Snap-on rocks.

[tw205]

Many years ago, I think late 80s, I was working for a dodge dealer turning wrenches. That's when I first invested in some quality tools from the local Snap-on dude. They have been of excellent quality and have served me well over the years of abuse I put them through. I have broken several of my sockets by my own abusive needs and have saved them hoping to one day get them replaced. So here 35 or so years later, I emailed Snap-on customer service yestetday, and with two email exchanged I have new tools in the mail. I don't usually have anything nice to say about purchased products as most are marginal at best especially in today's world of cheap China garbage. I'm gonna give Snap-on two thumbs up. . I don't even have to return the broken ones. Pictures were enough.

Bonus being two of the sockets are 10mm. One standard and one deep well. All 6 point.

 

[sgtsandman]

We use Snap On at work and they have been pretty good overall. For people who make their living with their tools, a premium brand is worth the money, with a few exceptions.

Williams Tools are made by the same company or are made by Snap On. Not as expensive and the built quality is similar. If one is looking to equip their personal garage and plans on doing a lot of work in there or is starting out in the trades, Williams is worth a look.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I have several broken tools also.... snap on... mac... sk... and even a couple New Britten tools from my original tool set. I use to be tool poor and bought from all of them. Totally tool addicted.

I really need to try to get some of these warranted.

 

[Roert42]

I got a socket and extension warranted by sk about a year ago. They didn’t even ask for pictures I just emailed them that number on the side and they mailed me new ones.

Tekton is moving most their production to the us from China and Taiwan. Have had great luck with their warranty as well.

 

[4.0blue98]

I wonder if Craftsman still warranties their stuff. About 10 years ago I broke an old flex head ratchet that I probably had for 20 years. I just took it to sears and they immediately gave me a new one. Wonder if Ace or other places do?

 

[racsan]

lowes bought the “craftsman “ name from sears, Im not even sure sears exists anymore. I dont know if lowes gives a lifetime warranty on craftsman products, they sure dont look like the set I got back in 1988.

 

[Shran]

Craftsman is made by Stanley/Black and Decker. Their new tools and warranty suck bad.

I have a fair size assortment of Snap-on… I love their pliers. Also have quite a bit of Matco, Mac, Cornwell, SK… Snap-on is my fav out of the lot. For the price and availability though I somewhat prefer Gearwrench and Carlyle from NAPA.

 

[4.0blue98]

Yeah the Craftsman I see these days at Lowe's doesn’t look so hot. A few years back Ace hardware was selling decent looking stuff as Sears was dying. Not sure if they still do or if Lowe's is the sole retailer now. I have some ancient stuff that I still use.

 

[JoshT]

Yeah the Craftsman I see these days at Lowe's doesn’t look so hot. A few years back Ace hardware was selling decent looking stuff as Sears was dying. Not sure if they still do or if Lowe's is the sole retailer now. I have some ancient stuff that I still use.

The Ace stores around me still sell Craftsman, don't know how it compares to the Lowe's offerings. For my purposes, I tend to buy my hand tools from the HF these days. I have Craftsman stuff, but what they sell now doesn't seem any better. Special tools like torque wrenches I'll buy a better brand, not picky, but mine are Craftsman. Battery powered is Ryobi from HD.

I'm not knocking Snap-On, Matco, or any of the other professional tool brands, I've used plenty of them at work over the last two decades. I don't use my personal tools professionally, so I'm not dropping professional money on them. I know I could buy used snap-on stuff at a discount and still get the warranty. I even drive past the snap-on guy's house every day, the F-100 broke on the road out front and the tire bounced across his yard into the woods. I don't, and don't want want to, spend enough time at pawnshops, flea markets, and yard sales to take that route.

 

[holyford86]

The Ace stores around me still sell Craftsman, don't know how it compares to the Lowe's offerings. For my purposes, I tend to buy my hand tools from the HF these days. I have Craftsman stuff, but what they sell now doesn't seem any better. Special tools like torque wrenches I'll buy a better brand, not picky, but mine are Craftsman. Battery powered is Ryobi from HD.

I'm not knocking Snap-On, Matco, or any of the other professional tool brands, I've used plenty of them at work over the last two decades. I don't use my personal tools professionally, so I'm not dropping professional money on them. I know I could buy used snap-on stuff at a discount and still get the warranty. I even drive past the snap-on guy's house every day, the F-100 broke on the road out front and the tire bounced across his yard into the woods. I don't, and don't want want to, spend enough time at pawnshops, flea markets, and yard sales to take that route.

I also have a hard time paying new snap on money but he usually has trade ins on the truck at better than 50 percent off, as far as ratchets go, there is no comparison in my opinion. Yeah there are higher tooth count ratchets out there but it seems to take far less movement to engage the next tooth and put torque into the fastener than other options. They have recently started rolling out a new 100 tooth ratchet so I'd imagine the used market will start to be flooded with a bunch of the 80 tooth units soon, haha.

The Chinese Craftsman ratchets that are just copies of the last usa made series make mediocre hammers at best, in my opinion, I can't seem to not destroy them easily, even in the shortest handle lengths. I can't speak to the quality of the new design stuff though. I've been impressed with the quality of the icon stuff from harbor freight, it seems quite nice for the price point.

 

[franklin2]

Lowe's and Ace WILL replace a broken craftsman tool. The kicker is they have to have it in stock hanging there. If they do, it's pretty painless. If they don't, you have to deal with them somehow through the mail like the other brands.

I had a old craftsman screwdriver that was broken. Brought it into Lowe's. Found one just like it, but it was newer with a newer part number. Someone higher up the chain looked at them, approved the swap, and I was out the door.

 

[dchangstrom]

As franklin2 said, Lowes will exchange as long as it's on the shelf... had a long 1/2" drive ratchet I bought 30-40yrs ago strip gears many years ago... Finally got fed up with it and took it in and the customer service gal said if you can find one on the shelf we can exchange if not we aren't able to. lucky for me they had one

 

[Shran]

Lowes and Ace here will only exchange Craftsman if it has the exact part number. Anything else, you have to call in and have it mailed. I have a bunch of Craftsman wrenches & sockets - that's about it though - I don't care for most of their other tools and the ratchets especially are crap. I have a collection of just about every style C-man ratchet going back to the 40's and there is only one style that I like.

I also have a hard time paying new snap on money but he usually has trade ins on the truck at better than 50 percent off, as far as ratchets go, there is no comparison in my opinion. Yeah there are higher tooth count ratchets out there but it seems to take far less movement to engage the next tooth and put torque into the fastener than other options. They have recently started rolling out a new 100 tooth ratchet so I'd imagine the used market will start to be flooded with a bunch of the 80 tooth units soon, haha.

Both of my Snap-on ratchets are really low tooth count ones from the early 90's and honestly I don't really like them. Proto & SK made way better ratchets back then... jeez even Husky/Sparta/New Britain/Blackhawk are better IMO.

Mac ratchets from that era were terrible too, I had one from what I'm guessing was the mid 90's and it was an exact duplicate of a cheapo Stanley that I also had... I know they are the same company but c'mon, someone probably paid $100+ for that piece of crap.

 

[pjtoledo]

still using a Snap on 3/8 swivel head ratchet I acquired in 1975. it definitely helps to clean & lube the mechanism of any ratchet.

 

[Shran]

Yeah totally agreed. Any used ratchet I acquire gets disassembled and cleaned prior to use... I have fixed a lot of "broken" ones that were just rusted up or full of dried grease.

Lube choice will make a difference, usually I use Lucas hub oil (really thick, sticky crap) on low tooth count ratchets. High tooth count get 3-in-1 or air tool oil. Craftsman pear heads are the exception, black wheel bearing grease works good in those.

Those old Proto pear heads are smoooooooth with hub oil.