Snapon (brand) question -vs- others...

[Cat_Driver]

This will wake people up

 

[Cat_Driver]

Best pair of pliers on the planet

Knipex

 

[4570Man]

Best pair of pliers on the planet

Knipex

Best cutters and pliers.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Since I am at best a hack mechanic I typically get cheap tools. Several years ago I did opt and get a nicer set of sockets from DeWalt. They are better than any sockets I've owned. Very good quality.

We are fortunate to have as many options as we do. It appears Harbor Freight is upgrading their tools to better compete with the higher end brands also.

This Christmas I purchased my son a set of sockets from the local Auto Zone. IMHO they are an OK set but do have a lifetime warranty.

To each his own but if I made my living with tools my preferences would certainly be for the better quality ones.

 

[Agvg]

One nice thing with expensive tools is the possibility to buy spares, I can buy the exact same replacement parts for my almost 40 year old set.

 

[Bird]

I've posted this information before, but maybe some haven't seen it or know about it, so . . .. Both of my brothers had been mechanics and then both were Matco Tool distributors. A Snap-On distributor was also a friend of theirs. So all 3 of them sent me their broken air tools for me to repair/rebuild.

Now we'll always have people who are fans of a particular brand of tools, just as most of us are fans of a particular brand of tractors, cars, trucks, etc.. But the primary reason for Snap-On, MAC, Matco, and some others to cost so much is not better quality, although all are very good quality, but it's because:

1. Mechanics don't have to pay for the tool when they get it. They just pay a bit each week when the tool truck comes around,
2. They don't have to spend time shopping, but have the salesman come to them to display and explain the products,
3. If the tool breaks, they don't have to take it to a store and find the right person to deal with, the truck comes to them every week,
4. Braggin' Rights. That's for coworkers as well as customers. If you go into a shop with 2 mechanics; one has a Snap-On toolbox and one has a Craftsman toolbox, at least subconsciously you will assume the guy with the Snap-On box is the better mechanic.

Of course I also learned that MAC and Matco air tools with their names on them are all made by well known tool companies, such as Ingersol-Rand. Parts are reasonably priced and interchangeable. Snap-On air tools are different; no better, no worse than the others, just different. Parts fit only Snap-On and cost anywhere from 2 to 4 times as much as comparable parts for the others.

Incidentally, my grandson is now a mechanic and he has one of those monstrous, high priced, red Matco tool boxes.:laughing:

 

[Rock Crawler]

That's another point... around here, all the Sears stores are closed. I happen to have a 10" (1/2" drive) extension that needs replaced. Lowes carries Craftsman now...walked in with it.... NOPE, you gotta call or go to CRAFTSMAN(R) Tools, Storage, Lawn & Garden Equipment and make a claim.

I reached out to them and am still waiting for a response. I have a fear that the spiral is starting to head down the drain for their service.

Too bad too, I've got some Craftsman stuff that I've owned for more than 40 years (and like it, feel it's good stuff)

I just dealt with this yesterday, you need to call 888-331-4569 and listen to the prompts.... you'll respond that you want English, you bought at a Sears store, and then there will be 7 or 8 options... it is the last one and will queue you into a holding pattern. After maybe 10 minutes on hold I got to an American woman who was very polite, I explained that the Sears around here all closed and pulled out of the Malls in the area... so she apologized and asked for the part number of my 30 year old American forged wrench. I gave it, she explained that she is shipping me a new one, I joked saying that I want a forged in USA one and not a China trash one.... She LOL'ed at me said that I was dreaming. But my imported 15mm combination box wrench will be here in around 2 weeks.

So you can get it done even if like me, there is no longer a Sears near you.

 

[ray66v]

This will wake people up

Thanks, interesting video.

I have been waiting to see if the new "brand name" lines from HF were real, or just marketing.

In my opinion, the repeatability test is what matters.

Why is that guy wearing gloves to do that test? Just got a manicure, and doesn't want to mess it up? :laughing:.

 

[3Lfarms]

That was a good test, but I’d like to see him do a follow up test after a couple years worth of use. Would the results be the same?


We use almost exclusively SnapOn torque wrenches at work. They are sent to the lab for calibration every 6 months. We have found that other brands work and will calibrate OK for a year or two, then they will get to the point where they cannot stay within the required 4% accuracy. The SnapOns last the longest and take more abuse before they cant be calibrated.
That said, SnapOn torque wrenches are way overpriced for the average Joe.

 

[Richard]

I just dealt with this yesterday, you need to call 888-331-4569 and listen to the prompts.... you'll respond that you want English, you bought at a Sears store, and then there will be 7 or 8 options... it is the last one and will queue you into a holding pattern. After maybe 10 minutes on hold I got to an American woman who was very polite, I explained that the Sears around here all closed and pulled out of the Malls in the area... so she apologized and asked for the part number of my 30 year old American forged wrench. I gave it, she explained that she is shipping me a new one, I joked saying that I want a forged in USA one and not a China trash one.... She LOL'ed at me said that I was dreaming. But my imported 15mm combination box wrench will be here in around 2 weeks.

So you can get it done even if like me, there is no longer a Sears near you.

!!! I didn't know that part! I went to their website and sent an email essentially asking for directions.

Thanks for this, I'll try it later when I get home today/tonight.