Snap on might be the best but you need to be careful with your money when you are just starting out. You don’t want to be one of those guys who owes snap on most of his check each week or the guy who had his tool box repossessed.

 

If you make your living with your tools, buy Snap on or Mac. If you tinker on the weekend, use craftsman. I broke my nuckle when a craftsman socket split on the end of a pull handle. That did me in with them. A guy I work with was dangling from a crane by his harness screaming because a craftsman socket split on the end of a pull handle and sent him flying. He bought Mac shortly after that.

The toughest tool I have ever used is Kobalt. I use their regular sockets for impact sockets, never split one. They are just a bit bulky though.

 

While we are discussing tools manufactured in America, add to the list Wright Tools -
www.wrighttool.com. They have been in business since 1927, and make a fine line of tools. They seem to be sold largely to industrial customers. I have used many of their larger size tools, such as 1" drive sockets with excellent results.

 

Snap On tools in my tool box. I tend to overstess tools and I want to make sure they hold up. The Snap On guy had to keep A 3/4 braker bar handle on the truck just for me, I was going through 3-4 A year. On 3/8 ratchets I liked Macs better, just had A better feel.
Snap Ons ratcheting screw driver is quite possiblly the best tool ever made. I own A few of them.

 

If you gonna be using this tools oftain do your self a favour and buy the snap on, everything about them is better you will appreciate them everytime you use them.

 

I plan on attending a tech school in the fall for automotive and according to the instructor, Snap On routinely comes by and offers 50% off to students so I'll be sure to look into that. The problem is, that's pretty much the only way a beginner can buy them. Sure you can buy one at a time but in order to get in the field you need tools NOW. At this point Craftsman will have to be the bulk of my tools until I can afford to replace them with better quality tools.
Others have mentioned SK which a mechanic friend of mine also recommends. Another company I haven't heard mentioned here is Cornwell. What are people's feelings toward Cornwell.

 

Chad...
Cownwell sells some good stuff and its about 10 to 20% cheaper than the other tool truck dealers. Their air tools are the same as the others, just with their logo on them. We have Snap On, Matco, and Cornwell coming to our shop. I shop around and buy what I need at the best price.

 

Thanks xcopterdoc, I saw an episode of Popular Hot Rod TV showing Cornwell's process and it seemed like they build some good hand tools. Ultimately it's just going to come down to what I can afford when I need a certain tool. Hopefully the discounts offered by different companies will allow me to buy some good stuff while at school.

 

This is why you bust stuff...using chrome sockets on a impact will eventually break any brand. Dont blame the brand when you dont use the tools for their intended purpose. The black impact sockets arent made out of the brittle material the chrome sockets are, that is why they dont split.

 

Check out the article i just posted on Who makes what tools. Also was a mechanic for over 18 years and have all kinds of tools. Craftsman, Snap on, Stanley, Husky, Proto and so on are all good tools, make sure they are comfortable in your hand. You do not need to buy a $1600 Snap on set if you are just starting out. Just don't by Tawain crap. A starter Craftsman, Husky or Stanley will do just fine, then fill in if you want with the others. IMO.

 

The Snap-On boxes I operate out of I bought from a grad from some diesel school. I paid him 500 bucks for 5000 worth retail. He bought em for 1000. They'll cut ya a hell of a deal. I'd buy the boxes and fill em with what ya think you'll need. You'll quickly find out once you hit the real world what you will need right away and what you can wait on. Its a pay to play and to get paid for world. I admire anyone who has the guts to get into this life nowadays. Its dog eat dog.

 

xcopterdoc, I'm also a musician. You want to talk about dog eat dog, try to be a professional musician. At least with automotive skills I could get on somewhere that will pay me. If the band thing works though $ is ALWAYS an issue. I don't expect to make a ton of money in either profession but I just can't see myself being a pencil pusher somewhere or a "computer geek". There's nothing wrong with those professions as long as that's what you enjoy but it's not my bag.

 

Tech school students can get some good buys that are hard to resist frm Snap On. If you can afford it I would say that is a good way to get started. I wont blanket statement that Snap On is the best in everything because I have had some that werent too stellar, like specifically their half inch impacts. Their power tools only carry a one year warranty too so think about that when considering a power tool. I highly recommend FAR71 3/8 air wratchet though, its been stellar and Ive owned a few over the past 20 years. Thier FAR25 1/4 inch air wratchet is also a nice tool, lots of speed, but count on getting it rebuilt at least once a year for about 75.00 if you use it a lot. I have thier top of the line 1/2 inch impact, IM6100 I belive it is called but that thing just isnt impressive after about 6 months use. I dont have to use it a great deal so I live with it. I think the ingersol is the best in that department.
You dont have to buy new Snap On tools either. Plenty in the pawn shops and plenty of techs getting out of the business. Great tools dont have to be brand new retail. I have so many brands it would take a page to list them all. Made in USA is the one thing I look for in hand tools. Almost any brand. Stick within a modest budget till you get good at what you do and are making good money. Then invest in a nice box and quality tools. You may just find you arent cut out for the job and believe me used tools, whether its a Snap On or Craftsman have very poor resale so recouping your investment is very difficult.
As one who is turning wrenches at about 50 years of age, I still wont go hog wild on owning a fortune in tools. I buy what I use and very few "cute" tools. I also discourage people from buying those gawdy tool boxes with all the huge stickers on them as they scratch and fade and look like crap in a few years. I think Snap On makes some of the best tools in the business but there are many brands that are quite sufficient. And if you are like many people in the business you will have more trouble keeping your tools than you ever will breaking them. LOL

Hey has anyone seen my 8mm deep 1/4 dirve socket? Oops, theres another 12.00 I owe MR Snap On next week. Joe Blow the tech down the stree will own it after he does the next repair. Sometimes it pays to settle for a little less quality for the smaller tools when you know you might have to replace it every few weeks from loss or people forgetting they borrowed it from you.

 

Good advice Homer! How true on the disappearing tools too!

 

I have one set of chrome sockets I ues on impact. I do not use any of my other sockets on the impact. I have never had one of the Cobalts, that I use on the impact, break; only the craftsmans that I have never put on an impact.

I have plenty of impact sockets, I do industrial maintenance. There are a few applications where the walls of the impact sockets are too thick to use them; then I have to use the chrome ones.

I split a black socket yesterday working on a dozer.