Thread: Matco Tools?

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What do you guy's think of Matco tools? At my school for auto tech program the students get discounts on tools like 55 percent off the tools and all and I was checking them out. I never hear much about Matco so not sure if they are any good like their plain hand tools, air tools, etc. I know that Mac, Snap On are good and all but never hear nothing on Matco. The tool truck guy here I hear is good about replacements, etc.
Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Nothing wrong with Matco tools, Quality and Warrenty are about the same as Snappy and Mac and the price is usally lower!

all tool truck tools seem pretty good, some pieces better than others, if you know the matco guy will be around- go for it.

I am just trying to decide between Matco or Craftsman. Snap On and Mac are nice but to me I think you pay for the name more than anything else. Most Craftsman are still cheaper than the Matco even with the discount. What do you guys think about Craftsman? I have all craftsman right now and they aren't comfortable but work good enough for me and I use Snap On, SK, a few Mac, etc at school and they are really comfy and fit on bolts, etc a bit better but I don't see the big fuss over it. Poeple always tell me that you won't see many good auto techs out in the field with Craftsman. The Craftsman Professional sets seem nice, especially their combination wrenches with that smooth look and all.
Oppinions?

i personally like S-K wrenches, cornwell ratches, snap on sockets. whatever you do if you by angle wrenches, only by snap-on , they are the only ones with the right angles.

as for which tools to buy, i would take advantage of the 55% discount and get snap-on or matco or somthing because when your paying full price for them you can't hardly justify it and you'll never own many of them. craftsman tools are cheap enough out of the store where you can usually always afford them. FYI craftman rachets are a knuckle busting P.O.S.


i'll add one more thing here, remember expensive tools don't make a good mechanic, it takes more brains than expensive tools to do the job right.

Personaly I love my Craftsman tools. One reason most "pros" or guys that have shops use Snap on is when you break one the Snap on guys will come by the shop to replace your broken ones compared to having to take Craftsman tool back to Sears yourself. For the Home mechanic though Craftsman make great tools. If Craftsman's are still cheaper even after your 55% discount then i'd say go for the craftsmans.

BG

No wonder why I barely have knuckles left. haha Yeah true. I might as well take advantage of it.
Thanks. More oppinions are welcome still as well. It will still be a while before I buy anymore tools. Next I will be getting a spray gun, DA, and a compressor.

Blowngoat, your right as well. I don't know. I think money issues is more of a problem for me at the moment and will be for the next few years. I can get I think it is 32 or 35 screwdrivers from craftsman for 50 bucks and get only 14 from Matco for 50 bucks. Not like more expensive tools will make me better. I don't plan to use them just for home either, I will be working for a shop in the next 4 months because in 4 months I graduate and will be working a full time job.

It's all about what you feel comfortable with and what tool does the work for you. When I started in the business, everybody used Snap-On. some Mac and very little Craftsman. Snap-On has become cheap (the broach of the wrench is thinner), and Matco has good tools and distribution. The Craftsman Professional series is close to what Snap-On made long ago. I compared a Snap-On and Matco Metric combiation wrench set for a year, and now have the Matco set at work and took the Snap-On set home. Then again I have a Great Matco dealer and a so-so Snap-On dealer, so that also has something to do with it. I don't like going to the mall and exchanging my wrenches when I need to - rather have the tools come to me (thus no Craftsman).
One of the other techs use Craftsman Pro series for all his wrenches - with no problems. Even his Gear Wrench type combiations are Craftsman Pros'. As far as ratchets go, almost everyone uses Snap-On, some use Matco. Again it's what you feel comfortable with, what you've seen break and how it's warrantied after the breakage.
As far as air tools, I still use a Snap-On IM-5 1/2" impact gun (gun was dicontinued 10 years ago), and a Matco 3/8" air ratchet for over 8 years with no problems (cleaned and oiled daily). I've had CP and Astro Pneumatic air tools that don't last a year. This is one area that a good, expensive name-brand tool seams to be worth the extra cost.
If you work on GM trim, you need a Posi-drive screwdriver. Guess what, Matco doesn't make one (only bits for 1/4" drivers), so you have to go to Snap-On for a #1 and #2 posi-drive. Always leave your options open on what brand of tool you want to buy.
Ask your toolmen if they have a set of loaner wrenches (and air tools) you can borrow for a week. If he does, it might give you a better idea of which wrench set / tools you want to buy. Good luck in the future .

Thanks for the info Dwayne. I will definetely look into it. I am still stuck between the two. It would be nice to have a nice brand of something for once, I always buy cheap stuff at first with everything of mine and now everything I own is broke basically and I take care of my stuff really well. Maybe I should spend the extra couple hundred bucks for Matco. I will check it out more and compaire prices, etc.

Originally posted by Dwayne

As far as air tools, I still use a Snap-On IM-5 1/2" impact gun (gun was dicontinued 10 years ago), and a Matco 3/8" air ratchet for over 8 years with no problems (cleaned and oiled daily). I've had CP and Astro Pneumatic air tools that don't last a year. This is one area that a good, expensive name-brand tool seams to be worth the extra cost.
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Couldnt agree more with what you said about air tools Dwayne. I have some good name Air tools as well as some cheaper stuff that cost a fraction of the name brand stuff and the cheap ones just dont last even if you oil them daily. I had 2 CP 7" air grinders go bad in less than a week if you can believe that. When it come to air tools the line "you get what you pay for" has never held any more truth!

BG

Ah, tools, the eternal question. Snap on are generally overpriced for my tastes. Wrenches, sockets, even ratches arent snap on. I have a few screwdrivers, thats about it. I have a few (coveted) SK ratchets that just wont die. Many of my tools are craftsman. Sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, a few extensions. A surprise for me was actually Crescent tools. I have a number of extention from this company that will take anything I throw at them. And their replacable at my local hardware store/ Lifetime guarenteed. I was thinking of expanding my set with them. But anyway, theres my input

Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
I am just trying to decide between Matco or Craftsman. Snap On and Mac are nice but to me I think you pay for the name more than anything else. Most Craftsman are still cheaper than the Matco even with the discount. What do you guys think about Craftsman? I have all craftsman right now and they aren't comfortable but work good enough for me and I use Snap On, SK, a few Mac, etc at school and they are really comfy and fit on bolts, etc a bit better but I don't see the big fuss over it. Poeple always tell me that you won't see many good auto techs out in the field with Craftsman. The Craftsman Professional sets seem nice, especially their combination wrenches with that smooth look and all.
Oppinions?

if you er getting a good discount then go for it , if not youer paying to much for them like all off the truck tools. nothing wrong with the tool you just pay them a lot to come to your door step.

my dads a proud user of matco since the 80's and i personally love em. sometimes craftsman and snap-on. but 98% of toolbox it MATCO best dang tools made. we've known our matco man so long he comes to the front door every friday ......scooter

My Two Cents, I use Mac, Snap-on & Matco at work and Craftsman at home. I'm an Aircraft Mechanic by trade, I think the big 3 have better tolerances than Craftsman. Just my Two Cents...