Stahlwille vs Snap On?

[Matt Irvine]

Currently, I have a set of flank drive plus' 10mm-24mm, 27mm.
But I have the chance to pick up a set of Stahlwille open box 14 (long combos) 7-32, reasonably cheap.
However to find the Stahlwilles I'd have to sell the Snap Ons, structurally what's the better tool?
I like the flank drive design, but overall I find the beans cut into my hands at high torque, will the Stahlwilles do this too?

 

[HairMetal]

The open box 14 has a nice rounded edge design and is thicker than the open box 13 so it's easier on the hands.

 

[tank4114]

i wouldnt sell the snap ons for them since there FD+
i know the ones your looking at there already on my watch list lol but at 24 bids already i think there might be a rush on them come closer to end
never understood people having a bidding war on ebay easier to just snipe

 

[JUNK-MAN]

It amazes me every time someone wants to trade in Snap-On tools for something of NO greater or ever equal value, any wrench you get will hurt your hand somehow there's not a wrench out there that is perfect. The Snap-On's might dig into your hand but these other wrenches will more than likely be uncomfortable in another way. Just saying, I'd keep the Snap-On's.

 

[dutchgray]

Buy one in a frequently used size and try it, no other way to know how they are going to feel to you. I don't own snap on but if I did I would not sell a set to replace with something else, save up and buy a second set if you want them.

 

[bimmer630]

why not just have both? I have snap on flank drive plus wrenches AND the stahlwille style 14 (i think thats what they call them.. its got a deep offset on the box end)

 

[T45]

^^^This.

Every design has its tradeoffs, there simply is no perfect design. Oftentimes the best answer is something counter-intuitive. Like buying a set of XBM snap on...which has much thiker beams than soexm and has the same offset as the open box 14...and then you have solutions for the time the SOEXM is better and for when you need thicker beams...etc.

Dont sell $X00's of dollars of you SO without spending $15 bucks on a single Stahlwille first tho. Amazon has singles and they are cheap enough. Even if used the snap on are a couple hundred dollars lot given the size spread you've got there.

 

[Dave455]

They're both great tools, but I wouldn't sell either in order to acquire the other!

The differences are quite minor!

If funds are really tight, save up and buy a couple of Stahlwille 14's in the sizes you use most!

Otherwise, stick with what you've got!

 

[JonnyMac]

My local tool shop is doing a gedore set 8-19 for seriously cheap money, $112 or there abouts. If you are interested in them I'm sure he would post them for a few dollars.

 

[bahcoswed]

I choose stahlwille before snap on The one thing why I take stahlwille is the quality! A open box 14 wrench are like new after 30 years of abuse, thats why I dont really like polished chrome! SO are equal quality i guess, but they arent new after some abuse

 

[Matt Irvine]

I have used the open box 13s, and liked them, I assume the 14s could only be an improvement?
I work in an industrial environment do beat up tools are a common, and big tools are needed

 

[Dave455]

The 14's are a bit longer, the heads are a bit stronger, and they have an offset ring/ box end!

They're a good choice for an industrial environment. As bahcoswed said above, the finish is really durable. Although they don't look special new, the finish seems to polish slightly with age and if you use them but don't abuse them, they almost seem to improve!

Hazet are good too! The finish is different (matte and polish mix, rather than satin) and they offer the offset ring on the short wrenches, the other way round to Stahlwille, but great tools as well!

Having said all that, I believe that Snap On make just about the best wrenches out there! Sure, Stahlwille might be marginally better suited to an industrial environment, but the relevant word is marginal! If you had a newish set of gorgeous Snap On, and you didn't want to get 'em dinked up on the shop floor, then sure, I'd suggest getting something without such a polish for the industrial use, and keeping the snappys for best! Stahlwille would be good, or Hazet, or Wright Stain finish, or a host of others!

But, every time you do a trade you take a bit of a hit! So if money is tight, and you've got to sell one set to fund the other, don't change what you have! If you want the Snap On back, and trade again, you'll end up with about half the wrenches you started with!

 

[tank4114]

$460 not that great of a deal pretty much what i thought would happen

 

[Matt Irvine]

Yeah I didn't even bother putting a bid in!


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