Sonic Tools

[RaceDeck1]

My wife thought I would like a nice little tool box for the RD garage... She went big! The Sonic Tools and full box setups are awesome. I just love the organized foam inserts for all of the tool. The are professional grade with a lifetime warranty too!

 

[Ton ton]

Nice garage.

 

[Fedwrench]

She's a keeper

The foam sets eat up a lot of space and prevent you from tailoring your tools to your needs. I have more than a few Sonic tools but, they just don't wow me that much.

Great looking garage!!!

 

[woody 73]

Does your wife have a Sister ?

Do you like your new sonic Tools?

 

[LXCam]

I've checked out there big boy set up at SEMA a few times, pretty impressive looking and really clean. And speaking of clean, the new building is looking pretty sharp.

 

[RaceDeck1]

What I like about Sonic Tools are a few things. The tools are of good quality, they for sure 'make me' put things back where they belong and can find again ( still have not lost a 10mm) and most importantly... great customer service. A few friends have them as well and any issue was taken care of asap and replacement without question.

 

[STEVE MECHANIC]

Amazing garage

 

[59_burst]

Would love to see more images of the setup. Did you guys buy these outright or is this a trade deal with Sonic? I know they are currently getting units out to "influencers" to keep interest up. Given the current worldwide shipping crisis not sure the "Tools in a box" vendors like Teng, Sonic, Boxo etc. can compete as their landed costs have risen dramatically this year. For the price of one of the larger Sonic sets you can load up an Icon cab with Snap on stuff.

 

[Bagherra]

I like their setup and organization...in the aviation industry that is a plus!!

How are the tools though? They look pretty but do they hold up?

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Part of me loves the neat organization of everything with the foam inserts, but the other part of me realizes that it all falls apart the moment you need something that their toolset doesn't include or prefer a different variant of a tool they do provide. Even browsing through their most expensive sets, I don't think I could operate out of their toolbox for more than a few minutes without needing something from another toolbox without all the fancy foam inserts. That kind of defeats the purpose of any efficiency gains doesn't it? Plus my toolboxes are organized how I like them. I don't think it would take me any longer to find a specific tool in my toolboxes than it would with their foam insert system.

Now if I was a business purchasing toolboxes for my employees or like a manufacturer speccing toolboxes for technicians working on my equipment - I could see the value. Assuming they'd let larger customers customize the foam inserts and tool selection according to what they need.

Another thing to consider - I'm sure their tools are all fine, but Sonic is not a name that comes up at all when we're discussing who makes the best of any particular tool. People on here are willing to go to extreme lengths to find the best tools but there's no one claiming that Sonic makes the best anything or people trying to get ahold of their stuff. To me the difference between average tools and the best is big enough in a lot of categories that I don't think I'd want to be forced into using a mediocre tool. I've literally spent days fighting with something with mediocre tools until I gave up and tried a better tool and it was a few minute job with a lot less effort.

 

[rsk4today]

These posts read an awful lot like advertisements.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Part of me loves the neat organization of everything with the foam inserts, but the other part of me realizes that it all falls apart the moment you need something that their toolset doesn't include or prefer a different variant of a tool they do provide. Even browsing through their most expensive sets, I don't think I could operate out of their toolbox for more than a few minutes without needing something from another toolbox without all the fancy foam inserts. That kind of defeats the purpose of any efficiency gains doesn't it? Plus my toolboxes are organized how I like them. I don't think it would take me any longer to find a specific tool in my toolboxes than it would with their foam insert system.

Now if I was a business purchasing toolboxes for my employees or like a manufacturer speccing toolboxes for technicians working on my equipment - I could see the value. Assuming they'd let larger customers customize the foam inserts and tool selection according to what they need.

Another thing to consider - I'm sure their tools are all fine, but Sonic is not a name that comes up at all when we're discussing who makes the best of any particular tool. People on here are willing to go to extreme lengths to find the best tools but there's no one claiming that Sonic makes the best anything or people trying to get ahold of their stuff. To me the difference between average tools and the best is big enough in a lot of categories that I don't think I'd want to be forced into using a mediocre tool. I've literally spent days fighting with something with mediocre tools until I gave up and tried a better tool and it was a few minute job with a lot less effort.

One of the major reasons for foam inserts is to prevent foreign object debris. In other words, you know when a socket or screwdriver is missing, so you go find it. Otherwise it could get sucked into an intake and cause catastrophic failure as well as injury and death. This is why aviation mechanics use such a setup.

But yeah, it does have its own drawbacks, and often is more of a marketing tool, as it is pretty and "encourages" you to buy more tool boxes from them.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

One of the major reasons for foam inserts is to prevent foreign object debris. In other words, you know when a socket or screwdriver is missing, so you go find it. Otherwise it could get sucked into an intake and cause catastrophic failure as well as injury and death. This is why aviation mechanics use such a setup.

But yeah, it does have its own drawbacks, and often is more of a marketing tool, as it is pretty and "encourages" you to buy more tool boxes from them.

That makes sense. I'm not in the turning wrenches department but I know we use the SnapOn ATC system at my workplace. Though for us it had less to do with FOD damage and more to do with an absolutely incredible amount of tools 'disappearing' that it made sense from a cost savings perspective to spend something like $10 million on the setup. Also saved us a ton of floor space since the previous loss management approach was to have 1 toolbox/technician and track who constantly needed replacements.

 

[Walkers]

Nice! and I thought they only made milkshakes and hamburgers.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think the area sonic may be a segment leader is in their fixed storage set ups.

 

[Bighead38]

These posts read an awful lot like advertisements.

Yeah they seem a little odd.

 

[59_burst]

The few tool sets we do have here that came in lovely fitted foam trays are a greasy mess right now- repeated wiping with brake cleaner have eroded the edges of the foam so we gave up and tossed them. Perhaps in an environment where you meticulously clean your tools after every usage the foam works, but for day to day auto repair stuff I can't see how it's practical.

 

[Andres26tnt]

the only good thing sonic has is some good toolboxes that's about it. the tools are generic Taiwan/china made to look like german made tools.

 

[tez929rr]

Part of me loves the neat organization of everything with the foam inserts, but the other part of me realizes that it all falls apart the moment you need something that their toolset doesn't include or prefer a different variant of a tool they do provide. Even browsing through their most expensive sets, I don't think I could operate out of their toolbox for more than a few minutes without needing something from another toolbox without all the fancy foam inserts. That kind of defeats the purpose of any efficiency gains doesn't it? Plus my toolboxes are organized how I like them. I don't think it would take me any longer to find a specific tool in my toolboxes than it would with their foam insert system.

That’s a great point. The foam inserts look so good - they are sort of seductive in the same way as those sets in nice blow molded cases - perfect until you are missing something. To each his own.

 

[Joe Piro]

I am not sure this will get any response seeing that it is a follow up to another thread.
However I was just watching a Youtube video by a guy named Tim Johnson at Shop Tool Reviews. The video was fairly recent from March 30,2020.
On a previous GJ post rsk4 said:

These posts read an awful lot like advertisements.

In the video they claimed that Sonic says they don't chrome plate their wrenches because it's plating, so it's another point of possible failure. All their wrenches are made from Chrome Vanadium for durability and corrosion resistance.
And Tim Johnson said in the video "They're made from chrome vanadium so they won't rust."
But in contradiction ==> Kootenay Joe on a forum called "allaboutpocketknives" said:
"Both chromium (0.8 - 1.1 %) vanadium (0.18 %) are ferrite stabilisers [that's the magnetic form of steel with body-centered structure]. This means that they make quenching of the steel much easier [you don't have to use oil, air is sufficient!] From this i would say that CV steel has no stainless properties." kj


So does anyone here actually know if sonic wrenches are not plated? If that were true I might just run out and buy some.
However I suspect Tim Johnson in the video may be like a lot of my friends and acquaintances who just don't pay attention to details... or maybe I'm wrong.
Perhaps it depends on the exact alloy and how it is treated, but I think it's simpler than that.

Does anyone here know?

 

[dnschmidt]

Why would anybody care? Sonic is a second tier Taiwanese brand. TOPTUL doesn't even acknowledge their existence. Compared to KABO, TOPTUL, Infar and many other top Taiwanese brands they fit into the same category as Ed China's Teng tools.

 

[Al Borland]

Screwdriver seems good

 

[snyder]

We have those large sonic preloaded boxes at my work. They remind me of those craftsman 1200 piece sets for $299.00 that were the rage back in the day.
500 pieces That you never needed and missing 500 pieces you need but no longer have room for.

 

[seber]

I am not sure this will get any response seeing that it is a follow up to another thread.
However I was just watching a Youtube video by a guy named Tim Johnson at Shop Tool Reviews. The video was fairly recent from March 30,2020.
On a previous GJ post rsk4 said:

In the video they claimed that Sonic says they don't chrome plate their wrenches because it's plating, so it's another point of possible failure. All their wrenches are made from Chrome Vanadium for durability and corrosion resistance.
And Tim Johnson said in the video "They're made from chrome vanadium so they won't rust."
But in contradiction ==> Kootenay Joe on a forum called "allaboutpocketknives" said:
"Both chromium (0.8 - 1.1 %) vanadium (0.18 %) are ferrite stabilisers [that's the magnetic form of steel with body-centered structure]. This means that they make quenching of the steel much easier [you don't have to use oil, air is sufficient!] From this i would say that CV steel has no stainless properties." kj



Perhaps it depends on the exact alloy and how it is treated, but I think it's simpler than that.

Does anyone here know?

Chrome vanadium is more rust resistant than carbon steel but does not contain enough chromium to make it stainless. It will rust almost as fast as any other tool steel. Even hardenable stainless will rust.

 

[The collector]

Why would anybody care? Sonic is a second tier Taiwanese brand. TOPTUL doesn't even acknowledge their existence. Compared to KABO, TOPTUL, Infar and many other top Taiwanese brands they fit into the same category as Ed China's Teng tools.

I thought teng was Swiss or something like that?

 

[Fedwrench]

I thought teng was Swiss or something like that?

Nope. Visit tengtoolsusa.com to get a feel for what they offer.

 

[The collector]

Nope. Visit tengtoolsusa.com to get a feel for what they offer.

I have don't like the ratchets that much i like the American round heads better but the sockets and wrenches looked interesting but never held one in my hand

 

[vssjim]

I thought teng was Swiss or something like that?

Swedish owned Taiwan Tools

 

[LostBo¥]

New to the forum. I own a set of Aviation Sonic tools in the S10 box. The box is great. Very sturdy. Good locking casters, lots of exterior storage and a decent top surface. This was my first professional set of tools for a new job as an A&P. After 6 months of nightshift, I have found a few things that sonic do well and a few that I look to other tools for. Namely, the thin combo open wrenches are great for those tight spaces in and around rigid lines. Also, the deep sockets have come in handy for certain jobs requiring reassembly of the nose cone spinner on some turbofan engines. Where the set drops the ball is the safety wire pliers (cheap), diagonal cutters, and pliers (a bit clunky) I now do most of the safety wire by hand and use long nose dikes and pliers made by snap-on.

 

[ecotec]

Screwdriver seems good

I thought of this, too.

Al, invent a Sonic Screwdriver bit driver.

 

[kngelv]

At work they bought those Sonic boxes with tools and inserts for the machine repair and toolmaker trades. They are just ok as far as tools. The boxes are definitely better than the tools. What I don't get is why a guy who touts his Made in USA flooring is on here bragging about Taiwan tools that as others have stated are second tier as far as Taiwan tools are concerned, all while showing a picture of his garage with the Ford GT and Shelby Mustang. I would expect Snap On, Williams, Proto or Wright in there. Poorly thought out shilling IMHO.

James

 

[ecotec]

At work they bought those Sonic boxes with tools and inserts for the machine repair and toolmaker trades. They are just ok as far as tools. The boxes are definitely better than the tools. What I don't get is why a guy who touts his Made in USA flooring is on here bragging about Taiwan tools that as others have stated are second tier as far as Taiwan tools are concerned, all while showing a picture of his garage with the Ford GT and Shelby Mustang. I would expect Snap On, Williams, Proto or Wright in there. Poorly thought out shilling IMHO.

James

Dude, his wife bought him them.