Snap on tools
- Thread starter Ruger27
- Start date
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I ended up buying a 100 tooth cynergy. Feels nice and smooth, back drag is working itself out like usual. I don't dislike the old school logo as much in person.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I have an old 1/2" drive, long ratchet that I regularly bend with just my hands. It bends right back in the press. Just let's me know when it's time for something bigger. What they are turning out now are some beautiful tools that get the job done easier than ever.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Any tools in particular you have experienced issue with?
Ya 1/4 drive 3/8 drive 1/2 drive ratchet I break every other week some wrenches flex out making them strip bolts I break sockets once a month this is all new stuff. I got older stuff that is lot stronger
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Radio Flyer
Well-known member
Haven’t noticed.
The last time I bought a Snap On tool was 1997.
The last time I bought a Snap On tool was 1997.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I've never broken a tool (from any major brand) in my life. What the hell are you doing that you're breaking so many tools especially so many ratchets? Are you putting them in a hydraulic press and trying to bend them?
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I haven’t noticed it with any of my Snap-on stuff. I don’t buy much anymore since the guy doesn’t show up hardly but all my stuff has been bought in the last 3 years or so. Only time I’ve flexed one of the ratchets is trying to take off a really stuck oil filter housing one time and I had all my body weight on the ratchet.
Every other week? What do you work on? Is it possible you are using 1/4 where you should be using 3/8 and 3/8 where you should be using 1/2 etc.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
If this is true, something is wrong here other than the tools.
Shoreline_
Well-known member
Same. I've been wrenching professionally for 25 years. I hardly ever warranty anything and when I do its usually worn out. Not broken.
genog
Well-known member
I work on farm equipment and tractors
Shoreline_
Well-known member
No it's not that we don't belive you. Just wondering what you're doing to break your tools. If I feel like a ratchet is going to break I take out the red wrench, melt some wax in the threads, verify there's no pressure from an outside mechanism on the threads, etc. Even the cheapest ratchets exceeds ANSI standards my 170%.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Yeah what gives with all the Snappy drivers? I’m seeing them less and less and it’s getting harder to reach them. Same with Matco around here. Only guy I’ve seen regularly is the Mac truck.
Previous job had a coworker that exclusively worked on the biggest tractors John Deere makes and almost everything he used was HF or equivalent. I don’t remember him breaking much beyond some 1/2 dr breaker bars he put a cheater pipe on, so he kept multiples. You’re definitely doing something wrong.
I’m not going to say snap on is as good now as it used to be because I don’t think they are. But there’s no way snap on’s quality is less than HF/Tekton tools.
I’m not going to say snap on is as good now as it used to be because I don’t think they are. But there’s no way snap on’s quality is less than HF/Tekton tools.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Last time I seen Mac was I think October lol. They are practically non existent in my area. Our Matco driver is the only reliable one. Snap-on shows up maybe 1 to 2 times a month. It’s a shame because I’d give them more business if they were here more.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Yeah, I have a list of things I’d love to get but the driver that was supposed to take over the route never did and the Snappy guy I do use never comes to my shop because it’s outside of his route. I always have to go to him. The Mac guys services almost every shop around so you can always find him. Matco will only come if you call and order. It’s kind of annoying.
wafrederick
Well-known member
The 100 tooth ratchets,Snap On pulled them off online.Having 3 problems with it already,one is locking up.The other 2 are they are going into the neutral position and the back drag.I talked to my dealer about it,he has not ordered any and is going to take Snap On months to fix them
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
100% driver specific.
Some places will be the exact opposite. I think the general consensus is buy stuff that you will likely break from the truck that shows up regularly. Don't work where I need truck service, but that's what I've read.
Some places will be the exact opposite. I think the general consensus is buy stuff that you will likely break from the truck that shows up regularly. Don't work where I need truck service, but that's what I've read.
We have a cornwell dealer who just quit showing up
Yeah he still runs the route , just doesn't stop anymore , he figured we aren't worth his time I guess
His monetary loss .....
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
People forget SERVICE is a huge part of the equation. If ya don't show up, I'm not paying the premium for the tools.
Most of my tool truck tools are snap on in large part because I feel they are the most likely to offer support and service when I will inevitably need it.
We all work in different worlds what is right for one world may not be the best for anothers. Most truck tools seem to be targeted to the automotive world. Tight clearances seem to be what they are designed for at the cost of some strength. We use some of them in the main shops where we do the pickups and cars along with everything else farm related and clearance is an issue.
For the bulk of the farm work we mainly stick with industrial brand tools. Wright has been a mainstay in the shops and service vehicles along with some Proto and Williams for as long as I can remember. On the large stuff that has been outside and the BIG air wrenches just go blah the large cheater bar is he choice before trying the torch. It has to survive a different type of abuse auto tools may not survive. That Wright tootsie roll grip just seems designed to fit into our cheater bars.
purplezr2
Well-known member
You live in AZ, guessing you don't know what rust is.
I have busted my fair share of tools.
The only odd one was a broken a pair of Snap on needle nose pliers. I was wire bending some steel rod to make a rod for getting into a locked car(for the owner).
I have never broke a SO hex socket, broke lots of others. I have twisted a few SO torx sockets, but that is way better then alot of cheaper brands that shatter.
I have broke two ratchets(10+ years old), broke a few tips of snap ring pliers and bent a few prybars.
I work for a very large manufacturer. During COVID my company mandated our entire staff vaccinate in accordance with federal guidelines for the military, and govt contractors. Office workers were told to work from home.
We lost a lot of senior people on the manufacturing floor and senior office workers who didn’t want to comply with the vaccine order, didn’t want to work from home, or simply didn’t want unwelcome changes to their normal routine.
The damage to our supply chain has still not healed. We are not yet back to where we were from a quality escape perspective.
If the OP recognizes a quality difference in recently manufactured goods. I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. My company isn’t okay. How is it possible Snap On weathered the exact same storm and came through it unscathed?
Worth repeating: folks here sometimes think simple items like sockets or wrenches are simple to manufacture. They have no moving parts etc etc. This is a fallacy born in ignorance (with respect) of modern manufacturing. Manufacturing is complicated as heck. Heat treatment is as much art as science. And when Joey Baggadonuts retires, we might have trouble producing the same quality.
More: remember, our job is to standardize every manufacturing process so that anyone can do it. Joey seeks learn secret sauce based on his long experience for job security. He might know if he preheats the heat treating furnace or stack the tools a certain way, they get a better heat soak and better sockets result. We call this tribal knowledge.
I have no data or inside information. Just suggesting… leave open the possibility that products made before COVID could be better than post COVID.
We lost a lot of senior people on the manufacturing floor and senior office workers who didn’t want to comply with the vaccine order, didn’t want to work from home, or simply didn’t want unwelcome changes to their normal routine.
The damage to our supply chain has still not healed. We are not yet back to where we were from a quality escape perspective.
If the OP recognizes a quality difference in recently manufactured goods. I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. My company isn’t okay. How is it possible Snap On weathered the exact same storm and came through it unscathed?
Worth repeating: folks here sometimes think simple items like sockets or wrenches are simple to manufacture. They have no moving parts etc etc. This is a fallacy born in ignorance (with respect) of modern manufacturing. Manufacturing is complicated as heck. Heat treatment is as much art as science. And when Joey Baggadonuts retires, we might have trouble producing the same quality.
More: remember, our job is to standardize every manufacturing process so that anyone can do it. Joey seeks learn secret sauce based on his long experience for job security. He might know if he preheats the heat treating furnace or stack the tools a certain way, they get a better heat soak and better sockets result. We call this tribal knowledge.
I have no data or inside information. Just suggesting… leave open the possibility that products made before COVID could be better than post COVID.
Bannik254
Well-known member
Snap-on pliers, notably 415CP and 915CP are worse now than they used to be.
Granted, we abuse the snot out of them, grabbing/twisting/prying/etc, they have a much shorter service life needing a warranty nearing every 6 months where the old ones would last years. They tend to fail when twisting, one of the jaws will snap off. Heat treat? (Salvage repeat jobs/work. Same task over and over again FYI).
The Old pliers had information engraved into them, instead of just lazer etched.
The "machined" teeth went up further, they reduced it to cut costs, you can see this on newer 196AC/96ACF where there are less teeth for gripping.
Granted, we abuse the snot out of them, grabbing/twisting/prying/etc, they have a much shorter service life needing a warranty nearing every 6 months where the old ones would last years. They tend to fail when twisting, one of the jaws will snap off. Heat treat? (Salvage repeat jobs/work. Same task over and over again FYI).
The Old pliers had information engraved into them, instead of just lazer etched.
The "machined" teeth went up further, they reduced it to cut costs, you can see this on newer 196AC/96ACF where there are less teeth for gripping.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
Nope. Not noticed that anything is amiss with Snap-On. I have Snap-On stuff from the late 1970's that did flat-rate for 40 years. It's fine. New Snap-On stuff from very recent has been stellar. Sockets, wrenches, flare wrenches are super tight and work well.
Probably a good benchmark for "are they bendier" is my almost new (but I bought it new) SLX80A. This is 24" locking flex-head 1/2" drive ratchet. Since I got it, I don't use breaker bars any more. Zero handle flex, and this thing gets wailed on. I feel like I do nothing but abuse it.
I don't do Snap-On for much other than sockets/ratchets/wrenches, so I'm not much help beyond this.
-Ryan
Probably a good benchmark for "are they bendier" is my almost new (but I bought it new) SLX80A. This is 24" locking flex-head 1/2" drive ratchet. Since I got it, I don't use breaker bars any more. Zero handle flex, and this thing gets wailed on. I feel like I do nothing but abuse it.
I don't do Snap-On for much other than sockets/ratchets/wrenches, so I'm not much help beyond this.
-Ryan
micromind
Well-known member
I think the majority of tools I've broken have been on farm equipment.
You wouldn't.t think that something like a basic tractor, hay baler or even a plow would have bolts so dog-blasted tight that they would bust a wrench or a socket but they are.........
Wakefield
Well-known member
micromind
Well-known member
Back then I didn't have anything bigger than 1/2" drive and with all the dust, hay, grease, etc. fire was not a good idea. Though some stuff was clean enough to heat and it helped a lot.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
This is a great example of why corporate decrees from the ivory tower aren't a good idea.
Lots of shops tried that, techs all laughed in their faces. Sometimes the ivory tower needs reminded 'ol Joe is the one actually DOING the work.
To be fair to the company and no politics!!!!, the Ivory tower was an unambiguous decree from POTUS. Not our idea.
I guess the point is, what happened during COVID had a real impact to our manufacturing and it isn't back to normal and may never be. Also (and maybe more importantly) individual workers really really DO make a difference!
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
On the one hand EVERYBODY is replaceable. But on the other, like for like replacement isn't always the case. For instance in my biz, they could get another "tech" in a couple weeks. But you ain't gonna find another one of me so easily. If they get tired enough of my ****, they can boot me to the curb. However I represent over 60% of the total shop $$$ output, 5 people including myself.
100% in agreement, my intent was not political, rather on the relationship between employers and employees. Don't step on the toes of those spinning the wrenches, working the line, or packing the product. Because 99 times out of 100 the office jobs are on the expense side of the report, and those -doing- are the ones generating the revenue.
My f100 is doing great. I got another snap on hoodie to add to my pile today. IDK the brand has generally been pretty good to me. I've had more issues from those they employee and franchise too, than from SO themselves. That said, tool truck driving seems like a really hard job.
Truth right here
98% of my tools are snapon , cause he shows up , he warranties his brand , and he shows up , did I mention he shows up ?
The other trucks , show up whenever they feel like it, or not and wonder why they don't sell as much
Yeah I ***** about tool prices , but I still buy
Maybe my fault: Another thread on tool brands has devolved into discussion of the mighty Snap On corporation. I’m not at all convinced we change any minds about this brand (not that that is a goal).
Back on topic, with all the basics covered by Snap On, I’m much more inclined to buy less expensive Asian made specialty tools as I embrace my inner Lube tech. I have recently purchased some bluepoint stuff, strap wrench, hose clamp tool, interested in Kabo double box wrenches. I own a **** young guy tool cart!
I guess my notion is that tool brands split into function and fashion to some degree. I initially chose Snap On when I was working on Porsches because they offered the BEST functioning allen bit sockets, & triple squares. Snap On represented the best in the functionality I needed.
If I could get away with it, I’d have chosen Hazet, because I like the esthetic of German tools for German cars. Hazet has an esthetic I like. If I owned a Japanese race car, I’d want Koken.
Auto mechanics choose Snap On, maybe machinists choose Proto, electricians have Klein, that’s all fashion (not sure thats exactly the right word). So there’s a brand alignment that has little to do with function, maybe once you meet a minimum functional threshold.
We don’t talk about our attraction to certain brands for style reasons. Every brand here seems to get compared to Snap On or some other high functioning reference standard, as if that’s the only measure of a tool’s value.
Back on topic, with all the basics covered by Snap On, I’m much more inclined to buy less expensive Asian made specialty tools as I embrace my inner Lube tech. I have recently purchased some bluepoint stuff, strap wrench, hose clamp tool, interested in Kabo double box wrenches. I own a **** young guy tool cart!
I guess my notion is that tool brands split into function and fashion to some degree. I initially chose Snap On when I was working on Porsches because they offered the BEST functioning allen bit sockets, & triple squares. Snap On represented the best in the functionality I needed.
If I could get away with it, I’d have chosen Hazet, because I like the esthetic of German tools for German cars. Hazet has an esthetic I like. If I owned a Japanese race car, I’d want Koken.
Auto mechanics choose Snap On, maybe machinists choose Proto, electricians have Klein, that’s all fashion (not sure thats exactly the right word). So there’s a brand alignment that has little to do with function, maybe once you meet a minimum functional threshold.
We don’t talk about our attraction to certain brands for style reasons. Every brand here seems to get compared to Snap On or some other high functioning reference standard, as if that’s the only measure of a tool’s value.
Just curious what exactly is breaking on your 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 Snap on ratchets every other week as I think if this was a widespread problem the internet would be full of stories that I've just not seen or heard about. Are the anvils snapping off? Gears stripping? Pawls jamming? Handles bending? And what are you doing to cause these problems? Using cheater bars? Heat? Where are you buying these tools from? Are you certain they are legitimate tools and not some imitation / knock off being sold as the real deal? Something just doesn't feel right with this story to me.