Matco Tools
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From: Back where I started...
Matco Tools
Anyone know anything about them. I'm going for mostly snap-on tools, but there was a Matco catalog here at school. Just flipping through it, and was curious if anyone has dealt with them. Mostly interested in their rollaway boxes, if anyone has every used one. Thanks.
Trailering
Joined: Aug 2004
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I'll second that, I bought Matco top and bottom boxes and several tools in the early 80's when I worked in a shop and still use them today. Back then they were way cheaper than Snap-on, don't know how they compare today, and performed just as good. Our rep was great, no sales pressure (unlike the Snap-on guy), he let us buy everything on weekly payment plans, and took care of any broken tools no questions asked.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
They do good as far as replacing broken tools, but you will need that service. All the wrenches in my box that are broken are either Matco or cheap junk. I had one of their impact sockets grenade on me one day, and managed to shatter the box end of an 18mm wrench with hand pressure. On a side note, I have never had a Husky tool completely fail on me. I have had ratchet mechanisms seize, but usually I was using a cheater pipe with it, and after a quick trip to Home Depot, I had a brand new one, no questions asked.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: "tween the cotton and tob
Matco boxes are the best built I've seen. You can sit on the drawers! As far as the tools themselves... I've broken many of their sockets in 3/8 dr. As far as the rest of their line... I havent had any serious quality issues. The prices are less than Snappy. My dealer is a class act.. an ex tech, he told me day 1.. "if ya buy a tool and dont like it for any reason, give it back and I'll credit you. You work hard for your money, I dont want you spending it on a tool that doesnt work."
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2002
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From: Fraziers Bottom, WV
Matco is starting to service this area again. They had vendors here for many years and for some reason dropec most of the sales units. But to answer you question, The are as good as Snap-On or Mac!
I have a few matco tools from the 70's and they are very good and used fairly often, Mostly line wrenches!
A good friend had a Matco mid box and it is an early 80's box and works great. he is a fleet mechanic now but worked for a Ford dealer!
I have a few matco tools from the 70's and they are very good and used fairly often, Mostly line wrenches!
A good friend had a Matco mid box and it is an early 80's box and works great. he is a fleet mechanic now but worked for a Ford dealer!
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
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Matco has worked very hard in our area to provide excellent customer service and price especially compared to snapon. I bought my new box last year from Matco. Spent 1100 dollars less than a comparable snapon unit. I've bought numerous other tools from my Matco dealer as well. I hate dealing with the snapon dealer. He is way too pushy. I think they teach that at snapon training school, because I think I've only met one snapon dealer over all the years I've been doing this that wasn't that way.
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From: Back where I started...
Appreciate the input guys. I'm about sold on Snap-on and S&K for tools, but as far as a box goes.... Snap-on boxes must be gold-plated, but I can't find anyone else who makes the style and size box I want, until I looked at Matco. Thanks again.
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My Skill center teacher sold matco tools so we got them for his cost as students.(wished I would have bought the boxes rather than the tools) Tools are equal to SK so buy SK there cheaper and just as good if not better.
Buy there toolboxes (there tanks) know a guy who has a set from the 70,s and uses them daily.
Don"t be dumb like i was back then.Find a box closest to a snap on box that has all the features your looking for and BUY IT!! you won't regret it! like I am.
Don,t be afraid to fill it with SK tools (the box don,t know the differance!)
JUST SOME WISDOM FROM DRIVETRAIN
Buy there toolboxes (there tanks) know a guy who has a set from the 70,s and uses them daily.
Don"t be dumb like i was back then.Find a box closest to a snap on box that has all the features your looking for and BUY IT!! you won't regret it! like I am.
Don,t be afraid to fill it with SK tools (the box don,t know the differance!)
JUST SOME WISDOM FROM DRIVETRAIN
Last edited by drivetrain; Oct 25, 2004 at 11:23 PM.
New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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I have a 7535 bottom and i haven't had any problems with it except that i have run out of room. I will probably trade up for a 9535 series in the near future. I would have to say you would not go wrong with a matco box. As far as tools go. They (Snap-On, Matco, Mac,...ect.) all have tools that are better suited than the other when it comes to certain duties. For example, I have only had luck with the matco breaker bar as far as brakage. I went through 5 snap on, and 3 mac before traking for a matco which i have not broken yet, by hand, without a pipe. I have broken more mac sockets than snap on. I have had US made thorsen ratchets hold up longer than any other and still does. IR makes a lot of air tools for all other companies. I've used the same IR made MAC 1/2" impact gun for the past 10 years doing alignments on late 80's and 90's GM cars, If you've done a lot of them you know what i mean, and have only had to rebuild it once and it is still as strong to date. So they all have there place in the matco tool box. thanks for your time.
Last edited by Xander; Oct 26, 2004 at 12:04 AM. Reason: More to say
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: CT
I was talking with a snap on guy and a matco guy at my school and the snap on rep agreed that matco was a better built box then snap on. He offered to buy any from kids in my class if they wanted to trade up. What does that say about thier boxes? Otherwise some of matcos tools yeah guys have had the same one since the 70's and its never broken but looking through they're catalog seems to me matco belives that if it ain't broke don't fix. But I like mac and snap on so thats just me.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Florida Hill Country
I like Snapon, Mac, and Matco tools. They all "contract" their boxes to be built by a "box" company. So there are certain years where the boxes may actually be the same.
Another interesting thing is that if you look at body hammers and dollies, Mac and Matco are actually made by Martin, in fact they all have the same Part #.
Another interesting thing is that if you look at body hammers and dollies, Mac and Matco are actually made by Martin, in fact they all have the same Part #.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 489
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From: Between Shelby / Avoca Ia
Remember, a box is only as good as the tools in it.
A high price empty tool box is not as good as a Craftsman box full of high priced tools. Matco tools are just as good as the other Truck brands. The main thing to look at is who is servicing your tools.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 108
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I like SnapOn myself, but bought top, bottom, and drawer sections in the 70s.
My 30 year old SnapOn tools are still going strong.
I just swapped 21 screwdrivers that were all 25+ years old with my SnapOn dealer, as a few of them had handles where the plastic handles were starting to break down and ooze oil. Brand new screwdrivers provided, no questions.
My 30 year old SnapOn tools are still going strong.
I just swapped 21 screwdrivers that were all 25+ years old with my SnapOn dealer, as a few of them had handles where the plastic handles were starting to break down and ooze oil. Brand new screwdrivers provided, no questions.