Why Buy Snap-on?

[ez-duzit]

We admire, adore, and want to possess and collect beauty (or what we find beautiful).

 

[BirdMobile]

I cant believe it. 20 pages and still going. Don't people have anything better to do?

Apparently you don't...

 

[espyking83]

Cool! Good to know... I just tried my hand at polishing. I thought I'd have to replace a bunch of them, but now I was able to get most of them from this..

To this..

Yes I have! They ship fast and they stock alot too. But some items I am looking for are 2-4 week special order. It's impossible to stock every single thing, ya know? I guess this even goes for domestic brands as well.




Nice to know you will be my Hazet guy from today forward!

Bench grinders and polishing wheels are amazing. I used one to modify the heads on my Proto Challengers and take them from satin to full polish. The heads fit in tight places and they perform like world class wrenches. I usually only modify chinese tools because they're cheap, but after my Tekton angle wrenches turned out so well I rolled the dice on my Proto's. I also made some of my big *** Martin flat heads into Dzus drivers, also polished them up. Will post some pics when I get back to work Monday.

 

[Wakefield]

Looks like they are working on their website! Needs it.

 

[espyking83]

Here's how the driver turned on on the polishing wheel.

 

[espyking83]

I dont know why it wont let me upload 3 pics at once anymore

 

[KinzeMech]

I would really think that you guys would get tired of repeating the same old tired responses to these threads.

If you read these threads long enough, eventually someone posts something that makes it worthwhile.

For this particular thread, I think it's the recent post of the very effective wrench polishing. That looks nice. As with any polishing process, it is effectively removing material. I wonder how many polishing cycles it takes to get to the center of a snap on wrench.


I still read, and sometimes participate in this type of thread, but I'm beginning to wonder why. I buy snap on, but I also buy craftsman, gearwrench, armstrong, mayhew, multiple harbor freight brands, NAPA, etc. I don't think I can single out any one brand in my toolbox and get all butthurt about it (I am annoyed with the quality of the local truck service, but I've bought online for the same price and faster delivery, so what's to lose?). What is it I'm missing that makes me unable to do this?

 

[gsingh]

Apparently you don't...

Nope, got nothing better to do. Been in my bed since last Sunday.

 

[85camaro]

Happy wrenching to all!!! No matter what brand of tools you use.

 

[Hiball]

If you read these threads long enough, eventually someone posts something that makes it worthwhile.

For this particular thread, I think it's the recent post of the very effective wrench polishing. That looks nice. As with any polishing process, it is effectively removing material. I wonder how many polishing cycles it takes to get to the center of a snap on wrench.


I still read, and sometimes participate in this type of thread, but I'm beginning to wonder why. I buy snap on, but I also buy craftsman, gearwrench, armstrong, mayhew, multiple harbor freight brands, NAPA, etc. I don't think I can single out any one brand in my toolbox and get all butthurt about it (I am annoyed with the quality of the local truck service, but I've bought online for the same price and faster delivery, so what's to lose?). What is it I'm missing that makes me unable to do this?

That is literally like trying to find a Needle in a Haystack, It doesnt happen very often, The Majority of the time the Mods need to babysit them till it gets to the point where they get closed.

Lets Not Forget.. Right Now there is a so-called 16 year old who started this thread probably just laughing his *** off at the back and forth. OH.. and here is a link to his recent thread. What is his Question Again? He seems to already know the Answer.. 10-1 This isn't the 1st time he has signed up for a Account here at GJ.

 

[Toolhorder]

Do Toyota mechanics tend to have a lot of KoKen and/or KTC tools?

Hell no. I work in a Toyota dealer and we use whatever. Luckily Harbor Freight is far away for now...

 

[Karl_B]

I'm just waiting for the answer about making that Snap-On wrench shine. I have a few that could use a good clean up, but I'm always afraid I'll make them worse.

 

[gsingh]

I'm just waiting for the answer about making that Snap-On wrench shine. I have a few that could use a good clean up, but I'm always afraid I'll make them worse.

X2, hurry up man

 

[thesilverone]

I'm just waiting for the answer about making that Snap-On wrench shine. I have a few that could use a good clean up, but I'm always afraid I'll make them worse.

X2, hurry up man

there's this new thing called google. Have you heard of it?

 

[Toolhorder]

Because with tools, "holds value well", doesn't mean it gains value. It just means it depreciates less than other alternatives. If you're lucky, AND you sit on it for a decade, maybe you can sell it for 75% of the original investment. The investment value of these tools is NOT the residual value in them when I am done with them. The investment value of these tools is my worth as a professional mechanic, the return on that investment is the value of the work I am equipped to do because I own them.

A lot of my snap on tools were bought used on ebay/craigslist/etc. I typically buy it if I can get it for less than half of current list price. If that's somebody's investment I'm buying at 50% of common purchase price, well that kind of ***** for him.


Actually buying FOR resale as an investment is something done with appreciable commodities. Tools are depreciable commodities, snap on just happens to lose less than the others, and despite that, still isn't automatically the best choice. You can buy a snap on tool for $600, use it a few years, and hopefully sell it for $400, and have a net loss of $200. You can buy a harbor freight tool for $75 and throw it in the trash can when you're done, and be $125 in a better position than if you had spent for the tool that "holds value".

You're not counting the fact that the tool has make you X amount of profit from using it so it's not a net loss at all.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I would really think that you guys would get tired of repeating the same old tired responses to these threads.

It's like Charlie Brown thinking Lucy is going to hold the football for him.

 

[KinzeMech]

You're not counting the fact that the tool has make you X amount of profit from using it so it's not a net loss at all.

Tools don't make profit, just like spoons don't make people fat, pencils don't misspell words.

Tooling is a necessary expense in order for me to perform the work which does make the profit. They are more correctly considered as overhead than as an investment asset. My post was in response to someone who discussed the investment value of tools in the context of consideration as an investment asset. For an asset to produce profit in this context, it must be an appreciable asset. Tools are not appreciable assets, at least not in the short term. They are more likely (nearly certainly) to depreciate, and substantially so.

For what it's worth, I did mention the value of the profit potential made possible by usage of the tools in the last line of the first paragraph, even though attributing that profit potential to the tool is not technically correct from an accounting standpoint.

The investment value of these tools is my worth as a professional mechanic, the return on that investment is the value of the work I am equipped to do because I own them.

It would be best considered as the cost of operating that tool is it's original purchase price, less the value recovered at the sale of the used tool when it is disposed of, amortized over the useful lifetime of the tool, but that's really a more complicated analysis than a single tool is worth.

The short answer is the only valid way to make money by investing in tools is to use those tools. (This is a generalization, there are bound to be exceptions, but this will most commonly be the case.)

 

[spoon671]

Tools don't make profit, just like spoons don't make people fat, pencils don't misspell words.

Yup, just like guns don't kill people.

He does bring up a good point though..I see soooo many guys justifying their Snap-On purchases with claims that the (Snap-On) tools make them money. I think that's ridiculous.

 

[KinzeMech]

That is literally like trying to find a Needle in a Haystack, It doesnt happen very often, The Majority of the time the Mods need to babysit them till it gets to the point where they get closed.

Lets Not Forget.. Right Now there is a so-called 16 year old who started this thread probably just laughing his *** off at the back and forth. OH.. and here is a link to his recent thread. What is his Question Again? He seems to already know the Answer.. 10-1 This isn't the 1st time he has signed up for a Account here at GJ.

You make a good point, although in this case it's more like sitting back and watching the haystack unravel itself. It's not quality entertainment, but it's something else to do while simultaneously having a beer and watching the game. At least, that's what works for me.

As for the OP, who cares? After about the 20th post, it's rare that the thread is still about the OP anyway. By that point most threads usually have a life all there own and have gone where they will. When is the 5th or 10th page of a thread ever still on the same topic as post #1?

Threads like this are kind of like people watching, except you don't have to go to walmart to do it I've been reading a few of these in the frame of mind of attempting to understand the psychology of those who feel so strongly they must prove the value of their purchasing decisions, or must disprove the value of those who have chosen differently from them. If you take a step back and watch it all unfold, it is kind of fascinating (for a while).

 

[Hiball]

You make a good point, although in this case it's more like sitting back and watching the haystack unravel itself. It's not quality entertainment, but it's something else to do while simultaneously having a beer and watching the game. At least, that's what works for me.

As for the OP, who cares? After about the 20th post, it's rare that the thread is still about the OP anyway. By that point most threads usually have a life all there own and have gone where they will. When is the 5th or 10th page of a thread ever still on the same topic as post #1?

Threads like this are kind of like people watching, except you don't have to go to walmart to do it I've been reading a few of these in the frame of mind of attempting to understand the psychology of those who feel so strongly they must prove the value of their purchasing decisions, or must disprove the value of those who have chosen differently from them. If you take a step back and watch it all unfold, it is kind of fascinating (for a while).

I'm fairly certain I've literally seen "every possible argument" for or against a specific brand, I promise you... It will eventually get tiring.

 

[gsingh]

there's this new thing called google. Have you heard of it?

No, I dont think I have.

 

[Ruger_556]

I'm fairly certain I've literally seen "every possible argument" for or against a specific brand, I promise you... It will eventually get tiring.

Yup... Does anyone else think we could just have one "chat thread" to contain all this BS (which is the point it has gotten to)?

 

[AndrewV]

No ruger.
Everyone needs to spread the chaos, to every corner of the internet.
Even our little slice.

 

[KinzeMech]

Yup, just like guns don't kill people.

He does bring up a good point though..I see soooo many guys justifying their Snap-On purchases with claims that the (Snap-On) tools make them money. I think that's ridiculous.

The other odd thing I've noticed is that internet forums are the most common place to find people who feel they *must* justify their selections. I can think of one time (in person) that someone asked me a question that amounted to justifying a tool purchase. A coworker (who had borrowed my air hammer 3x that week) asked if that air hammer was worth it's price. I told him, "Unless you had one I could borrow, yes, it's been worth it." He doesn't ask anymore, but my air hammer still gets passed around the shop.

 

[pi_guy]

My Snap-on tools make me money and save me time which makes me money.

But after 22 pages I am still waiting for somebody to tell me who makes better 1/4 flex sockets.

Plus if you do not want multiple people's opinion do not read this get off the internet and go read a book.

 

[wornoutoldman]

I see soooo many guys justifying their Snap-On purchases with claims that the (Snap-On) tools make them money. I think that's ridiculous.

Please explain. My tools made me a lot of money over the years. If you work with tools and get paid because of it, those tools are making you money.

Now if your tool passion is hobby or polisher based then I could see your point. But I still wouldn't call a desire to have great tools ridiculous.

 

[ATC]

You can make money with tools that are not from the tool trucks. Hell...you can make more money with them because you have less initial investment to repay.

All these same old justifications for truck brands are getting old and disproven. The only justification you need is "because I wanted them."

 

[Conductor562]

You can make money with tools that are not from the tool trucks. Hell...you can make more money with them because you have less initial investment to repay.

All these same old justifications for truck brands are getting old and disproven. The only justification you need is "because I wanted them."

That pretty much sums it up right there

 

[spoon671]

Please explain. My tools made me a lot of money over the years. If you work with tools and get paid because of it, those tools are making you money.

Now if your tool passion is hobby or polisher based then I could see your point. But I still wouldn't call a desire to have great tools ridiculous.

Sorry I only meant that some guys justify their Snap-On purchases by solely claiming that Snap-On tools make them money. I dunno..I can think of plenty other brands that can also make them money, not just Snap-On.

I'm sure you are a competent mechanic, and I'm sure you'd do just as well if Snap-On went out of business today.

But yeah I have always had the desire to have great tools, and I've needlessly spent lots more on tools than my wife knows about. Hazet, Snap-On, Stahwille, Gedore.. the list goes on. And I won't justify my tool purchases to anyone either...no need for us to, right?

I just love tools, and I'll buy what I desire. This is really all that needs to be said by guys.

 

[spoon671]

You can make money with tools that are not from the tool trucks. Hell...you can make more money with them because you have less initial investment to repay.



All these same old justifications for truck brands are getting old and disproven. The only justification you need is "because I wanted them."

Agreed!

 

[kctyphoon]

I can't see someone spending $150,000 dollars in student loans to get degrees in social work, to then make $45,000 a year in a social services government job. Happens everyday though. Do you have any problem with the government backing loans for just about every college in the country, even though only 50% of them finish their degrees, but 100% of the loans are still due? Isn't that a government tactic? Who benefits the most from that, other then the colleges that all say you need a degree to get anywhere in the country?

And as your first statement says, you are not a professionial tech. So you probably don't understand the difference between a "you get paid by the hours you flag" guy and the guy that gets paid the same if the job takes 2 hours or all day. For the pro tech, time is money. For the backyard hack to cheap to pay someone for a job "I could totally do", go get your Harbor Freight tools to change the spark plugs in your F-150. A pro will be there later to fix it after you break the plugs in the head and need a tool kit to get them out.

I guess the main thing that fires me up is all these "Shadetree Guys" that think most mechanics are just dumb hillbillies that don't know they are being duped into buying overpriced tools. Most of them are just as smart as you, and just as good with money as you are.

The problem with the analogy you're making is that it's impossible to obtain careers in some fields without a degree, and the $150,000 student loans for a $45,000 yr job is a little bit of a stretch - unless you plan on sending your kids to Princeton because they want to become a 3rd grade teacher for the NY public schools. Unfortunately though, sometimes this does happen, but only because the real jobs are not available and people have to settle for SOMETHING just to have an income at all.. The only parallel we can make is that, yes, it is possible to get that same degree in another school for that social work job, for probably $25,000. AND because that job that only makes $45k a year, the degree form the less expensive school will serve just as well..

Do you see where I'm going with this? It's not like "Danny's Auto" requires that you own a $10,000 snap on tool box just so you can apply for the job..

I'm not, and I don't think anyone is saying that snap on tools don't have their place.. Most people just think "their place" isn't in the hands of a $25hr mechanic when there are other options that will work just as well for less money. It's not like there are no other choice between Snap On or Craftsman, without sacrificing quality while spending less money.

Also, Please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say anyone was dumb, or call anyone names.. Likewise - please don't insinuate that I need someone like yourself to "rescue me" if something goes wrong with my car. Yes, I'm not a professional mechanic, but that doesn't mean I don't make a living using tools.. And yes, sometimes I will bring my cars to a shop, but it's only because I don't want to be bothered, or the money is better spent having a quick turn around because I'll make more money going to my own job vs staying home to do it myself.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

You can make money with tools that are not from the tool trucks. Hell...you can make more money with them because you have less initial investment to repay.

Tell that to the guy who's using cheap tools and rounding fasteners trying to do a job. But you don't want to hear that. Doesn't fit with your HF worship.

 

[Toyota mechanic]

Tell that to the guy who's using cheap tools and rounding fasteners trying to do a job. But you don't want to hear that. Doesn't fit with your HF worship.

Well.......... I love Snap-on tools, but honestly, good, non-truck tools DO NOT round fasteners. GearWrench ratcheting wrenches trump all the truck brands in variety, and durability, not to mention price.... There are instances where a truck tool is superior, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, but for the most part.. NO.

I am not a truck tool basher, far from, Matco is almost hyped, more expensive GearWrench...That is good still, but the price???? As they go imported too, is it REALLY better than GearWrench????? The tool brands are blending. Snap-on is the best bet from the 'big 4' but, not absolutely necessary.

There are lots of brands to be used and enjoyed. Snappy is one of them. You won't be unsuccessful with good non-truck brands either.

 

[logixjock]

Yup, just like guns don't kill people.

Oh ****, one of THOSE guys.....

 

[Toyota mechanic]

My Snap-on tools make me money and save me time which makes me money.

But after 22 pages I am still waiting for somebody to tell me who makes better 1/4 flex sockets.

Plus if you do not want multiple people's opinion do not read this get off the internet and go read a book.

Cornwell and Snap-on in this case, in my experience. One of the truck tool edges is in all swivel and universal sockets. Others are not bad........... but you said best. Hazet is probably awesome too... Proto if they make them. Been real happy with Proto tools, but no experience with their universal sockets. I had Snappy's and now have Cornwell ones, both top notch...

 

[spoon671]

I don't want to support anyone's argument here, but this is just my experience.

I did not go to college. However I did mention before that my wife did. Through her, I have met quite a few people whom she knows from college. Also the field in which I currently work is riddled with college grads.

The facts that I have observed are this:

$132k for four years at UC Berkeley.

$40k for tuition only masters degree ($80k for tuition only for MBA or law -- low conservatives)

$60k for PhD (tuition only, average)

----

Now, I personally know of one person who at UC Berkeley has completed her PhD (you do the math) and works a $50k/year job.

I personally know of another who makes $70k/year with just a BA from UC Berkeley.

I know of another who makes $58k with undergrad at UC Berkeley, and a Harvard Masters. (Sorry I don't have Harvard costs)

My wife's opinion is that it's more common to see college grads who have over $100k worth of education and are working at $50-90k/year careers. I was actually surprised by this. Blows me away.

 

[ATC]

College is the biggest scam currently going on in our country IMO. Their prices are ridiculous, and only going up! False promises of a steady career making $** per year or hour.

You can sit in a classroom for years and not learn a thing.
OR
You can work in your career field for a week and learn A LOT more...

 

[jd_1138]

My wife's opinion is that it's more common to see college grads who have over $100k worth of education and are working at $50-90k/year careers. I was actually surprised by this. Blows me away.

To me, I'd say 50k to 90k is a hell of a good living. If they are smart with their paychecks, they could pay off those 100k loans within 10 years. That means not buying a BMW/Mercedes, not going to Starbucks twice a day, buying a modest house, etc..

 

[Ruger_556]

To me, I'd say 50k to 90k is a hell of a good living.

Not for 100K in school it isn't... Heck, 10K at a tech school will get you that.

 

[spoon671]

College is the biggest scam currently going on in our country IMO. Their prices are ridiculous, and only going up! False promises of a steady career making $** per year or hour.

You're not kidding. My best friend from high school has a masters (SFSU '05 + SF Academy '08) and is always between jobs, struggling, living in a one-bedroom apartment with one of his siblings. While he was in college, I was out ******* off. Now, I make twice what he does when he's working.

My brothers best friend graduated from UC Davis back in 2012. I'm not sure what he studied, but maybe something that is in a field that is overly competitive in our area, or something useless like history. Currently working at Starbucks.

These are real world examples very close to me, and man, it's scary.

To me, I'd say 50k to 90k is a hell of a good living. If they are smart with their paychecks, they could pay off those 100k loans within 10 years. That means not buying a BMW/Mercedes, not going to Starbucks twice a day, buying a modest house, etc..

And imagine if you have a kid and hobbies? This means no Snap-On tools too. Oh and don't forget you have to save up for kids college fund.

Not for 100K in school it isn't... Heck, 10K at a tech school will get you that.

Exactly! I make more than that with zero school.