OVER RATED!































That is all.

 

I agree, the cost is insane, even if I made a living with tools! I don't think most mechanics even make enough to buy all Snap-On tools.

Lamm

 

That's why they just put it on their account. 20 bucks a week or whatever they want to dish out to the Snap-On guy and they start using their 300 dollar screwdriver set right away.

 

Thats what I do. You may be paying A LOT more than you normally would, but it is nice to be able to buy a $350 impact gun on $30 a week and still have the full warranty, ect. as if you bought it outright.

I always hated when I would be putting/rebuilding ANOTHER t-case in a Jeep and hearing the Mac/Snap-On guy pull up. Come strolling over. And see me frustrated about the very top bolt the in the t-case. And trys to lure me in with the..."You know, I got a tool for that..."

 

Around the house and at work I mainly use Craftsman tools; if one breaks I just drive over to Sears or OSH. But my exploring truck tool box is Snap-on or Mac wrenches. If I break a tool while repairing my truck in the back-country, I can?t be running 150+/- miles for a free tool replacement.

 

Great buy on those and I'm majorly jealous, I've wanted a set since I was a tech myself, but I just can't justify the cost for how many times I'd use them now. Anyone that says the Snap-On stuff is overrated obviously hasn't ever made a living with tools before. In a game where time is money and you get paid by the job, you can't afford to have downtime or need to go begging and borrowing from other mechanics to get the job done. If I was a tech now I'd definately buy a complete set on eBay (didn't have that back then) from a mechanic getting out of the biz.

I use....
Air Tools: Snap-On, Ingersoll Rand
Sockets: Snap-On, Sears
Wrenches: Snap-On, Sears
Ratchets: Snap-On
Screwdrivers: Snap-On

I'm not opposed to MAC and they make some great stuff too but I've just always been partial to Snap-On.

 

Snap-On is over-hyped. Right now, I just have couple specialty tools from them. Their long wrenches are worth to have, but craftsman professional wrenches are just as best.

I had a set of 3/8" sockets deep and shallow for awhile from my uncle but I ebay it to get a larger quantity of craftsman tools.

 

i think matco tools are a lot better then snap on. snap on is all over priced bling bling. matco screwdrivers are awsome because you can grip em really good. there rachets and sockets are really nice and strong as well.

 

Buy craftsman from pawn shops, loose sockets and wrenches are super cheap. Great for doubles of commonly used stuff, like 10mm wrenches and sockets.

Sometimes you can find snap-on odds and ends, but the pawn shops charge for the name.

 

sears will even take back craftsman flashlights. And this is my favorite: they even take back my swivel inspection mirror about every month or so. That mirror paid for itself at least a dozen times. lol

 

I have over 10k in snap-on tools and an assortment of others like MAC, Proto, Craftsman, but Ironically I use my cheapo set of Huskys more than the rest. Also use the gearwrenches quite a bit, as for screwdrivers the cheap harbor freight ones work just as well.


As for quality Snap-On is overrated, they break just as easy as any other tool I own, the big problem is, if you no longer work at a shop, it's a PITA to get them replaced. Usually I end up stripping the gears out of the ratchets and cracked a few sockets.

Now I just buy whatever works, it's quite easy to tell the difference between the really cheap tools and a decently made ones.

Like the welder I have, it was the first company that came out with a portable 110v MIG. I've owned the same unit for over 20 years now and have never had a problem with it. In the same token a friend of mine has a Miller that the electronics have gone out on it several times now.

 

When you work at a shop and get a 50 dollar tool allowance every 2 weeks and the snap on guy comes every 3 days.... Ilike the brand, but i also see why some people dont want to have to morgage their house to get 1 of everything

 

I have owned and operated a garage for over 40 yrs. I have the experience.

I will never buy another Snap-on, Williams, or BluePoint tool EVER.

They are of great quality and I will use the ones that are not worn out or broken. Snap-on will not replace my worn out hand tools, they must be broken, as per the Snap-on jockey in the panel truck.

In the past years I've bought SK or Craftsman Professional Line. I thank the Craftsman Professional and SK Rachets or better than anything I've ever used.

I've busted my Craftsman Pro tools and never had a problem replacing them.

Anyone who says they would rather be in the wilderness with a broken Snap-on tool than a broken Craftsman tool must be driving a Snap-on truck. I have always been able to locate a Sears over a Snap-on truck, especially on a holliday or weekend.

I am a very disgruntled mechanic with a box full of worn out Snap-on and Williams tools I'll have to sell for scrap because I can't get the company(s) to replace them. Myself and my mechanics were not told the tools would have to be broken, and not worn out, to get replaced. I feel screwed.

 

The line between worn out and broken is very fine. Oversized cheater bars will fix any worn out tool quickly.

 

My biggest complaints about Snap-On have to do with warranties and their dealers.

If there is as much as a scratch on the handle of a broken screwdriver, then you must have used it as a chisel. Warranty voided! Somebody told me once that the dealer warranties the tools - not the company. It's money out of their pockets so they avoid replacing anything.

That, and all the dealers I met back then were jerks. One of them started selling tools because when he was a mechanic, he beat a co-worker nearly to death and couldn't get hired anywhere else. Funny how they always show up on payday. You make $12.50 per flat rate hour, have a pregnant wife and two kids? Here, buy this $8000 toolbox. That's only $200/month for the next six years - on top of whatever you already owe. And people did it. I had a ratty old box full of Craftsman tools, but I didn't owe that guy a dime.

That said, the engine cases on some motorcycles are held together with countersunk phillips screws. You only get *one* chance to get those suckers out. Snap-On screwdrivers are the only way.

 

actually, according to the snapon guy in vegas that goes by the shop once a week says craftsman are just cheap snapon. ill stick with craftsman, since theres a sears less than a mile from here.

 

Mastercraft for me, Mastercraft Maximum for the important stuff like my socket set and impact socket set but for the most part the plain Mastercraft is really good. Most of the mechanics I know of around here are starting to lean more towards Mastercraft Maximum now because the snap-on guy is never around anymore so it's really hard to get tools replaced now.

For my plumbing tools thought you gotta get the good ones. Ridged pipe wrenches are the best I've ever used, and I love my lenox hack saw and soldering torch. There's nothing worse than a crappy hack saw when your trying to cut some ABS or PVC pipe.

 

Harbor Freight for life cuz!

 

...Craftsman is better

 

I know two Snap-on guys, they're awesome, they will both take back ANYTHING including worn out air tools......NOBODY else I know of does that.(of course its because I've known them for years )
I still only buy certain things though, yes its very true they never seem to be around when I break a ratchet or split a socket on a Sunday afternoon......Sears is and they have never given me issues either, so for that stuff cheaper and more convenient is better.
At work they buy everything so we get a lot of Proto, Klein, and Channel-lock stuff.....its pretty beefy, strong stuff.
And you could NEVER convince me to buy a toolbox for $8000 unless it did things for me that no woman could!