One more time, SnapOn tools

[sled_dog]

I'm sending in a resume to an auto group just down the line from my home this coming week. They have Toyota, Nissan, Scion, Lexus, and BMW dealers in a well to do area. Gonna try and apply to the Nissan and Toyota places and get in the door there, maybe move to Lexus or BMW. Have a friend in a Toyota dealer, says working on them is cake and he makes good money doing it. I hope to move to full on fabrication work. Building cars, trucks, whatever, but if I end up staying in the field I figure this is a good place to get my foot in the door. The Chevy dealers around me are lackluster so the only motivation to try and get into one of those places is the employee discount, which in the end, to work in some crappy shop and maybe make less money just to save money on a new truck? Pass.

 

[89GMCSuburban]

Mechanic is an R&R mofo. He diagnosis nothing, he just slams stuff. Like a clutch is blown apart, he slams it out in 3 hours when it pays 12 hours.

Technicians diagnose things, like Datalink issues, wiring cluster-focks, etc. These guys have the brains to look at this stuff.

It does get to you after a while, expecially when somebody says, "I don't care how long you were in school and how hard you worked to pay for it. You're still just a grease monkey." Not true...I'd like to see them diagnose some of this stuff. There are engineers that thing if their gas gage breaks on full...they don't have to keep filling the car with gas.

SK has some good tools. Truthfully, if you are going into the Heavy field, I would pretty much bypass all chrome sockets and get mostly impact. You need a lot of 12 point impact stuff for the heavy guys, as they use the hell out of 12 point bolts, and the new MB diesels use 5 point torx bolts. Those specialty things you can only get at Snap-On. This has worked out great for me...you are not a pro yet. You earn your living off your tools...but why are you going to spend $7,000 or more on a box and tools when you are just starting off? One guy has been at my shop for years.....over 25 actually. He still has the Craftsman tools he started with.

My buddy at the shop bought his stuff through Snap-On...he is $7,000 in the hole owing $85 a week for his box and tools. That's hard to pay with all your living expenses and insurance and everything.

I'd suggest this (unless somebody else is paying this off for you.)

Buy a Snap-On box you like, since you can always change what is in it. Go to Sears, buy a Craftsman mechanic tool set. Buy one set of Metric and SAE impact sockets and call it a day. You ARE going to run into a time when you don't have a tool for something, or you need a specialty tool. When that comes up, buy from Snap-On.

You have to think, my Snap-On guy shows up once a week. Till he shows up...I still have a broken tool I can't use. If it's a Craftsman, the place is open 7 days a week so I can go get a new one on the way home.

SO...for your core, use just a good ol' Craftsman set. ANYTHING that you use very often in heavy circumstances (for me, one is a 5/8" impact swivel socket), which you'll find out when you start working, buy from Snap-On.

You don't want to be so much money in the whole on a starting wage....and still not have most the tools you need because you are buying the expensive stuff. Start small (except for the box so you buy one only once) and grow. Can't go full out when you are just starting...

 

[sled_dog]

I'd like to do that, but the thing is, I can't really pass this deal up. I mean, Retail price the tool set I want to get(just a simple standard and metric setup), is $4100. ALL of the stuff I am looking at getting, including the box, is just over $4300.

 

[89GMCSuburban]

Do it, but only buy with Snap-On credit. The payment are MUCH less than truck credit. Truck credit will be a flat payment per week. I'm about $300 in the can with truck, and my payments are $30 a week. Unless...you have amazing credit and can get a platinum card with a fixed rate. Snap-On credit, I think, is around 19% interest...unless they are having a special

 

[sweetk30]

you get what you pay for. and you will find sometools in other brands work better than others . and some tools are made by only certin brands. i know guys who have some of the origanal tools from well over 10-15 years ago still.

 

[Smitty]

you get what you pay for. and you will find sometools in other brands work better than others . and some tools are made by only certin brands. i know guys who have some of the origanal tools from well over 10-15 years ago still.

I have to agree with this. Just because it doesn't say Snap-On doesn't mean it isn't any good. Pay attention to some of the guys that have been in the business for a while. I have a lot of Snap-On, MAC, and Matco tools, but I have a lot of other tools too. You will notice that Snap-on will make a lot of the specialty tools that aren't available anywhere else.

 

[eagle mark]

I'd like to do that, but the thing is, I can't really pass this deal up. I mean, Retail price the tool set I want to get(just a simple standard and metric setup), is $4100. ALL of the stuff I am looking at getting, including the box, is just over $4300.

Watch the clasifieds and the pawn shops you'll get 4 to five times the Snap On tools for the same money...

 

[zeroz400]

I like my Snap-on tools, i got 62% off through my school so it was $800. Its just a small beginner set but its always nice having good tools. My uncle has been turning wrenches for years and comparing my new snap-on tools to his old ones, they old ones a beefier. But for the deal your getting i say go for it, i really dont regret buying my toolset and doubt you will either.

 

[spydermonkey454]

i have been a tech for 15 years
i have invested approx 30k on tools
90% are snap-on box is mac
paid 5200 for the box

and yes the proper term for professional mechanics is technician

 

[Cornfield creations]

A good place to look for tools is on eBay, snap on is all over the place and cheaper than anywhere, sometimes people are selling their boxes loaded with tools. Usually they are pick up only. Another good place is flea markets. I look for tools, usually snap on or craftsman, if they are broke they will be cheaper, then you just turn them in for brand new ones. Picked up a snap on wrench one time, nicely worn, for 9 dollars, turned it in on a brand new one. Just gotta look around. Always remember those guys on the trucks will usually be the highest, they have to make a living too. Not against that, but those of us who use these tools all day everyday need to find good ones at fair prices also.

 

[atho]

One guy has been at my shop for years.....over 25 actually. He still has the Craftsman tools he started with.

I will chime in here and say, at least for Craftsman, the quality has changed alot over the years. My dad has a large set of craftsman stuff that he got when he was my age, and they are great tools, only a few broken over the years...dad's been a diesel "tech" for about 22 years.

However, the newer Craftsman stuff is lower quality. I have broken 3-4 sockets from my 3 year old set and they really should not have broken.

another brand I really have no experience with is Proto tools. all the tools my dad's work buys for him are Proto, not sure if this is good or bad. they seem to hold up ok.

we also have a bunch of wright stuff at the house, the factory is right here in barberton, ohio, about 5 min away. they are good tools.

 

[2High4U]

I like my craftsman tools they don't break that often... at least not for me.

I have been using them since i was little when or if i do break one all i have to do is run to sears and get a replacment no questions asked

I do have to say that i own some snap on tools though because some things you cant get from craftsman that easily.

 

[cok5]

Proto tools rock, at least the older ones. I think the newer stuff is basically Stanley made. My machinist swears be Proto torque wrenches and will have nothing else.

I agree with the guy about buying the Craftsman tools and putting them in a Snap-On box. If you break a socket (or whatever) you can get one on your lunch hour.....not whenever the dang truck roles into shop. You will realize that there are core tools and "extra tools".......I would make your core tools Craftsman and the others Snap-Ons or MAC....whatever. Then again you are getting a pretty jam up deal on the SO stuff from the school. Think of this though, I guarantee even though you are getting a good deal (snatch the SO box whichever way you go) you still could buy a ton more Craftsman stuff for what you are paying for the good deal SO. Just my opinion.

 

[89GMCSuburban]

I've had my set for 8 years and I've broken 2 sockets. On was a 1/2" 12 point that broke when I was using it to remove a rusted out turbo bolt with the IR Titanium on full blast. The other? A 19mm 12 point that I was using on a breaker bar to remove a lug nut on my old S10.

I rag the piss out of them...Have had good luck. Guess it depends though, and if anything, I believe the quality has changed with the ratchets...but anything that can be attached to a 4" wheel bearing socket and beat on with an 8 lb. sledge and NOT break....is pretty good.

I guess it's different person to person, but I haven't really had a problem...but then again, once they break, I get the CORRECT tool. I have a 1/2" 12 point impact socket from SO that I use for turbo bolts and drivelines.

And I was checking...for around $2,000 bucks, I can only find this for $1,299 :http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00936540000

I started with something smaller than that...but if he's getting a smokin deal on the snap on, I.E. around the amount of tools in this kit....he's getting one kick ass deal.

 

[WhiteBurb]

The thing I don't like about Snap-On and Matco is that they're not readily available for the shade tree mechanic. I mean, generally speaking you can't just go to the Snap-On store and get what you need.
I've always had good luck with Craftsman, and have also used some of the stuff from Autozone.
Now, if I were a pro and had the Snap-On man making regular stops at my shop, I would probably go with them.

 

[Smitty]

The thing I don't like about Snap-On and Matco is that they're not readily available for the shade tree mechanic. I mean, generally speaking you can't just go to the Snap-On store and get what you need.
I've always had good luck with Craftsman, and have also used some of the stuff from Autozone.
Now, if I were a pro and had the Snap-On man making regular stops at my shop, I would probably go with them.

It seems like it used to be hard to locate a Snap-On truck if I had to exchange a broken tool. Same went for MAC and I never saw a Matco truck. Now they stop by every week. If you watch these trucks you can find some good deals on used tools too. If you're looking for something used, just let the rep know and they'll keep their ears open for you. Also, don't count out Ebay. I picked up a MAC AH650 air hammer for less than half of the truck price a while back.

 

[bigboy]

I have all craftsman but in my case I am 17 and well affordability is the main thing but also having a quality tool that I can count on and if it does fail I just take it over to sears and well replaced as a matter of fact I still have tools my grandpa bought when he was in his early 20s and they are still used today by me and my grandpa was a diesel mechanic and owned his own shop back in the day but still they went from my grandpa to my dad to me so that is something to say about the quality of the older ones but like others said I have broken a lot of newer craftsman tools I have boken 4 ratchets and a few sockets and about 3 screwdrivers and some plyers. But in my opinion they are still worth it because all you have to do it drive to sears and they replcethem with no questions asked and there prices are very reasonable.

Dont buy there pwr tools they are ALL junk but they do sell dewalt and other better brands but do not buy craftsman pwr tools.

 

[beater_k20]

Do it, but only buy with Snap-On credit.
...
Snap-On credit, I think, is around 19% interest...unless they are having a special

you're kidding right?
my credit score is in the 790s, and my toolbox loan was 30% through Snap On.

 

[beater_k20]

On was a 1/2" 12 point that broke when I was using it to remove a rusted out turbo bolt with the IR Titanium on full blast.

that's another thing i swear by, IR air tools. that 2135 is a badass impact isnt it? if i ever get back into teching, i'm going to buy another one so i have one for each toolbox.

since i brought my Snap On box home, it's not leaving here again. i'm going to make due with the Craftsman boxes i have now for a while, and then buy a Mac for the shop.

 

[gmtech954]

I will say a lot depends on where your going to work. Dealers have a lot of specialty tools where independent garages or used car dealers normally dont. The first real garage i worked in was a used car dealer and i had to buy all types of stuff for all different makes. All and all i ended up over 3 years dumping about 85k on tools and the box. (thank god for side jobs) yeah i was broke for 3 years but now i dont really by much anymore. i have what i need plus im back at a gmc dealership. Like previously mentioned moving them sucks though.So try to find a place your gonna stay at for a while because once you go to a big box you cant just throw it in the back of your pick up and drive away.