Snap On

[blown94conv]

Come on guys, he has a keyboard and an Internet connection. He must be an expert.

 

[Herod]

Lets see your toolbox, and where it's located.

There ya go.... there's my toolbox.

I build and repair jet engines for Gulfstream and Lear jet. I worked closely with Werner Von Braun developing rocket technologies.

Kelly Johnson's "Skunkworks".....? ?......It was my idea. And in my spare time, I build spaceships for NASA. /sarcasm

 

[espyking83]

Anyone that proclaims their opinion as more valid than another's is not a person I would take seriously and I bet the same goes for many others.

Yet, you do the same. As well as go so far to say everyone 'envies' your tools.

There ya go.... there's my toolbox.

I build and repair jet engines for Gulfstream and Lear jet. I worked closely with Werner Von Braun developing rocket technologies.

Kelly Johnson's "Skunkworks".....? ?......It was my idea. And in my spare time, I build spaceships for NASA. /sarcasm

Hahhahahaha.

 

[FreeTenthsDiag]

Yet, you do the same. As well as go so far to say everyone 'envies' your tools.




Hahhahahaha.

I don't see where I said Snap-on was the best everywhere. And people going out of their way to hate on something someone else has is pure envy, otherwise they wouldn't give a ****. You can hide behind your poor logic all you want.

 

[85camaro]

I have torn down and rebuilt many vehicles, engines, motors, household items and worked on other various mechanical and construction projects. I use a wide variety of tools and brands for every project and they all do the job and they all hold up just fine. The only exception is the Chinese made hand tools because in my opinion, the carbon steel isn't up to par.

With that said, in my opinion, what really makes Snap on and the other truck brands so valuable is their broad inventory of tools and equipment that hardware stores and other retail merchants just don't carry.

 

[espyking83]

I don't see where I said Snap-on was the best everywhere. And people going out of their way to hate on something someone else has is pure envy, otherwise they wouldn't give a ****. You can hide behind your poor logic all you want.

So people come up to your box during work and shout "Oh my GAWD what a ****** overpriced tool!"? I doubt it.

Also, saying a tool is overpriced =/= 'hating'.
However, claiming another person feels envy for your tools implies clear superiority.

 

[FreeTenthsDiag]

So people come up to your box during work and shout "Oh my GAWD what a ****** overpriced tool!"? I doubt it.

Also, saying a tool is overpriced =/= 'hating'.
However, claiming another person feels envy for your tools implies clear superiority.

Yeah, you have some literacy problems, and are a person with an opinion I will find no value in. Ignored.

 

[sberry]

The only exception is the Chinese made hand tools because in my opinion, the carbon steel isn't up to par.

I disagree. I think the cheap China tools is almost the best steel anywhere. The plants are often copycat of proven foreign designs they bought turnkey prototypes etc. Yes they got lots of cheap worker bees but they got new plants, puter control, smart and well trained and doesn't cost a pinch of **** more to make decent steel as poor steel, in fact cost way more to make poor and adds another layer of inventory.
I bought ATD adjustable and its world class and know that other than the brand, in this case ink, its sold from fleas to fancy box at 5 x $ on a fancy box, same fukkin wrench. The cheap one even has a high level of finish and the only place I really see a little skimp is from HF and its not all that bad. They are so big they can probably really contract hard.
Dumb azz Sears should have got on who ever is making the HF ratchet 20 yrs ago and we would have got something.

 

[crewchief888]

i must be doing something really really wrong.

i've been wrenching on const eq for 30 years, 99% of my daily used working tools came brand new off of (1 of the big 3) tool trucks.

over the years, i've had some crappy dealers, but for the most part i've never had an issue with a warranty.

nowadays tool dealers are nearly non existant around our shop, so my only resort was via online customer service when i had something broken.

no problems with SO matco or cornwell.

a quick email, and a response within 24 hrs, (SO is typically within 4 hours), new tools on the way, next shipping day, usually a 3-4 day wait,(SO) or a return goods ticket issued, and new tool within 7-14 days. (matco).

so far matco has been the only time that they wanted the old tool back before sending out a replacement.
SO & cornwell didnt ask for a return at all.

i cant quite understand how (seemingly) everyone has issues with SO

 

[gmm213]

Wagzilla I thought about it but no rep is gonna be an a hole to a new customer even if he is.

Redrabbit I never bagged SO. I love SO but if reps are becoming more and more of a pain I'm not dropping serious cash for a tool that's not worth the price tag. Add I stated before I realize that your paying for service but if the service isn't there why pay.

As for everyone taking hobby and diy I may not be in the industry using them to make money but I'm far from hobby. I use them on my racing quads and pick up side work. You may call it a hobby but I'm not using my tools occasionally for changing my oil

 

[espyking83]

Yeah, you have some literacy problems, and are a person with an opinion I will find no value in. Ignored.

Nobody goes out of their way to hate on your tools, you are obviously a pompous and pretentious person with abstract self esteem issues. Over 8 years of turning wrenches and I have never seen someone to walk across the hangar to hate on my Snap On tools--nor any other brand for that matter. In fact, the only type of controversy occurs when people go out of their way to show off their new tools (something I have been guilty of).

Your initial post in this thread gave the impression that you are in fact pretentious, hence, why I responded the way I did.

 

[espyking83]

I disagree. I think the cheap China tools is almost the best steel anywhere. The plants are often copycat of proven foreign designs they bought turnkey prototypes etc. Yes they got lots of cheap worker bees but they got new plants, puter control, smart and well trained and doesn't cost a pinch of **** more to make decent steel as poor steel, in fact cost way more to make poor and adds another layer of inventory.
I bought ATD adjustable and its world class and know that other than the brand, in this case ink, its sold from fleas to fancy box at 5 x $ on a fancy box, same fukkin wrench. The cheap one even has a high level of finish and the only place I really see a little skimp is from HF and its not all that bad. They are so big they can probably really contract hard.
Dumb azz Sears should have got on who ever is making the HF ratchet 20 yrs ago and we would have got something.

The best quality steel I have seen has been from Martin tool and sprocket, especialy their older stuff. I am no metallurgist though, but my experience with Chinese steel has not been positive. A wrench should not slip off of any type of aircraft fastener-period.

 

[gmm213]

Also my question want is SO the end all be all or which is the greatest my question was simply are the statements about bad SO warranty the norm or do we just not hear about the good reps. And if it is the norm what are other good brands that are USA made. The second has been completely answered the first has been to an extent. But mostly it's just SO fan boys and SO haters arguing about SO which I don't care about. I'm not a fanboy but do love SO but I refuse to pay the prices they ask for **** service

 

[espyking83]

Wagzilla I thought about it but no rep is gonna be an a hole to a new customer even if he is.

Redrabbit I never bagged SO. I love SO but if reps are becoming more and more of a pain I'm not dropping serious cash for a tool that's not worth the price tag. Add I stated before I realize that your paying for service but if the service isn't there why pay.

As for everyone taking hobby and diy I may not be in the industry using them to make money but I'm far from hobby. I use them on my racing quads and pick up side work. You may call it a hobby but I'm not using my tools occasionally for changing my oil

You don't have be a mechanic to turn wrenches, if you use your tools enough to merit a premium investment--so be it.

 

[espyking83]

Also my question want is SO the end all be all or which is the greatest my question was simply are the statements about bad SO warranty the norm or do we just not hear about the good reps. And if it is the norm what are other good brands that are USA made. The second has been completely answered the first has been to an extent. But mostly it's just SO fan boys and SO haters arguing about SO which I don't care about. I'm not a fanboy but do love SO but I trust to pay the process they ask for **** service

Snap On has the best warranty service hands down. Their tools are not the end all be all. They are a very well rounded company in terms of quality, but the best brand of tool depends on the type. Elaborate on which tools and I will do my best to answer.

 

[gmm213]

As I stated I'm looking for a ratchet set right now. Unfortunately when I moved I had to sell most of my tools for space and the funds to move. Now I have the money to start replacing. First thing is my 3/8 ratchet set that was one thing I kept but was stolen out of my jeep

 

[sberry]

I have a limited amount of tools on my pickup. The other day during a field fix said all or nothing and beat on a 3/8 12 pt wrench on a brake bleeder, with a 20 oz nail hammer, hit it a couple times. Paid 1 $ for it as a single from the farm store retail with pocket money and the thing has R&R hundreds to likely over a thousand fasteners, O carry it for the perfect fit and a good number of this is in less than ideal conditions, hit and cheatered more than once.
Aint no big deal to admire something costly and elegant but what amazes me is how good some of it has got. We have thousands of clamps, mostly 3/8 bolts, some 5/16 and a bunch of brass nozzles that take a 1/2 and I build 3/8 if I can. We keep wrenches in pickups and carts, tractors like religion. We have really tested the common combo wrench and then some.
I have a set of snap flank, they are great and anymore I keep them like tubing wrenches. We use Cmans, I have a couple offset Mac are nice but some ones called "Drop forged USA" and a bunch of China from a couple vendors and eras. The MIT has been good, I havnt used a lot of Pits but what I see is ok, one we really started with called Olympia sold as singles were so good we got more, I think TSC may have changed vendors but the shittiest wrench ever is the lectrolite, some USA, someone gave them to me and I actually could bend them. I junked one the other day along with a Phillips screw driver I bought for a dollar 20 yrs ago.

 

[sberry]

I agree it should not slip but a snap isn't the only one that doesn't. I am sure if you look hard enough could find something with a flaw but I have broken loose thousands of tuff fasteners (not your torgued perfect pansy azz air craft) tuff stuff with hammers and torches with a handful of china end wrenches.
I am not encouraging anyone to use something that don't work but there are millions of difficult bolts turned daily with Stanely tools.

 

[espyking83]

As I stated I'm looking for a ratchet set right now. Unfortunately when I moved I had to sell most of my tools for space and the funds to move. Now I have the money to start replacing. First thing is my 3/8 ratchet set that was one thing I kept but was stolen out of my jeep

The best ratchets I have used for automotive stuff that I have seen are Japanese, koken in particular. Koken has almost non-existent back drag and a ridiculously small profile. Chrome is top notch and so is comfort. Dependability is up in the air, I do not break crusty bolts loose with any pricy ratchet. Warranty will be more time consuming for obvious reasons. A good stiff and rugged lower tooth count ratchet can be bought from Proto and Cornwell. Simple and very dependable. Higher teeth count is pretty much a coinflip. Snap On industrial brands are a fantastic value, as well as Armstrong 88's.


Sockets are between SK and Koken for 3/8 and 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 are all between SO, Wright, and Proto. Never cared for 1/2 or larger SK sockets unless they're SK Wayne. Dont break the bank on sockets, to this day I have never ever broken one, and I have used chromes on impacts. Purchase should be on wall thickness and socket shape, as well as desired number of points. SK has never let me down in any category. My USA Bahcos are great, and can still be found for ridiculous prices on Ebay.

 

[Herod]

Nobody goes out of their way to hate on your tools, you are obviously a pompous and pretentious person with abstract self esteem issues.

Your initial post in this thread gave the impression that you are in fact pretentious, hence, why I responded the way I did.

Bro.......you wanna see pompous and pretentious with self-esteem issues........?

What's all that **** at the bottom of your posts?

Tag line, sig line, signature, whatever they call it.....

What is that?

 

[espyking83]

Bro.......you wanna see pompous and pretentious with self-esteem issues........?

What's all that **** at the bottom of your posts?

Tag line, sig line, signature, whatever they call it.....

What is that?

Are you implying that I have self esteem issues because I include the platforms that I have worked on in my sig that is posted on a forum centered around tools?


Go ahead, Boo. Profile me.

 

[espyking83]

That reminds me, I have several more to add to the list.

 

[Toyota mechanic]

The daily Snap-on thread huh! ??? lol

I don't have much to do with Snap-on tools anymore, due to reasons I experienced.

I do support anyone who does love Snap-on, don't matter to me.

Use what you want!

 

[Herod]

Here's my "sig line".......

ME... (HEROD)... Has picked up dogshit, knows what a hammer is.


There....you think you're better than me? /sarcasm

 

[sberry]

I am sure air craft guys are tuff and got their problems but its not much of a proving ground for tools. Its probably a trade off led by oilfield roustabouts in a 10 yr old truck followed by farm workers in a 20 yrs old truck. Contruction company gang boxes are another spot you can get a feel for what actually works.
It wouldn't always be my pick but the reality follows some sincere testimony I have heard here without a tear jerker of sorts. The worst socket set ever is a metric deep sold by HF, I concur, the Sears ratchet and the line wrench are a fail as is the ratchet from a flea 3/4 drive set while most of the sockets really live on,,,, I have seen some of those used brutally day in and out, inch and a half chrome on a heavy air gun by some dipstick.
Pliers have been a weak spot, the cutters usually and its hard to improve on a Channelock, a Vise grip is unique.
On autos only suspension types really put repetitive strain, maybe some engine guys can put a few tools to the test over decades but most tools sit in a box, its not the same as auto plant with hundreds of cycles in a shift or builder crew using same 3/4 sockets, often for years.
A good share of the worlds equipment is maintained with HF level tools, they aint all on here babbling about it.
Now an airplane mechanic is likely to have a different perspective, they are sposed to be a bunch of fussy types by nature but I suspect a career choice may tint the view by coming to the conclusion all China wrenches are faulty and will strip aircraft bolts,,, my experience tells me different.

 

[dalehsc]

Here in the east coast of Canada,I think Snap On is the only tool truck on the road. As far as the aftermarket parts salesmen,there are tools available from them;Westward,Gearwrench,Ultrapro,OTC,Lisle.

Snap On,for me, has a great tool,but pricey. For a regular everyday socket or wrench I would not buy Snap On. I'm needing a 6" T20 bit for my Dewalt driver to take out steering column cover screws,and ordered one from Snap On. I looked at Lowes the other day and the only bit available was the T25 in a 6" version.

I have the 12/14mm,13/15mm 6 point box end wrenches from Snap On,that are irreplaceable for me.I don't know of any one else who makes these wrenches.

My son is in the trade and I encourage him to look at other options,for general tools.....but sometimes you want/need something unique that only the tool truck has.

It's humorous to me how guys bash Snap On/Taiwan/China/USA it's still a free country,buy what you want.....have a problem or you want to praise praise a certain tool...let us know!

 

[sberry]

Snap is a smart company, they do what they should. There is nothing wrong with the tools, they are the best, they should be.

I have the 12/14mm,13/15mm 6 point box end wrenches from Snap On,that are irreplaceable for me.I don't know of any one else who makes these wrenches.

I agree and have a few in the common sizes we deal with also, like the long handle.
I agree some of them might well balance a tool set. Once you get to bigger sizes fit is less of an issue.

 

[espyking83]

oops

 

[pi_guy]

The bulk of the hate towards Snap on is picked up here, in the real world never noticed it. Often I show the new stuff I have to other race teams, mostly they desire my Miller welder.
I was under a tent with a team running three cars I was running a forth one which he had transported to the track. He had outfitted the three teams with identical HF tool sets.
Every time they ran into a difficult bolt or fastener in a tough to reach spot they came poking about my toolbox to see if they could find a better solution. Often it was a 1/4 flex socket on an extension which saved time as you did not have to remove parts. The other tool often borrowed is my die makers pry bar, which is a non snap on item. But the real test of a tool is how many times it get used.

 

[espyking83]

I am sure air craft guys are tuff and got their problems but its not much of a proving ground for tools. Its probably a trade off led by oilfield roustabouts in a 10 yr old truck followed by farm workers in a 20 yrs old truck. Contruction company gang boxes are another spot you can get a feel for what actually works.
It wouldn't always be my pick but the reality follows some sincere testimony I have heard here without a tear jerker of sorts. The worst socket set ever is a metric deep sold by HF, I concur, the Sears ratchet and the line wrench are a fail as is the ratchet from a flea 3/4 drive set while most of the sockets really live on,,,, I have seen some of those used brutally day in and out, inch and a half chrome on a heavy air gun by some dipstick.
Pliers have been a weak spot, the cutters usually and its hard to improve on a Channelock, a Vise grip is unique.
On autos only suspension types really put repetitive strain, maybe some engine guys can put a few tools to the test over decades but most tools sit in a box, its not the same as auto plant with hundreds of cycles in a shift or builder crew using same 3/4 sockets, often for years.
A good share of the worlds equipment is maintained with HF level tools, they aint all on here babbling about it.
Now an airplane mechanic is likely to have a different perspective, they are sposed to be a bunch of fussy types by nature but I suspect a career choice may tint the view by coming to the conclusion all China wrenches are faulty and will strip aircraft bolts,,, my experience tells me different.

Name a trade that is more diverse and depends more on ingenuity... We do not get as dirty, but that is not to say we are less of a mechanic. Very few types of mechanics skill and quality are held to as high of a standard. I admit that ruggedness is not a trait that we look for in our tools, as we do not have to deal with the large fasteners and crud that an auto or heavy equipment mechanic does.


Im proud of what I do. I do general mechanical, suspension, avionics, sheet metal, hydraulics, paint/body, and composite work. I cant think of another mechanic type that is more skilled.

That is not boasting, that is pride.

Well ****, maybe it is boasting.

Cheers all the same, handshakes all around.

 

[T45]

OP - what is your budget for tools over the next 3-4 years? You need to look at that and also how far you want to push that budget in terms of range.

A couple of decent ratchets will set you back $200-300 for 3/8

If you have a budget of a couple grand, thisi s maybe 10 percent and fine.

If your budget is $500 or even $1000, then its pretty questionable.

That being said, 1000-300=700 and you can still get a lot of tools with that.

$100 = 10 pairs of tekton pliers
$100 = 6 sets of craftsman sockets
$100 = VIM master sets in hex, torx, and phillips/flatblade
$100 = craftsman industrial 6mm to 32mm set (missing 24 )
$100 = 12 piece usa punch and chisel set + 3 hammers
$100 = complete gear-wrench set
$50 = great set of screwdrivers from germany
$50 = NOS sets of craftsmand extensions + adapters
$50 = basic box from craftsman or husky

So I would throw something like that together for whatever your needs are. You could easily blow through a $1,000 budget by sneezing anywhere near a snap on catalog. The 40 piece hex/torx driver set is $900 alone vs $100 for VIM. So you need to prioritize what moves the needle most out of your total tool Kit/budget.

Good luck!

 

[Herod]

Im proud of what I do. I do general mechanical, suspension, avionics, sheet metal, hydraulics, paint/body, and composite work. I cant think of another mechanic type that is more skilled.

That is not boasting, that is pride.

Well ****, maybe it is boasting.

Cheers all the same, handshakes all around.

The big "I AM" ^^ ^^ ^^


Gardeners are proud of the grass they cut. Justin beibers is proud to be gay. Means nothing.

 

[sberry]

I think a lot of people work hard to get the stuff and feel cheated when years later good stuff become so cheap its a gift. I feel robbed by my first VCR and even then I wasnt early, last one I bought cost 10% and lasted 3x as long.
I find it hard to toss and some problems are repetitive. We have fixed the problems on expensive and some on cheap junk that has now lasted, we found if we replaced we had same problem, did some forensics, pick a different model etc.
I paid 75$ in 1980 for 6 snap wrenches from an arrogant **** I had to chase down with 20's hanging out of my pockets,,, now you can go to Walmarts and buy 12 full polish long handle for what,,, 25 retail, maybe less from HF with their Pro line vbut about what the sales tax in my state would be at retail from the truck. hahahaha

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Name a trade that is more diverse and depends more on ingenuity... We do not get as dirty, but that is not to say we are less of a mechanic. Very few types of mechanics skill and quality are held to as high of a standard. I admit that ruggedness is not a trait that we look for in our tools, as we do not have to deal with the large fasteners and crud that an auto mechanic does.

That's why auto mechanics (especially us in the rust belt), have very high standards for tools. Rounding bolts/nuts are normal. Torches to remove 14mm bolts, is normal. Vice grips and pipe wrenches are a normal tools for alignment work. Studs become toothpicks, strut mounts rot through and shear, and many fasteners are neither metric nor SAE.


I would agree that aircraft mechanics have a very tough job, and I imagine actually getting access to the work is an issue, in a tightly designed product. I, personally, would not want to be an aircraft mechanic. I'm comfortable with the specific challenges of my profession, and believe solving said challenges is the best fit for my mind, body, and physical limitations/pain.

However, I would not say a low rust/corrosion/debris filled environment is much of a test for tools. A 12 point honda head bolt generally has a much easier time breaking free, compared to a rust 12 point bolt on a drive-shaft. Both would have similar torque values. One would be bathed in oil, and generally protected. The other... well.... I wouldn't even imagine doing the job without a torch.




I own snap-on tools. I own several dozen other brands as well. I love all my tools, and they're all valuable in their own way. Shave all the brands off my tools, and I'd be happy with them still. Well, as long as you left the size graduations.

 

[sberry]

You ever blind taste test anyone with pop and especially beer. Even people drink the stuff all the time are wrong about 75% between coke and Pepsi,,, ha, let alone Bud and Miller and Stevie Wonder couldn't tell the brand of wrench either, neither could most people that owned them.

 

[espyking83]

The big "I AM" ^^ ^^ ^^


Gardeners are proud of the grass they cut. Justin beibers is proud to be gay. Means nothing.

You sit and wait to chime in, you'd think it would be of substance.

 

[espyking83]

That's why auto mechanics (especially us in the rust belt), have very high standards for tools. Rounding bolts/nuts are normal. Torches to remove 14mm bolts, is normal. Vice grips and pipe wrenches are a normal tools for alignment work. Studs become toothpicks, strut mounts rot through and shear, and many fasteners are neither metric nor SAE.


I would agree that aircraft mechanics have a very tough job, and I imagine actually getting access to the work is an issue, in a tightly designed product. I, personally, would not want to be an aircraft mechanic. I'm comfortable with the specific challenges of my profession, and believe solving said challenges is the best fit for my mind, body, and physical limitations/pain.

However, I would not say a low rust/corrosion/debris filled environment is much of a test for tools. A 12 point honda head bolt generally has a much easier time breaking free, compared to a rust 12 point bolt on a drive-shaft. Both would have similar torque values. One would be bathed in oil, and generally protected. The other... well.... I wouldn't even imagine doing the job without a torch.




I own snap-on tools. I own several dozen other brands as well. I love all my tools, and they're all valuable in their own way. Shave all the brands off my tools, and I'd be happy with them still. Well, as long as you left the size graduations.

It's a large part of it, but there is more to design than the actual grip to the fastener. Getting to the fastener can be quite a challenge, as well as the effort to get it loose or tightened. But yes, corrosion certainly does test the performance of tools. I deal with it to an extent in aviation, and I have seen what challenges it poses working on my Jeep.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

It's a large part of it, but there is more to design than the actual grip to the fastener. Getting to the fastener can be quite a challenge, as well as the effort to get it loose or tightened. But yes, corrosion certainly does test the performance of tools. I deal with it to an extent in aviation, and I have seen what challenges it poses working on my Jeep.

Jeep owner, my bad; you live in the world of corrosion and rounded torx bolts.



My sympathies.

 

[sberry]

Name a trade that is more diverse and depends more on ingenuity... We do not get as dirty, but that is not to say we are less of a mechanic. Very few types of mechanics skill and quality are held to as high of a standard. I admit that ruggedness is not a trait that we look for in our tools, as we do not have to deal with the large fasteners and crud that an auto or heavy equipment mechanic does.


Im proud of what I do. I do general mechanical, suspension, avionics, sheet metal, hydraulics, paint/body, and composite work. I cant think of another mechanic type that is more skilled.

This is my point exactly,,, totally different issue than the age old question,,, how good is the tool? Not actually subjective at all, really none. So you havnt actually used a china end wrench on an air craft fastener then to see if it really did strip it,,, if I under stand this its pretty much speculation?

 

[joel63]

Happy wrenching to all, no matter which brand of tools you use.

Sweet, succinct, and rational.^^^^^^^^^

And Happy Thanksgiving to all.