Mac or Snap on
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: NW Indiana
Craftsman ratchets are complete junk, especially the 1/2 drive. I bet I have over 50 defective ratchets and probably over 100 if you include the other sizes. I started carrying Craftsman about 3 years ago when Ace picked them up.
I have plenty of Snap On stuff and I gotta say the Ace wrenches have taken a beating over the years and I have yet to break one. Same way with sockets and you wont need to make payments to get a set. I'm sure that some other brands may be thicker or a bit more comfortable but they are still a quality product.
I have plenty of Snap On stuff and I gotta say the Ace wrenches have taken a beating over the years and I have yet to break one. Same way with sockets and you wont need to make payments to get a set. I'm sure that some other brands may be thicker or a bit more comfortable but they are still a quality product.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
I started John Deere tech school when I got out of high school and got the basic discounted Snap On tools and should've gone crazy when ordering them, The dealer that was sponsoring me changed ownership and fired everybody that hadn't worked there for a long time and never said anything about my the tools or the agreement we had. Now that I'm farming I really appreciate the tools as I use them all the time to fix things that the dealer would normally fix, lol, no hard feelings but is kind of ironic.
I'd stay away from the new Craftsman tools, they used to be pretty good but recently they've gone Chinese. My father-in-law bought me a new set of wrenches and they are ridiculously huge on the ends compared to the old ones and have twisted off numerous new 1/2" breaker bars with no cheater on it and busted more than a few new six sided chrome sockets on a old breaker bar with no cheater. Yes they will replace them but with the same lousy tool.
I'm not loyal to any particular brand and even own some Kobalt tools that look almost identical to my Snap on and are incredibly tough even with cheater bars.
I'd stay away from the new Craftsman tools, they used to be pretty good but recently they've gone Chinese. My father-in-law bought me a new set of wrenches and they are ridiculously huge on the ends compared to the old ones and have twisted off numerous new 1/2" breaker bars with no cheater on it and busted more than a few new six sided chrome sockets on a old breaker bar with no cheater. Yes they will replace them but with the same lousy tool.
I'm not loyal to any particular brand and even own some Kobalt tools that look almost identical to my Snap on and are incredibly tough even with cheater bars.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
This is what I'm talking about.... Wish I compared the 9/16th or 1/2" in a Picture, ridiculously huge compared to the old wrenches.
Tools are time and time is money when you're using them for a living.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
This is very very true----most of us here fall into the making a living with tools or more of the home mechanic types so two very different outlooks and budgets. Because I hate anything cheap I probably over-buy tools relative to my real need or longer term need/use they'll ever see. Since my budget has no real limits price alone has never been even the slightest consideration.
Also since never being without certain tools I carry at least two of every one that's important to my work. Too often I've had one unexpectedly fail in the middle of a job, simply grad its back up and finish. As quickly as possible I'll either repair or replace the failed tool and all is well once again.
While I completely understand the idea some cheap tools are good enough for some doing most jobs I've never seen the real value of a lifetime guarantee when it means repeated trips back to a store replacing one more failed tool. Time is money so that I don't spend replacing or exchanging broken cheap stuff is money and peace of mind in my own pocket.
Also since never being without certain tools I carry at least two of every one that's important to my work. Too often I've had one unexpectedly fail in the middle of a job, simply grad its back up and finish. As quickly as possible I'll either repair or replace the failed tool and all is well once again.
While I completely understand the idea some cheap tools are good enough for some doing most jobs I've never seen the real value of a lifetime guarantee when it means repeated trips back to a store replacing one more failed tool. Time is money so that I don't spend replacing or exchanging broken cheap stuff is money and peace of mind in my own pocket.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
This is very very true----most of us here fall into the making a living with tools or more of the home mechanic types so two very different outlooks and budgets. Because I hate anything cheap I probably over-buy tools relative to my real need or longer term need/use they'll ever see. Since my budget has no real limits price alone has never been even the slightest consideration.
Also since never being without certain tools I carry at least two of every one that's important to my work. Too often I've had one unexpectedly fail in the middle of a job, simply grad its back up and finish. As quickly as possible I'll either repair or replace the failed tool and all is well once again.
While I completely understand the idea some cheap tools are good enough for some doing most jobs I've never seen the real value of a lifetime guarantee when it means repeated trips back to a store replacing one more failed tool. Time is money so that I don't spend replacing or exchanging broken cheap stuff is money and peace of mind in my own pocket.
Also since never being without certain tools I carry at least two of every one that's important to my work. Too often I've had one unexpectedly fail in the middle of a job, simply grad its back up and finish. As quickly as possible I'll either repair or replace the failed tool and all is well once again.
While I completely understand the idea some cheap tools are good enough for some doing most jobs I've never seen the real value of a lifetime guarantee when it means repeated trips back to a store replacing one more failed tool. Time is money so that I don't spend replacing or exchanging broken cheap stuff is money and peace of mind in my own pocket.
Back on topic, cheap tools have their place for using once or twice and being done with them but if you're using them on a regular basis your money ahead to buy the good ones, i've bought cheap tools and use them and always end up replacing them and always regretted not buying the better one to start with.... Generally I would've saved money and lots of time if I had in the beginning. Snap on, Mac and Matco tools were the preferred tools at the shop but they all had tools that weren't as good as others and post like this and asking other mechanics is a very good way to determine which ones are the best if you're talking a specific tool.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,511
Likes: 5,567
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the thing about "cheap tools" is these days they are all the same.
snap on, mac, craftsman, matco, harbor freight. the are all made on the same assembly line in china, just have different names put into the dies depending on what they are making that day. all you are buying is the name.
snap on, mac, craftsman, matco, harbor freight. the are all made on the same assembly line in china, just have different names put into the dies depending on what they are making that day. all you are buying is the name.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
It's off-topic but I'll get back on to it with this post. How do you take piece of the post and have it quoted with their signature without a bunch of deleting? haven't found it on my iPhone which I need to use because my landline Internet is slow as a very drunk person.....
Delete Me Too Much Stuff To Be removed
Delete Me
Tool-wise more often than not it really comes down to our personal preferences that are greatly influenced by budget and real vs perceived use or need for any one tool. Some don't mind the use it once, throw it away sorta mindset, others prefer buying something that will outlast them.
Because I've rarely bought something affordable and have never really been at all disappointed with a better quality tool I'm kinda set in my ways about cheap vs higher quality. I've also noticed that to a large extent cheaper tools seem to make the job more difficult, not the main reason I buy tools in the first place.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,511
Likes: 5,567
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Tool-wise more often than not it really comes down to our personal preferences that are greatly influenced by budget and real vs perceived use or need for any one tool. Some don't mind the use it once, throw it away sorta mindset, others prefer buying something that will outlast them.
Because I've rarely bought something affordable and have never really been at all disappointed with a better quality tool I'm kinda set in my ways about cheap vs higher quality. I've also noticed that to a large extent cheaper tools seem to make the job more difficult, not the main reason I buy tools in the first place.
like i said before in this thread, the HF tools are actually better than the snap on stuff as far as breaking goes. i have broken a lot more snapon tools than HF tools.
and where you have to jump through all kinds of hoops to find a snap on dealer that will honor the warranty. Harbor Freight will not give you any grief. just bring it in and out you walk with a new one.
i had a floor jack fail on me last year. the truck shifted as i was letting it down and the frame of the jack got twisted. i took it back and it was out of warranty by 7 days. the store manager got me a new one out of the back room and apologized for the failure. that is only the third item i have had to return in over 10 years of buying tools there.
the other 2 were a radiant heater that had the ignitor fail, and a 4 1/2 inch grinder that had a pinched and cut power cord when i opened the box.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 21,195
Likes: 306
From: Near Salmon Arm BC
Myself and the two professional AME's that work for me full time have a variety of tools. From Craftsman and Westward, to Proto and Mastercraft, to the pricey Snap on and Mac stuff. It really depends on the tool.
Often the cheapest is as good as the most expensive.
For some specialty tools I can only get them at say Snap on.
More often than not I find the best tool is whomever has the best warranty, and a store close enough to be convenient for taking in a warranty item.
I sure do like my Ingersoll Rand impacts though, and my Snap on torque wrenches.
My huge selection of T-handled Allen and torx wrenches I use a lot and used to wear out the cheap and expensive brands quickly. For those i prefer Proto.
Often the cheapest is as good as the most expensive.
For some specialty tools I can only get them at say Snap on.
More often than not I find the best tool is whomever has the best warranty, and a store close enough to be convenient for taking in a warranty item.
I sure do like my Ingersoll Rand impacts though, and my Snap on torque wrenches.
My huge selection of T-handled Allen and torx wrenches I use a lot and used to wear out the cheap and expensive brands quickly. For those i prefer Proto.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
The only truck that stops by my shop is Cornwell, so I'm building up a fair bit of a collection there. Just bought a used tool box today, couldn't pass it up for the price and it gets me out of the dinky Husky box (which looks like there was a significant explosion involving all the tools that don't fit in it).
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
I simply begin my reply with the full text of something I'm quoting then delete the unwanted parts, that listed between the UBB code of: ---we'll delete the underlined parts here......so the quoted portions appearing in my reply would look like this before hitting the Submit Reply button:
That's all there is to it!
Tool-wise more often than not it really comes down to our personal preferences that are greatly influenced by budget and real vs perceived use or need for any one tool. Some don't mind the use it once, throw it away sorta mindset, others prefer buying something that will outlast them.
Because I've rarely bought something affordable and have never really been at all disappointed with a better quality tool I'm kinda set in my ways about cheap vs higher quality. I've also noticed that to a large extent cheaper tools seem to make the job more difficult, not the main reason I buy tools in the first place.
That's all there is to it!
Tool-wise more often than not it really comes down to our personal preferences that are greatly influenced by budget and real vs perceived use or need for any one tool. Some don't mind the use it once, throw it away sorta mindset, others prefer buying something that will outlast them.
Because I've rarely bought something affordable and have never really been at all disappointed with a better quality tool I'm kinda set in my ways about cheap vs higher quality. I've also noticed that to a large extent cheaper tools seem to make the job more difficult, not the main reason I buy tools in the first place.
Back to the tools, something to consider is I would guess most of your tools will be brought out of a tool truck and probably would be worth talking to the locals about the guys selling them, some are better than others about random things like broken tools. Even if you buy the best tool there is and your local guy is an *** and that tool breaks it's not really worth the money....
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,511
Likes: 5,567
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i have a smart phone, all it does is makes and takes calls. no camera, no computer access, no anything else.
and when i flip the cover closed and put it in my pocket, it does not call everyone in the contacts list when i sit down either.
and when i flip the cover closed and put it in my pocket, it does not call everyone in the contacts list when i sit down either.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
"Supposedly smart phone" lol, it is literally the only way at the moment I can browse anything on the Internet and not sit and stare at a spinning wheel forever. Long distance DSL is sloooooooow.
Edit, having a smart phone is in one way a handy tool it's access to a parts manual in your pocket, incredibly handy in the middle of nowhere working on machinery as you don't need to try to call and describe the part or drive 20 minutes to see if they have the part.
Edit, having a smart phone is in one way a handy tool it's access to a parts manual in your pocket, incredibly handy in the middle of nowhere working on machinery as you don't need to try to call and describe the part or drive 20 minutes to see if they have the part.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I use my phone at work constantly- I have a bluetooth OBDII adapter and scanner program. It has more functionality than the Snap On Solus, and it's fun to see customer's faces when I sit down and play with my phone while they're "paying me to fix their car".