Due to a theft of all my tools I finally got my snap on replacements. I have a 94 firebird racecar and while I waited for the snapon's to come my crafstman set came first. I was under the car wrenching on a rear control arm bolt 18mm 6pt my crafstman socket rounded the nut off, well I waited for the snap on stuff to come and thought I'd give it a try, well low and behold right off. I'm not knocking crafstman but this kinda stuff is why I love the snappy stuff.


Kevin

 

I've got Snap On ratchets and Craftsman sockets, so far I've never had any problems rounding nuts or bolts off with them. (Knock on wood)

 

How many of you guys drive Snap-On trucks?

 

LOL! I'm not sure if you could pay me enough.

 

I have had the same problem with Craftsman. Their sockets and wrenches are frequently oversize and the heat treatment is not correct. They buy from the lowest bidder.

 

I don't make my living as a tech even though I'm ASE certified. It's been 32 years since I got a paycheck for twisting bolts. My industry started sliding down hill a few years ago, so I got my ASE certs in case the time comes that I have to once again resort to this to put beans on the table.

Although I don't twist bolts all day long every day, I have done it ALOT over the last 45 years or so and most of that time with a box with some Snap On tools. In the early days when I didn't have a LOT of tools they were MOSTLY Snap On. If you turn enough bolts, nuts and screws with different tools including SnapOn and others, over time, most anyone will learn why Snap On tools are definitely superior.

Had I continued mechanicin' for a career, I would also have continued to buy Snap On tools, and even though I don't make my living today twisting bolts, I still keep Snap Ons in my box and even buy some new ones depending on the particular tool.

No, I don't drive a Snap On truck, nor do I get any kick back for my positive statements about their tools. I wish I could though. Any Snap On people out there wanting to pay me for an endorsement?

Although I feel that Snap On clearly makes the BEST handtools in the world, there still is the question of value. For a young person planning on making a career that depends on their boxfull of tools, Snap On is definitely worth the money. For the person who does not use them to make their living, it is DIFFICULT to justify the greatly added expense. When I win the lottery, I will have my shop FULL of Snap On tools and not much of anything else. Until that time, or until my industry falls the rest of the way out from under me, forcing me to twist bolts for a living, I will guard the Snap Ons I have and buy more if I can.

Have a great day,
Doc

 

MBDiagMan,I agree with you Back when starting out my teenaged years I never even seen a snap on tool, all crafstman nothing wrong with that at all. But over the years I have replaced most of my tools with the snap ons due to now I can afford them, did I pitch the crafstmans absolutly no, will I, no, I will keep them so I may pass them down to my son or daughter just like my parents did for me my crafstman were mostly older (aLittle better made I think) I just hope whomever stole them is enjoying them. I just think you use what you have. The tool doesn't make the man but sometimes the right tool makes life alittle eaiser.

 

Snap-On is over rated and over priced, Craftsman works just as good except for there ratchets.

 

I have a hefty amount of Snap-on tools. I agree wholeheartedly they are seriously overpriced................. But!!!!


Over rated.......... I think not. Their quality is excellent.

They are thinner, tighter, and just plain feel better in the hand. Above all they are less inclined to give you a problem.

I agree the truck guys are inclined to be a bit stiff about replacement, that kinda bugs me.

But overall, give me Snap-on

uba40

ps I'm not a Snap-on truck driver or even stock holder

 

Hey now theres an idea, after all it seems like I PAID for the truck, might as well drive it too!!! Greg

 

well im a sr in hs and I work as a tech in a small shop (theres 3 of us total) and i started out with a small craftsman box with about $600 worth of craftsman tools and at the beginig of this school year when i got my job and i took my tools to work and started using them every day i saw that craftsman tools fall far shot ive been slowly upgrading to snap on (i get a discount 52% through school on kra boxes and large tool sets but its limited what you can buy and i cant go through my dealer for the discount) ive got a kra 5319 bottom box (54" tripple bank with 19 drawrs i got it through school for $1300 its $3000 off the truck) also i keep my snap on guy happy by never missing payments and paying extra every week it seems like every time i turn around hes giving my stuff because im the only honest kid he deals with ive got modle cars, a $75 dollar clock (too bad i cant read it because it isnt digital lol) for buying a $225 5pc swivel socket set (well worth the money) decals, shirts, license plate frames and other cool stuff, hes a new guy and ive only been dealing with him for about 3 months maybe I should invite him to my graduation party in june. i love my snap on tools though yes they are high priced but as they say There Is A Differance and there is its called quality and service

 

We lost another Snap~on man, and they are trying to recruit me AGAIN. It is annoying.

Try the Craftsman pro thin ratchets. I use them for my regulars and get the Snap~on specialty ones. You should look in the archives at the box posts. I'd rather have the Craftsman box and use the money on the tools to fill it. All the Craftsman sockets I've seen fail have been due to improper use (non impact on impact or where you should be using impact with a cheater bar). Your young, watch out about loaning or even letting people know what you've got, have a mechanic at the shop that needs an attitude adjustment, something doesn't go right and lately he throws a tool. I started out at the family mechanics garage when he was it by himself, he'd taught me a lot since I was 16 (34 now) and once this Dufus (family to the mechanic or he'd been fired looooong ago) started down there, tools started getting lost or wondering off. It's when I started filling in my gaps, and now I will run home, grab something finish the job and take it back home with me. Saved them a couple of times.

 

Dont wrench for a living but I need my trucks cannot wait for the shop to use up their supply of 'round-tuits'.

Actual snap-on experience was replacing upper BJ on the 91 since I live in the land of snow and salt it was rusted TIGHT applied 12MM Craftsman and spun it rounding off the points in a hurry (12 point bolt).

In a panic called my local snap-on guy and bought a 12 MM snap on. Applied snap-on to rounded bolt. The snap on gripped and held and the bolt was removed without drilling.

Snap-on's are way way expensive but they do get the job done in a pinch. but this is the price you pay for tools which are made to specification rather than price.

Now I have some craftsman which I got as a teenager and that stuff seems to be as good as the snap-on is now and my local snap-on guy says the same as he also has his first set of tools. The new stuff is just not very consistent. For chuckles just take a caliper and measure a few craftsman sockets of the same size.

To save a few bucks I try to pick up used snap on whenever I can
and see what the results are.

 

I bought the ratchet screwdriver from Snap-On when it first came out when I was a very young car saleman, about 1981-83 (think it was $80?), and I am still using it and the original bits. I only broke one bit in all that time and that was because I was using the torx bit on a rusty BII mirror with a 1/4 wrench. It is one of my most used tools and I just finished using it again to change the fuel filter in my F-100.

I have all types of OEM branded tools, some very cheap, some very expensive. I have never had a problem with Snap-On quality and the Blue Point has been pretty good too.

 

Getting back to the main subject of Kevins first post, rounding off bolt with Craftsman and then getting the same bolt off with Snap On.

There seem to be a few people here who don't know that Snap Ons 12 point sockets and box ends have what they call "Flank Drive." I don't know how to describe it without a diagram or picture, but they grip the bolts away from the corners.

In case you're ever in a pinch with a rounded bolt and can't wait for the Snap On truck, you can get six point sockets and box ends at Sears which will probably get that bolt off.

I prefer six point sockets and 12 point box ends. Since you're using the socket on a ratchet, you can let the ratchet work in tight places, where with a box end wrench, it will often get in your way if you have to have a sixth turn of motion to manage the fastener.

Have a great day,
Doc