Hand Tools

[belchfire]

Most of my stuff is Snap-on, but I have
many others-the Mac angled open end,
some SK's that live in my truck with the
craftsman and others. Love my Snap-on
ratcheting screwdriver.

Last year I was changing the engine out
on my wife's car. I had the right-sized
craftsman socket on the crankshaft bolt,
leaned on it to brake it loose and the damm
thing slipped and rounded the bolt.
$!@@T!!!
Sooo I dug around and found the right
Snap-on socket, 'cept it's a 3/8 drive and
dosent want to fit the now rounded bolt
head. Drove that 12 point "flank drive"
on with a hammer, put the 3/8-1/2 adapter
in it and got the break bar on...My neighbor
had come over to help and was watching the
whole thing. When I got the bolt loose with the
"good" tool I could only look at him and say
"Snap-on. There is a difference."

Wouldn't ever willingly part with my 1/4"
drive Snap-on stuff...

 

[Weasel Keeper]

I have a decent Kobalt box, and most of my tools are Craftsman. I do shop at Harbor Freight for things that don't really matter...huge savings over any of the big named tools. Hard to come by stuff or things I need on the spot I get from Matco since he comes to our hangar.

I've had to replace my 1/4" drive Craftsman ratchet once so far because the gears finally failed, but it was about 15 years old.

 

[darkvw]

I use Hazlet wrenches & craftsman sockets & ratchets, no problem so far. the wrenches probably cost me as much as the entire toolbox and craftsman tools but they fit with no slop on nuts and bolts.

 

[UnAnswerd]

Wouldn't ever willingly part with my 1/4"
drive Snap-on stuff...

That's another thing. You cannot do without a complete 1/4 set. Snap-on wanted over $350 for the set of shallow, deep, standard, metric, extensions, and ratchet in a plastic case. It's a good set, but the price is a little high. I found an almost identical set from SK, and it costed only $150. When almost everyone is offering a lifetime warranty these days, it pays to shop around.

 

[Peanut gallery]

Mixed bag

You can find almost every manufacture in my box. Snap-on for the small stuff and a varied mixture for everything else. I love my S&K open end wrench set with a boxed ratchet on the other end. For ratchets Snap-on is the only way for me, it's the number of teeth and relative small movement that can actually work in a tough spot. Used to really like Dewalt but quality has really slipped lately. Of course Chicago Pneumatic for the air tools.

Just my .02

 

[avbug]

NO probably just using them a lot more than the average aircraft mechanic.

Well, I really doubt that. It's probably more a way of treating the tools than anything. Like I said, I've had some of my rachets for over 20 years with no problems at all. Some of them are old enough to still have the grease fitting in the end. And they've seen a LOT of use...the plating is long since gone, chipped off in some cases, worn off of parts in others, and still they haven't failed. If you're busting wrenches, you're doing something wrong.

When I got the bolt loose with the
"good" tool I could only look at him and say
"Snap-on. There is a difference."

Too True. Too True.

 

[qmaster3]

Well, I really doubt that.

Well I don't Mr. Goodwrench. Ratchets are not created equal, and craftsman ratchets are known to snap.

 

[avbug]

A poor carpenter blames his tools.

 

[TrafficInSight]

re

Well I don't Mr. Goodwrench. Ratchets are not created equal, and craftsman ratchets are known to snap.

Sure if you use them as breaker bars

 

[Dave Danger]

A Corporate/General Aviation mechanic here, about 29 years worth. I still own and use the very first set of Snap-On tools I ever bought as an apprentice mechanic in my Dad's Aircraft Maintenance Shop in CSG. I also have a handful of oddball tools (Craftsman/Matco/Every-other-brand) that I'm willing to heat and bend, or cut and weld on.. to make that one-time special tool that absolutely no one manufactures. But by far, the Snap-On tools as far as I'm concerned, are worth every penny they cost.. in strength, specific fit and weight. I LOVE to have in my hands a tool that is so light that I don't tire of holding it, yet trust it to be strong enough to do what is required of it. I know the home address and phone # of every Snap-On dealer I've ever bought from in my area, and I have visited all of them on the odd after hours occasion that I needed to buy or exchange a tool.
I "free-lance" now and since I move from one customer's hangar to another as jobs change... my toolbox is a bit unique. I custom built a frame that holds a combination of Snap-On and Mac drawer sets, mounted on a set of 6 pneumatic casters (free-turn at each corner, rigid straight paired in the center). It will rotate in it's own length for ease of navigation around tight hangars, and has a tow-bar attached on a permanent hinge that folds upward like bar on a car towed behind an RV. I can hook it to my pickup and easily move across the ramp and between hangars. It has multiple electrical outlets wired to a reel with a 100' cord. The same arrangement has a series of air outlets connected by manifold to a single 100' air hose, I can plug in one hose and electrical cord and power up everything on my box, including a nice stereo to listen to I also have a full "Taco-Wagon" Snap-On box in my T-hangar that I can work out of when my normal tools are scattered hither and yon across the airport.
If tools are worth earning a living with, they're worth being the best you can afford.

"The bitter taste of poor quality lingers much longer than the fleeting satisfaction of low cost"

Dave Danger A&P/IA

 

[Dave Danger]

A Corporate/General Aviation mechanic here, about 29 years worth. I still own and use the very first set of Snap-On tools I ever bought as an apprentice mechanic in my Dad's Aircraft Maintenance Shop in CSG. I also have a handful of oddball tools (Craftsman/Matco/Every-other-brand) that I'm willing to heat and bend, or cut and weld on.. to make that one-time special tool that absolutely no one manufactures. But by far, the Snap-On tools as far as I'm concerned, are worth every penny they cost.. in strength, specific fit and weight. I LOVE to have in my hands a tool that is so light that I don't tire of holding it, yet trust it to be strong enough to do what is required of it. I know the home address and phone # of every Snap-On dealer I've ever bought from in my area, and I have visited all of them on the odd after hours occasion that I needed to buy or exchange a tool.
I "free-lance" now and since I move from one customer's hangar to another as jobs change... my toolbox is a bit unique. I custom built a frame that holds a combination of Snap-On and Mac drawer sets, mounted on a set of 6 pneumatic casters (free-turn at each corner, rigid straight paired in the center). It will rotate in it's own length for ease of navigation around tight hangars, and has a tow-bar attached on a permanent hinge that folds upward like bar on a car towed behind an RV. I can hook it to my pickup and easily move across the ramp and between hangars. It has multiple electrical outlets wired to a reel with a 100' cord. The same arrangement has a series of air outlets connected by manifold to a single 100' air hose, I can plug in one hose and electrical cord and power up everything on my box, including a nice stereo to listen to I also have a full "Taco-Wagon" Snap-On box in my T-hangar that I can work out of when my normal tools are scattered hither and yon across the airport.
If tools are worth earning a living with, they're worth being the best you can afford.

"The bitter taste of poor quality lingers much longer than the fleeting satisfaction of low cost"

Dave Danger A&P/IA

 

[Dave Danger]

Hmmm, the first submission said it didn't accept.

Sorry

Dave Danger

 

[Hammer&Tape]

most of my tools are craftsman. but i love my snap-on screw drivers,would like to afford to buy there flank drive sets but will wait.Snap-on was the only place I could find a 6-point deep 5/32 for the relay hevan on the saab's but that only cost $12.00. Did find a nice set of SK's 1/4 drive 12-point universals for $135.0 at D&B tools. I agree with some of the earlyer replys about craftman wrench's speading, I have taken several back to sears for that problem,as stated earlyer someday the tool fairy (wife) will bring me some snapon's .As far as box's go i use a used KD Tools that i got for $100.00.love the ones from all the big names and if I planned on passing it down to my kids I might buy one.Think I will stick with sears or kobalt. I am not sure who makes the boxes for Home Depot but about five years ago they were made by mac,not as heavy but the same rolles and wheels.Just remember, If you can itamize on your taxes save all your tool receptsthey are deductable and helps to take the sting out at the end of the year