industry/automotive thoughts

[MachineTech]

Hey everyone, just recently found this forum and I think it's great! Got a few questions and comments. When I post something it says I'm a JR member (understandable). How long before that changes? Another thing I have noticed, having been a mechanic for about 15 years now, is that most things Snap-on, Cornwell, Mac, Matco, and even Craftsman have to offer are focused around the automotive trade. I simply find it hard to believe that there are not more products geared towards manufacturing and industry. I work in a small plastics industry that employs (including myself) 14 mechanics, 2 maint tech's, and 3 process tech's. Each one of these employees must have at the very least a roll-away (roll cab) and anywhere between $7000 - $15,000 worth in tools depending on job description. In the industrial area that I work in there are apprx 8 factories with more or less the same amount of workers required to have the same things. Some factories even have their own machine shops which require considerably more. Each week the Snap-on, Cornwell, and other dealers stop by these places of employment and do a massive amount of business yet they could do much more. The problem we have noticed is that their catalogs focus is primarily on automotive and very little on industrial. Don't get me wrong, most of us love to work on vehicles and often do it as a side job or a hobby. I love the discussions here about tools and antique tools. Truth be told...Cornwell gets most of our business not because of price but only because they have focused more on industry than the other suppliers. Strange considering most of us prefer Snap-on. It's just hard to believe this considering there are far more mechanics and maintenance personel in the manufacturing industry than there is in the automotive industry...after all...automobile plants are huge and have to have a massive maint employee base before the auto can even hit the streets. Would love to hear any thoughts...

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

Not sure what you mean? What kind of tools are you looking for? I work on heavy equipment and the tool dealers you listed all do well for me. If you are out to buy wrenches, sockets, etc. what's the problem. Also, Snap-On caters to a large area not just automotive. If you feel your dealer doesn't offer you what you need, maybe try contacting a Snap-On Industrial representative.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Got a few questions and comments. When I post something it says I'm a JR member (understandable). How long before that changes? Another thing I have noticed, having been a mechanic for about 15 years now, is that most things Snap-on, Cornwell, Mac, Matco, and even Craftsman have to offer are focused around the automotive trade. I simply find it hard to believe that there are not more products geared towards manufacturing and industry. Each week the Snap-on, Cornwell, and other dealers stop by these places of employment and do a massive amount of business yet they could do much more. The problem we have noticed is that their catalogs focus is primarily on automotive and very little on industrial.

First, Post count affects your membership status.
Second, Snap~on, Armstrong (Craftsman commercial), Williams, Wright, and Craftsman ALL target industrial, just NOT from the standard places your looking. Other then industrial tool supply shops (like Fastenal, who sells Armstrong and Craftsman for commercial use), I can't think of the proper term currently. (a machinist friend hooked me on to it, but Grainger had what I needed and was a 12 minute drive).
Third, HARASS your drivers. Their bread and butter is normally auto techs, but not always. They should both know their clients (and their needs) and learn their supply lines. I ordered a long spark plug socket from our Mac dealer about 10 years ago. He had never seen it, (either in the catalog or in person) and didn't know it existed. The day it arrived and he was on the way to the shop, he sold 5 more (only ordered the one for me). Snap~on then came in (as they were trying to get someone for our route) and tried to recruit me as a driver.
If they become somewhat of a tool addict, they can better help their customers, and that better helps their pocket books.

 

[Jay H 237]

I'm interested to hear what he's looking for too.


I work in the plastics industry too. Assembling, servicing and modifying injection molding robots and automation systems. Most of the tools I use everyday are Craftsman.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

First, Post count affects your membership status.
Second, Snap~on, Armstrong (Craftsman commercial), Williams, Wright, and Craftsman ALL target industrial, just NOT from the standard places your looking. Other then industrial tool supply shops (like Fastenal, who sells Armstrong and Craftsman for commercial use), I can't think of the proper term currently. (a machinist friend hooked me on to it, but Grainger had what I needed and was a 12 minute drive).
Third, HARASS your drivers. Their bread and butter is normally auto techs, but not always. They should both know their clients (and their needs) and learn their supply lines. I ordered a long spark plug socket from our Mac dealer about 10 years ago. He had never seen it, (either in the catalog or in person) and didn't know it existed. The day it arrived and he was on the way to the shop, he sold 5 more (only ordered the one for me). Snap~on then came in (as they were trying to get someone for our route) and tried to recruit me as a driver.
If they become somewhat of a tool addict, they can better help their customers, and that better helps their pocket books.

He has a good point here too, if these dealers don't suffice, look elsewhere. I know locally here in MI, we have Grainger, Fastenal, J&L Industrial/MSC, and Production Tool Supply. I know several of these have online stores and will ship anywhere.

 

[MachineTech]

Basic wrenches and sockets sure. All the dealers have a lot there. It would be great if Grainger or McMaster Carr came around in a truck, even Harbor Freight and KBC has much more to offer the manufacturing industry than the usual suppliers. I'm only saying the usual suppliers should add more to their line in this area and they would do so much more business and even need more franchises.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

I am still curious as to what it is you are looking for. What is it that you would like to see on the trucks? Supplies, more specialty tooling? Some examples would help to understand.

 

[AutoTech]

Basic wrenches and sockets sure. All the dealers have a lot there. It would be great if Grainger or McMaster Carr came around in a truck, even Harbor Freight and KBC has much more to offer the manufacturing industry than the usual suppliers. I'm only saying the usual suppliers should add more to their line in this area and they would do so much more business and even need more franchises.

Hi MachineTech
I really don't know anything about the industry you work in and what you need but what would HF have that the tool trucks don't have?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Basic wrenches and sockets sure. All the dealers have a lot there. It would be great if Grainger or McMaster Carr came around in a truck, even Harbor Freight and KBC has much more to offer the manufacturing industry than the usual suppliers. I'm only saying the usual suppliers should add more to their line in this area and they would do so much more business and even need more franchises.

So you want convenience? Spend enough with those companies to have them deliver, or consider opening your own, non tool brand specific, tool truck. Sounds like a business opportunity.

 

[Fedwrench]

I am surprised to hear that your needs aren't being met by the mobile tool distributors you listed. I was even more surprised when you singled out Cornwell as meeting the needs of industry more than the others. I feel Cornwell offers a limited hard line that they manufacture and that the rest of their catalog consists of rebadged products from other specialty tool manufacturers. I guess I've always felt that small manufacturers got their tools from Grainger, MSC, or other similiar industrial suppliers. What tools could you possibly need that you can't find in the Snap on, Mac, Cornwell, or Matco tool catalogs?
As for demand for automotive tools, I don't think automobile manufacturing facilities actually use that many individual hand tools compared to a large dealership. The car manufacturers use automotive tools that do things like tighten 8 lug nuts simultaneously on a wheel assembly, or lift and attach subassembilies, tools that are like human assist systems than tools. Post what items you're looking for and someone here will know where to get them.

 

[MachineTech]

I guess I would be looking for more machining equipment and accessories. I work in the blow molding industry. Simply looking through the catalogs and fliers there is seldom much focus on manufacturing in comparison to automotive maintenance. Perhaps most of my (and others) expectations lie in what is either not offered or more in what the mobile suppliers main selections and/or focus is on. I think what I'm saying is that if more focus was put on industrial needs, more tools would be created and offered. In some cases what I am looking for has to the best of my knowledge not been invented perhaps because the suppliers and dealers focus is mostly automotive.

 

[Vinko]

The problem we have noticed is that their catalogs focus is primarily on automotive and very little on industrial.

I accidentally erased my message before I could post.

Short version: Still use Snap drivers, allen wrenches, and ratchet/sockets/wrenches for light use. We bought Snap in the early 90's, a lot of it busted.Not from improper use (completely), but because as the driver just told me yesterday (I was getting something for personal use), it wasn't meant for industrial, according to the driver who's been doing it for 30 years.

We went with Apex sockets and bits.


Edit: should've said maybe certain tools we've bought in the past weren't really "designed" for certain applications we subjected them to. Kind of like my fiasco with die grinders. I'm sure the original die grinders (non-Snap)were perfectly fine for what they were intended, but not for all day, every day use of certain applications.

That said, does the Snap truck offer the Industrial stuff? Or is that only available through the Industrial division of Snap On?

 

[Merkava_4]

In some cases what I am looking for has to the best of my knowledge not been invented perhaps because the suppliers and dealers focus is mostly automotive.

Man, you sure like keeping your posts vague. . .

 

[Vinko]

I work in the blow molding industry.

Do you ever work with urethane?

 

[toolfreak]

If you are looking for machining equipment and accessories than snap on is not the place and I wouldn't want to buy that kind of stuff from them anyways. All they would do is market someone elses product and resell it to you for twice the price. Look at the drill press in there catalog, it is a wilton but double the price.

 

[billymade]

There are other brands that do not use the truck distribution model, do in fact make tools for the industrial industry. A couple brands come to mind like: Proto and Wright tools; Snapon has a industrial division too, plus the Williams brand as well!
http://www.wrighttool.com/default.aspx
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATIC&PAGE=HOME.HTM
http://www.snapon.com/industrial/
http://www.jhwilliamstoolgroup.com/Content/16.htm

 

[AutoTech]

MachineTech is there anything in particular that your looking for? This is a great forum with a great group of guys that really know there tools and if it’s been made they can likely dig around on the web and find it for you but we need to know what your looking for !

 

[Merkava_4]

MachineTech is there anything in particular that your looking for?

He's doesn't want to tell us.

 

[speed bump]

Every industry has certain things they need and generally the places that supply them also sell those tools.

I know in refrigeration we buy alot of tools through Johnstone Supply becuase they show up the next morning and are better for our industry than anything the trucks offer.

As far as industrial tools, for hand tools there are several brands
Wright, Proto, Williams, Armstrong and Klein. For you specific industry there are probably other brands, I know I use alot of tools from Reed, Imperial, Rigid, JB/Yellow Jacket and Malco becuase they sell tools specifically targeted for my industry and buying off a truck for the applications wouldn't do it.

 

[Kevin54]

In the industrial area that I work in there are apprx 8 factories with more or less the same amount of workers required to have the same things. Some factories even have their own machine shops which require considerably more.

I work in Tool & Die. In a toolroom atmosphere or even in a machine shop atmosphere, there would be some things needed that Snap-on, Mac, Matco, and other do not carry, One company cannot carry everything. But those companies do carry what would be the basics for a machine shop /toolroom enviorment. There's a multitude or other companied that do carry the items I think that you are looking for and that is their specific course. There used to be trucks that went around to different factories that had the mics, verniers, different measuring equipment, etc. but slowly dropped out due to the vast amount of catalog companies that can have the items to you the next day. Take MSC for example, Just the items I believe that you are taling about for a machine shop / toolroom enviorment takes up hundreds of pages in their catalog. To have a truck to carry all of those items, plus go from factory to factory would not justify cost. Inventory would be rather high cost, not counting the weight of items, I am talking if they would have to carry sine plates, angle plates, sine bars. Some never did want to set up a payment plan either, so for someone to shell out $1000 for a sine plate never happened too often. And with a place like MSC, we can order before 3:00 today and have it by 10:00 tomorrow. I really thing the machine shop enviorment is too large and vast of an array of items to justify carrying it all on a truck and go door to door. And your routes would also be limited. Some towns if not the majority have no industry at all. With what SO, mac, and them do carry usually covers what every individual's needs are as in wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, and other specialty tools that are catered to the automotive industry.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Well said. MSCdirect, Enco, Grainger, McMaster, CarrLane, there are tons of companies out there depending on what you want.

First, it might help if you said what in the hell you're looking for...

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Look up J&L Industrial, as they're focused solely for industrial supplies, be it tools, metal stock, metal working supplies, cutting fluids/lubricants etc..

If you told us what kind of thing you were looking for, we'd be able to help. Telling us "what i want hasn't been invented" doesn't help at all.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

Man, you sure like keeping your posts vague. . .

MachineTech is there anything in particular that your looking for?

First, it might help if you said what in the hell you're looking for...

If you told us what kind of thing you were looking for, we'd be able to help.

Good to know I was not the only one who thought that this guy wasn't being very specific.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I know exactly what this thread needs. But it hasn't been invented yet and i'm very secretive.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I know exactly what this thread needs. But it hasn't been invented yet and i'm very secretive.

Actually, it has, although the finish isn't the shiney chrome we all have come to love. I have one in placenta red.


I just can't tell you where I got it.

 

[eschoendorff]

MachineTech:

Part of your problem might be that you are not going through the right channels. I know that our school deals (or at least has in the past) with Snap On, but through their industrial division and not through their mobile dealers.

http://www.snapon.com/industrial/

You might just be talking to the wrong people. Also check into Proto. Industrial sales is their bread and butter.

http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATIC&PAGE=HOME.HTM

 

[TheToolMan]

I work on industrial machines for a living and the snap-on man keeps me happy and supplied with everyting i need, No he dosent carry what i need on the truck alot of the times but i use email to keep in touch with him during the week, If something breaks i email him, he orders it and he will drop it off. If its an emergency he will drop it off right away if not he will bring it in on his regular day so we dont have to wait another week for the replacement. My Snap-On guy thinks customer service is #1 and i am so happy with his service that we do not need another tool truck, Also what ever i need he gets it for me even if snap-on dosent make it and not at a stupid price either. It is very reasonable and i can put it on my truck account if i wish

 

[Danglerb]

what would HF have that the tool trucks don't have?

Change back from a $20?

I think in industrial tools its often a one time sale where you need to track down a manufacturer that makes the widget you need. Once you find them its just ordering spare parts etc.