SNAP ON TOOLS

[bdhsfz6]

Do you really need to spend that much for quality tools? I guess it depends on how, and how often you use them.

I bought a complete set of Craftsman automotive tools from Sears Roebuck back in the late 1970's. That was well before the brand started turning out crap. A similar set from Snap on was almost twice the price. They saw a lot of use back then, not so much now, but I never broke or had to service a single one.

I added to the collection over the years and had to drive down to Sears or order from the catalog. If you run a business, Snap On will deliver, which is a time saving advantage, and perhaps a reason to spend the extra $$.

Who knows, some homeowners or weekend mechanics could get lifetime use out of a set of Harbor Freight tools. Again, it depends on how and how often you use them.

 

[sandman2234]

I hired on at a machine shop to do the building maintenance. I did side work at the house so i made sure that tools were not required at the shop in negotiations of my salary. He told me if I needed a screwdriver or such, just borrow one from a guy in the shop. The 3rd time I borrowed the same screwdriver, he made the comment that I needed to get my own tools. Went straight to the boss and told him. He told me to charge whatever I needed to the Mac or Snap-on truck and he would pay $50 a week to my account. That was the only time I ever ran a balance on a tool truck. When I left there, I then had two roll-around toolboxes at home. My brother passed and I got all of his. Then a friend's Dad passed and we were cleaning out his Mom's house to put it up for sale and he told me to load both of his Dad's toolboxes on my trailer and take them to my house. I told him I didn't have room to store them for him, and he told me I better make room because they were now mine. (Those were Mac) His Dad owned a semi truck transmission and rear end shop.. I cleaned out a shed at Daddy's and ended up with him giving me a bunch of tools (8 buckets of them) after someone stole his toolbox. Needless to say, I have a lot of tools, Mac, Snap-on, Craftsman, Proto...etc stuffed into 5 roll-arounds!! (and I drive a truck for a living, lol)
David from jax

 

[hayden]

I’ve never bought anything from snap on. They were always just way too expensive. But I still have most of my tools bought in the 70s, and used professionally for at least a decade.

 

[flyerdan]

When I first moved here, I worked at a fab shop that made helicopter parts. I needed to get my own tools; fortunately Sears had a sale a couple months later for a huge mechanics tool set plus roll around and top box. $641.26 early in 1979.
Still have it, along with another Sears box set with a mix of HF and other brands. I think I have one Snap On 12mm wrench, it is pretty.

 

[5030]

Snap On has it's place for specialty tools like the gear puller for the PT pump drive on an 855 Cummins. Having said that, their ordinary tools are over priced as well as their tool boxes.

Lots of stuff on the tool truck is now Chinese made as well.

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought some specialty tools over the years from MAC, Snap/On and Matco plus old Craftsman, etc.

A friend gave me his dads Craftsman bought during WWII… they are not chrome due to the war effort but he kept a munitions factory going and was able to buy when others could not.

 

[Tomtint]

I have 2 complete tool boxes, One at my house and another larger collection at my shop. The house is mostly Cobalt/Husky and Craftsman. The shop has all of those plus some Snap On and Matco.
There is difference in how a tool feels in your hand between the premium brands and the big box stores. Yes they do the same job and in most cases just as well. But the ratchets, wrenches and particularly the screw drivers just seem to make the job easier.
The shop tool box is a 80" or so box that I bought used for what I think was a steal $2,000.. The draws are silky smooth and open all the way out. I bought a big Stainless Cobalt box that's 5' wide and 6' tall with a radio built in ..etc from Lowes that was more..and the radio broke about the 2nd week I owned it..