Are Snap-on tools really better ?

My opinion on torquing lug nuts is that it is very important, but not a tight tolerance value. A cheaper torque wrench can be +/- 25 ft/lbs when set to 475. Calibrating once a year is probably overkill for doing less than 10 tires per year. The biggest problem with lug nut is over torquing with big impacts. A better solution may bo to use a good 1/2" torque wrench with a cheaper torque multiplier? You can get a so-so 4:1 multiplier for well under $600.00, then you're only need a torque wrench that'll do 125 ft/lbs.

We do 20-30 tires per week, plus 5-10 brake jobs. We have a Snap-on Torque wrench calibrated annually. The Snap-on is durable, 6 people use it, some don't always treat well. When only 1 person uses it and it's the same person who paid the bill, it is usually taken good care of.

Another thing with toque wrenches, you should not use them to break things loose. All that does is add a lot more wear & tear to a very expensive tool. One thing I like about dial wrenches is that there is no ratchet, so my mechanics do not use them like a ratchet.

I also have some cheap tools at home that get most of my home jobs done, if I need something better, I just bring it home from work.

 

It should be good to go new, the cert should say that it's been tested. The cost depends on what's wrong. Typically, we pay about $50.00 for our 3/4" wrench, most of which is to cover shipping. Once it needed some parts and it was about $80.00. Our 1/2" wrenches are free to check on the truck, I haven't had to send mine out for calibration yet.

 

Yes they are that good. You generaly get what you pay for. The only problem with Snap-On brand tools is that people love to steal them and it sucks when you lose one. They are expensive. Snap-On had the highest quality steel with the highest tolerances. This is inportant for many applications where they can make a socket or boxed end wrench wall thinner to get access to tight areas. The crome plating on their tools is the absolute highest in the industry. Its easy to put $100,000 in a tool chest with Snap-On. Unless you keep your tools under lock and key or can entrust them to someone while you are gone, I would just opt for the average S-K, craftsman and NAPA brands. Dont ever waste your time with Harbor Freight or no name tools from auto parts stores. They may have a lifetime replacement warranty but what are they going to do for yoou busted knuckle or finder than needs three stitches cause their tool busted? If your hell bent on getting Smap-On buy them off of eBay. I used to buy and sell them as a side business several years ago. The more common SAE size tools youcan buy for 20 to 35 cents on the dollar and metric goes for 40 to 70 cents on the dollar with respect to actual truck price new.

 

I have never broken a wrench I have stripped a nut with a 12 point wrench but when you have pulled wrenches for years you can tell when it is stripping and when it is loosening when it breaks, that is when it hurts.
If you can not stand the sight of you own blood you are in the wrong trade.
I use snap-on torque wrenches from 3/8 dial to 3/4 to 600 lbs that is acurate within 2% both left and right hand. the best of the brand new ones can not do that.
Wratchets I have both snap-on and craftsman, crome sockets are craftsman, impact 6 point are craftsman 12 point are Mac specialty are snap-on.
I have special tools made for a specific job like tune ups that are sockets welded into box end wrenches that I put an allen "TEE" handle threw. those are just cheap stuff. I won a set of Snap-on punches and chisels about 30 pieces I bet I only have the pin punches left.
One of the very best punches I have in my tool box is a cheap wratchet that broke, the guy threw it out I cut the head off and turned it down on the lathe, I have used it for 40 years.
Spending a lot of money on tools will not make you a better mechanic, you need tools that work. Not tools that make you broke!
Just a thought!

 

I think that is very well said

 

Snap On makes good tools. There are other brands out there that are of equal quality at much cheaper price. I have some old Craftsman tools that I like better. The new stuff is junk. Ratchets are total junk. Things like pry bars and the like I buy at Harbor or Northern Tool. Just as good and 1/4 the price of Snap On. Get what feels good in your hand and lasts. No fun having ratchet gears break and hurting hand-and then having to repair whatever got hit when you threw it. lol

 

my .02 as a mechanic fulltime, you get what you pay for. I have a lot of money tied up at work, more than I want to think about, north of $40k and not done, but I work with them every day 5-6 days a week and with most of the stuff I have is 5 years old or older and have broken very few, with that said, the average weekend warrior will do fine with husky, craftsmen, etc. for a step above that sk, sunnex, grey pneumatic make some very good stuff with a good warranty. I have a mix of matco/snapon that is 85% of whats in my toolbox at work with some husky, cornwell, mac, craftsmen, gear wrench, harbor freight as well. hammers, punches, screwdrivers you can get by with craftsmen, harbor freight, etc. If you want good sockets but not the cost of snapon/matco, grey pneumatic, sk, and sunnex make some excellent sockets with a lifetime warranty, if you have the cash, as was said earlier, ebay is a good place for "name brand", tooltopia.com is also excellent for prices on name brand stuff, especially the GP sockets. get what works for you, what feels good in your hand, what you can afford.

 

Haven't read all of this yet as it is slow loading where I am at tonight.

http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/1310_ratchet_handles_torture_test/