Thread: Cheap tools v Good ones

It is the only Snap-on thing I have broken (the shoulder strap). __________________

destroyed my Snap On 1/2" breaker bar in January after 14 years sterling service, but I believe 300tdi fron crank bolts should use a 3/4" drive......

Forgot to mention earlier that IMHO shifters are made by Bahco and no one else.

Being a carpenter, I tend to buy tools that will last. Some are cheap some are expensive. I will hire tools that I only plan to use infrequently, but will buy when I see a need to use them again.
I have a 25 year old set of Craftman sockets. They are going strong, and once when I destroyed a 3/8 ratchet by putting an extension on the handle to get more torque. Took it back to Sears (in the U.S.) to buy a replacement, the sales man gave me an other. When I explained that I misused it, he insisted and said they were guaranteed for life. Sometimes it pays to buy name brands.

Ken

Originally Posted by rick130

Forgot to mention earlier that IMHO shifters are made by Bahco and no one else.

Hear, Hear.



Cheers
Simon

My favoured tools are my ETC 1/2' set had it now for 18 years and the ratchet still works however it has been stipped down and rebuilt (by me) a few times. It has also handled having a large pipe swinging off it (not the norm)

The other is my Metabo 500w 2 speed drill. I bought this second hand 10 years ago and it has enough torque in low gear to hurt me when it grabs (damn near threw me off the roof the bit (13mm)stopped, the drill and I spun)

Most of my had tools are Sidchrome (early stuff) with a spinkling of others, also have a Powerbuilt 1/4' set but the ratchet died (didn't like the pipe ) and has been replaced with a Repco one.

As for Snap-On, I rate then up there with the best if not the best, all tools might fail but their warrenty beats all others.

Case one, Rubber mallet abused daily. The face of the mallet was chipping off whilst removing a bulldozers gearbox (rusty) replaced no questions

Case two, 3/8 ratchet snapped after being used with 6 foot pipe again (the ratchet mech didn't fail the 3/8' pin twisted off) replaced no questions

Case 3 tool box over loaded and used by mobile tech in back of a ute. The drawers had bowed and slides were sticking, due to the virabrations causing the bearings and dirt to grind together. The tech wanted to upgrade to the next size tool box, so the Snap-On man reduced the price of the new box by the current replacement cost of the old box. This was done even though the box was over 20 years old. Turns out the mechanic had bought the box from the (now) Qld state rep for Snap-on.

In my job now I don't swing spanners any more but the best advice I received was to ensure that the tools were the best you could afford to buy and they have to be light enough to use on the job.

My 1/2 inch gear is really too big for the current run of cars however I worked on Tanks, Heavy road transport, Mining equipment and earth moving equipment (hence the pipe)

I should be looking at a new 3/8 socket set but doubt it will be snap-on, more than likely Repco as they are cheap and it has the lifetime warrenty. And yes I do know what R.E.P.C.O stands for.

Saying all this the last item I bought was a $49 angle grinder and it came with 150 disks and a 2yr warrenty. So far it hasn't broken.

Danny

Have a look at this web site. www.msdiscount.com Their entire 800 page catalogue is on it. They take orders by e-mail and credit card and ship promptly by whatever method you specify. I find U.S. Post Office cheapest. Air mail for light stuff and surface for heavy items.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Have a look at this web site. www.msdiscount.com Their entire 800 page catalogue is on it. They take orders by e-mail and credit card and ship promptly by whatever method you specify. I find U.S. Post Office cheapest. Air mail for light stuff and surface for heavy items.

I must resist clicking on the link, I must resist clicking on the link, I must........

Work in the Aviation industry, and I've had some experiences with some tools. The Span-on tools we use are a few years old, so I dont know what the new ones are like, but nothing kills the stuff we have. The Span on stuff is dropped, chiselled, hammered and damaged in some wierd ways. Going to have to buy the Ratchets, i love them! We use Stahlwille in smaller kits, found them good, but arent in the nice design and function as the Snap on, but they are pretty awesome in their own right. Got new Sidchrome on a toolboard and I avoid it as far as possible. It breaks in some jobs it shouldnt and the ratchet design is truly useless for the work i do. Shame, considering the older stuff I have at home is so good. Super cheap auto stuffis breaking on me left, right and centre at home, got to upgrade.....

Only problem with snap on is the writing on the handle of the shifter.

Not to be used as a hammer or a lever.

It's a shifter, what are you supposed to do with it if you don't use it as a hammer or a lever?

What I like about Bahco - when I bought my first it came with instructions on how to correctly loosen or tighten a nut with a shifter.



Cheers
Simon.