Snapped-off
Well-known member
Well I've emailed them about that before and they said they were not covered. Same answer I got from my dealer. No consumables are warrantied.
Would you like to trade dealers?
Question for you guys about tools.
- Thread starter hickmlg09
- Start date
Well I've emailed them about that before and they said they were not covered. Same answer I got from my dealer. No consumables are warrantied.
Would you like to trade dealers?
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
I was kinda thinking I'm glad the inter-webs didn't exist when I was starting off to be mechanic.
The extent of tool buying advice I got was "Buy what works for you, but remember that cheap tools will hurt you when they fail under load."
crewchief888
Well-known member
I was kinda thinking I'm glad the inter-webs didn't exist when I was starting off to be mechanic.
The extent of tool buying advice I got was "Buy what works for you, but remember that cheap tools will hurt you when they fail under load."
^^^^ this
+1000
pilotman81
Well-known member
If you are planning on being a mechanic for your entire career, then you need to decide what type of tools you want to use. If you want to spend $ on premium tools, then start right away with a great deal like the one you have in front of you now. If not, then find the deal that you want.
mdkingsley
Well-known member
I grew up on a dairy and started working on equipment and vehicles when we bought our own place in 79 when I was 12 so I became the mechanic because my dad was milking or doing other things. Having said that I am a member of the heat it and beat it club as well as the liquid nitrogen and shrink it club. It you have ever worked on heavy equipment or farm equipment you are in the club. We bought a big set of Proto to get started on our own farm and they were great tools up until some dirt bag stole them. We then got a set of master mechanic from a hardware store that heard we got our tools stolen for cost to help us out. Not as good as Proto by no means but okay to get by on. I bought pawn shop stuff when I saw quality and kept cheap stuff on the tractors and on equipment so if it was lost we were not out anything. I have been buying Snapon for several years after becoming friends with a dealer. I am not a full time mechanic and do not claim to be but I have worked on a lot of stuff and still do. We still have a farm and equipment just beef cows now. The Snapon works right every time and is a pleasure to use and I have used a lot of tools both good quality and bad. But I could not afford them when I started out. The 2 grand sounds like a good deal and the convenience of them coming to you goes a long way. I would have to say the Proto were great tools in the 80s when we had them I don't know the quality today but I still own some Proto today. Good luck with your new profession you will not ever regret buying quality. Just do as your budget allows.
richfinn
Well-known member
I was kinda thinking I'm glad the inter-webs didn't exist when I was starting off to be mechanic.
The extent of tool buying advice I got was "Buy what works for you, but remember that cheap tools will hurt you when they fail under load."
I got told by my Dad who was a Joiner/Carpenter "Buy the best tools you can afford" and I,ve stuck to that
Lump
Well-known member
You've received a lot of good advice here, Hick. And I compliment everyone here for keeping it civil thus far.
Keep in mind that with ANY career which you have not yet experienced as a full-time professional, you will find many facets that are different than what you expected before you got there. And when you ask for ANY advice about tools, you will find vastly different answers from experienced folks with totally different styles and preferences. Only YOU will know what is right for you, and you will only find that out after you have gained some experience doing the job full time every day, all day.
Some techs like to have top quality tools, and they are meticulous about storing and cleaning them every day. They are proud of their tools, and are quick to point out how much better or more effective these tools are than other brands. Other mechanics like to buy the cheapest tools they can find, and these folks take pride in pointing out how much less money they spent, and still got the job done. And both types of people often feel very passionate about their opinions. But neither side will ever convince the other! The tech who cleans and organizes his tools at the end of every day could never be happy with a bunch of dirty, greasy tools in a hand-carry tool box sliding around in the back of a truck. But a mechanic who hates to spend money on tools could never be convinced to sign a financial agreement to buy tens of thousands of dollars of "truck tools."
Preferences are simply a part of the human experience. For example, some folks prefer to live in a city near "all the action," while others are much happier in rural settings with no neighbors in sight. Which way is better? Depends on who you ask.
I can tell you this: Unless you have worked as an automotive technician every day for long enough to experience the highs and lows of the profession, you don't yet know what tools are best for your own personal style. And, until you land that job and really dig in, you can't say for sure that it will be the career of your entire life. MANY wanna-be mechanics have quit the trade after a couple years, and gone on to something else. Also, there are many different types of mechanical jobs...with some requiring very specific tools. So I could not personally recommend putting yourself too deeply in debt right away. Get yourself the minimum tools to begin with. Then start the job and be prepared to quickly add tools as you need them (techs hate it when the "new guy" doesn't have enough tools and wants to borrow). Soon you will develop your own opinions about which tools to invest heavily in, and which ones you can settle for lower-priced options.
Most of all remember this: Just as you will never convince a person who loves to live deep in the countryside to move into a city apartment, you will NEVER get mechanics to all agree on what brands or quality of tools to buy. Indeed, one day you will have your own strong opinions, and will find that you agree with some others, but disagree with the rest....
Keep in mind that with ANY career which you have not yet experienced as a full-time professional, you will find many facets that are different than what you expected before you got there. And when you ask for ANY advice about tools, you will find vastly different answers from experienced folks with totally different styles and preferences. Only YOU will know what is right for you, and you will only find that out after you have gained some experience doing the job full time every day, all day.
Some techs like to have top quality tools, and they are meticulous about storing and cleaning them every day. They are proud of their tools, and are quick to point out how much better or more effective these tools are than other brands. Other mechanics like to buy the cheapest tools they can find, and these folks take pride in pointing out how much less money they spent, and still got the job done. And both types of people often feel very passionate about their opinions. But neither side will ever convince the other! The tech who cleans and organizes his tools at the end of every day could never be happy with a bunch of dirty, greasy tools in a hand-carry tool box sliding around in the back of a truck. But a mechanic who hates to spend money on tools could never be convinced to sign a financial agreement to buy tens of thousands of dollars of "truck tools."
Preferences are simply a part of the human experience. For example, some folks prefer to live in a city near "all the action," while others are much happier in rural settings with no neighbors in sight. Which way is better? Depends on who you ask.
I can tell you this: Unless you have worked as an automotive technician every day for long enough to experience the highs and lows of the profession, you don't yet know what tools are best for your own personal style. And, until you land that job and really dig in, you can't say for sure that it will be the career of your entire life. MANY wanna-be mechanics have quit the trade after a couple years, and gone on to something else. Also, there are many different types of mechanical jobs...with some requiring very specific tools. So I could not personally recommend putting yourself too deeply in debt right away. Get yourself the minimum tools to begin with. Then start the job and be prepared to quickly add tools as you need them (techs hate it when the "new guy" doesn't have enough tools and wants to borrow). Soon you will develop your own opinions about which tools to invest heavily in, and which ones you can settle for lower-priced options.
Most of all remember this: Just as you will never convince a person who loves to live deep in the countryside to move into a city apartment, you will NEVER get mechanics to all agree on what brands or quality of tools to buy. Indeed, one day you will have your own strong opinions, and will find that you agree with some others, but disagree with the rest....
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
'fraid I strongly disagree with this. My background is the same - started wrenching on the farms equipment when I was 10. Then on to heavy equipment for the military. I quickly developed a mechanical philosophy that has served me well for a good number of years ever since as a civilian mechanic. That is: "Finesse, not force". IE: if you're beatin' the **** outta something expecting positive results, you're gonna wear yourself out and more often be severely disappointed. There is usually a better approach with the right tools. Yes, there is a time and place for a BFH, but that's not "repair system". I spend a fair bit of my time "cleaning up the messes" after my customers mechanics who seem to think it is. I have even had some "good" mechanics work for me who had years of experience who I then had to let go because they always reached for a hammer / torch first and cost us (company) hundreds of dollars in seconds of poor judgement.
50% off SO is 100% or more, too much. Your hard earned money should be conserved. Don't spend that which doesn't provide a return. It would be pure foolishness to spend $40 on a tool.... if you could buy an equivalent for $4.
Carson_13
Active member
Snap on ratchets are great most other things have good or better alternatives.
Conductor562
Well-known member
I'm also on a Blackhawk socket kick at the moment. But Snap-On at a 50% discount is a rather attractive proposition.spotco2
Well-known member
I've been working on "stuff" for the past 28 years and have learned a lot of lessons from other tech's and mechanics that I have worked with.
When I walked into my first dealership at 16, I carried my Craftsman tote box and 2 5 gallon buckets of tools into my bay and went to work. I learned quickly that I needed more...much, much more. The older guys in the shop took pity on me and taught me a lot.
The basic tool list that you posted earlier is a good list of tools that you can use no matter what you work on. While a 50% discount is a good deal on SO, it's still going to be a lot of money to lay out up front.
When I was working the dealer circuit I had the big, monster box that was full of almost nothing but SO. It was organized so that I could back up to the box, open a drawer, reach in and pull out the correct tool without looking. My rolling cart was the same way. It was a great system when working flat rate because time was money. I turned 60-80 hour weeks in 40 because of the efficiency that I learned watching the other guys that I worked with. I also learned a lot about how NOT to work sloppy by watching some of the unorganized guys that just tossed tools around and couldn't hit 40 even working overtime.
I changed careers for a short time and went back to wrenching for a living on a complete different level. The last dealership I worked in was a BMW and I changed to Caterpillar. I toured the shop and nobody had monster boxes with SO master kits filling the drawers. Everyone had regular Craftsman, Waterloo and a few regular size SO stacks full of Husky, Craftsman, HF, Kobalt and even some Great Neck tossed in. I didn't fit in at all.
I quickly learned that I was using the same tools over and over each day and a lot of stuff in the drawers just sat there every day. We also were hourly instead of flat rate so faster times did not mean more money anymore. I took my big boxes home and busted out my small stack from the shop at the house. I brought my basic SO tool kit (pretty much what was on the list above) and added a few odds and ends that I had become accustomed to using daily. Almost everything I needed fit into my roll cabinet and my top boxes were almost empty.
We all abused our tools working on construction equipment. I learned quickly that SO wrenches did not strip the head off bolts when you use a cheater pipe on them like a Husky or Craftsman will. I learned that chrome SO sockets shatter when you hammer on them with an impact, but a HF or Craftsman will only split up the side and not throw shrapnel across the shop. SO hammers held up much better than anything else. Small sledge hammers from K-Mart and Home Depot held up better than anybody elses. SO FAR72B was the best air ratchet I ever used and IR made the best impacts and angle grinders. General Tools makes good calipers for mechanics. Starrets are only needed by machinist in my opinion. I've never seen a bad torque wrench from Sears. My favorite timing light is a digital Snap-On. SO wrenches and sockets have thinner walls and will fit in places that some cheaper version will not. Old School Bonney and Williams impact sockets will outlast anything on the market today and can be bought cheap at pawn shops and ebay.
I went on the road as a tech for a while and had to condense my tools even more to fit inside my van. That was the real test that showed what I REALLY needed to work with and what I could take out and leave at home. It was a true learning experience.
Fast forward a few years and someone very close to me stole every SO tool that I owned. He had gotten really strung out on meth and I let him in the shop a few times thinking he would not steal from me. He did. All I had left was a huge, empty box and none of it was covered by my insurance. I sold my big SO box and bought a couple of the largest boxes that Craftsman made and refilled them with Craftsman tools because I was opening my own shop and needed tools quickly.
I slowly replaced some Craftsman stuff with used SO until I had all of my basic tools replaced with SO but still have a lot of Craftsman stuff that gets used every day.
I reckon what I'm trying to say is after you get your basic kit, you'll slowly start seeing things that you will need. If it's something that you only need once in a blue moon, take the cheap route. If it's something that you'll use every day, buy the best you can afford. If you know that you are using a 10mm deep well every day, then you'd better pick up a spare for when you misplace yours or bust it. Same goes for a #2 Phillips screwdriver.
When I walked into my first dealership at 16, I carried my Craftsman tote box and 2 5 gallon buckets of tools into my bay and went to work. I learned quickly that I needed more...much, much more. The older guys in the shop took pity on me and taught me a lot.
The basic tool list that you posted earlier is a good list of tools that you can use no matter what you work on. While a 50% discount is a good deal on SO, it's still going to be a lot of money to lay out up front.
When I was working the dealer circuit I had the big, monster box that was full of almost nothing but SO. It was organized so that I could back up to the box, open a drawer, reach in and pull out the correct tool without looking. My rolling cart was the same way. It was a great system when working flat rate because time was money. I turned 60-80 hour weeks in 40 because of the efficiency that I learned watching the other guys that I worked with. I also learned a lot about how NOT to work sloppy by watching some of the unorganized guys that just tossed tools around and couldn't hit 40 even working overtime.
I changed careers for a short time and went back to wrenching for a living on a complete different level. The last dealership I worked in was a BMW and I changed to Caterpillar. I toured the shop and nobody had monster boxes with SO master kits filling the drawers. Everyone had regular Craftsman, Waterloo and a few regular size SO stacks full of Husky, Craftsman, HF, Kobalt and even some Great Neck tossed in. I didn't fit in at all.
I quickly learned that I was using the same tools over and over each day and a lot of stuff in the drawers just sat there every day. We also were hourly instead of flat rate so faster times did not mean more money anymore. I took my big boxes home and busted out my small stack from the shop at the house. I brought my basic SO tool kit (pretty much what was on the list above) and added a few odds and ends that I had become accustomed to using daily. Almost everything I needed fit into my roll cabinet and my top boxes were almost empty.
We all abused our tools working on construction equipment. I learned quickly that SO wrenches did not strip the head off bolts when you use a cheater pipe on them like a Husky or Craftsman will. I learned that chrome SO sockets shatter when you hammer on them with an impact, but a HF or Craftsman will only split up the side and not throw shrapnel across the shop. SO hammers held up much better than anything else. Small sledge hammers from K-Mart and Home Depot held up better than anybody elses. SO FAR72B was the best air ratchet I ever used and IR made the best impacts and angle grinders. General Tools makes good calipers for mechanics. Starrets are only needed by machinist in my opinion. I've never seen a bad torque wrench from Sears. My favorite timing light is a digital Snap-On. SO wrenches and sockets have thinner walls and will fit in places that some cheaper version will not. Old School Bonney and Williams impact sockets will outlast anything on the market today and can be bought cheap at pawn shops and ebay.
I went on the road as a tech for a while and had to condense my tools even more to fit inside my van. That was the real test that showed what I REALLY needed to work with and what I could take out and leave at home. It was a true learning experience.
Fast forward a few years and someone very close to me stole every SO tool that I owned. He had gotten really strung out on meth and I let him in the shop a few times thinking he would not steal from me. He did. All I had left was a huge, empty box and none of it was covered by my insurance. I sold my big SO box and bought a couple of the largest boxes that Craftsman made and refilled them with Craftsman tools because I was opening my own shop and needed tools quickly.
I slowly replaced some Craftsman stuff with used SO until I had all of my basic tools replaced with SO but still have a lot of Craftsman stuff that gets used every day.
I reckon what I'm trying to say is after you get your basic kit, you'll slowly start seeing things that you will need. If it's something that you only need once in a blue moon, take the cheap route. If it's something that you'll use every day, buy the best you can afford. If you know that you are using a 10mm deep well every day, then you'd better pick up a spare for when you misplace yours or bust it. Same goes for a #2 Phillips screwdriver.
KPSquared
Well-known member
Now that is some advice and experience worth listening to.
FunkyfullWidth
Well-known member
When I was doing my co op in school i started with a 26" craftsman roller. I spent about 800 bucks at sears buying a complete 1/2 and 3/8 metric and standard shallow and deep impact socket set. Screw drivers, chisels, punches, chordless drill, gear wrenches, regular wrenches, files....Odd ball things... I didn't have any air tools for a while. It wasn't until the end of school that I cashed in the discounts. I really wish I had done it right off the bat.
Granted, I still use all the tools I originally bought there's something about using a wrench that doesn't bend, or a ratchet that gives you that extra couple of clicks in a tight spot. Or a punch/chisel that doesn't need to be dressed every time you use it. Or screw drivers that twist. Or hell even allen keys that twist. Now over my career alot of the things ive been tired of having to warranty, replaceor just deal with have been upgraded. It's nerve racking not having faith in your tools.
Granted, I still use all the tools I originally bought there's something about using a wrench that doesn't bend, or a ratchet that gives you that extra couple of clicks in a tight spot. Or a punch/chisel that doesn't need to be dressed every time you use it. Or screw drivers that twist. Or hell even allen keys that twist. Now over my career alot of the things ive been tired of having to warranty, replaceor just deal with have been upgraded. It's nerve racking not having faith in your tools.
Some great advice here, especially from Lump and Spotco. I think the key is finding the balance. There are some things where SO is clearly the way to go (ratchets, for one). There are many things where a good quality "middle-of-the-road" brand will serve you well for decades. Personally, I couldn't stand to work all day, every day with some of the cheap, crappy HF-type tools (I'm sure some of it is OK, but most of it...).
darkk
Well-known member
Snap On? Nope! You can buy a ton more other GOOD brand tools for $2000. Try Williams, Armstrong, SK, Proto, etc. If you can wait, check Craigslist for used stuff. I spent over 45 years in the auto industry and NEVER bought a Snap On tool off the truck. I do have extremely few Snap On tools, but that's only because one of the other techs upgraded and I got that tool for a steal price, no other reason.
redline380
Well-known member
personally, i'd purchase quality stuff the first time around. i am just a home wrencher but i buy (used mostly) name brand stuff so i never have to purchase it again. my adivce would be to purchase whatever you know you will need from snap on like sockets, racthets, basic stuff. no need to go heavy in debt. if theres something special you need like a pittman arm puller or something like that, there will be other techs at the shop that will have these things. if you ask nicely, they'll let you borrow it and let you keep borrowing it if you return it in the same exact condition, or better if its cleaner than when you took it. just start buying the special stuff after you've established yourself in your job.
keep in mind you get what you pay for. a socket is socket. any half inch socket will remove any half inch nut. but a snap on socket will carry a lifetime warranty with service at your door, will look nice the rest of your life if you take care of it, and carry the reputation of a very established company. other brands may take care of this too. but taiwan won't. we all know a large portion of any snap on product's price is the name on the tool, but theres a reason for that. a kia will get you from point A to point B. a corvette will too. but which one would you rather drive?
keep in mind you get what you pay for. a socket is socket. any half inch socket will remove any half inch nut. but a snap on socket will carry a lifetime warranty with service at your door, will look nice the rest of your life if you take care of it, and carry the reputation of a very established company. other brands may take care of this too. but taiwan won't. we all know a large portion of any snap on product's price is the name on the tool, but theres a reason for that. a kia will get you from point A to point B. a corvette will too. but which one would you rather drive?
spotco2
Well-known member
2 things I would like to point out here. I've worked in A LOT of dealerships with hundreds of different techs over the years. If you need to borrow a tool once, then most everybody is happy to let you. If you need to borrow it again, you'd better order one because we buy OUR tools for US to make money with, not to continue to loan them out to someone so that THEY can make a living using OUR tools.
The rule of thumb here is if you need a tool more than once in your lifetime, then you should own one.
Also, as far as the truck brand stuff goes with service at your door. Yeah, it's fantastic when you break something and the guy that sold it to you swaps it without you ever having to leave your bay. However, this guy is only going to come around once a week and depending on what it is, he might not have one on the truck when he does come by. This goes back to having a backup set of the most popular tools that you can not live without.
More than once I've blown out a 13mm deepwell socket (or a number of other tools including impacts) and took a test drive over to Sears/Home Depot/Auto Zone/NAPA/Etc to pick up a temp replacement so that I could get a job out that day. You don't always have the luxury of being able to wait on the tool truck to get there.
sberry
Banned
Some real well thought out practical advice here.
2mJps
Well-known member
What of these tools do you already have?
refried
Well-known member
I think if your planning on making a living with your tools there's no reason not to buy Snap On tools especially if you have a 50% off deal. The tools on that list are the ones you'll be using the most and a lower quality tool may fail when you really need it. Snap On tools willl last a lifetime and can be handed down, I don't see many mechanics who are proud to own and use vintage Craftsman tools. I'm sure at some point during a job interview you'll be asked what kind of tools you have, Most places wont take you serious without a good set of professional tools. Craftsman tools willl have a place in your toolbox, When you need to make a special tool, bend a wrench, or grind a wrench to fit you'll be happy to have them.
mdkingsley
Well-known member
I was using an inappropriate term it seems, heat it and beat it is last resort not a way of life. I agree with heavy metal the right tool is always the way to go. I must have brought up visions of red hot wailing on something with a hammer. That is not what was meant. Anyhoo lots of good options here I hope you can make an informed decision about your purchase and future career.
spotco2
Well-known member
Dude, I've heat and beat so many things over the years that I can not begin to remember them all. You're right, it's a last resort usually but also a necessary evil when all else fails. It's a skill that must be mastered so that you do not destroy any other parts and pieces, or else you'll just end up with a bunch of pieces and parts.
The key to being a good mechanic or technician is knowing when to heat and beat and how to do it properly.
There is a time and place for everything.
shoturtle
Well-known member
Out of this list, what do you own already? If you have a fair amount of the hand tools, just get the speciality tool that are hard to get from so. Because allot of the stuff you can get at a lot better price then so at 50% off and still have excellent quality for new.
50% off snap on is a deal for snap on. But if you do not drink the koolaid. You can get tools just as good, for way less then the 50% off the so price. Just compare the sockets and ratchet to craftsman or kolbalt.
And for wrench set, if you can find the metric and sae craftsman pro made in the USA 13pc set for about 90 dollars each not on sale. And it is still half the price of the discounted sets form so.
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mdkingsley
Well-known member
Correct
My goodness... if everyone of my customers were you... I would own an Island somewhere.
This is what is known as a GIMMICK.... a concealed, usually devious aspect of a deal.
Is it curious that SO highly inflates their list price, and then gives a huge discount? Do they assume gullible customers will be so excited about their “savings” they’ll completely forget they are buying overpriced tools?
malibu101
Well-known member
NOT picking on you and NOT trying to start a brand war
but
As is often seen around here when it comes to tools, truck brands in particular-
Overpriced tools, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
No matter if talking about tools, cars, or washing machines- What one person swears by another person swears at.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Kinda makes you think how really cheap and crappy the HF stuff is. How gulliable are their customers that buy that stuff that is the sale price but for some reason has never been "regular" price. Lets just arrange the add and word it differently but put the same stuff in it. So who is more gullible the HF customer or the SO? Just for the sake of comparison.
Drew_flux
Well-known member
I would buy everything on the list in a cheap brand, then upgrade later on. Keep in mind half the people you go to trade school with now, will move on to other things before the course finish. there will be plenty of cheap brand name tool for sale by the end of the first/second year.
I bought the first two of snapon's aprentice building sets for about 30% of retail,from guys who went gun-ho on tools and ended up leaving the trade.
I bought the first two of snapon's aprentice building sets for about 30% of retail,from guys who went gun-ho on tools and ended up leaving the trade.
dirtydogintex
Well-known member
^ +1 ^
The same can't be said for the tool truck customers - seems they're dazed n confused.... or at least their common senses are comfortably numb.
Wonder if it's a direct result from being in close quarters w/a bunch of shiny, flashy new tools?
Round here it appears most folks are familiar w/HF's products and esp their sales model.... which isn't that much different than Sears and many other retailers.
The same can't be said for the tool truck customers - seems they're dazed n confused.... or at least their common senses are comfortably numb.
Wonder if it's a direct result from being in close quarters w/a bunch of shiny, flashy new tools?
N.I.
Well-known member
From personal experience I have to say that recommending someone who is thinking of becoming a professional mechanic to go out and buy the dirt cheap tools is poor advice.
I started out with cheap second hand **** and learnt the hard way that the only place for it is the bin. The poors fits and brittle **** steel means that when they go they, they tend to go with painful consequences. Some of the injuries I will have to live with for the rest of my life.
I permanently buggered a joint of my index finger on the sharp corner of a transmission case when trying to break loose a tight bolt and the socket slipped. At the time I didn't feel anything and kept working away as the impact had numbed my finger. I remember seeing this glistening puddle against the red oxide of the transmission case and thinking wtf is that. It took me a while to notice my finger was spewing blood as it was at night in a poorly lit shed.
I very, very nearly lost an eye on another occasion. I can tell you, it was one scary moment when all I could see was blackness through one eye.
I am not not saying go out and buy Snap On, most definitely not, as even with 50% off, a lot of their tools is still overpriced. But, do spend your money wisely. There is a big wide world out there with many manufacturers who produce tools as good, if not better than Snap On, and for a fraction of the cost. Be wary of the rebrands ( Bahco for files, hacksaws and adjustables as an example), and remember that Taiwan produce some excellent tools if on a budget.
It all depends on your own situation. If you have money in the bank or can borrow from family then I would take advantage of the truck discounts on certain items. It is as good an investment as any considering interest rates at the moment.
I started out with cheap second hand **** and learnt the hard way that the only place for it is the bin. The poors fits and brittle **** steel means that when they go they, they tend to go with painful consequences. Some of the injuries I will have to live with for the rest of my life.
I permanently buggered a joint of my index finger on the sharp corner of a transmission case when trying to break loose a tight bolt and the socket slipped. At the time I didn't feel anything and kept working away as the impact had numbed my finger. I remember seeing this glistening puddle against the red oxide of the transmission case and thinking wtf is that. It took me a while to notice my finger was spewing blood as it was at night in a poorly lit shed.
I very, very nearly lost an eye on another occasion. I can tell you, it was one scary moment when all I could see was blackness through one eye.
I am not not saying go out and buy Snap On, most definitely not, as even with 50% off, a lot of their tools is still overpriced. But, do spend your money wisely. There is a big wide world out there with many manufacturers who produce tools as good, if not better than Snap On, and for a fraction of the cost. Be wary of the rebrands ( Bahco for files, hacksaws and adjustables as an example), and remember that Taiwan produce some excellent tools if on a budget.
It all depends on your own situation. If you have money in the bank or can borrow from family then I would take advantage of the truck discounts on certain items. It is as good an investment as any considering interest rates at the moment.
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That way he can get the Snap ons at a little better discount, after wasting money on a junk set. Sorry, it doesn't make sense to me. Especially the part where he has to work with cheap tools for maybe a year or more, which no one will buy.
Assuming they're not lost, stolen or damaged in a fire. Or the kid isn't in the half of the class that decides being a tech isn't for him. Nothing wrong with good quality tools but no reason to over pay. Highest price doesn't equal best value.
sberry
Banned
The cheap is at disposable cost,, it would be one thing if it was 50 cents on the dollar but its 5, how much "waste" is on it especially when by reliable accounts it works. As for hurting oneself, I really doubt using a tool 10X in cost will be a guarantee for avoiding injury.
sberry
Banned
Ok,, we could word that another way,,, maybe she wants to provide jobs to Americans at 10X the cost? Sears tool would give blue collar jobs to Americans too?
MN Falcon
Well-known member
You do know that Sears has outsourced the Craftsman tools to China?
JerseyBoatBuilder
Well-known member
I would go with the 50% student discounted Snap On set..
Especially if you will be still doing what you want to do 10-15 years from now.
You will be kicking your self later if you decide to move to Snap On later on and have to pay full retail or discounted retail later on when you could have already had it for 50% off
Especially if you will be still doing what you want to do 10-15 years from now.
You will be kicking your self later if you decide to move to Snap On later on and have to pay full retail or discounted retail later on when you could have already had it for 50% off