What tools do you buy snap-on?

[Wakefield]

Flare nut wrenches are made for tighter access-doesn't have the hip of a regular open end) and so are probably more delicate than regular open end wrenches and so probably reserved for soft things that round with a regular open end wrench-not for Grade 8 steel
There is a special wrench variety made with an extra thick (deep?) open end on one end and a flare wrench at the other end by Snap On-also Bonney (now an antique brand) made those kind --Bonney now defunct but I believe was one of the best tool brands ever made

 

[BottomLineReviews]

We had a full set of Bonney wrenches (the 9/16 had a broken open end) at the shop I used to work at, my uncle had bought them all as a teenager (he just passed at somewhere around 70) and they are still using them in the shop daily with only 1 failure. I would kill for a full set of those.

 

[abvw]

The only line wrench I use is 10mm to undo brake lines, and flare nut crowsfoot on every other flare nut on the car.

You will see a lot of 3/8" on license plates and 9/16" on aftermarket (parts store) exhausts.

Get a PH3050 air hammer (one of the best .401 hammer), MG325 3/8" impact wrench (anvil brake is a godsend feature with swivel impacts) and FAR7000 air ratchet (fastest and slimmest air ratchet).

 

[mark.dziamski]

If you don't see yourself doing a lot of work on classic American cars, big diesel, or tractors... why get SAE as a starter? When I am working trailers, it's pretty much all SAE. If I swap to light side work, it's metric, with rare exception. I think our heavy diesels run largely metric now, but I'm not super experienced on that side of the shop.

The stuff you get is generally directly linked to what you are gonna wrench on.

I work on commercial trucks for a living and the motor is pretty much all metric but the rest of the truck is SAE. Most of my metric tools all still look brand new as we don't do engine work very often


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[BottomLineReviews]

I am in school for auto body, but I don't plan on pursuing it long term, it is just better than sitting in a classroom all day. I'm not 100% positive on what I want to do yet, but I currently work on just about everything that's broken ( except transmissions) which in my case is just about everything I own.

 

[Mikerodrig27]

Learning transmission work would put you ahead of the rest. It's something not a lot of people try to learn about.

 

[n8n]

Is the steel on the SO FD+ better than the steel used on the Wright grip wrenches? Remember that I'm hoping to get at least 10-15 years out of these tools, and I do have half off snap-on so there isn't much of a price difference.

They're both good enough. Both will shear a Grade 8 bolt with the open end. I don't have any FD+ wrenches but do have WrightGrip as well as older FD+ snap on (exactly the same but with smooth jaws.). I fall into the 'prefers the feel of Wright' camp but the trade-off is the Wright wrenches are noticeably heavier than the same size SO.

 

[Heaty]

Buy mostly all snap on air tools, all the dual 80 ratchets, and the wrenches. Either than that your good to go with everything else skimpy!!!

 

[Heaty]

I hesitate to bring this up.... and I'm not looking to start a COO swordfight: but some of the cordless Snap-On products are made in China.

Whether that affects the quality or not, it's hard to say. If Snap-On has stringent overseas QC it may be OK.

Excellent QC or not, that is a ton of money to pay for something made in China just because it says Snap-On....student discount or not.

With the SEP discount you'd come in at about the same money or just a bit above some of the Milwaukee stuff and I'm not so sure you'd be coming out ahead in terms of overall quality or bang for the buck.

I know you (OP) wanted to know what Snap-on excels at to take advantage of the discounts while you can. Others have given the best advice there imho: the hardline hand tools. That would be spending your money wisely.

Theoretically spending your discount on Chinese made tools with the Snap-on name when the opportunity exists to get the same discount on the really expensive USA stuff seems like a poor allocation of resources to me.

Dude you buy snap on tools for their warranty. Clearly your not a professional. If the kid is doing this everyday he needs a ratchet that won't fail or an air ratchet that won't give. bashing snap on tools for just their electric made in China tools is wrong. Everything is made in China now and days. Look at Milwaukee Dewalt or Bosche. Snap on makes good tools I've bin doing heavy duty trucks for 10+ years and most snap on stuff is good. Cheap tools do not last unless your a hobbyist.

 

[Bruster04]

Pretty much everything..

Have 2 sets of gear wrench ratcheting wrenches

 

[98ssuck]

Pretty much everything hand tools wise. Sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. I go veto for bags, fluke for meter, Milwaukee for power and yellow jacket for refrigeration.

 

[anndel]

Ratchets (3/8" and 1/2" to start, maybe 1/4" later), tool box, pliers, sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches and an impact wrench. Buy what you will NEED and use, not what you want so you don't go in over your head with debt.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

Ratchets (3/8" and 1/2" to start, maybe 1/4" later), tool box, pliers, sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches and an impact wrench. Buy what you will NEED and use, not what you want so you don't go in over your head with debt.

Amen to that, you don't want to get to deep especially starting out. I see so many do this and later they decide they don't want to stay in profession or really have a hard time paying the bill. I always tell the new guys, tools first, box down the road. I own a lot of Snap On but I started with old Craftsman and a lot of second hand yard sale items. I replied earlier in this thread, wrenches, sockets, ratchets and extensions because I believe SO stands above the rest on these items and you don't want to skimp there.


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[Kensgarage]

Any of their ratchets.
The 4 way angle wrenches.
The crowsfeet.
Medium deep sockets.
Dead blow hammers.
597 Talon pin pliers.
Go ahead and buy bit sockets because the replacement tips are about the best. Might as well have the sockets too.
Personally the extensions and universals-adapters are probably hard to beat.

First and foremost is tool storage and (so far) the four way wrenches.

Everything else can be had elsewhere IMNSHFO
It's still hard to beat some of those ratchets tho.

They should rename the outfit. Snap-Ons Ratchet s& Storage Solutions....and some other stuff too.

 

[Wamsutta]

All of their dual 80 ratchets are awesome even though 1 in a 1000 may come through the line with a nick. I'll be buying more of them most definitely.

 

[mybuick6]

stuff you will use alot get from snap on while you are at school. tool box get the husky box from home depot, cant beat those boxes and they look like the tool truck boxes anyways. and the stuff that dont do much or is not important but need on the job you can get craftsman or other places.

this is the best advice i can give

 

[2oolhound]

Pullers and bearing splitters are good investments for the long term. I've had too many import ones bend sideways, strip threads, break the teeth or friction surface, no hardened steel tips for the forcing screws etc.etc. and they fail when you are trying to complete a job so I couldn't give a **** if they'll give me another free one when I have to run down and get a replacement. They know that 90% of buyers get them because they are so cheap and likely will never use them. 9% will only use them for one job which is why they went in and bought the cheapest one on the market and the other 1% who will use it over and over they can afford to keep handing him new ones because after 1 or 2 times the guy will weld bracing on them voiding their warranty or just chuck it out because they don't need the **** that comes from owning it. If you have just one good one it will outlast the new **** for years.

 

[kiatech]

https://store.snapon.com/Soft-Grip-Hose-Picks-Set-Radiator-Hose-Pick-Soft-Grip-6pc-P646487.aspx

 

[L.Cheapo]

Pullers and bearing splitters are good investments for the long term. I've had too many import ones bend sideways, strip threads, break the teeth or friction surface, no hardened steel tips for the forcing screws etc.etc. and they fail when you are trying to complete a job so I couldn't give a **** if they'll give me another free one when I have to run down and get a replacement. They know that 90% of buyers get them because they are so cheap and likely will never use them. 9% will only use them for one job which is why they went in and bought the cheapest one on the market and the other 1% who will use it over and over they can afford to keep handing him new ones because after 1 or 2 times the guy will weld bracing on them voiding their warranty or just chuck it out because they don't need the **** that comes from owning it. If you have just one good one it will outlast the new **** for years.

Agreed. Snap on makes excellent pullers. The fear of shrapnel, injury, and ER copays makes me buy Snap On pullers.

 

[stihlntime]

All I buy anymore is ratchets or specialty tools. So overpriced, you can get Stahlwille wrenches which (if you believe you tube vids) are stronger and cost less or Wright or SK for less money. I stopped buying their screwdrivers as I've found Felo 500 series or Wiha or PB Swiss to cost much less andvare better quality imho. Knipex or NWS for pliers. I've got **** loads of SK sockets and extensions. The only area left for me is their ratchets,which are the best I've used. SO makes great products, it is their tiered marketing which will never make them competitive. If you don't need their credit or truck delivery there are much better values to be had with as good or better quality. I don't mind a hind57 tool box, I'm at the age where trying to assemble the best quality is the most important factor irregardless of country of origin.

 

[Exceller8]

I buy any Snap-On that I can get a deal on. I'm just a DIY guy and I don't break many tools, so I really don't have any warranty issues. I search ebay quite often for Snap-On wrenches and I've gotten some insane deals. I usually don't pay more than $10 for any wrench and sometimes less than $5 for older wrenches.

I've also been pretty lucky with swap meets and pawn shops. I just picked up a 7 piece metric wrench set for $80 out the door. The wrenches were in like new condition with the holder.

 

[Flivver250]

I have found many deals and many brands other places but...........you can never go wrong with SO. If the driver is good and services your shop regularly, he is a teammate as much as a salesman. I like Wright, Mayhew, SK, Knipex, Lang, Mac, etc. I'd probably buy Wright sockets, ratchets and wrenches, but I'd also buy them from Snappy. Put your money into tools and don't go crazy on the box. I've seen a lot of kids have a 10K box with 3K worth of tools. I'd rather have 10K worth of tools in a 3k box. Also buy premium used as much as possible. Most of my tools hitting 40 years old are as good as the day they were made. I bought nearly all SO when I started out and I don't regret it.

 

[jonjon1]

OK, back on track.
A lot of companies make a lot of "good" tools, if you have a snap-on rep that comes by once a week and you can get a hold of during normal business hours with out an issue, then buy what you can afford.

I like S-O hammers, screw drivers/prybars (I prefer the old grip), ratchets, straight impact sockets (thin and strong), chrome sockets are good too if you can afford them and I love their black and chrome intermediate/semi deep stuff, seems to be the perfect depth socket for about any use, PLUS I like their magnetic socket holders they give you when you buy the sets..

That being said, I don't like their swivel impacts (matco gets that award), Their pliers again are over priced for what you get and its a pliers, lol Channel locks have never let me down, their wrenches are way too thin and overpriced (SK wins there), their electric tools are not for me nor are their air tools, I will take makita, milwaukee, and IR over the S-o e and air tools..

S-O is going to just be about cost after the above thoughts are taken into account, for instance a snap-on box is going to do about the same as any cornwell, mac, matco, or even the pro level chinese imports for that matter, its just going to cost much much more. I think they also charge too much for their scanners...

So if you are building a tool arsenal, you can not go wrong with Snap-on Screwdrivers/prybars, hammers, impact sockets, chrome sockets, and ratchets. For the rest there are better options in my opinion...

PS I know some people will say "Hammers and prybars?", but I have bent many prybars that I had to throw away, only bent 2 snap-ons and they handed me shiny new ones, they make a nice pry bar, and same thing for the hammers, I know you may think its just a hammer, but its a tool wee use a lot, and sure they ar expensive, I just bought a 32oz (it was the only one I didnt have and it was on sale) for $85, and its a lot for a hammer, but they work awesome, they are honestly a better hammer than a stanley, lol...
The 16oz, 24oz soft, and 40oz are all you need and you can get them for around $250 for the set of 3, BUT last time you will ever buy a hammer, if you blast them off of an a arm and skin the plastic frame right off of it, you get handed a new one next time the truck pulls in, that is NICE...

 

[d.mcfarland]

OP don't forget that buying anything at half off you can easily get that money back if you don't use the tool later down the road. Treat your career like a personal business with assets.