To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Snap On Quality?

kngelv

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
2,293
Location
Detroit, MI
In the past few years I've broken exactly two tools and both happened within the past few weeks. One was an 8mm Williams USA 1/4" drive socket that cracked holding the upper control arm ball joint of a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas while I torqued the securing nut. I used a Koken Zeal after this broke with no issues. The other was a 7/16 Snap-On nut driver that broke while twisting off a bolt on the top of a valve actuator. This was done by hand and I'm somewhat strong but not "that" strong. I've never seen anything like this before.

James

IMG_6384.jpeg
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

tool_scrounge

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2010
Messages
4,254
Location
Southern California
Have you exposed the handle to Loctite Thread locker compound? I have seen some rather spectacular failures of otherwise tough plastics when exposed to Loctite liquid or even fumes.
 

ChefRex

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Messages
3,906
Location
NJ
**** breaks when you use it, my SO has been outstanding, when it breaks I get a new one.

I can only imagine how many$ I have warrantied, did I pay up front? Yes but SO has been my only constant dealer.
 

zendriver

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2014
Messages
30,777
Location
Indiana
About how old is that driver?

Plastic does not necessarily last forever.

I did break a Snap On socket about 15 years ago, but I was yanking pretty hard on a stuck brake bolt.
 

whateg01

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
12,124
Location
doo dah, kansas, usa
That's what the lifetime warranty is for, both of those failures seem like defects in materials or craftsmanship and not abuse.

If the nut driver was made in the 20th century, I'd chalk it up to aging plastic and just buy a replacement.
If I paid snap on prices because of their warranty, I would make them replace it. And I don't buy new snap on, warranty or not!
 

Wamsutta

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
10,961
Location
Amarillo, Texas
Williams is not as easy as Snap-on. They'll want you to send the socket in.

As far as the nut driver goes, see if the customer service email portal will allow for uploading photo attachments.

I would say with that picture, it's a slam dunk for a replacement.

What's still not clear to me though is why you chose a 1/4'' drive socket for anything chassis related and I have no idea what a valve actuator looks like on a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas.
 

neophyte

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
10,071
Location
Pennsylvannia
In the past few years I've broken exactly two tools and both happened within the past few weeks. One was an 8mm Williams USA 1/4" drive socket that cracked holding the upper control arm ball joint of a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas while I torqued the securing nut. I used a Koken Zeal after this broke with no issues. The other was a 7/16 Snap-On nut driver that broke while twisting off a bolt on the top of a valve actuator. This was done by hand and I'm somewhat strong but not "that" strong. I've never seen anything like this before.

James

IMG_6384.jpeg
These are two completely different types of failures.
One is a steel failure, so maybe that lot of sockets didn’t get annealed enough.

The other failure is a plastic resin failure.
I doubt Snap-On makes their own resin, which means the resin batch might have been bad, or Snap-On screwed ip on the injection molding, maybe by heating the resin ip too jot, causing the resin to become more brittle than expected. Another possibility is that the additives used to produced that particular color made the plastic mire brittle than other colors might have.
Those handles according to Google are dome sort of Acetate compound, and acetate handles usually last decades while still remaining impact resistant, so I doubt that is the issue.

As has been said, one of the main purposes of the tool truck brands is that warrantee replacements are supposedly given Readily, so maybe try that root.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

f121

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2018
Messages
2,094
Location
UK
I’ve got a few of those spinners, but not broken any yet, despite getting dropped regularly. Guessing that’s a bad batch.

My most warrantied SO items are screwdriver tips (ph2 tips seem a lot softer than they used to be) and chisels. I’ve broken a few chrome sockets using them on the impact, they’re thinner walled and more fragile than my cheaper sockets.
 

finn

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2005
Messages
16,695
Location
The UP, God's country
The nut driver came out of a brand new package last year. I guess I’m most shocked on how shallow the tang was. This happened in front of three other tradesmen at work.

James
It would have failed earlier if the tang was larger, as the cross section of the phenolic handle would be thinner with a bigger tang.

Either that or less ergonomic.

My guess is that there were residual stresses in the plastic from cooling too fast in the molding process, aka a manufacturing defect.
 

Dumber than lumber

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
2,063
That's the whole argument that tool trucks will continue to be around. They deliver tools, provide warranty replacements, and finance all in one place.
It is a good argument. In fact, that is why I chose Craftsman over other brands for 30+ years.. Of course, Craftsman was usually price competitive against most brands.
And we all thought Sears would be around “forever” to warranty the stuff.
 

Skellyii

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 13, 2021
Messages
1,848
Location
KC Area
In the past few years I've broken exactly two tools and both happened within the past few weeks. One was an 8mm Williams USA 1/4" drive socket that cracked holding the upper control arm ball joint of a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas while I torqued the securing nut. I used a Koken Zeal after this broke with no issues. The other was a 7/16 Snap-On nut driver that broke while twisting off a bolt on the top of a valve actuator. This was done by hand and I'm somewhat strong but not "that" strong. I've never seen anything like this before.

James

IMG_6384.jpeg
I've had a couple of Snap-On screwdrivers break just like that over the years, can't remember if I was doing anything special.
They were replaced, no questions asked.
 

L.Cheapo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
6,153
In the past few years I've broken exactly two tools and both happened within the past few weeks. One was an 8mm Williams USA 1/4" drive socket that cracked holding the upper control arm ball joint of a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas while I torqued the securing nut. I used a Koken Zeal after this broke with no issues. The other was a 7/16 Snap-On nut driver that broke while twisting off a bolt on the top of a valve actuator. This was done by hand and I'm somewhat strong but not "that" strong. I've never seen anything like this before.

James

IMG_6384.jpeg
That handle looks like it's more brittle than it should be. Is that nut driver from one of the newer sets where all the handles are the same color?
 
OP
K

kngelv

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
2,293
Location
Detroit, MI
These are two completely different types of failures.
One is a steel failure, so maybe that lot of sockets didn’t get annealed enough.

The other failure is a plastic resin failure.
I doubt Snap-On makes their own resin, which means the resin batch might have been bad, or Snap-On screwed ip on the injection molding, maybe by heating the resin ip too jot, causing the resin to become more brittle than expected. Another possibility is that the additives used to produced that particular color made the plastic mire brittle than other colors might have.
Those handles according to Google are dome sort of Acetate compound, and acetate handles usually last decades while still remaining impact resistant, so I doubt that is the issue.

As has been said, one of the main purposes of the tool truck brands is that warrantee replacements are supposedly given Readily, so maybe try that root.
There was a Snap-On truck a few blocks from my house last week. He would not warranty it, said to call Snap-On.

James
 
OP
K

kngelv

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
2,293
Location
Detroit, MI
What's still not clear to me though is why you chose a 1/4'' drive socket for anything chassis related and I have no idea what a valve actuator looks like on a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas.

The socket was just to hold the ball joint end on the UCA while I tightened the nut to 50 ftlbs. The valve actuator was not on the Jag. It opens a gas line at the tank farm where I work.

James

Valve Actuator

1789355838667.png
 

isr2kba

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
325
Location
MA
I used to use those nut drivers a lot — never broke using them on bolts, but I have broken several in that same spot when using them to pry things in the cold.

Of course I’m not suggesting that’s what happened to yours.
 

1Bad55Chevy

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2025
Messages
723
There was a Snap-On truck a few blocks from my house last week. He would not warranty it, said to call Snap-On.

James

HF would have given you a new set!

I dont buy SO because the driver wont stop at my shop. He told me before that he wont stop unless I have 3 techs but if I buy a tool box he would deliver it to "save me the trip". I watch him and all the other tool trucks drive by me weekly.... If I have to mail tools in its not worth the premium when I drive by HF daily. Its worth mentioning that I have never broken an Icon tool....
 
OP
K

kngelv

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
2,293
Location
Detroit, MI
I used to use those nut drivers a lot — never broke using them on bolts, but I have broken several in that same spot when using them to pry things in the cold.

Of course I’m not suggesting that’s what happened to yours.
Don’t be passive aggressive. That’s exactly what you’re suggesting and that did not happen. I used it like you would regularly use a nut driver. I’m an industrial electrician and use them all the time. I have no idea why it broke. I have the entire set of Snap-On in metric and standard. None of the other ones have ever broken, just that one. It’s just flipping weird is all.

James
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom