Well this is a hard question. I'm spoiled. My dad was a mechanic and for about the last 5 years or so all of his snap on tools are sitting at home because he manages the shop now. They are great tools, can't beat them, but they cost big bucks. Since i was 16 i have been getting my own collection going because i won't be at home for ever(soon as i'm done school i'm out ). I usually buy Craftsmen , but they don't have a large selection for some of extreme sizes that i want to get. Never had a problem taking back broken socket to sears even if they were abused. For wrenches i went to my local Canadian Tire and got a full set of wrenches that when compared to my dads snap on i'm sure they just stamp a different name on them best 200 bucks i've ever spent. Sorry fitzwell i hate the feel of the Craftsmen wrench and it looks like the bargain basement wrench IMO.

So in order of preference

Snap-On
Mastercraft (Canadian Tire)
Craftsmen

But Hey if it gets the job done it's good enough

As with any consumer product, I figured opinions would vary vastly!

I have blown apart Snap-on, Craftsman, S-K, Mac, Matco and Blackhawk ratchets. I still prefer Snap-on for work and Craftsman for at home. As with any mass produced product (especially hand tools and their INTENDED use), you are going to have numerous failures. Preference of how the tool feels as you are using it (comfortable or not) and price will always dictate what people buy.

maybe I never blow apart ratchets becuase i use 1/4 3/8 1/2 & 3/4 drives wrenches go from 1/8 to 2"

all my 3/8 sockets have been powered by a Snap On FAR72b high impact air ratchet so I guess that and the 3/8 stubby and the 3/8 in a 1/4 body are the only snap on ratchet i own
(opps forgot about them)

the IR 231 double anvil 1/2 impact has got to be the best imact I've ever used

definitly in the 3/8 draw the most



SR66

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
"SlowRide66"

"Illegitimis non carborundum"
Don't let the bastards grind you down!

Like I said before, I really like the S&K for the money,, Ive never liked snap on.. if they were cheaper than sk i'd still buy sk.. I have broken way to many snap-on tools.. it's just a name game IMO though.. but in all honestly i've always liked mac, i just bought the top box for my mac box a week ago and really like it.. but after i finish paying for this i'm telling the salesman that i'm done buying from him.. i can get my own tools.. i don't like them coming around every week..

I use snap-on ratchets only but everything else is either craftsman or mastercraft pro series. IR impacts. Believe it or not I've got a 1/4 and 3/8 drive sets from the early forties that my dad used in Toronto during WW2 to build the Lancaster bomber and they still work like new. Snap on dealer said he would trade me the two sets for a 1/4 to 1/2 inch sets shallow and deep sockets even. Told him he had a better chance of seeing god. The two 40's ratchets have never failed.Now that was quality. Cheers!!

OK now i have a bit of a different question for every one. Why do most people put there sockets in a drawer? I have always put my sockets in the very top of my top tool chest. I have them all standing in there place and in order to get them nice and fast. And if you don't have you sockets up there what do you keep there? I don't see it much use full for much else, but i have been wrong before.

Guess that was two questions.

In that photo that Rob Keller posted the bent handle flex head ratchet is worth it's weight in gold. Great ratchet.

John

Edit:
46chevyfleetline I think well all has tools that are extra speical because of who's they were. For myself it's a home made block plane of my grandfathers.

i agree on the bent handle flex ratchet, i have a short snap on ratchet, a long flex head craftsman, and a matco bent handle flex head. that bend can make all the diffrence in the world on a tune up or a variety of other pain in the arse projects. On my top box open part i keep my personal carp, my hat, wallet, keys, that kind of stuff, the big wide deep drawer on the snap on box has all my sockets.

My favorite ratchet...used since 1968;


_____________________________________________

Am Looking For Factory/Aftermarket Speed Parts For The MEL (MERC-EDSEL-LINC-TBIRD) Engine Family (383-410-430-462) Produced From 1958 To 1968

Also Early FORD Special Service Tools

-Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln-

it may look like a mess im my 3/8 drawer but those yellow bars are magnet bars and the way i usually work is to grad what i need if i use 7/16 3/8 & a 1/2 inch 3/8drive socket i grab 3 ratchets too most of the time only 1 at a time but .. the point im tiring to make is that i can scan that drawer and i know if somethings is not in its place
2 ways the Job stops completely

squirting blood or something in my eye

or a missing tool

the squirting blood dont happen too often the eye balls jeeze

ill post some pics of the different ratchets later today

SR66

__________________
"SlowRide66"

"Illegitimis non carborundum"
Don't let the bastards grind you down!

Some time back it occured to me that I almost never use my 1" socket and only rarely use the 1" open end wrench and then as far as I know only on hose fittings. Is it just me ir is a 1" socket next to useless?

so you mean Black66 isn't that good

i'm j/k, if i can figure out how to edit my pole i would put "made in china" up there just for you Black66

J[/QUOTE]

No hard feelings bro.... My six six Impala was built with all cheap tools.... ha ha...!!!



If your tool box and tools cost more than your ride then you have a problem.....

My teacher can get us 50% discount on Snap On industrial tools so b4 I leave his class, I'm gonna buy some sockets and wrenches at least, and a toruqe wrench if I can afford it.

my two box's at work, and my small box and cart at home probably add up to a little over the cost of my blazer, and approaching including my c-10

because i was enrolled in auto tech in high school i was offered a deal on boxes and tool sets at approx. 50% off. I snatched up the biggest box that was available, a $2400 box, i got it for $1300 shipping and tax included. Now that i am enrolled in a tech vocation at the CC i am entitled to a smiler deal with matco and the same deal with snap on. There is a limit on what you can and cant by with snap on and you can only buy so much. Matco, you can buy anything from the tool catalog at discount depending on what it is, anywhere from 24% to 52% off, up to $10,000 after discounts, but you don't have to use it all at once. Im looking at the biggest box matco makes, at normally $10,200+ getting it at 52% off would be hella sweet!!

DITTO!!!! !!! That is by far the best flex head ratchet I have ever owned. Pulls on center, and almost never tips the socket off the bolt/nut.



Just FYI, I believe that Mastercraft bought the old Snap-On Canada tooling or the tooling design when that line of wrenches was discontinued. I don't mind the Maximum line, but still prefer Snap-On, SK, or some of the MAC stuff. I don't care for the newer MAC wrenches, as the are made by Stanley. Stanley makes good woodworking and home tools, but should leave the wrenches to the pro's. Don't see Snap-On building a biscut joiner, do you? lol!