MAC or SNAP-ON?

[FlareSide]

Well school is here and I'm taking an automotive tech class that requires the purchase of a tool set through the school. The sets are about $500 and two brands are optional (Mac and Snap-On). My question is: What brand do you guys prefer? What company has the better policy for broken tools, etc. Thanks for any opinions, it really helps me out here.

[v8sonoma]

I use mostly snap-on tools.I find they have the best exchange policy and the tools seem to be of a little better quality than MAC.

[FlareSide]

Cool, thanks for the quick reply. I know they are both pretty good, but wasn't sure which to blow 500 bucks on. I'm still thinking about it, and I'm pretty much 50/50.

[2 Tone Z71]

ive got both I usually use the Snap on thou,I know off a truck up here 500.00 gets ya a ratchet and a few screwdrivers

[1buda]

I mainly use Snap-On ( I used to work for them). Both are good tools, but it all depends on your tool salesman. One... he can work very good deals for you, and on the other hand he won't give you any slack.

[LinuxNative]

Craftsman....you can abuse your tools, and still take them back and get them replaced. Plus you can go to any Sears store in the US, and get them replaced.

[IH8FORD]

i buy a ton of both. i usually price out both guys and get the better priced one unless i can see a big difference in quailty. I tell you what if they are offering you a discount in the school buy as much as you possiably can. I bought a small snapon box at the bigging of the year and had to just trade it in for a bigger one today.

[CaptClose]

I use craftsman too. I wish I could afford Snapon though. I think quality is as good with either choice. Just find out which is more readily available in your area.

[SITNLOWSITNFAT]

If $500 is all you have to play with I'd go craftsman. If you pockets run deeper I'd go snap-on. You get what you pay for.

[thecodeman]

Yeah you usually get more with the Mac tools but the snap on will last you 10x longer, thats why it costs an arm and a leg.

[mjgjr72@juno.co]

mine are 90% snap-on, always had great service, never got hassled about warrenting a hammered on overheated crome socket that eventualy exploded from constant use on an impact, but 500 will get u a shallow and deep 3/8 socket set a ratchet and screwdriver set, if your just starting out i would go with craftman to get a decend setup at a decent price, you can always replace them later if you intend to stay in the trade with snap-on or mac and use the craftsman for home, inless its one of those 50% off with a 500 dollar limit deals then get some snap-on

[Pewter Pro-Tec]

Yep, depends on the dealer. Some have a more liberal warranty policy than others. The 2 that I have dealt with are excellent when it comes to warranty repairs. Never been questioned.

If you are seriously committed to making this your profession I would invest in some quality tools like Snap-On, there is a difference. I know some will say that Craftsman is just as good but I would recommend Craftsman for the do it yourselfer, if you are going to be a professional Snap-On or Mac would be great choices. I have friends who are chefs and they spend hundreds of dollars on quality knives, they don't shop at the kitchen section in Wally Mart.

[chevyz71man]

Snap on everything except ratchets, because when your greasy you cant get your tiny 10mm socket off because theres no release button...Craftsman has a lifetime warranty to, though you need backups cuz it breaks

500 will go alot farther in craftsman but snap on is alot stronger. Craftsman is more of a do it yourselfer thing never meant for commercial use. 500 in snap on wont get you much more then a set of 6pt sockets, couple extension, ratchets, screw drivers, and maybe a small set of wrenches.

[no2guncntrl]

I have all three. Mac, Crapstman and Snap-Off. You get
more tools with Craftsman, I like the way Mac's open
end wrench fit a bolt or nut, but I have to admit, I've
put the Snap-Off's through some serious times, and
they've always been there to do the job.

As with others above, go with a nice set of Craftsman tools.
They'll do ya until the big bug bites..which is doing mech work
for a living and seeing the Snap-On truck pull up. Once you
get inside the truck..Yer had ! :aniteef:

Look in your local classifieds. Bet you could get a pretty
nice set of used tools for 500.00. Lot of guys who get
out of wrenching sell their tools. Once you get done
wrenching for a living, tools aren't so much fun anymore.

[Jokeman]

Snap-on, I have MAC rachets and they are the exact same as Stanley. Go with snappy, you will be happy.

[oldredtruck]

Snap - on definitely! I have used all the vendors for about 20 yrs and snap on follows up, is easy to get ahold of, no B.S. on broken stuff whereas the other guys (MAC- CORNWELL-MATCO) don't seem to have the same attitude... all are good tools tho.

[CKTA]

As long as you have the trucks showing up every day (or close to it) you'll be fine w/ either........if they ever stop.....you're screwed on the warranty.

[Chrispycj8]

i didnt see craftsman or other brands on the option list

that requires the purchase of a tool set through the school. The sets are about $500 and two brands are optional (Mac and Snap-On)

are you in the industry yet?

i worked in the industry and it depended entirely on the local rep.

when i worked across town, the snap on guy had a smaller step van, and never seemed to have what i wanted "today". i could tell him, and he would always have it "next week".. the MAC guy had a BUS, and pretty much had everything, in stock, all the time.

when i moved closer to my home, there was no local MAC guy, but the snap on guy was better equipped.

i own perhaps $15000 dollars worth of MAC and Snap On tools. which is better is a PERSONAL PREFERENCE and varies from tool to tool.. either will be a safe buy IF YOU MUST buy one or the other.

i also own a good selection of craftsman tools. i find them less durable (at least teh ratchets), but, the convenience of being able to run to the store NOW and get a replacement is a definate plus.

i left professional auto work as a career 10 years ago, but as a racer/hobbiest, i still use tools frequently, adn depend on them. since Harbor Freight moved into town 3 years ago, im finding myself buying thier tools more often than not. i have never broken a socket or wrench from them.. and find myself buying thier whole sets when they are on sale.
for example, they currently have thier 14 piece metric OR SAE wrench sets for sale for $9.95
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2564 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2564)

ive used these wrenches considerably, and havent had a failure. better yet, ive welded them to various pieces of my rig on teh trail or in competition when something breaks, and havent thought twice about doign it... much harder to do with a $32 snapon WRENCH.. easy when you can get a whole new set for $10...

i also use thier IMPACT sockets as regular sockets because the price is so right they have a metric 3/8's set regularly priced at $7 that frequently goes on sale for $4.. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46012.. thier 1/2" sets are similarly priced... deepwell and standard.

harbor freight has a good warranty, but, they will call foul if its OBVIOUS abuse (i.e. welded onto something, or damaged from repeatedly hitting it with a sledge hammer to remove a siezed U-joint on the trail).. but for the price, htey can be considered disposable.

one thing about H/F tho if you dont know tools, is that they DO sell some complete junk.. so be particular about what set you buy.. some is every bit as good quality as the craftsman or other brands, and others i wouldnt wish on a 4 year old with an erector set...

hope the information helps someone.

[ninjalogan]

Several friends and family members who turn wrenches or have turned wrenches for a living. As far as Air tools I've heard Snap-On's impact isn't the greatest, but their air hammers are the shiz.

The general consensus that I've heard is that Snap-On tools are more comfortable to use. Better fit and quality and they feel better when you're torqueing or twisting on them all day.

I own a Snap-On pry bar, #2 phillips, and 1/4" socket set (lol, I know not much) but if I need any of that kind of tool, I find myself reaching for the Snap-Ons. They just feel better in my hand and grip whatever I'm going after better, and I have no other explanation than that.

[FlareSide]

I agree with most that Craftsman is pretty nice for what they cost, but they weren't on the list. The school buys kits from the companies and then sells them to the kids. They are each about 500, and they both include TONS of stuff, like all the wrenches, chizels, screwdrivers, and hammers (even a dead blow). The Mac kit has a few more things included and my teacher said either one will do. I heard Mac was great but everyone on here likes Snap-On apparently. Thanks for the help too, this is a big decision.

[1buda]

Go with snappy, you will be happy.

:lol:

[jmcgriff19]

Since you said that you are buying them "through the school" I take it that you are getting a better deal on them. I would go ahead and get the Snap-On if it was me. Most of my tools are Craftsman but I know it isn't on the list. I just wish I could afford Snap-On tools.

[dgood]

Given the choice you have, Snap-On would be my preference.
Craftman's hand tools are/were made by Illinois Tool Works, who also
produce(d) Matco (and interestingly, is a division of the same parent company of Fluke). As an aside, two friends were replacing the ball joints on an F150, and managed to brake TWO 1/2" drive breaker bars in the process - one from Harbor Freight and one from Snap-On. It was, in the end, a Craftsman that did the job :)

[350TBI1990]

eBay is a great place to find Snap-On tools for cheap, I usually look for the buy-it-now auctions. I got an 11 piece wrench set for $48.00. And like most people here, I'm also going with Snap-On

Brian

[Z71Nutty]

Mac...Jesse James cant go wrong!!! WCC baby! Anything but Crapsman I have broke more of them then anything!

[Chrispycj8]

The Mac kit has a few more things included and my teacher said either one will do. I heard Mac was great but everyone on here likes Snap-On apparently. Thanks for the help too, this is a big decision.

snap on is the industry standard, and as such, folks are going to "like Snap-On"..

MAC is every bit as good as snap on.. its just not snap on....

with BOTH tools, you have to understand how the company works.

in either organization, the driver is the "store owner"... and purchases his inventory from snap-on/mac... and he also owns his accounts recievables...so, the availablity of the driver, as well as the relationship you build with the driver, is more important that weather a snapon screwdriver can handle 64,972 pounds of rotational torque while a MAC can handle 64,577 pounds.. or some such.

if you feel you get more with the MAC, buy them. if you feel the 'snap on' name is more important than owning a couple of tools you will likely rarely ever use..then buy the snap on.. as stated, you will not go wrong in EITHER direction.

[Bullwinkle]

How about the stuff NASA uses....Proto tools!

[danez71]

Both are really good.

I would buy which ever you get the most for your money.