Props to Snap-On tools

[rarefish383]

I don't know how far back Snap-On goes? Back in the mid 80's when my folks moved, I found an old tool box up in the barn, it was full of old broken tools. One piece was a ratchet head that snapped onto a half inch drive breaker bar to make it a ratchet. I flagged down the Snap- On guy at a gas station and a couple days later a new one was on the counter waiting for me. Still have and use it a lot, Joe.

 

[rxe]

Basic Snap-on tools are wonderful things. By basic I mean the spanners, sockets, tool boxes - all of that stuff. They just feel better in the hand, and what I really like is that you can go back several years later and buy a replacement for the part that you lost, and you still have your set of tools. Try that with a cheapo set.

I don't rate some of their other stuff - welders are rebadged Cebora (I'd rather use Kemppi) and their compressors are rebadged SIP (I'd rather pay SIP's prices...).

Screwdrivers, T-handle stuff - Wiha rules.

 

[CM76]

I second the agreement with the Snap On gear. I have used my tools extensively over the years without any of the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4" drive ratchets giving any trouble. The spanners and sockets are nicely finished and the screw drivers are top class.

Another brand I am fond of is the German Stahlwille brand of tools. These spanners feel really nice - even the 60mm + sizes are nice and light, with rounded edges which fit easily in the hand. I am not so keen on their ratchets though - Snap On is king in my opinion in this dept.

Regards,

Chris.

 

[Rookie1]

A little tidbit of info. I deal with several toolmen and they all say they have to buy the tools or parts to fix tools then send in for warranty when they get a certain amount of tools. Then they send a whole pile of broken stuff back to the company and wait to be credited. Sometimes they are waiting for a while to get their money.

 

[Little Al]

Being employed in the aircraft industry from 1952/1997 I always had Snap On tools. The Rep used to come around every month & replace/change any tool with a problem +some he thought were a problem even if you were not sure. In the late 70`s they had a problem with the plating on tools with made in CANADA on them I remember the Rep asking permission to look through the tool kits He went through every ones kit & placed the tools with made in CANADA on our benches made a note of them all asked each guy to check the list against the tools & if it tallied sign He replaced all the tools that he had on his truck & left the others on the benches. 3 hours later he returned & replaced the rest. I don`t know how many tools were changed in the company but personally I had 26 tools exchanged. Because of that after sales service I have never used any other brand

 

[Wildman1024]

I love my snap-on tools and Box. My father passed and made sure he left them to me. I wish I had the money to buy some more but I'm pretty happy with my craftsman wrenches(6pt) I bought . My favorite wrenches by far are the gear wrench...Especially when working on an import. I have alot of S-K and snap-on stuff mixed with a few husky and craftsman.

I have one of those 3/8's ratchets like in the 1st pic and its my favorite. This one is actually a replacement. The 1st one had a bent handle which I liked better but i shattered the gears inside and they couldn't replace it so handed me a new one. That's my only experience with snap-on but it was a good one.

Someday I would liek to find a bottom for my dads box. I have long since outgrown it and even he had more then it held.

 

[SteveH]

My good friend and airplane partner owns an aircraft repair shop where the Snap-on guy stops his truck every couple weeks. All the mechanics pour out of the shop and line up at the door of the van. I went along one day to see what the hey, and I was impressed with the tools but a bit taken aback at some of the prices. My friend said, well, he has had a few--very few--problems with some things he bought from them over the years--not bad considering he has more in tools than I have in my house and uses them every day--and he has had every remotely questionable tool replaced on the spot by the Snap-on guy. Never a problem, never a hesitation. That's good enough for me.

 

[teacherman]

I really like Snap-on's box end wrenches and sockets, because of the relief on the outer points that transfers the force to the flat of the nut or bolt, reducing the risk of rounding it off. But I really like the quick release on a Craftsman ratchet. That keeps me from getting a Snap-on ratchet.

 

[rarefish383]

Here's a pic of the 1/2 in drive ratchet attachment that turns a breaker bar into a ratchet. When I'm in the Pick-N-Pull junk yard this cuts down on carrying a half in drive ratchet and breaker bar. Makes a big difference when in the junk yard all day, Joe.

 

[Hddnis]

I make my living with my snap-on box and tools as a jaguar mechanic. they are pricey but more than make up for it
<a href="http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc173/rebelvtx/?action=view&current=seattle.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc173/rebelvtx/seattle.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My grandfather was a Jaguar mechanic. My dad still has some Jaguar brand wrenches. The quality of those old wrenches is second to none. If I ever find a full set I be willing to pay almost any price. They are open end wrenches, thinner than a standard open end wrench, and still work like a new premium quality set.



Mr. HE

 

[Slamm]

A small snapon tool box .....

Here is my buddy and saw builder's small Snap On tool cart, LOL.

And it still doesn't remotely hold all of his SnapOn tools. He has over 100K in tools.

 

[GrantC]

Most are made in the US, not by Snap-On (who contract out anyways), but most likely the same company as Craftsman.

For years Proto was the subcontractor for Snap-On; many of them were made in Proto's Milwaukie, OR plant. (The plant was closed in the late '80s, if memory serves.) Proto was the original patent assignee for the Flank Drive.

Personally, I prefer Wright tools - made in the U.S. from U.S. steel, and not owned by an amorphous multinational conglomerate.

-=[ Grant ]=-

 

[jbighump]

i really like sk tools too snapon quality for half the price!!!!!!!

 

[indiansprings]

I got a mongrel set of tools, snap on, sk, mac, craftsman, and wiha. I like the wiha screwdrivers the best. Craftsman is such a pain in the azz to get anything replaced anymore at our local sears, I'm finished buying anymore of their tools. I busted the gears in a brand new fully polished 3/8 drive flex head ratchet and when I took it back they tried to give me a old used one that had been rebuilt, it looked like it had slid down the road at 60 mph for half a mile. Told them nope, take of my tools, wipe them down when they are put up and I wanted a new one or gears put in the one I broke. Thirty minutes later left with a new one, done jacking with them.
I paid around eighty bucks for a snap on 3/4 inch drive ratchet head, with two handles a 3/4 break over and got about 16-18 sockets with it at an auction a few years ago, it's paid for itself many times over, it's unbelievable the pressure we have put on it with cheater bars.

 

[NeoTree]

when i go to swap meets all i look for is snap on stuff, i've got some amazing deals, that long handle flex head 3/8 ratchet is my favorite, i got my brother one of those 1/4 inch drive round head swivel ratchets for x-mas, he says doesnt go more than an hour at work without picking it up.

 

[olyman]

Most are made in the US, not by Snap-On (who contract out anyways), QUOTE]
prove this--in the actual snap-on line---

 

[olyman]

For years Proto was the subcontractor for Snap-On; many of them were made in Proto's Milwaukie, OR plant. (The plant was closed in the late '80s, if memory serves.) Proto was the original patent assignee for the Flank Drive.

Personally, I prefer Wright tools - made in the U.S. from U.S. steel, and not owned by an amorphous multinational conglomerate.

-=[ Grant ]=-

prove it--snap-on sockets have been made in the usa,by them only,from what my 35 year man has said--and their tools boxes were made at algona ,iowa--