Cope
Well-known member
I haven't come across anything on Par-X, Snap-on's old second line of tools. I saw them on the tool truck in the 1960s.
Par-X Tools
- Thread starter Cope
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thegreatone
Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2016
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- 19
I have some wrenches and I think a nut driver too. I have seen lots on eBay. I'll take some pics when I get a chance.
bcexplorer
Well-known member
INSP380
Well-known member
I have a 1/4 ratchet and socket set at work. It is still in the cardboard box it was sold in. I'll take some pics when I get in tomorrow.
Steve
Steve
woody 73
Well-known member
I kid you not true story...
I followed up on a cl deal and by chance I heard the guy tell his wife "see we are finally getting rid of this **** on this sucker for top dollar".
They were around the corner but I was standing behind some tall boxes so they must not have seen me as I walked around their garage.
I smiled and paid the man his asking price of $30.00 dollars, not sure who the bigger sucker was because I gave the craftsman tools in that small box to my son as a gift and I walked away with 14 par X wrenches in that deal.
Pictures to follow:
I followed up on a cl deal and by chance I heard the guy tell his wife "see we are finally getting rid of this **** on this sucker for top dollar".
They were around the corner but I was standing behind some tall boxes so they must not have seen me as I walked around their garage.
I smiled and paid the man his asking price of $30.00 dollars, not sure who the bigger sucker was because I gave the craftsman tools in that small box to my son as a gift and I walked away with 14 par X wrenches in that deal.
Pictures to follow:
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INSP380
Well-known member
thegreatone
Member
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- Nov 20, 2016
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- 19
J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
there used to be one long thread on Par-X stuff, i even posted about two old rusty Par-X tool-boxes i got powder-coated blue.
i have a pretty large collection of Par-X stuff now. but sadly cant find the main thread anymore
Was the Par-X thread you are talking about on another forum? There was one on the now defunct Garage Gazette?
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Yeah, I don't remember one big Par-X thread. Several two- or three-pagers, whenever someone finds it and starts a look-what-I-found thread, and a few early threads (2008, 2009) started by J.A.F.E., none of those very long, either.
there used to be one long thread on Par-X stuff, i even posted about two old rusty Par-X tool-boxes i got powder-coated blue.
i have a pretty large collection of Par-X stuff now. but sadly cant find the main thread anymore
You only have 2 posts since 2016 and they are in this thread, so I'm guessing the thread you are thinking of is/was on another forum
Bighead38
Well-known member
Unless the thread got deleted.
davethorik
Well-known member
There was a period of time where I wanted a Par-X 1/4 rat pretty bad, but I got outbid a bunch of times on ebay. Then one would pop up $20 BIN, usually when I was broke or needed money for something more important, or I was feeling wishy washy and talked myself out of buying it, then 30 seconds later, no joke, someone did hit BIN. I feel like this is a tool that if I found in the wild, would probably be cheap, maybe $1-$5 neighborhood, since most dont know they are basically Blue Point (Snap-on) USA pear heads. Judging by number i have seen on ebay, not rare enough to warrant a $20 BIN IMO. Eventually it will happen. I would say I serendipitously find 75% of the tools on my want list in the wild, just gotta give it time for the magic to work lol
think that must of been it. shame as it was a great thread with lots of details on the variations.
im slowly collecting a full set of Par-X stuff, if anyone has any for sale and is willing to ship to the U.K please get in touch!
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Farmall 1066
Well-known member
Only Par-X I've got is a 3/4" ratchet.
It's identical to a Snap-On other than finish.
It's identical to a Snap-On other than finish.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I have this pair of 1/4-inch spinners, one stubby, the other standard, one Par-X, the other Snap/on, that I am fond of showing brand sides down, without identifying which is which, like a little game to demonstrate how insignificant the differences typically are. Anyone (other than resident Par-Xpert J.A.F.E...) care to guess?
Attachments
I have seen the gray handle labeled Par X as well as Snap on with a V in the part number for military.
I would guess the black stubby is Snap on mainly because the Par-X label was used on mostly basic hand tools and the stubby to me is somewhat of a "special" driver.
I would guess the black stubby is Snap on mainly because the Par-X label was used on mostly basic hand tools and the stubby to me is somewhat of a "special" driver.
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J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
maxcarp709
Well-known member
I came across this Par-X 3/8" Speed Handle recently.It is in very good shape for its age.I would be willing to trade to one of you collectors.I may have another socket or wrench I could throw in as well.These are some hastily snapped pics.
J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
Perhaps I should have given a more detailed answer. I'll try to keep this as short as possible. Par-X was made by Snap-on as a budget line - I am thinking probably more as a way of selling something rather than let the customer off the truck empty handed. Just about the entire line was retired forgings or then current forgings but both ways the fit and finish was not as good as main line Snap-on. It was a limited line and pretty basic. The line included 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 drive tools, screwdrivers, DOE and combination wrenches and a couple top chests and one roller. Metrics were available in the combination wrenches and in some of the drive sizes. Most of the tools were not date coded but some do turn up.
The ratchets used the same guts as the Snap-on of the same drive size and the forgings were similar (except 3/4 which was almost the same). Standard 30 tooth repair kits work perfectly in the ratchets. There were only standard handle ratchets as far as I know. Never seen a long, stubby or flex handle.
Every socket I have seen is six point.
The early screwdrivers and socket drivers used the old octogrip design but in gray instead of black as Snap-on had used as in Private Lugnutz post #21. There were a few that came through in a translucent amber with the octo grip design (if you find one don't get too excited quickly - Snap-on made a line of screwdrivers in the mid 50's called Par-V and it's easy to mistake the two). Later screwdrivers and drive handles used the square clear amber handles Snap-on used on nut drivers and some specialty stuff (and a few screwdrivers) as in the 1/4 set in Inspc380 post #7.
Par-X was made mid/late 60's to early/mid 80's but not in the catalogs. There was at least one four page supplement the dealers had. Dealers had the option of selling them and not all did. The warranty was similar to Snap-on but in theory you'd have to pay the difference (50% of Snap-on list) if the piece was replaced with a Snap-on replacement. Some tool sellers seem to know Par-X was made by Snap-on and seem to think they carry the standard Snap-on warranty. They do not and did not. Many at Snap-on are not even aware the brand exists - after all it was last made about 35 years ago.
Snap-on phased out the Par-X name and replaced it with the same tools with the same part numbers but branded Blue Point.
The ratchets used the same guts as the Snap-on of the same drive size and the forgings were similar (except 3/4 which was almost the same). Standard 30 tooth repair kits work perfectly in the ratchets. There were only standard handle ratchets as far as I know. Never seen a long, stubby or flex handle.
Every socket I have seen is six point.
The early screwdrivers and socket drivers used the old octogrip design but in gray instead of black as Snap-on had used as in Private Lugnutz post #21. There were a few that came through in a translucent amber with the octo grip design (if you find one don't get too excited quickly - Snap-on made a line of screwdrivers in the mid 50's called Par-V and it's easy to mistake the two). Later screwdrivers and drive handles used the square clear amber handles Snap-on used on nut drivers and some specialty stuff (and a few screwdrivers) as in the 1/4 set in Inspc380 post #7.
Par-X was made mid/late 60's to early/mid 80's but not in the catalogs. There was at least one four page supplement the dealers had. Dealers had the option of selling them and not all did. The warranty was similar to Snap-on but in theory you'd have to pay the difference (50% of Snap-on list) if the piece was replaced with a Snap-on replacement. Some tool sellers seem to know Par-X was made by Snap-on and seem to think they carry the standard Snap-on warranty. They do not and did not. Many at Snap-on are not even aware the brand exists - after all it was last made about 35 years ago.
Snap-on phased out the Par-X name and replaced it with the same tools with the same part numbers but branded Blue Point.
J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
I just found an image of the front of the four page dealer supplement. I am hotlinking to it not something I'd normally do but since it's my pic originally and they stole it I have limited remorse.
I just found an image of the front of the four page dealer supplement. I am hotlinking to it not something I'd normally do but since it's my pic originally and they stole it I have limited remorse.
I thought you have the 4 page catalog? I have it on PDF if you want a copy. I'm sure I got it from you years ago.
J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
I have never seen a 12 point Jake. Do you have a pic?
I don't have a copy of the PDF handy. That is to say I can't seem to find where I filed it.
I don't have a copy of the PDF handy. That is to say I can't seem to find where I filed it.
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J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
Thanks that is awesome!
The problem of course is now I have to find them...
The problem of course is now I have to find them...
J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
Ouch!
I'll OM you.
I'll OM you.
elidas
Well-known member
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ssdave
Banned
I used to have a few Par-X wrenches in my mixed user stuff; they were essentially identical to OEX SO wrenches. They might still be around in my stuff somewhere; haven't seen them in a while since they got replaced with matched sets. Think I have a few square amber yellow handle drivers too.
All the Par-X wrenches I have (most likely from the 70's) or have seen, have a perfectly flat beam on both sides whereas the Snap on OEX wrenches have a slightly convex beam on both sides and a longer OAL length.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Picked this box up three years ago, very good original condition.
I have that same box too.
Picked this box up three years ago, very good original condition.
i have two of those, but i stripped the paint of both of mine (both were very rusted!) and got powder-coated signal blue.
i have NEVER seen the 12 point par-x sockets, they are very rare.
i have quite a collection of Par-X stuff now, several of the amber ocotgrip screw-drivers and flat-heads, marked up par-x.
im really hoping to complete my spanner set, and would love a decent 3/4" Par-x ratchet.
interestingly in the sockets there is a variance between stampings between otherwise identical sockets, and some of the breaker bars are different lengths but all same part number.
how do i link images to this thread?