Snap-On tools, worth it?

**jonshepherd** · 08-10-2007 17:38

Just finished my apprenticeship at work (mechanic) and starting to build up my tool collection. Are snap on tools really worth it? About 90% of the mechs at work have pretty much all snap on tools, why? Are there any other companies that make tools of the same strength (drop forged?)

**cambridge** · 08-10-2007 17:43

Halfords pro has done me proud over many years.... you will find most people in the trade have snap on due to the van coming round and also snapon doing pay monthly schemes etc so tis easier to get a massive tool chest fast

**Benn** · 08-10-2007 17:45

My boss wont use anything but Snap-on, so i use there stuff at work,
and we've had most trouble getting them fited than i do taking my tools (home) back to halfords...

**phunky monkey** · 08-10-2007 17:46

its the fact there guaranteed for life is why most mechs have them, but halfords professional range are nearly as good quality and have the same guarantee

**shane_o** · 08-10-2007 17:49

i use mostly snap on and have a ltd ed snap on box, tbh the only reason i buy it is the ease of it. i break stuff i get a new one a few days later and finace is easy aswell, other than that theres the fact that they are very very good tools

**DaveC_** · 08-10-2007 18:27

My old man used a lot of snap on stuff in his garage.

Also a lot of mac-tools stuff aswell but im not sure if they still have franchised vans.

Halfords stuff is great quality for the home mechanic but they dont come round in a avan once a week and let u pay it up.

**Astraghoul** · 08-10-2007 18:40

some of the sealey tools range i have found can be as good as snap on (from local motor factors) and you still get the replacement warranty if it breaks, no waiting for the snap on man to visit either (altho the snap on air ratchet i have took over 2 months to be repaired :angry

, as said above too about the halfords pro tools, they too are a good enough quality for workshop use, but, at the end of the day you get what you pay for, buy cheap and you will be replacing more often than not.(get what you can comfortably afford and work up basically

)

**deek** · 08-10-2007 19:00

i use snap on spent stupid amounts of money with them,the tools are good but the prices a stupid and my dealer is a coc k

**Astraghoul** · 08-10-2007 19:03

for what i paid for on 22mm wrench from snapon i paid less for my full set of wrenches (7mm -19mm, complete) from halfords (pro series too

)

**keithcdb** · 08-10-2007 19:07

If you are in the trade go with snap-on, expensive but as above they let you pay up and will buy back!

Kerb side mechanic, halfords or sealey!

**Scoobler** · 08-10-2007 19:43

When you have been working as a mechanic for a few years using spanners every day you will realise why you spend more on a decent set of spanners, a proper set are comfy to use - cheaper sets including things like the halfords pro you know you have been using after prolonged use.

Halfords pro stuff is fine to start with, but as many have said the mac or snap-on man will give you credit and allow you to pay over time to get the tools you want, but expect to pay vast amounts - so decide if you really need them compared to the cost!

**cambridge** · 08-10-2007 19:59

stuff like Yamoto and Kenedy are really good too... jsut not so well known.

**rodgerq** · 08-10-2007 20:11

only got a few snap-on bits of gear. favourite has to be the 18v impatct gun, its a mother!!

always liked their racthets but my halfords kit is doing very well for the abuse i give it

rodgerq

**nrj** · 08-10-2007 20:15

facom stuff is the best imho, prob is lack of dealers.

snap on is over priced, and the lifetime warranty isnt all its cracked up to be on non hand tools, people buy it for the name and the ease of paying.

cant go wrong with halfords lifetime stuff,

sealy is ok on some items, like timing kits, etc..

but if you can get a facom dealer you will be well impressed, or it goes very good prices on ebay.

**slappycarp** · 08-10-2007 20:28

hard to sat mate,
im a fuly qualified engineer
machinest,fabricator etc
was coded welder,too
i ve got loads of snap on too,done me well
i used to use alot of v grib stuff etc too but i got to say snap on only let me down once : -(
but may be something with a scaf pole could do something with it....
other then that ,sh*t hot stuff

**Galahad** · 08-10-2007 21:35

Snap-On is overpriced, Halfords Professional is near enough the same quality.

Lifetime warranty or not, a Snap-On breaker bar will cost roughly £60, versus £19 for the Halfords Pro bar, not much to choose between them.

**Astraghoul** · 08-10-2007 21:39

£19??

the one i use is the same as a mac tools one and cost a whopping £8.95 from country fayre down the road lmao, and yes it does have plenty of abuse given to it, (often has 19 stone resting on the end of it undoing stubborn wheel nuts lmao)

**Astra-cab** · 08-10-2007 22:00

the only thing i have found with halfords pro is the spanners,they bend really easy. i have a set of britool spanners,there really good. my snap on air impact guns (3/8 & 1/2) are both alot more powerful than others i have tried.

a few of my mates are tool tarts and only have snap on,but i have a range of loads of makes,halfords pro,snap on,britool,facom,yamoto. aslong as there life time warranty i get bits when there on offer etc and look/feel good!

**nrj** · 08-10-2007 22:31

i would disagree with the breaker bar, ive a snap on one thats much better than halford one, although ive an old make one as well called king d1ck, which is excellent.

clarke bars are poor, du to the end snapping often.

**Gordon Livsey** · 08-10-2007 22:55

halfords stuff is only o.k, i wouldnt give it anymore than 5 out of 10 even though i work for them cnunts, i have used a lot of teng tools stuff and so far they are my personal favourite

**keithcdb** · 08-10-2007 23:02

Originally Posted by nrj

i would disagree with the breaker bar, ive a snap on one thats much better than halford one, although ive an old make one as well called king d1ck, which is excellent.

clarke bars are poor, du to the end snapping often.

King D1ck!! thats going back a few years! Still have some stuff in the garage lmao

**Barber** · 08-10-2007 23:05

all depends on the job your doing as i tend to use Teng tools as ive not had any problems with them, but a few of my mates swear by snap-on, depends on how heavy handed you arelmao

**C20LETMINI** · 08-10-2007 23:29

Snap On are the best by far, I used to think they were overpriced crap, but its true, they are the best. I have a very good rep, Phil Dew, if anyone knows him from the oxfordshire area, he really is good!

All my ramps are snap on, my Air con machine is snap on, and my ATL and analyzer are snap on. Got a Modus as well now, brilliant bit of kit!

**Nemesis** · 09-10-2007 05:42

As others have said, Halfords Pro is nearly as good. In fact, my mechanic buddies say some Halfords Pro stuff is better (ratchet spanners).

Some of the high-end makes are also very good. Teng for example make awesome screwdriver sets but they aren't cheap.

**Galahad** · 09-10-2007 06:15

Originally Posted by novacane

halfords stuff is only o.k, i wouldnt give it anymore than 5 out of 10 even though i work for them cnunts, i have used a lot of teng tools stuff and so far they are my personal favourite

5 out of 10? Are you being serious? Halfords Professional tools is the one thing they did get right

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