Snap On help

Sorry you don't ever get to see them a bit worn mate. Merry Christmas anyway.

 

as another pro wrencher....

I have all kinds in my box (yes, its $10k snap on box, filled with over $50k tools).

Hazet/Sthalwillie are good stuff. Most tool trucks dont have it, but most of the dealerships/shops within 15 miles are european imports so my tool trucks do have them. This stuff dosent seem to wear out as much, and fits the fasteners much better than the american tool manufacturs. Their screwdrive baldes, hex and torx tools dont wear or round out as the american tools do either.

My snap on guy is a joke. Though I have lots of snap on tools, I keep on good terms when it comes to warranty time. The finish on snap on tools is without a doubt the best. I garuntee you will never find anything that has as nice or durable of a finish as snap on tools be it faucets, chrome car parts, or whatever. I use my snap on chrome sockets with my impact guns (I know its not the safest thing to do with regards to eye saftey, but things are cramped on audis), ive never broken one.

I love matco tool boxes. They are super strong. If you ever get a chance to see the video of the people jumping in the drawers and the boxes being dropped off the trucks youll be sold on matco boxes too. Trust me, because one of my drawers on my snap on box is bent just from accidentaly walking into it when it was open.

no mac or cornhole. When I first started I was told not to waste my money and im glad I didnt.

Craftsman are great for DIY or begining techs. As a tech myself I try to keep a duplicate craftsman for every hand tool/socket I have. With the tight cramped spaces to work on audis we modify tools all the time and it got too costly to be cutting in half and melting down and bending snap on tools.

When it comes to electronics snap on has some of the best. All my meeters, analyzers, scan tools and so on that I own are snap on. Though, the siemens scan tool thats needed for audis is one of the best diagnostic tools out there. What do factory ferrari techs use for a scan tool?

 

Snap-On scew drivers are more precise and harder than Craftsman screwdrivers. The difference is worth the exta money, especially if you have an aluminum screw or a slightly worn out screw. I haven't tried the Facoms, but they look nice. I thought that the Craftsman Professional screwdrivers were worse than the regular Craftsman screwdrivers. The Professionals that I had were soft and lost their shape easily.

Snap-On wrenches have a thinner profile than Craftsman (both Professional series and regular). I am told that they can make them thinner because of better quality metalurgy and forging. Snap-On tool boxes rock. However, I think that Snap-On tools are more expensive than they need to be.

 

When I was a kid I was always working on bicycles then motorcycles then cars. My first set of sockets (Thorsen brand), was a birthday present from my mother. She used Blue Chip stamps she got from the grocery store and then pasted in books. As a teenager I worked at a gas station. The mechanics always had Snap On and Proto brand tools. They felt so good in my hand. As the years went on I bought craftsman tools. A few years ago I started buying Snap On tools. From the most simple to the more complicated job, the Snap On tools make it more satisfying and enjoyable. They feel better in my hand. Nothing wrong with the other brands. I still have the Thorsen sockets in the little blue metal box.

Regards,

Stew

 

Buy the best tools you can afford but don't be afraid to compare and get the best value. There is no reason to spend Snap On money for ordinary wrenches or sockets when Craftsman or even Husky (Home Depot) will do the same job for say 20% of the cost. I've built a lot of 12 cylinder engines and restored a bunch of cars over the years and I only buy from Snap On or Mac when nobody else makes the tool (they have more specialized tools like half moon wrenches, special torque wrenches, impact swivel sockets, etc.) I also buy a lot of cheap import wrenches that get "field modified" into a special tool. No reason to spend big money when you can make your own. I'm always on the look out for new tools and I get them from many sources including Ebay.

The tool truck rep wants you to think that you're not a real man if your tools don't match. What a bunch of expensive B.S. that is.

Tool boxes are an area that can cost more than that car you think you want to fix. You can do well to shop around and don't be afraid to have more than one if you need the space rather than the MEGAMIZZER. It's just a place to put the tools and it doesn't have to cost thousands. One way they get you to buy a bigger box is with all the molded red plastic boxes that everything comes in. I bought a black upright double door cabinet for all those from Grainger for $250. It also holds my test equipment, tap and die sets (I have more threading equipment than you can imagine) and a few bulky special tools.

Working on an exotic car is challenging enough even with the right tools. You can afford more if you don't waste your money.

 

My first set of sockets was also Thorsen. I don't use them much any more but they served me well. Fond memories of trying to keep my first heap ('66 VW) running