Snap-On

[JohnB]

A friend of mine has and buys all snap-on tools. I think they are overpriced almost twice as much as craftsman. To each is own. Do ya'll think snap-on is worth the price?

[RIVERRAT]

I dont. But I dont wrench for a living either.

[Chisel Tooth]

I have a mix of brands, Craftsmen, Snap-on, Matco, SK, you pay more but you can get a truck account and make payments, and they come to you once a week,and repair, or replace your broken tools.
See Ya
Mike

[Skwerl]

I grew up in my old man's service station and he was driving a Snap-On truck when I was born.

If you make a living turning wrenches then yes, Snap-On and other quality brands are worth the price. But if you aren't using them on a daily basis and you aren't depending on them in order to earn a livlihood, then it's more a matter of choice. Just like anything else, you are allowed to buy as good as you want to buy if you want to spend the money. I wouldn't tell you whether or not you should buy Snap-On wrenches any more than I would tell you what brand refrigerator or lawnmower to buy.

[squisher]

My buddy has a real nicely appointed snap-on chest for personal use, I dunno if I would do it. Awesome tools though.

[Cedarkerf]

I turn wrenches for a living. Had some run ins with sears now I buy mostly Snap on and Mac. Very convienent to have there truck around once a week. Found on some low profile nuts that craftsmen much more prone to stripping than the snap on while tourqing. Just my 02cnts.

Brian

[sotc]

when i was wrenching i bought alot of snap-on but have a mix of stuff. i also had a couple irratating experiences with sears and only recently started buying their stuff again. i think snap-on ratchets, screw drivers, gasket scrapers and many specialty tools are worth buying. i have a buddy with a shop so when i need something repaired or replaced i take it to him aand he turns it in. once you quit buying from them they dont like to fix your stuff

[Frans]

Craftsman makes some good tools. They have tried hard to improve their selection.
GearWrench is another Craftsman brand.

For alot of things those tools seem to work o.k. But Snappy makes some tools that just cant be beat.

I just bought another 1/4" drive flex head ratchet. Narrow profile and compared to even S&K or Matco, it beats them both. A pleasure to use. Also I picked up a set of spline drive xx long ratcheting box ends.

Pretty much all the snappy tools are like that. But I do ALOT of wrenching so it makes a big difference to me.
JohnB, if you are regularly tearing into engines, stick with Matco, S&K & Snappy.
If not, then trot down to Sears
All the better brands will fix or replace, no charge (at least to me)

[sawinredneck]

Yup couldn't shove a Craftsman ratech up my backside if you had to!!!!! I don't have a bad word to say about the sockets, but the wrenches leave a lot to be desired as well!!
I got spoiled, I was a heavy equipment mechanic for a while, all I bought was Snap-on and Mac. Either works. and YES, they are worth the money!!!!
I purchased a 3/8ths drive flex head ratchet the day after I bought a new Craftsman ($30 vs. $80) after the Craftsman broke my knuckles twice, and the Snap-on driver walked in just as I threw the Craftsman across the shop!!!!
YES, there is that much difference!!!
It's like buying a 192t and expecting it to work like a 200t, in terms you will understand!!!!

[NickfromWI]

There is one snap-on tool that I use daily. I love it. Highly recommended.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/SNAP-ON-TOOLS-COLLECTOR-2-PIECE-U-JOINT-KEY-CHAIN-NEW_W0QQitemZ150183727341QQihZ005QQcategoryZ42261Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

love
nick

[Old Monkey]

Under what circumstances would a person have to "shove a Craftsman ratech(ratchet) up (your) backside" Andy?

[Al Smith]

Oh, I have a little bit of every thing,actually a lot.Mac,SnapOn ,Williams,Proto,you name it,even some Craftsman.They all work.I've got specialty stuff by Apex,Acme,tons of it .Now with all that stuff you would think I have just about anything.Why then can't I find a phillips screwdriver when I need one.One of lifes great mysteries.:(

[Cedarkerf]

Oh, I have a little bit of every thing,actually a lot.Mac,SnapOn ,Williams,Proto,you name it,even some Craftsman.They all work.I've got specialty stuff by Apex,Acme,tons of it .Now with all that stuff you would think I have just about anything.Why then can't I find a phillips screwdriver when I need one.One of lifes great mysteries.:(
Its with your missing sock.:lol:

[Stumper]

Its with your missing sock.:lol:



In Andy's backside.

[Al Smith]

In Andy's backside. Oh perish the thought:O

[sotc]

and the action!

[Blinky]

That 3/8" flex head is worth every penny... the little 3/8" palm head with a 6" wobbly extension (I don't know the proper names) is also a gem of a setup. My metric sockets and wrenches are Craftsman but everything else is Snap-on.

[sotc]

i have the 3/8 palm ratchet to, i love it, very fine gearing!

[Al Smith]

Well I'm actually more fond of air rachets myself.A little overkill for a saw but works just dandy on a bull dozer.Compressed air,don't have a shop without it.:D

[stehansen]

Under what circumstances would a person have to "shove a Craftsman ratech(ratchet) up (your) backside" Andy?

We all want to avoid those circumstances.

[sawinredneck]

Under what circumstances would a person have to "shove a Craftsman ratech(ratchet) up (your) backside" Andy?

Well if they have any expectations of me using it, they are better off trying to shove it where the sun don't shine!! Yes, I detest them that much!!!

[Frans]

Snappy outta give you a wrench or two for the free advert

[sotc]

i rather use a junk ratchet andy, sorry i cant support you on this one:D

[Werks 4 da Man]

Snap-On ratchets aren't much better. They make two or three good ones out of thirty or so the make.

Fred

[Werks 4 da Man]

Here is the only pic of my toolbox I have on the PC here at work. It's a snappy.

http://gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16315&stc=1&d=1195781616
Fred

[sawinredneck]

i rather use a junk ratchet andy, sorry i cant support you on this one:D

OK, nothing like busting you're knuckles for fun!! Or better yet, when you catch you're fingernail on something and fold it back!! Yeah, I like when that happens!!

Maybe Fred, but at least you have a chance at a getting one that works, I haven't bought a new Craftsman that was worth owning in eight years!! (the old round head, round handled one's ROCK!!)

[sotc]

id rather bust my knuckles than be violated by anything:)
i dont beleive ive ever had to rebuild any snap on ratchets i own

[sawinredneck]

I'd rather not have either:D

[Al Smith]

!!

I haven't bought a new Craftsman that was worth owning in eight years!! (the old round head, round handled one's ROCK!!) Well,Sears went to hell in a hand basket.You used to just take in a broken tool and they would give you a new one.Now you get a reconditioned one.:(

About the only thing I buy there is a few sockets simpley because I can't find the size I'm looking for and don't feel like driving to my shop which is 20 miles away.Sears is only 3.

[MasterBlaster]

I've always thought Sear's Craftsman tools had a lifetime guarantee.

[Al Smith]

I've always thought Sear's Craftsman tools had a lifetime guarantee. They do but instead of replacement with new they sometimes substitute rebuilt.Case in point is rachet wrenchs.

Most like Snap on , Mac,Proto,Thorson etc also have replacement but on some you must show a sales receipt.As far as Mac and Snap on,I have no idea how good the gaurantee is as I've never broken any.

A little humor.When I was in New London Conn,in the navy,I worked part time at Sears as a mechanic.Most of the other wrench turners bought from the Snap-On truck and we got 10 percent off on anything at Sears by being employees.

[Blinky]

I quit buying Craftsman when I took back a busted 1/2" ratchet and got a rebuild kit... not a rebuilt wrench, just a baggy with a spring, a clip, a pawl and some other little pieces.

[NeTree]

I've always preferred any brand that's warranted for life.

With Snap-On, you're also almost always buying a tool REALLY made in USA. In fact, their air tools are cast, polished, machined, and assembled right here in Massachusetts. (Casting in Palmer, polished in Brookfield, machining and assembly in Natick).

I've had good luck with Craftsman stuff for the most part, but the nearest Sears is a ways off. Neither has ever given me a rough time about replacing tools, even when OBVIOUSLY misused and abused.

[Mike Maas]

Good point, it's very hard to find anything made in the US, or owned by American companies.

[Thor's Hammer]

If I was wrenching for a living, then I would mostly have snap on - a bit like buying Stihl / Husky chansaws, and $250 chainsaw pants - if its your living, you get the best.

As it is, a lot of my stuff is Kamasa or Teng, both of which are quality brands.
I also buy loads of cheapo sockets and spanners, as when your working under a forestry machine in the woods, you tend to loose stuff...

Totally with Al though, mostly I use air wrenches. I've found Ingersoll Rand titanium to be better than snap on in that department.

[Al Smith]

Good point, it's very hard to find anything made in the US, or owned by American companies. Some years ago I bought a Klien hawkbill skinning knife.On one side of the blade it said "Klien tools Chicago Ill" on the opposite side it said made in Japan.Isn't that some thing ?

[Al Smith]

Totally with Al though, mostly I use air wrenches. I've found Ingersoll Rand titanium to be better than snap on in that department. Well,it might surprise you but I have a Thor impact wrench.Older that the hills,1" drive.The compresser never shuts off when that big rock shacker runs.It doesn't get much use as it must weigh about 40 lbs.

[Thor's Hammer]

I have a big 3/4 drive impact gun, but damned if my compressor will run it. I need a BIGGER compressor. maybe if I poked the airline up Andy's backside?

[sawinredneck]

I have a big 3/4 drive impact gun, but damned if my compressor will run it. I need a BIGGER compressor. maybe if I poked the airline up Andy's backside?


Thats the wrong end!!! All the hot air comes out my mouth:lol:

[stehansen]

How big of a compressor do you have Thor?

[Frans]

How big of a compressor do you have Thor?

Silly question Steve, Thor is DA Man!

[jamie]

We have an inch and a half inch drive air ratchet at work. you can really get the clutch covers on a 200 good and tight.

We have a variety of stuff at work. if i need any i normally borrow from work and return but i'm slowly building a collection. i just dont do a lot of tinkering

Jamie

[olyman]

I have a big 3/4 drive impact gun, but damned if my compressor will run it. I need a BIGGER compressor. maybe if I poked the airline up Andy's backside?
you sure???? you need 1/2 air---and the proper connectors for it---as that thing consumes air---been there with mine---even though compressor not huge--you need air VOLUMNE--and pressure also---

[Frans]

We have an inch and a half inch drive air ratchet at work. you can really get the clutch covers on a 200 good and tight.

Jamie

I pity your poor ms200s. Take it easy on that torque, will ya?

[stehansen]

Silly question Steve, Thor is DA Man!

I know it's big, he is the God of Thunder after all!

[pigwot]

Had bicycle shops back in the early '70s and all ten mechanics' workstations had metric and standard sockets, wrenches, and other hand tools that were all Craftsman. Bought enough that the local Sears just handed us direct replacements. When a socket wrench went south they'd often hand us a new one and a package with the internals, so we could effect a repair without another trip in. I also acquired a lot of Snap-On after a friends father died and he dispersed his auto repair shop. Now when a Snap-On item fails we toss it in the truck and I just stop at whichever shop the Snap-On truck is at when I see him, and pull out the items from the glove box of the truck. They'll repair rather than replace typically.