Why is Snap-On stuff so expensive...?
I realize some of these are Snap-On but can be obtained used and adjusted for years of use.
Recommended for long term reliability and holding accuracy over time
750 inch pounds - 7502M Series
1200 inch pounds - QT2R1000 Series
1600 inch pounds - 16003 Series
2500 inch pounds - 16003 Series
2500 inch pounds - 25003 MRMH
250 Ft LBS -QC3R250
Dial indicator style 250 Ft LBS - CDI 2503LDFN
Dial wrenches have much better reliability but take longer to adjust during calibration. But once good they retain accuracy longer with use and a bit of abuse.
AVOID like the plague
These wrenches are usually out of tolerance for linearity and accuracy and cannot be adjusted to within specs even when brand new from the distributor.
Any wrenches from the following manufactures.
ARMSTRONG
WESTWARD - available from Grainger
Specifically models: 4AD94, 4AD95 and 4D96
This is just my experience; yours may differ.
Recommended for long term reliability and holding accuracy over time
750 inch pounds - 7502M Series
1200 inch pounds - QT2R1000 Series
1600 inch pounds - 16003 Series
2500 inch pounds - 16003 Series
2500 inch pounds - 25003 MRMH
250 Ft LBS -QC3R250
Dial indicator style 250 Ft LBS - CDI 2503LDFN
Dial wrenches have much better reliability but take longer to adjust during calibration. But once good they retain accuracy longer with use and a bit of abuse.
AVOID like the plague
These wrenches are usually out of tolerance for linearity and accuracy and cannot be adjusted to within specs even when brand new from the distributor.
Any wrenches from the following manufactures.
ARMSTRONG
WESTWARD - available from Grainger
Specifically models: 4AD94, 4AD95 and 4D96
This is just my experience; yours may differ.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
In some cases, Certain brands are only available to tech due to the tool guy not coming around or if he's a dick or not.
I buy snap-on because the guy is cool and gives me deals. Plus if I ever have an issue with a tool, he replaces it no questions asked.
My MAC guy is a dick and ripped me off on some sockets once. Plus he's one of those veterans trying to get 100% disability and never been deployed.
The MATCO guy is ok. Just don't order from him, you'll never get it. If it's not on the truck, you'll never see it.
As for Tq wrenches, I strictly use Snap-on digitals. Nice to have TTY in it. Everything now is TTY.
I buy snap-on because the guy is cool and gives me deals. Plus if I ever have an issue with a tool, he replaces it no questions asked.
My MAC guy is a dick and ripped me off on some sockets once. Plus he's one of those veterans trying to get 100% disability and never been deployed.
The MATCO guy is ok. Just don't order from him, you'll never get it. If it's not on the truck, you'll never see it.
As for Tq wrenches, I strictly use Snap-on digitals. Nice to have TTY in it. Everything now is TTY.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Certain stuff, wrenches, sockets, torx and hex bits, specialty tools and boxes, buy the best quality you can afford. A cheap hammer works, so do gear wrenches. My box was a 6 month old repo, I paid around $15k, but it is the last box I'll be buying. IR for impacts, been using the same IR composit since 2002, I've seen a couple issues with some of their newer titanium impacts. I have close to $80k in tools, and there are things I still need. I probably have $3k just in torque wrenches, that's about the only thing I'm done buying. On the bright side, I can do everything except machine work at home(laid off now so box is in garage), a lathe, a decent mill, better MIG and a TIG are the next big purchases. It never ends...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Snapon and Matco are the biggest scams around. They only survive because of an irrational cult following of people thinking their tools are 'the absolute best' as if that somehow justifies $400 for a 1/4" socket set or $500 for a 3/8" impact wrench.
I doubt these companies even 'make' tools. The more you shop around online, the more you see that nearly everything pedaled to the glassy-eyed tech school kids is nothing more than a rebadged tool marked up 300%.
And if you pay more for a tool box than a good used Mercedes, you are a moron. The box HOLDS YOUR TOOLS UP. You think that is worth $10K+??? 'But is has roller bearings.' LMAO.
TOOL TRUCKS ARE A SCAM. Yes I registered just to post this. Spreadin' the word!!!
I doubt these companies even 'make' tools. The more you shop around online, the more you see that nearly everything pedaled to the glassy-eyed tech school kids is nothing more than a rebadged tool marked up 300%.
And if you pay more for a tool box than a good used Mercedes, you are a moron. The box HOLDS YOUR TOOLS UP. You think that is worth $10K+??? 'But is has roller bearings.' LMAO.
TOOL TRUCKS ARE A SCAM. Yes I registered just to post this. Spreadin' the word!!!
Last edited by M31; Aug 20, 2016 at 10:10 AM.
Snapon and Matco are the biggest scams around. They only survive because of an irrational cult following of people thinking their tools are 'the absolute best' as if that somehow justifies $400 for a 1/4" socket set or $500 for a 3/8" impact wrench.
I doubt these companies even 'make' tools. The more you shop around online, the more you see that nearly everything pedaled to the glassy-eyed tech school kids is nothing more than a rebadged tool marked up 300%.
And if you pay more for a tool box than a good used Mercedes, you are a moron. The box HOLDS YOUR TOOLS UP. You think that is worth $10K+??? 'But is has roller bearings.' LMAO.
TOOL TRUCKS ARE A SCAM. Yes I registered just to post this. Spreadin' the word!!!
I doubt these companies even 'make' tools. The more you shop around online, the more you see that nearly everything pedaled to the glassy-eyed tech school kids is nothing more than a rebadged tool marked up 300%.
And if you pay more for a tool box than a good used Mercedes, you are a moron. The box HOLDS YOUR TOOLS UP. You think that is worth $10K+??? 'But is has roller bearings.' LMAO.
TOOL TRUCKS ARE A SCAM. Yes I registered just to post this. Spreadin' the word!!!
And some of the 80'' tool boxes are $10,000 and up...
I know they are strong and each drawer can hold hundreds of lbs each unlike the cheaper brand tool boxes, but I cant wrap my head around the price.
My Original duralast 100 piece socket kit cost about $100 and has lasted me 10+ yrs and I have close to 4 full complete car builds on it.. I have broken the 13mm socket and 15mm socket and they have been replaced but other than that I've been good.
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11 Second Club
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 15
From: South Florida
Snapon and Matco are the biggest scams around. They only survive because of an irrational cult following of people thinking their tools are 'the absolute best' as if that somehow justifies $400 for a 1/4" socket set or $500 for a 3/8" impact wrench.
I doubt these companies even 'make' tools. The more you shop around online, the more you see that nearly everything pedaled to the glassy-eyed tech school kids is nothing more than a rebadged tool marked up 300%.
And if you pay more for a tool box than a good used Mercedes, you are a moron. The box HOLDS YOUR TOOLS UP. You think that is worth $10K+??? 'But is has roller bearings.' LMAO.
TOOL TRUCKS ARE A SCAM. Yes I registered just to post this. Spreadin' the word!!!
I doubt these companies even 'make' tools. The more you shop around online, the more you see that nearly everything pedaled to the glassy-eyed tech school kids is nothing more than a rebadged tool marked up 300%.
And if you pay more for a tool box than a good used Mercedes, you are a moron. The box HOLDS YOUR TOOLS UP. You think that is worth $10K+??? 'But is has roller bearings.' LMAO.
TOOL TRUCKS ARE A SCAM. Yes I registered just to post this. Spreadin' the word!!!
Don't be so sure. You don't really "need" Snap-on tools. From experience I say they are the best. One time the only 5.5mm 1/4 inch swivel socket, out of all the brands, that didn't break was a Snap-on. I used to let everyone borrow it for the same job in a dealership.
I have 2 snap on torque wrenches and a stubby 3/8 ratchet which kicks ***.. But all my normal sockets are still duralast. So far so good
I pick and choose which tools need to be high quality based on usage.
I have a snap on ratchet I've been pounding on for a while that's proven to be decent, hasn't broken yet.
Dissappointingly I recently had the 3/8 drive craftsman 84t fail on me, and come to find out they're no longer made. Got a 3/8 72 segment cushioned grip to replace it which so far has been fine.
Thing I find with ratchets is the on/off selector is what I seem to break the most. If hat thing is plastic/cheap it ain't gonna last
Dissappointingly I recently had the 3/8 drive craftsman 84t fail on me, and come to find out they're no longer made. Got a 3/8 72 segment cushioned grip to replace it which so far has been fine.
Thing I find with ratchets is the on/off selector is what I seem to break the most. If hat thing is plastic/cheap it ain't gonna last
Back in the day(1985) when I started in transmission business there wasn't many tool company's like there is today. I tried craft man and I had to go by there every other day. So I go on the Snap-on truck and look around. I loved looking at the nice tools,then I talked to the tool man......WOW what a di2k he was. I said I'd never buy from him! I started needing tools that CM didn't have. I needed to buy from the DI@K. WOW set of wiggler socket set was 160 dollars,(now 350)I only made 200.00 a week.
Soon the Mac man came around,WOW he was a really nice guy,I bought everything from him, F-off snap-on. I was able to pay 20.00 a week for the tools I needed. So I started to buy more and more. The weekly bill went up some but I started to pay more because I could. Pretty soon you owe 2-3K and its only 20-30 bucks a week<that's why we pay the higher price. He comes every week has every tool you could think of and they will warranty your broken stuff W/O any crap and after a while you have spent 100K at least and its 30yrs later and you have two big boxes and you never regret any of it.
Somewhere in there the shop I worked in was robbed
and we all lost our tools,WE didn't get any money for our lost tools. I ended up moving to a nother shop and different dealer,this snap-on guy was cool and he gave me 5K worth of credit so I bought from him.
Soon the Mac man came around,WOW he was a really nice guy,I bought everything from him, F-off snap-on. I was able to pay 20.00 a week for the tools I needed. So I started to buy more and more. The weekly bill went up some but I started to pay more because I could. Pretty soon you owe 2-3K and its only 20-30 bucks a week<that's why we pay the higher price. He comes every week has every tool you could think of and they will warranty your broken stuff W/O any crap and after a while you have spent 100K at least and its 30yrs later and you have two big boxes and you never regret any of it.
Somewhere in there the shop I worked in was robbed
and we all lost our tools,WE didn't get any money for our lost tools. I ended up moving to a nother shop and different dealer,this snap-on guy was cool and he gave me 5K worth of credit so I bought from him. 
my flex head bent handle sk grew legs recently
replaced it with one of these at a coworkers recommendation and I'm pretty happy with it
https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-14967-...handle+ratchet
replaced it with one of these at a coworkers recommendation and I'm pretty happy with it
https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-14967-...handle+ratchet
Well, I've been a die hard craftsman only guy my whole life and can honestly say that now, their ratches are the biggest pieces of **** out there. So are their screw drivers. Sockets and ****, I'll stick with the cheaper craftsman stuff with the warranty, but the high dollar ratches are definitely worth it if you have the money and do a lot of wrenching.
I also use snapon torque wrenches.
I also use snapon torque wrenches.
Funny I have a craftsman torque wrench I've had for 10 years and when the calibration folks are at my work I've had them test it on their equipment... It's off by less than 1 lb, and is consistent from the bottom to the top of its range 20-250 ft lbs if memory serves me right.
Granted I've had it for a LONG time, maybe that's why?
I have some el-cheapo ones from HF that are all about 5 lbs low from their settings. But again relatively consistent, knowing that if I am in a pinch at track and need one I set it 5 lbs high and live with it.
I won't put a good one in trailer as they grow legs quick, this I'm sure of.
Sometimes ya get lucky I guess, all of my tq wrenches I have been using, and having checked on a regular basis for 8-10 years.... Fwiw.
Granted I've had it for a LONG time, maybe that's why?
I have some el-cheapo ones from HF that are all about 5 lbs low from their settings. But again relatively consistent, knowing that if I am in a pinch at track and need one I set it 5 lbs high and live with it.
I won't put a good one in trailer as they grow legs quick, this I'm sure of.
Sometimes ya get lucky I guess, all of my tq wrenches I have been using, and having checked on a regular basis for 8-10 years.... Fwiw.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Has anyone tried snap-on's 1/4" ratchets recently? Or how about their electric drills? I've used a lot of older snap-on tools that were great quality, but most of their recent tools that I've used were inferior at best. I would love to know if there is really any difference between snap-on tools and cobalt (lowe's brand) tools, since they come out of the same factory.
TECH Resident
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 926
Likes: 18
From: Central Texas
I still use a set of "Proto" tools my dad bought right after WW2 still in good shape and the torque wrench has been through several calibrations and still holds up! I worked on large steam and Gas turbines and all the tools used for final assembly had to be calibrated every few months....
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 332
From: Wilmington, De
I have a mix of Craftsman tools from 10+ years ago and Kobalt tools. They both have been working very well for my needs. Lately, I have been buying Kobalt sockets and such because the selection is pretty good in the store, and I don't have to go through the hassle of dealing with Sears employees should I need to replace something.
My torque wrenches are CDI.
I think I have bought two Snap-On tools over the years: a GM steering pin puller, and a flywheel tool I bought used off eBay.
My torque wrenches are CDI.
I think I have bought two Snap-On tools over the years: a GM steering pin puller, and a flywheel tool I bought used off eBay.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Craftsman now belongs to Stanley B&D 10+ year old thread, but very useful reading. So now it seems that Sears has sold off it's Craftsman tool brand to the Stanley B&D . Now in order to know we need to bring our reading glasses to look for Chinese made tools. I'm a weekend mechanic now days, but as a lover of my knuckles, I would never EVER use a Stanley or B&D tool
Game over man Game over! Seems that in order to get good American made tools, you will have to buy Snap-On. (Mac is owned by Stanley B&D)
Game over man Game over! Seems that in order to get good American made tools, you will have to buy Snap-On. (Mac is owned by Stanley B&D)