Matco Tools or Snap on

[MechanicforLife]

Okay guys I got a student deal coming up i wanted to know what to buy from the Truck dealers, Currently I am attending a JC and they got a automotive program where they give you deals on tools and the two truck dealers are Matco and Snap on. Of course I do not have the money to spend a grand on tools right off the bat but I do want to know what tools are good from each dealer. Im doing some suspension work tommorrow. and will probably get $200 for one days work.

Keep in mind I got all the 6 point sockets from Craftsman. and all the torque wrenches I can handle. Got a CM breaker bar too and it will do fine for now.
But what are the good things Matco sells , The tools attender said Matco gives better discounts, I know I should purchase the Snap on Ratchets but what else is there to get? From each truck dealer or rep. I'm not rich but what would you do?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

You need to look at what all you want to do. While some things are good, if you only use them once in five years, it may not be worth it.

That said,
Flare nut line wrenches from Snap-on
Matco Impact grade, locking extensions.
I prefer the Matco/Craftsman style impact wobbles (thinner then the Snap-on), but I think the Chrome Snap-on ones are better (although my budget and needs are met with the Craftsman)

Filler sockets that you don't have. AN example, Fords need a 5.5mm deep. 12mm 12pt impact wobbles (or a short impact).
I prefer Snap-on's pin style impact wobbles (only dealt with others ball style)

 

[Merkava_4]

What was the question again?

 

[MechanicforLife]

haha , what tools does matco sell are worth getting? Professor please what are the answers

 

[Merkava_4]

Their deep offset double box wrenches are pretty cool.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

You do have one minor problem that you need to ask about.

Ask BOTH of them, who and how to handle warranty issues if you have no (brand) dealer at your job. That could also help answer your question, as if it is unwarrantyable, it costs WAY too much.

 

[Merkava_4]

How does it feel in your hand? That's what you ask yourself when selecting tools.

 

[xlr8jsc]

Okay, so I have a bias. Go Matco. Get (at least) the same quality and warrenty from Matco at a lower price. Don't let people convince you that if it costs more it must be better. Those days are gone. I became a Matco distributor for these same reasons 19 years ago without regrets! I looked at all of them and I could have went with any of them, but decided to sell the same tools that I primarily bought whe I turned wrenches for a living. As far as ratchets, the Matco fine tooth ratchets are hard to beat!

www.matcotools.com/jeffchandler

 

[eschoendorff]

Their deep offset double box wrenches are pretty cool.

So are the Craftsman Professionals... for much less money.

 

[krusty the clown]

matco is not always cheaper.......i started with matco in 1989 as well. i think the products have improved overall since the beginning but the outscourcing has turned me off completely, i feel about mac the same way.

 

[krusty the clown]

So are the Craftsman Professionals... for much less money.

now there is my biggest ***** about matco since the danaherization.........why pay truck prices for the same tools made in the same plant when they could be bought for a LOT less at sears.

 

[xlr8jsc]

I don't know about you, but trips to sears/kmart was not in my schedule for purchases and warrenty. The on-site service is an important ingredient for most mechanics, as it was for me.

 

[krusty the clown]

I don't know about you, but trips to sears/kmart was not in my schedule for purchases and warrenty. The on-site service is an important ingredient for most mechanics, as it was for me.

i agree with you on that but you have to agree that the price difference for the same tools is rediculous..........just so tom willis can get fat!

 

[xlr8jsc]

I know that Danaher makes a lot of their (Sears) hardline, but that is only part of what we sell on the truck - as you know. Sears targets mostly D.I.Y. customers and entry level techs but most in my area will eventually end up purchasing from me. If you were with Matco, for example you know that our tool boxes are second to none and they have made huge strides towards improvement in all areas since 1989. Is the company perfect? Of course not, but I guess I drank the Kool-aid! By the way, Tom Willis is the thinnest of the Presidents at Matco! (yuk, yuk, yuk).

 

[billymade]

xlr8jsc, are you a Matco dealer?

 

[davestlouis]

One thing to consider is this...if you hate the trade and get out, Snap On has higher resale than anything else out there...not being pessimistic, just mentioning it.

 

[Merkava_4]

xlr8jsc, are you a Matco dealer?

I became a Matco distributor for these same reasons 19 years ago without regrets!

Reading & Comprehension.

 

[billymade]

xlr8jsc (Jeff Chandler), goto the thread link, below and if you are willing have a crack at the questions I asked at the begining of the thread... I would like to hear what you think, your perspectives and what you have to say...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=303904

 

[paramudduck]

Hold them, look at them and see which ones you like. A lot will depend on what you are working on. For me with the size of my hands and the rusted crudded up condition of some of the stuff I work on Snaps are like knives. Imagine pushing on a case knife blade all day thats what some of mine feel like.

As for which is better thats a blonde brunette or redhead question. Personally I say who ever give you the best service and will be there when you need them.

 

[Merkava_4]

There might be some metallurgical differences between Matco and Craftsman tools; as was mentioned in one of these other Matco threads.

 

[eschoendorff]

I don't know about you, but trips to sears/kmart was not in my schedule for purchases and warrenty. The on-site service is an important ingredient for most mechanics, as it was for me.

Agreed. Without question.

Oh, and welcome to out little corner of the world!

 

[Merkava_4]

I've often wondered why Craftsman doesn't have the regular offset double box wrenches in full polish to go with their deep full polish offset double boxes, but you can certainly get'm from MATCO.

 

[a390st]

Hold them, look at them and see which ones you like. A lot will depend on what you are working on. For me with the size of my hands and the rusted crudded up condition of some of the stuff I work on Snaps are like knives. Imagine pushing on a case knife blade all day thats what some of mine feel like.

It sounds like you need some old Mac wrenches. They're certainly as flat on the sides of the beam as anything I've ever seen.

 

[davestlouis]

paramudduck, just for your information, redhead with freckles is my personal choice...curly hair is a plus too

 

[paramudduck]

Sounds like my first wife who turned into a total drunken ****. Also the one who misplaced 40k worth of tools among other items.

 

[paramudduck]

a390st thats the reason for my sig line. The ones listed are the most comfortable for me. I should add the old Bonney built Matco to it as well.

In an off topic question: Will someone explain to me why low torque gas filters are always installed by hyperthyroid gorillas? I was replacing one on a blazer on a lift. Raised my entire 340 pounds in the air hanging on the wrench. (I was mad enough by that time to replace the entire line) The old Bonney line wrench held well and never slipped but nor did the nut move. Finally had to hammer tap it loose.

 

[davestlouis]

paramudduck, so did my first one...heavy on the **** part, light on the drunk part. The new one is turning out much better.

 

[paramudduck]

I have a second model as well. Slightly crazy ( I say I need a tool and she's like go for it.) but in all a thousand times better then the first.

 

[a390st]

You can't beat a Bonney made wrench, but you can beat a %*&@ cheating wife with one.

 

[krusty the clown]

i'm glad to see i'm not the only bonney fan here.........unfortunatly the later ones had some quality issues but i'm still using the ones i bought in 1980.

 

[Pedro-snapon]

Okay, so I have a bias. Go Matco. Get (at least) the same quality and warrenty from Matco at a lower price. Don't let people convince you that if it costs more it must be better. Those days are gone. I became a Matco distributor for these same reasons 19 years ago without regrets! I looked at all of them and I could have went with any of them, but decided to sell the same tools that I primarily bought whe I turned wrenches for a living. As far as ratchets, the Matco fine tooth ratchets are hard to beat!

www.matcotools.com/jeffchandler

.;.. WOW

Last i check snapon mac and matco all have similar prices, and as far as ratchets our 80tooth ratchets are taking names. Have a truck shop where i met a matco dealer at who was waiting for me to show off their fine tooth vs the snappy he broke 2 3/8 on a 1-1/8 lug while the snapon broke 2 wheels loose.

I'm biased snapon not only because i'm a dealer but because when i wrenched i started off with mac and matco under the illususion that snapon was too expensive. I kicked myself in the **** after seeing that the difference was standard for standard wrench the matco's and mac's were smaller than snappy, the socket sets were smaller and thus cheaper...

I've stripped less nuts with snappy, busted my knuckles less and strained less with snapon. For those reasons i desided on snapon... I will not sell somthing i don't believe in... there is plenty of bluepoint and snapon stuff that i refuse to sell because we get them from some one else or it jsut doesn't work.


but things to consider when buying tools service .... are you going to have a snapon mac or matco dealer in your area?

socal LA area 99% of route has service from snappy while mac and matco are under 75%

 

[MechanicforLife]

They are coming to my school, Pedro

What do you reccommend me getting, they give all students in auto tech courses
50% off

Same goes for you Jeff what do you reccomend from Matco also 50% off, Jeff do you guys sell 26" top chest? I need one for work it would be great if the Matco dealer could get me a decent price
Thanks