What are some Snap On must haves?

[ceekaymark]

I am not a professional tech, I sell auto parts and work on my own cars and some customers cars for cash on the weekends. After breaking a craftsman 3/8" ratchet 3 times in one month, I got frustrated and met up with the local snap on driver for a new ratchet. I can't imagine using anything else now. I now own four of the 3/8" ratchets, with my favorite being the comfort grip flex head. It is my go to ratchet for just about everything I do. I haven't stepped up to the screwdrivers yet, but it is something I will probably do in the next few weeks.

After experiencing the ratchets, I also replaced all my sockets with snap on and I strip out way less bolts than I ever did with my craftsman sockets. The wrenches are great, but like some people have said, they can feel pretty thin when you're really gripping them tight.

If you can get on a truck often enough, see what kind of used stuff your local dealer has. Make your payments, and don't be a pain in his *** and if he's as nice as my dealer, you'll see a couple of good deals come your way. I got a nice 26" 11 drawer mac bottom for $100 my dealer took on a trade, and just bought a used mt2400 vantage for $100 as well. If you ever see a used vantage on the truck, I definitely recommend it.

So to stop babbling, in summary, as a weekend warrior these are the tools I recommend:

ratchets
sockets
a used vantage (if available)
blue point microscan (the pro model, that does ABS and can do obd 1 with the additional adapters)

 

[Pointsnorth]

Their Duckbills are for sure my favorite tool. Just feel right in my hand and the bills are nice and thin.

 

[bgandt]

Lets start this way, I turn wrenches for a living. When I was in school Matco had a program that I thought was too good to pass up so I bought alot of Matco tools. Since then I have learned alot and traded off alot of those tools for Snapon.

If you need snap ring pliers dont buy anything but Snapon. Theirs are forged rather than stamped. Trust me if you use them alot you will see what I mean. I traded a Matco set, plus more than I gave for them and it was still a good investment.

There is no comparison on ratchets, get the locking flex head fine tooth in all but 1/4. In 1/4 I like the head that swivels all the way around.

The socks are awesome.

If your going to use tools for a living get the best you can. Generally in hand tools that is Snapon. But there are also alot of their products that arent any better than anyone elses.

 

[Boiler]

Instead of buying 5 snap on sets and then a ton of HF, I'd personally recommend some nice condition, used SK, blue point, snap on, Matco, certain mac items, proto, cornwell, etc. Many of these can be found on ebay for 50% of new cost or less, sometimes much less. Especially matco, mac, and cornwell. They get much less respect on ebay than snap on, which equals selling for cheaper.

Keep in mind SO is nice for warranty and I'd love to have near all SO tools, but if you're planning $700 worth of new snap on, and $180 worth of HF and thats it, you can do a lot better by going "used" and shoping around.

 

[metalhead212121]

Their Duckbills are for sure my favorite tool. Just feel right in my hand and the bills are nice and thin.

duckbills??

 

[Vinko]

While I've got Knipex, Klein and some Armstrong and Crafty pliers, I find myself reaching for the SO in almost all cases. I really like their newer sets of pliers.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

While I've got Knipex, Klein and some Armstrong and Crafty pliers, I find myself reaching for the SO in almost all cases. I really like their newer sets of pliers.

I don't like their pliers much. They seem to corrode 5-10 seconds after you pay for them. I have a pair of 12" side cutters from Snap-on, the blades are ****, the tips break off (i'm on my 4th pair) and they have surface rust while no other pliers of mine do.

My NWS cost me a fraction of the price, with a much better finish, better quality and most importantly better cutting edges.

 

[MrMark]

I don't like their pliers much. They seem to corrode 5-10 seconds after you pay for them. I have a pair of 12" side cutters from Snap-on, the blades are ****, the tips break off (i'm on my 4th pair) and they have surface rust while no other pliers of mine do.

My NWS cost me a fraction of the price, with a much better finish, better quality and most importantly better cutting edges.

Interesting. I also have many Knipex, Craftsman, and Klien, but tend to reach for the Snap on first. I have had a problem with the tips breaking at the end on two pairs of knipex 10" cutters. The Snap-on in my mild climate for rust do tend to rust a hair if you don't keep on them. At least the natural finish pliers. But so do the Knipex, Channellock and especially the Klein.

Moose, what is the model number on that 12" cutter. I have the heavy duty SO cutter but it is not 12".

 

[BloodySinner]

You made my day with that comment. Because it's true!

Thank you.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Interesting. I also have many Knipex, Craftsman, and Klien, but tend to reach for the Snap on first. I have had a problem with the tips breaking at the end on two pairs of knipex 10" cutters. The Snap-on in my mild climate for rust do tend to rust a hair if you don't keep on them. At least the natural finish pliers. But so do the Knipex, Channellock and especially the Klein.

Moose, what is the model number on that 12" cutter. I have the heavy duty SO cutter but it is not 12".

312CP

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...id=763&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

Don't buy them, they're shite.

 

[2oolhound]

jeeze, glad I read this thread. I never knew SO made socks, just sockets. Do the socks have the same warranty as the sockets?

I'm awaiting delivery of my 1st SO fine tooth ratchets. I figured thats a good way to go for starters at least, get some good rats and make do with the CM sockets I already own. I'm after the 5' clicking angle. Can't wait till they arrive.

 

[sberry]

I think most people over estimate the amount of time they actually have a ratchet in their hand. And most stuff where practical gets power driven. I will agree that there is way better stuff than Craftsman when it comes to ratchets, they really are lame and even bettered by a fair share of the HF ones. One I like the best is some deal I bought off the counter at the parts store some years ago when I really needed one, fine tooth and has worked flawlessly. Its one of those thing with 3/8 on one side and 1/4 on the other, grip well worn and no name on it. As I recall I paid about 20$ at the time and still works well despite regular use, a 100$ one wouldn't be an improvement, if it ever gives it up I will toss.
I disagree that the ROI is better on the highest dollar tools, even "junk" tools are so service worthy these days and at disposable prices a guy could never make up the difference. It looks like John with the HF tool set has pretty well proven this out and in my own experience I have found in all but rare cases cheap wrenches to be sufficient. I have some real hi dollar stuff, once in a while I reach for one in particular but its really a rare day. Especially stuff in small sizes, worth it to have half a dozen snappy 6 points, rest of the time it doesn't mean squat.
As for warranty there is a money maker, pay 30$ for a small socket out of the fear of it breaking,,, sheet, the auto parts store sells them for 4 and delivers an hour from now under warranty too, over the years I have had to use that about 3 or 4 times. A 1 1/6 and a couple 3/4 we were using to build steel buildings, hundreds or thousands of bolts, even if it wasn't under free replacement it would have been a bargain. We can also factor in risk of loss to this as well as being able to afford multiples. Doesn't matter how good a guy thinks a wrench is it cant beat a HF on ROI, no way, no how. The HF cost less than the interest on the hi dollar one is worth, can replace 30X if needed.

 

[sberry]

I think if I lost it all and had to start over I would reconsider my view from 20 or 30 yrs ago, would likely do like John did, maybe spring for a hand full of better things, probably used anymore for the times I really needed them. I think this argument is often driven more by emotion than actual facts in most cases. Of the hundreds, probably thousands of hand tools can recall only a handful of broken ones, mostly Craftsman and most severely over loaded or right out of the box.
One place that has improved dramatically is sockets, back in the day cheap were really cheap but that quality curve has really taken a leap in recent times, you almost have to work at it today to find a really crappy hand tool, even Walmarts, 20$ for a set of end wrenches that if a guy couldn't see the stamp would have a hard time distinguishing from the best.
I bought a couple Husky a while back, a 13 and a 15mm, they were long and full polish, likke 4$ or something and one of my guys made a comment,,, hard to believe someone could make it and vend such a quality wrench for that price.

 

[garfunkle24]

If you need snap ring pliers dont buy anything but Snapon.

I disagree. I hate the Snappy ones. I have big hands and on the bigger ones the handles are still way too far apart, depending on whether they're set to internal or external. I agree that they're made well and I'm sure are better quality than the Stride ones everyone else (OTC, Proto, Mac etc) sells, but I still prefer the Strides.

In the end I pissed on both and bought a full set of the Knipex Precision snap-ring pliers.

YMMV but I would at least try a set of the Snappy ones in your hand before buying.

If your going to use tools for a living get the best you can. Generally in hand tools that is Snapon.

I disagree with this also.
Best that is readily available? Perhaps.
Best that is easy easy to warranty? Perhaps.

Best period? Not in most cases.

Their quality is more consistent across the line than most though.

 

[sberry]

I got no argument about them being the best,,, and they well should be. I do question about them being a great investment especially when we see them lightly used going for 50 cents on the dollar,, routinely. I went to auction where no name china brought more than it sold for new and they were well worn and beat, earned their keep and then some before being sold for a profit.

 

[Skin]

jeeze, glad I read this thread. I never knew SO made socks, just sockets. Do the socks have the same warranty as the sockets?

They dont actually make the socks, they just have their name on them, and a lot of other clothing items as well.

 

[MrMark]

312CP

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...id=763&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

Don't buy them, they're shite.

Wow, I didn't know they still made them. Great design but if you say they are shite . . . There are similar design proto on ebay for 25. Maybe made by Kal back in the day?

Here's the SO cutters I like so much

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...7&group_ID=765&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[shampoop]

Wow, I didn't know they still made them. Great design but if you say they are shite . . . There are similar design proto on ebay for 25. Maybe made by Kal back in the day?

Here's the SO cutters I like so much

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...7&group_ID=765&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I have the same ones and love them too. They are excellent for cutting through anything difficult. I prefer my standard channellock dikes for easy stuff like zip ties, or something I want to get a more flush of a cut, but for anything difficult at all, it's like night and day with the SO ones. They cut soooo much better with such little effort.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Wow, I didn't know they still made them. Great design but if you say they are shite . . . There are similar design proto on ebay for 25. Maybe made by Kal back in the day?

Here's the SO cutters I like so much

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...7&group_ID=765&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

You need to get a pair of NWS side cutters. I've used a few brands, Snap-on, Knipex, Klein, Bahco, etc. Nothing has compared to my NWS ones. What's more, they were among the cheapest, and yet made in Germany.

I wanted those Snap-on ones for the added reach, for stuff like steering rack gaiter inner zip-ties. The cutting edges really aren't very good, on any of the 4 pairs i've had. My NWS, on the other hand, go through anything. I regularly cut band clamps and Jubilee clips with them, no signs of wear.

 

[MattPersman]

I have those 312s and use them constantly, had the 311s first and now they are at home for use there. I never used NWS but I really like the snap on pliers.

Wow, I didn't know they still made them. Great design but if you say they are shite . . . There are similar design proto on ebay for 25. Maybe made by Kal back in the day?

Here's the SO cutters I like so much

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...7&group_ID=765&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Mmfh]

The one thing I always thought was a good deal off the truck was their ring compressor set. I paid like $45 for my set and it is so much better than anything else out their it not even close. If you use ring compressors, buy Snap on.

I turned wrenches for a living for more years than I want to count. Time is money, if you buy Snap on and the truck comes by once a week, that saves time and money.

If you promised something for a customer and that cheap socket you saved money on breaks and you have to leave the shop to go and get another cheap socket, you have not saved any money. You also caused yourself stress because you have to work harder now to make up for the lost time running after tools.

Time is money, and if you are proud of your tools and you like Snap on. By all means buy Snap on!

Mm

 

[sberry]

You are right, time is money, could buy a set of wrenches for 20$, buy a spare, use them a week, take next 2 weeks off vs working for the tool company. I wouldn't be dependent on one cheap socket, one pricey one either. I don't find the rational of spending 200 a week just so I could save 10 minute trip to a store, not only that most are getting parts deliveries, have them send new socket in an hour vs waiting a week to see if the truck feels like showing up.
I will agree there are a few things specialty that are nice to have especially if a guy is in a repetitive situation,,, and some of it is not priced all that bad. I think this was started basically about general hand tools and from a young sprout at that,,, working on some small engines in his uncles shop. Best tools in the world wont make this kid a better mechanic.
I was at a shop a while back, owner was downright proud of a 10K or more tool box,,, in a 600 sq ft garage, this guy was a legitimate master, real deal who should know better and was probably just fine when working for someone else but 6 months later bust. Just couldn't stay away from that stuff I guess. Just got to have the "best".
One of the best mechanics I know has real junk for hand tools, pocket change invested in tools compared to the rest of us except for a couple good meters which I am sure he scored somewhere for little or nothing. Doesn't seem to matter, can put his finger on problems that give the rest of us fits.
I been at this a while myself, could care less what brand a tool is or if it shines in the dark, as long as it works. I even have a few "junk" sockets here and there, seemed to have stood the test of time, still in rugged service and on the outside chance it does fail has earned its keep and then some, over and over, sometimes paying for itself with each use vs making the first payment.

 

[volunteers]

It really depends. "time is money" if you turn wrench for a living. For me, i turn wrench at some weekends for a project to have fun. I really don't care to spend some more time.

 

[sberry]

I suspect that most of this argument comes from guys with the set of tools they own, they rightly proud of the collection but I have tools from all across the board, Never really counted them,, but would add up to dozens of sets in a rugged heavy duty shop, just don't find the fear of failure to be realistic and certainly hasn't proven worth the effort or expense to pay 10x to sooth this fear. Even my master feels the same way, he has all snappy but bought most used and got rid of the rest but when he is here will be the first to admit it doesn't matter much as to getting the job at hand done.
If there was a better way or a better tool that made a difference I would get it but replacing what I have with better stuff won't make me any more money, only a liability, kind of like buying a new car for better mileage and driving 5 miles to work each way, could use a peterbuilt and still be cheaper than a new car.

 

[jeffk14]

I got no argument about them being the best,,, and they well should be. I do question about them being a great investment especially when we see them lightly used going for 50 cents on the dollar,, routinely. I went to auction where no name china brought more than it sold for new and they were well worn and beat, earned their keep and then some before being sold for a profit.

sberry shoots some straight poop on tools IMHO. Looking at his shop pics and reading his posts, it's obvious that he views tools as a means to an end.
That "end" being getting the stuff fixed that needs fixin' so he can get back to farming.

I worked on a couple of farms and helped maintain some of the equipment way back in my younger days and I can tell you for a FACT that SO, Hazet or any other high priced "boutique" brand of hand tools has NO place in a farming operation.

In such an environment, LOSS is 100,000 times the concern over tool breakage and the fancy **** can get harrowed under after it's left on a tractor running board just like HF can!

 

[sberry]

A lot of the real time is money thing is fixing stuff that just isn't worth it, we just went thru some of this, everyone wanting to find some scheme to polish some headlights. I finally went thru the fleet and replace them, shopped for price and considering labor and materials, not worth the effort to sit around with a tube of used toothpaste trying to salvage something that isn't going to work well when finished anyway. Few minutes to replace and the new will outlast the unit they are going in, done deal, money well spent and the return worth it especially considering liability of accident cause someone couldn't see. 5$ worth of tools needed, spent it on the parts.

 

[jjjrmx5]

If there was a better way or a better tool that made a difference I would get it but replacing what I have with better stuff won't make me any more money, only a liability,

sberry, there are 5 pages of suggestions here and,in many cases, proven fact that a particular Snap-On tool does indeed make the job easier, faster or more directly remedies a certain mechanical problem.

Based upon the Master's Degree in Engineering and Business you likely don't have, I'd suggest you either add to this thread's discussion by adding a Snap-On tool that you feel is a "must have" or just state that you feel as though Snap-On tools are over valued and not necessary and most if not all persons in almost any trade can get by without them. To boot, I respect that opinion, but am far from believing it.

Pontificating for three long posts about how you can get by with the "cheapest of the cheap" hand tools may have it's place as a separate thread, but I certainly do not think that's the advice what the OP was asking for.

 

[sberry]

Jeff,, thanks for that,,, it not only applies to farms but other types of business. The great thing about modern affordable tools is that a guy can afford to put them where needed, match the opportunity for use in a timely fashion. A guy would think twice about tossing a handful of tools in a tractor or truck when it cost 300, maybe 500, but when its 30 or 50 its a different story, easy to get the return when they are there when needed. So many business are under tooled especially with common hand tools and these days its almost a sin to do without when you really need something. I am with you about means to an end and don't give a second thought to putting a couple China end wrenches in pocket, don't have to worry about guarding them with my life, like you said,,, loss (really for most people) is statistically way higher factor than breakage.
I had a bud a while back, had garage robbed, 30 yrs worth of paying the truck guy 50 a week, gone. Insured yes but what a hassle and the fear of breakage eclipsed in few minutes with the reality of loss or theft.

 

[jeffk14]

sberry, there are 5 pages of suggestions here and,in many cases, proven fact that a particular Snap-On tool does indeed make the job easier, faster or more directly remedies a certain mechanical problem.

Based upon the Master's Degree in Engineering and Business you likely don't have, I'd suggest you either add to this thread's discussion by adding a Snap-On tool that you feel is a "must have" or just state that you feel as though Snap-On tools are over valued and not necessary and most if not all persons in almost any trade can get by without them. To boot, I respect that opinion, but am far from believing it.

Pontificating for three long posts about how you can get by with the "cheapest of the cheap" hand tools may have it's place as a separate thread, but I certainly do not think that's the advice what the OP was asking for.

The OP stated that he'll be working on trucks and small engines for a landscaping business.

Based on that, I'm thinking that there might possibly be a few of the same situations and logistics challenges in that line of work as there is when working on farm equipment. Ya think?

Not everyone who "wrenches" for a living has the luxury of working in one spot all day with their $10K toolbox just 3 feet away.

 

[sberry]

Some tools are innovative to the point where its well worth extra money or the top brands are so competitive with each other that it keeps the price within reach, practical or reasonable. Some are so technical that they cant get the low price in and still retain the function level. Welding machines are good examples, top brands are super competitive and cheaper ones don't work so well and the price spread between the 2 is fairly marginal, they last so long that it makes a cheaper one less practical. A torch say, little lower on the tech ladder, most of them work well enough under most circumstances to make the difference rather negligible. A ball pein hammer a notch lower, buy one for 10 or 40 doesn't make much difference.
Quality on hand tools has risen so fast it has narrowed this spread considerably especially when good enough can be had at 10% of the cost, would be different if cheap was 60% of the best but even decent USA made are at 20%, at that cost I find a set of Allens from Menards just dandy and didn't shed big tears when someone lost the 8mm, just replaced it.

 

[sberry]

Yes, I think there a couple "should haves" from Snappy or similar. Set of small end wrenches, 6 pt flank drive up to about 9/16. They can be real savers as well as a Phillips number 2 screwdriver with very good hard sharp tip.
What my point is though is that every young sprout doesn't need to run in a straight line to the truck right off the bat, this thread IS about that, find out where he is first and what he really needs, I am all for it if there is a reason and personally don't hesitate to get something new or special if I need it.
My experience from observation and being involved is that if a guy is doing (excluding hobby for those that can afford it) anything for any other reason than to make money he is already on the downhill, if he is a mechanic to get a nice tool collection the focus is lost. Cheaper is good, improves the return or bottom line in many cases.
Young kids flush a lot of money anyway so maybe this isn't a big deal, he have something to show for it no matter what but to make a living the need isn't the same as it was 40 yrs ago when cheap really was junk, so many alternative these days if a guy wants to be thrifty to start and will pay back quicker than lots of hard work at the end.

 

[sberry]

For a start up my opinion is buy something affordable, if it works keep it, if it doesn't or it breaks get something better in those cases, spend effort on education and trouble shooting skills which are often short even with many experienced mechanics. Big payback vs expenditures on expensive hand tools.
I like Jeff's use of the term logistics, shows a practical view of most situations. Many businesses need more tools way before they need better ones.

 

[sberry]

As to the original question,,, are there things on thr truck I would like and could make life a little easier,, yes,,, are there things on there that could make me more productive,,, maybe,,, are there things I "must have" no.

 

[CHRIS LUCKYMAN]

^^^ We got it already. Thanks for playing.^^^

 

[Hiball]

^^^ We got it already. Thanks for playing.^^^

No Doubt..

 

[gnx547]

Nothing. Harbor Freight tools work well.

Not all of Horrible Freight tools works well. Some are good but a lot of it is garbage.

 

[MrMark]

You need to get a pair of NWS side cutters. I've used a few brands, Snap-on, Knipex, Klein, Bahco, etc. Nothing has compared to my NWS ones. What's more, they were among the cheapest, and yet made in Germany.

I wanted those Snap-on ones for the added reach, for stuff like steering rack gaiter inner zip-ties. The cutting edges really aren't very good, on any of the 4 pairs i've had. My NWS, on the other hand, go through anything. I regularly cut band clamps and Jubilee clips with them, no signs of wear.

I'll have to try an NWS soon just to see what all the fuss is about. Which is your favorite NWS plier?

Another SO must have is the hose picker. I've tried a couple of others but hte SO really makes the hoses easier. It's just sturdier and has the bend in just the right place.

 

[FergusonTO35]

My favorite Snappies are their combo wrenches, ratchets, extensions, chrome sockets, and hard handle screwdrivers. Their tool boxes are great too. I don't care at all for their air tools, Ingersoll-Rand's better US made line works as well or better for 1/2 the price.

 

[Pointsnorth]

duckbills??

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/objects_lg/28100/28003.JPG

 

[metalhead212121]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/objects_lg/28100/28003.JPG

anything in particular you use those for?? I have a couple different needle nose pliers like that (same size when it comes to length) but never needed anything like that.

Dan