Expensive, or not good enough

[Mith]

Far as I see it, youve got cheapie (could be made of lead for how tough they are) tools that you can bend in your hands. Then youve got the hardened steel, but with the slightly cheaper design. Then youve got what could be diamond (based on how tough they are, and what they cost) like snap-on. And everything in-between.......

Ive had pretty good luck so far with mid-range price tools. I got a whole box of tools to begin with, then slowly increased my collection with mid-priced tools.
The ratchets, sockets and spanners in that set have been worth their money, many times over. Part of my tool kit is a 6' scaffold pole, and a 2' chromed tube, used for putting on rathets to undo those stubborn bolts. Havent broken a ratchet or socket yet

The other stuff though, it doesnt seem to have stood the test of time (and the regular beating )
The reason I bring this up, last weekend, I was screwing some stainless self-tappers into steel. Started out with the screwdriver, that got minced before the screw was even seating down. I then moved onto the screwdriver bits. Minced one of them snugging a screw down. Then another bit shattered just as I was tightneing a screw down.
Methinks I need to upgrade my screwdriver bits.

I took a big gulp and thought it might be worth looking at snap-on. Its a case of do I make myself broke now and go all out and fetch some serious tools, or stick to the mid-range items for now (or forever) and make sure I can get backups if I need them.
I figure I might be wrenching for quite a while (I'm quite a bit younger than some of you folks ), so I'd probably get my money out of them. But you cant expect any tool to last forever. And it sure is alot of cash to wave bye bye.......
I'd like to find second hand, but like rocking horse sh**, I havent managed to find any yet

I guess the question is, (for those still reading ), what grade of tools do you have? Do you think its worth getting the fancy tools (even if it might be a little hard to swallow)? Any better ideas?


For reference, these are at $100. Ebay

 

[Jim_S]

Jim, most of my screwdrivers and pliers are Klein, wrenches, sockets and the like are Proto. Other than the many I have lost and the few I've broken they are all old, some 40+ years when my Dad gave me my first tools when I was in high school. I do have a few snap on sockets but the Proto stuff seems just as good.

I consider Klein and Proto to be mid to upper range but not near as expensive as Snap On. Stanley bought Proto a few years ago. I don't know if the quality has suffered, I haven't bought anything from them since the acquisition.


Jim

 

[BoneheadNW]

like rocking horse sh**, I havent managed to find any yet

Great line!
Bonehead

 

[Mith]

Jim, the Klein stuff looks pretty good. How comfortable are the screwdriver handles? They look maybe a little round to get a good grip?

 

[Jim_S]

Jim, the Klein stuff looks pretty good. How comfortable are the screwdriver handles? They look maybe a little round to get a good grip?

They have ribs in the rubber and the rubber grips give a little. fine unless your hands are really sweaty. The larger sizes are available in square shank so you can use a wrench.

Up until a few years ago Klein was only distributed through electrical supply houses. Now the big box stores have them, Home Depot, Lowes

They have EVERYTHING. Here's their cooking tools and what is known over here as a church key to pop the caps off the beer

 

[jwstewar]

I guess most of my stuff is mid-range. 99% of my hand tools are Craftsman. I've recently bought a couple of things from Lowes and the Kobalt line (I know made by Danaher just like the Craftsman) and I've been happy with those - actually prefer the finish a little better easier to read w/o having to pay extra for the Laser-etching Sears offers. Also bought a 1 1/4" 1/2 drive socket from TSC. It has held up on removing rusted bolts with a breaker-bar from the PHD I bought. Most of my power tools are DeWalt. I recently received an 18-volt cordless drill from the Handy Man Club. I used it as the driller and my DeWalt as the driver recently while installing the fence around the wife's garden. Swapped it around to "compare," but kept getting confused and had to go back. I bought a crown stapler the other day for the same fence from Harbor Freight. It also serves as a brad nailer. It'll be interesting to see how it stands up against my DeWalt brad nailer.

BTW, I've also got Craftsman grill accessories. They are my favorite tool because they help me makes steaks, brats.......

 

[Big Dog]

I inherited a bunch of quality tools when my father passed ......... Snap-on, Proto, Craftsman, Herbrand. Most of the stuff I've purchased have been Cornwell because a buddy sells it. I've remained true to quality tools, occasionally I buy off the discount stuff from TSC and frankly don't use them much but they appear to get the job done. Best recent tool, used yesterday, was the ultimate answer..........

15" Channel Lock Filter Wrench, it's the bomb

 

[Junkman]

95% of what I have is 40+ year old Snap On. Some of it has been replaced because of loss or damage with the newer Snap On tool, and you can see the difference. The newer tools are better finish than the old ones. For screwdrivers, I use only Snap On because of the warranty. I have a junk yard hunting tool box with Craftsman in it, so if I loose a piece, it doesn't hurt as much. Most Craftsman hand tools still come with the lifetime warranty, and I have had lots of Craftsman screwdrivers replaced for broken tips. The same with the Snap On..... the tips will break, but they are replaced for free. You just have to find a Snap On dealer that has a replacement on the truck. Some of the brands mentioned in the above posts are no longer made, or are just names that are continued without the quality of their heritage.

 

[BadAttitude]

I guess the question is, (for those still reading ), what grade of tools do you have? Do you think its worth getting the fancy tools (even if it might be a little hard to swallow)? Any better ideas?

Majority of what I have is snap off tools...their hand tools out-perform most anything on the market IMO. Then again their air tools are JUNK!!

The real concern you should have is for reliability. If you make a living using these tools, then the big $$$ tools warrant the expense. Otherwise the mid priced ones will suit you fine. Just stick with the ones that offer and can deliver the 'lifetime warranty" when you need it.

 

[Mith]

BA, I thought of you with your show-off (sorry, snap-on ) box when I wrote this.

At the moment I'm not earning a living with my tools, but give it 1-5 years and I may be needing the tools to make money.

Gotta decide wether I want decent tools or money more.

 

[BadAttitude]

You thought of me? How sweet...
No wonder my ears were ringing the other day.
How you been lil brother?...keeping busy I see. I glanced the threads recently and noticed the batwing project. Looks pretty slick

and your wrong btw...when I posted that snap off vault last time, it was in response to your thread 'how messy is your desk'. I'll post it again, but this time I'll post it just to show off

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/attachment.php?attachmentid=314&stc=1&d=1129866508

 

[BadAttitude]

Here's a tip from yrs of experience. If you want to make decent money, buy the decent tools. There's nothing worse than being under the gun and having a tool fail. If your a one man show, chasing tools eats up time, which eats up $$$. All tools wear and many will fail, but the quality ones can stand up to the everyday use much better than the lower grade ones.

Since you still have a few yrs before you take the plunge, start buying the quality tools now. Start out with some of your everyday common tools and then work your way up to the specialized or larger sets. If you can hook up with any of those rolling tool vendors, set yourself up an acct. Build a good relationship with them and they'll treat you like your royality, most will anyways. Your THEIR bread & butter and they know it. But you need to know that too! They also take used tools in trade, so if you want to upgrade some of the midgrade stuff for higher quality tools, you have that option.

 

[Junkman]

I refuse to have a tool box that is worth more than the vehicles that I would be working on with the tools stored in that tool box... My Snap-On box is over 45 years old....

 

[JimR]

I too have a lot of Snap On tools. The rest are Mac, and Craftsman. In my honest opinion, the Snap On tools are the best on the market. Craftsman will do for the do it yourselfer. Even Snap On tools break. I have replaced almost all of my ratchets over the years at least a few times and my two foot breaker bar at least three times. I have only broke two Snap On sockets in 35 years. I wish I could say the same about Craftsman sockets.

 

[BadAttitude]

I refuse to have a tool box that is worth more than the vehicles that I would be working on with the tools stored in that tool box... My Snap-On box is over 45 years old....

and depending on the condition, that 45 yr old box might very well be worth more than you think.

 

[Doc]

If you can hook up with any of those rolling tool vendors, set yourself up an acct. Build a good relationship with them and they'll treat you like your royality, most will anyways. Your THEIR bread & butter and they know it. But you need to know that too! They also take used tools in trade, so if you want to upgrade some of the midgrade stuff for higher quality tools, you have that option.

BA,
Can you buy Snap On or other quality tools via ebay and save a few bucks? I agree hooking up with a rolling tool vendor would be good, but you might be able to save a few bucks using ebay to start out with the basics. Is that feasable?

 

[JimR]

Another place to look is at yard sales and tools ads in the papers and buy used. I've picked up a few Snap On wrenches and sockets at yard sales.

 

[Mith]

How you been lil brother?...keeping busy I see. I glanced the threads recently and noticed the batwing project. Looks pretty slick

Yep, sure have been busy, better than having nothing to do......
I think my welder is suffering overuse from that batwing project I've been welder shopping this morning, looked at a nice weenie 120A stick, about the same size as a 2 house bricks next to each other. Comes witha backpack to put it in Maybe on the pricey side, but its decent quality. Well of an upgrade from my buzzer

I know plenty of people who make a living using snap-on tools, and obviously know the guy who sells them, so hopefully I could work something out with them.

I refuse to have a tool box that is worth more than the vehicles that I would be working on with the tools stored in that tool box

I've got plenty to go before that

 

[BadAttitude]

Good question Doc

I'm not absolutely certain, but knowing that Snap on has strict territorial restrictions, I doubt online sales are allowed. Probably the same goes for other brands too. I knew a dealer yrs ago that sold ouside of his territory a few times...he was only trying to help out one of his old customers...word got out and he got axed.

Best bet would be to check classifieds, ebay, craiglist, etc for used tools. Many top guns have left the trades and put their tools on the market for pennies on the dollar. That's something I've never understood. Those tools cost serious coin when new and the lifetime warranty stays with the tool. So why they take such a hit on resale is beyond me. That might be changing though, since a full set of new wrenches or sockets can easily go for $300-500 and up. The young pups entering the trades today can't afford that kind of money, so future demand could play a role in used pricing. The only downfall is...there's not a whole lot of new blood banging on the door.

 

[BadAttitude]

I know plenty of people who make a living using snap-on tools, and obviously know the guy who sells them, so hopefully I could work something out with them.

There you go...jump on the wagon now and build up some credit with them yourself. Shouldn't be any reason why the vendor won't deal with you directly instead of going through your buddies.

They have pretty flexible payment options too, so don't hesitate to ask. Good luck...

 

[Junkman]

Snap-On tools come with a lifetime guarantee, but the dealer is the person that does the replacement. If you don't have a relationship with a dealer, then you have to send the tool to the company directly for replacement. I know that you pay shipping to get them the defective tool, but not certain if there is a service fee for the return. A dealer does the exchange and swaps out the defective tools once a month for replacements. I drop the defective tool at a friends shop and he gets me the replacement tool from his local dealer. He has a giant Snap-On tool box, so the dealer really doesn't have any idea who owns the tool.... Junk..