the other day at school the snap on guy came in and talked to us about their tools. ok all fine and dandy gonna buy me some snap-on tools spend maybe a grand........... there student starter kit is like $1500!!!!!!!!! plus the ford package- around $1600. you only get certian sizes on scokets, a tape measure, hammers and other tools. is it just me or is snap on way too expensive? for the same amount of money i can go buy a craftsman tool set, storage and some specitaly tools for $1600. and if some thing breaks i dont have to send it in or wait for the truck to come buy, i drive to sears get it replaced no questions asked.

what are your thoughts on snap-on?

 

Ive been purchaseing tools for 15 years now and use them everyday. IMO craftsman basic tools,sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, allens,etc. are just as good as snap on But when it comes to specialty tools you cant beat snap on. And yes snap on is way overpriced.DONT GET ME WRONG snapon makes great tools but if i were you i would go craftsman and save your hard earned money for snap on specialty tools. I speak only from experience because i own both. And youre right sears is open every day to exchange tools. Hope this helps.

 

Yes Snap-On is higher price but they are also higher quality. I know people will argue and say craftsman are just as good but they are not. Craftsman are very good tools but are a little lighter in strength. As far as lifetime warranty well thats fine and good if the tool breaks you can get a new one, but if that lower quality tool breaks and in the procces you bust up your hand and now you can't use it anymore then what good is the new tool. There is a reason most pro mechanics use snap-on and craftsman tools they are the top two made.

 

Snap-On tools are the best tools money can buy. Are they worth the extra money? I think it depends on what you are doing with them. I am a ski lift mechanic. My tols get wet and need to be carried around in a snowmobile. Most os my tools are Craftsman. There are a few tools I do want the quality of Snap-On. Like punches, extensions for ratchets, gear pullers and snap ring pliers. Some the snow cat mechanic have only Snap-On tools and have $50,000 wrapped up in tools. Does that make them a better mechanic, I think not. Some of the real cheap tools leave a lot to be desired and are hard on the nuts and bolts they are used on. It really depends on what you can afford and what you do with them.

 

I have turned wrenches for most of my life and yes 80% of mine are Snap-on,but for you starting out,they are a waste of money.Buy craftsman,try and stay with 6pt sockets,they wont round out as easily,but buy a 1/4,3/8,1/2 ratchet from Snap-on,their internal parts are much stronger than craftsman.

 

The age old question.....I belive that Snap-on is a investment, you can use them for years and still get decent money out of them when you retire. Craftsman on the other hand.......not likely. I don't go to a doctor with second rate stuff, would you? Being a heavy equiptment tech, I see tools come and go, but the ones that you spend the dough on when you get the best stay in your box. Craftsman is a good tool for the back yard man, it's hard to make a living knowing their is better stuff to do the job, especially when they break! and you are the one getting hurt! I have both.....but make my living with the best.
1: Snap-on, hand tools,wrenches,sockets, persision meashering equiptment.
2:Kline, pliers, side cutters.
3:Rigid, pipe wrenches.
4:Mac: line wrenches
5:Ingersal, impact gun..3/8,1/2"
6:CP, 3/4,1,1 1/2" impact guns

This is a small eg. of what I have done with my box and have found to be the best after a decade of being in the trade
This is my humble opinion......and no corecting the spelling...haha!! good luck!

 

Is Snap-On better for you or not? Well, that question depends on how much you plan on using your tools. I have both tools, and both work just fine. Both have lifetime guarantees and all that. What really separates them from Craftsman is the sturdiness. Historically, Snap-On has a better history of strength and better ergonomics. From a business standpoint, this means that you don't have to worry about breaks. The only other pointer I can give on this is that I have never warped an open-end Snap-On wrench. They are also usually the folks the automakers go to first for specialty tooling. If you're just a tinkerer, then you're just buying in for the investment. If you really plan on using the tools a lot, go with Snap-On.

 

If you make a living out of it, Snap-On is the way to go. I have bought cheaper tools from other jobbers such as Mac and such. Snap-On is the best and you do pay for it$. The other thing to consider is service, the guys that have the Snap-On trucks are pretty sharp, they usually know cars, and they go out of their way to make you happy. I think Snap-On tool boxes are the best made boxes for the money and they are quite expensive. The finance is nice too.

I have seen guys using original Snap-On socket sets almost as old as I am. My Snap-On ratchet screw driver set was $80 almost 20 years ago when it was first introduced. I have only broken one torx bit (my fault), it still works great, and even the plastic case is intact.

I still have my first impact wrench, blue point, that I bought used for $50 from the Snap-On truck. I have changed a lot of tires with that gun and dropped it more times than I can count and it still works great.

Granted, I have lots of Husky, NorthernTools, and Craftsman stuff too.

Starting out, maybe I would go with the cheaper tools, though once I started working seriously, I would try to replace it with Snap-On. If you have to leave in the middle of a job to buy a new wrench, socket, or bit because it broke in the middle of a job or the tolerences are so loose that it slows you down or breaks the part you are working on, how much money did you save? When an impact socket explodes and shreds your hand holding the extension, how much money did you save?

 

Hi im going to throw my 2 cents in here, being a snap on dealer now for 10 years and a buyer for 25 years i can say that snap has the best sockets wrenches screwdrivers all there own iron is the best made. However i get a lot of young fellows on the truck that are just starting out and the first thing i tell them is invest in something less exspensive and make sure this is what they want to do for a living. This is not an easy field to get into and most of them dont have a clue. When you figure it out then invest in quality tools. SNAP ON IS THE BEST TOOL OUT THERE chuck

ei

 

I might as well jump on the snap-on bandwagon too. I've gotten my snap-on wrenches in places and gotten out bolts that my craftsman wrenches can't. I don't even take broken craftsman stuff back any more.... I just pitch in the trash can. When I get out rusty, corroded screw out with my SNAP-ON screwdriver thats been tore up by a lesser quality tool I always say .... another SNAP-ON moment. If you can't afford them just buy 1 at a time.

 

have to go with snap-on,they are more expensive but they are worth it.we just hired two kids right out of school and they have craftsman boxes and tools,but guess whos box they are always borrowing tools from,my big snap-on!somthing else i've noticed about craftsman,for example,they sell thier 500 piece set of tools for x-amount,but half of them are tiny sockets or allen wrenches or other small tools that may only get used once a year,if your lucky! in my line of work as a ag mechanic,i only use the big stuff,stuff is just not available from craftsman.

 

Snap-on without a doubt is the way to go, I have some craftsmans tools that have worked alright, but their newer ratchets are totally garbage. This has been said many times and it is the truth, anybody who purchases one now should have no reason to complain. ( I have a new craftsman 3/8 flex ratchet that I totally refuse to use.) It may look good, but so do alot of snakes.
I also have several Mac and Matco flex ratchets that slip, and now sitting in the box as there is no Mac or Matco people around my neighborhood. Matco may be in the area but they deal only with their commercial accounts, I am no longer in the business sort of speak and therefore not worth their time.
I have had excellant results without question with SK-Wayne tools, and would recommend them to anyone, including people starting out. SK-Wayne are a little more expensive that Craftsman, but in my opinion twice the tool.
With Snap on, I have never, never ever had a problem, and they just perform and perform especially their special service tools.

 

After 26 years in the buisness working on everthing from lawn mowers to peterbuilts I think I have bought from just about every manufacter.In my $150,000 tool inventory I have the most snap-on tools followed by matco then craftman, mac, s-k, and even more specialty tools from so many brands I cant remember anymore.The first socket set I bought 26 years ago was a snap-on and some peices of the set are still original.I tell every apprentice who ever worked with me to first buy craftsman and when they break,which is often IMO, to replace them with snap-on.Not only will they hold thier value but you will make much money with them over the years.Good luck.

 

I certainly agree that Craftsman is probably not the way to go for proffesional mechanics but Snappy doesnt impress me all that much,, just due to the outrageous prices. I would take a good hard look at SK. I bought some replacement sockets the other day at 8$ compared to Snapon at 30. I do like a set of Snapon 6 pt end wrenches up to 3/4 as they do make the best end wrench in the smaller sizes where stripping becomes a factor. Some of the specialty tools have their place too.

 

Snap-On is great. IMHO, the quality is second to none. MAC is very good. But both are very pricey, especially Snap-On.

But the problem with both, is getting replacements for a broken tool. And , yes, even Snap-On can break. Because the Snap On salesman only comes around every week or so, or one lives next door to you, you have to play a waiting game. I have many snap on tools, and MAC tools, but mostly I have Craftsman, because of price, and getting replacements, easier.