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[j.h.christ]

For those of you that do this for a living, what did you end up with? I'm about to make a rather sizeable investment into a box+tools as I will be entering the mechanics field within the next year. Just wanted to know if there are nog deals to be had, any bad experiences, etc. Also, how do employers look upon techs that have every tool under the sun as compared with a basic set, or how different brands are percieved in the industry. If it were up to me, I'd rock craftsman all day long, but I get the feeling that would be frowned upon based upon what these guys are telling me.

The reps are all here at school today, and they're all parking on our nuts talking about financing and assorted other bullshit. Any info is appreciated.

[highroller54]

I have $65,000  dollars in snap-on tools.

[junkyard racer]

I have had and use all 3 brands. To me, they are all equal in respect. Between those three, i'd figure out which salesman will give you the best deal on what you want and buy that. Wouldn't really be worried about being brand specific.

I am biased on snap-on ratchets though. Love mine.

[dvst8r]

They all have good products and they all have junk ones, typically you end up with a mix.

- Snap on wrench's don't spread as easy as mac's, and I like a round edge vs a square one
- Gray chisels hold better then snap on and mac combined
- Snap on Jacks are GARBAGE don't ever buy one.
- I like Mac test lights better.

Ect...

Lots of guys get by with craftsman forever...

For box's either you get a cheap box and build a frame for it, or you get a snap on box. Lifetime warranty on a snapon box means life time. When I was a dealer I replaced a few roll cabs that were 20+ years old, that really were just worn out, but that is not how snap on sees it. They are expensive but they are a better box. I have no love for snapon as a company, but they do build a better box.

Matco and Craftsman box's are the same, built on the same line.

[jagojon3]

Craftsman

[hatrack48]

a tool is a tool, if it works why replace it. name brands dont fix things, the tool does :yes:

[junkyard racer]

a tool is a tool, if it works why replace it. name brands dont fix things, the tool does :yes:

ever used a $100 snap-on ratchet?

[ApexSilver06MR]

^^^  i have one of those

i use snap on all the way

[highroller54]

I dont like mac hand tools, all my craftsman shit breaks, big difference from fucking around in the drive way to trying to make flat rate moneys, were if a tool doesn't do its fucking job you loose cash.

[dvst8r]

I like snap on up to 1/2" for ratchets and Gray after that.

[hatrack48]

a tool is a tool, if it works why replace it. name brands dont fix things, the tool does :yes:

ever used a $100 snap-on ratchet?

have 1 of those and a proto 1 and a craftsman 1

[highroller54]

I have a pair of knock of chineese vise grips, a old claw hammer and a sweet stick

we know.

[turbob16hatch]

now i only have the basic kit as i did what most idiots did buy the snap on basic kit with the classic 78 or w/e box. now sense i went to school ( and failed like an idiot) i got it for half off. so i got $12-13k in tools for $6k plus a $400 gift card. as much as i love my snap on i would have bought craftsman if i didn't get the grood deal i got.

but i can say i do like my set of ratcheting wrenches.

[rawr]

I've broken some snap-on 3/8th ratchets.  I broke craftsman shit more but a trip to sears is easier than replacing the strap-on shit.

[mulletcar]

I have been a mechanic for almost 9 years on heavy equipment in the Air Force, and I loathe Snap -on tools. My first assignment we had Craftsman tools and for whatever reason they decided to switch to Snap-on tools and I have hated them ever since.. Craftsman do just fine in my line of work and I abuse my tools pretty regularly, and where they shine is return policy (as I'm sure most of you know), but if you break a Snap-on you have to wait for the vendor to show up. If you break a tool he doesnt like to replace it and tries his damndest to tell you that you abused it and they wont honor the warranty. At my current base we have new Snap-on tool boxes and tools and 5/16-9/16 ratcheting wrenches were frozen (wouldnt ratchet) both ways in 5 of 6 boxes and it took the vendor 3 freaking weeks to show up and give us shit about replacing them with working units... Craftsman are definately worthy tools that are professional quality, but theyre cheaper than most other pro "series" tools and by cost association people assume they are just garage/home use quality.

[turbob16hatch]

see your mistake is your comparing the tools quality to the vendor quality.

having a bad vendor doesn't mean the tool is bad now does it?

i have had a bad vendor but i switched and no problems yet. i had a ratchet wrench that i "thought" broke. it sounded funny and would skip. he let me keep it as he couldn't make it do something wierd. but i still got a new one and a newer version at that. (less movement per click).

so vendors can be good.

[Robb]

Been a tech going on 6 years, and personally, I use a mix of matco/mac/snapon for tools I use commonly (wrenches, ratchets, sockets, etc) and ching chong meow for speciallty stuff like ford can synch tools, etc. 

Honestly, snapon's stuff is superior, but for me the point of diminishing returns is low in this situation since a 5 min. visit on the snapon truck will yield you a bill thats 2X your paycheck. 


Also, why the fuck do you want to get into this line of work?  Are you a masochist?  Id leave in a heartbeat if I could afford it, but until the wifey gets her nursing degree im SOL.

[junkyard racer]

I have been a mechanic for almost 9 years on heavy equipment in the Air Force, and I loathe Snap -on tools. My first assignment we had Craftsman tools and for whatever reason they decided to switch to Snap-on tools and I have hated them ever since.. Craftsman do just fine in my line of work and I abuse my tools pretty regularly, and where they shine is return policy (as I'm sure most of you know), but if you break a Snap-on you have to wait for the vendor to show up. If you break a tool he doesnt like to replace it and tries his damndest to tell you that you abused it and they wont honor the warranty. At my current base we have new Snap-on tool boxes and tools and 5/16-9/16 ratcheting wrenches were frozen (wouldnt ratchet) both ways in 5 of 6 boxes and it took the vendor 3 freaking weeks to show up and give us shit about replacing them with working units... Craftsman are definately worthy tools that are professional quality, but theyre cheaper than most other pro "series" tools and by cost association people assume they are just garage/home use quality.

I have seen more military people break the most bad ass of everything over and over again. 9 out of 10 times, it is mis-use.

Craftsman is a quality tool, not for the professional.

[darkelvis]

My box and damn near every tool in it is mac.  The only snap-on tool I own is my 1/4 air ratchet  (less than a year old) and after today I have to fight with my fuck face snap-on rep to warranty it...we'll see how that goes tomorrow morning.  I don't have any matco tools, not because they are junk tools but because I never see anything in the flyer that interests me that I don't already have the mac version of.  My specialty, use once a year, tools are all ching chong bullshit.

As far as hand tools are concerned I would say mac, snap-on, and matco are all good brands, each has it's strengths and weaknesses.  As far as air tools...I will stick with mac.  Only reason I have a snap-on air ratchet is because my mac guy was on vacation when I finally decided to buy one.

A big part of who you should get your tools from is finding out which rep is worth a shit.  At the school tool day they are all kissing your ass looking for easy money...but when the fucker only stops by every 3 months and refuses to warranty anything you'll be wishing you had a good tool rep.

And this!!!!

Also, why the fuck do you want to get into this line of work?  Are you a masochist?  Id leave in a heartbeat if I could afford it, but until the wifey gets her nursing degree im SOL.

[darkelvis]

see your mistake is your comparing the tools quality to the vendor quality.

having a bad vendor doesn't mean the tool is bad now does it?

i have had a bad vendor but i switched and no problems yet. i had a ratchet wrench that i "thought" broke. it sounded funny and would skip. he let me keep it as he couldn't make it do something wierd. but i still got a new one and a newer version at that. (less movement per click).

so vendors can be good.

where the hell are you working and who is your vendor?  Also if your wrenches act up on you again just smack that fucker on the work bench...it'll clear right back up.

[j.h.christ]

Also, why the fuck do you want to get into this line of work?  Are you a masochist?  Id leave in a heartbeat if I could afford it, but until the wifey gets her nursing degree im SOL.

Going to eventually take over the family machine shop/engine building business when it's time to pass on ownership (i figure 10 years or so). Uncle runs it now, I've been interning/fucking around there for about a year now, and I've gotten really good at sweeping and running to the store for food/parts. Uncle wants to expand into a repair shop, and asked if I would go to school and learn the newfangled computer bullshit that comes with pretty much any obd1 and up vehicle. So this is not only my shot at a new job, it's also a responsibility to carry on the family business and legacy.

[magik123]

my snap-on vendor will beat matco, mac by 10%, and there is always something i want in the snap on fliers so i usually go with him.  I went with SK through school and half my sockets cracked already, broke 2 3/8 rachets, etc.  You can tell by the jobs that require certain tools what you can get away with.  The name is not the only reason you see more snap-on tools in this field than any other brand.

[darkelvis]

Going to eventually take over the family machine shop/engine building business when it's time to pass on ownership (i figure 10 years or so). Uncle runs it now, I've been interning/fucking around there for about a year now, and I've gotten really good at sweeping and running to the store for food/parts. Uncle wants to expand into a repair shop, and asked if I would go to school and learn the newfangled computer bullshit that comes with pretty much any obd1 and up vehicle. So this is not only my shot at a new job, it's also a responsibility to carry on the family business and legacy.

I would suggest that if that is the plan then you go to school and then get a job somewhere else for the next "10 years or so" so you can actually learn about "the newfangled computer bullshit"  because if you think you can just put in your two years at school then go open a shop where you actually have to do diagnostics then you are very very very very wrong.  School teaches you the basics...working around people who know what the fuck is going on teaches you the rest.

[Conceptz-X]

Robb hit it on the head


What school?

[turbob16hatch]

where the hell are you working and who is your vendor?  Also if your wrenches act up on you again just smack that fucker on the work bench...it'll clear right back up.

just working for my self right now doing fab work, but i am going through a guy that visit's a friends work. nothing to fancy

[darkelvis]

where the hell are you working and who is your vendor?  Also if your wrenches act up on you again just smack that fucker on the work bench...it'll clear right back up.

just working for my self right now doing fab work, but i am going through a guy that visit's a friends work. nothing to fancy

and the guy's name is...

[j.h.christ]

Going to eventually take over the family machine shop/engine building business when it's time to pass on ownership (i figure 10 years or so). Uncle runs it now, I've been interning/fucking around there for about a year now, and I've gotten really good at sweeping and running to the store for food/parts. Uncle wants to expand into a repair shop, and asked if I would go to school and learn the newfangled computer bullshit that comes with pretty much any obd1 and up vehicle. So this is not only my shot at a new job, it's also a responsibility to carry on the family business and legacy.

I would suggest that if that is the plan then you go to school and then get a job somewhere else for the next "10 years or so" so you can actually learn about "the newfangled computer bullshit"  because if you think you can just put in your two years at school then go open a shop where you actually have to do diagnostics then you are very very very very wrong.  School teaches you the basics...working around people who know what the fuck is going on teaches you the rest.

oh yes, that's the plan. i didn't mean to make it seem like i was going to pop out of a 2 year program and be king shit... not at all. the school has excellent job placement programs with higher end dealers. i'm sure i'll be doing simpleminded shit for a few years... and i wouldn't have it any other way really. i don't mind 'slumming' it doing brake jobs and shit like that, as long as i'm shown the ropes and eventually work my way up to be one of the big fish. i'm not that naive...

[darkelvis]

Going to eventually take over the family machine shop/engine building business when it's time to pass on ownership (i figure 10 years or so). Uncle runs it now, I've been interning/fucking around there for about a year now, and I've gotten really good at sweeping and running to the store for food/parts. Uncle wants to expand into a repair shop, and asked if I would go to school and learn the newfangled computer bullshit that comes with pretty much any obd1 and up vehicle. So this is not only my shot at a new job, it's also a responsibility to carry on the family business and legacy.

I would suggest that if that is the plan then you go to school and then get a job somewhere else for the next "10 years or so" so you can actually learn about "the newfangled computer bullshit"  because if you think you can just put in your two years at school then go open a shop where you actually have to do diagnostics then you are very very very very wrong.  School teaches you the basics...working around people who know what the fuck is going on teaches you the rest.

oh yes, that's the plan. i didn't mean to make it seem like i was going to pop out of a 2 year program and be king shit... not at all. the school has excellent job placement programs with higher end dealers. i'm sure i'll be doing simpleminded shit for a few years... and i wouldn't have it any other way really. i don't mind 'slumming' it doing brake jobs and shit like that, as long as i'm shown the ropes and eventually work my way up to be one of the big fish. i'm not that naive...

If the plan is to open an independent shop then stay the fuck away from the "higher end dealers" and get a job at an independent.  The higher end cars will rarely come to you.  You need to know the common problems with a 96 chev truck, not what the recalls are on a 2009 lexus.  When one of those higher end cars comes to you at your independent shop call your miserable buddy who went to the higher end dealership and ask for his advice.

[j.h.christ]

Going to eventually take over the family machine shop/engine building business when it's time to pass on ownership (i figure 10 years or so). Uncle runs it now, I've been interning/fucking around there for about a year now, and I've gotten really good at sweeping and running to the store for food/parts. Uncle wants to expand into a repair shop, and asked if I would go to school and learn the newfangled computer bullshit that comes with pretty much any obd1 and up vehicle. So this is not only my shot at a new job, it's also a responsibility to carry on the family business and legacy.

I would suggest that if that is the plan then you go to school and then get a job somewhere else for the next "10 years or so" so you can actually learn about "the newfangled computer bullshit"  because if you think you can just put in your two years at school then go open a shop where you actually have to do diagnostics then you are very very very very wrong.  School teaches you the basics...working around people who know what the fuck is going on teaches you the rest.

oh yes, that's the plan. i didn't mean to make it seem like i was going to pop out of a 2 year program and be king shit... not at all. the school has excellent job placement programs with higher end dealers. i'm sure i'll be doing simpleminded shit for a few years... and i wouldn't have it any other way really. i don't mind 'slumming' it doing brake jobs and shit like that, as long as i'm shown the ropes and eventually work my way up to be one of the big fish. i'm not that naive...

If the plan is to open an independent shop then stay the fuck away from the "higher end dealers" and get a job at an independent.  The higher end cars will rarely come to you.  You need to know the common problems with a 96 chev truck, not what the recalls are on a 2009 lexus.  When one of those higher end cars comes to you at your independent shop call your miserable buddy who went to the higher end dealership and ask for his advice.

now that's an angle i never really thought about. what other regrets/choices do you have or wish you had done differently? also, is the student discount for matco/snapon tools a lot less than what you get off the truck, and if so, what should i look into buying?

[turbob16hatch]

i got 50% off for going to school from snap on. so i went to town and got extra shit like impact sockets, nice impact gun, extra metric sockets, ratchet wrenches, and tool/work cart, and the upgraded tool box. well worth it in the end.