WTF Snap-on ?

[2jz4me]

My shop currently uses lista and stronghold exclusively in the general shop area. We have a krl, kra and craftsman left over from years ago in the thermal booths. There is literally no comparison between lista, stronghold and the latter three. I would put any box, desk, workstation or anything else by lista or stronghold and put it against ANY snap on box any day of the week. I will take the "salt spray" test somebody mentioned as well and I guarantee it wont even take 10 years to destroy snap on bearing slides. I wont compare the two in that test because quite frankly its an unrealistic test but for the record the snap on boxes in the booths were exposed to residual dust everyday. There was nothing even close to direct powder spray on it and that box is JUNK. The drawers barely slide at all even after blowing out each slide and lubricating them until visually clean! Every lista product we have no matter the age opens and closes exactly the same and infinitely smoother than any snap on I have ever felt. Having said all that, I like snap on tools and my employer uses their hand tools and many others almost exclusively. However, the prices for snap on are outrageous. Yes they are warranted for life because you pay for 3 of them with every new purchase. When you sell a product at 300% mark up its hard to lose even if you "guarantee" it for life. Also, the topic of resale was brought up as well. I believe it said you could use a snap on box for x amount of years and still sell it for half what you paid when compared to a HF box. Well, I'm no math major but you still lost thousands on a product you paid many more thousands for when compared to HF. In that scenario you lost 3 to 5 grand or more and was out 8 to 10 grand or more for how ever many years you owned it. People say you cant compare HF to snap on in quality and I think that's debatable in many circumstances as proven by this very forum. I believe though that what isn't comparable even in the slightest is the absolute bargain and practicality of a HF box compared to a SO. When you can say in a literal sense that you can buy 25 of anything when compared to the price of one thing from anther company that is just comical. So, I guess what all this means is, yes that box for the price of almost 1600 should be perfect in every way despite any expectation from the customer. Everyone keeps talking about some coating it has and that is irrelevant. It could be coated in platinum, if you order a damn 1600 tool box from a company that at every opportunity praises itself for quality and discredits its competitors to justify their price every inch should be blue. I'm sorry, I'm really not trying to hate on snap on but more so to speak up for the true blue Americans who spend all the extra money to buy American only to end up with a "partially painted box" (pun intended).

 

[Trbobuick]

My shop currently uses lista and stronghold exclusively in the general shop area. We have a krl, kra and craftsman left over from years ago in the thermal booths. There is literally no comparison between lista, stronghold and the latter three. I would put any box, desk, workstation or anything else by lista or stronghold and put it against ANY snap on box any day of the week. I will take the "salt spray" test somebody mentioned as well and I guarantee it wont even take 10 years to destroy snap on bearing slides. I wont compare the two in that test because quite frankly its an unrealistic test but for the record the snap on boxes in the booths were exposed to residual dust everyday. There was nothing even close to direct powder spray on it and that box is JUNK. The drawers barely slide at all even after blowing out each slide and lubricating them until visually clean! Every lista product we have no matter the age opens and closes exactly the same and infinitely smoother than any snap on I have ever felt. Having said all that, I like snap on tools and my employer uses their hand tools and many others almost exclusively. However, the prices for snap on are outrageous. Yes they are warranted for life because you pay for 3 of them with every new purchase. When you sell a product at 300% mark up its hard to lose even if you "guarantee" it for life. Also, the topic of resale was brought up as well. I believe it said you could use a snap on box for x amount of years and still sell it for half what you paid when compared to a HF box. Well, I'm no math major but you still lost thousands on a product you paid many more thousands for when compared to HF. In that scenario you lost 3 to 5 grand or more and was out 8 to 10 grand or more for how ever many years you owned it. People say you cant compare HF to snap on in quality and I think that's debatable in many circumstances as proven by this very forum. I believe though that what isn't comparable even in the slightest is the absolute bargain and practicality of a HF box compared to a SO. When you can say in a literal sense that you can buy 25 of anything when compared to the price of one thing from anther company that is just comical. So, I guess what all this means is, yes that box for the price of almost 1600 should be perfect in every way despite any expectation from the customer. Everyone keeps talking about some coating it has and that is irrelevant. It could be coated in platinum, if you order a damn 1600 tool box from a company that at every opportunity praises itself for quality and discredits its competitors to justify their price every inch should be blue. I'm sorry, I'm really not trying to hate on snap on but more so to speak up for the true blue Americans who spend all the extra money to buy American only to end up with a "partially painted box" (pun intended).

Well put. Thank you.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

. Also, the topic of resale was brought up as well. I believe it said you could use a snap on box for x amount of years and still sell it for half what you paid when compared to a HF box. Well, I'm no math major but you still lost thousands on a product you paid many more thousands for when compared to HF. In that scenario you lost 3 to 5 grand or more and was out 8 to 10 grand or more for how ever many years you owned it.

Yeah, I'm no math major either, but I thought I did ok buying a box and then getting exactly what I paid for it when traded in. I've done this for every box since the first one. One deal I got more in trade than paid - bought for 7k / traded for 7500 after 3 years or so. Granted, I paid the difference for upgrading to the next box....but still better than anything else I've ever heard of....

 

[Lump]

C'mon, guys. This has been an interesting thread, with real and valuable input from many people. PLEASE do not turn this into another foolish "HF vs Snap On" argument, or we mods will lock it or delete the entire thread.

Use common grade-school-level courtesy! Do not insult anyone else, or their opinions. It's perfectly ok to say something like, "Wow, I have a different point of view on that," or, "Well, I tend to disagree. My experience has been different than that," and then tell your perspective. But it is NOT ok to verbally attack people here on GJ, with comments like, for example, "If you think that, then you're not a real mechanic," or, "You would have to be stupid or greedy to pay...." or whatever.

Let's face it, we're all different, with different styles and preferences. You're NEVER gonna change someone who loves SO, MAC, Matco, or other "tool truck brand" into a fan of HF, and vice-versa. So why waste your time and energy blasting away on your keyboard, as though your goal in life is to engage in useless arguments?

If you like cheaper tools/boxes/equipment from HF or other import source and feel that their products serve you well...good for you! If you are a devotee of truck-brand tools...go for it. But no more attacking each others' opinions on this. The rest of us are sick of it.

Your style is right for YOU...but not everyone else. That's ok, from both sides.

 

[2jz4me]

Lump, I agree and I hope my post didn't come off like that. If it did I apologize. I only brought up the HF/SO scenario because it was the specific comparison made earlier in the thread. SO tools are great and imports are a great bargain and that's it. I only wanted to speak in defense of the OP because I feel his gripe with the box is well validated. For the record I use Snap on tools and a Snap on box in my own garage.

On another note, I am pretty new to GJ. I have been on many forums and I have never come across one yet that really supports, helps and praises each other for their efforts like GJ. So, here's to GJ and all its members. I hope it stays this way forever!

-Jeff

 

[Lump]

Well said, Jeff. Frankly, there were several posts that got a little edgy, from more than poster. It starts out ok, but pretty soon someone starts verbally "sneering" at someone they disagree with, or name-calling begins, etc.

We all usually talk very differently when we are in person. For example, if a fellow mechanic we happen to meet mentions that he likes "______" brand tools, we don't normally say things like, "Man, you've gotta be STUPID to buy that brand!" We are more likely to say, "Yeah? Well, I prefer another brand. But whatever works for you!" But online where we are "anonymous," we sometimes turn nasty. And NOTHING invokes nastiness faster than the worn-out topic on truck-brand tools vs HF and WalMart.

That's why online forums need mods.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Well, I also apologize if any of my comments seem to be sneering. I know it is impossible to type a tone of voice. I certainly don't intend any of it that way.

 

[j.c.whitney]

Excellent description of the paint and powdercoating process used on the Canadian built Snap On boxes from about 9:45 to 13:00. The Newmarket plant was closed and production moved to Iowa in the recent past.

 

[TDWendt]

I will inspect my krsc46gpot upon delivery Monday the best i can and report back.