Snap-on Vs Craftsman
Originally Posted by Sunset01SS
Kobalt tools...they are made at the same plant as one of the premium tool brands 
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Originally Posted by Sunset01SS
What exactly has changed about Craftsman's warranty? I hadn't heard anything. Oh well, I work for Lowe's now so I'll be buying some Kobalt tools...they are made at the same plant as one of the premium tool brands
Thought they did away with the lifetime warrenty... to lazy to check their site lol.
I work at Sears, and I can try and clear up the warrenty issues. The craftsman hand tool warrenty has not change. They just never inforced the warrenty like they were supposed to. If you break any craftsman hand tool during normal use, bring it back to the store, and you can get a new one no charge. But, if it is clear that the tool has been abused you may be turned away. An example of this would be some one that uses a 3/8 ratchet with a 4ft long cheater bar over it to break loose bolts. Larger 1/2 and 3/4 ratchets are made for a reason. At my store if there are signs that a cheater bar has been used we will rebuild your current ratchet and give it back to you. If the ratchet is warped so bad that it cannot be rebuilt you will have to buy a new one.
This has allways been the policy, but previously you could just take anything back in any condition and exchange it. This obviously is not good on Sears bottom line, so the inforcement was changed.
This has allways been the policy, but previously you could just take anything back in any condition and exchange it. This obviously is not good on Sears bottom line, so the inforcement was changed.
repair shop owner ok, something i know about.
I currently have 6 mechanics (5 are master) working at our shop and they use all kinds of tools including craftsman,mac, matco, snapon etc.. The tool trucks (stop by once a week and do replace any broken tools (i broke a tap last week). The non specialty craftsman tools are top notch, pry bars, wrenchs, sockets, etc.. and they cost a lot less. Note the tool trucks do not replace lost tools and you will loose tools. If you are just starting out spend your money wisely and slow. Look at what the normal mechanic has, you can tie up 20k in tools in the blink of an eye. Also the guy with the most money in tools is never the best mechanic (i have a guy with +75k in his boxes). By the way the best mechanics I have own a mixture. It is not the brand of tool that makes the mechanic. Heck the guy I have with over 75 to 100k in tools if he had any sense maybe he would own the shop instead of tools.
Hope this helps
Hank
I currently have 6 mechanics (5 are master) working at our shop and they use all kinds of tools including craftsman,mac, matco, snapon etc.. The tool trucks (stop by once a week and do replace any broken tools (i broke a tap last week). The non specialty craftsman tools are top notch, pry bars, wrenchs, sockets, etc.. and they cost a lot less. Note the tool trucks do not replace lost tools and you will loose tools. If you are just starting out spend your money wisely and slow. Look at what the normal mechanic has, you can tie up 20k in tools in the blink of an eye. Also the guy with the most money in tools is never the best mechanic (i have a guy with +75k in his boxes). By the way the best mechanics I have own a mixture. It is not the brand of tool that makes the mechanic. Heck the guy I have with over 75 to 100k in tools if he had any sense maybe he would own the shop instead of tools.
Hope this helps
Hank
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Originally Posted by Bird-Of-Prey
Start out with craftsman. They will be fine. About the time you start to notice that they are starting to round off and not fit like they used to should be about the time you start to upgrade to either Snap on, Matco or Mac. It's really all preference. Snap on, Matco and Mac are pretty much of the same quality give or take. It has alot to do with your tool guy. Build a good foundation with him and he will do anything to make you happy. At that point you now have a good start at a set of tools for home as well as for work. I'm also a fan of S-K and Cornwell.
Originally Posted by mullenh
ok, something i know about.
I currently have 6 mechanics (5 are master) working at our shop and they use all kinds of tools including craftsman,mac, matco, snapon etc.. The tool trucks (stop by once a week and do replace any broken tools (i broke a tap last week). The non specialty craftsman tools are top notch, pry bars, wrenchs, sockets, etc.. and they cost a lot less. Note the tool trucks do not replace lost tools and you will loose tools. If you are just starting out spend your money wisely and slow. Look at what the normal mechanic has, you can tie up 20k in tools in the blink of an eye. Also the guy with the most money in tools is never the best mechanic (i have a guy with +75k in his boxes). By the way the best mechanics I have own a mixture. It is not the brand of tool that makes the mechanic. Heck the guy I have with over 75 to 100k in tools if he had any sense maybe he would own the shop instead of tools.
Hope this helps
Hank
I currently have 6 mechanics (5 are master) working at our shop and they use all kinds of tools including craftsman,mac, matco, snapon etc.. The tool trucks (stop by once a week and do replace any broken tools (i broke a tap last week). The non specialty craftsman tools are top notch, pry bars, wrenchs, sockets, etc.. and they cost a lot less. Note the tool trucks do not replace lost tools and you will loose tools. If you are just starting out spend your money wisely and slow. Look at what the normal mechanic has, you can tie up 20k in tools in the blink of an eye. Also the guy with the most money in tools is never the best mechanic (i have a guy with +75k in his boxes). By the way the best mechanics I have own a mixture. It is not the brand of tool that makes the mechanic. Heck the guy I have with over 75 to 100k in tools if he had any sense maybe he would own the shop instead of tools.
Hope this helps
Hank
Wow... a big dose of the TRUTH! Well said!
If you're gonna be using the tools every day to make a living, I'd dump the extra cash on the SnapOn stuff, especially if a SnapOn dealer comes to your shop weekly and you build a good rep with him.
amateur mechanic here. I use snap-on ratchets(Ithink craftsman ratchets suck, I'll buy used snap-on from ebay before I'll buy another crapsman rathet).
I have craftsman and snap-on sockets and use both as well as napa sockets. Any socket guaranteed for life is good with me. I've broken both snap-on and craftsman sockets but not the napa's. Floor jack was a Walmart 3 ton and its worked good for 4 years now. Was around $70 I think. Tool box is craftsman ball bearing top box. My box is not real big but it works good for the tools I have.
I buy snap-on when ever I can but I do have an s-k torque wrench that is nice as well. I started with a craftsman 70 peice sae and metric combo and have added to it from there. Snap-on wratchets and then a sleeve of 6 pt deep metrics and now the shallows. Will be looking for some 1/4 drive snap-on ratchet soon enough.
Screw drivers are napa's as well. They had a 40% off sale a few weeks ago. I'd buy Snap-on but you just cant get them at a good price.
All in all the Craftsman starter set was inexpensive and a good start to re-building my tool collection. Adding quality ratchets to it for decent money from ebay was a big plus. Then I just buy individual items when I can. Having a truck stop by once a week is candy to a baby. I'd be in deeep.
I have craftsman and snap-on sockets and use both as well as napa sockets. Any socket guaranteed for life is good with me. I've broken both snap-on and craftsman sockets but not the napa's. Floor jack was a Walmart 3 ton and its worked good for 4 years now. Was around $70 I think. Tool box is craftsman ball bearing top box. My box is not real big but it works good for the tools I have.
I buy snap-on when ever I can but I do have an s-k torque wrench that is nice as well. I started with a craftsman 70 peice sae and metric combo and have added to it from there. Snap-on wratchets and then a sleeve of 6 pt deep metrics and now the shallows. Will be looking for some 1/4 drive snap-on ratchet soon enough.
Screw drivers are napa's as well. They had a 40% off sale a few weeks ago. I'd buy Snap-on but you just cant get them at a good price.
All in all the Craftsman starter set was inexpensive and a good start to re-building my tool collection. Adding quality ratchets to it for decent money from ebay was a big plus. Then I just buy individual items when I can. Having a truck stop by once a week is candy to a baby. I'd be in deeep.
Last edited by 99blancoSS; Nov 10, 2006 at 01:48 PM.
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Originally Posted by eschoendorff
Aviation work, eh???? I thought that the aviation guys preferred Proto tools.
For 1/4" stuff, you can use the Snap On ratchets, butr I actually prefer my SK and Facom 1/4 ratchets. My 3/8 Snap On owns, though.
As far as Textron, don't they own the patent on Torx fasteners?
For 1/4" stuff, you can use the Snap On ratchets, butr I actually prefer my SK and Facom 1/4 ratchets. My 3/8 Snap On owns, though.
As far as Textron, don't they own the patent on Torx fasteners?
Almost everything I have is Snap-on except for my air tools, they are the titanium Ingersoll Rand. Snap-on's wrenches, swivels, ratchets(especially the swivel heads ones), and their screwdrivers are top notch and I love their torque wrenches and measuring equipment too. Go to Sears and look for a 30mm deep impact socket.....lol
I definitely fall into the ameture/DIY guy. I use Craftsman exclusively for a couple reasons:
1. There is a Sears Hardware about 5 miles from my house.
2. I rarely see a tool truck around.
3. Looked into SnapOn/MAC/Matco tools and was shocked at the prices
4. Never had a problem getting replacements under warranty.
Out of the above, price is a big factor, but being able to hop in the car and run to the store to get something else is pretty valuable. There have been few times where they didn't have the tool i needed.
I've broken a couple of sockets and a ratchet. These were old (5+ years) tools and probably being used beyond their threshold. For example, there were all 3/8 Drive sockets/ratchet and a 1/2" drive probably would have been a wiser choice.
I've never used any high end tools, but I'm sure I'd see a difference. However, when you can buy 3 Craftsman ratchets for the price of a SnapOn ratchet, I give the nod to Craftsman in my tool box.
Ryan
1. There is a Sears Hardware about 5 miles from my house.
2. I rarely see a tool truck around.
3. Looked into SnapOn/MAC/Matco tools and was shocked at the prices
4. Never had a problem getting replacements under warranty.
Out of the above, price is a big factor, but being able to hop in the car and run to the store to get something else is pretty valuable. There have been few times where they didn't have the tool i needed.
I've broken a couple of sockets and a ratchet. These were old (5+ years) tools and probably being used beyond their threshold. For example, there were all 3/8 Drive sockets/ratchet and a 1/2" drive probably would have been a wiser choice.
I've never used any high end tools, but I'm sure I'd see a difference. However, when you can buy 3 Craftsman ratchets for the price of a SnapOn ratchet, I give the nod to Craftsman in my tool box.
Ryan
reason for sears not covering the warranty from jack, is its known. The lifetime warranty is not on every tool that craftsman makes, just hand tools. If your craftsman chainsaw breaks after 10 years, they don't replace it for free.
The floor jack is known to be a POS, I have one too... I love it has given me no problems but I wish I researched it more, I have been looking around and seen lots of people have problems with the craftsman ones.
The floor jack is known to be a POS, I have one too... I love it has given me no problems but I wish I researched it more, I have been looking around and seen lots of people have problems with the craftsman ones.
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From: Charlotte NC...but a Jersey boy till death
FWIW...Neither company makes there own tools. They buy from other guys. The reason why Matco, Snapon, All those jobber truck guys charge more are for a few reasons, the main one...They all own those tools they bought from Their parent company Matco, Snap On whoever. Then they can sell them for what they think is fair. Also since they usually let you pay over time, they can charge you a bit more on that. Craftsman wrenches are made by a company in NC, DanaherTool company.
Ask me how I know...I work for a tool company that make stuff for the jobber trucks and know guys that work for Danaher.
So basically....quailty of tools are all the same....just price is different
Ask me how I know...I work for a tool company that make stuff for the jobber trucks and know guys that work for Danaher.
So basically....quailty of tools are all the same....just price is different
Originally Posted by PopaPork
So basically....quailty of tools are all the same....just price is different
Originally Posted by AmericanMuscle313
Well When I worked at the GMC dealership usually the snap on guy would warranty stuff IF you bought it from him. Sometimes they are picky if the tools are really old and the lifetime warranty isnt on everything they sell on the tool truck. The craftsmen stuff is ok if you are not using it everyday or just working on your car in your garage. A lot of your specialty tools specific to your field you will probably need to purchase from a snap-on/matco/mac dealer. At my school Matco offered a Votech program where if you were going to school to be a tech you could get tools at a discounted rate (sometimes 50-60% off).
Do yourself a favor and get a big tool box to begin with so you can stay organized and have extra room as your tool collection grows. Nothing sucks worse than having a 30 min job turning into a 60 minute job because you cant find what you need. Also you wont have to spend the extra money to upgrade later on.
Just my 2 cents.
Do yourself a favor and get a big tool box to begin with so you can stay organized and have extra room as your tool collection grows. Nothing sucks worse than having a 30 min job turning into a 60 minute job because you cant find what you need. Also you wont have to spend the extra money to upgrade later on.
Just my 2 cents.
Originally Posted by JUICED96Z
Will be done with school next semester and will be buying a ton of tools (Aviation Maintenance)
Whats your guys views on both?
I have used both and do like the snap-on wratchets a lot better.
I do have beef with craftsmans new warrenty and think they are hosing themselves with it.
A buddy of mine bought a high dollar floor jack from them not to long ago and it broke about a year later.
Took it back and they pretty much said sorry, can't do anything for you.
As far as I know Snap-on has an equal warrenty or will still take back a broke tool no matter how long you have had it (been forever since I talked to the snap-on guy that went to out school).
What do you like or perfer and for what reasons?
Whats your guys views on both?
I have used both and do like the snap-on wratchets a lot better.
I do have beef with craftsmans new warrenty and think they are hosing themselves with it.
A buddy of mine bought a high dollar floor jack from them not to long ago and it broke about a year later.
Took it back and they pretty much said sorry, can't do anything for you.
As far as I know Snap-on has an equal warrenty or will still take back a broke tool no matter how long you have had it (been forever since I talked to the snap-on guy that went to out school).
What do you like or perfer and for what reasons?
yeah, they may be build by the same companies, but the quality IS different, i got a few videos in the mail where they test various tools. they put a SEMI on 4 snap-on boxes.... a SEMI!, i believe snap on was the only one that held
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From: From the Bowels of Hell!!! You want some of me bitch?!?!?!
To me the Strap-On wrenchs are too thin in the center to be pulling on all day. The Craftsman are thicker in the center and don't hurt your hands after a full day. I have Strap-On, Matco, and Craftsman.