Why Buy Snap-on?

[Toyota mechanic]

Why Buy Snap-ON?

Cause there are three kinds of people in this world...

#1 Those that buy Snap-On

#2 Those that wish they could buy Snap-On, and quietly keep it to themselves, and hope someday they can step up to the best.

#3 Those that wish they could buy Snap-On and go on and on and on buying and comparing other brands that don't even come close. The ones that are the loudest are the ones that wish they could have Snap-On the most. Believe that.

Which one are YOU ?

I am the 4th. I bought into it when younger, got in over my head, paid the price. Liked the tools, they were very good. I lost dealer, and had no service for the tools. I had surgery one winter, and couldn't work. I sold my tools and box for about 50% of what it was worth new, made it through, winter........healed. Bought a use MAC box, filled it full of Craftsman, GearWrench, and various brands, and some Snap-on, I had left. Never desired to spend, and be in debt again. The Snap-on tools were fine, so is what I use now. IMO they were very good, but not worth the price... I have done it both ways. It is just an ego trip in most cases. Snap-on tools sure are pretty, before they get worn like they all do. Great re-sale value, and product. Don't roast your nuts financially to get it. Live better. If you have them great. It is all ridiculous.

 

[espyking83]

I used to think that Snap On made some amazing tools.... Then I realized that 99% of their tools I thought were actually a step ahead of the competition are actually rebranded, LoL.

 

[gsingh]

I am the 4th. I bought into it when younger, got in over my head, paid the price. Liked the tools, they were very good. I lost dealer, and had no service for the tools. I had surgery one winter, and couldn't work. I sold my tools and box for about 50% of what it was worth new, made it through, winter........healed. Bought a use MAC box, filled it full of Craftsman, GearWrench, and various brands, and some Snap-on, I had left. Never desired to spend, and be in debt again. The Snap-on tools were fine, so is what I use now. IMO they were very good, but not worth the price... I have done it both ways. It is just an ego trip in most cases. Snap-on tools sure are pretty, before they get worn like they all do. Great re-sale value, and product. Don't roast your nuts financially to get it. Live better. If you have them great. It is all ridiculous.

See this guy gets it. ^

Edit: I meant toyota mechanic

 

[Boredmechanic]

I'm glad that you approve....



Much nicer. Fit, finish and design. German tool, just like German cars are superior in design and construction to their U.S. counterparts.

The ratchets are sloppy IMO. And the Geodore wrenches look like they are from 1920.

 

[gsingh]

I used to think that Snap On made some amazing tools.... Then I realized that 99% of their tools I thought were actually a step ahead of the competition are actually rebranded, LoL.

Such as?

 

[warmpancakes]

Much nicer. Fit, finish and design. German tool, just like German cars are superior in design and construction to their U.S. counterparts.

Smart car?

 

[gsingh]

SO is like religion. You are brainwashed to believe in one, and only one at a young age.

I'll agree with you on this one. Ever since I started in the auto industry(17), it was beaten into me that Snap-On was the only way to go. I was warned about the price though.

 

[gsingh]

A lot of people can afford SO just fine...but choose not to because they think it is a waste of money.

So instead of SO, I buy new streetbikes, late model trucks with aftermarket bolt-on's, guns, ammo, reloading equipment, welders, plasma's, 4x4 truck parts, ATV's, build big blocks, etc...

Yes, my 'hobbies' might be a dumb use of money to some...but it damn sure provides more fun than a ratchet or wrench set...no matter what brand!

That is perfectly understandable, I understand that people can buy other stuff instead of buying SO tools. But what really pisses me off (don't know why) is when they start bashing SO, or X vs Y.

BTW I like you hobbies

 

[espyking83]

Such as?

Extractors, taps/dies, etc..


The rest are just completely overpriced tools because the driver has to make his share. Great tools, but over-priced.

 

[gsingh]

Since ur an MERICAN that dern dang has lock tools y'all pert near done speaking some English some day...what?

 

[espyking83]

Name one tool made by snap on that another company cant do as good- if not better--for cheaper.

 

[gsingh]

Extractors, taps/dies, etc..


The rest are just completely overpriced tools because the driver has to make his share. Great tools, but over-priced.

I agree, but look at their warranty though. Tap or die breaks it will get replaced on the spot, if they got it on the truck.

 

[espyking83]

I agree, but look at their warranty though. Tap or die breaks it will get replaced on the spot, if they got it on the truck.

That is why snap on is worth the premium price. Customer service. No hassle warranty. They do it best, there is no competition in that department. No arguments here. But when i read **** like" there are two types of people...", it makes me literally LOL. It couldnt be further from the truth.

 

[chicane]

Smart car?

Try M3.

 

[chicane]

I agree, but look at their warranty though. Tap or die breaks it will get replaced on the spot, if they got it

Sears/HF....done.

 

[gsingh]

Sears/HF....done.

Ok, so let me stop working and clock off. Drive to sears/HF get the item(if in stock.) Then go back to work. Sorry......not worth it.

Call my SO guy and he shows up with the tool....done.

 

[gsingh]

That is why snap on is worth the premium price. Customer service. No hassle warranty. They do it best, there is no competition in that department. No arguments here. But when i read **** like" there are two types of people...", it makes me literally LOL. It couldnt be further from the truth.

Totally agree with you brother. I don't like it either when they start doing that ****. Whatever floats your boat. I am not gonna sit here and tell someone that HF or sears is ****. Why would I? If they like those tools and it gets the job done for them, that's all that matters.

What bothers me is when THOSE people start bitchin about SO or some other stuff.

 

[ez-duzit]

g--good point. On such a vulnerable tool, like a tap, I'm surprised if they would replace it.

Talking tap & die sets, their smallish tap handle is especially crappy and won't stay tight without inordinate force--the threads are too coarse and the deburring job is poor. And the plastic case is not durable. But everyone must know that SO doesn't make stuff like taps and dies? That they must be re-branded?

Like any brand, SO has their specialties--certainly most of their wrenches, tool boxes, ... etc. But any re-branded stuff, I don't have greater expectations than any other good name brand, like Channel-Lock, Vise-Grip, ...

I started buying Craftsman tools in the '50's. But my shop now includes so many brands that it would be impossible to list. Heavy on Craftsman, then Snap-On and many others, including some Chinese tools from HF before they became Harbor Freight.

 

[Hiball]

Sears/HF....done.

Not sure about HF (and not going to find out.. Lol) but Sears Does not warrant tap/dies and hasn't for quite awhile

CRAFTSMAN HAND TOOL FULL WARRANTY
If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. This warranty does not cover the taps and dies, which are expendable parts that can wear out from normal use within the warranty period.

Outside of truck branded sets I've picked up second hand, I normally just buy Irwin which OEM's for most truck brands. The Savings in this case makes it worthwhile to simply replace the broken piece if Irwin balks on there determination on it being a worn tool or defect.

 

[Notorious BRT]

Much nicer. Fit, finish and design. German tool, just like German cars are superior in design and construction to their U.S. counterparts.

You mean like our Mercedes that grenaded a $5,000 turbo at 40,000 miles? My Cummins finally lost a turbo at 290,000, after being subjected to incredible amounts of abuse and it only lost it then due to low oil. The German's make some good stuff but it sure as hell isn't perfect.

I'm not sure how "fit and finish" could be better. I found a Snap On ratchet that had been riding in the frame of a truck for close to a year. After some cursory cleaning you could shave in the chrome reflection, and it still functions flawlessly. Snap On's 80 tooth ratchet mechanism is widely recognized as the finest on Earth. You claim otherwise, so show us how your German tools are so much better.

 

[warmpancakes]

Try M3.

Great cars on e90 chassis new ones eh not so much they lost their soul

 

[Justanoldguy]

I've been using tools for near on 50 years and never ever had a snap on tool in my hand.
NEVER felt the need to waste money... Like buying Mercedes when a Ford does the same job as good.

 

[chicane]

Ok, so let me stop working and clock off. Drive to sears/HF get the item(if in stock.) Then go back to work. Sorry......not worth it.

Call my SO guy and he shows up with the tool....done.

That extra 50% - 100% overhead is not worth the convenience... sorry. That and I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC. So I can pick and choose the best tools on the market at my leisure and do not have to succumb to whatever some overpriced tool truck guy shoves down my throat. I can wait for a shipment to take 10 days from Germany if I want just so I can get that exact Hazet socket/ratchet set that I wanted. That is the beauty of not having to buy from a tool truck guy.

 

[BFHtime]

Tastes great!

Less filling!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

 

[espyking83]

The best thing about Snap On is their industrial tool brands, IMO. Williams/Bahco. Fantastic quality at affordable prices. I've been selling my Snap On tools for months, replacing each tool with 3-4 industrial brand tools of the same quality.

 

[nieuport17]

+1 lol

 

[Gmonkee]

Just for fun I started building a tool kit of premium tools from the 20's to the 50's. Full wrench sets are nearly impossible but with using 4 brands I ranged out sizes and styles as best possible.

There are tools in there from Germany, Euro metrics and about all the SAE is US made.

I also have my best tools from the modern stocks in another kit I use at work. That has Wurth, US made Stanley and some better quality Asain stuff. With the exception of ratchet wrenches pretty much equally capable. Its not a huge pile of stuff, just the most used basics.

Either kit can handle the same jobs with only minor adjustments on my part. A good condition 80 year old tool by Armstrong or Billings still holds user value equal to my modern stuff. It doesn't have to be treated differently, they'll still take abuse.
I wouldn't think that any quality, well made tool of any origin would really be that different as described here by some.

But hey, if using only _________ branded tools makes anyone a better tech the more power to them. I subscribe to the idea of cherry picking the best of every brand I can to get what makes me happy.

 

[Hiball]

But hey, if using only _________ branded tools makes anyone a better tech the more power to them. I subscribe to the idea of cherry picking the best of every brand I can to get what makes me happy.

Im Fairly certain that is a Internet Myth that gets spread from Forum to forum, I seriously doubt there is any full time mechanics out there that only USE 1 brand of tools. It makes for good discussion to instinuate ones Kool-Aid or cult following but is Highly unlikely. The closest tool box ive ever seen with only 1 brand of tool in person or Pictures was MNJ in his Harbor freight years.

 

[jd_1138]

I've been using tools for near on 50 years and never ever had a snap on tool in my hand.
NEVER felt the need to waste money... Like buying Mercedes when a Ford does the same job as good.

My dad worked as a tech at a Mercedes dealership for a couple of years when he got back from the Vietnam War. He hates Mercedes cars. And he thinks SO tools are overrated. He's a Dodge and Ford and Craftsman/SK type of fella.

 

[supersteve]

You guys who prefer Ginger to Mary Ann are nuts. Why would anyone get a stiffy over that plastic barbie doll? Yuck. Girl-next-door types are yummy.



Also, I just wish people would stop misspelling " 'Murica".

And jd 1138, I'm with your dad on the car thing. I got roped into being an M-B tech briefly 20 years ago. Holy Christ on a bamboo raft, what overpriced garbage. The people who buy into the whole German car thing, now THERE are the brainwashed kool-aid drinkers.

 

[toolslut6.0]

You mean like our Mercedes that grenaded a $5,000 turbo at 40,000 miles? My Cummins finally lost a turbo at 290,000, after being subjected to incredible amounts of abuse and it only lost it then due to low oil. The German's make some good stuff but it sure as hell isn't perfect.

I'm not sure how "fit and finish" could be better. I found a Snap On ratchet that had been riding in the frame of a truck for close to a year. After some cursory cleaning you could shave in the chrome reflection, and it still functions flawlessly. Snap On's 80 tooth ratchet mechanism is widely recognized as the finest on Earth. You claim otherwise, so show us how your German tools are so much better.

I agree. Never see the Germans using Dana 60 front axles. But I do enjoy my snap on / mac tools. They get me through the week at work. I have some sk stuff that I love too. But as far as craftsman goes these days I'm pretty scared to buy their stuff. They refuse to warranty my stuff if I walk in with my uniforms on. Their socket set that I bought a year ago is of lesser quality than my atd sockets. But just keep hating on good tool brands such as snap on just because they charge more for front ******* door service. If sk had tool vendors that drove trucks around prices would go up too. **** think about what you post before you say it.

 

[supersteve]

I agree. Never see the Germans using Dana 60 front axles. But I do enjoy my snap on / mac tools. They get me through the week at work. I have some sk stuff that I love too. But as far as craftsman goes these days I'm pretty scared to buy their stuff. They refuse to warranty my stuff if I walk in with my uniforms on. Their socket set that I bought a year ago is of lesser quality than my atd sockets. But just keep hating on good tool brands such as snap on just because they charge more for front ******* door service. If sk had tool vendors that drove trucks around prices would go up too. **** think about what you post before you say it.

FWIW I've had a few S-K truck guys over the years.

 

[AndrewV]

Omg, tired of seeing this at the top of the board, daily.
We've burned this discussion to ground. On plenty of other threads to guys.

 

[Gmonkee]

Hiball, I think HF is one of a handfull of retail stores that actually can get you all the basics and the most used specalty tools under one roof.

MFG brands that is a smaller list without rebranding some of the catalog from other sources. No Mex brand can make the mark without rebranding for sure.

Stanley owning so many different brands in so wide a range of products gets the closest but they are not all "professional" or industrial brands as is Snappy.

It seems that it would be quite difficult to have EVERYTHING a tech would want in all one brand. A weekend warrior or homeowner, its possible.

 

[toolslut6.0]

FWIW I've had a few S-K truck guys over the years.

I've heard of people selling multiple brands of tools like sk and sunex and stuff. But they were sk reps?

 

[supersteve]

I've heard of people selling multiple brands of tools like sk and sunex and stuff. But they were sk reps?

I had two guys I can think of: one in Pennsylvania in the early 90s and one in Oregon up until about five years ago. I can't remember what the PA guy's truck said but the OR guy's truck had "S-K" painted on the side, I think it was white and green. So I'm pretty sure the OR guy at least was an S-K dealer.

They both peddled other stuff too, the PA guy sold lots of gimmicky ****. The other guy sold a lot of decent Taiwan stuff. I got some Sunex and Astro Pneumatic from him.

 

[gsingh]

You mean like our Mercedes that grenaded a $5,000 turbo at 40,000 miles? My Cummins finally lost a turbo at 290,000, after being subjected to incredible amounts of abuse and it only lost it then due to low oil. The German's make some good stuff but it sure as hell isn't perfect.

I'm not sure how "fit and finish" could be better. I found a Snap On ratchet that had been riding in the frame of a truck for close to a year. After some cursory cleaning you could shave in the chrome reflection, and it still functions flawlessly. Snap On's 80 tooth ratchet mechanism is widely recognized as the finest on Earth. You claim otherwise, so show us how your German tools are so much better.

This is some creepy ****. I just did a turbo on a 2012 S550 , also 40,000 miles. $100,000+ car, but a total POS.

 

[Hiball]

Hiball, I think HF is one of a handfull of retail stores that actually can get you all the basics and the most used specalty tools under one roof.

MFG brands that is a smaller list without rebranding some of the catalog from other sources. No Mex brand can make the mark without rebranding for sure.

Stanley owning so many different brands in so wide a range of products gets the closest but they are not all "professional" or industrial brands as is Snappy.

It seems that it would be quite difficult to have EVERYTHING a tech would want in all one brand. A weekend warrior or homeowner, its possible.

Correct, that is exactly what I was saying. I know of NO mechanics personally who solely use "1" specific brand regardless of OEM.

 

[toolslut6.0]

Yeah. I've never had the privilege of cheap tools with convenience like the tool truck. I'd prefer that over having to run across town to get to napa for a 5 dollar socket