Torque Wrench
04-05-2011, 01:34 AM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: US
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Always get the screwdrivers with the black (hardened tip) and you can't twist it. Slotted or phillips get the hardened tips. Excillite makes very good quality tools also.
I think snap on tools are a lot of hipe and do not really prove better quality than some others. Nothing wrong with them and I always say buy quality tools and you will never regret it.
I think snap on tools are a lot of hipe and do not really prove better quality than some others. Nothing wrong with them and I always say buy quality tools and you will never regret it.
04-05-2011, 10:39 AM
#32
Senior Member
having been a professional industrial mechanic for 19yrs (and having very strong opinions LOL)...
There is nothing special about Snap On, Mac, or Matco tools other than their overblown prices (and the myth that if you're a professional mechanic you must own them). They do have some special tools or variations on tools that you'd be hard pressed to find in another brand name, and that is where their value is. However, the Craftsman Professional series is every bit as good (and much cheaper) as Snap On, with very similar ergonomics and finishes. My tool boxes (yes, boxes as in multiple roll aways) are 95% Craftsman (regular & professional), 2% SnapOn/Mac/Matco, 2% other specialty tools (ie. to set injector height on Detroits), and 1% Kobalt (GASP! but their air tools are made by IR and are good quality, and much cheaper in price than IR). They have served me well as lead mechanic in various shops over the last decade.
Another reason I choose Craftsman (preferably Professional) is that I can go into any Sears (which are damn near everywhere) and get a replacement ASAP. I don't have to hunt down a dealer and/or wait on a truck to show up.
Now keep in mind, I'm trying to compare apples to apples. I'm not including the cheap China crap like Pittsburg (I wouldn't give those to a monkey trying to fix anything) or other low end tools. Those have no room in the tool box of a professional mechanic, the quality is poor, the metal alloy is weak, the finish is poor, and the sizing isn't always accurate.
Now, back to the torque wrenches. I've got an OLD Craftsman 3/8in that has been wonderful. It has held true to calibration year after year. I tried out a Kobalt 1/2in and it is also of good quality and held true to calibration (and it gets heavy use) for the past 4 years. The Kobalt was bought on suggestion from a friend, what was $120 when I was ready to spend more than double that. I'm happy with it and it has served me well.
There is nothing special about Snap On, Mac, or Matco tools other than their overblown prices (and the myth that if you're a professional mechanic you must own them). They do have some special tools or variations on tools that you'd be hard pressed to find in another brand name, and that is where their value is. However, the Craftsman Professional series is every bit as good (and much cheaper) as Snap On, with very similar ergonomics and finishes. My tool boxes (yes, boxes as in multiple roll aways) are 95% Craftsman (regular & professional), 2% SnapOn/Mac/Matco, 2% other specialty tools (ie. to set injector height on Detroits), and 1% Kobalt (GASP! but their air tools are made by IR and are good quality, and much cheaper in price than IR). They have served me well as lead mechanic in various shops over the last decade.
Another reason I choose Craftsman (preferably Professional) is that I can go into any Sears (which are damn near everywhere) and get a replacement ASAP. I don't have to hunt down a dealer and/or wait on a truck to show up.
Now keep in mind, I'm trying to compare apples to apples. I'm not including the cheap China crap like Pittsburg (I wouldn't give those to a monkey trying to fix anything) or other low end tools. Those have no room in the tool box of a professional mechanic, the quality is poor, the metal alloy is weak, the finish is poor, and the sizing isn't always accurate.
Now, back to the torque wrenches. I've got an OLD Craftsman 3/8in that has been wonderful. It has held true to calibration year after year. I tried out a Kobalt 1/2in and it is also of good quality and held true to calibration (and it gets heavy use) for the past 4 years. The Kobalt was bought on suggestion from a friend, what was $120 when I was ready to spend more than double that. I'm happy with it and it has served me well.
