Which brand?

[IH__COLLECTOR]

Snap-on
MAC
Matco
Which brand do you guys prefer? I like the feel of the snap-on wrench, long and slim, is the mac or matco have the similar feel to them? Im sure some are cheaper than the snap on!


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[scaron]

when it comes to mechanic's tools, i prefer industrial brands like proto, wright, williams and S-K, i have a little bit of everything from all of them.

 

[IMStuner]

I like Snap-On

 

[Exceller8]

Welcome to GJ!

Of all the brands listed, I personally like Snap-On the best. Vintage MAC is really nice, and some of the Matco stuff is nice. Buy the one YOU like the best.

 

[zkling]

O boy, you really wanted to open a can of worms didn't you? Welcome to GJ, but that is a dangerous question around here.

You are going to find alot of personal preference. Some folks purchase what their favorite is, cost not considered. Other folks, like myself, end up with what they can find in their price range. I'm kinda partial to the obscure brands. Or brands that the average person hasn't heard of. SK, Wright, Williams, Bonney, Plomb, Proto. If it is quality and USA made, I'm happy.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58366

 

[Exceller8]

O boy, you really wanted to open a can of worms didn't you? Welcome to GJ, but that is a dangerous question around here.

You are going to find alot of personal preference. Some folks purchase what their favorite is, cost not considered. Other folks, like myself, end up with what they can find in their price range. I'm kinda partial to the obscure brands. Or brands that the average person hasn't heard of. SK, Wright, Williams, Bonney, Plomb, Proto. If it is quality and USA made, I'm happy.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58366

Come on Brother, tell him about you private HF tool collection!

 

[zkling]

Come on Brother, tell him about you private HF tool collection!

Well, I do have this really great HF boat anchor It's labeled "rugged anvil made in china". Actually the DNR guys seized it because it was leeching lead into the water at an alarming rate. I'd drop anchor and fish would just float up dead.

Honestly I don't think I have purchased any tools at harborfreight. I've come scary close to purchasing a tool box, but went the vintage USA route instead. Nothing against folks that shop there. I will admit they do have some specific good items. But if I can purchase the same tool USA made, better quality for less, which is usually the case, I do. Just walking in the store gives me a bad feeling

 

[BajaBound]

Williams usa for the wrenches. Snap On for ratchets. Blue Point for 1/4 and 3/8 and williams for 1/2 that match the blue point. Snap On ball peens. I like a lot of tools and the ones that work well even more. Craftsman, Gear Wrench, OTC are other tools in the box that do a great job for me.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

My box has a mix of lots of brands. Mostly US made Craftsman, some snap on and matco. Most of my ratchets are Gearwrench.

 

[crewchief888]

at least 98% of my working (hand) tools were bought new off a tool truck
snap on
matco
mac
cornwell, proto, armstrong, CM, duralast, CM pro and a few assorted HF round out the mix.

home tools are a mix & match of SK, CM, HF, duralast, kobalt, and truck brands.

 

[AV tinker er]

Personally, I say this since it's what I prefer not what is the best. I like old school MAC hard handled screwdrivers, snap on fine tooth ratchets, MAC and SK chrome sockets, Cornwell and SK impacts, Snap On pliers. As far as wrenches go I have all three brands SO, MAC, and Matco ( all USA) and they all feel good to me. It's what you prefer and what you can afford.

Welcome to GJ!

 

[wafrederick]

Screwdrivers,I like the hard handled Mac and Snap On screwdrivers including Matco's screwdrivers.They fit my hand very well.Pliers,I like Knipex and their diagnal pliers seem to stay sharp longer.Wrenches,I don't like the older Snap On wrenches with the pointy edges on the handle,the edges of the handles of them are too pointy and hurt my hands.Impact swivel sockets,I like the Matco impact swivels which Armstrong and Craftsman use also.Problem with the pin design is the weak point is the pin itself.Plus you lose power with the impact is another drawback with the pin design

 

[jsa83]

snap on ... not by choice but he's the only tool truck that comes to my shop

 

[comedyman809]

harbor freight is the better of all the truck brands, you can buy snap on at sears for pretty cheap, but they are all chinese junk. the best bang for the buck is the new line of craftsman tools, they are by far the best of all.

 

[CaisedoA]

I like snap on over mac, matco or cornwell, also Williams USA is really good, and I have a lot of craftsman sockets that I haven't had any problems with, all USA tho I don't know if the new china stuff is as good...

 

[CaisedoA]

harbor freight is the better of all the truck brands, you can buy snap on at sears for pretty cheap, but they are all chinese junk. the best bang for the buck is the new line of craftsman tools, they are by far the best of all.

I was like.. wtf is he talking about and then I saw your name

 

[CNGsaves]

All of the above, the more collectible the better. If you get a bargain at garage sale / estate sale / etc . . . then all the better.

Welcome to GJ . . . but you SURELY couldn't have spent a single second SEARCHING for information.

See GJ black line at top with Search, and use ADVANCED SEARCH and read to your heart's content based on each brand.

Also, can use Google to search inside GJ as follows:
> > > > > Google > > > > snap on wrenches site:garagejournal.com
> > > > > Google > > > > matco wrenches site:garagejournal.com
> > > > > Google > > > > mac wrenches site:garagejournal.com

 

[shoggoth80]

Out of the big 3 it's a tough call. I don't own any Mac, but haven't found any older stuff.
I have Snap On, Matco, Bahco, Gearwrench, Cman (older US made), Armstrong, Astro, Kobalt. Most of it is good stuff when you talk hand tools. Air tools are a different story. Got a bunch of Proto and SK on my to buy list, as well as Channel Lock, and Kinpex. Buy what feels good to you.

I own some Harbor Freight stuff too, and for the most part, it's been getting the job done. Mostly impact sockets, and combo wrenches...stuff that occasionally gets pounded on. It's been holding up.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

My biggest three : ProTo, SnapOn, USA Craftsman

The other fourty: USA Allen, Bonney, Channellock, Diamond, etc

Then there are those China Shoppe and dime store tools that sneak in..



All my tools were purchased to either serve a current purpose or fill gaps in tomorrows needs.... My 3/4 and 1" drive impact sockets are a classic example: I have inexpensive sets in metric and std to cover most any job. If a socket breaks, I replace it with a ProTo. But I cannot justify buying a full set of ProTo impact sockets, and then possibly not use most of them.. I have my favorites and dislikes spread amongst the different tool brands based on durability, need, fit or feature, price, access for purchase and dealer support, and a made in USA imprint pulls allot of weight with me... BUT I DO have my favorite cheapo tools; I have no idea how many packs of HF orange handled pliers I have bought over the years... I give them as gifts and use them to save wear and tear on my good tools... I like their pneumatic cutoff wheels with the steel guard. I mentioned the large impact sockets. I was going to order these from Sears a few years back.. I wasted two hours on their website trying to buy them online, and have them shipped to the Grand Forks, ND store.........emails to their customer were ignored... Sears pissed me off so I went to HF and bought the sets I wanted. NOT everything you see when you look at a tool is evident; is it?? I don't belong to any tool fan clubs.... I just have my likes and dislikes.. Expensive doesn't always mean the best, as my two poorest lasting air tools have come off the SnapOn truck.. I hate my ProTo slipjoint pliers to the point that they have spent the last 35 years in two pieces in a junk tool drawer.. But the ProTo sidecutters are my favorite.. I looked at some raised panel large metric combination wrenches at Sears a few years ago.. They had edges sharp enough to slit your finger open... I seen that and didn't bother to pick that USA trash off the shelf.. It may not be a premium tool, but it should at least be safe to hold in your hands... The regular sized China sets of raised panels aren't that bad, but they can stay on the peg too. I bought raised panel wrenches back in the early 70's that put the new ones to shame.. Like I mentioned, I have my likes and dislikes...

If I had to choose one brand to stick with, it would be ProTo

 

[CWP1616L]

I can pick a tool up and know within 8 seconds if it's gonna aggravate me or not. I find that the tool brands that have been in the business the longest, aggravate me the least.

 

[MattPersman]

If you are big into us stuff then snap on. Mac and Matco is almost all rebrand off shore stuff with some occasional rebrand lisle USA, kd USA, etc mixed in. Matco pretty much just makes tool boxes so if you are buying a Matco tool it is likely made by someone else with a fancy box or stamped Matco on it for them. Mac has some hard line tools they make AFAIK, many times they have some very good sales and deals but distribution seems to be the least of those 3. Snap on has a ton of stuff they actually make themselves in the USA. I would say the majority of it is superior to the other 2 in design, and mostly cheaper than Matco.

 

[raiderhillbilly]

I would just buy tools that are cool to you. No one brand has the best everything. I love finding old tools made in the USA. Some of my favorite things that I have are Old Craftsman Fine tooth ratchets, S-k Ratchets, Vintage Proto, Cornwell and S-K sockets, New Britain Puller, Wiha Screwdrivers, Heyco metric Wrenches, Proto and S-K superKrome box end wrenches. I can not afford Snapon. I like their tools, but, they are expensive even when you find them used.

 

[genevabuck]

mac tools

 

[joel63]

I like Snap-On.
Buy the one YOU like the best.

 

[HighPlainsWrencher]

Snap On, USA Craftsman, Williams, Cornwell, Grey Pneumatic, GearWrench, Northern Tool, Titan, Hansen, Mac, Greenfield, Walton, Lisle, Nitro Cat, Air Cat, Ingersoll Rand, Blue Point.

These are all the brands in my toolbox at work. As you can see I really dont have a preference although there are more Snap On and Craftsman tools than any other. I went cheep on the stuff I dont use often and bought the best I could afford for the stuff I use daily.

 

[BlksnshN]

I have no brand loyalty, I buy from whoever gives me the best deal on a quality tool. However, my Snap On rep passed last week, so it looks like only Matco for now. And Ebay.

 

[rusty65]

I vote for snap on. Snap on makes pretty much all the the tools they sell so you know you are paying for the real deal.


Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[spacedoutbob]

My personal preference is Snap-On. I have MAC, Hazet, Koken and Stahwille tools in my Tool set also.

Bob

 

[fireguy]

My tools are an eclectic mix. The quality depends on when I got them. The quality was medium if purchased while in High School, lowest after I was first married and there was no extra money. After I was divorced, and my business started to make good money, the quality went up. I still have tools purchased during hi school. I always hate hand tools after I get them, It takes a while for a tool to feel natural. I do not nor have I ever liked Snap On, too slippery. When Grandpa died, I got most of his tools. He was a master mechanic at Amalgamated Sugar. I also have some from my father-in-law. He was a farmer, rancher & logger. HIs boys got most of them, But I got some when we sold his place. I have no idea what will happen to the tools when I die. My kids have no use for tools, they hire people to fix things. Too bad they do not know the enjoyment of fixing stuff themselves.

 

[Rider_996]

It is not nearly that simple. I don't know how many types of tools there are out there but no one brand makes the best of every one. I wouldn't buy at all by brand. Snap-on seems to be the gold standard for some tools, however some people take this to mean that snap on is the best for all tools and that is just not true. Sometimes a different brand can be had that is just as good for a small fraction of the price. If two different brands of a tool will function the same for all intents and purposes you would have to be a fool to choose the more expensive one. Also you do not always need the very best. Why invest a huge amount of money in a tool that you only use a few times and will never pay itself off? I'll tell you about some of my experiences with tools.

Snap-on. I love my combination wrenches and screwdrivers. For tools like these that you need all the time just get the best. These are worth investing in. But wait, Had I known about a brand called J.H. Williams U.S.A which are supposedly an identical tool for 1/3rd the price.

Matco. Careful, they have different levels of quality under the name Matco. I have a few of the 88-tooth ratchets which are a bargain compared to snap-on and have served me very well.

Craftsman. I don't like the wrenches known on here as RP's. I would rather use a banana than their regular 36 tooth ratchet. Their screwdrivers work good the first time but dull way too fast, same goes with the professional series. My first set of chrome sockets was c-man and I thought I'll use these until they let me down and then I'll replace them with something better. 15 years later I still use them and am happy with them. I have some Professional series full-polish combination wrenches filling in some slots and they seem good.

Gearwrench. XL double box ratcheting wrenches are awesome. Also very happy with their other ratcheting wrenches. They make ratchets that look and feel like professional ratchets but don't hold up under professional use like the Matco do. They will warranty them without hassle by mail. But what professional can be without his ratchet for three weeks? Not sure where this company is going since they were bought by APEX and much of the manufacturing moved from Taiwan to China. I know they were pretty good.

Harbor freight. I have bought many tools from HF and currently own very few. That's right, many have broken or not worked from the get-go and were tossed. The price makes them very appealing but not a good value IMHO. Exceptions would be Dead blow hammer, sledge hammer with fibreglass handle (all of my wood handle HF hammers have broken), 3/8" professional air ratchet (seems to be an exact copy of an older IR model), flare nut crowfoot,

Grey Pneumatic. I overlooked these for years. I had just moved and was dirt poor and got a new job as a mechanic. I needed to rapidly expand my impact socket selection so I got these just to get me by, again thinking I will replace them when I can. No need, so impressed. I probably own over a hundred now and have not broken a single one. They say they have a lifetime warranty though there's nowhere to exchange them. No biggie, individual sockets are easily available to order and for only a few dollars each. Considering they were a few thousand dollars cheaper (all together) than the tool truck brand, I don't mind spending a few dollars if I ever need to replace one. Sunex (impact sockets only) look and perform too similar not to be of the same factory. Of my previous C-man impact sockets, I had broken some of the useful sizes which are not covered under warranty and only sold in sets.