Snap On vs. Craftsman!!!

[ridgerunnerinwv]

What finally gave though was the Craftsman wrench. John actually bent it into a pretzel with his bare hands. A half inch wrench. Try that at home!

I am a pretty strong guy,but not strong enough to bend a wrench with my bare hands,but then again I have never bent or broke a Craftsman wrench with a 3' cheater bar either. I have twisted some bolts off using a cheater bar on a Craftsman wrench,but never broke a Craftsman wrench. I have broken a 1/2 Craftman ratchet with a cheater bar before.

 

[heehaw]

i was told 25 years ago that not all snap on tools are warrantied: if they have a V on the tool, it was made for the federal govt and they did not warranty those tools: the local driver would rebuild a ratchet, but not replace the handle, because thats where the V was located. i learned this, just about a year after buying a bunch of snap on tools at a military surplus store: all with the dern V on them.
heehaw

 

[heehaw]

i have a craftsman hammer, with a wooden handle: bought the original hammer in 1978 or 79...sears has replaced it several times, because i break the wooden handle..never a single question..once they had to order the replacement, because they didn't have one in stock.
heehaw

 

[dmccarty]

I have had a couple of bad Craftsman ratchets for a couple of years. Finally I took them back to Sears yesterday. The clerk told me to go get two replacements. One was easy to find a replacement. The other one has to be 25 years old. They don't make 'em that ugly anymore. Found a close replacement that fit the hand better. Also bought, I think they called it a T Bar that hold 1/4 inch sockets and it has a handle a good 24 inches long. My "snipe" will fit real easy over the handle. The tool does warn me to wear glasses when using it. I wonder why?

The clerk did not even look at the old rachets. Just tossed 'em in a box and ran the replacements through the system for inventory control. I was out of there in less than 5 minutes.

Later,
Dan

 

[midlf]

The tools are great, generally speaking. Snap On does not manufacture tools though. They market tools with the Snap On name on them. The tools are built to Snap On specs and, of course, Snap On stands behind the tools with various warranties, all of which are not necessarily life time.

I know SnapOn does not mfr all the items they sell but they do mfr a lot of them. I've been to the factory in NW Milwaukee for business and got a plant tour. Lots of different types of tools being made there. That was a few years ago but the plant was still there the last time I drove by, still had SnapOn's name on it and the same number of cars in the lot, so I presume they are still making things there. It was a very interesting tour, best part, I was given a 1/4" drive 4" extension as a souvenir.

For what it's worth, I generally use Craftsman tools. However I am a hobbiest/homeowner user. Craftsman is fine for my use. SnapOn does not have enough advantage to me to justify the extra cost. Based on the few SnapOn tools I have, if I used tools to earn a living I believe I could justify the cost of SnapOn

 

[Ifixcars]

Sometimes I'm almost embarrassed by the amount of money I've spent on tools during my 25+ years as an auto mechanic. I have and use some craftsman stuff, it's not bad. I've come to see that Snap on hand tools are definately better quality, and are the tools I grab when money is on the line. Should I have spent all that money on Snap On stuff? maybe not. Some times good (Craftsmen) is good enough. Some Snap ON equipment, like welders, tire changers, plasma cutters, are decent but not worth the big money price tags that come with them in my opinion. Miller, Coats, etc, have machines that are time tested and they are priced more affordably. I would recommend Snappy hand tools for critical sets of important tools, and fill in the blanks with Craftsman. Snap on also has a much broader line of special tools like pullers, distributor wrenches, diesel engine tools, test equipment, larger sizes, trans tools,etc. that Sears doesn't carry. Do you need to spend 75 or 100 bucks for an inch and 1/4 wrench when Sears has one for 25? I didn't, I have a sears 1 1/4 that I use only a few times a year. It works fine. Save where you can, spend Snappy money on important tools.

 

[Bird]

Sometimes I'm almost embarrassed by the amount of money I've spent on tools during my 25+ years as an auto mechanic.

I suspect most folks have no idea of the amount of money their mechanics have invested in their tools. Before my brother became a Matco Tool distributor, he was working as an RV service technician and had to supply the company with an inventory of his tools so they'd be covered by the company's insurance; a $4,000 toolbox containing $16,000 worth of tools, and many, if not most, auto mechanics have even more than that invested their tools.

 

[escavader]

HI FOLKS,
Imagine what is invested in tools,when you try to have most of the bells and whistles at home,and maintain a decent box at work for larger equipment.Add to that what you carry in your vehicles,on your tractor,atvs ,snowmobiles...cant ever carry to much when you need something.There is alot of special tools you need for every extra[toy] such as tire gauage for liquod filled tractor tires,low pressure gauge for atvs,track tentioning gauge for snowmobiles,clutch pullers for maintaining atvs,and snowmobiles[one for each model and on and on and on....
BUT,like i tell the wife,Take each one of our cars,atvs,riding mowers,snowblowers[2] rototiller,3 atvs,2 snowmobiles etc,to the dealersfor maintanance and see how much you spend a year.Buying tools is cheaper
ALAN

 

[1948berg]

Is it safe to say that you most of the time you get what you pay for?
What about Hazet?
Cheap chinese tools are not for old tractors! See photo of 3/4 fixed ratchet with bendt handleT

 

[Dusty]

About 99% of my tools are Snap-On, but only a small percentage of them I purchased new. When I first got into turning wrenches, I purchased all my tools from the guys that were getting out of the business. Some of my Snap-On tools, such as the wrenches that are greater in size than 1" are not even chrome plated. Back in the 1960's, not all Snap-On tools were chrome plated, and they used a matte finish. I like the feel of the Snap-On wrenches and ratchets. Today, you can find the same look and feel in many brands, with only the quality of the actual tool being different. I go to many flea markets and swap meets and see so many look alike tools today, that you actually have to stop and examine it closely to see if it is a Snap-On or a look a like tool.
I have never had a problem exchanging any Snap-On tool in the past, and if I do have something break, I leave it with the counter man at the tractor dealer and when the Snap-On truck comes by, he has it exchanged it for me. If I need something special in a tool, then I go to the tractor dealer on the day that the truck is going to be there and purchase it myself. Dusty

 

[DieselPower]

I suspect most folks have no idea of the amount of money their mechanics have invested in their tools. Before my brother became a Matco Tool distributor, he was working as an RV service technician and had to supply the company with an inventory of his tools so they'd be covered by the company's insurance; a $4,000 toolbox containing $16,000 worth of tools, and many, if not most, auto mechanics have even more than that invested their tools.

Shoot, in the last 10 years I have spent over $20K on tool box's and close to $120K on Snap On and Mac tools. Being a heavy truck mechanic in these modern times is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Heck, I spend close to $10K a year on diesel engine diagnostics program subscriptions.

 

[Ifixcars]

120k seems like a lot. even to me. I used to buy a lot more than I do now. I stopped buying so much when I realized that the shop owner is responsible for buying shop tools and equipment and diagnostic information and programs, because shop owner profits directly from these items, not me. I only buy tools now that I can use to make money directly, and that pay for themselves quickly. I have enough tools to work at any shop, do any job, without borrowing a thing. Snap on guys love to sell those 10000 dollar boxes nowadays, they perk up if you mention "new tool box".

 

[Bird]

I stopped buying so much when I realized that the shop owner is responsible for buying shop tools and equipment

Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. When I was repairing air tools, my best customer had what to me was an unusual situation. The company owned a lot of expensive tools and equipment and I repaired a lot of their air tools. But their mechanics also used a lot of their personally owned tools. If an individual's tools broke, the company would not replace them, but would pay to have them repaired. They didn't care what it cost; just get them fixed right as fast as possible. The company they had been using to repair their tools was very slow and sometimes repaired old tools and charged more for the repairs than a new tool would cost.

Snap on guys love to sell those 10000 dollar boxes nowadays, they perk up if you mention "new tool box".

As do MAC and Matco. Toolboxes are the major profit item for them.

 

[Ifixcars]

An example of what I am talking about when would be the purchace of a special tool or piece of diagnostic equipment that would enable the shop to make more money, but not increase the mechanic's pay. You wouldn't buy a $5000 tire machine and let someone else profit from it's use would you? Yeah, I'd like to have a $7000 Modis, but if I don't bill for it's use, I don't buy it. If you are a flat rate mechanic then you can justify the purchace or some shop type tools, like scanners and specific speciality tools by making more money from them indirectly. I'm not talking about standard air tools, or extensive collections of assorted pro tools. I'm not saying I don't buy trick tools or tools that make my life easier, but that now, before I spend serious money, I think about who's really going to profit by it, me or my employer. If it's me I don't hesitate, if not, hmmmm, I'll pass.

 

[Bird]

An example of what I am talking about when would be the purchace of a special tool or piece of diagnostic equipment that would enable the shop to make more money, but not increase the mechanic's pay.

I can understand that, and agree with you. I think that's the way it should be.

 

[brande]

I've had tools from Snap On, Craftsman, Proto, Challenger, SK, Klein, China etc.

From my humble opinion, and as one who made as living with tools
for the past 30.

Sockets/rachets-Snap On and Proto Challenger.

Pliers-Klein

Screwdrivers-Klein

Electronic Meters-Fluke or Extech.

Hammers or striking stuff--from anywhere that gives a good tool.


Keep in mind what you are paying for...

Snap On does not make hammers, chisels, air tools, power tools, precision measuring, and so on.
They make sockets and wrenches-with great fit, I might add.
As far as the other stuff most of these off items are purchased from other mfg, given a Snap-On number, and then they nail you to the Cross.

A premium is collected on many of these items for the Snap-On name.

Be sure to spend your money wisely.

Good Luck


brande

 

[Bill Barrett]

Years ago I was **** about everything had to be the same brand. Now I have Snap-on to China, different tools for different jobs. I do think Snap-on has some of the finest tools around, but I think they might be slipping some, like everyone!

 

[cp1969]

I have bought two brands of screwdrivers recently which I've been very impressed with: Facom (affiliated with SK, I think) and Whia (a European company). They are MUCH better than Craftsman, maybe not as good as Snap On but not nearly as costly, either. About $10 each.

I have a hodge-podge collection of tools, some inherited (Snap On, Blue Point, Plumb, Craftsman, Blackhawk), some of my own purchase (Craftsman, SK, Proto, Sparta, Chinese). Usually, the old tools are of noticeably higher quality but not always. My Snap On 1/2" ratchet is of '40's vintage and is a really crude instrument. My Proto 3/8" ratchet is of '60s vintage and although it was a very cheap tool at the time, it is like a Swiss watch compared to my low-end Craftsman ratchets.

 

[VA_Joe]

My thoughts are to go snap-on/bluepoint (or some other pro tool manufacturer) for both the smaller combination wrenches (less than 3/4") and the 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" socket sets. I have had too many problems with craftsman and others with these sizes due to poor tolerances, easily broken sockets, and weak pawls on the rachets (too many scraped knuckles).

For the larger tools (3/4" socket sets and the big wrenches) - I don't really think it matters. The tools are so large that I can't break them and the tolerances really don't matter anymore. For these tools - I've been buying Harbor Freight (i.e. go cheap).

Joe

 

[schmism]

the info may be a bit dated these days i dont know....

Who Makes What Tools

I have mostly craftsman, but i do have a small selection of snap-on tools. mostly specility and my open end box wrenches.

for the ocational nut or bolt, i dont care what i reach for. but when im working on a major project the first thing i reach for is my snap-on wrenches.

they just feel so much better in my hand, easyer to use, handle, etc.

As many have said, for the shade tree mechinc craftsman makes a quality hand tool. but for the guy what wrenches for a living, turning a wrench day after day, id own nothing but snap-on.