What's resale like on truck brand set vs. something like craftsman? If its easier to get more money back, it might make sense to go with the expensive set whether or not you become a mechanic.
Buying tools this morning, who to go with?
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Originally Posted By: renegade_987
For anyone who has alot of experience with Snap On, Mac and Matco, who has given you the best overall experience? Warranty wise, tool quality/performance, etc?
SNAP-ON
For anyone who has alot of experience with Snap On, Mac and Matco, who has given you the best overall experience? Warranty wise, tool quality/performance, etc?
SNAP-ON
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Jimzz
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Lots of new guys drop thousands on tools and than realize its not the job they thought it would be. Don't be that guy. You can get equivalent tools for much cheaper.
Check out the tool truck equivalents thread where you can get the same tool truck brand tools for often 1/3 the price by buying it from a different vender.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249851
For impact sockets, check out the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro Impact sockets. Only like $20 for a set after coupon. They are 90% as good as Snap On at 1/10 the price. They are perfect to get you started, plus they have a lifetime warranty. And they make good backup sockets if you stay in the business longer and replace them with a tool truck brand. You can't beat them for the price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-pc-12-in-drive-metric-impact-socket-set-67902.html
As a former autotech that ran a shop... this.
Please don't go crazy in debt buying costly tools and tool boxes. Buy the tools you need and shop around.
The HF impact sockets are well worth the money. Have not broke one yet!
I have broken two I believe, but the set was 10 or so years old. Things have improved in general at HF. The "Pro" set is even better so I hear.
Originally Posted By: Jimzz
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Lots of new guys drop thousands on tools and than realize its not the job they thought it would be. Don't be that guy. You can get equivalent tools for much cheaper.
Check out the tool truck equivalents thread where you can get the same tool truck brand tools for often 1/3 the price by buying it from a different vender.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249851
For impact sockets, check out the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro Impact sockets. Only like $20 for a set after coupon. They are 90% as good as Snap On at 1/10 the price. They are perfect to get you started, plus they have a lifetime warranty. And they make good backup sockets if you stay in the business longer and replace them with a tool truck brand. You can't beat them for the price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/13-pc-12-in-drive-metric-impact-socket-set-67902.html
As a former autotech that ran a shop... this.
Please don't go crazy in debt buying costly tools and tool boxes. Buy the tools you need and shop around.
The HF impact sockets are well worth the money. Have not broke one yet!
I have broken two I believe, but the set was 10 or so years old. Things have improved in general at HF. The "Pro" set is even better so I hear.
Like the others said, don't get in over your head. Not a good idea to blow a wad of cash, or more likely end up paying $50 a week to the tool guys. May not seem a lot at first, but it adds up. I used Craftsman (this was the 1980s) for my first few months until I decided I could do the job.
There are certain "core" tools you will use much more than your other niche tools. This includes combo wrenches and sockets/ratchets/extensions. Don't cut too many corners on your core tools. Ante up and get a set of Snap-on combo wrenches and a set of medium depth sockets (preferably 6 point impact sockets) a couple ratchets and an extension set. I have a roll around with my basic kit, and rarely go into my main toolbox unless I need a specialty tool.
For hand tools I prefer Snap-on, Mac is a close second. In my area the deciding factor is the tool dealer, and Mac dealers have consistently been the worst, with Snap-on being the best.
Air tools- IR
Nothing wrong with going inexpensive on stuff like big impact sockets. I burned $450 on a 1/2 drive rail of Snap-on impact sockets a couple decades ago. I recently bought a big rail of deep impact sockets from Harbor Freight to use on the farm to repair my old tractors. Truth be told, they work just fine.
Use your head. Spend the bucks on tools you use the most and taper off cost on tools your don't use as often.
Just an opinion, I could be wrong.
There are certain "core" tools you will use much more than your other niche tools. This includes combo wrenches and sockets/ratchets/extensions. Don't cut too many corners on your core tools. Ante up and get a set of Snap-on combo wrenches and a set of medium depth sockets (preferably 6 point impact sockets) a couple ratchets and an extension set. I have a roll around with my basic kit, and rarely go into my main toolbox unless I need a specialty tool.
For hand tools I prefer Snap-on, Mac is a close second. In my area the deciding factor is the tool dealer, and Mac dealers have consistently been the worst, with Snap-on being the best.
Air tools- IR
Nothing wrong with going inexpensive on stuff like big impact sockets. I burned $450 on a 1/2 drive rail of Snap-on impact sockets a couple decades ago. I recently bought a big rail of deep impact sockets from Harbor Freight to use on the farm to repair my old tractors. Truth be told, they work just fine.
Use your head. Spend the bucks on tools you use the most and taper off cost on tools your don't use as often.
Just an opinion, I could be wrong.
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Originally Posted By: Donald
There are also used tools, pawn shops.
+1
Over half my tools were bought second hand at pawn shops. It is a great way to save on the best brands.
I prefer Snap-on for most products, but I prefer Mac for all sockets.
Also, talk to the tool truck guy to see if he has used tools. I got my Snap-on triple-square tool set at an affordable price. If I never got that deal, I would never have been able to service the occasional German car that came to my job in a profitable way.
There are also used tools, pawn shops.
+1
Over half my tools were bought second hand at pawn shops. It is a great way to save on the best brands.
I prefer Snap-on for most products, but I prefer Mac for all sockets.
Also, talk to the tool truck guy to see if he has used tools. I got my Snap-on triple-square tool set at an affordable price. If I never got that deal, I would never have been able to service the occasional German car that came to my job in a profitable way.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I prefer Snap-on for most products, but I prefer Mac for all sockets.
I'm the same way. If I was buying all new sockets today, they'd be all MAC with the R on the end of the part number.
I prefer Snap-on for most products, but I prefer Mac for all sockets.
I'm the same way. If I was buying all new sockets today, they'd be all MAC with the R on the end of the part number.
Originally Posted By: HangFire
The truck offers convenient financing of very high priced tools at high interest rates, and quick and easy warranty exchanges. As a student you have a one-time chance to buy at a 50% discount, or you can buy other top brands for 70% less than truck off the Internet or your local NAPA dealer.
Be aware the people need to justify the very high prices paid for truck brands. If no one else drinks the cool aid, their investment is worth 10% of what they paid for it (5% if bought on interest) and there goes their retirement plan of selling off their truck brand tools for big bucks.
there's no interest on hand tools from the trucks. You pay the same price whether you pay cash or do weekly payments.
The truck offers convenient financing of very high priced tools at high interest rates, and quick and easy warranty exchanges. As a student you have a one-time chance to buy at a 50% discount, or you can buy other top brands for 70% less than truck off the Internet or your local NAPA dealer.
Be aware the people need to justify the very high prices paid for truck brands. If no one else drinks the cool aid, their investment is worth 10% of what they paid for it (5% if bought on interest) and there goes their retirement plan of selling off their truck brand tools for big bucks.
there's no interest on hand tools from the trucks. You pay the same price whether you pay cash or do weekly payments.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
[/quote]there's no interest on hand tools from the trucks. You pay the same price whether you pay cash or do weekly payments.
Unless you use a credit card.
[/quote]there's no interest on hand tools from the trucks. You pay the same price whether you pay cash or do weekly payments.
Unless you use a credit card.
Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: Chris142
there's no interest on hand tools from the trucks. You pay the same price whether you pay cash or do weekly payments.
Unless you use a credit card.
This makes no sense. You would either pay cash, or put it on credit (with the dealer) and pay no interest weekly repayments.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
there's no interest on hand tools from the trucks. You pay the same price whether you pay cash or do weekly payments.
Unless you use a credit card.
This makes no sense. You would either pay cash, or put it on credit (with the dealer) and pay no interest weekly repayments.
Last edited:
We agree, it doesn't make sense to use a credit card. Nonetheless the SO site takes them, so does the truck guy.
Originally Posted By: punisher
Like the others said, don't get in over your head. Not a good idea to blow a wad of cash, or more likely end up paying $50 a week to the tool guys. May not seem a lot at first, but it adds up. I used Craftsman (this was the 1980s) for my first few months until I decided I could do the job.
There are certain "core" tools you will use much more than your other niche tools. This includes combo wrenches and sockets/ratchets/extensions. Don't cut too many corners on your core tools. Ante up and get a set of Snap-on combo wrenches and a set of medium depth sockets (preferably 6 point impact sockets) a couple ratchets and an extension set. I have a roll around with my basic kit, and rarely go into my main toolbox unless I need a specialty tool.
For hand tools I prefer Snap-on, Mac is a close second. In my area the deciding factor is the tool dealer, and Mac dealers have consistently been the worst, with Snap-on being the best.
Air tools- IR
Nothing wrong with going inexpensive on stuff like big impact sockets. I burned $450 on a 1/2 drive rail of Snap-on impact sockets a couple decades ago. I recently bought a big rail of deep impact sockets from Harbor Freight to use on the farm to repair my old tractors. Truth be told, they work just fine.
Use your head. Spend the bucks on tools you use the most and taper off cost on tools your don't use as often.
Just an opinion, I could be wrong.
+1. Good opinion.
Like the others said, don't get in over your head. Not a good idea to blow a wad of cash, or more likely end up paying $50 a week to the tool guys. May not seem a lot at first, but it adds up. I used Craftsman (this was the 1980s) for my first few months until I decided I could do the job.
There are certain "core" tools you will use much more than your other niche tools. This includes combo wrenches and sockets/ratchets/extensions. Don't cut too many corners on your core tools. Ante up and get a set of Snap-on combo wrenches and a set of medium depth sockets (preferably 6 point impact sockets) a couple ratchets and an extension set. I have a roll around with my basic kit, and rarely go into my main toolbox unless I need a specialty tool.
For hand tools I prefer Snap-on, Mac is a close second. In my area the deciding factor is the tool dealer, and Mac dealers have consistently been the worst, with Snap-on being the best.
Air tools- IR
Nothing wrong with going inexpensive on stuff like big impact sockets. I burned $450 on a 1/2 drive rail of Snap-on impact sockets a couple decades ago. I recently bought a big rail of deep impact sockets from Harbor Freight to use on the farm to repair my old tractors. Truth be told, they work just fine.
Use your head. Spend the bucks on tools you use the most and taper off cost on tools your don't use as often.
Just an opinion, I could be wrong.
+1. Good opinion.
And... nothing from the OP.
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