Snap On Collector Tool Sets

[freudianfloyd]

I posted earlier about some tools I got a great deal on, one of those is a Snap On Dale Earnhart ratchet and screwdriver set. I bought it to use, I have been wanting a Snap On ratchet for years so I bought it to work. Is it blasphemous to use tools out of the set?

I am not a nascar fan or tool collector really.

What would you do?
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[Fedwrench]

Tools are meant to be used so, use them.

After all, you bought them, they're yours to use as you see fit.

I was a Dale Earnhardt fan for many years mostly while stationed at Fortress Bragg in the heart of all things nascar, and quit watching after his death. I think even the man himself, Dale Earnhardt would have wanted tools bearing his name to be used rather than stuck is a display case but, that's just me.

 

[kelpaso1]

Hmm, not sure. I would probably prop the whole case on the handle of the lid on my top box to let it at least get all dusty and blow it off every year

 

[Tynee]

Being that the ratchet is older design, not Dual80, I might try to sell that set for enough to finance a Fual 80 3/8 ratchet.

 

[Snaparxon]

Being that the ratchet is older design, not Dual80, I might try to sell that set for enough to finance a Dual 80 3/8 ratchet.

What he said

 

[scooby074]

Use them!

I dont think the signature brings anything on the open market value wise from what I seen. There are thousands of these out there, plus ole' Dale would rather see you wrenchin' and not collectin' I bet.

 

[marineman]

I would use them. They can put his name and signature on anything and it doesn't necessarily increase the value. I'm not a big follower but I'm not aware of any special connection between Dale and Snap on, nor am I aware of anything special about dale and ratchets and screwdrivers. That makes it just another one of millions of pieces of memorabilia with his name on it.

Now if you had a Daytona 500 hood I wouldn't go putting it on my daily driver monte carlo. That's the difference.

 

[Stuart in MN]

In practice, any item (tool or otherwise) that's marked 'collectible' is not going to be worth a lot of money in the future. Just look at the resale market for collectible plates, or beanie babies.

 

[Jason280]

I bet the screwdriver would probably bring more than the ratchet....either way, I'd use them and not worry about it.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Sounds like You came to the fork in the road where collectors go to the left and users go to the right. Being Your address is Nowhere, I don't know which way to point.

Floyd: Did You honestly buy that set to collect?

 

[d.mcfarland]

I think I would OFFER them for sale. If you don't sell them then go ahead and use them. I'm not really sure what the market is like for Nascar collectors though.

 

[Snaparxon]

Don't cut the tag off that ratchet until you make your mind up. That tag can increase the value of that ratchet more so than the signature.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Thanks everyone for the input. When I saw the set, I tried to buy just the ratchet and screwdriver to get them cheaper but he didnt want to split up the set. With that I bought them to use, not to collect, so I think I will use them.

 

[Locker537]

Use them. It's a cool set, but if it was something truly valuable to the point where you'd be foolish to use them instead of selling, you would already know.

 

[Renchi]

Being that the ratchet is older design, not Dual80, I might try to sell that set for enough to finance a Fual 80 3/8 ratchet.

What he said

This seems to be the most logical suggestion / argument being made here.

 

[SS5150]

I guess I'll be the odd man out. I wouldn't use them. I'd sell them to a collector or Earnhardt fan and buy regular tools to use. SO has a bunch of different colors out now so I think you could get blue too if that's your preference.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I think I would list in the for sale section and try to trade it for a dual 80.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I guess I would try to trade them to some one who wanted to collect them.
I really don't see the value going up more then what they are at now. Bottom line you bought them to use, Use them. Rich

 

[Fedwrench]

I know in today's high ratchet tooth count wars, the F80 is a great ratchet but, i think it's important to remember that before the 80 tooth and higher ratchets became the rage, the 30 and 36 tooth got the job done day in and day out.
let's not be hasty trying to throw the baby out with the bath water.

 

[AngryBeaver]

should I be the one to say I bought the same set for 50 just for the screwdriver and the handle off the ratchet to put on a dual 80 long flex head ratchet?

although, this was before they brought the blue handles back into production...

 

[Mgdoug3]

I know in today's high ratchet tooth count wars, the F80 is a great ratchet but, i think it's important to remember that before the 80 tooth and higher ratchets became the rage, the 30 and 36 tooth got the job done day in and day out.
let's not be hasty trying to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Let's not forget the classic RH ratchets that had even more teeth.

Joking aside, I only mentioned trading it since I believe he could trade (most likely) even to a dual 80 and have a top of the line ratchet. Not saying the ratchet he has is bad at all, but a newer one is much better suited for tight spaces.

 

[Zrexxer]

Run 'em. Run 'em hard.


Just keep them away from walls...

 

[Lassen Forge]

You ought them to use, then use them. Otherwise sell them and get something you're not afraid to use. There are SO collectors who might want this set, but unless you're willing to "make the trade" then like Zrexxer said, run 'em hard.

 

[davethorik]

I think a lot of snap-on anniversary stuff is bs I have a 75th anniversary ratcheting screwdriver (dark green, gold shank) for sale forever and no interest I'm just gonna use it. I got it with a 24" shank version red handle and there was a LOT of interest in that.

 

[3baygarage]

That’s the problem with collector sets. You can:

A. Use them
B. Not use them

They’re only unused once. Personally I would find it hard to use them if they made it this long unused. Somene kept them that way all along.

Yes, of course many people say they’re tools so they’re meant to be used, but there are plenty if other tools to use, and plenty of other Snap On ratchets and screwdrivers out there to use.

If you bought them to use, that’s one thing. If you bought them to display, or resell down the road, that’s another, and will affect value somewhat.

Many times collector box ratchets and such sell fairly cheap,( Mac collector ratchets come to mind). i think because:

A. People are afraid (or hesitant I should say) to use them.
B. There’s no need to use them as they have other tools.
C. There are lots of them out there in the same new state, and no real demand for them.

In the end they are yours to do with as you want. If you think like me, I figure as soon as I bust them out and use them, the irony will be the following weekend I’ll find another yard sale with a bunch of Snap On.

There are the real extreme people who buy all new stuff and never use it. Garage Journalers created a special name for that. Anyway, just my thoughts. Nice finds as I said in the other thread.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Well the band was broken up. I put the ratchet in my ratchet drawer, the screwdriver in my screwdriver drawer, and gave the car to my daughter. Like I said, I never intended to keep them in the pack. I even said to the seller, "are these using tools or display tools" just to gauge his reaction, and he said use 'em. So he wasn't too upset having saved them for so long unused.

 

[3baygarage]

Well sounds like you made a good choice then, and someone gets to enjoy the car too.

 

[Trex76us]

I have that set in my tool box. The car is some where in the house.

 

[Billythekid1]

How many teeth is the ratchet ?? I find that style very good and I wouldn't trade those for a duel 80 ratchet . U the nicest ratcheting screwdriver on the market imo

 

[red94chev]

While I'm not a collector, that set seems to be in premium condition and too nice for me to break up and use. I would throw it up on Craigslist or ebay to see what you can get for it.

If I remember your other post correctly, you didn't pay much for it. Then take that money and buy yourself a used Dual 80 off ebay.

 

[rrangus]

Speaking from an auctioneers stand point. I don't see any more value that like new tools. Anything that was sold to be a collectible ain't collectible. They flood the market with these things.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Floyd, I am proud of You. You put those tools to proper use.

 

[itstippy]

In about 35 years they'll look like what's left of my "Snap-On 500" commemorative screwdriver set. I use 'em. That said, obviously some people don't.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-50...685462?hash=item239a6cee16:g:QNkAAOSwEUdaiyQx