oldtimehockey
Well-known member
My late Dad told me and my little brother to always buy the best tools that you can afford...He didn't specify a Brand Name however...
Why Buy Snap-on?
- Thread starter mechanicalchild
- Start date
- Status
Why buy any tool brand???
Why ***** about a particular brand because you cannot afford it?
Why ***** about a brand because it doesnt come off a tool truck?
Did I miss something because I thought we are supposed to be grown men..
Too much bitching and whining and not enough wrenching...
Why ***** about a particular brand because you cannot afford it?
Why ***** about a brand because it doesnt come off a tool truck?
Did I miss something because I thought we are supposed to be grown men..
Too much bitching and whining and not enough wrenching...
If you go to a dentist who has all mis-matched, worn and/or cheap-looking tools, does that dim your confidence in his ability? It does for many. On the other hand it could be argued that many customers who view your comprehensive and efficiently organized Snap-On kit will assume that you are a professional and know what you are doing. Instant valor.
99% of shops do not allow customers in the garage. If they do, they are accompanied by the service advisor for a quick look at the problem. Do you really think a customer is going to want to see every toolbox before they choose which mechanic they want to work on their vehicle? I'd bet 80% of your customers don't know what a "Snap-On" or "MAC" is...
Like others have said, it's not so much the brand, but how you take care of the tools you do own...which speaks volumes on how they'd take care of a customers ride...
Just curious...but do they comment on your box because they know about tools? Or is it because..."Ooohhhh, shiny metal box!"...?
It's funny but the Snap-On box to a tech/mech is sort of like a suit is to a businessman or salesman. It commands respect. Even if it's a used $4,000 box that you bought off your dealer after he took it in on trade, that SO name carries a lot of weight amongst the non-mechanical crowd. People in the know (and not an average dude) will also attribute the same respect to a Matco, Cornwell, Mac, etc. box.
Sad but true.
I was surfing old catalogs, and it's amazing how few tools a mechanic needed 60 years ago. I think it was a Ward's early 1950's catalog, and they offered a "complete mechanic's set" for something like $49.99, and you could buy it on installments. All it was was about 40 SAE sockets, couple ratchets, 25 SAE wrenches, some speed bars, some breaker bars, 6 screwdrivers, spark plug cleaner, spark plug gap guage, etc..
Last edited:
My box is just Proto. Nothing fancy there but I keep it nice... I think that's what people notice more than anything else.
kctyphoon
Banned
I would absolutely LOVE to see some documentation on what the actual cost is to make a $100 snap on ratchet, vs the cost on a $20 harbor freight ratchet..
I would also love to see a real test on the breaking strength of those two along with some other brands.. I have looked but have never found any good test done where a fair assessment can be made..
It would need to be fair across the board. Say a ratchet attached to a mandrel in a vise, with a chain hoist being used to pull the ratchet handle with a force gauge in between.. You would have to use a cheater bar to make the ratchets handle length a non issue between test subjects.. This way the leverage would be equal on them all.. Surprised this isn't floating around somewhere.
I would also love to see a real test on the breaking strength of those two along with some other brands.. I have looked but have never found any good test done where a fair assessment can be made..
It would need to be fair across the board. Say a ratchet attached to a mandrel in a vise, with a chain hoist being used to pull the ratchet handle with a force gauge in between.. You would have to use a cheater bar to make the ratchets handle length a non issue between test subjects.. This way the leverage would be equal on them all.. Surprised this isn't floating around somewhere.
But that really isn't a good test for a ratchet. People should really be using breaker bars on really tight bolts -- not a ratchet. A ratchet has other design attributes that make it a good ratchet besides just how much abuse it can take. Things like how comfortable the handle is, how balanced is the weight of the ratchet, how many teeth it has, etc.. A torture test really doesn't accurately reflect how long a ratchet is going to last when not abused.
If a ratchet fails a torture test, it doesn't mean that it wouldn't have survived a long life of reasonable/proper use.
Last edited:
I have been thinking about this for months! I'd love to see this as well!
If I had a couple cameras and access to a force gauge...I'd volunteer to do it. I think we should do every available manufacturer.
kctyphoon
Banned
I have to disagree because a lot of what you're mentioning is a matter of opinion or personal preference. I'm interested in the quality and failure points, which is what breaks when people use or mis-use the product. Don't you think it would be a bit telling IF a $20 ratchet from HF had the same or very close failure rating as a $100 or $150 snap on equivalent due to excessive force.. People will always ask for more than what a tool is actually rated for.. That's why failure points are sometimes 2 or 3 times what the actual tool or part is rated to handle.. Honestly how many people would spend $150 on a Long handle snap on if the new $20 HF model handled twice as much torque before breaking.. Obviously I'm being dramatic here, only trying to make a point.
Last edited:
I can't think of a practical reason that information would matter, although I would admit, purely out of curiosity, it would be interesting to know. The cost to produce these tools has no bearing on their market value.
There was a thread a while back which discussed a magazine article which destructively tested a handful of ratchets to the point of failure. The thread picked that magazine article apart for a number of reasons (some of them legitimate). I think the most common objection was the sample size of 1 they used 1 of each ratchet, and measured how much torque it took to break them, whereas a better test would use several and report averages, and high/low ratings. I don't remember exactly, but I think they all took in excess of 800 ft lbs to break (1/2" ratchets).
I have a range of ratchets. My "nicest" one is an armstrong. My "junkiest" one is a craftsman RP. I would have a dual 80 if they would ever come out with one with a quick release push button. I have had enough cheater pipe on the craftsman RP ratchet to allow me to twist of a 5/8" grade 5 bolt. It the tool is strong enough to twist off to strongest fastener one will use it on, what practical reason is there to pay more for a stronger tool? The only reason I've come up with is the nicer ratchet it a luxury I will afford myself, in the interest of making my day a little more bearable.
There was a thread a while back which discussed a magazine article which destructively tested a handful of ratchets to the point of failure. The thread picked that magazine article apart for a number of reasons (some of them legitimate). I think the most common objection was the sample size of 1 they used 1 of each ratchet, and measured how much torque it took to break them, whereas a better test would use several and report averages, and high/low ratings. I don't remember exactly, but I think they all took in excess of 800 ft lbs to break (1/2" ratchets).
I have a range of ratchets. My "nicest" one is an armstrong. My "junkiest" one is a craftsman RP. I would have a dual 80 if they would ever come out with one with a quick release push button. I have had enough cheater pipe on the craftsman RP ratchet to allow me to twist of a 5/8" grade 5 bolt. It the tool is strong enough to twist off to strongest fastener one will use it on, what practical reason is there to pay more for a stronger tool? The only reason I've come up with is the nicer ratchet it a luxury I will afford myself, in the interest of making my day a little more bearable.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
You just don't get it. Would a professional choose a clunky club of a ratchet just because it could be used as a breaker bar? Breaking strength is irrelevant.
Really? This is what you're worried about?
I think there's a substantial percentage of people out there who would flat out refuse to buy the HF tool even if it could be tested to have a breaking strength twice as high.
Breaking strength is not the ultimate criteria for measurement of tool quality. I don't think most tool failures are the result of overpowering the tool. Other things, like how much wear can it endure, rather than how much force it can bear, I think is much more relevant. How many times can you load a ratchet heavily, yet not to the point of catastrophic failure, before the ratchet guts suffer a minor deformation that slightly affects the ratchet mechanism? When discussing tool failures, everyone jumps right to the catastrophic, too much force type of failure, when the actual failures encountered in daily use are really much more subtle than that.
I'll pay more for an ergonomically pleasing tool of equivalent or greater strength than the clunky club, but I won't pay 10x more if that is the only reason.
Tronyadorable
Banned
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2014
- Messages
- 1,170
Let's turn this thread into a "I got a college education so now I polish wrenches so they're easier to clean the grease off so I can pay off my student loan and my Snap On tool bill" thread.
Oh... wait...
You're going to be polishing more than wrenches if you're going to pay off the S.O. bill............. sweetie
Are you bi-polar? Did you not read what you typed (and what I quoted). Sounds like you are the one worried about the brand and/or looks of some mechanic's tools.
I don't work in a shop, and none of my vehicles have ever seen the inside of a shop...so I don't care if they use Task Force tools and a Barbie doll purse to store them in...I'll never see them!
It was mentioned, can't we discuss Snap-On or else all we can discuss is Harbor Freight tools?
I get that. This thread however started out with a premise that Snap-On aren't a worthy option. It would have been much better if it were a Snap-On love fest thread, share what you like, leave the arguments out type of thread. The OP set up this thread to be antagonistic. That's why we can't discuss the positive aspects of Snap-On easily in this thread.
I get that. This thread however started out with a premise that Snap-On aren't a worthy option. It would have been much better if it were a Snap-On love fest thread, share what you like, leave the arguments out type of thread. The OP set up this thread to be antagonistic. That's why we can't discuss the positive aspects of Snap-On easily in this thread.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Seems we have a troll infestation lately...
I have been trying to answer the original question, the purpose of a discussion board is to discuss and put forth opinions. But it seems like it is turning into a PC vs MAC type rant.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Last edited:
Actually wouldnt it seem that we cannot have a discussion at all about snap on or harbor freight tools in ANY thread without a bunch of kids ALWAYS bitching?
MagnumForce
Well-known member
You forgot Craftsman
Boredmechanic
Banned
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2014
- Messages
- 298
I buy snap on because i enjoy it. The end.
mikebramel
Well-known member
Thank you
thesilverone
Well-known member
Believe it or not, there used to be actual real reviews (strength tests) on here (i.e ratchets turned until they broke). But now it's all about the finish inside the socket and the case the tool was displayed in.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I buy snap on and any other tool brand because I want to. Thats it. I dont need to justify it (well to the wife maybe) to anyone. If I need it I buy it. If I like the snap on version better than others I wil buy it. I dont pay too much attention to price. I probably should. But if I need it to do my job thats the only reason I need. Some stuff I buy because I want and it will speed me up.
kctyphoon
Banned
Clunky club of a ratchet? Sorry guy but it might be wise to spend 3 minutes on Google, or walk into a store to actually see what's on the shelves these days at harbor freight.. There's a reason they have such a following with some products with people that actually give them a shot instead of just dismissing them purely on a name brand basis.. I know this is probably a waste of time to even comment because some people just insist on being arrogant and close minded.
For the record, just because you have more expensive tools in your box does not automatically make you a better mechanic. The word "professional" just means you get paid for what you do. It doesn't mean you're any good at it.
Jwych
Well-known member
I like this comment
kctyphoon
Banned
Don't know why more people can't just be like this instead of playing the "mine is better than yours" game..
Wamsutta
Well-known member
People who think Snap-on is overpriced haven't used enough different brands of tools to know the difference; nor have they done enough mechanical work to understand the advantages of Snap-on. I wish I could live an extra 100 years just so I could buy more Snap-on.
Last edited:
I have SnapOn tools because I like them and they have served me well for 52
years of wrenching, I certainly don't need to justify my purchases to anyone.....
I buy the best tools I can get....and have zero issues
you buy what ever you want.....I couldn't care less what you buy, its your money
years of wrenching, I certainly don't need to justify my purchases to anyone.....
I buy the best tools I can get....and have zero issues
you buy what ever you want.....I couldn't care less what you buy, its your money
Last edited:
TheEquineFencer
Well-known member
Do you have some extra salt and butter I can have? All I did in my post somewhere else was ask about pricing...this ones starting to look like a sitcom...
logixjock
Well-known member
Heck Hiball, this has been pretty entertaining
- Status