Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

[damon18]

Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

I'm sorting through my Dad and Grand Dad's tools that are in the old Snap On KR56 KR351

I was picking out the flare nut wrenches and noticed something odd, the Mac OB 1618 is labeled No Guarantee and the Snap On RXV-1214-S is marked NO GUAR

Were these seconds? Maybe sold at a discount because of a defect?

The Mac size markings seem odd because the 1/2" and 9/16" are upside down from each other. But I don't know if that is normal.

Tried to search this question but no luck.

 

[Toolmaker65]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

It is possible that they were manufactured as part of a military contract. I have a few Snap On tools that were from military sets and they are all marked 'NO GUAR'. Probably the same with the MAC.

Sent from my LM-Q610(FGN) using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bob15]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

I have only ever seen that on tappet wrenches. On a tubing wrench, that is a new one.

Maybe too many people were using them as if it was a 6 point (OK, 5 point) wrench, putting too much torque on them and snapping off part of the wrench and then trying to get them replaced/warrantied.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

I will go double check this, but I am pretty sure that flare nut wrenches were not guaranteed. Like many other Snap-on tools, tools they thought were susceptible to breakage were exempt from the guarantee. They are denoted throughout every catalog with a star symbol as forewarned with a Note, on the Introduction page (typically, page 2 or 3), where the guarantee was stated, starting in 1939 (Catalog N).

Common sense dictates some of these (e.g., cellulose tipped hammers). Also anything with a tiny, thin, easily damaged edge or tip, for example, such as all the smallest sizes (/32nds) in pin, starter, and drift punches, and all Phillips head screwdrivers. Sockets that were not guaranteed fall into one of two categories: (1) special small sockets with tiny forged structures that could easily be damaged, such as Midget drive (1/4-inch) carburetor sockets with prongs, refrigeration sockets for packing gland nuts, and all Midget and Ferret (3/8-inch) drive screwdriver attachments, and (2) special connecting rod sockets (for Ford, Cadillac, Buick, etc) which had really thin walls for access.

My hunch on the flare nut wrenches is the lack of structural integrity in the ring. Think of any old box wrench you have with a slight spit in the ring. It usually gets worse (spreading) with normal use. In the case of flare nut wrenches, the gap is intentional, but if you try to use it for more leverage than intended, you can see how you could easily just bend either of the ring sections outward or break them with abusive prying action.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

I have confirmed my post above. Flare nut wrenches in Catalogs T (1950) through Catalog Y (1962) were NOT GUARANTEED. Doesn't say why. It never does, by the way, for any of the NO GUAR tools, other than the note in the front of the catalog implying susceptibility to breakage. But in every case it makes sense when you think about it further, and I am sticking with my rationale, which I can see that I x-posted with bob15, who backed into the same hunch.

 

[damon18]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

Thanks Lugz, great info as usual.

The size markings on the Mac look strange to me, is it normal for the sizes to be opposite orientation to each other? Not used to seeing that on wrenches.


Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[snapmom]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

Some "not guar" Snap on did not have the Snap on name, did have the model number.

 

[h~moto]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

My Snap-On wrench with pivoting heads is labeled not guar.

 

[damon18]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

Wonder if we could change the thread title to something like "Show your No Guarantee an Not Guar tools". Use it to keep collecting pictures of tools with these stamps.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

You can try editing it yourself. It never works for me. It changes it in the open thread, but not in the list of threads. Or you could ask a mod.

If you go to the Snap-on thread and use the 'search thread' tool for 'No gaurantee' or 'No guar' you will see several posts pop up with examples and discussion. I know I have posted a few items in that thread and I have answered several questions on that topic before there as well.

 

[Mikeske]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

Industrial contracts also were often mark with no guarantee also. When I was employed at Boeing they went to providing tools and they ordered all Snap-on tools and ordered with no warranty.

 

[damon18]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

My Snap-On wrench with pivoting heads is labeled not guar.

That's pretty cool with the hinged ends, were there sets of those, or were they made for a specific machine purpose?

 

[snapmom]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

B3411
I use to think these were refrigeration wrenches. But I found one in an industrial cat from 63. They were made primarily for orifices on gas ranges. just this one model. they are quite hard to find.

 

[BrunoMars]

Re: Why these Mac and Snap Wrenches Marked "no guarantee" and "not guar"

My Snap-On wrench with pivoting heads is labeled not guar.

Now those are cool, I have never seen one of those before

 

[Ricky Joe]

There is a reason that military and some industrial purchasers did not have a guarantee. In order to meet bid prices, Snap-on deemed that they had sold the tool to cheaply to stand behind it. Tools with a “G” starting the part number are not guaranteed, even if there is no marking to that effect on the tool. Break an OEX wrench, you are covered. Break a GOEX wrench, too bad. Many dealers may not be aware and may trade you out, but the wrench is not guaranteed by Smap-on.

 

[four.cycle]

I am holding in my hand my Snap-on RXH1214S 3/8" x 7/16" (with what looks to be about a 10° offset) flare nut wrench.
It it stamped "PAT 3273430" below the part number on one side. It is not stamped "NOT GUAR."

Indestro made a few items that were not guaranteed:
618X 3/8" drive x 9/16" 6-point extra-thin wall for connecting rod nuts on V8 Ford engines
3026T 1/2" drive 13/16" special thin-wall socket for spark plugs
2736 3/8" drive flex-head ratchet
3270 1/2" drive flex-head ratchet

these were all "specialty" tools. the sockets were stamped "NOT GUAR.". the ratchets were not marked, but there is a notation in the catalog.

there were several U.S. hand tool manufacturers that marked some specialty items "NOT GUAR." - I've seen it on other brands.
not a big deal - it's because of the nature of the tool.

 

[d42jeep]

Back in the dark ages when I was fixing cars for a living, I found a Snap-on flex extension. When I picked it up to use it one of the ends fell off. I hung onto it for a while with the idea to braze it back together but never got around to it. I recently received this 9/32” drive flex extension and Snap-on stamped it Not Guar probably with good reason.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a 9/32” to 1/4” drive adapter they figured would probably break.
-Don