Wamsutta
Well-known member
Top 10 Snap-on Tools sold off of Jeremy's truck.
Five tools per video:
1.
2.
Five tools per video:
1.
2.
Top 10 Snap-on Tools
- Thread starter Wamsutta
- Start date
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Kind of surprised that a 1/4 drive metric semi deep socket set was his number one, most sold socket set though. 
Kind of surprised that a 1/4 drive metric semi deep socket set was his number one, most sold socket set though.
I deduce that’s because it’s fairly new. The purchasing habits of established techs is going to differ significantly from those of FNGs.
We should assume that the highest volume of basic items are sold through the SEP since most entry level jobs that have truck service won’t hire someone without a basic set of tools.
Thats why a lot of medium-large sized shops have apprentice and/or oil/tire positions for.
The last shop I was at, which I regret having to leave, actually paid up to 200$ for the oil/tire guys to buy tools as long as they showed up for the carquest classes when we had them.
Good idea considering a lot of the workforce is getting up there. Our techs were 65/49/44 and me being the youngest @ 29. Hell I was younger than 1/2 the tire/oil guys. Story is generally the same most places I've worked. Everyone that does anything besides oil/tire is generally 15-20 years older than me.
That is smart. Too few companies focus on developing their workforce or fostering loyalty.
That trend will be helpful for you. The only way pay is going to go up significantly is with a shortage of skilled people.
bwringer
Well-known member
Is there a thread somewhere on the top ten tools where it's actually worth paying Strap-On prices?
I mean, there are lots of way to turn nuts and bolts just as well for a lot less money, but what I'd like to know is when the supposedly higher quality actually makes a practical, real-world difference and is actually worth paying five to ten times as much.
For example, that swivel set at #9 and the wobble extensions at #8 ($205.95 holy fudge) are probably good examples if they're a lot stronger than others.
I mean, there are lots of way to turn nuts and bolts just as well for a lot less money, but what I'd like to know is when the supposedly higher quality actually makes a practical, real-world difference and is actually worth paying five to ten times as much.
For example, that swivel set at #9 and the wobble extensions at #8 ($205.95 holy fudge) are probably good examples if they're a lot stronger than others.
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sweet victory
Well-known member
In my opinion, SO's pliers are definitely worth the price tag. I recently sold nearly all of knipex and made the switch. Far superior pliers that you won't appreciate until you hold them in your hands and use them.
The reason you pay so much for snap-on is fitment. I've never rounded a fastener with a snap-on socket. Rounded way to many with craftsmen be for I made the switch. Hell I've broken a couple snap-on sockets that would have just rounded the fastener with a lesser socket. I'd rather break a tool and warranty it than have to spend an getting a broken fastener off, and then waiting on a replacement.
That plus truck service is worth the price tag. But only when your turning to earn. If you doing it for a hobby, sunex or GP duo sockets would be a great alternative.
Dimitriy
Well-known member
Interesting that the new crown handle pry bars weren't on his list. Also surprised that 1/4 semi deep sockets outsell 3/8.
I suspect that's because Gearwrench or Carlyle 3/8" are perfectly adequate but the extra Snap-on strength makes a difference in 1/4"
Of course that is anecdotal. I haven't seen a statistically valid yield test preformed.
I paid a premium for a halfer U joint from a premium brand because it was that much better.
I used it with whatnot brand sockets on premium ratchets which also made the cut into superior tools.
The 95% of the rest was not very costly at all.
Now a decade down the road the products are out of production and the warranty of one year is long gone. The tools still work, all of them if a bit worse for wear.
I would think Snappy line wrenches (which are still made) qualify as a top of the heap tool worth paying that premium. I have used them a few times myself to know.
I used it with whatnot brand sockets on premium ratchets which also made the cut into superior tools.
The 95% of the rest was not very costly at all.
Now a decade down the road the products are out of production and the warranty of one year is long gone. The tools still work, all of them if a bit worse for wear.
I would think Snappy line wrenches (which are still made) qualify as a top of the heap tool worth paying that premium. I have used them a few times myself to know.
dragonbat13
Member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2016
- Messages
- 5
+1. Best fifty bucks on the cart.
My 1/4 semi deep from gearwrench have been tanks, I'd almost go the opposite direction and say I'd want snap on strength in my larger sockets, as they'll be used on larger fasteners where more torque is required.
So what is more stressful to a socket, is turning 150lb-ft with a 22mm 1/2" socket more or less stressful than turning 50lb-ft with a 12mm 1/4" socket? Answer this question correctly & you will know where to best spend your hard earned on high quality tools.
bwringer
Well-known member
Yep, premium line or flare wrenches make some sense.
Nothing more miserable than some of the sloppy shite you see in otherwise reputable brand flare wrenches. It's like they forget how to make a wrench or something when it's a flare wrench.
I'm curious, why do you say that? Based on comments on this forum, specifically on the Knipex needlenose thread, I picked up a set of Snapper needlenoses, in a 3-pack with with a side cutter and what I thought would be normal combi pliers but was actually some primitive hybrid of a combi and a very basic waterpump plier.
While I didn't take the other two pliers out of the package, I made an effort to use the needlenoses and give them chance to see what I was missing. It didn't take long to realize they're probably the single worst tool I currently own: ergonomically unsound handle shape, poor quality joint machining, cheap finish, and shamefully overpriced. Every single other pair of needlenose pliers below is a superior tool for any use I can conceive of.
If one wants something similar to the Snappers but designed for use in actual human hands, with much better build and finish quality, try VBW.
These pliers are also sold (with green handle dip) as Stahlwille. VBW is Stahlwille's pliers-making division.
(I realize I am writing against interest, as I will be selling a majority of the other needle noses above once my little roundup is finished. The Snapper 3-pack will certainly be in that group. The VBWs may or may not be.)
So what is more stressful to a socket, is turning 150lb-ft with a 22mm 1/2" socket more or less stressful than turning 50lb-ft with a 12mm 1/4" socket? Answer this question correctly & you will know where to best spend your hard earned on high quality tools.
I'm not sure, you tell me? I imagine based on the question and trends in this thread, its going to be more stressful on the smaller 12mm. Now my question is this, what if the 22mm socket has 3.2mm side walls and the 12mm socket has 4mm sidewalls? I imagine regardless of the stress being higher, the socket with thicker sidewalls would be harder to crack than the thinner one, all things equal.
I'm no engineer, but I was a mechanic and I've yet to break a socket that was used properly, my hard earned cash will happily be spent on good tools, where necessary
Owned them, held them, used them. Only ones I think are fantastic are the extra long needle nose and their slip joints. Shorter needle nose, electronic pliers, and especially their diagonals, aren't anything to write about. Knipex, Merry, Gedore, Keiba, Hazet, and even WF have those segments pretty well covered at 1/2 to 1/4 the price.
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I'm not sure, you tell me? I imagine based on the question and trends in this thread, its going to be more stressful on the smaller 12mm. Now my question is this, what if the 22mm socket has 3.2mm side walls and the 12mm socket has 4mm sidewalls? I imagine regardless of the stress being higher, the socket with thicker sidewalls would be harder to crack than the thinner one, all things equal.
I'm no engineer, but I was a mechanic and I've yet to break a socket that was used properly, my hard earned cash will happily be spent on good tools, where necessary
Correct, as fasteners and socket/drive sizes increase the torque loading is spread out and is far less concentrated. The natural laws of physics tell you that high quality small drive hand tools are a good idea. Although I'm not suggesting a heavy equipment tech who uses 3/4" drive tools all day should cheap out & not buy quality either. What concerns me about sockets under stress is not the fact they may shatter or crack, I don't want the female drive end or fastener end getting deformed leading to reduced performance. The best selling 10 SO tools I imagine is far different to the best top 10 tools based of quality/design/tolerance/performance.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Value and worth are in the eye of the user. I have a lot of snap on as well as other truck brand tools, along with Taiwan made tools.
In my youth there was a wide quality gap between a snap on tool and a non snap on tool. However, that quality gap has narrowed significantly over recent years. Off the top of my head, i feel that snap on does their heavy duty gold colored torx bits and anything flare related (wrenches, crowfoot, etc.) better than anyone else.
To me, the rest of their line is a matter of personal choice. For example, i cannot stand the instinct handle so, i won't buy anything with that handle.
On a side note, i'd like to see stats from snap on corporate as to what the top 10 tools they sell nationally are.
I think there is a better option for damn near every pair of pliers SO sells. However I do really like their long diagonal cutters but I don't think any other company makes anything similar to them. I also like their extra long 14 1/2" spring assisted needle nose in all variations.
Elsinore13
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2017
- Messages
- 504
Fairly new? I’ve had my 1/4 metric semi deeps for 25 years. And they are my favorites along with a Matco locking extension on a 72 tooth polished Matco mini ratchet. Super handy for de-trimming cars around the body shop.
I'm having a very rough time believing this. Snap On over Knipex?
For needlenose, I would take S-O over Knipex
Every.
Single.
Time.
The S-O Talon grips are superior to any other pliers I've tried. And yes, I own S-O and Knipex, among many others...
Agreed. Knipex for dykes and other cutters, pliers wrench and cobra. Snap-on for PWZ and talon grip needle nose.
The best snap on tools I've used are;
Long 3/8 swivel lead with a hard handle
Set of 10 to 14 combo flare spanners
Set of fdp spanners
I'm sure the make other tools worth their money but they charge too much of a premium imo stuff like their sockets etc I've never found that special or of any great value over another brand.
Long 3/8 swivel lead with a hard handle
Set of 10 to 14 combo flare spanners
Set of fdp spanners
I'm sure the make other tools worth their money but they charge too much of a premium imo stuff like their sockets etc I've never found that special or of any great value over another brand.
The 1/4" semi deeps have been on sale several times over the past year. Perhaps thats a factor.
davethorik
Well-known member
Knipex makes Swedish-pattern pipe wrenches, wonder how they stack up against the PWZ.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Yup, lubies probably throw the average off.
For instance, no serious auto mechanic, trying to make a living, is using screwdrivers on a regular basis. Screwdrivers ONLY get used when nothing else will fit. I see a lot of guys on here buying screw/torx/hex hand drivers, which I can't wrap my head around.
I can use a hex screw gun and have a door panel off before the first 2 screws are out using a screwdriver.
Another thing to mention with drive size, as to why 1/4 drive is the MOST important drive to buy quality; access. I use 1/4 drive for 2 reasons, weight (pulling 10mm bolts out of valve covers doesn't require 3/8 imapct), and access. 19mm head rounds of, which I have access to use 3/4 drive on - that is not a major issue. 10mm head rounds off, where a low profile ratchet/socket combo with a flex head is the only way to reach it - major issue.
Finky198
Well-known member
I have one of the knipex versions very nice quality as expected. I liked them over the Pwz as there’s no overmold grip to fail. I am a big fan Snap on and Knipex as said above each do certain task extremely well...
a Knipex 83 10 010, its 12" And it was cheaper then the PWZ
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WittHay
Well-known member
My Knipex is 16 1/2" and has a S pattern on the jaws. I choose it over the PWZ because i wanted to turn tractor tie rods back and forth without removing the wrench. Also a lot of times it involves heat, a big hammer and a cheater pipe. Didn't want the rubber grip on a pipe wrench
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Same question I posed to sweet victory: why? I've tried them, I currently have a pair among 14-odd other needlenose pliers on hand right now. The Snappers are to me at least the clear laggard of the group.
Hmmmm. Just goes to show that there is no "perfect" tool for everybody.
After about a year of use (96ACF), here are my thoughts.
I prefer the Snap-on's because of strength, reach, & grip of the jaws. The handle shape that bothers you hasn't been an issue for me, I find them pretty comfortable and ergonomic to use. Also, the handle material is very 'grippy' even with oily hands, and they've been resistant to all the shop chemicals they've come in contact with. I don't know what you mean by "cheap finish", my pair are nicely machined and finished with no sharp edges or burrs. They are carbon steel so they have had some flash rust on them, but so have all my other non chrome plated pliers, and anyway, they are easily cleaned up. As far as the "poor quality joint machining", My pair have no issues there either. The joint was stiff at first but after a few uses they loosened up nicely and now feel very smooth without being 'sloppy'. So, I havent noticed any of the issues that you did and I have been impressed enough that they are the pliers I reach for first. I can grab 28 awg by their tips or wrestle the legs of a large cotter pin into submission without the jaws twisting. Two simple tasks where other pliers have failed me.
Look, I'm hardly a Snap-on fanboy, but I have to give them credit where credit is due. And for 'mechanics' needlenose pliers, S-O indeed deserves credit. IMHO.
Matter of fact, I'm going to pick up their 95ACF 6" version and some bent nose soon...
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If you call them they will work with you on price especially if buying several. I bought 140-143 all at once and they dropped the price significantly,especially on the 143's. I think I got charged 75 each for the 142 and 143 and then 15-20 off each set of the others.
That’s good to know, thank you!