View Poll Results: Snap-On VS Craftsman.
Snap-On. Only the best for me.
12
12.50%
Snap-On has some nice stuff, but I'd rather save some cash.
36
37.50%
Craftsman does everything Snap-On can but for 1/15th the price.
47
48.96%
I take my wheels to the dealer.
1
1.04%
I don't use tools; they are the work of the devil.
0
0%
Voters: 96. You may not vote on this poll
Snap-On VS Craftsman
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 3
From: Summit, NJ
Snap-On VS Craftsman
Overall definitely Craftsman. Snap-On defintely makes the better tool, but you can't beat the price, value and convenience of sears. Snap-On is nice to have when you are in the industry that requires it. Pretty much every mechanic around here has snap on. Its great because the tools come to them. For someone like me, its just far too expensive to own such a set. Although it would be nice to have, if I ever broke a socket it would be a pain to replace it versus driving 10 minutes down the road to replace my craftsman at sears. I'll certainly continue buying sears for many years to come.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: umatilla or
Snap-On VS Craftsman
in my line of work if a tool breaks iam usually not in a position to just run to town and get another one. sometimes iam hundreds of miles from a store that carries tools period. plus minimium down time is a must for me. thats why snap-on gets my vote
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
Snap-On VS Craftsman
If i were in your line of business I would probably use snap on too. Somebody said that a cheap tool can get you hurt. This is sort of true I suppose. I have broken a ton of tools in my life but can't remember breaking one while using it properly. We use a craftsman ratchet to tighten the 4 big bolts that hold the dual wheels on out 1155 massey ferguson. It is a 3/4" drive and we misuse this tool with a 4 foot long cheater bay (planter marker extension). The ratchet has been in the shed longer than I have been alive and it has never broke.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
Snap-On VS Craftsman
Question: I was just at the snap on official website and they list their standard 60 piece 1/2" drive ratchet set is over $2000. Is this the norm? Their torque wrenches are a more reasonable $240 for the click type. The guarantee accuracy within 4% one way and 6% the other. Not the best in my opinion. When we get torque wrnches from them in the military they go straight to PMEL to be calibrated. We are only allowed to use a percentage of their advertised torque rating due to inaccuracies on both ends. What is the deal here? How can a 60 piece socket set be worth $2000? It is not even the black chrome moly stuff. Its regular steel.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: Denver USA
Snap-On VS Craftsman
My Craftsman toolbox is stuffed with mostly Craftsman tools. If I break one the store is two miles away.
I do scrounge the pawn shops for Snap-On stuff, primarily air tools and tools I've had problems with like line wrenches, ratchets, or torque wrenches. One of my good friends is a 20+ year ASE mechanic and he hooks me up with his Snap-On guy to calibrate or do maintenance work on his account.
So far my favorite two peices are a real nice Snap-On 1/2 drive torque wrench, and my IM6100 1/2 drive air impact. Found the IM6100 for $75, was all greasy and the cover was roasted so the people at the pawn shop thought it was junk! Had the anvil replaced and that baby screams, un-muffled of course. I recently used it to install a lift, the IM pretty much wasted my 22 and 24mm deep sockets, it was starting to round the drive end. But they are Craftsman so I'll just get em replaced free when they do finally round out.
IMO Snap-On stuff is awesome, but way overpriced unless you turn wrenches for a living.
I do scrounge the pawn shops for Snap-On stuff, primarily air tools and tools I've had problems with like line wrenches, ratchets, or torque wrenches. One of my good friends is a 20+ year ASE mechanic and he hooks me up with his Snap-On guy to calibrate or do maintenance work on his account.
So far my favorite two peices are a real nice Snap-On 1/2 drive torque wrench, and my IM6100 1/2 drive air impact. Found the IM6100 for $75, was all greasy and the cover was roasted so the people at the pawn shop thought it was junk! Had the anvil replaced and that baby screams, un-muffled of course. I recently used it to install a lift, the IM pretty much wasted my 22 and 24mm deep sockets, it was starting to round the drive end. But they are Craftsman so I'll just get em replaced free when they do finally round out.
IMO Snap-On stuff is awesome, but way overpriced unless you turn wrenches for a living.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Snap-On VS Craftsman
Hi,
snap on is the best quality available but nearly as expensive as Gold
, so I use several brands (with good quality) like Gedore, Stahlwille, craftsman ....
I have only a few Snap on wrenches which are reserved only for special uses.
Jens
snap on is the best quality available but nearly as expensive as Gold
, so I use several brands (with good quality) like Gedore, Stahlwille, craftsman ....I have only a few Snap on wrenches which are reserved only for special uses.
Jens
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Struthers
Snap-On VS Craftsman
I hate to do this but , I gotta stick up for Great Neck tools .
I work as a mechanic and I have everything from Snap On to Craftsman and I'am a firm believer that SOME Great Neck tools are better than Craftsman . You just have to watch what you buy from Great Neck , If it looks like junk it probably is . There ratchets with the actual lever to switch direction work great and I haven't been able to break one yet .
Years ago Craftsman used to make some good tools , but they have really gone down hill . I have not been able to break a Great Neck wrench or socket yet , and thats even using them on an impact .
How many times have you rounded off a nut with a newer craftsman wrench ? If watch closely you can see that a Craftsman open end wrench will actually start to expand and open up as soon as you put any torque to it .
I do prefer Snap On , Kobalt , Mac etc. , but they areway over priced .
I just had to throw my 2 cents in there because I just can't stand Craftsman tools !
I work as a mechanic and I have everything from Snap On to Craftsman and I'am a firm believer that SOME Great Neck tools are better than Craftsman . You just have to watch what you buy from Great Neck , If it looks like junk it probably is . There ratchets with the actual lever to switch direction work great and I haven't been able to break one yet .
Years ago Craftsman used to make some good tools , but they have really gone down hill . I have not been able to break a Great Neck wrench or socket yet , and thats even using them on an impact .
How many times have you rounded off a nut with a newer craftsman wrench ? If watch closely you can see that a Craftsman open end wrench will actually start to expand and open up as soon as you put any torque to it .
I do prefer Snap On , Kobalt , Mac etc. , but they areway over priced .
I just had to throw my 2 cents in there because I just can't stand Craftsman tools !
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Snap-On VS Craftsman
I have a tool box full of snap on tools...small tool box mind you long story.
If I didn't aquire these the way I did, then their is no way I would have them. I actually sold a couple specialty ones that I didn't need becasue they wouldn't fit.
I'm the kind of guys that likes to wear Italian suits so I like having the snap on tools when I work, but I agree though it may be more of a name, the quality IS better. BUT when they offer lifetime warranties on their junk just use it. The price is NOT justified by the quality.
If I'm not mistaken my torque wrench I have is over 500$CDN where a mastercraft would be about 100$ (actually 99.99$ I checked) now that I work for canadian tire especially I can only use mastercraft.
Fortunaly I have enough snap on tools for basic stuff that I am set.
I even have a snap on soldering gun
CK
If I didn't aquire these the way I did, then their is no way I would have them. I actually sold a couple specialty ones that I didn't need becasue they wouldn't fit.
I'm the kind of guys that likes to wear Italian suits so I like having the snap on tools when I work, but I agree though it may be more of a name, the quality IS better. BUT when they offer lifetime warranties on their junk just use it. The price is NOT justified by the quality.
If I'm not mistaken my torque wrench I have is over 500$CDN where a mastercraft would be about 100$ (actually 99.99$ I checked) now that I work for canadian tire especially I can only use mastercraft.
Fortunaly I have enough snap on tools for basic stuff that I am set.
I even have a snap on soldering gun
CK
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Snap-On VS Craftsman
Originally posted by Fords and 1911
The only Craftsman tools I don't use are their ratchets.
I prefer S-K ratchets.
If I made my living with my tools
I might possibly manage to justify the HIGH cost of Snap-On.
The only Craftsman tools I don't use are their ratchets.
I prefer S-K ratchets.
If I made my living with my tools
I might possibly manage to justify the HIGH cost of Snap-On.
Lets not call it HIGH lets just call it insane.
snap-on prices
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Snap-On VS Craftsman
BTW not really off topic but sorta.
What would you guys classify Bluepoint? I was suppsoed to be getting all the air tools from teh shop that were bluepoint (which I know is basically snapon) but I kidna got screwed out of that...
heh 30K in snap on tools. So you must have some sockets and screw drivers right :P
j/k but so expensive
CK
What would you guys classify Bluepoint? I was suppsoed to be getting all the air tools from teh shop that were bluepoint (which I know is basically snapon) but I kidna got screwed out of that...
heh 30K in snap on tools. So you must have some sockets and screw drivers right :P
j/k but so expensive
CK
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cities, MN
Snap-On VS Craftsman
Has anyone tried napa's tools?
We have a breaker bar from napa that we use. We also have a 1/2 impact wrench, long shaft. Which I prefer to use over the mac impact with a short shaft, even if I'm not using it on the rear dullys.
I have one of them 3/8 drive sets for the vehicle from napa, But the ratchet in it is a craftsman, cause the napa ratchet doesn't hold up quite as well. As for wrenches at home, its everything you can imagine. My uncle bought new wrenches when he lost the other ones, so we got like 20 of each of the more common sizes. So if one breaks and its not a warrenty its trashed. The cheapys are also good for making that modified wrench you always need.
edit: Oh yeah, one of the craftsman tools I really like is the wire stripers #82563. They work far better than some of the junk I've tried in the past.
We have a breaker bar from napa that we use. We also have a 1/2 impact wrench, long shaft. Which I prefer to use over the mac impact with a short shaft, even if I'm not using it on the rear dullys.
I have one of them 3/8 drive sets for the vehicle from napa, But the ratchet in it is a craftsman, cause the napa ratchet doesn't hold up quite as well. As for wrenches at home, its everything you can imagine. My uncle bought new wrenches when he lost the other ones, so we got like 20 of each of the more common sizes. So if one breaks and its not a warrenty its trashed. The cheapys are also good for making that modified wrench you always need.
edit: Oh yeah, one of the craftsman tools I really like is the wire stripers #82563. They work far better than some of the junk I've tried in the past.
Last edited by wolfmanagh; Feb 13, 2003 at 07:58 PM.