So if you're a professional mechanic......

[Fastbird]

Do you buy into the "gotta have the truck brand" stuff? I for one do NOT. If you're using tools to make money, then the tools should make you money, not put you into debt. My craftsman wrenches, ratchets, and sockets (USA stuff, NOT CHINA) work just as well as any truck brand and have cost me literally a third of what Snappy, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, etc. would have.

Tool boxes? Forgetaboutit. I see absolutely zero reason to invest the $5-10K for a big roller off a truck when there are VERY good options available elsewhere (Menards, Harbor Freight, others).

I'm NOT 100% american made dedicated, but I try to keep it that way. Places I'll skimp are things like the Dual Ratcheting Wrenches I picked up from Craftsman recently (LOVE them), tool boxes (next purchase will be a Harbor Freight US General 56"), and one time use disposables.

Trucks are good for ONE thing IMO. Niche tools that are job specific. Things you can't find at Sears via Craftsman like the Blue Point BT27 GM Single spring drum brake tool, Matco FSH382 Dodge Wheel Bearing/Hub Remover, or Matco OFSR50 Oil Filter Cap (element filters) socket set. Niche tools like that are costly but worth it from the trucks. Sometimes I'll find an indispensable ratchet like the Snap-On dual 80 low profile 3/8 flex (3/8 in a 1/4" body), but even it's $75-100 depending on where you get it.

Don't get me wrong. truck brand stuff is good stuff. But it's too much IMO. When you have to go into debt to get your tools, the tools aren't working for you.

[FSTFBDY]

Ive got a mix of everything mac,snap on , craftsman , sk , etc...
. I do pref. my snap-on ratchets. fluke multimeter, etc..

[jaysz2893]

Ive got a mix of everything mac,snap on , craftsman , sk , etc...
. I do pref. my snap-on ratchets. fluke multimeter, etc..

Im not a pro but I agree with the above. I have a pretty well stocked shop and since I don't wrench all the time I even scour Harbor Freight for some of the tools I use the least. From my days as an industrial equipment designer and builder I do have professional level electrical and electronics tools. My fabrication tools are used DuPont machine shop pieces and my welding stuff is Hobart and Miller. My plasma cutter is a Century. I look at it this way, of the mechanic is good the name on the tools are not important.

Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2

[MeanTA]

I no longer work in a shop. But i use Craftsman and some Stanley. And my tool boxes are Husky and Harbor Frieght.

I don't buy into the truck tools. for the most part your paying for a name. My main rachet is a craftsman that i paid 20.00 for 14 years ago. And never gave me a problem.

And i got 600.00 invested in my tool cabinets. all ball bearing drawer slides. And never had a problem.

Only thing i tend to pay big money on is my air tools

[chile]

I wrench for a living and I have a mix of everything. There are differences between the big truck ones and the harbor freight ones. Like the wrenches some of the cheaper ones use softer metals and sometimes the ends stretch out alittle bit. But to each their own. But I do like that they come to you and then you can warranty your stuff.

[Fastbird]

I wrench for a living and I have a mix of everything. There are differences between the big truck ones and the harbor freight ones. Like the wrenches some of the cheaper ones use softer metals and sometimes the ends stretch out alittle bit. But to each their own. But I do like that they come to you and then you can warranty your stuff.

I was hoping you'd chime in and am glad to see that you've got a mix. I won't debate that your cheaper stuff like wrenches will definitely show it when compared to the truck brands in terms of strength and durability. I won't use a cheap wrench. That said, I don't consider the still USA stock Craftsman Raised Panel, Professional, and Industrial (same as professional) wrenches to be "cheap" in the big end. The raised panels are proven over the years, and the Professional/Industrial are fairly highly regarded and proven also. Flare nut wrenches on the other hand....Craftsman RP's tend to open up, but the professionals don't. Just a different material.

Truth be told I'll probably start slowly investing in the truck stuff AS I NEED IT. I don't abuse my wrenches but should one break and I can no longer get a US Craftsman replacement, it'll most likely be replaced with a Snap-On. I do like that they come to you for the warranty, but it's just as easy to roll to sears for a replacement.

Yes, I'm a Craftsman fan. Or used to be until they started shipping production overseas. Their new wrenches are damn lobster claws.

[chile]

I have some larger Craftsman wrenches i.e. 1" and bigger. But I would agree the wrenches have gone down in quality. If I do break a MAC or Snap-on wrench that bolt was damn tight. I even have some harbor freight stuff which aint too bad. Most of my tool money is going more towards special tools.

[CamaroZGuy]

mostly my tools are craftsman, but i have some snap-on because i got tired of having to go back to sears every few weeks to replace a ratchet. as for tool boxes i have 3 cheep plastic boxes that my tools are spread through out....hopefully soon i will have a real box.

[joelster]

I have never broken a Snap-On tool. I have broken several Craftsmen rachets and lots of sockets. This is over a 20-year span.

[SexyTransAm]

iv always told people i want tools that will make me money, not tools i have to pay for for the next 20 years. id say 95% of my stuff is Craftsman

[BIG CAT]

hand tool wise i have a mix bag. mostly craftsman and sk. if i have to sacrifice a tool for a job i pick up cheap chines stuff. the stuff my life depends on. fluke all the way. i have 3 meters. fluke 187 and 1587 and a amprob power quality clamp meter.

[FSTFBDY]

I agree with the above on good wrenches. I turn wrenches all day. Have been for years. From aircraft , to trains , to cars. etc...
I love my snap on flank drive wrenches.I also love my cheaper gear wrench ratcheting stuff.
I do have a snap on solus ultra for diag stuff. A china knock off Launch diagun X431 , harbor freight cheap little scanner just for quick code scan or reset. Harbor freight snake camera , a ebay smoke machine that works great , etc.. So a VAST array of all stuff.

I do like the tool guys show up every week. and if something needs replaced my snap on guy is usually NO QUESTIONS asked and has whats needed on the truck. RARELY does he have to order something. (He has 3 trucks and a small warehouse at his home)

[joelster]

My dad had almost all Snap-On stuff. He got a tool allowance at work every year and the Snap-On guy was there every week. Back in the day I had a '79 Z28 and I had 3/8's head stainless steel header bolts. The header bolts would loosen up periodically. I would use his Snap-On box end wrench on them and then hook a larger wrench into the open end for more leverage. I could bend that little 3/8's wrench about 15-20 degrees with the leverage from the larger wrench and get those header bolts insanely tight. I still have that little wrench. I'm sure I could snap another brand's wrench in two, putting that kind of torque on it.

[SexyTransAm]

Even the good stuff brakes. MAC 1/2 drive
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q170/SexyTransAm/Photo045.jpg

[BLK95-Z]

Im not a professional but I turn wrenches all week. I used to buy all name brand untill I got tired of replacing everything I lost, now I use harbor freight.

Ive found the only thing not to skimp on is rachets.

[Project96]

I have an assortment of tools. Snap-on, Blue Point, HF, Fowler, Starrett, Power Probe, Bills Wholesale (local tool place) & of course Craftsman. I'm not too big on the flank drive from snap on, but have quite a few of their other wrenches. The big ones are Craftsman though. They are just too much from the truck. I do like the convenience of them coming to me instead of driving an extra 20 miles to swap something out. I can have a running truck account with no interest as well. If I find myself borrowing tools from one of the other techs, I will try to pick it up. I hate chasing my tools or having them grow legs & walk away.

[chile]

Even the good stuff brakes. MAC 1/2 drive
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q170/SexyTransAm/Photo045.jpg

Damn!!!! How tight was that bolt.

[SexyTransAm]

Way the hell too tight lol. I ended up heating the hell out of it till it was red, using a breaker bar and a 4 foot cheater pipe

[MEAN LT1]

Lets just say I like when dealership mechanics retire or get out of the business. They usually sell there tools at a great price. Im one of those mechanics who wants the big names but dont want to pay for it. I also frequent the pawn shops too for the name brand stuff. I know Im not the only one. LOL

[dzltek]

I work on entertainer coaches and I have mostly snap on stuff. I do have a large assortment of craftsman sockets, but I mainly have snap-on. I have yet to break a snap on ratchet, or wrench. And have only broke some chrome sockets with an impact(we all do it). I have broke craftsman sockets and wrenches by hand. I like my knuckles and will continue to buy the "name brand" because like snap ons slogan, there is a difference.

I also love the convenience of CREDIT!!!! Truck credit is great, there's no finance charges.

[chile]

I love truck credit. Oh and it took me 10 years to break my 19mm 1/2" deep impact from matco. Most popular socket i guess.

[dzltek]

I have a snap on half inch locking swivel head ratchet that I've been trying to break. I've used jacks and this ratchet breaking a 1 3/16 bolt loose on calipers of these busses, and have only stripped the teeth in the swivel of the head. It's an awesome tool. And like what's already been mentioned, no questions asked warranty. My dealer laughs at breakage. Lol

[NoMoneyZ]

I'm just a lube guy for right now. So most of my hand tools are from harbor freight. They get the job done. I have only bought a couple things from the snap-on truck. Only thing I really spent some dollars on was my impact gun. I figure once I get more training in, and decide where I want to go in the shop I'll need to start getting some specialty tools.

[MrAngry]

I've got a pretty good mix. A lot of Matco stuff, just because they always seemed to have sales that made them equivalent to Craftsmen.

I will always spend top money on hand tools. I'm frugal with the dollar, but I'll buy the best I can. Soft metal in cheap wrenches and sockets round off bolts. That's where I spend the cash. I'm eyeballing a new box from Lowe's, made by Kobalt. Huge, has a built in radio, is stainless and awesome, $1200. Thats Top and bottom! I paid nearly that for one of my service carts from Matco back in my "gotta have the truck brand" days.

I also frequent Harbor Freight, since they're just up the street. I've got some pretty good deals there on consumables, and some other odds and ends. The hydraulic presses are good, as are the engine stands and hoists. I also have 2 air compressors I bought there, nearly 1/3 of the cost of the cheapest anywhere else, and they've been fantastic. I also buy all my paint guns there. Replace the cheap o-rings, and you have a high-end gun for dirt cheap. Now if I could just learn to paint.... lol

[MrAngry]

For info, if you are a MAC tools fan, watch the Stanley stuff. They're the same company, and most are made on the same line, and just stamped with a different logo. You can get some very good tools really cheap.

[blackbird1084]

I love craftsman US tools. I don't have very many specialty tools (I snag my brothers stuff lol). I have yet to break any of my ratchets.

[Fastbird]

My tune is swinging. I've been a Craftsman US stuff guy for about ever. But.....man those Snap-On Dual 80 Technology ratchets are just incredible. I have an FCF72 (3/8 drive in a 1/4" flex shaft body), and the SF80A 18" long flex head 1/2" drive..........I will be replacing my thin profile CM ratchets with SO Dual 80 stuff eventually.

[brandons94lt1]

For me, it wasn't the wrenches and stuff like that...it was the electrical testing equipment and specialty tools

Snap on or Mac usually had something that was a bit more thought through..? Like when I was 16, snapon had the first snag n probe current/resistance tester...I wasn't having to stab the wire anymore...and get my fingers if it slipped...just hook and press or release, and it probed it for ya..back in 95..as I recall, craftsman didn't have anything like that...

But I agree that your tools should work for you and not put you in debt... a rail of sockets for a 3/8 impact was over 100$ from 8mm/18mm in 2007...that's way over priced...snap-on of course

But like I said... snap on has some well thought out tools that gets the job done easier and more efficiently though...they put the time and effort into r&d, and sell it for a high cost..then craftsman and the others follow suite...

So I guess what I mean is, snap-on innovates...they solve problems with odd fits and quirky angles... they make it easier to get things done, and they do it first...that's the only benefit I see...

EDIT : I forgot to add that tools that make you more efficient are worth their weight in silver at least..if you're running an R.O. that pays .8 and a specialty tool can help you get it done in .4, then you're on to the next vehicle...always a plus :)

[Fastbird]

I agree, specialty tools I'm truck brand all the way (though I just got a Harbor Freight inner tie rod tool today to work on Call 911's driver).

[chile]

I love harbor freight. Most of the stuff in my home shop is from there. The good things about sears is that they are open Sunday when I need that one socket to finish my project.

[brandons94lt1]

Oh..for spot lights....matco!!! I got a 400,000 candle power light from them and WOW!!!" I can flag down E.T.with that thing...I'm not kidding...its confined and bright!!! @40$...I couldn't lose.