Are Snap-on tools really better ?

I have a combination if snap on and Mac. I like the Mac knuckle saver wrenches, they have a very nice feel to them with the square edge, i have never broke one. I have had a Mac impact socket blow apart, and a Matco breaker bar snap the end off. I have never broke a snap on tool, but then again I'm not using them everyday. To work on a bike I don't think it makes much of a difference, but for a truck I use the good stuff.

 

Yes, without question they are extremely high quality... but, if all you're doing is light stuff every now and then, Craftsman or similar brands will probably do you fine... just stay away from the Harbor Freight stuff... you're lucky if that crap don't fall apart when you put it on the counter to pay for it... I carried a Wally World socket set for years, but moved up to Snap On when I started getting serious about wrenching on my rig.

Hope that helps to muddy the water a bit... LOL!

 

I guess , most of my tools are snap-on but being a heavy truck mechanic for 30 years plus they did me well. Any tool broken replaced for free. Its your pick!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

20+ years, here is my opinion... I have a lot of Snap On. I have used everything, from Mac, Matco, Herbrand, Craftsman, Mastercraft... I like Snap On the best. They do fit the best, hold up to wear and stress the best. I do not like the feel and look of Mac or Matco. Snap-On, Mac and Matco are some of the highest quality makes there are, and you really can't go wrong with any one. It all depends on what you like as an individual. For recreational use, the professional grade is likely overkill. If you do not have a problem with the cost, the Snap On tools you buy today will be the same ones your grand children will be using! In Canada, Canadian Tire is about the biggest for tooling with their Mastercraft line. They are on par with Sears Craftsman. I have been using Mastercraft for years as well with little to no problems either. For the general DIYer some of the killer sales the big-box stores have are unreal. Snap On rarely go on sale, plus you have to chase down the truck to buy anything. Service in my area is terrible unfortunately. I have a lot of tools from Canadian Tire that are great quality as well. Another plus to the big box stores is they have better warranty. Even though the pro tools have life time warranty, Snap On and Mac were always picky about how they dealt with broken tools. Those guys know when tools were even the slightest bit abused. The girl at the customer service counter at the big box store has no idea what tool it is you are bring back for warranty so she doesn't care how it broke and you get your new one no questions asked.

 

I have also used all of the major brands of tools for 25 years. Snap on tools for the most part are the best you can buy(with a few exceptions here and there...i.e. their wire cutters are junk). But I do not think the average occasional user would notice much of a difference between craftsman and snapon. I would stay away from Mac for now though. I bought a lot of stuff from them years back and the quality in my opinion just isnt there. And good luck finding a replacement. If you want something in between snap on and craftsman - Proto professional are very good and about in between the two when it comes to price. My 3/4" set at work is Proto, and I have a nice wrench set at home as well that is Proto and I have never broken any of them.

 

Snap On and Mac wrenches are really narrow and hurt my fingers and they cost a small overpriced fortune. Find the local wholesale dealer and buy the same wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, and tool boxes for 1/3 the cost.

Craftsman are fine for around the house. I've had them for 20 years without any problems. Go to Harbor Freight for the best deal in impact sockets.

 

I used snap on at a job a while back. They are amazing!!!. I mean...really, you cant understand until you use them. In all reality though, not they are not at all worth the high price unless your a professional mechanic. I have craftsman in my tool chest.

 

I have 25+ years as a diesel mechanic and about $100,000 tied up in tools. My toolbox empty was almost $20,000, almost all snap-on. You get what you pay for. Yes they are the best there is a difference! My metric wrench set at home is snap-on cause there is difference. My standard set at home is mac knuckle saver I have this set at home because I didn't care for them to soft of a wrench. I have a set of s-k wrenches that I bought 38 years ago my first set of wrenches that are a back up set that has done fine over the years. I have surrendered countless home sets to my brothers. today my home sockets are grey pneumatic they do fine and have not broke one using a snap-on magnesium impact gun with 175 psi of air at the gun, most weekends. IMHO maybe buy a set of wrenches if you think you have to have snap-on and call it good. For what its worth my grandfather had his tool collection stolen shortly after he retired, they tore the entire wall off the back of the shop. the ######## were caught and the tools found. the police called him in to identify his tools, as he pointed to his tools that's mine that's mine. ok prove it. few tools where marked with his initials and few tools is what he got back! A lifetime collecting gone.

 

Cheap tools are known for busted knuckles and rounded fasteners, you've been warned!