they do make the whitworth's & I'm still sold

King Dick is a good Birmingham brand, made in Tyseley near the Velocette factory.

The only problem I see with snap-on (except for price) is what I here from pro mechanics, that the snap-on warranty is only as good as the snap-on rep. I have been told that some reps will deny claims for what they claim as misuse.

I just wasted 2 hours here at work going through the Snap-On site.

I need to buy a lottery ticket.

Hi jimwood

I have seen a snap on van traveling along and followed it until it stopped and exchanged briken tools, if you are firm with them and have not hit your 3/8 spanner with a big hammer its usually ok.


A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

bob

Yes, most Snap-On tools are worth it, if you can justify the expense. They seem to fit the hand and the workspace better than most. I have many but have aquired most from the dealer, used, at "repo'ed" discount. (If you can't afford the payments, they come and reposses them.) My personal favorites are their ratcheting wrenches, phillips screwdrivers, offset needle nosed pliers, and 1/4" deep/6 point sockets.

I also have 2 Hazet ratchets (3/8" & 1/2" drive, hinged head) (they have a nylon grip, fine teeth, and are very strong but expensive) and they are the ones that I reach for the most...after my Snap-On 1/4" articulating head...very fine ratchet teeth and gets just about anywhere...it's a beauty!

However my tool boxes are filled with many brands, depending on the tool...Gedore BSW wrenches, Klein pliers and side cutters, Mastercraft Pro combinations and sockets, Ridgid aluminum pipe wrenches, Weiss tin snips...and so on. Buy the best that you can afford of what feels the best in your hand for the level of work that you have to do.

$.02
Tony

R Model Tony wrote:My personal favorites are their ratcheting wrenches,..............and 1/4" deep/6 point sockets.

Tony

Those are the 2 sets I'm looking at. The ratcheting wrenches and the really shallow socket set. Should I go for 6 or 12 point?

I have to qualms about my old Craftsmen socket set my dad bought me 20 years ago but sometimes the ratchet and sockets are just too big so I'm going to grab a low profile Snap-On set. I'm just going to watch ebay for a while.

Hi
For me with sockets its 6 point every time for the fit, I use long series 6 point spanners but always have a set of 12 point short series spanners for those difficult to access fixings.
One of the things I like about quality tools is the good fit and the less chance of slippage and knuckle damage (spanner rash).
Nearly 60 years old now and still working with Snap on tools I bought as an snotty apprentice.

Regards Bob.

Yes, I wish I could find more 6 point sockets, they work so much better. The auto stores don't carry 6-points, don't know about Craftsman, maybe, but Sears is a big trip for me.

Here is a 6 point snap on with the rounded releaves in the corners. They work great on tough nuts and they don't break loose and round the corners of the nuts or bolts. I wish I could afford a metric set much less a Whitworth set?



Dave
69S

DogT wrote:Yes, I wish I could find more 6 point sockets, they work so much better. The auto stores don't carry 6-points, don't know about Craftsman, maybe, but Sears is a big trip for me.

Here is a 6 point snap on with the rounded releaves in the corners. They work great on tough nuts and they don't break loose and round the corners of the nuts or bolts. I wish I could afford a metric set much less a Whitworth set?


Dave
69S

Have you guys ever use Metrinch? They never really caught on, but I sure do like them.



I managed to pick up a set from Sears on closeout a long time ago. Really nice to prevent rounding nuts.

I have quite a few Craftsman tools and rarely break them while working on bikes, yet I do manage to break a couple of sockets a year on four wheeled vehicles and their Philips screw drivers don't stand up well.

I managed to buy small set of used Snap-on wrenches, sockets and screwdrivers from a retired mechanic a few years ago. The quality of Snap-on stuff is top notch. I especially like their screw drivers, they never break whereas I always managed to wear out Craftman Philips screwdrivers - since there is no Sears store here, only a catalogue outlet, replacing them under warranty is time consuming where the Snap-on guy just comes by my place, takes the broken tool from me and gives me a new one on the spot.

Are Snap on tools worth it? NO. There are plenty of other makes around such as, Sidcrome, Kincrome, Stanley, Minimax with just a good as lifetime warranty, exceptional finish and comfortable in hand and with out the price tag. Most tools today are made of Chromed , Vanadium steel (same steel T Ford chassis are made of) so there shouldnt be much if any variation in strength. These tools handle every day rugged use. I admit to buying the best quality allen wrenches or keys I can buy, Stahl Willie (German) for instance as Allen heads can hang on pretty tight!
I have to go along with Swooshdaves recommendation on the Metrich tools. Ive recommended these before on this forum as I have given my Metrich sockets a hard time on the farm with out no failures. The rachet handle is a copy of the Snapon and the finish is as good.
We all have a bottom line to abide by and most of course "petty coat governments" influencing what we can afford?!
If I had Jay Leno,s income and garage, I would definately have Snapon to match all the other pretty stuff!
Foxy

I own one Snap On tool. A 1/2 drive torque wrench I bought used. I do have Mac ratchets, Mac screwdrivers and a couple of Mac specialty tools. After that it's a mixture of Husky, sold by Home Depot, and Craftsman. One thing about Craftsman, lay a broken tool on the counter and they immediately replace it. No questions asked. If were to start all over, with money still being tight, I'd buy Snap On or Mac ratcheting torque wrenches, Snap On or Mac ratchets and Snap On or Mac screw drivers and Bondhus style T-handle allen wrenches. After that, many tool brands have some fine fit and finish tools. I suspect they are all coming from the same plant. My Whitworth sockets and wrenches (spanners) are Britool, made in England. I bought them from Bob Raber (Raber's Parts Mart) years ago. They are twelve point sockets and twelve point combination wrenches. Very good quality. When I hit the lottery, I'll buy a Snap On truck, unload what I want and sell the truck to someone else.

JimC wrote:When I hit the lottery, I'll buy a Snap On truck, unload what I want and sell the truck to someone else.

Which leaves me thinking, I don't know why anyone would bother heisting a Brinks truck when they could make out better with a Snap-On truck! Safer, too, unless they've taken to armed guards as well.

My Dad made a living with his tools and all he would buy was snapon tools. I now have all his tools in my garage and they will probably be around for my Grandson. I've bought many different tools over the years but none are as nice as good old snapon. As good as they are, you have to find a snapon truck to return your broken tools. Not hard for guys in places where the trucks come by weekly. For the average guy though it"s hard to beat craftsman.