Snap-on

[DaAV8R]

One of the nicest tools I own is a 1/4" drive Snap On ratchet and 1/4" deep well socket sets. I probably use those tools more than any tool in the box.

Their ratcheting screwdrivers are also second to none.

I don't have a lot of Snap On but there is no question they are superior quality.

[Bill Boyd]

Brought my first Harbor Freight 44" tool box home last night (after watching for sale coupons and carefully perusing the customer reviews - a bit of absolutely necessary due diligence with HF). I think the reviewers are right: S-O is great quality stuff. But so is this particular offshore merchandise. Buy the HF rolling box in whatever size suits your needs and don't look back. Save 75% over the big brand, and apply the thousands you save towards your first S-O screwdriver or something

Full disclosure - rifling through my Dad's collection of hand tools after his passing, I grabbed one oddball wrench out of the box that immediately felt different and better than the Craftsman stuff we always owned growing up. Snap-On. Of course. Where he got it, I have no idea. Probably an auction. No denying the ergonomics are a breed-apart.

-Stormy

[tjo]

Lots of good stuff here, but my perspective:

You know the old saying, "You get what you pay for!" Well, in this case, with cheap, or midpriced tools, you get adequate, or good to great tools. With snap-on, you pay for gold plated great tools, but you only get great tools.

Tim

[jpowell13]

I've been collecting Craftsman for 50 years, and they're pretty good for most work. It's those tight spots where they fall short. For example, if you take the box end of a SO combo wrench and put it on a bolt head then turn the wrench over, the arm of the wrench moves a few degrees, not sure how they do that, but it gives you that much more "turn" on the bolt in a restricted location.

My plan now is to look for what Snap-on calls a Basic Student Tool Box (used or repo). Wish I had discovered the difference before I bolted on the wings on my 6A. Would have gladly paid full price for the wrenches to make that chore easier.

John

[chaskuss]

Originally Posted by BillL

snippedProto - look up on internet - Danaher makes this brand - all USA and forged too. Look at their other brands too.

The clearance of SO is unmatched in tight quarters. Even MAC.

Craftsman used to source from Danaher. I have read they are moving off shore, the modern wrenches are certainly not the appearance quality of ones bought in early '70's. Especially sockets & ratchets.

Bill,
I agree that the quality of Craftsman tools has fallen over the past 15 year. FYI, Craftsman hand tools used to be made by J.H. Williams Tool Company of Tonawanda, N.Y. I still have most of the [Williams made] Craftsman tools I purchased back in the mid 1970s.
I've noticed that the quality of replacements supplied by Sears are not up to my original Craftsman tools. When Sears dropped Williams as their supplier [due to Sears poor financial situation] production was moved to a manufacturer on the Tex/Mex border. At that time, I had to replace a 13mm deep socket, as I had cracked the original. The chrome on the replacement started to peel within 6 months. Can you tell us more about Danaher? Where are they located?
J.H. Williams is now a subsidiary of Snap-On, so that should tell you something about their quality. I see older [Williams made] Craftsman tools being sold, used on EBay, for as much or more than current Craftsman tools sell new at Sears.
Charlie

[chaskuss]

Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY

As a person who has made his living working on airplanes, there are some Snap-On tools that are indispensable, and others that are just "nice to have". Others have mentioned the Snap-On 1/4" ratchets. I have had one of these since receiving it as a gift for my 21st birthday. I love it. But when I'm working on airplanes, my go-to ratchet is a cheapo 1/4" / 3/8" reversible ratchet I picked up for $5 at Home Depot. It has a finer ratchet mechanism and allows me to quickly change socket drive sizes, plus its rubberized handle is easier to grip if your hands are slightly dirty.

The one tool for which I have found no substitute is the Snap-On EC710G flush cutting pliers. I use them only for small Tefzel wire, zip ties and lacing cord. They cut perfectly flush and they stay sharp forever, thus requiring little applied force to get the job done. If you are wiring an airplane, these are the best cutters you can buy, bar none.
snipped

I can second this recommendation for the Snap On EC710G diagonal cutting pliers. I love mine. I actually have a second set of these, brand new in the zip lock bag. I was going to sell them on EBay, but perhaps I should put them up for sale here?
Regarding ratchets, I love the Snap On ratchets I own. For aircraft use, my favorite is a stubby, fine toothed 1/4" drive model TKN72 I bought for working in tight spaces, like the tail cone of your RV. These are great for installing the elevators onto the HS. See

https://store.snapon.com/Round-Head-...--P650770.aspx

I also agree with others about Snap On screw drivers. Their ratcheting, multi tip screw drivers are great. I use them every day. My Mac screw drivers are the equal of my Snap On screw drivers.

Regarding combination wrenches, I prefer Mac & Matco brand to Snap On. The reason is that the open end of these two brands I find superior. While most open end wrenches have two flats with a crescent mid point, the Mac & Matco [and the now defunct Bonney brand] have four flats on the open end. This makes them hold better and less likely to slip or round off the head of the nut/bolt being removed. The Matco brand is less expensive than the Mac brand, but is it's equal. Below is a web link that shows this feature.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matco-13mm-M...408565&vxp=mtr

My 45 year collection of tools contains Craftsman, Snap On, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, SK, Proto, Bonney & Harbor Freight. Snap On & Mac tools are now so expensive that if I need one, I'll buy it used on EBay or my local flea market for about 1/3 of the new price.

Charlie

[Bill Dicus]

My view is different. I have a full set of Snap On Ratchets, wrenches and sockets, also screwdrivers. Other tools are from Craftsman, Mac and Harbor Freight. I rarely use the SO ratchets because I don't like the hand feel, relatively coarse ratchet interval and the slippery polished surface of the tools. I reach much more ofter for the Craftsman (older ones) tools. The only SO's I love are the ratcheting screwdriver (wonderful!) and the stubby 3/8 drive ratchet. Some of the cheap screwdrivers from HF are super comfortable for my hands and the tips fit beautifully in Phillips screws. These rarely slip, and I haven't found the SO tools better in this regard. The surprise for me was a tool set from Costco which is organized beautifully and has very fine ratchets on 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive units. The sockets seem great. In many years of use none of the nuts and bolts which the Craftsman tools have been used on show rounding or distortion... Have found just a few isolated situations where the SO wrenches fit where Craftsman does not. It's nice to have both available, but now the Costco tools are the go to ones for me! YMMV. P.S. I've never had a broken Craftsman wrench, but have had three failed 1/4" ratchets, all replaced with equivalent tools free. Now most of the local Sears stores have closed, so future replacement may not be possible, even with the lower quality items now being sold.

[MarkW]

Twenty years ago while doing A/C work I decided to buy the best set of screw drivers I could find. I bought a set of Snap On's. A few months later I found an old Craftsman #2 straight blade screw driver on a roof and somehow it became my go to #2. I went out and bought a set of Craftsman when I figured out what had happened. Bought Craftsman before and after that. I agree the quality has come down but still better than most.

[Cyclone]

Snap On tools are great but in a farm operation, the crew is more concerned with getting a machine moving during field operations at the expense of managing a premium tool set. I have found the germination of a Snap On is identical to Chinese tools.

[Bill Dicus]

Very good one!