Tool Preference

[pirate air]

Cool, really can't go wrong with snap on stuff. About the only thing I really didn't like that I bought from snap on was their cordless electric drill. Not worth the money when you can buy one at Home Depot or lowes for half the money and it works just as well if not better.
And
Matco air hammers blow ass unless they've changed the design within the last year. And I think their screw drivers were built for women hands.

 

[Yukon Joe]

a weekend warrior as myself uses Craftsman. My father is a auto mechanic and he had all Craftsman, but most of the specialty tools were Snapon or Matco.

All the above are great tools. How much wrenching do you plan on doing? Also, if you do break a tool, how easily can you replace it. Craftsman you head to Sears (as long as they are still around). But if you have to replace a Snapon or Matco, you need to track down a guy in a truck. These days it may be easier with the internet, but I know if the tool guy only stops once a week at the shop, then you have to wait. And if you are a shade tree mechanic, he isn't going to be stopping at your house.

 

[pirate air]

Craftsman makes some stuff that works pretty good. Some of their air tools are decent quality. You could probably get away with using their sockets and wrenches if not used everyday in the professional world. I'd still pick snap on ratchets and screwdrivers no matter how often I use them. As far as replacement, the sears around me always ordered the broken tool which takes a few days (and they refuse to replace if i had my work clothes on because it meant i was using them profesioanally). The tool trucks I would call and they would either come to me or I would go to them and I'd usually have a replacement that day.

 

[SupermanUSAF]

More of the same from me. Snap on or Craftsman. I've always been able to just walk into a Sears and replace broken or damaged tools. Including things that my grandfather bought and passed down to dad then me, gotta love being able to hand over a 40 year old tool and get a free replacement.

 

[Night_Stalker]

Craftman all the way. All my dad uses and I can say growin up with it kinda sticks with you. Can't count the number of times i used a cheeter pipe or beat it wih a hammer to break something lose. only thing I won't buy from them are ther torque wrenches.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

i lose too many sockets to justify snap on or matco. for me, tool life is not as important because i am always buying replacement ones. i dont break tools..... just lose them. i think snap on is a conspiracy..... all of the tools i buy from them are dark in color, so when i leave it on the floor of a car, it blends in and you cant see it. then you leave it there and wind up lookin for it later, only to realize you left it in a car that is no longer in your shop. damn..... hen you have to go buy a new one.... double damn.....

 

[pirate air]

Lol, I stopped leaving tools in cars once I started putting them all back in my box after I was done with the job. If I could see every tool I used back in its spot then I knew I didn't leave it anywhere. Sure it's a pain in the ass and takes up time, but once I started doing that I rarely lost any tools.

 

[SPRSNK]

Lol, I stopped leaving tools in cars once I started putting them all back in my box after I was done with using it.

Fixed that. Seriously. I use a wrench, I put it back where it goes. Even if I have to get it out again 5 more times.

Back on topic: Snap On & Cornwell. I got into the Cornwell tools when the local Snap On guy was a ****** and would not come by my shop. I have also bought most of my tools/toolboxes from Craigslist. I typically have paid 50% or more less than retail for the majority of my hand tools.

As for toolboxes, Snap On, Matco, Cornwell are the same thing. Different stickers.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

i forgot about ******** tools..... haha. the cornwell truck that used to come around, we all used to give him crap about the name. he was a good guy, took it all in stride.

 

[pirate air]

Fixed that. Seriously. I use a wrench, I put it back where it goes. Even if I have to get it out again 5 more times.

Back on topic: Snap On & Cornwell. I got into the Cornwell tools when the local Snap On guy was a ****** and would not come by my shop. I have also bought most of my tools/toolboxes from Craigslist. I typically have paid 50% or more less than retail for the majority of my hand tools.

As for toolboxes, Snap On, Matco, Cornwell are the same thing. Different stickers.

Now that would take some patients.

I've owned three professional boxes. One snap on and two matco. My last matco cost me a little over 11 grand
I prefer the matco boxes over the others.