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I admit it, I like and own snap-on tools, but didn’t always have them. They are quality and nice to use that what I like about them. When I was younger, however, I bought Wards tools or whatever cheap stuff I could afford, like so many young fellas starting out (nothing wrong with this). Anyway, what I experienced at that time was that some of these guys that had all Snap-on stuff would literally laugh at somebody who didn’t, in the shop or working environment. I mean the cheapshot commments didn’t end. These insult throwers had snap on everything. Spray guns, welders, posters, signs, you name it, they had it. A whole lot of the stuff was just rebranded stuff. The Spray gun was a Sharpe, but one dare not say that. And these insult throwers said my tools were garbage (even my Craftsman stuff), thus basically stating that I was poor tech at best, because I did’t have the latest Snap-on whatchemecalit — tooltruck guy was of course, onboard with this. My question is this, I have known a ton of really talented techs young and old that made livings with Kmart tools, or whatever worked Wooden screwdrivers, home made tools, whatever worked.. Then again I see an 84 Snap-on Box in a TIRE Shop..(Really ) Some super techs even boycott trucks, however, where did the tool snobbery come from ? Ideas fellas ?
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No Mac ratchets break i must stress the fact that it is expert they are not even in the same ball park on this one. I broke the mac equivalent twice in 3 days time and got a full refund and got that.
[quote=”MDK22″ post=123703]No Mac ratchets break i must stress the fact that it is expert they are not even in the same ball park on this one. I broke the mac equivalent twice in 3 days time and got a full refund and got that.[/quote] Interesting. Was it old MAC or new MAC? Any older tool will last twice as long as a newer version.
It was a Mac Tools VR22FPA 1/2in drive, flex head, quick release, 22″ long handle. I got it and taking a transmission drain plug out put my hand into the frame rail the first time it broke it was the 3rd time I used the ratchet. Right after I got the head replaced brand new from factory. I walked over put it on a lugnut and didn’t get half my body weight on it before it broke.
The Expert E032803 1/2in drive, flex head, quick release, 17 13/64″ long. I at 260 lbs could stand and bounce gently on the end of the handle with one foot and it did not break. That is a lot of force on the end of a ratchet. My only gripe with it as I stated before is it is pinned and not a threaded bolt which is fixable and I might do with a set screw in the near future. I have put all my force behind that thing and it just takes it so much so I am thinking about buying another 3/8 and 1/2 for at home because they are that good and that cheap.
I’ve got all types of tools; Snap-On, Mac, Cornwell, Craftsman, Husky, Proto, and a dozen or so quality tool brands that no one even heard of along with a few Taiwan tools that are really not bad at all.
I’m aware of the tool snobs who think if every tool in the box is not SO then you’re not sxxx. I disagree. When someone’s head is under the hood and a 13 MM bolt is being loosened does anyone other than a tool snob care one bit if that bolt is loosened with a Craftsman 13 MM combination wrench; and that includes the owner of the car being worked on.
To me, this is similar to guitar gear snobs. Some guy whaling away on a Fender Strat and who thinks everyone not using a Strat is a no-talent wannabe because they’re using a Squier or Epiphone.
There’s a lot, a LOT, of very talented musicians out there (Gary Clark, Taj Mahal, etc) who use Epiphones and can play that Fender snob right off the stage. There’s even a Youtube video of Stevie Ray Vaughan playing a Squier Strat.I used to work one time with a mechanic who was a Snap-On snob. Every single tool he had was SO and he would do nothing but bash other tool brands even though he had never owned them.
Someone broke in one weekend and took his entire box; both top and bottom. The company refused to cover the loss so this guy had to go into the bank and borrow 5 figure money to replace it all.For beating the crapola out of a 1/2 drive, I have a harbor freight breaker bar. It can take a beating. You know, its sorta of knockoff of the Snap on stuff in the way it looks. I wonder if I I blindfolded a tool snob if he could even tell the difference from it and a snap on breaker bar. I have nothing against cheap tools that work. I do like Snap on though. I am not a person, however that would want to be part of shop now and be excoriated and become of the black sheep of the shop shop family because I was trying a save a nickel. Plus the tool truck guy might pick up on a cheapskate vibe in the shop may never come back (course he probably wouldn’t anyway). Eventually the shop would be filled with cheap tools, rounded off bolts and could buy bandages for the knuckles by the pallet load.
I put pipes on my breaker bars I wouldn’t trust Pittsburgh with that. If the shop is forcing you to buy expensive stuff i wonder that their cut is.
Yea, but I wouldn’t put an expensive breaker bar like a snap-on near a pipe and scratch it up. As slow as a big cheater is, I think one would have warning before it gave. Those cheap tools sorta squish like licorice ropes when failing (non air, of course), and that is then the time its give you to stop trusting it. As many have said, and I agree, if a tool is really large, like a say a 3/4 drive breaker because of the bulk, one is more likely to succeed with cheaper stuff. That being said, Snap-on large tools are a horrendous ripoff price wise anyway, I wouldn’t trust any harbor freight impact of anysize, but thats because you have another variable there. I would, however trust, say a sunnex 1 inch breaker with a lead pipe or something of that nature just because of the bulk of it.
Craftsman tools have been going down in quality over the last 6 or 7 years. Sockets, wrenches, extensions are fine.
The breakovers and ratchets are becoming pure junk. The breakover drives are twisting and snapping with not much effort and the ratchet gear mechanisms have become extremely sloppy.It’s kind of sad because all Craftsman tools were excellent tools for the price. Not so much anymore.
As to ratchets, Snap On can’t be beat. Some of mine are 30 years old and gold in color because the chrome has worn off. They all still work fine.
I put a 6′ pipe on my breaker bars though they are the USA made Craftsman ones before they went to the D-tent ring and now no ring. Apparently I must have gotten in right before they switched everything to non USA. But, ya 6′ tie rod 1/2″ drive breaker bar. Haven’t had anything too tight to break loose with that combo. I also have been using my great grandfathers Snap-On Breaker bar which has a 45 degree offset which has helped me get into some places the non off set wouldn’t.
do your research…………… Snappy, Mac, Proto, SK, Cornwell, OTC, etc etc all make good tools even the CHINA knockoff’s. I have been in the Automotive Industry over 30+yrs and I can only tell you the “insert name here” stamp on the side dont mean SQUAT!!! It’s all about research and finding what works!!! I have a “Champion Spark Plug” ratchet that I’ve had for “GOD KNOWS” how long and its my GOTO 3/8″ ratchet………… Outlasted 3 Snappy’s and 1 Mac …………. I got it free, when the Co. my Pop bought from bought bulk spark plugs
Most times , now-a-days Snap-On,MAC,MATCO is just overpriced crap BTW
I agree that Mac and Matco is overpriced stuff. However, some of their air tools that are really IR are decent. But why not by the IR. I like Snap-on tools, really. I wouldn’t say everything is the best, it differs. Here is the Snap-on advantage. Coffee mugs, pens, towels, calendars, you name it, they have it. I use a 1978 vintage Snap-on mug for my coffee ever morning, does it make the coffee taste better, probably not, but its the fact that its a Snap-on brand that just feels better in the hand for the simple fact that generations of guys have made their living with that brand, and its still the best. Yes. Snap-on guys are feckless, uncaring S.O.Bs, and I am about to call the Cornwell guy, but I still like SO brand better, even if the Snap-on guys never show up. They know their stuff is the best, and they use that against us. I have been waiting 6 weeks to hear from my Snap-on guy. He is still on Christmas vacation. It makes me mad, but then look at my tools and how they glitter and glow in my rollcab, and feel the precision of the dual 80, and I have to forgive him, for he knows now he hurts me by not showing up.
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