Thread: Best brand of tools for the price?

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Well, Snap-on makes their own hand tools, lots of them in Kenosha, Wi.... Don't know about the others, mainly cuz I bought good hand tools the first time and have never seen a reason to change... I've got some Craftsman stuff around, mostly gifts from others so kind of obliged to keep them. I've bought a ton of Snap-on and Matco since I started, mainly cuz of the service provided by the tool trucks. I consider it as all part of the value of the tools. Service and trust sometimes gets a little lost in searching the malls, stores, and net for just the best price......

My latest trip to Sears about 2 weeks ago - and yes, I do have some Crapsman tools and do use them occasionally. I keep a ratchet in my metric box and a "spare" for when I can't find my S-K (I really dislike Snap-on ratchets)

Standard Ratchet - hold your hand over the reversing lever in a tight spot. The @#$$ POS goes into a neutral position. Adios knuckles - mine just healed. I got their 'best' for my "spare" and their cheapest for my metric box. Both seem better then their standard.

13/16 Combo wrench - after digging a piece of chrome out of my palm, retrieving the wrench from the middle of the yard where it landed, got a pretty new one - but it is shaped a bit different and doesn't appear to have the same chrome shedding sharp edges.

As far as chrome shedding - uhhhh - these are 2 of my Snap-ons, a 13/16 and 7/8. Others are similar or worse. I tried to exchange them with a local Snap-on truck dealer. His answer to me was - "I don't know who the f*** you are and where you bought them - EBay probably". He was right - he didn't know me and the Snap-on dealer I purchased them from died about 15 years ago, and he even knew that guys name. So, I keep them and use carefully. Not worth the grief.

I had the same experience with a SnapOn dealer. I had a 3/8 rachet that would slip when tightening a bolt, something worn inside. So I tracked down a SnapOn truck in the industrial area and the SnapOn guy told me he would not replace it. WHAT??? I THOUGHT SNAPON HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY???????? After some arguing on my part he agreed to put a kit inside to fix it. He did, but it still slipped, so I tossed it out so I wouldn't be tempted to use it and bust my knuckles.

Conversely, I have never had Sears turn me away on any tool, even ones I have broken through overuse.

Don

a cresent wrench , a screw driver , a ball pen hammer , a chisle and a pair of vise grips
what the heck more does one need.. all bought for 10 bucks at wal-mart

I wish there was a cornwell guy around, I love the cornwell ratchet, well, for the most part (will try and put a pic up later) the handle is great when you are full gripping it. the lower edge is a bit too sharp for my liking if you're only partway on the handle. but the finish is great and it has fine ratcheting gears. some of the other ratchets have big gears and it's a pain in a tight spot since you only get 2 or 3 clicks with each stroke.

I have older craftsman stuff, just gave my socket set to my bro. when i got the cornwell, that set is at least 30 years old, no problems with them.

damnit, now you guys are making me want to get on the web and get some more used tools. I need another set of metric combo wrenches.

Red

Sorry to hear you guys don't have a good dealer.

Originally Posted by DennyW

Those look like Blue Points ?? I think I have had one from Snap on, and 3 from Mac, that peeled chrome. No trouble in replacement. Only one time with Snap on. I grabbed the torch, and cut it in 2 pcs. He said that didn't cover warranty for sure. I told him this was going to the main office to show what I think of the route guys warranty rejection. I did get a new one in the mail.

Denny,
I can assure you that those 2 wrenches, I pictured are NOT Blue Points. I do have some Blue Points and they are shedding chrome as well.

The p/n shown are OEX-26 and 28, tho the new numbers are SOEX-26 & 28

I have the OEX (or SOEX set, depending on when bought) from 1/4" to 1.062 complete in the long version and many of the short version as well. And if I want to go smaller, I get out my Snap-on ignition set.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I had the same experience with a SnapOn dealer. I had a 3/8 rachet that would slip when tightening a bolt, something worn inside. So I tracked down a SnapOn truck in the industrial area and the SnapOn guy told me he would not replace it. WHAT??? I THOUGHT SNAPON HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY???????? After some arguing on my part he agreed to put a kit inside to fix it. He did, but it still slipped, so I tossed it out so I wouldn't be tempted to use it and bust my knuckles.

Conversely, I have never had Sears turn me away on any tool, even ones I have broken through overuse.

Don

I hear about a lot of complaints about snap on ratchets, my auto teacher
even warned me about them, because they slip.

they have a fine tooth gear set which is really smooth compared to others but
is weaker, because there isn't much for the ratchet stops to catch on. what this means is the $5 walmart special ratchet, COULD have a stronger gear set. I don't know because I have never had the chance to test a snap on ratchet like that. I'v broken 2 of the $5 cheepo's but I tried to use them w/ a 6' pipe as a breaker bar to get a lugnut loose, so they were a ubused. the lugnut was stuck bad.

Originally Posted by Matt167

I hear about a lot of complaints about snap on ratchets, my auto teacher
even warned me about them, because they slip.

they have a fine tooth gear set which is really smooth compared to others but
is weaker, because there isn't much for the ratchet stops to catch on. what this means is the $5 walmart special ratchet, COULD have a stronger gear set. I don't know because I have never had the chance to test a snap on ratchet like that. I'v broken 2 of the $5 cheepo's but I tried to use them w/ a 6' pipe as a breaker bar to get a lugnut loose, so they were a ubused. the lugnut was stuck bad.

I seriously doubt the $5.00 special would have a stronger gear set. The direction switch on the top of a ratchet is both good and bad. Just got one of the fine tooth long handled ratchet from Snap-on a couple weeks ago. It has the big handle on it, works great for us geezers with hands that operate at bit less then perfect!!!!!

Next time Matt, use a breaker bar or jump up to a 1/2 drive set up and a longer breaker bar.... Cheater bars usually cause more damage then they could ever fix!!!! A bit of PB Blaster sprayed on the lugs and either an impact wrench or a long 1/2" breaker bar and a bit of patience would have got the lug off just fine!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Sorry to hear you guys don't have a good dealer.

It would be nice if the dealers were not in buisnuess w/ themselves ( the dealer owns the truck and stuff, gets profits directly ), then they wouldn't be so worried about profit margins. if Snap on corporation owned the trucks and had the dealers as employees and not as there own seperate company, giving out new tools on warranty wouldn't have an adverse effect on there income.

Snap on industrial IS tied directly to Snap on, those trucks are big rigs and don't make regular stops at shops ect, but you can often find them at Votechs and collages

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I seriously doubt the $5.00 special would have a stronger gear set. The direction switch on the top of a ratchet is both good and bad. Just got one of the fine tooth long handled ratchet from Snap-on a couple weeks ago. It has the big handle on it, works great for us geezers with hands that operate at bit less then perfect!!!!!

Next time Matt, use a breaker bar or jump up to a 1/2 drive set up and a longer breaker bar.... Cheater bars usually cause more damage then they could ever fix!!!! A bit of PB Blaster sprayed on the lugs and either an impact wrench or a long 1/2" breaker bar and a bit of patience would have got the lug off just fine!!!!

I have a breaker bar now, didn't at the time.. I bought it at Walmart. 14" Stanley, has worked great so far.

Eventully I did get out the impact wrench and spun the lug nut off, but you kno, I had to roll out the hose, wait for the air ect... it was just a lug nut I didn't want to break a good ratchet, and I had the 2 spares I got from walmart, the 1 still works in reverse kinda, the other is locked up compleatly

Originally Posted by Matt167

It would be nice if the dealers were not in buisnuess w/ themselves ( the dealer owns the truck and stuff, gets profits directly ), then they wouldn't be so worried about profit margins. if Snap on corporation owned the trucks and had the dealers as employees and not as there own seperate company, giving out new tools on warranty wouldn't have an adverse effect on there income.

I seriously doubt an employee selling tools in a company owned truck would give the same amount of effort and customer service to the business as the man who has to put up the bucks for a franchise!!!! A tool truck franchise, just like any other small business, has both good and bad points. Any small business requires a lot of extra effort from the owner/operator that very few employees not responsible for the financial well being of the company would ever be willing to put into the job!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I seriously doubt an employee selling tools in a company owned truck would give the same amount of effort and customer service to the business as the man who has to put up the bucks for a franchise!!!! A tool truck franchise, just like any other small business, has both good and bad points. Any small business requires a lot of extra effort from the owner/operator that very few employees not responsible for the financial well being of the company would ever be willing to put into the job!!!!!

yup.. theres always too sides.. I know that tool trucks being franchised is a goos thing, because it allows the small buisnuess man, to not be overrun by corporations because they are backed by a corporate franchise. But you can get somone as a dealer that is over worried about profit margins and deny warranty claims... there is good and bad, as with anything

Regarding the Snap On warranty, the guy on the truck does not eat the cost of the tools that are warranted. Snap On gives him credit for the part exchanged so he is clean. The truck guy can lose if he replaces a part that is not warranted...he sends the part back to S.O. and they deny the warranty.

Some scumbags buy really worn out Snap On stuff at junk sales and then try to trade them out on the truck. I have found that, if you are a regular customer, the dealer has no problem with the warranty stuff....if all you are is a warranty nerd, he has a problem.

I switched to Snap On about 1996 (from Crapsman). The difference is amazing. What I like about Snap On versus the home improvement stores is that Snap On has an entire line...not just wrenches, sockets, pliers, and screwdrivers. I have Snap On impacts, torque wrenches, freon scales, ....even Snap On pajamas!! Great stuff but pricey....their prices have increased significantly in the last five years. However, for a lot of stuff, we win on their warranty....a set of wire cutters (politically correct term for dykes) lasts about 4 months before they get dull. We have 8 pair that get swapped out on a rotating basis....a new and sharp pair every 4 months for free isnt bad.

mike in tucson

After thinking about this thread a bit I've come up with a conclusion:

The best tool for each person IS WHAT HE CAN AFFORD TO DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO and without sacrificing the needs of his family, himself or, in today's world, his credit rating. I have more and better tools then I need at my time and situation in life - but I own every one of them and most have been well used over the years. Would I like more tools - yep, but will now buy them only if needed (Which is why I have over $100 worth of gift certs from Lowes and Home Depot left from last Christmas - and the fact that many of their tools are now Chinese junk)