Late to the party but... In 87 I started at a dealership, prior to that I worked at smaller shops. I had a incredible Snap On dealer, we spent a few years developing a good relationship. I have a box full of Snap On from the 80s and I can count on both hands the number of tools I have had to warrant. Honestly speaking, half of them was from using cheater pipes. Yes they cost alot of money but I do not remember losing money from my tools failing me. That says alot from over 30 years of shop use. I am very anal about my tools and boxes. They are organized, kept clean and are a sense of pride for me. One piece of advice was given to me within a week of starting at the dealership. I needed to borrow a tool so I went to the most senior tech we had. I asked if he had it and may I borrow it, please. He opened his box, handed me the tool and I finished the job and returned it as clean as I had gotten it. As luck would have it, the next day I got another job needing the exact same tool. Again I asked him and ge was kind enough to let me use it again. When I returned it and said thank you he said, son I know you are new and it will take some time to get set up. But remember this, If you need to borrow a tool more than once then you need to own that tool. That Friday when the Snap on truck arrived it was the same truck that I had used at my last shop. I had already established a good report with him so it was on. I walked off the truck with a arm load of tools and you can bet that I bought that swivel impact that I had borrowed from Captain. Since that day I have given that same advice to many new techs. Many I had to help for awhile until they could afford to buy but over the years I became that guy who probably had the tool you needed. I hate having to borrow another man's tools so I could make money. I always believed in buying American and only buying once. When I started in the late 70s then got ASE certified in the mid 80s you really only had Craftsman or Tool truck tools. Yes some others were available but unless you had a distributor near you other brands wasn't a option. Yes I am a fan boy of Snap On, Matco and some Mac, they have allowed me to make a living using their tools. They always perform and work when I need them to.
Randy, how were prices on Snap On stuff back then compared to now? Was it a little more of a reasonable ask back then? My dad blew my mind one day and told me that he was used to seeing SK tools at auto parts and home improvement stores as the regular option, and I've always been curious to see if the tool truck brands have inflated in a similar fashion!
@@panzerkiller13 The Tool trucks were and always have been expensive. Before the internet you didn't have much of a choice. I tried to buy what was on special for that month so that helped a little. I started with Craftsman tools, they were the go to brand for every home in America. SK was available at my local Napa store. Great tools but the style , fit and finish wasn't Snap On level. The durability was there but they required cash up front. That is where the tool truck was your savior. For the first 10 years of my career I kept a running account on a tool truck. I would get it paid off then would need some tool that the auto manufacturers deemed I needed. At a shop it isn't just about wrenches, sockets and ratchets. There are 100 other tools you need to do your job. Also, time is money at a dealership, you're on book time. If it pays 4 hours and you do it in 3, more money. If it pays 4 hours and takes you 6 then you can make more flipping burgers. That is why the quality of a tool is so important. Lifetime warranty dosen't mean much if it takes 2 weeks turn around. Or just that fact that it failed, now what? That savings ain't worth a flip if I cannot finish the job or have to take the time to drive somewhere to get it replaced. I buy tools that can withstand the day in and day out of hard use. Are Snap On tools over priced, that depends. If it has never failed and allowed you to make money, is that over priced? A mechanic starting off today has many more options with the internet. But like I said, it isn't just a few of the standard hand tools. These internet companies do not offer all the tools needed to be successful in a automotive tech field. They reason I own 7 different styles of wrenches is to get the job done more efficiently. Well, that and I absolutely love tools. A set of Mac RBRT sockets is very expensive. But a rounded off bolt head can take hours to remove depending on the location. Is it worth buying a 400 dollar set of sockets to save the day, yes, yes it is. They have paid for themselves a few times over already. Wow, I do apologize for the rambling. Yes, Snap On has always been expensive, the best normally are. Is it, has it, been worth it, without a doubt in my mind. Go check out what used Snap On tools are going for on Ebay. Then check out what the latest Amazon brand is worth. Mine are dang near worth what I paid for them and that's after 40 years of making a living with them. Please don't even get me started on my boxes. All I can hope is the wife dosen't sell my tools or guns for the price she thinks I paid for them. Tears from heaven would be a understatement.
@@randysmith9636 Thank you for such an insightful and well thought out answer! I wasn't trying to take a position of "Yeah but the harbor freight wrench can do the same thing too!" at all, I've just been curious to see if the cheaper stuff we see today is at or close to the same relative price point that better quality American tools were in the past. I've always felt that for some general purpose tools there won't be much of a difference beyond the Tekton/Sunex/Matco level vs the Snapon/Mac level, but I also see the value in having at least one truck-brand that you can get replaced when the dealer stops by is a huge time and potential money saver if you're working in a shop, even with the additional costs up front. But specialty tools you can't get just anywhere? I'd argue that they're basically always worth buying premium versions for if it's part of your profession and not having one would leave you high and dry if it failed.
@@panzerkiller13 You mentioned Tekton. I have been following them for awhile now. I am very impressed with their tools and especially their warranty. I own some of their red hard handle screwdrivers. They feel great in hand, I have never warmed up to the new ego designs. The hard handle feels like a slightly modified Snap On and feel great in hand. Tekton is also bringing more and more tools in house, Michigan. They have one if the best warranty claim systems going on. Contact them, send a picture and in a couple days a new tool arrives. That is about as fast and hassle free as you can get. Plus the socket and wrench sets are very well priced. If I was starting from scratch Tekton would be one of if not my top pick. My brother lives in Michigan and he has most of their tools. When I visited last year I got to play around with them some. I really liked what I seen, really good quality. For impact sockets I like Milwaukee pretty well for a non American brand. Those suckers are nice, heavy and well marked. 90% of my battery powered tools are Milwaukee. The Fuel M12 are serious for a 12 volt. They outperform many 20 volt tools.
@@randysmith9636 Likewise! I built a lot of my toolset with Tekton tools right as I was finishing engineering school to take advantage of their student program. I personally like the ergo handled screwdrivers but want to get some solid ones as well, they're pretty great for the price, although I really love the feel of Wihas in hand too. Pliers and such I've gone with almost all Knipex because they truly are the bees' knees in my experience. It's a little painful to add to the Knipex collection every time, but the quality really is there. I need to get some more from Channellock because they punch well above their price point too, plus US-made!
I’ve found the weight of the swivel is my biggest concern. I like mine heavy. Cornwell have some of the heaviest for their size. It helps breaking fasteners loose. For small sizes I like the snap on low profile 3/8. I wear them out far to fast to not get the best for the money.
Snap On and Matco pinless are 1 and 1A in my opinion. Have Snap On 1/4” and Matco 3/8”. No complaints about either. Also have Sunex which have been good, and SK which have been very good. Agree the welded pin in the Snap On with no collar was a big improvement. Should mention I don’t have the deep Matcos. Just the shallows.
Snap on impact swivels are fantastic! I like the Mac swivel socket because of the shorter profile in really tight spaces. Snap on is what I keep on the cart.
I read the description box lol. Years ago I really liked my snap on swivels and when I got my grey pneumatic set I liked them so much that I sold my snap on. Up until the last couple years I’d only owned 1/2”because I worked years at a case dealer there was really no need for smaller. But recently I’d picked up a really good 3/8 snap on gun and been dipping into all the 3/8 stuff. But with those I’m mixed between GP and Sunex sockets
Snap on is very expensive. But some of those snap on tools are worth picking up. Pinless impacts, pliers, ratchet are definitely worth at least owning 1 of in that brand.
Have the Gearwrench 8mm-22. Today, had a cub cadet commercial come in, needed to pull off the muffler. Gearwrench was Too fat , like me . Only have the 5pc 3/8’s snap on set , luckily one of them would work. Now I want the full set up, they’re just so damn expensive .
The new style Snap On impact swivels do have complaints,One is too tall and don't fit in certain spots very well.SK and Sunex make good impact swivel sockets too.Gearwrench,their warranty went to shit.Need a proof of purchase to warranty their tools now
The local Auto Value auto parts store in my area told my dad this.Sent back an 8mm deepwell chrome socket in 1/4 drive that was broken.My dad told them he bought the set which this socket was in was purchased from them
Astro makes Matco. I love mine. Snap off ripoff Eric O uses them. No issues. You have some flee market collection of tools. Eric O is the real thing. Got my 3/8" 10 piece for $65. Have 2 sets
@@montevallomustang if you're gonna try cornwell, get the USA made sockets. They are badass. The blue power sockets are like any other sockets but the USA ones are better quality
Matco pinless is my favorite. Have every set Matco offers with the exception of 1/4. Which is Cornwell and snap on. Cornwell are great, only drawback is they tend to stick out the box. I have the snap on 3/8 extension sockets and bar none, they’re the best and only USA made option on the market. In regards to Matcos mail in warranty, I’ve been doing that for 6+ years without an issue as I too don’t have a Matco dealer. The flaw with GP and why I always recommend Sunex in regards to Taiwan made sockets is grey pneumatic warranty is terrible. Amazon is not a GP supplier and neither is eBay so they won’t honor the warranty.
Matco thrives off their budget line. Other than the ratchets, idk why you'd buy any of the expensive matco tools over Mac or snapon if ya had the choice ya know BUT to each their own 🤙 Also, I agree on the Mac sockets being good for very tight spots. Why I passed on the snap-on's, plus up until recently I had never met an actual good hearted snapon dealer. They were all douche bags...
I have a set of the Expert brand ones I bought off the Mac truck. They work fine and they are good for the price, but man they are fat. The wobble joint part of them is absolutely gigantic, so you are kinda limited on the tight spaces you can get them in to.
My only gripe with the snap on set is they sell them in sets of 5 for a stupid amount of money when I can go online and get a complete set somewhere else. I’m leaning towards the GP or Sunnex sets (which is the same as the Matco ADV but cheaper)
You're not trying hard enough if you've never broken an impact wobbly! I've lost count how many impact wobblys sockets have broke. The last one was a 1 1/8 socket. I've had and used all kinds of brands i prefer the mac for the shallow socket and Snap-on welded pin style. One thing I wish that more companies would do is like the matco wobbly socket and mill the drive side of the socket I've had that make the between getting the socket to fit in tight spots. Read the description.
Nice video just my personal opinion for me nobody makes better sockets than the Mac swivels I hate the Snap-On ones those are the ones I started with which btw so fucking over priced sold them as soon as I bought my Mac set hate that Snap-On has skips for $300 + 7 sockets I must say never again will I buy sockets from Snap-On
Late to the party but...
In 87 I started at a dealership, prior to that I worked at smaller shops. I had a incredible Snap On dealer, we spent a few years developing a good relationship. I have a box full of Snap On from the 80s and I can count on both hands the number of tools I have had to warrant. Honestly speaking, half of them was from using cheater pipes.
Yes they cost alot of money but I do not remember losing money from my tools failing me. That says alot from over 30 years of shop use. I am very anal about my tools and boxes. They are organized, kept clean and are a sense of pride for me.
One piece of advice was given to me within a week of starting at the dealership. I needed to borrow a tool so I went to the most senior tech we had. I asked if he had it and may I borrow it, please. He opened his box, handed me the tool and I finished the job and returned it as clean as I had gotten it. As luck would have it, the next day I got another job needing the exact same tool. Again I asked him and ge was kind enough to let me use it again. When I returned it and said thank you he said, son I know you are new and it will take some time to get set up. But remember this, If you need to borrow a tool more than once then you need to own that tool.
That Friday when the Snap on truck arrived it was the same truck that I had used at my last shop. I had already established a good report with him so it was on. I walked off the truck with a arm load of tools and you can bet that I bought that swivel impact that I had borrowed from Captain. Since that day I have given that same advice to many new techs. Many I had to help for awhile until they could afford to buy but over the years I became that guy who probably had the tool you needed. I hate having to borrow another man's tools so I could make money.
I always believed in buying American and only buying once. When I started in the late 70s then got ASE certified in the mid 80s you really only had Craftsman or Tool truck tools. Yes some others were available but unless you had a distributor near you other brands wasn't a option.
Yes I am a fan boy of Snap On, Matco and some Mac, they have allowed me to make a living using their tools. They always perform and work when I need them to.
Randy, how were prices on Snap On stuff back then compared to now? Was it a little more of a reasonable ask back then? My dad blew my mind one day and told me that he was used to seeing SK tools at auto parts and home improvement stores as the regular option, and I've always been curious to see if the tool truck brands have inflated in a similar fashion!
@@panzerkiller13
The Tool trucks were and always have been expensive. Before the internet you didn't have much of a choice. I tried to buy what was on special for that month so that helped a little. I started with Craftsman tools, they were the go to brand for every home in America. SK was available at my local Napa store. Great tools but the style , fit and finish wasn't Snap On level. The durability was there but they required cash up front. That is where the tool truck was your savior.
For the first 10 years of my career I kept a running account on a tool truck. I would get it paid off then would need some tool that the auto manufacturers deemed I needed. At a shop it isn't just about wrenches, sockets and ratchets. There are 100 other tools you need to do your job. Also, time is money at a dealership, you're on book time. If it pays 4 hours and you do it in 3, more money. If it pays 4 hours and takes you 6 then you can make more flipping burgers. That is why the quality of a tool is so important. Lifetime warranty dosen't mean much if it takes 2 weeks turn around. Or just that fact that it failed, now what? That savings ain't worth a flip if I cannot finish the job or have to take the time to drive somewhere to get it replaced.
I buy tools that can withstand the day in and day out of hard use. Are Snap On tools over priced, that depends. If it has never failed and allowed you to make money, is that over priced?
A mechanic starting off today has many more options with the internet. But like I said, it isn't just a few of the standard hand tools. These internet companies do not offer all the tools needed to be successful in a automotive tech field.
They reason I own 7 different styles of wrenches is to get the job done more efficiently. Well, that and I absolutely love tools. A set of Mac RBRT sockets is very expensive. But a rounded off bolt head can take hours to remove depending on the location. Is it worth buying a 400 dollar set of sockets to save the day, yes, yes it is. They have paid for themselves a few times over already.
Wow, I do apologize for the rambling. Yes, Snap On has always been expensive, the best normally are. Is it, has it, been worth it, without a doubt in my mind. Go check out what used Snap On tools are going for on Ebay. Then check out what the latest Amazon brand is worth. Mine are dang near worth what I paid for them and that's after 40 years of making a living with them.
Please don't even get me started on my boxes.
All I can hope is the wife dosen't sell my tools or guns for the price she thinks I paid for them. Tears from heaven would be a understatement.
@@randysmith9636 Thank you for such an insightful and well thought out answer! I wasn't trying to take a position of "Yeah but the harbor freight wrench can do the same thing too!" at all, I've just been curious to see if the cheaper stuff we see today is at or close to the same relative price point that better quality American tools were in the past. I've always felt that for some general purpose tools there won't be much of a difference beyond the Tekton/Sunex/Matco level vs the Snapon/Mac level, but I also see the value in having at least one truck-brand that you can get replaced when the dealer stops by is a huge time and potential money saver if you're working in a shop, even with the additional costs up front. But specialty tools you can't get just anywhere? I'd argue that they're basically always worth buying premium versions for if it's part of your profession and not having one would leave you high and dry if it failed.
@@panzerkiller13
You mentioned Tekton. I have been following them for awhile now. I am very impressed with their tools and especially their warranty. I own some of their red hard handle screwdrivers. They feel great in hand, I have never warmed up to the new ego designs. The hard handle feels like a slightly modified Snap On and feel great in hand. Tekton is also bringing more and more tools in house, Michigan. They have one if the best warranty claim systems going on. Contact them, send a picture and in a couple days a new tool arrives. That is about as fast and hassle free as you can get. Plus the socket and wrench sets are very well priced. If I was starting from scratch Tekton would be one of if not my top pick. My brother lives in Michigan and he has most of their tools. When I visited last year I got to play around with them some. I really liked what I seen, really good quality. For impact sockets I like Milwaukee pretty well for a non American brand. Those suckers are nice, heavy and well marked. 90% of my battery powered tools are Milwaukee. The Fuel M12 are serious for a 12 volt. They outperform many 20 volt tools.
@@randysmith9636 Likewise! I built a lot of my toolset with Tekton tools right as I was finishing engineering school to take advantage of their student program. I personally like the ergo handled screwdrivers but want to get some solid ones as well, they're pretty great for the price, although I really love the feel of Wihas in hand too. Pliers and such I've gone with almost all Knipex because they truly are the bees' knees in my experience. It's a little painful to add to the Knipex collection every time, but the quality really is there. I need to get some more from Channellock because they punch well above their price point too, plus US-made!
I’ve found the weight of the swivel is my biggest concern. I like mine heavy. Cornwell have some of the heaviest for their size. It helps breaking fasteners loose. For small sizes I like the snap on low profile 3/8. I wear them out far to fast to not get the best for the money.
Snap-on now makes 3/8 Drive swivel impact sockets in super shallow
They call them low profile. Here is a part number if you want to check one out RIPFM13C
@@Mtbslackerim about to buy either the low profile or regular shallow. Do you have the LP set? What’s your opinion on em. I’m leaning towards the LP
Snap On and Matco pinless are 1 and 1A in my opinion. Have Snap On 1/4” and Matco 3/8”. No complaints about either. Also have Sunex which have been good, and SK which have been very good. Agree the welded pin in the Snap On with no collar was a big improvement.
Should mention I don’t have the deep Matcos. Just the shallows.
Snap on impact swivels are fantastic! I like the Mac swivel socket because of the shorter profile in really tight spaces. Snap on is what I keep on the cart.
Snap on makes some low profile ones better than the Mac ones.
I read the description box lol. Years ago I really liked my snap on swivels and when I got my grey pneumatic set I liked them so much that I sold my snap on. Up until the last couple years I’d only owned 1/2”because I worked years at a case dealer there was really no need for smaller. But recently I’d picked up a really good 3/8 snap on gun and been dipping into all the 3/8 stuff. But with those I’m mixed between GP and Sunex sockets
I think gp and sunex are almost the same thing
Glad to know u like the short vs long!
Snap on is very expensive. But some of those snap on tools are worth picking up. Pinless impacts, pliers, ratchet are definitely worth at least owning 1 of in that brand.
I would have to add the flak drive plus wrenches they are second to none
Have the Gearwrench 8mm-22. Today, had a cub cadet commercial come in, needed to pull off the muffler. Gearwrench was Too fat , like me . Only have the 5pc 3/8’s snap on set , luckily one of them would work. Now I want the full set up, they’re just so damn expensive .
Snap on. Spanners, swivel sockets, wrenches and Toolboxes. Hands down
The new style Snap On impact swivels do have complaints,One is too tall and don't fit in certain spots very well.SK and Sunex make good impact swivel sockets too.Gearwrench,their warranty went to shit.Need a proof of purchase to warranty their tools now
The proof of purchase isn’t required. I just warrantied some stuff last week
The local Auto Value auto parts store in my area told my dad this.Sent back an 8mm deepwell chrome socket in 1/4 drive that was broken.My dad told them he bought the set which this socket was in was purchased from them
Astro makes Matco. I love mine. Snap off ripoff
Eric O uses them. No issues. You have some flee market collection of tools. Eric O is the real thing.
Got my 3/8" 10 piece for $65. Have 2 sets
Astro doesn't make their own tools. Their wobble sockets are made in Taiwan.
Yes I do read the description box
I found a set of used snap on shallows for reasonable-ish and it included a 16mm.
Agreed snap on are the best I have 1/4,3/8 and 1/2 drive they cost a fortune but worth it
I have used the snap on, cornwell(USA), and matco swivels and no complaints
I've never tried the cornwell sockets, but the matco sockets fell apart on not long after I got them
@@montevallomustang if you're gonna try cornwell, get the USA made sockets. They are badass. The blue power sockets are like any other sockets but the USA ones are better quality
Oh you got the tool cart I been wanting to buy 😁 but a snap-on same color 3 drawer step on the way 🤣 only 400 difference
I had the snap on 3 drawer, I traded it for my snap on 6 drawer at my other shop
Matco pinless is my favorite. Have every set Matco offers with the exception of 1/4. Which is Cornwell and snap on. Cornwell are great, only drawback is they tend to stick out the box. I have the snap on 3/8 extension sockets and bar none, they’re the best and only USA made option on the market.
In regards to Matcos mail in warranty, I’ve been doing that for 6+ years without an issue as I too don’t have a Matco dealer.
The flaw with GP and why I always recommend Sunex in regards to Taiwan made sockets is grey pneumatic warranty is terrible. Amazon is not a GP supplier and neither is eBay so they won’t honor the warranty.
Lol, if you say so
Matco thrives off their budget line. Other than the ratchets, idk why you'd buy any of the expensive matco tools over Mac or snapon if ya had the choice ya know BUT to each their own 🤙
Also, I agree on the Mac sockets being good for very tight spots. Why I passed on the snap-on's, plus up until recently I had never met an actual good hearted snapon dealer. They were all douche bags...
I have a set of the Expert brand ones I bought off the Mac truck. They work fine and they are good for the price, but man they are fat. The wobble joint part of them is absolutely gigantic, so you are kinda limited on the tight spaces you can get them in to.
Those expert reversible ratchet wrenches the set from 6-24 is badass!! First tool truck tool I bought
My only gripe with the snap on set is they sell them in sets of 5 for a stupid amount of money when I can go online and get a complete set somewhere else. I’m leaning towards the GP or Sunnex sets (which is the same as the Matco ADV but cheaper)
shop.snapon.com/product/212IPFM
They sell it as a whole set, the gp is a decent set but the quality of the snap on set is far greater
SK swivel we used in the transmission shop.
What socket rails are those? Are they magnetic?
You're not trying hard enough if you've never broken an impact wobbly! I've lost count how many impact wobblys sockets have broke. The last one was a 1 1/8 socket. I've had and used all kinds of brands i prefer the mac for the shallow socket and Snap-on welded pin style. One thing I wish that more companies would do is like the matco wobbly socket and mill the drive side of the socket I've had that make the between getting the socket to fit in tight spots.
Read the description.
I've broken lots of them, just not any snap on
snapon are the best like the Matco pinless to (since no collars)
So you like them better with no collar?
Usually read the description box if I know people put tool codes or info in it.
Nice video just my personal opinion for me nobody makes better sockets than the Mac swivels I hate the Snap-On ones those are the ones I started with which btw so fucking over priced sold them as soon as I bought my Mac set hate that Snap-On has skips for $300 + 7 sockets I must say never again will I buy sockets from Snap-On
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