Spending Money with Cornwell

[Zewnten]

Work announced they're going to give the mechanics $2000/yr to spend on the cornwell truck, and only on the cornwell truck. Personally I don't care for cornwell but as it's free money I might as well use it. So my questions are:

How do their 1/4 universal sockets compare to snap-on's?

What else to get from them? I have a good selection of tools already so basics are covered.

 

[Tuc04]

They have some double flex ratcheting wrenches that come in handy. They also have some stubby flex ratcheting wrenches that are good for tight areas.

 

[Ton ton]

I have heard that their wrenches are pretty decent. No real world experience though.

 

[Airframer]

I like their wrenches and ratchets

 

[2ndGearRubber]

They have some double flex ratcheting wrenches that come in handy. They also have some stubby flex ratcheting wrenches that are good for tight areas.

I also like the double flex joint ratcheting wrenches. More useful than youd think. They rebrand some schley tools stuff, I'd get the shouldered 12 point crowsfeet too. Cornwell locally sells Milwaukee cordless tools.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Last I heard, they were "back ordered on everything" according to the regional manager. You might need a full year to spend $2000 with those clowns, based on my last exchange with them. Hope your regional guys have their **** together, but don't be surprised if nothing is in stock on the trucks and nobody knows when they can get anything in.

I do like their ratchets, the 30-tooth variety, not the newer stuff. Rock solid design, for whatever that's worth. Unfortunately these were on the **** list of things back ordered indefinitely at the time, so you may be out of luck on that score.

 

[Fedwrench]

Unfortunately, I don't think Cornwell is a segment leader in anything. Some of the nicest tool dealers I ever used over the years were Cornwell dealers though. Cornwell actually makes only a small fraction of what they sell. they do have some of the older KABO made, SK G Pro ratcheting wrench designs under their blue powerline like the short flex double box end set.

 

[Zewnten]

The double ended ratcheting flex I was planning to buy in the icon brand, easier warranty. Already have a full set of 12 pt crowsfoot from bonney. So far I'm thinking the Wilton unbreakable sledges and hammers and impact sockets, and Milwaukee tools.

No cornwell isn't the leader in anything as I've seen, all their core line of tools looks the same as it did in the old catalogs.

 

[dsaabm]

I like their 30 tooth ratchets and the squared soft-grip stuff like screwdrivers, prybars, ratchets, I also like their twisted adjustables, air tools and service carts.

The kabo taiwan made ratcheting wrenches are nice, they sell a double box one standard one ratcheting normal length wrench set.

They have full supplemental tool catalog with the same stuff everyone sells and milwaukee stuff. Pretty easy to spend $2k

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I like their 30 tooth ratchets and the squared soft-grip stuff like screwdrivers, prybars, ratchets, I also like their twisted adjustables, air tools and service carts.

The kabo taiwan made ratcheting wrenches are nice, they sell a double box one standard one ratcheting normal length wrench set.

They have full supplemental tool catalog with the same stuff everyone sells and milwaukee stuff. Pretty easy to spend $2k

In the situation of the OP, this is basically how I see it. If the company or whoever is footing the bill, one can be more flexible about overpaying for rebrands. FWIW sometimes the rebrand is actually a better value if the distributor will handle warranty on the OEMs behalf. I'd still bargain shop via the flyers, but if it's 2k worth of "free" money, even if a single ratchet was 2k it would be palatable.

Now, for cornwell specifically, looking as a guy with a full set of basic hand tools - I'd be looking at less often used items, and replacing tools already owned (when worn out) with warranty-able versions. For instance, got an inductive heater? Buy one through them. If your pliers wear out, repurchase cornwell versions to then have a warranty. Costs you nothing out of pocket, now you have unlimited warranty tools.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

Free tools are free tools, enjoy! I like their sockets and combination wrenches well enough.

 

[ChefRex]

While I have only had one Corwell dealer in all my years and the guy was weird I'm sure I could spend 2K in a year if I wasn't paying.
What do you do that your employer gives you free tools?

 

[magicrat]

Just get on the truck and I’m sure u will find things u need. +1 on those double flex wrenches. More than I want to spend on a wrench set but if they were free, well u know

 

[Zewnten]

What do you do that your employer gives you free tools?

Heavy equipment mechanic for a very large metal recycle facility, corporate fights raises so this is their compromise and then there's no excuse for a mechanic not having tools so win-win I guess.

They have full supplemental tool catalog with the same stuff everyone sells and milwaukee stuff. Pretty easy to spend $2k

My previous cornwell dealer never showed me this catalog, only snap on. I'll ask this guy.

In the situation of the OP, this is basically how I see it. If the company or whoever is footing the bill, one can be more flexible about overpaying for rebrands. FWIW sometimes the rebrand is actually a better value if the distributor will handle warranty on the OEMs behalf. I'd still bargain shop via the flyers, but if it's 2k worth of "free" money, even if a single ratchet was 2k it would be palatable.

Now, for cornwell specifically, looking as a guy with a full set of basic hand tools - I'd be looking at less often used items, and replacing tools already owned (when worn out) with warranty-able versions. For instance, got an inductive heater? Buy one through them. If your pliers wear out, repurchase cornwell versions to then have a warranty. Costs you nothing out of pocket, now you have unlimited warranty tools.

Can't say I've really had much to warranty that actually had a worthwhile time to do so. Everything has crapped out just after the warranty ended, thanks snap-on re-chargeable lights, haha.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

Cornwell has some exclusive tools such as spline wrenches. I would look at those first if I needed them to spend dedicated money.

 

[Buckgnarly]

How the hell did it wind up JUST Cornwell? Negotiators "F U " to your union?..haha! Damn, they should have given you a good tool truck!

 

[KnurledNut]

Cornwell doent get much love here after Softtails negative experience and their limited elusive distribution and lack of e-sales.

While not really shining in any category, their catalog is quite extensive and on par with their competition.

Some of the things ive found worthy of praise are:

Prybars. Not crazy about the squarish handles for screwdrivers, but I like them on their bars.

Stubby combination ratcheting wrenches. I like the modified open end grip especially on the small pesky sizes like 8mm.

Extra long combos and extra long zero offset double box ends.

100T 1/4” swivel ratchet.

Deep spring loaded magnetic sockets.

1/4 impact swivels are about as good as anything out there.
I have some 1/4 universals but they havent gotten enough use to give an opinion.

Plenty of other CW goodies out there that i could easily spend two grand on.
Toolboxes, scanners, jacks, Redback boots...
Be sure to show us what you get!

 

[dstblj52]

How the hell did it wind up JUST Cornwell? Negotiators "F U " to your union?..haha! Damn, they should have given you a good tool truck!

first guy willing to jump through the corporate mess i guess or mixing vendors without authorized purchases can be a headache

 

[Zewnten]

Matco's territory apparently stops across the street and the Snap-on guy is an ***; older mechanic passed after spending over $100,000 on the truck and a week after the Snap-on guy asks if it would be ok to repo $200 worth of stuff from his box. So cornwell it is.

 

[mikebaker1129]

The Witte rebranded screwdrivers & pick sets, 30 tooth ratchets , and I like the Cornwell USA made sockets.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Matco's territory apparently stops across the street and the Snap-on guy is an ***; older mechanic passed after spending over $100,000 on the truck and a week after the Snap-on guy asks if it would be ok to repo $200 worth of stuff from his box. So cornwell it is.

Yep. F that guy and the horse he rode in on. I want to be able to sleep at night, stuff like that would keep me up worrying about eternal damnation.

 

[dr_clyde]

We have a Cornwell guy in our town, but I've really yet to find a good reason to flag him down. I already have most of the stuff I'd buy from him if I was starting fresh and I'm not sure I want another tool dealer stopping by for no reason other than to sell me stuff I don't need.

From my limited experience with their stuff, the hardline tools are just fine and comparable to Snap On or Mac. I wouldn't really hesitate to get wrenches, sockets/drive tools, hammers, prybars and chisels or other basic hand tools. I probably would shy away from Cornwell branded power tools and rebadged stuff, they're not a good value off any truck.

Their boxes are excellent. They own Kennedy as well, and their boxes are one of the few things they make in house. If they'll let you put the 2k toward a box or cart or something that's not a bad way to go.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

What do you do that your employer gives you free tools?

If your employer is giving you 2k a year to spend on tools, that's essentially free tools. It has no cost to the employee, directly. Yeah we can play semantics that it's built into the benefits package and that's part of your pay, etc.

Our cornwell guy folded up since I posted in this thread last. My employer sure as hell doesnt give me any tool money.

 

[driftpin]

My last Cornwell truck purchase. I just saw the local truck today coming back from the vet's.

 

[Ton ton]

What do you do that your employer gives you free tools?

Welcome to garage journal, sir.

 

[Zewnten]

Heavy equipment mechanic. Only one place that did not offer any, next lowest was $500. Generally around $1500/yr.