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Surprisingly reasonable priced snap on tools?

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diesel research

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I think a lot of people price check one or 2 items from snap on and then swear off the entire brand as overpriced.

What I want to do is compile a list of tools available from SO-online (not CL, ebay, classifieds or dealer specials) that surprisingly don't have the typical markup. Many of them are still a bit more expensive, but maybe not terribly high compared to other high quality tools sourced from reputable vendor.

MUST have a link and/or pn.

Here are a few that surprised me

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...2&group_ID=689&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
6 in 1 screw driver

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1669&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
tread depth gauge

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/searchLN.asp?partno=SPP744
ball/spring detent tool for pearhead ratchet disassembly

Lots of other little odds and ends that do not have the gold plated price tag.
 
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diesel research

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Toolhorder said:
They do? I think of it like how much money can this make me....
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There are flat rate professionals, there are hourly pros, there are salaried pros, their are DIY'ers.

Some are getting paid by their tools, some are getting paid either way, others aren't getting paid.

All of them are going to have a different perspective of value. Some have a time crunch or at all cost mentality, others do not have the same time crunch.
 
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fr0mastaj

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I just bought my first snap-on tool! that ratchet detent thing.... I hope the disease doesnt start from the $0.94 piece of metal.
 
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diesel research

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fr0mastaj said:
I just bought my first snap-on tool! that ratchet detent thing.... I hope the disease doesnt start from the $0.94 piece of metal.
Click to expand...

That is the point of this thread, to identify such hidden pieces. When I had a current price list it was a bit easier, but these days I only seem to find them when someone else links them.
 
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gj67stang

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fr0mastaj said:
I just bought my first snap-on tool! that ratchet detent thing.... I hope the disease doesnt start from the $0.94 piece of metal.
Click to expand...

It does. That's where I started and the illness actually advanced quite fast. Start preparing yourself and your loved ones for what to expect.
 
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MaximRecoil

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diesel research said:
Here are a few that surprised me

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...2&group_ID=689&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
6 in 1 screw driver
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just ordered one of those last night and I was very surprised at the price. It is especially good when you consider that you get free shipping (which makes the price comparable to about $10 or $12 from typical online stores that don't offer free shipping).

And what made it especially nice is that I had specifically been looking for a version of that tool made by a good American company, as I've had a cheap no-name one for the past 15 years (with a Snap-on Contour knockoff handle ... it has worked surprisingly well though) and it is a very good design for a multi-screwdriver. They are strong and don't fall apart when using them because they are held together with ball detents (rather than e.g. magnets). They also have nice hollow ground tips for the flat blades, rather than typical wedge-shaped tips like are on most dedicated screwdrivers. This makes them work well for many gun screws (such as the grip screws on a Colt Government Model).
 
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84bimmer

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bluecomputer said:
I agree with the free shipping it was cheaper then harbor freight.
Click to expand...

That is a surprisingly low price on those rails, for SO. I wouldn't say they're the best though. Maybe the best value. I really like the gearwrench socket rails, but if you buy them individually they are around $10 each.
 
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DavidB

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The rethreading taps and dies are pretty cheap from them as well. I picked up a Craftsman rethreading kit once on clearance because it was missing a piece. Snap-On and Craftsman's rethreading kits are made by a company called Kastar. (feel free to check) I was able to order the missing piece from Snap-On for about $3 which is pretty good since it was on clearance for about $15 off.
 
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diesel research

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DavidB said:
The rethreading taps and dies are pretty cheap from them as well. I picked up a Craftsman rethreading kit once on clearance because it was missing a piece. Snap-On and Craftsman's rethreading kits are made by a company called Kastar. (feel free to check) I was able to order the missing piece from Snap-On for about $3 which is pretty good since it was on clearance for about $15 off.
Click to expand...

Links/model numbers please. :D
 
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DavidB

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diesel research

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84bimmer said:
I've got that one Mac branded. The packaging was def Lisle style. Cost was the same, I think. I haven't found it real useful though. You?
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I have needed something like that a few times, but didn't have one available. Nissans came to mind, and likely anything else that use those pain in the *** style connectors. A few nights ago I needed it again, because some *** crammed a high beam bulb into a low beam connector, and I needed something to pry the tabs away. Mean while, I have been making due with less.
 
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Bull

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I thought this thread might take off more quickly. I just searched for it to get the part numbers for the ratchet tool and 4-in-1 screwdriver. I already needed the tread depth gauge that the OP listed anyway, and the other items are so inexpensive, I might as well add them to the cart.

This will be my first purchase from the SO website ever; first new stuff from SO of any kind. My wife ordered me what she thought was a SO ratchet for Valentine's once, but it turned out to be a Blue Point (poor gal didn't know the difference!)

Really, that 4-in-1 driver seems a great deal. I'm excited, because I don't really have a go-to driver like that.

Thanks to the OP for a great thread idea. I hope others have tools to add to the list, because most often SO seems to pricey for poor shmucks like me.
 
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diesel research

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There really isn't a set price limit for this quest, although I do believe most would have expected those pliers to be a good bit more.

Hopefully others use the same level of discretion and chime in with more examples. Once the price gets higher you will have a less surprised result. The rails and 6in1 screw driver probably surprise me the most.
 
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fr0mastaj

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Im trying to decide between the SO 10in1 and 4in1... decisions decisions...
 
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matthew

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Well, if Blue Point items that appear to be decent deals count, I thought the Blue Point Triple Square Bit Set might qualify as a reasonably cost effective choice. Might end up buying those next time I need XZN's...

I also though the feeler gauges are reasonably cost effective.
 
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afazz

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I'm not sure if VIM is the OEM on those XZN/Triple Squares, but they sure look similar. The VIM sets go for $30-40 on Amazon, the Snap-on is still a good deal though.

My SDDD41 arrived today, I like it! If this helps anyone's decision, it has the same size hex on both sides. Some other brands have a 1/4" hex bit and a 5/16" hex bit so you can use it as a nutdriver as well, hence the 4- vs. 6-in-1 description. I don't have calipers here at home so I can't measure it exactly, it appears to be 5/16"
 
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Bull

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afazz said:
My SDDD41 arrived today, I like it! If this helps anyone's decision, it has the same size hex on both sides. Some other brands have a 1/4" hex bit and a 5/16" hex bit so you can use it as a nutdriver as well, hence the 4- vs. 6-in-1 description. I don't have calipers here at home so I can't measure it exactly, it appears to be 5/16"
Click to expand...

This is confirmed tonight by a member in another thread.

Mine was ordered last night so is on its way. The lack of a 1/4 driver wont bother me, I don't think. Time will tell.
 
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afazz

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I just found his post, very solid review! Mine also does not say USA anywhere, it's the new-style script.
 
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MaximRecoil

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afazz said:
I'm not sure if VIM is the OEM on those XZN/Triple Squares, but they sure look similar. The VIM sets go for $30-40 on Amazon, the Snap-on is still a good deal though.

My SDDD41 arrived today, I like it! If this helps anyone's decision, it has the same size hex on both sides. Some other brands have a 1/4" hex bit and a 5/16" hex bit so you can use it as a nutdriver as well, hence the 4- vs. 6-in-1 description. I don't have calipers here at home so I can't measure it exactly, it appears to be 5/16"
Click to expand...

Most of them have always been called "4-in-1", even though they have the capability of working as a 1/4" and 5/16" nut driver. I suspect the reason for this is because those hex openings aren't built like a dedicated nut driver; i.e., they are very thin-walled compared to a real nut driver. The companies probably don't want to take responsibility for the results of people using them as nut drivers when they weren't designed to be nut drivers (though they can hold up to light-duty use as a nut driver), thus they call them "4-in-1", "4" being the number of functions it was specifically designed for.

The Snap-on one would be a 5-in-1 if including the nut driver function, 4-in-1 otherwise.
 
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hammergodthor

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'Nother vote for the 4-in-1 screwdriver, I've had one for 2 years now, I use it all the time. The tips are much more durable than I thought they would be. My good priced Snap-On items:

Feeler gauge for $14.05:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=9512&group_ID=1123&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
20600.JPG


Crowfoot wrench holder for $4.55:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=780&group_ID=273&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
17096.JPG


Adjustable oil filter wrench for $15.85:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=90736&group_ID=1534&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
50386.JPG
 
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