Introducing the newest SO hammer!

[cashishift]

Sadly, this is whats wrong with America..

I used to identify Snap-On with American made.. not so much anymore.

 

[MD11]

Sent an email with a link to this thread and no response. Buy US made snapon only and that's the best message to send.

 

[Griff93]

I flat out refuse to pay truck prices for China made tools. I will buy all used if I have to before buying truck china junk. It's getting to where I almost don't want to set foot on the Mac truck anymore due to a lot of it is made in taiwan. I have absolutely no issue with paying twice the price or more for a USA made tool. China tools scare me. I've had to many of them fail when they shouldn't have.

Who can we email directly at Snap on?

 

[A_Pmech]

Since there is interest in American-made machinist's hammers, I began work on a few prototypes today.

This handle, prototype #1, is an early 1940's design:

The first person to hold it other than myself said it had the perfect qualities for bashing somebody's head in.

 

[bry@n]

Looks great but will it send every vibration through the handle?

 

[rebrewer]

I believe it is is mistake for Snap-on to source from China. It will tarnish their reputation. There are already enough Chinese made tools out there, they don't need to be another 'me too'

If it's made in China, I'm not buying it.

 

[mjozefow]

Since there is interest in American-made machinist's hammers, I began work on a few prototypes today.

This handle, prototype #1, is an early 1940's design:

The first person to hold it other than myself said it had the perfect qualities for bashing somebody's head in.

I'm in, within reason. Let me know what I'm on the hook for...

 

[mjozefow]

Looks great but will it send every vibration through the handle?

Of course not. It says ANTI-SHOCK!!!

 

[Monte]

come on guys ...surrender and buy the snap-on hammer
The snap-on directors need some money for christmas presents

 

[amt]

Why the hell would anyone buy a hammer from snap-on anyway (regardless of where it's made)? Wouldn't you rather buy a hammer from a company who specializes in tools like this? Snap on isn't exactly known for carpentry/construction tools...

 

[Mickey O]

Why the hell would anyone buy a hammer from snap-on anyway (regardless of where it's made)? Wouldn't you rather buy a hammer from a company who specializes in tools like this? Snap on isn't exactly known for carpentry/construction tools...

Because there was a time when Snap On would only put their name on only the highest quality tools made. So when you bought something with the Snap On name on it you knew it was top notch, not anymore. If I want a Chinese hammer I'd go to Harbor Freight, luckily there is no shortage of US made hammers both new and used.

 

[MD11]

Why the hell would anyone buy a hammer from snap-on anyway (regardless of where it's made)? Wouldn't you rather buy a hammer from a company who specializes in tools like this? Snap on isn't exactly known for carpentry/construction tools...

While I agree, and I happen to have Stiletto for my best hammers, the idea of anything with the red Snap On being made is China is offensive... especially in this hell hole of an economy.

 

[brockstar]

The prototype looks good! I will definitely be watching this one.

Would a new thread for American made hammers be a good idea?

Brooks makes some pretty nice looking brass hammers.

 

[michael murder]

I can understand and justify why this was made in Asia, I just had to read a little closer

 

[A_Pmech]

Sounds like a good idea. I'll make a new thread tomorrow.

In the meantime, handle 2.0. No girly plastic here!

Vibration damping is EXCELLENT.

The prototype looks good! I will definitely be watching this one.

Would a new thread for American made hammers be a good idea?

Brooks makes some pretty nice looking brass hammers.

 

[bry@n]

You've definately got my attention. Those look great.

 

[Sloper0204]

Sounds like a good idea. I'll make a new thread tomorrow.

In the meantime, handle 2.0. No girly plastic here!

Vibration damping is EXCELLENT.

Mother of God



BTW, I like v1.0 better then v2.0 Just something about the taper...

 

[greenreese]

Mother of God



BTW, I like v1.0 better then v2.0 Just something about the taper...

Yeah the taper looks nicer.

Why the change?

 

[Flash21]

You've definately got my attention. Those look great.

Yup, me too. You definetely have skills and the machinery to make it happen.

 

[MD11]

Well, it's official, now even Stiletto hammers are for the most part made in China.. EVEN THE $262 TiBone!!!!!!

I have a TiBone Mini14 that is Made in the USA that I got only a couple of months ago, but that literally might have been one of the last.. I will make a post on this specially to inform members that may not know this disturbing change.

 

[t100]

Yeah the taper looks nicer.

Why the change?

weight, balance, spring effect?

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I realize that I'm a super junior member and therefore suspect, but I would be very interested in a handmade hammer. I think I like the aesthetic appeal of V1 over V2.

Kole

 

[MD11]

A_PMech... Let me suggest you link your new thread from this thread for those of us subscribed to it, and also be sure to set up a paypal account if you don't already have one. With Stiletto going to China, you might be the last made in USA high quality hammer maker left! Also, as an A&P (I assume you are), you might consider a Ti Version as well..

 

[mjozefow]

The taper is ****. Count me in.

 

[Sloper0204]

weight, balance, spring effect?

Thinking about it, that would be logical.

 

[A_Pmech]

Good idea, I'll link from here.

Titanium is an option.

Your assumption is correct.

A_PMech... Let me suggest you link your new thread from this thread for those of us subscribed to it, and also be sure to set up a paypal account if you don't already have one. With Stiletto going to China, you might be the last made in USA high quality hammer maker left! Also, as an A&P (I assume you are), you might consider a Ti Version as well..

The change to a non-tapered design is to improve the vibration damping characteristics of the handle. A lot of weight hides inside the tapered handle which is hard to remove by drilling or boring. A straight handle can be through-drilled and has a constant section. Thus, it's spring constant is... Constant.

Here's a different view, showing how the handle meets with the shaft:

I'm working on the head today, I'll update when I have it ready.

 

[t100]

regarding removing weight, would you consider drill a hole through the handle(from the ****, not all the way through, of course) make a hollow shaft structure instead of solid. probably not adding a lot of machine time compare to drilling cross holes but at least you are doing everything on the same axis, and hollow shaft is stiffer, i don't know it's a good thing or bad in this case.

 

[mkdive]

Nice work, A_pmech! subscribed to this one for sure!

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Ok, ok, the physics make far too much sense to keep insisting on the tapered one. I'll take one of both

 

[chadster1]

I might be interested in one of these as well.

 

[z28snksknr]

I'm certainly interested in one as well. Need a price and a finished example to commit, but DAMN, I WANT ONE.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Should we have a New Name Contest for Snap-On?

How about:

Snap-Chin-On (PC)

Snap-Chink-On(Not PC)

Snap-Clink-Broke-On

LOL

 

[KingConstruction]

I like the hammer so far too, depending on price I could be interested

 

[krooser]

Rant follows..

Well for me it's first and foremost about 1st world labor, not so much USA, even though I do prefer to see more stuff made here, and made well. I have Fender Guitars, Martin Guitars, etc.. that MUST be US made 100% (wood being from Brazil, etc..) for me to pay their high prices.. But even Fender and Martin both have USA made guitars for under $1K street price.

With that said, on the topic of cars. When I found out that my $88K BMW X5 had Mexico made parts in it (mind you, they were a small handful of cosmetic parts), I threw a fit and contacted BMW AG, as well as BMW USA (And the North Carolina plant) and let them know what I thought of them outsourcing US and German labor to Mexico thru the back door like this! I got letters of apology from the Germans stating that the "give discretion" to the NC plant to source certain parts from outside of Germany and the US, when it makes sense but that the vast majority of the car is German parts. So I then asked them define what "makes sense" is, and have not gotten a response yet!


Frankly, I didn't like the way BMW and others went around their unions and built plants in the South were they are well known for union busting, but at least they do pay a reasonable wage and provide good benefits and work schedules (as with most EU companies). One has to draw a line at some point however.

We need to hold companies accountable that try to sell premium products from premium labor markets. When I go to Walmart to buy an item, I expect **** made by slave labor.. when I go to Cartier I expect French union labor, and when I go to Snap On.. I expect US union labor!

/rant

Five years ago I bought some replacement sheet metal for my Peterbilt.... quality was good... US made AFAIK... direct from Peterbilt.

This year I had to buy the same parts again...(illegal alien with two prior OWI's and a drug charge pulled in front of my truck... he's lucky to be alive). Anywho I'm looking at the sheet metal parts and see a lot of sanding/grinding/tooling marks. Hmmm...strange. Then i look at the label...sez Peterbilt...ROC! Another way to say Republic of China! The last parts I put on were perfect....

I have written a letter to the company to let them know what I think...

 

[Dodgepu360]

you guys better get use to the idea of Snap-On stuff being made in China
10K Annual Repot
page 4: On March 5, 2008, Snap-on acquired a 60% interest in Zhejiang Wanda Tools Co., Ltd. (“Wanda Snap-on”), a tool manufacturer in China, for a cash purchase price of $15.4 million (or $14.1 million, net of cash acquired), including $1.2 million of transaction costs. The acquisition of Wanda Snap-on is part of the company’s ongoing strategic initiatives to further expand its manufacturing presence in emerging growth markets and lower-cost regions. For segment reporting purposes, Wanda Snap-on is included in the Commercial & Industrial Group. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the company’s acquisition of Wanda Snap-on

page 18: Non-U.S. Locations:
Kunshan, China Manufacturing Owned C&I
Xiaoshan, China Manufacturing Owned C&I

page 19: Snap-on closed its Johnson City, Tennessee, manufacturing facility in 2007; the facility was sold in December 2008.

page 23: In response to these economic challenges, we accelerated certain RCI initiatives and are continuing – even accelerating – certain planned investments that include further expansion of our manufacturing capacity in China and in Eastern Europe, as we see these investments as potentially enabling near-term growth.

 

[mkdive]

That's just sad.

 

[scooby074]

The Chinese SO is a aweful looking "thing". Fit and finish is miserable. Rubber handle looks cheap, and likely slippery. $3.99 at your local china importer.

But hey,,, now i have something to go with my awesome China SO pressure washer, flashlight and drop cord. I can store all this **** in my China Snapon too bag too

Whats happening at Snapon? Why are they selling out like this? Isnt concentrating on your core business more important then cheapening you name by selling **** at costco? ( i know the answer, is the almighty buck, but it sickens me to think it)

A_P Mech: Nice looking hammer. I made a similar (albeit smaller) one in school with interchangeable heads. Works well. Mine has a tapered shaft, which i like, vibration isnt an issue with mine.

 

[t100]

page 23: In response to these economic challenges, we accelerated certain RCI initiatives and are continuing – even accelerating – certain planned investments that include further expansion of our manufacturing capacity in China and in Eastern Europe, as we see these investments as potentially enabling near-term growth.

I didn't see the price changes, so what "economic challenges"? the common sense would be either cut corners on quality sell it cheaper or hold on to the high price, improve the quality. right?

but what i saw is: cut the corners on quality and holds the high price. sounds like business is booming.

there are 3 countries make high quality alloy steel, U.S., Germany and Japan. it take Trillions of dollars and decades of time plus the best teams of scientist, engineers and blacksmith to figure out tiny bit by tiny bit. China, is one of the mediocre countries on that front.

the technology of alloy steel has be carefully guarded by every company, country, not something can just buy it as ones wish. that's why nobody knows where does Snap On get their steel from.

If, the Chinap-on tools are really on par with the U.S. made quality, they either give the Chinese the techonolgy(which they can use on some thing we all know of), or they are lying.

I wish someone can prove me wrong, there are 2 Chinese made things I've never seen one with top notch quality: knife blade and optical lens. simple, just 1 piece of steel or glass which all rely on the quality of material, they just can't do it right.

 

[Joe69]

I asked my SO man about this hammer today. He said it was gift type package, and is not mainstream stuff. He said not to worry, we'll see.

Joe

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

So don't ****-On your Snap-On stuff yet, in other words.