Snap on is very common in the UK, I can say with some confidence that a snap on van will visit most garages and alike. Every mechanic I have ever known uses snap on tools, they may not be entirely snap on but most use them. You are right though that enthusuasts don’t use them, largely because they are only available off the vans for the most part. I have a few bits of snap on - ratchet driver, a few regularly used sockets and alike. You’d be hard presed to find a better overall screwdriver - but they are silly money. That said, any issue it’s quickly dealt with and the warranty is a true life time one.
Like everything however snap on is not what it once was, and Britool, well fantastic quality tools that were are now are tat.
Nowadays you can’t rely on brand names, people rave about various brands, Bosch for example - most of their stuff is quality and obviously power tools, however when it comes to stuff like drill bits, screwdriver bits and things like that they are just rebadged generic stuff which you can likely buy from Aliexpress at 1/4 of the price. Basically the world we live in… it was true in the past Chinese stuff was mostly garbage, but in recent years the quality has shot up whilst still being cheap, largely because it’s the same things you are buying in a branded box etc and paying more for, theres no point in mass producing tat when you are already making quality stuff for big brands. Someone bought me a set of clone wera allen keys the other day and to be honest, though I love wera… that set for 1/5 of the price is every bit as good. Some things it’s worth paying more for, some things it’s not.
Interesting, I don’t know any professional mechanics so I guess that’s why I’ve never seen much Snap-On gear. From what you’re saying, it sounds like they’re screwed longer term if quality Asian made tools are available for much cheaper prices…
Do you know if the wera clone allen keys were off AliExpress? My issue with AliX stuff in the past has been the low quality steel and or heat treatment.
I bought a set of wiha hex keys at a Screwfix Live once, really really good, the “folding” case is quite useful too, I often recommend them to people looking for quality hex keys.
Ask who makes Milwaukie, Ryobi, and Dewalts (Dewalt is now owned by SBD…same with Craftsman) tools and you’ll probably ger a couple answers…they’re probably made by a company in China or Taiwan (i forget the name). I’d reckon there’s probably two or three factories there that are responsible for all the clone tools of varying quality floating around out there on the Jungle site, Aliexpress, Banggood, and fleaBay. Same with hand tools. There’s a couple factories in China, Taiwan, Pakistan, or Indonesia that make ratchets, sockets, wrenches, or other tools for like Icon, Quinn, Husky, Performance Tool, etc. BluePoint, snapon brand, is made in Taiwan.
Aliexpress doesnt sell name brand tools that I know of. They’re clones of varying quality. Generally the quality is poor to acceptable, with maybe some outliers. My experience (limited) is similar to the cheap tools from Harbor Freight. They work but that’s about it
To be honest I’m not sure exactly where he bought them from, but here are some pics of them, maybe they are from Amazon
The 1 star review made me laugh…of course the handle is not plastic lol! I dare say if you searched aliexpress you’d find them much cheaper. I suppose they aren’t exact clones, but certainly the holder is.
Unfortunately the Snap-On trucks here where I am in NY that’s not the case I have an old 1/4" ratchet my father gave me that he bought in the 60’s that has started jumping teeth when using it. I caught up with a snap truck where I actually knew the guy that ran the truck and he plainly told me they can’t warranty any tool if it’s not the original buyer. I mean mileage may vary for others experiences but for mine it was not the case. He told me the warranty is not technically on the tool but with the original buyer of the tool.
I look at it differently, lets say a snap on tool cost 100bucks, and lasts 20 years, another tool cost 10 bucks and last 5 years. I’d go for a cheaper tool.
As long as you do not buy really crappy no name tools sold in dollar general, or use wrong tool for the job, like using closest standard hex, instead of proper metric, or using white socket with impact tools, you’ll get the job done with any good tool.
It has been a couple years, but as in my OP, I also had a broken ratchet, originally purchased by my father.
I didn’t want to engage in a goose chase with the local driver, who wouldn’t know me anyway, so I skipped straight to contacting Snap-on directly.
Explained the situation, and they sent me a rebuild kit, gratis.
Tool trucks are franchisees, so YMMV, good and bad.
In case you did not see it, Project Farm slammed Snap On again in a ratchet review.
Dont really agree with the review a no one uses ratchets the way PF tested them.
Video link:
Angle is an important factor, every vehicle has that one bolt or a nut that is cramped in a tight spot, and there is very little room to turn. But breaking one with a press is pointless, If a bolt is too stubborn, i’ll use bigger drive ratchet. or a breaker bar. I do not really care about the weight. do not really care if a lever is few oz harder to move. The way i see it, the only useful part of the test is the grab angle.
i agree with spinynorman…" Probably best to stock up on those cheap Chinese tools (and whatever)…"
if most flashlights/batteries/etc. are made in China, then it is the time to decide to “fish or cut bait”.
A friend visiting from Japan was looking at my tools & got very excited when he saw the ‘old’ Snap-On logos on the tools I bought circa early 1970’s. He said collectors in Japan spend very large sums on older Snap-On tools. I didn’t know Snap-On changed logos though.
In present day, I’ll opt for most anything made in Taiwan over same things made in China or elsewhere if a U.S. item isn’t available. My experience is Taiwan stuff is superior to China & elsewhere.
slmjim
There’s two types of tool user (maybe three): occasionals, professionals, and pro-sumers. Occasionals grab a wrench, ratchet, screwdriver, drill, saw et. when needed, which is rarely for basic stuff (oil changes, badic maintenance, hanging a picture, tightening a loose fastener, leaking pipe, handle, etc). Professionals use tools everyday to make money. It’s their livelyhood and paycheck. Prosumers use tools for DIY projects a little more involved than occasional users, not to make money (more like save money). These users all habe different needs. A occasional user doesn’t need a $750 socket set or wrench set from Snap-on or MAC, or even a $100 set. They’d do fine with a made in Taiwan set for $40 or $50. However, professionals need tools that will hold up to constant, often harsh (borderline abusive) use and survive and get a replacement if it does fail. Quicky. So far, only tool trucks can say that. Weigh the options, longevity vs cost, warranty, etc. If you can swing Snap-on, or MAC, or S&K or Mitutoyo go for it. If not, get the best tool for your budget.