Craftsman vs. Snap-on vs. Mac. vs. ac delco vs. rubbermaid

I just started working this week at a wrecker/auto shop in town. I'm driving a rollback tow truck and most of the work I'm doing so far is roadside assistance calls. Takes a lot longer to change a tire with a 4-way than a 1/2" drive cordless impact driver, so I'm in the market for one. Here's what I found:

Northern Industries (Northern Tool's house brand) 24v, $79 new (backordered 2-4 weeks)
Ingersoll-Rand 18v, $199 new (but backordered 3 weeks)
DeWalt 18v, $249 new
Milwaukee 18v, $269 new
Matco 19.2v, $270 used (pawn)
Snap-On 18v, $299 used (pawn, no square drive, can I even add that?)
Snap-On 18v, $519 new (website MSRP)

There are others but that gives you an idea of the spread of prices. I imagine the Matco and Snap-On are the top class, the Milwaukee/DeWalt/I-R models in the middle, and the Northern and other cheapo ones on the bottom. I could probably get the same probably Chinese-made Northern drill in a different color case from Lowe's or Home Depot for the same $79-$99 price range.

I need to be able to break stubborn bolts loose on highway shoulders without worrying about the tool dying or jamming. I'm leaning towards the used Matco (in box, has manual, 3 warranty reg cards, 2 batteries, and the 1-hr quick charger) because I have tested it in my hands on my wife's car in the pawn shop parking lot. The other stores asked me if I was on drugs when I asked to test their sample tools.

I would buy a new middle-of-the-road tool for my $250 and change, but will it work for me and be worth their paycheck? Or will I wish I had gone with the Snap-On or Matco?

Oh, and for those of you wondering where I'd get the new Snap-On, the local Snap-On guy parks his truck at our shop in the fenced impound lot every night. $40 a week for an account or something, and I could have a decent tool set fast.

As for tools I already own, I have some Craftsman stuff but my primary tool kit is a Channel-Lock 169pc set bought for $60 two years ago at Sam's Club. Only things I've broken in that are the screwdriver bits and I bought a set of Craftsman ones to compensate. My cordless drill is actually a 19.2v Kawasaki I got from the same Sam's for $40, which still sells new for $60 at Northern. Works great and the batteries last for hours of light work even after all this time. Anything I buy from here on out will probably be Craftsman or Snap-On with the exception of this Matco impact but I wanted some input before picking it up.

 

Well, I just went to

motherofallcordlessimpactwrenches (add your w's and your dot com, I'm so new that my name isn't even sewn on my shirts yet)

I'll talk to the Snap-On guy Monday morning to set up my account. $519 MSRP vs. having to pull out the 25-inch breaker bar and jump up and down on it.

Hrmmm...

So I hope that pawn shop dealer finds someone to sell that Matco to. I looked up the specs, it puts out 240lbs of torque. The Snap-On puts out 350 with breakaway to 550. No comparison. It'll take me 13 weeks to pay off the thing at $40 a week, but it should last me 13 YEARS and if I need it fixed I know where to find the guy.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-077...49-3004447?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1191677295&sr=1-1

I saw an article on one of these and they thought it was the one. 325 ft/lbs and the testers said it had no trouble breaking lug nuts loose. Not within my budget but if I did what you do on the side of 174 or 171 out in the country I'd be gettin' it done asap.

 

hey do any of you guys uses the racheting box wrenches or the flexheads, any real advantage of a rachet box vs regular box, besides not having to take it off the bolt to readjust and maybe better starting angle?
the rachet boxes seems to only come in 12point :-( have yet to see a 6point version..

 

Occupant (can I call you Occ?), the Snap On cordless impact is second to none and you won't be dissapointed! The consensus on IATN is overwhelmingly for the Snap On, and that group is typically hard on Snap On stuff.

I am not a big fan of Snap On air guns. I like IR better.

One thing that's cool about Snap On is that they typically try to improve their tools rather than make them cheaper. Case in point is the typical 3/8" hand ratchet. The latest design is just incredible! The best got better. They have re-designed the head about 4 times over the last 15 or 20 years, for the better. Craftsman ratchets have gotten so bad that I threw out the ones I have at home, upgraded the Snappy's at work and brought the old Snappy's home. :blast:

 

Mike, the advantage of ratching boxes is time savings. Saves a lot of frustration too. Snap On makes both 6 and 12 point box ratchets.

Disclaimer -- I don't work for or benefit in any way from Snap On except by using their tools.

 

a heads up for all you old farts out there. "Proto" is back into the retail tool game.
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATIC&PAGE=HOME.HTM

how much Stanley will do with them is unknown. but you can get a cool "100th" anniversary t-shirt!

 

Well guys, i sell craftsman tools at sears so if you have any question feel free to ask. I know their not the best tool, but you cant beat them for the price.

I hear a lot of complaints about the rachets and i see a lot brought back every day. The reason that they use the snap ring is for quick rebuilds. What we are supposed to do with rachets is rebuild them and exchange them for the broken ones. If the customer has an issue with that then we just give them new ones. So if employees are just handing you rebuild kits, ask for a manager.

As for broken sockets, i maybe see a couple brought back a day. Some days i dont see any come back. The sockets seem to hold up well. I have never seen an impact socket come back and ive beeen their for about a year.

Yes, all HAND TOOLS carry the life time warranty. We will exchange them with out question, we dont care what you do with them. The only ones we really shouldnt take back are tools that have been neglected and dont work due to rust, etc.

So if you have any questions feeel free to ask.

Also if your not a member for the craftsman club sign up! Its free and you get some great discounts.

 

Re: New Snap On product

Buick62403...Jason,
How much did that Snap-On water cost you? $10, $15,000/ea?:moonu: ou:
Chance
"Never ask a man where he is from. If he is from Texas, he will tell you; if not, why embarass him?"

 

I picked up a nice set of craftsman tools a couple of years ago as a christmas present to myself,:Brow: and haven't looked back. Since I've started my restro on the vert, I've put all my sockets etc, to the test and they performed flawlessly. I know they are not snapon or mac, but they do what I need them to do.

After years...and I mean years of buying junk tool sets and smashing and cutting my fingers open because they broke, it sure is nice to have good tools you can count on.

Steve
72 Vert ungoing frame off restro

 

I think Craftsman give the best bang for the buck. They probably aren't the best but they are good. I also think Sears screwed up by coming out with those lower priced tool sets. They aren't as good as the regular Craftsman tools and are giving the brand a bad name. Strap Ons are over priced in my book but if I was running a shop or working in one I would like the convenience of being able to replace or add to my tool collection right where I work without having to deal with a store clerk that doesn't know how to use the tools they are selling. :spank:
Bob H.

 

I dig those Harbor Frieght tools. Nothing like chrome coating flaking off brand new screwdrivers!

 

How in the f*ck do you clowns come to the conclusion that that cheapo Craftsman stuff is the "best"?!

We all know its really, RUBBERMAID! :TU:

...ok, stop typing, I'm only kidding...

I voted for "other" because all of those companies listed have their strongpoints.
Mac has been known for years for having the strongest sockets. Snap-On has the stronger wrench. Craftsman is the easiest to get and rubbermaid will hold ANYTHING! (so do used TV dinner trays, but you didn't hear that from me).
I mean, any of you guys ever heard of Sioux, Great Brittain, Husky or Vlcheck?
Why weren't they listed?
Vlcheck was the caddillac of wrenchs back in my Dad's day. I've still got some of those wrenches and they still get the job done!

But it's all good. Heck, I still use an old tuna fish can with two sides bent in (courtesy of Channel-Lock) as my ashtray!
Worked like a champ for over 20 years (and yes, I washed it first!).

:beer




Bob

 

Another "stop-gap-toolmaker" here, too.
I've got a combo wrench in my tool box that I had to bend all to hell, in order to reach the alternator mounting bolts on a mid 70's Dodge Dart that had V8, auto and power everything.
To this day, I still call it my "Dodge Alternator Wrench". :laugh:

...works real good on '87 Cadillac's, too! :Brow:



Bob

 

If you look at the socket on the Snap-On, you'll see that the points where any two flat sides come together are rounded over, rather than a sharp point.
Snap-On determined that by grinding the radius in there, it takes the majority of the load you place on the bolt head or nut off the point of those items, and applies them to the larger flat area, thus the load is spread out more evenly across the bolt head or nut, and the same amount of force you put into it is actually doing more work for you because it reacts on a larger part of that item.
Also, most "strips" come from the point of the nut or bolt head giving way and "rounding off".
Back in my day, Snap-On were the only people who made a socket like that, and it was a fairly new thing. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone did it these days.


Bob

 

There ya' go!
Someone who's familar with professional tools!
I still swear by my bent handle, flex head 3/8" SK ratchet.
Probably one of the best single tools in my box.
Proto's a good wrench, too. Got quite a few of those.



Bob

 

You'd love my Dad's shop.:Brow:

Bob

 

Are you kidding?!
ROTFLMAO!

Say, when did Snap-On paint their tool boxes orange?


Bob

 

Sorry to be a thread hoar, guys.
I just saw so much to comment on.
Great thread!
Many thanks to GoldBoattail455 for creating this one.



Bob

 

For full time, us wrench-whores use nothing but snap-on for hand tools. Mac sucks cause their dealers come and go, haven't seen one at my shop in at least a year. Matco and cornwell are great for all your specialty tools(you know, the ones you buy to do one job and rarely if ever use again) and lots of other odd stuff. Watch out for snap on 1/2 drive impact guns...I have a drawer dedicated to junk ones that they sold me. Every one was supposed to be better than the other, yet each one sucked worse than the last one. Now when the guy comes in with a new 1/2 drive gun I whip open my drawer and throw junk guns at his feet and tell him if he wants me to buy a new one I want my money back on all the junk ones he sold me.:laugh: :laugh: . They never take me up on the offer. Use IR for 1/2 guns, IR231 to be specific.

Craftsman is a great tool for the non-pro. If you are a pro and you are using them, you need to throw them away or ask for less money. I've seen many guys round off or not be able to loosen bolts cause a sears socket doesn't transmit the torque to the bolt the way a snap on does. It's all in the quality of the steel...the craftsman twists and bends, the snap on wont. same with screwdrivers and wrenches.

Don't buy Snap on diagnostic stuff, OTC makes a way better scanner and the twice yearly updates are half the money, for more info. I go way back with diagnostics, from before fuel injection, and the scanner with the most info and most capabilities was always the OTC. Snap-on was always touted to be the most "user friendly", but a competent tech needs horsepower and agility, not fluff.

.02 from a guy whos been fixin' 'em for 26 years.