SK vs Snap-On Quality! Is There Really A Difference?

[Xcursion88]

Snap on is probably better, good enough to ever matter strength wise? Probably not to 98% of people.
I can't recall when, if ever breaking a non consumable non electric hand tool, if you are a buffoon who makes a habit of trying to remove semi truck lug nuts with 1/4 ratchets then perhaps it might make a difference, but even those of us with those icky lowly old craftsman USA socket probably have done quite a bit of work without having sockets spontaneously exploding with the force of a small nuclear device destroying the work and killing your dog.

This is the mistake...its asdumptions.

SK is not inferior to SO in any way whatsoever.

Unless you're talking non USA tools...then Snap on wins because SK has zero...i Reoeat zero...tools made outside the United States of America.

Snap on...yes even ones stamped snap on...some tools are coming from some places outside the United States of America. They've some new pliers that look like an adjustable wrench....those are stamped snap-on and made in Spain.

SK is 101 percent USA

Strength?
Equal..

We've broken both brands here but it's user error on all accounts. In other words using a tool that is too light for the job attempted.

The tech is too lazy to fetch the proper tool and just uses what's right there at the cart.

We just exploded an 18mm socket taking off a seized caliper bracket bolt from a Chevy avalanche. Sound like inferior strength? What if I told you the tech used a chrome 3/8 drive 18mm with breaker bar and a small fifyeen inch pipe on the end of that.
Stupidity anyone? Laziness? Instead of taking the extra 60 seconds and grabbing a 1/2 " impact wobble and gun

He used the lighter product. Why? Time. Time is money. Shaving time off over the week might mean an extra 100 bucks in pocket.

Those kind of stories rught there are all over the place in the industry.

It's just the details of stupidity are always left out.

 

[Coloradical]

SO is better in quality and finish.

 

[Xcursion88]

^Ding ding ding!

This is how manufacturing works. And I would take this one step further and say that they don't necessarily have an "engineering problem" or "QC problem", it's quite likely that you get what you pay for, and tighter tolerances mean higher cost.

Of course SO should have higher quality and better repeatability than SK, because if they are both produced in the USA and we assume have the same people costs, then you are paying a higher price with SO for tighter tolerances and tighter quality control. The products are marketed and meant for different people.

It's just another choice for consumers that want to buy US-made and aren't professional mechanics / don't have a need or budget for something very high priced. It's naive to think you can get a US-made product for a third of the price that has similar tolerances and QC. As a consumer you have to decide what category you fall into - do you want US-made and highest quality with cost as no object, do you want US-made with lower quality at an affordable price, or do you want better quality at lower cost and don't care where it's made?

If SK were to improve their QC and have tighter tolerances, their prices would go up. You can't just improve your quality systems for free. Is that what people really want? What's the point of having several different companies making the same thing for the same price point? Having a budget priced US-made tool fits a niche in the market for people that are looking for just that. Complaining about chatter marks and minuscule machining flaws is like buying a Chevy Cruze and complaining that the interior finish quality doesn't match a Cadillac. Just because both are (were) made in the USA doesn't mean that you can expect equal quality for a third of the price.

Both these posts don't tell the entire story.

I swear the next time I'm on the SO truck which might be in a week I will take some pictures of several identical SO ratchets of the same part # and I y'all can see the variation in just the chrome finish of these hakf dozen or so ratchets.

Does this mean SO *****? No.

Do all the ratchets look acceptable? Yes.

Side by side are there differences? You better believe it.

This is just the 1/2 fkex head ratchets as example.

Holding just one...they all looked good. Looking at six consecutive they have differences.


We try to have nothing Asian in this place but that's not so simple.

Find me some ring nose pliers made in USA. Nearly everything is reboxed re-rubber handled made in Taiwan.

I personally have one Knipex ring nose pliers. Knipex is German which is fine too. The problem is they only make just that one size.

 

[Xcursion88]

SO is better in quality and finish.

No.

See above.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Everything is preference.

This exactly (for the most part).

 

[Coloradical]

No.



See above.

I will be specific, SO sockets are better quality and especially better finish. I own both.

 

[Handyandy23]

I laugh when folks mention SO tools cost so much due to higher quality materials & better QC. Many would convulse if they new what it really cost to produce say a $200 SO ratchet. The actual production cost would be WELL under 10% of msrp. Its not hard to make high quality tools, what is difficult is being able to penetrate the market & sell them. Marketing on costs would far exceed cost of production. If people new the the real costs involved with tools and the supply chain they would probably make different choices. Ignorance is bliss in this instance, Joe Blo public can justify his purchase in whatever way suits him, generally he'll never know what he's actually paid FOR.

Is that 10% of MSRP a fact or a number you're pulling out of the air? I agree it would be naive to think that the increased price of a SO is 100% in materials and QC - like any manufacturing there are a lot of costs. The point is SO likely spends more in materials, engineering, and QC than most others, which results in higher quality tools. Like I said in another post, once you hit a certain point, the cost of better quality for your dollar goes up dramatically, and that's what you see with SO tools. If SK or Proto or whoever make "very good" tools, a SO will probably cost you double the price for a slight increase in quality. It's up to each person if they think that extra premium is worth it.

I think others have touched on something else that is likely built into SO's cost structure, and that is the trucks and availability of replacement tools and rebuild kits. That's an expensive proposition for a company to have singles and broken up sets of everything on thousands of trucks around the country, doing warranty replacements and repairs on the fly. Which again, the customer is definitely paying for, but as the customer you have to decide if that service is worth it for you. I'd say for the average DIYer it's not, but I can't speak for everyone.

 

[Handyandy23]

Both these posts don't tell the entire story.

I swear the next time I'm on the SO truck which might be in a week I will take some pictures of several identical SO ratchets of the same part # and I y'all can see the variation in just the chrome finish of these hakf dozen or so ratchets.

Does this mean SO *****? No.

Do all the ratchets look acceptable? Yes.

Side by side are there differences? You better believe it.

This is just the 1/2 fkex head ratchets as example.

Holding just one...they all looked good. Looking at six consecutive they have differences.

This very well may be true, but as you suggest, it's not really something that matters. QC isn't as black and white as "every single piece leaving our facility has to be identical in every way". Some things are more important to the customer and the operation of the product than others. Machining accuracy and tolerances are something that matters to the end user and how the tool performs, so that's likely an area any tool manufacturer is going to spend a lot of time and money. If the color or tone of the finish is not a customer dissatisfier, then they won't have the same level of quality checks around it.

For example I work in quality in a car plant, and there are lots of things (like safety items, electrical, etc) where we have multiple inspection points layered. And then there are lots of other things where the QC window is more open, like orange peel in paint. That's not to say there is zero QC on orange peel, but the specification might be more like +/- 5mm patch versus "no orange peel allowed", which would results in a lot of repairs and extra cost. SO likely has appearance QC, but their window of knocking things down for poor finish is probably a lot more open than their window for machining discrepancies.

 

[Shane6377]

Lots of opinions backed by very little fact.

I'm sure I'll be able to pass my grandfather's SK and snap on tools down to my grandchildren to use. That's all that matters to me. The rest is just arguing for the sake of argument.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ChrisLS8]

Let's be real, if you took a blindfold and used a SK Socket and a SO socket to loosen a manifold bolt you wouldn't know the difference.

I'm sure some will claim they will feel the .0001 difference or have some telepathic communion with their SO tools but they are full of ****

 

[ngk22r]

Lots of opinions backed by very little fact.

I'm sure I'll be able to pass my grandfather's SK and snap on tools down to my grandchildren to use. That's all that matters to me. The rest is just arguing for the sake of argument.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

This I agree with you.

Both tools work, people need to spend less time bitching and more time using the tools.

 

[Xcursion88]

I will be specific, SO sockets are better quality and especially better finish. I own both.

As do I and many others here.

I can go down from each box to box and see variances between the two brands.

The one thing is not debatable...

Are they both Good and better than most? Yes.

But make mistake there most certainly are variables within the same brands...including snap on.

Buy what you like but to award one almighty mfg the grand champion is false.

 

[Xcursion88]

Let's be real, if you took a blindfold and used a SK Socket and a SO socket to loosen a manifold bolt you wouldn't know the difference.

I'm sure some will claim they will feel the .0001 difference or have some telepathic communion with their SO tools but they are full of ****

Want a video showng as much tolerance between sockets of SO as other brands? I'll make one for ya.

You're right..blindfolded there is no difference
..and one further...with open eyes no difference. Both fall within acceptable tolerance specs.

Buy what you like...but don't award false silly champion titles

 

[Xcursion88]

This very well may be true, but as you suggest, it's not really something that matters. QC isn't as black and white as "every single piece leaving our facility has to be identical in every way". Some things are more important to the customer and the operation of the product than others. Machining accuracy and tolerances are something that matters to the end user and how the tool performs, so that's likely an area any tool manufacturer is going to spend a lot of time and money. If the color or tone of the finish is not a customer dissatisfier, then they won't have the same level of quality checks around it.

For example I work in quality in a car plant, and there are lots of things (like safety items, electrical, etc) where we have multiple inspection points layered. And then there are lots of other things where the QC window is more open, like orange peel in paint. That's not to say there is zero QC on orange peel, but the specification might be more like +/- 5mm patch versus "no orange peel allowed", which would results in a lot of repairs and extra cost. SO likely has appearance QC, but their window of knocking things down for poor finish is probably a lot more open than their window for machining discrepancies.

Again though...is it within allowable spec? Yep...they all are.

You'd be surprised at the variables on snap on sockets. They are right in line with SK...but both fall into the tolerable variance.

SO just has stuck with this elitest theme...as evidence in this very thread.

It's what you like and nothing more.

To say one is better...well now...

The ford vs Chevy debate is a forever ******* contest. Either one junk? Nope.

Remington vs Winchester.

Colt vs bushmaster.

Mobil1 vs. Castrol synthetic.

It never ends

 

[ChrisLS8]

Get me some Snappy is clearly a troll account for someone here.

 

[ATC]

My dad made a living on SK from the '70's until he retired a few years ago. Both as an automotive shop owner, and as a forklift repair man. It's sad that such a great company is starting to slip. The only newer SK tool I have is a 1/2" long handle flex head ratchet. It skips a few teeth every once in a while, so I try not to use it too often unfortunately...

 

[bonneyman]

Let's be real, if you took a blindfold and used a SK Socket and a SO socket to loosen a manifold bolt you wouldn't know the difference.

I'm sure some will claim they will feel the .0001 difference or have some telepathic communion with their SO tools but they are full of ****

Alot of the work I've seen done on my vehicles looks as if the tech was blindfolded!

 

[dan360]

SK works fine for what they are. A lot of their stuff is great.

SO works fine for what they are. A lot of their stuff is great.

The difference, if there is one, is subjective much of the time but there are instances during high duty cycle use by a professional mechanic, that certain brand's tools come out on top over others.

No one company has the 'best' of everything, but if a person wanted to stick with one brand forever and never change it, SO offers more better-er than the others do. Now how that translates into needing them over other brands is very much subjective.

I've been a professional mechanic of various disciplines for 25 years and consider my opinion valid. Nobody else has to believe it or agree; it's a big world out there.

The SK Tools in my box get used with confidence.

 

[mudflap]

Do the GW sockets fit right on GW ratchets..? They must know their detents are in a different place than everybody elses...? And it's been that way for a long time...if it's a mistake, or QC problem it would have been corrected a long time ago, so what's the reason..?

I think i figured it out..i dont own a GW ratchet, so dont know how they fit on them..? But have some GW sockets, and, i guess i never used them enough..or just never noticed..but they do fit funny on the rats i have...could it be for the guys that dont like QR ratchets..creates a small space to get the screwdriver under them to pop them off..?

 

[Specs]

I think i figured it out..i dont own a GW ratchet, so dont know how they fit on them..? But have some GW sockets, and, i guess i never used them enough..or just never noticed..but they do fit funny on the rats i have...could it be for the guys that dont like QR ratchets..creates a small space to get the screwdriver under them to pop them off..?

Believe it or not, Gear Wrench likes to make a semi wobble socket, or make a second indent. I purchased a 1/4” socket kit on clearance in advance auto, and it came with a wobble extension. The weird part is the sockets had a seating for “play” and then would seat flush on the 1/4” head.

The debate lives on For S-K and SO, but for whats fair, snap on should make a knurled handled ratchet. I just can’t stop using the S-K just based on that ... so confy. I treated myself to a bent handle flex 3/8” ratchet, and I feel like the princess of the ball.

And regarding saving time on jobs to get the $100 at the end of week, ive seen back fire and the tech wastes more time undoing the rush job. And it cost the tech tools too. When you’re not flat rate, it isn’t worth the hustle

 

[MrSmiley]

Find me some ring nose pliers made in USA. Nearly everything is reboxed re-rubber handled made in Taiwan.

I personally have one Knipex ring nose pliers. Knipex is German which is fine too. The problem is they only make just that one size.

Knipex Snap Ring Pliers

 

[Mgdoug3]

I don't have many Snap on tools but they are great tools. For me it comes down to availability and price. Because of that I have several SK ratchets and sockets. Most of my SK tools are bought used but I did just buy a 49 piece 3/8 SAE and metric set for $195. I'll continue to buy SK tools new and used. The price difference makes it an easy choice.

Torque wrenches though, I would pick Snap on over SK.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Generally:

A - Both get it done,
B - Snap-on Quality >> SK Quality,
C - Snap-on Prices >> SK Prices,
D - You make your decision based on A, B & C.

If money wasn't a variable, I would buy Snap-on all the time. But money is always a variable, so I buy:

Proto, Carlyle, Stahlwille, HF pro, Sunex, Ko-ken, used Snap-on, etc. All comparable or better than SK.

My 2 cents.

 

[Shane6377]

I think it's interesting that the comparison usually discussed is SK vs. snap on when talking about hardline hand tools. I would throw Proto and Wright in there too.

There are a lot of different reasons for buying one brand over the other (service, availability, price, etc.) but if we are just talking quality I think all four are equal. All will provide more than a lifetime of service.


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[mrspeed]

So the next guy doesn't have to wade through all the tool polishing to Page 7 of that thread...


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rc5wPql2t7E" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nice video btw

Did that video get taken down? It doesn't work for me. It's a shame, seemed interesting.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[gatlibs]

Both these posts don't tell the entire story.

I swear the next time I'm on the SO truck which might be in a week I will take some pictures of several identical SO ratchets of the same part # and I y'all can see the variation in just the chrome finish of these hakf dozen or so ratchets.

Does this mean SO *****? No.

Do all the ratchets look acceptable? Yes.

Side by side are there differences? You better believe it.

This is just the 1/2 fkex head ratchets as example.

Holding just one...they all looked good. Looking at six consecutive they have differences.


We try to have nothing Asian in this place but that's not so simple.

Find me some ring nose pliers made in USA. Nearly everything is reboxed re-rubber handled made in Taiwan.

I personally have one Knipex ring nose pliers. Knipex is German which is fine too. The problem is they only make just that one size.

https://bowerstool.com/pro-america-...e-hose-gripper-pliers-3-4in-made-in-usa-grip/ I have sent an e-mail inquiring whether it is just the grips or the whole tools. I wouldn't believe that just grips could be advertised as made in U.S.A. Also, could you get by with spark plugs and pliers for the same utility or no? I'm guessing that you use these for removing hoses and breaking the seals on tubes.

 

[bushmechanic]

I used to say that Snap-On was typically found in all the best automotive shops, and S-K was found on all the best off-shore drilling platforms.

That'a touch of hyperbole, but it got the point across. They both do the same job, but a little differently. S-K is what you typically find in real overland rigs; the sort beating through the bush with a broken door and an inner tube for a fan belt.

The new S-K stuff seems pretty on-point, but I haven't put it through that kind of sandy, muddy abuse where you're using a ratchet strap to yank a breaker bar safely, it's 45 degrees, raining, and everything is covered in slop.

That said, the S-K stuff was typically more robust, which could be an inconvenience. Now they've got ratchets with a billion teeth and pear heads.

Nothing beats that knurled, girthy grip for comfort, though.

Six one way and half a dozen the other, so long as the new S-K stuff is as tough as the old stuff.

I'd put Proto right in there with what S-K may or may not still be. Tough as nails, but not quite as svelte and precise when it comes to ratchets. S-K sockets have seemed to be a little bit shallower on average given the extra meat, but that depends on the socket in question.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I have had many versions of sk wrenches and absolutey hated them. I always though most of their stuff was average at best. My buddy who does alot of jobs for me, thinks they are the ****. so any time I find any sk tools ill trade him for something I want.

Not trashing their functionality here, his work truck is stocked with sk of every drive size and used day in day out for work and they hold up good. Its just a matter of preference for me than anything else.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I think it's interesting that the comparison usually discussed is SK vs. snap on when talking about hardline hand tools. I would throw Proto and Wright in there too.

There are a lot of different reasons for buying one brand over the other (service, availability, price, etc.) but if we are just talking quality I think all four are equal. All will provide more than a lifetime of service.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

They are not equal. Proto and Wright are industrial tool brands. SK, not as much. Some of my Proto black oxide wrenches are a bit rough on the edges and I don't mind. Their reputation and marketing is based on the strength of their tools, not the finish, though those big satin chrome Proto wrenches I also have are beautiful. SK on the other hand I can't cut them any slack as they pride themselves on their chrome. Snap off on the other hand is far more consistent in quality. As for Wright, I can't really comment on as I only have one or two heavily used items.

 

[bushmechanic]

They are not equal. Proto and Wright are industrial tool brands. SK, not as much. Some my Proto black oxide wrenches are a bit rough on the edges and I don't mind. Their reputation and marketing is based on the strength of their tools, not the finish, though those big satin chrome Proto wrenches I also have are beautiful. SK on the other hand I can't cut them any slack as they pride themselves on their chrome. Snap off on the other hand is far more consistent in quality. As for Weight, I can't really comment on as I only have one or two heavily used items.

That chrome makes a difference in highly corrosive environments. That's why it matters. Those black oxide Proto units may be fine in a factory, but they're not going to be... Ahem... Ideal (LOL) when constantly subjected to salt water spray.

 

[Professional Tool User]

That chrome makes a difference in highly corrosive environments. That's why it matters. Those black oxide Proto units may be fine in a factory, but they're not going to be... Ahem... Ideal (LOL) when constantly subjected to salt water spray.

Any tool made of steel can rust up easily if you don't clean it, including chrome. Try working outside in the rain and not wiping down your chrome sockets afterwards.

 

[eschoendorff]

That chrome makes a difference in highly corrosive environments. That's why it matters. Those black oxide Proto units may be fine in a factory, but they're not going to be... Ahem... Ideal (LOL) when constantly subjected to salt water spray.

I see what you did there

 

[gatlibs]

https://bowerstool.com/pro-america-...e-hose-gripper-pliers-3-4in-made-in-usa-grip/ I have sent an e-mail inquiring whether it is just the grips or the whole tools. I wouldn't believe that just grips could be advertised as made in U.S.A. Also, could you get by with spark plugs and pliers for the same utility or no? I'm guessing that you use these for removing hoses and breaking the seals on tubes.

I received a reply that their ring nose pliers and all of their Pro America tools are 100% made in U.S.A.

 

[bushmechanic]

Any tool made of steel can rust up easily if you don't clean it, including chrome. Try working outside in the rain and not wiping down your chrome sockets afterwards.

Irrelevant. Chrome plating is still more resistant to corrosion than black oxide.

Those examples I gave in my above examination are personal experience. A few beads of water on a socket are not even worth mentioning next to bush mine conditions and those around constant sea spray.

 

[bushmechanic]

I see what you did there

I was hoping someone would.

 

[sberry]

Sometimes I wonder how I got anything done with Sears ****. It's amazing, change wrench and get a golden arm.

 

[PDub88]

The recent snap on stuff that I've bought brand new has NOT been impressive to me. IT actually makes me sick to my stomach, considering the amount of money spent for sub par finished tools.

 

[jonshonda]

The recent snap on stuff that I've bought brand new has NOT been impressive to me. IT actually makes me sick to my stomach, considering the amount of money spent for sub par finished tools.

Hell hath no fury like a snap on owner scorned.

For f#cks sake man, enough already. Call snap on, have them make it right. If they don't, then that's a different story.

 

[VolvoRyan]

IT actually makes me sick to my stomach,

Information Technology makes me sick to my stomach, too. Hey: Didja really need to reboot every thread with "Snap-On" and "quality" in the title? Kinda fudges up how things work around here.

-Ryan