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Ok, so I admit I’m an amateur mechanic. I’m retired so I have the time to work on my cars. For 90% of the work I do, I don’t need top end tools. My Craftsman or Husky wrenches are just fine. But there are times when top end tools are needed. Here’s one.
I have not been able to adjust the timing on my 82CE because the distributor hold down clamp bolt was rusted and would not budge. I tried offset wrenches and adjustable but nothing worked. PB Blaster was used several times, with no success. So I bought a cheap distributor wrench. On the first use it bent like a pretzel. So that was a waste of $20. Did a search of the Snap On site and found one that looked good. Ten minutes after it arrived, the bolt was loose. I paid $77 for the wrench and it was a good investment. It needed a cheater bar to budge the bolt, but the tool held up.
So I guess my point is also that you get what you pay for.
Just thought I’d share my experience.
Usually someone finds out el cheapo tools aren't worth it when they pinch you hand against something or round the nut off in the most inaccessible place...
I've had that same snap on distributor wrench since I was a teenager (pushing 60). And although it doesn't get used a lot, it's an absolute pleasure to pull it out and use it for it's intended purpose.
I made a dizzy bolt wrench decades ago by bending and welding a length of rebar to an old cut-off 9/16 Craftsman wrench. Definitely not as shiney and pretty as that Snap-On beauty, but it has gotten the job done ever since!
Having worked on cars for many years as my profession I definitely can relate. I bought mostly MAC, with some Matco, Snap On, and finally Craftsman before they started making junk. Now my biggest problem is trying to find a Mac/ Snap On dealer to replace any tools that break. I guess I could mail them to the respective companies but I would rather get them right away and it's just plain fun to see what's new. I'm glad as hell I have them cause they come in handy on so many projects.
Good tools sometimes hurt when you buy them, but if you go the elcheapo route and screw a part up, then you buy the part, AND the right tool. I have tools in my box that only GM techs from the late 70's -early 80's will know, but they have served me well.
Chuck
After the initial pain of dropping big coin on snap on or any other professional grade tool wears off, its not so bad.lol. I've been swinging a wrench for almost 30 years now, and I shudder when I see the price these new techs are paying for some of these tools. But if you are making a living with them , they are worth the expense.
El Cheapo tools have their place, but if you do buy them, get the J.A. Pan Corporation (joke) or Taiwan Tools, I've noticed, they generally have better fit, finish, and longevity than the chin-a tools.
My brother and I always joked if we won the lottery, we would buy gold plated snap on tools and have a hot blonde around to keep them clean. Hahhaaahaa.
My Grandfather was a self taught machinist. He completed 5th grade only. He went on to work at RCA for 42 years.
He retired in 1972. When we cleaned out his garage we found some "take homes" that he had fabricated specifically for a task.
The tool didn't exist so he made one. These men were the pioneers of modern tooling. He taught me allot as a boy and I attribute my car enthusiasm
to him. One time his 1937 Cord lost 2nd gear on the way to work. At lunch time he pulled the trans and his shop made a new gear. He drove the car home
just in time for dinner. My point of this story is I learned that you can never have too good of a tool. It can only make the project go smoother. It's bent that way for a reason.
I wish my grandfather was still here he would love to work with me on my 68.
Marshal
I've had some of my tools for almost 40 years. Wow am I getting old! Mostly Craftsman. Where I think Snap On makes sense are tools that will get damaged as they are used like soft blow hammers. My Snap On soft blow hammer finally gave out last summer. It was over 25 years old. I tracked down the local Snap truck and asked for a replacement. No questions asked I had a new one in my hand a few minutes later. Another item that wears rather quickly are Allen wrenches. When I was a service tech for the company I used to work many of the attachments on the machines used hex set screws and had to be very tight. Snap On would replace them again no questions asked. The other item we would break are 3/8" drive swivel sockets when used with an impact wrench. I broke a Craftsman 10mm ratchet wrench. The locking pawl inside broke so it would only ratchet one way. Took it to the local Sears store and the first thing they asked me was I abusing the wrench? I said no I was using the wrench. They gave me a new one but didn't seem very happy to do so. I've made more than a couple "special" tools over the years. Cutting down wrenches and welding on different handles to get into an difficult spot.
Since stories are told here . . . . .
I had to split the ball joints on my 69. Bought a cheap pickle fork splitter from Harbor Freight.
Spent over an hour beating on that thing until the forked tool split! Ball joint still intact.
I went and spent the bucks on an expensive splitter. Really? that much? How can the be that different?
Went home and split the ball joint on the first hit! OMG. I went to the other side of the car and split the other ball joint on the first hit also!
The quality of the cheap tool was so bad it was snagging on the ball joint instead of sliding in. Not obvious until I had a better tool in hand!
Keep looking at eBay, and Craigslist, and you can usually score a good deal on lightly used Snap-On tools, for a fraction of retail.
absolutely correct... I bought my Digital Torque wrench this way for 100.00... about 450.00 less and it was brand spanking new... kinda warm to hold tho…
btw... it is the king of freakin torque wrenches... I love using it
Last edited by naramlee; Oct 17, 2018 at 07:38 PM.
My dad was a navy plane mech and then machinist, he had lots of tools he modded, lots of bluepoint and other older brands,
I have seen tools so crappy they were worthless but not talking about those,
My tools, some bought new, some garage sales some given to me range from snap on, blue point craftsmen husky many others etc,
Oddly the ones i have broken the most in most cases while over stressing the tool were craftsmen,
I thought husky was lower end but never broke any yet,
I did learn that vice grips at some point went to hell, any with the plastic quick release handle are junk to me, i like my old orginal ones i score for peanuts at garage sales,
As a home hobbyist i dont justify spending top dollar on tools, not a place i want to waste money for bragging rights
Since stories are told here . . . . .
I had to split the ball joints on my 69. Bought a cheap pickle fork splitter from Harbor Freight.
Spent over an hour beating on that thing until the forked tool split! Ball joint still intact.
I went and spent the bucks on an expensive splitter. Really? that much? How can the be that different?
Went home and split the ball joint on the first hit! OMG. I went to the other side of the car and split the other ball joint on the first hit also!
The quality of the cheap tool was so bad it was snagging on the ball joint instead of sliding in. Not obvious until I had a better tool in hand!
Quality tools definitely save time!
Scott
Oh god cheap pickle forks still give me nightmares. I had picked up cheapo also years ago, it spread apart and couldn't get it off the ball joint. Of course I was doing it in the yard cold as snot out with almost zero tools back then. A bare hacksaw blade and an hr or two later i had cut it off.
Told my kid I'd slap him smart again if ever bought a cheap one...
….. Another item that wears rather quickly are Allen wrenches. When I was a service tech for the company I used to work many of the attachments on the machines used hex set screws and had to be very tight. Snap On would replace them again no questions asked.
I worked in the precision optics industry, primarily with vacuum coating chambers, and these machines also used a LOT of hex-headed set screws. However, as the heads would "round off", we'd simply use a bench grinder to grind off the beat-up portion of the wrench, and be back in business.....
I used to beat on them, never liked them, then around 89 or 90 dad laughed at me trying to get the 66 never rebuilt front suspension apart with pickle forks, ( good brand ones too )
He handed me a horror tool fright tool he had modded slightly,
Looked like this,
The parts came right apart some with a shotgun like bang i wasnt readly for, lol,
Nope, ill never use a fork again...
New Appreciation for Quality Tools
