| Author | Message | ||
     Bhillberg |
just wondering what type of hand tools you guys prefer. I grew up thinking that craftsman were the absolute best. After a little time working as a mechanic I fell in love with snap-on. I do have some mac, s&k and kobalt though now. I have found that after sears got bought out a few years back that the craftsman started to go downhill and actually prefer kobalt to them now. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
If you make money with your tools snap-on. If your just a normal tinkerer like me, craftsmen. Only 'cuz Craftsmen is much cheaper but if it breaks no problem getting a new one. I would think for a pro, like yourself, it would make sense to fork over the $ for the good stuff. Snap-on makes better tools and if you need something they come to you. | ||
| Ezblast |
Concur! | ||
| 4cammer |
Been using Craftsman (non-pro) for over 20 years and have yet to have a problem. If I could justify the $$ I'd get Snap-On, maybe only for the name. Sears offers a new brand (made by the communist Chinese) and that has soured me a bit on them. I see this replacing Craftsman slowly over time. | ||
| Jb2 |
Snap-On. It's tough to swallow the price, especially when you're just starting out as a tech but 30 years later I still have all of the ones I originally purchased. I have some Craftsman, S&K, Mac and Matco but the majority are Snap-On. Snap-On also carries a line of Harley specific tools. Some are manufactured by them and some by Kent-Moore but sold exclusively through Snap-On and HD dealers. | ||
| 86129squids |
Once when I was a kid I actually chased down the Snap-on truck on a bicycle to get the guy to sell me a 6-point 12mm wrench. Nothing else would remove the base cylinder bolts on my TS125- I was getting ready to rebuild the motor. Got the job done with it. Favorite wrench not handed down by my dad. | ||
| Mikej |
I was always told to buy Craftsman if you think you'll break them, and to buy SK-Wayne or SnapOn if you don't want to break them. Even so I've managed to break some of each brand name tool, and I've never had a SnapOn seller come to me. In fact if you're not on one of their regular routes they can be downright difficult to catch. | ||
| Bhillberg |
yeah, for me it was honestly as I started out I figured I would spend the extra $ on snap-on. Really it was a lot more convienant than craftsman as the dealer came to my work several times a week. Now at my job they supply the tools so I have a bunch of snap on in the home garage | ||
| Hexangler |
Buy Snap-On direct online: www.snapon.com | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I use 90% Mac tools only because I have an excellent Mac dealer. The dealer taking care of the customer means more to me that having a snapon badge on my tool. Ive had very good luck with my tools and the few that I have not the dealer has done me right on by either taking it back or upgrading the item. I also like how my dealer will flat out tell me I might like the snap on version of this better. Its that kind of attitude that drives me to purchase from him. | ||
| Bhillberg |
rpm, I pretty much had the same experience with a snap on dealer. The mac guy came around and I had bought a used set of mac wrenches off of snappy. The 3/8 wrench was busted though. I took it to mac and the guy told me to wait 2 weeks until he could get another one in. After trying him a few more times I stayed with snap on. NOT because I honestly liked the tool any better than mac but the service sold me. Probably why I still go to the home town auto store rather than wal-mart for oil | ||
| Cowboy |
SNAPON | ||
| Ourdee |
I like snapon | ||
| Spiderman |
Harbor Freight HA  | ||
| Ourdee |
sidejack on the thread: any opinion on the buell kit http://www.buell.com/en_us/gear/accessories/produc t.asp?Menu_ID=2&ProductLineID=2&CategoryID=9&Produ ctID=2248 | ||
| Nillaice |
i'd have to price it out tool for tool, but i can say the vice grips are a must.  | ||
| Nillaice |
\thread jack craftman is good enuff fer lil' ol' me, but i love my snapons for 2 reasons: the only ones i got are from my pops, and they are so "refined" a tool | ||
| Skinstains |
I have a lot of tools. Snap-On is my favorite. They cost four times as much and are three times better. I have Williams, Armstrong, SK, Proto, Mac, and "old" Craftsman. You couldn't give me "new" Crapsmen or any other Chinese junk. The whole we give you a new one if (when) it breaks is not a reason to buy them. Having a tool break when you need it and having to go to a store to replace it (if they're open) isn't convienient at all. Any company that sells a good tool will replace it "if" it ever breaks. I never cheap out on tools, but I do use them at work and a lot at home. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I still have snap-on tools I bought over 30 years ago, & Blue-point stuff too. In France I buy FACOM, it's as good quality as Snap-on. (probably comes out the same factory for all I know) I also have a very rare socket set handed down from my grandad, it's snap-on 5/16" square drive socket set with BA size sockets, extension, ratchet, T driver, & screw driver handle. The tin box is a little battered but everything is still working perfectly. The salesman I used to deal with said he'd never seen one & he was one of the oldest dealers in the uk. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
As I work with computers and such I have had good luck with Husky tools. They make a sharp, yet strong screwdriver at a reasonable price. I have worn down one too many craftsmen screwdrivers. | ||
| Brumbear |
I won't buy snap on anymore because I am on the move to hard to find the snapon guy and I have grown to liking the craftsman line as I pass a sears everyday it's a little easier for me to exchange brokens and worn out's. I actually like S-K ratchets the best. Snapon ratchets are not that great, the older flat/solid ones I still have a couple but the round contoured ones are not that good.I have some matco they are ok I like the 4 sided grab on the open end wrenches especially the angle wrenches. Mac I don't hate I just never really bought them | ||
| Aesquire |
IMO the cheap Buell tool kit is low/medium quality. Chinese junk, but not too bad. The Phillips screwdriver I wrecked the first use. I have replaced the allen wrenches ( with craftsman ) and picked up extra driver bits. As I need it, or it torques me off, I add/replace it. The roll case is handy though, it lives in my tank bag. The more expensive Buell kit is from CruzTools & seems real nice. I wish I'd bought that one. At home, mostly Craftsman, some Mac, S-K, Snapon, Harbor Fright. Mechanics swear by the premium brands, and there is a reason. Having the tool guy come to work is a treat, and they give you credit! On the other hand, if you need a 24" breaker bar only once in a while, the $9.95 on sale Harbor Fright is good enough. Usually. I wouldn't buy life support equipment from them. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I like left handed tools. | ||
| Mikej |
I wonder what some of the franchisee drivers think of this: http://buy1.snapon.com/customerselfservice/NPUser. aspx
The online shopping is a relatively new option. And I'm still trying to figure out why SnapOn toolboxes are soooooooooooooooooooooo expen$ive. I'll never own one unless I snag one at a thrift shop or an auction. (Message edited by mikej on January 08, 2009) | ||
| Skinstains |
All the major (read as good) brands buy their toolboxes/stacks from a company called "Waterloo". They just put their tags on them and maybe a special gee-gaw or doo-dad or two to make it theirs. Check them out. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Most of my "standard" tools are Craftsman. Box wrenches, allens, ratchets, 6-point sockets. Specialty tools, Snap-On. One ratchet, specialty sockets (torx, E-head for my 2.2 mopars), MT2500 scanner, breaker bar, torque wrench. 2 full sets of GearWrench ratcheting box-ends - metric and SAE, straight head (not angled), not reversible (flip 'em over to reverse, no lever to hit by accident). Full set (small metric and SAE assortment) of O-ratchet - 6-point ratchet/sockets for long bolts, allow the bolt to pass through so you don't need deepwell sockets. Great for my '72 Plymouth and other older car stuff. For everything else, there's a Dremel, a pair of vice-grips, a BFH and a torch  | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Ace Hardware brand tools are fine tools by anyones standards and anything with the ACE logo on it is unconditionally guaranteed for life. That and you don't have to chase down a truck. Cheaper to buy too. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
FYI, Husky tools is the same company that makes Craftsman tools and you can purchase Husky at The Home Depot for much less than Sears. They have the same warranty as Sears, "Lifetime", and The Home Depot will even replace old broker Craftsman tools with Husky brand when you return them there. | ||
| Jb2 |
>>> And I'm still trying to figure out why SnapOn toolboxes are soooooooooooooooooooooo expen$ive. Quality. Period. I've owned several Craftsman boxes, several Macs and several Snap-Ons. The gauge of the metal is heavier in a Snap-On than any other box. For a long time Snap-On and Mac were the only ones that offered roller bearing drawers. Now everybody does but the quality of the slide units vary greatly. Making a living with your tools is about the only way to justify a Snap-On box unless you're rolling in the dough. I'm not but I'm glad I invested in Snap-On. | ||
| Bandm |
I wonder what some of the franchisee drivers think of this: http://buy1.snapon.com/customerselfservice/NPUser. aspx Snap-On Corporate pays the franchisee for all sales within their franchised area, so they like it. Industrial sales wrench their nuts. |
