Craftsman of Snapon?

[Warbones]

Any suggestions? I need some advice on good tools.

[sam's 72]

If you got the money, Snap on is they way to go, they are very good tools. Craftsman are too!
Sam

[mikep]

I prefer craftsman for most hand tools . The price is very good compared to snap-ons. The waranty is the same except theres about 100 sears stores to one snap-on distributor . I like the variety and quality of the craftsman ratchet over snap-ons and I prefer the thickness of the beam on the garden variety craftsman box end wrenches compared to snap-ons. Ive got quite a few snap-on tools as well as Mac, KD, Proto, Allen and others but to be honest the first thing I reach for when I open the tool box is the good old 8 inch craftsman 3/8" drive ratchet. If I break one on a weekend I can get a replacement right now, Try that with snap-on. To me the snap-on tools are a status symbol more than anything else especially amongst certain groups of professional mechanics notably machinists. You know, The kind that will spend $5000 on his snap on credit card for a tool box . They do make a nice tool box though.

[Maximum Overdrive]

I got a little of both and I have to say I perfer Craftsman for the ease of getting a replacement if they should wear out or if I should break one. Trying to get a replacement from Snap On around here is nothing but a headache.

[cdowns]

Craftsman because like the others said i can get a new one TODAY no questions asked and no song and dance like the others

[passthebuck]

I have some of both - for just regular handtools Craftsman is the way to go BUT snap-on makes all the specialty stuff that craftsman doesnt make - imop. always try and buy used too - cheaper & it all still has the warranty...

[crazy longhorn]

Most of my tools are Craftsman, they are cheap, good tools, & easy replacement. I do have some Snap on , & mac tools. When it comes to linewrenches, & some of the other specialty tools......Craftsman does not compair. crazyL

[Warbones]

Thanks everyone for the responses and exp. Craftsman it is as.

[pissonNOS]

I agree with everyone so far craftsman is the way to cheaper easier to get replacements and just as good of a warranty. I also agree its kind of a status thing to say you have snap on tools ya well buddy what i saved on my craftsman tools is going into my truck instead of still making payements

[TODDS 72]

well if you work every day with tools as a mechanic you would use snapon,craftman is ok but there is no way in hell they compare,i got impact sockets from snapon that are 20 years on and still perform great.my craftman tools are all in the truck tool box now.as far as a status thing with snapon i don't think so its the way there tools preform every day of the week.don't get me wrong sears tools are good but not for every day use.
plus the snapon truck comes every monday......lol

[Roberty]

Originally posted by Maximum Overdrive
I got a little of both and I have to say I perfer Craftsman for the ease of getting a replacement if they should wear out or if I should break one. Trying to get a replacement from Snap On around here is nothing but a headache.

I know what you mean - Chraftsman tools are great (Except their rachets ) and you can't beat their return policy. Snap-On, on the other hand, is almost impossible to get exchanged if one breaks. Stick to Chraftsman.

Roberty

[mikep]

Originally posted by TODDS 72
well if you work every day with tools as a mechanic you would use snapon,craftman is ok but there is no way in hell they compare,i got impact sockets from snapon that are 20 years on and still perform great.my craftman tools are all in the truck tool box now.as far as a status thing with snapon i don't think so its the way there tools preform every day of the week.don't get me wrong sears tools are good but not for every day use.
plus the snapon truck comes every monday......lol

I guess I had better either quit my job or get rid of my Craftsman tools huh. The snap on guy just up and quit coming to where I work. No one was buying anything from him.

[Longhorn Man]

As another mechanic workin with my tools every day, i'll have to agree that Snap On is WAY better. (most of my tools are from Sears though)
The way I look at it, if you are working out of your garage on your own stuff and a few side jobs, Crafts man is perfect. If your makin a living off of your tools, get as much snap on stuff as the wife will let.
Crafts man makes great tools, Snap On makes excelent tools.

[mooneyes]

if i had my pick of any tools it would be Wright but there worse than snap-on for getting replacements but you dont need to very often

[Gordo]

If your a young man and plan on making your living for a long time turning wrenches, buy the best, when you can afford to. Over the years I have slowly replaced my cheaper tools with snap-on, as I could not start out with the best all at once. As far as returning broken tools, my snap-on guy stops by every other week, but to tell you the truth, unless you are using the wrong tool for the job, or using it improperly, or not maintaining it, why should it break, be it snap-on or craftsman?

[Class of 69]

Boy, this is a HOT button issue!! I started out with Craftsman tools also, but as I progressed into full time mechanics, the Craftsman wouldn't hold up. Craftsman is easier for most people to replace... I'm just lucky that I live near a large metropolitan area, and have several Matco, and Snap-On dealers nearby, cause that's all that's in my roll cab & top box now. Yes, they are more expensive, but I don't return broken tools by the handfull like I did with Craftsman. Just my $5.00 worth, and can I put that on a payment plan???

[sbrban]

Ah yes, The age old-My craftsman tools are just as good...In my own opinion...Nothing even comes close to snap on when you use tools for a living.I own maybe 5 craftsman tools. I used to own a fair amount of mac,cornwell,and matco tools.Now the only thing that I don't by from snap on would be a specialty tool that they don't make. I've learned over the years that you get what you pay for.I guess I've got a good snap on dealer cause he's been known to come to my house if I'm needing something asap... No fightin' the mallrats for me.

[72 CustomCamper]

I've tried Snap-on's,Craftsman's,Husky's and a few cheap brands. I like Metwrench out of all of them. They are thin wall to get into tight places, and as strong as an ox. I cranked down on one nut one time with a 1/2 drive Craftsman's breaker bar with a 3 foot piece of pipe on it, a Snap-on 1/2 to 3/8's reducer, and a 3/8 drive Metwrench socket. It broke the breaker bar in half, and twisted the reducer off, never even hurt the socket. I had somewhere in the 300 ft lbs going...

Chuck

[low 84]

if you want an easy way to tell how snap on goes about making better/tougher tool compared to craftsman, just look at a snap on and craftsman socket u joint side by side. you will see which is made for everyday use when you see how big the pins are in the snap on compared to the craftsman. i have snaped several pins in craftsman joints but not a snap on. i work in the auto center in sears and if you come out in our shop two of the mechanics have snap on boxes and in the boxes are snap on impact sockets and snap on breaker bars. i will continue to have and buy alot of craftsman stuff, but for some things snap on is just plain stronger.

and yes, snap on guy comes by sears every friday

[Chevy Wrench]

Well, as my name states, Iam a mechanic. Or Automotive Tech for all of you dealership guys. I buy Snap-On tools for 3 reasons.
#1 Snap-on develops tools for the working mechanic, that means they (the tools) are designed to make the job quicker and easier.
#2 Quality. I have yet to break a Snap-on wrench. I could however show you scars from when my Craftsman wrench broke in half and left part of my hand on an exhaust manifold. Ouch!!
#3 Unless you have a credit card, you cant make payments to Sears.
I will agree. Snap-on tools are more expensive, so are Mac, and Matco. But Sears doesnt spend the time and money to do any type of R&D like the "big three" makers of tools do. Yes Sears boosts about a new ratchet or something once in awhile, but almost every month there is something newly developed from the others. Why? Because automobiles are in a constant state of evolving. We need more sophisticated tools to work on them. Example, my $2000.00 Snap on scanner is already out dated, and I only bought that 2 years ago. This is just my 2 cents worth, and I will leave my Craftsman tools where they belong, at home in my other tool box.
One more thing, try and warranty a Craftsman tool while wearing a shop uniform. They wont. Because Craftsman is for the "Crafts man" Not for the professional. To me, its a no brainer.

[krue]

If you want a good deal on Snap on tools try checking out the local pawn shops (especially right before hunting season.)

[low 84]

Originally posted by Chevy Wrench

One more thing, try and warranty a Craftsman tool while wearing a shop uniform. They wont. Because Craftsman is for the "Crafts man" Not for the professional. To me, its a no brainer.

we will. in fact if we break one in the shop we just walk over to tool counter and exchange it, lol. but i would still rather pay more for better quality and not have to worry about breaking it.

[72K10]

What about SK tools? I would rate them as good or better than Snap-on. Are they still sold? My dad was a mechanic and bought only SK, and they were high quality stuff. Still in use 30-40 years later.

I have two Craftsman ratchets and a Craftsman 3 ton jack in the garage all waiting to go back to Sears for replacement. The 1/2" ratchet works good but the 3/8 and 1/4 are weak. Screwdrivers aren't that good either if you buy the cheaper Craftsman ones.

[paintpyro]

Lowes used to carry Kobalt, made by Snap-On. They blew away the Craftsmans, for about the same price. I just found out they arent going to carry em anymore. They are on clearance. Scopp up what you can.

[Maximum Overdrive]

You can say Snap On is the best there is, and it may be true, but the fact remains if they will not honor their warranty then they aren't worth sh*t.