanic]

I would say I average about once a month. Between C-man sockets, and Snap-on pliers, and ratchets.

 

[crewchief888]

not often

i used to break SO 3/4" dr breaker bar heads quite often,
15/16" impact wobble sockets often enough i had a couple spares.

probably havent broken anything but cheap #2 plillips bits in the last 2 or 3 years.

 

[aussiek2000]

Seems like I always break the other guys in the shop's tools and not my own. Broke one guy's A/C valve tool (ear ripped off) and another's chrome 15mm swivel socket. Yes, I pay for a replacement if they're not under warranty.

 

[TheDogHouse]

Just broke a s/o deep 10mm 3/8" drive socket today.

What were you working on?

 

[tribbles]

I have a nice collection of broken brass and steel HF punches.

 

[garboui]

i selected a few times a year, though i probably bust through a pair of Xcilite flush cutters about 1 a month. Usually one of the cutting jaws just decides to rocket across the lab.

 

[Altec]

I wouldn't say I break to many tools. Mainly screwdrivers... Anytime I've broken a tool it was because I was using it wrong, or using something too small (3/8, instead of 1/2).

Wear out plenty of small size sockets, and impact sockets. Even still, not that often. Maybe one a month...

What were you working on?

Doesn't matter. Smaller size 3/8 sockets wear out, and break. I've yet to see one that hasn't in a mechanic environment. 10mm, 8mm, and 7mm wear out quick...

 

[House Sparrow]

On average, I break a tool or two in a month. I use my tools every day, so sometimes things wear out. Once in a while, it's blatantly my fault, but I try not to abuse stuff. Small picks (especially the hook) and bit sockets are my most common warranty items. I've also had a few hammers where the plastic became brittle after years and they just fell apart. Other than those, it's usually just the occasional cracked socket or snapped screwdriver tip.

 

[drew03cmc]

Maybee one or two a year.

Odd thing is 2 of the last 3 were snap-ons... Thought they never broke

This is my story. I chipped the tip of a P2 hard handle and cracked a 15mm socket.

 

[JDS968]

I can't think of the last time I legitimately broke a tool. Damaged...once in a while. I have a Craftsman raised panel 1/4" ratchet that skips teeth and slips into "neutral" badly enough that I'm going to take it in for warranty...eventually (just to have a backup for my Snap-On GT72), but it "works". I had a K-D Tools pocket-sized telescoping magnet that I blew big oval hole in when I went after a dropped socket in a BMW engine bay and accidentally hit the hot cable to the starter. And yet, it didn't buckle and snap off, I was just careful with it and it still picked things up just fine. Eventually gave it to another tech who didn't have one and didn't mind leaving the last segment retracted. I think I may have twisted a Snap-On triple square socket, working on my Porsche, badly enough to get a Snap-On guy to warranty it, but if ever did that, I must have twisted the replacement the next time I worked on the car because the one in my box right now is slightly twisted. That whole wheel bearing replacement is a little hazy in my memory. I'm sure there's some tool that I've legitimately destroyed in the last year, but I can't quite think what...

 

[supersteve]

I broke a Craftsman 20mm wrench a couple or weeks ago.

What were you working on that was 20mm?
I never see that size.

 

[USMCdodge]

Broke cman pliers last week... they gave me china ones as a replacement...

 

[shampoop]

Almost never. When my tool do break, it's almost always their fault (inherent stupidity and weakness of torx fasteners/tools) or things like the screws on my SO ratchets backing out. Or things like flashlights breaking due to being heavily used and dropped regularly. I've been through a lot of flashlights.

 

[JDS968]

What were you working on that was 20mm?
I never see that size.

Just pulled out my Flank Drive Plus 20mm today to replace a '96 XJ6 fuel filter. Nuts on the fuel lines were 16mm, "nuts" built into each end of the fuel filter were 20mm. Put the new one on, that had 24mm "nuts" instead. One less 20mm application in the world, I guess.

Or things like flashlights breaking due to being heavily used and dropped regularly. I've been through a lot of flashlights.

I've been through a LOT of flashlights too. Particularly small Maglites. Those big Maglites that take D-cells are great, but somehow that durability doesn't seem to translate into the little ones, especially LED ones. I finally gave up and got a Streamlight Strion LED. Orders of magnitude brighter, never have to replace batteries (and so easy to charge, with the external charging studs), and most importantly, it's a completely indestructible (and apparently water/oil proof) flashlight in a small form factor. Strangely, everybody in my shop has the same damn flashlight. I guess word got around or something...

 

[Sh1thead]

I abuse my picks, plastic prying interior tool things, chrome universal 1/4" sockets, and droplights. Surprisingly only a few times a year do I actually have a tool fail on me.

 

[shampoop]

Just pulled out my Flank Drive Plus 20mm today to replace a '96 XJ6 fuel filter. Nuts on the fuel lines were 16mm, "nuts" built into each end of the fuel filter were 20mm. Put the new one on, that had 24mm "nuts" instead. One less 20mm application in the world, I guess.

I've been through a LOT of flashlights too. Particularly small Maglites. Those big Maglites that take D-cells are great, but somehow that durability doesn't seem to translate into the little ones, especially LED ones. I finally gave up and got a Streamlight Strion LED. Orders of magnitude brighter, never have to replace batteries (and so easy to charge, with the external charging studs), and most importantly, it's a completely indestructible (and apparently water/oil proof) flashlight in a small form factor. Strangely, everybody in my shop has the same damn flashlight. I guess word got around or something...

Yea, I really like streamlights, my stylus pro is indestructable, but was just bright enough for my tastes when new, and eventually the lens gets so dirty, it's light output is way too low. Never dies though! My most recent PT2AA I loved, however it died in less than a year. I didn't even drop it that much. I dropped my stylus pro probably 5-10x as much and it still works. My biggest problem is that I want a small (2 or 3 cell AA or AAA) penlight that's very tough and very bright with a very floody beam to make inspections easy with hot spot beams it makes seeing fine detail like cracks in serpentine belts difficult to see. a strion sounds pretty ideal except for the price and the fact that it's not a flood beam.

 

[wreckerman5357]

I have broken sockets, ratchets, and wrenches on occasion. The things I break most frequently are plastic pry tools, mini hooks and picks, Torx bits, and flat blade screwdrivers.

Thee plastic pry tools and mini hooks and picks are tools that are easy to break, don't see myself slowing down on those. I have fixed the Torx problems by upgrading to gold Snap-Ons, I am not breaking those so far, so I think that problem is solved. Yes, I know that I am misusing the flat screwdrivers, but I refuse to buy an assortment of little pry bars when I already have a boatload of flat screwdrivers. In fact I cannot remember the last time i drove a screw with a flat blade screwdriver.

 

[Murphy4570]

I break something once every other month or three. Usually something dumb like a Torx bit, or something that REALLY pisses me off, like a hardened tap in a harmonic balancer bolt hole.


As for the fella who thought Snap On stuff isn't supposed to break - no. It just breaks less often than most stuff.

 

[davesnothere]

What were you working on?

Taking apart a cylinder head.

 

[Skin]

unfortunetly i usually break what im working on before a tool goes.

 

[shoturtle]

In the beginning allot, cheap tools when I was under 20 could not afford good stuff. After I got out of school and started buying better tools, not to often after that. The last tool I broke was a task force ratchet that belong to a friend that was about 2 years ago. Actually broke 2 of them.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I break something once every other month or three. Usually something dumb like a Torx bit, or something that REALLY pisses me off, like a hardened tap in a harmonic balancer bolt hole.


As for the fella who thought Snap On stuff isn't supposed to break - no. It just breaks less often than most stuff.

Hmmm... In my experience maybee so but the the margin of "less often" is real slim.

I wonder since many folks believe snap on tools are better than everyone elses, is there any scientific testing results that can be consulted to end this debate?

A couple of independent Labs that perhaps has done testing to see where the fail point of like model tools rate?

Even perhaps some consumer reports results??

 

[countryroad82]

I don't break tools very often, when I do it is in grand fashion and normally my fault.

 

[Black89LX]

well, I dont beleive that I have had to warranty any tools due to me breaking them. Ive had a 44996 craftsman ratchet rebuilt, and a snappy #2 phillips blade replaced. I generally know the limits of my tools and try not to abuse them.

 

[mmack66]

Depends on what I'm doing. (Imma Service Pipefitter - performing a wide range of skills)
The stuff that I have broke, and have turned in under warranty, usually has not been a problem - sears.
Now that you mentioned it - I do have a Proto # 7653 impact 3/4 to 1/2 adapter with a sheared ball. I don't remember where i got it, Any input?

I can't remember where you got it either.

 

[tdab]

Pair of SO Needle-Nose last month.....The last 1/2" of the top ply just snapped off clean and went flying across the room. I finished the job with a pair of kleins. The tool was replaced by SO so no biggie. I don't turn wrenches for a living or anything close to that so it is very rare for me to break one.