Tool brands..what's good? What's not?

[Dr.drivability]

From my experience Snap On is best for warranty. You can always find a Snap On truck. You can't always find a Mac, Cornhole, or Matco truck!!! Hell there were even Snap On dealers in Germany!!!:biggrin:

 

[Randy Greenoe]

From my experience Snap On is best for warranty. You can always find a Snap On truck. You can't always find a Mac, Cornhole, or Matco truck!!! Hell there were even Snap On dealers in Germany!!!:biggrin:

I think the dealer makes the difference as far as the warranty. The few Snap On tools I have bought the dealer is verrry slow to replace them. I have been waiting over two months for him to replace a 20" 3/8 drive extension. I think he jacks me around because I don't buy alot from him. But he does show up EVERY monday to pickup his payments from his regular customer$. He tried to get me to open an account with him I told him that what ever I need I will just pay cash and after that his atitude towards me changed big time. He does carry alot of the specialty tools that you can't get from alot of the other distributors or Sears.

 

[aminga]

I have mostly SK hand tools and IR Air tools but I just replaced an air hammer with one of the new SK models. They're worth looking at

 

[SilverSleeper]

Most of my stuff is professional Craftsman. Have had a lot of it over 12 years. Sure, Snap On may be better, but good luck trying to chase down a truck when you figure out you need something. My buddy has mostly Snap On, but quite a few Craftsman too, and he wrenches for a living.
I agree the tools don't make the mechanic. Just use the tool for what its intended to do, don't abuse the stuff, and take care of it. I've only had to replace a few sockets and a small 3/8 ratchet.
Keep the tools clean, in a good tool box where stuff isn't smashing against each other, out of the moisture and rust, and don't bust on the stuff.

As for wrenching on stuff at 2am, you can buy a lot of spare Craftsman stuff for the price of one Snap On. Not to mention how many times an average Joe will use a tool, compared to the pros who use the tools for a living. Of course it makes sense for them to pay more for a better tool. And thats why they get trucks at their garage. Snap On trucks don't stop at a regular Joe's house when they need something.

In all the time I've had my tools, I've only broken one Craftsman when I was using it as its supposed to be used.

 

[DIAZ 87]

It appear Craftsmen doesn't warranty impact sockets

 

[Grumpy]

It appear Craftsmen doesn't warranty impact sockets

arn't all Craftsman sockets "impact" one's

 

[Junior Samples]

Sata, same company satajet that makes gravityfeed spray guns, makes a real nice ratchet etc

Apex, been around for 60 yrs or so... have full set of 3/4 drive, good stuff

S&K, I have a couple of sets of diff stuff, no issues

Mac and Strap-on, few different items such as torque wrenches, hone, ring compressor.

Craftsman, older stuff, I had a ratchet go out on me so I took it back and got a shabby reman'd replacement that broke in a week.

Husky and Colbolt... Home depots and Lowes... I have them with me, not bad stuff, and ive beat em down pretty good.

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

arn't all Craftsman sockets "impact" one's

Never a truer word spoken:biggrin:

 

[datant69]

crafstman

sure there are better names but how many snap on trucks do you see on sunday? parked maybe i'd say craftsman is hard to beat along with anything that you can walk in hand over to a salesperson and walkout without any receipts or haggle. screw that waiting around several weeks because the rep is pissed because you won't put money in his pocket on a weekly basis. i like craftsman, heck i even bought broke ones i found at flea markets and pawnshops because i knew i could just walk in and exchange it. can't beat a lifetime warranty, that's if your talking about handtools. if your wanting jacks and air tools there are way too many names out there and it varys on user. i agree with the harbor freight if it's a one shot deal and we're done.

 

[INEEDAGN]

Craftsman and SK are the best bang for the buck for home use. Though every single time i put an sk socket on an impact, even an old weak one, I break it. And I can't stand their ratchets. I bought a set of craftsman professional wrenches for home that were on clearance and am VERY happy with them. Like $65 for both full sets IIRC. Buy a good ratchet or two from snapon and get your sockets/wrenches from craftsman. Oh, and buy every possible gearwrench you can. They are lifesavers.

With that said, everything in my box at work is snap on. $20 a week since I graduated high school. Most of it was bought either used/repo'd or on some kind of special.

forgot to add that a used snap on toolbox is better than a new craftsman, and costs about the same..

 

[aminga]

I do wish SK had an 15mm impact socket that wouldn't disappear into the tool eating black hole on the TR frame. I just lost my second one on it's first use.

 

[chopped39]

tools

Best tools for the garage are craftsman. Snap on is the best tools bar none.Their prices are way out of line but you get what you pay for.SK is decent .I use alot of gearwrench tools and sunnex sockets.I have a lot of mac and matco although stay away from mac tools for now.I sent tools in for replacement and never got them back and never got an email or anything.Then I find out from another retired mac dealer that they are not going to be around much longer.Bastards got a $120 1/2 drive rachet and 4 screw drivers and an impact of mine.I also been having problems getting SK tools replaced.Stick to craftsman or even kobolt from like home depot

 

[INEEDAGN]

Best tools for the garage are craftsman. Snap on is the best tools bar none.Their prices are way out of line but you get what you pay for.SK is decent .I use alot of gearwrench tools and sunnex sockets.I have a lot of mac and matco although stay away from mac tools for now.I sent tools in for replacement and never got them back and never got an email or anything.Then I find out from another retired mac dealer that they are not going to be around much longer.Bastards got a $120 1/2 drive rachet and 4 screw drivers and an impact of mine.I also been having problems getting SK tools replaced.Stick to craftsman or even kobolt from like home depot

I too had trouble getting an SK socket warranted recently, and since it wasn't mine it made it even worse. took forever but I finally got it, and "word on the street" is that SK won't be around much longer either. Pretty sure craftsman and snap on aren't going anywhere.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Craftsman socket sets with SK ratchets
i HATE Craftsman Ratchets

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Which is a Good Cordless impact Wrench?
Some thing just for use at the track to swap out the street tires for the slicks

 

[chopped39]

Which is a Good Cordless impact Wrench?
Some thing just for use at the track to swap out the street tires for the slicks

Go on flea bay and buy a 1/2 drive 18volt snap-on .thats the best.I have the Matco 18 volt and it sucks and I also have the ingersol rand 18 volt and the batteries dont last.The snap on one new is $525.00.Ihave seen them go for $175.00 on ebay and craigslist.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

Go on flea bay and buy a 1/2 drive 18volt snap-on .thats the best.I have the Matco 18 volt and it sucks and I also have the ingersol rand 18 volt and the batteries dont last.The snap on one new is $525.00.Ihave seen them go for $175.00 on ebay and craigslist.

thanks Dude

 

[charlief1]

I've got Mac, Snap on, Matco, Craftsman, SK, Cornwell, and other assorted tools that are no name. Some of the best tools you'll get are off of a tool truck, hands down. Some of the cheap tools work well such as the 3/4" metric socket set I got at Harbor Freight because it was an emergency. I haven't broken one of them and I use IR impacts with it. Quality can be a big issue with some of the Craftsman stuff so it can be a buy and try. I've got one of the long 3/8" rachets and I have to exchange it about once a year. For some reason it strips the head out way to easily. As far as wrenches my line wrenches, crows foot, and specialty tools are all off a truck. They just hold up better. Don't even thing about getting a flairing tool unless it's off a tool truck. It just won't hold up, period. And all my screw drivers are eithe Matco or Snap on.