If i had an unlimited budget there is no doubt what i'd be using.
Sometimes it comes down to what do you have more of, time or money. For instance i recently had to remove two tie rod ends. One popped easily. The second one split a $3 HBR FR8 pickle fork at the bottom of the Y from a medium hammer blow and mushroomed the striking end quite a bit. So I go to an autoparts store and buy a better fork. Couldn't swing a hammer under there hard enough to break it loose. So i go to AZ and get a loner tool, screw type puller. It kept slipping to one side because it was bending the jaws. I put a hose clamp on it to stop that and it finally popped after the 6th try.
Now if i would have had $80.00 for tie rod end pulller part number TRP61 http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/to...=2&#2932929329 it would have come loose the first time and i wouldn't have spent several days trying to figure out what to do next. Time or money.

There is nothing like the right tool of the right quality to get the job done.

I'm with Homer Winzlow. Buy my Snap-on and high end tools at pawn shops. I'm told they buy em at 20% of book value and try to sell em at 60%. And i always, always ask for more off of the price. If you get stubborn about asking they come down more.
Thing is you need to check and make sure all the sockets are there. Found out later the set of 1/2 drive Metrics was missing the 14mm.

I made a point of buying certain high end tools like Snap-on 6 point deep well sockets because craftsman was too thick to go in the hole after the recessed bolt.

I've heard Snap-on charges the same whether you pay cash or finance, Is that true?

 

Snap-on charges me the same for credit or cash. When you give the sales guy your credit card number, they almost do a happy dance - that's always fun..

 

From my experience if you have a good track record with consistent work history, many dealers will give you a line of interest free credit off the truck. If you use Snap Ons credit for large purchases you still pay interest like a credit card. The off the truck credit is generally the dealer taking a personal risk to allow you to pay off your tools in a reasonable time period without the need of a credit card or Snap credit. It is solely his discretion how much he wants to risk on you and what he can afford to carry. But dont expect the best deals on tools when the dealer has to take the risk of you losing your job and never seeing you again.

 

Kobalt tools are now made by the Dahaner tool group. Makers of KD, Craftsman, etc. I bought a bunch on a gift card I had when they were getting rid of the others, really needed the line wrenchs and happy to get the quality of Snap-on at a cheaper price. Talked to a friend of mine who runs a dealership garage and I couldn't believe my ears; They have mechanics who by multiples of the Harbor Freight stuff, keep the receipts and take it back after they broke it.

 

Come to think of it, I've got Snap-On, Mac and Craftsman in my toolbox here at home. This morning I replaced the front brake pads/calipers and put on a new master cylinder on the Bronco. I used my Harbor Freight combos.

 

I don't know this brand. But it seems to me that one is asking for trouble when using something that has a known failure history. Fingers can be cut off or broken , not just bruised. I saw it in the Oil Patch and later in the Nav.
Just before I got out of the Navy in 75, the Navy had a better idea to save money, buy crap tools; ever heard of a brand name- New Lobster made in China.
I learned how to chase a Snap-on truck when back in the states (Groton CT) real quick (took my own tools on patrol). I sure hope that Nav got its head out of a dark place (Can I say &ss on the computer?) about that!



While I am thinking about it, what do you think about all these mechanics gloves that I see being sold every where? Seeing as how I have been downsized (except in body- gotta do that South Beach thing as per my Doctor's orders); I am back to fixing my cars and trucks, and I don't have those tough hands anymore.

trav

 

well i got lots of brands in my box an iv done it machanical as a hobby an as a living an i wouldnt buy a snap on tool what so ever any more . iv had to chuck more snap on in the grabage cause i got to fight with the dealer on a replacement . but being in canada we also have gray tools an they have been around just as long as snap on an its a no hassle replacement an the same goes for craftman tools . so for my 2 cents once my snap on breaks its in the grabage now.

 

I have a number of Gray from Canada in large wrenches. Good tools.

 

I agree with most, if you are a pro snapon isthe way to go. I have been wrenching for years and the primary tools I use are from diffrent companies. The best advice for somone starting out is get a set from craftman, or husky and build up your tol kit over time. I use snapon for most of my heavy use tools. Aslo it's great to have a few sets of around, I think I have about 4 full sets of tools. I use the craftman extras to make special use tools, you know the jobs that require you to make little modifacation to your nice wrenchs or sockets with grinder or cutoff tool.

 

Worked as a mech for about 28 years, I learnt early on that Snap-On is overpriced & they also make some of the most uncomfortable wrench's to use. They are the least used tools I own. They'l like Harleys, nice to look at but I wouldn't spend another 1c on em...

 

Lessee...I have Snap-On, Husky, and Kobalt in my box. I own my own shop, and they make my living. I love my Snap-On tools, and you just can't beat the 1/2 drive swivel impact sockets. Those things ROCK. My Husky tools are the one's I've had for 15 years, but they are slowly breaking. I replace them with Snap-On as they break. I have to say, though, that the Husky tool warranty is very good (sold exclusively through Home Depot). A while back I shorted my Husky 3/8 ratchet across a battery lead and melted it and the socket. The ratchet actually caught on fire. I walked into Home Depot, showed them the ratchet and socket, and with no questions the guy pulled a brand new ratchet off the wall and handed it to me. Then he broke open a new tool set and pulled my socket out. No questions, no fuss.

The best advantage of Snap-On is customer service, though. Several people have mentioned that it's frustrating waiting for the truck. MY Snap-On guy comes once a week, sure, but he's available any time over the phone, and if he's close, he'll drop by with about an hour's notice. If he's not close, he'll stay where he's at and wait for me if I have an emergency.

Here's the biggest deal about buying Snap-On over the "other" stuff:

I do not worry about breaking my Snap-On tools, especially the big stuff. I'm a suspension shop, so I'm routinely using the big tools in my box. Lots of times I'm working late at night, or on weekends when it's hard to get tools in a hurry. There is NOTHING more frustrating than being held up on a job because one tool broke, and that is ALL that's standing between you and a completed job. What would take another 10 minutes with the right tool becomes a MacGuyver-like quest that can take hours.

 

In my 7 yrs. of aircraft hydraulics Craftsman did great with the exception of their screwdrivers. I switched to snap-on screwdrivers, better grips and stronger. One thing to consider though, if you break a snap-on you have to wait for the snap-on guy to show up again. Break a craftsman and you can replace it during lunch or on the way home and be ready to go again.

 

[QUOTE=Glackowitz][QUOTE=Glackowitz]Hello, I have a nice broken Craftsman ratchet that sears wouldnt replace..They said I abused it and it was improperly used beyond the means of its use. So I took it to another sears..next town over..said same thing.

At my local Sears they accept them with hardly a glance. I go buy rusty ones at garage sales and pawn shops and trade them in.

 

I need to use your sears store for some of my old craftsman tools that mine wont swap.

 

I agree peteyg... customer service means alot... I buy most everything nowadays from Matco. We have many different dealers coming to my shop but I always buy Matco and Cornwell too. My Matco dealer is the best. He told me day one, "I'm an ex tech, I know how much you make and how how hard you work. These tools cost money. If ya buy something and it doesnt do the job for you or you just dont like it, give it back, I'll credit yur acct." I've been dealing with him for over 5 yrs and he's been the top dealer in NC for 3 years. I wonder why! If I break something on an off day, he'll either drop by or tell me where he is so I can come get or drop it in my mailbox. The few Snap On tools I do have I like, but the local Snappy guy is an *** so I dont deal with him. I have many Cornwells too. He's the same as my Matco guy, an ex tech who knows whats worth a crap and what isnt. He's straight up. I do have Craftsman too and SK and who knows what else. I buy what I need, when I need it to get the job done. Whenever something breaks, I get a new like item or I upgrade.