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most of the pressure on a young mechanic to buy snap on tools comes from the older gomers in the shop who fell into the snap on trap and want to take everybody else to the poor house with them.i have been a diesel mechanic for 44 years.i have broke many sockets of all makes by using an impact wrench on them.i have never broke a wrench of any kind.the last time i looked snap on got $19.45 for a 9/16 combination wrench-advance auto parts has them for $5.65.same guarantee.

9000white wrote:most of the pressure on a young mechanic to buy snap on tools comes from the older gomers in the shop who fell into the snap on trap and want to take everybody else to the poor house with them.i have been a diesel mechanic for 44 years.i have broke many sockets of all makes by using an impact wrench on them.i have never broke a wrench of any kind.the last time i looked snap on got $19.45 for a 9/16 combination wrench-advance auto parts has them for $5.65.same guarantee.

Actually, in my case it was my dad who recommended I buy Snap-On. He's the biggest penny pincher you'll ever meet except when it comes to buying tools. He does have a variety like everyone else, but most of his are Snap-On. When a man who knows more about tools and how to use them, and automobiles for that matter than any ten men combined I've ever met tells me to buy Snap-On, I buy Snap-On.

By the way, it's not just about whether the tool breaks. It's also about how it works. Try loosening the lock-nuts on the tie-rod adjusters on any Isuzu Trooper or Rodeo with anything but a flank-drive plus. You'll see what I mean.

I listened to the '60's version of the all-knowing guys, and so my tool box is full of old Proto. Our customers outside of the machine shop were logging and tug-boat companies, and it was common to use standard sockets with 3/4 impact wrenches or 10 foot breaker bars. Proto ruled my world back then. Naturally I was taught to look with disdain on Snap-on as an expensive tool brand without discernable advantages, and the few I've purchased/swiped over the years pretty much bear that out. On the other hand, Proto is not the same since being purchased by Stanley. But then, I don't use them every day, either.
Seems like everybody is looking for and finding ways to cheapen their products. At least they look worse, and less like the mechanic's surgical tools they once were.

In the '60's Proto was an extremely good tool. I got a set I use everyday from Dad, but big ones 1 1/16" to 3", and they take a pounding like no other. I've even used them as hammer wrenches and the don't bens or stretch. The new Proto is nothing like that tough anymore, sadly. But I guess you don't sell alot of wrench sets like mine if they last for 40-50 years.

Every Klien tool I ever bought or used has been exellent and I look for them when I'm shopping in the plier isle.

I bought what I thought was a really nice torque wrench (craftsman, about $110) a few years back. After only about 6 weeks of use, the torque setting part of the wrench broke so there was no way to adjust and basically all I had was a $110 1/2 inch rachet. I took back in to Sears and they said the guarantee only applied to the tool part and not the torque setting mechanism inside the tool. Ever since then the Craftsman name doesn't mean s__t to me!

XITSTAGLEFT wrote:I bought what I thought was a really nice torque wrench (craftsman, about $110) a few years back. After only about 6 weeks of use, the torque setting part of the wrench broke so there was no way to adjust and basically all I had was a $110 1/2 inch rachet. I took back in to Sears and they said the guarantee only applied to the tool part and not the torque setting mechanism inside the tool. Ever since then the Craftsman name doesn't mean s__t to me!

should have just over torqued it on something to break the 'tool' part then took it back, im sure they would have had no choice to replace it then ;p

I have a mix of Snap-On from my mechanic day's, Craftsman, Harbor Freight, Proto, MAC(Matco)...and some old Bonnie tools from my dad.

Never had a problem with returning a Craftsman or Snap-On tool.

I got a great deal on a large set of craftsman two xmas' ago. I don't make my living from them however. I have used them alot (that was the plan) and the only pieces I've been disappointed with are the hex keys not holding up. I could have been using them past their capacity though. If you are using a cheater on a key then that is probably the case hmm? I've ordered some socket hexes (unknown manu.) from the dreaded JC Whitney so as to not completely destroy the keys. Overall, for the average user they are well worth the price.

eugeart wrote:I got a great deal on a large set of craftsman two xmas' ago. I don't make my living from them however. I have used them alot (that was the plan) and the only pieces I've been disappointed with are the hex keys not holding up. I could have been using them past their capacity though. If you are using a cheater on a key then that is probably the case hmm? I've ordered some socket hexes (unknown manu.) from the dreaded JC Whitney so as to not completely destroy the keys. Overall, for the average user they are well worth the price.

man ive been hating hex keys. seems whatever i use them on i end up either killing my hands or stripping the hex bolt out. i just dont like them when the bolt is torqued on tight. my bikes mirrors are hex bolts and they were on so tight i had to use liquid wrench to even budge them. that standard L wrenchs kill my hands though when i try to use them and give me no leverage. id like the sockets but worry most of the time hex bolts are in tight spots. doubt i could have used sockets on my mirrors. plus arent the hex sockets very expensive?

Yes they are, but I got a set of 10 metrics for only $6.99 on JCW. Sadly the shipping was $6.99, but I added an impact driver bit set for $3.99 and a throttle-rocker for $8.95 and the shipping was still only $6.99. So for the price of a set of metric hex sockets (normally $20-30+) I got three things I needed including the sockets. I priced that stuff on ebay and I would've spent a fortune buying them there. Sometimes JCW can be a great place to shop but beware of them too.