What is your brand of tool do you use ?
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 903
From: Newark Valley NY
I'm 34 years old and I'm kinda making a big career change , I have always worked a couple months of the season at a garage of some sort . But for the last 12 years I have been a painter , I ran my own crew and it was great till the last couple years things just changed , so here I am trying to become the best mechanic I can be . The place I work offers free online ASE training and I'm totally taking advantage of it .I already have my time in , I just have to prep myself a little first . Thanks for the comments on the tools . I will continue to purchase from probably all three mac , matco , and snap on .
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 611
From: Ottawa, Canada
Mastercraft and princess auto. when on sale a 291pc set is like $120 from canadian tire. If you break something, you can get a replacement that day(depending how far from a store you are). And I work 5min from princess auto, so if something breaks again, within a day I have a replacement.
Snap on/matco/mac are all great, but I can not justify the price for myself. I actually know a few mechanics that feel the same way. One guy have 4 grand in tools and has everything a guy beside him does who spent $35 000.
Snap on/matco/mac are all great, but I can not justify the price for myself. I actually know a few mechanics that feel the same way. One guy have 4 grand in tools and has everything a guy beside him does who spent $35 000.
My dad always had SK tools, and I really liked them, however during one of the classes I was in during High school I got 50% off all snap on equipment, so I decided to go with those (Snap-on =approx= SK in $) After using them for a wile they do have their strong points but I think I prefer SK
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,631
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Another thing I didn't get through after some birthday beers last night (lol) is that Full time wrenchers (i.e. professional mechanics) working at a garage are the ones who benefit most from the quality of snap on and other equivalents. Although they're very expensive when's the last time you've broken a snap on ratchet? I've broken a few mastercraft ratchets. While both have lifetime warranty it's not a big deal for the guy in his driveway to get up and drive 15 minutes to the store to get a warranty replacement.
BUT, a mechanic is paid by the hour, and only alotted a certain amount of time for a warranty job and if you have a tool break on you, you can't go running 15 minutes 1 way to Sears, because by the time you drive out there, look around, find the wrench, go find the guy to say "Yup, that's warranty", then drive back, you're looking at a delay of anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours, at least. Those tools are your livelihood, and the amount of time lost due to broken tools would probably eventually pay for an entire tool box full of Snap On. That's why Snap On etc. are a mechanic's best friend, but at the same time the cost outweighs the benefits for the backyard mechanic who's wrenching on his own stuff as a hobby.
*breathe*
BUT, a mechanic is paid by the hour, and only alotted a certain amount of time for a warranty job and if you have a tool break on you, you can't go running 15 minutes 1 way to Sears, because by the time you drive out there, look around, find the wrench, go find the guy to say "Yup, that's warranty", then drive back, you're looking at a delay of anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours, at least. Those tools are your livelihood, and the amount of time lost due to broken tools would probably eventually pay for an entire tool box full of Snap On. That's why Snap On etc. are a mechanic's best friend, but at the same time the cost outweighs the benefits for the backyard mechanic who's wrenching on his own stuff as a hobby.
*breathe*
My dad always had SK tools, and I really liked them, however during one of the classes I was in during High school I got 50% off all snap on equipment, so I decided to go with those (Snap-on =approx= SK in $) After using them for a wile they do have their strong points but I think I prefer SK
New Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 70
From: Oceanside, CA
I use a combo of tools in my personal home use box and have used a wide range of tool manufactures in my tool boxes and kits in the military. I prefer craftsman and have my orginal 220 set for over 20 yrs even though it has grown . Cost and conveniance is the man factor for craftsman. I can say I have never had a tool break that I was using properly.
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