At what point do you say "That costs too much"?
- Thread starter Chris142
- Start date
You know how they say that drug dealers give it free to kids to get them hooked? It's obviously true.
I own very few Snap-On tools. And I will say you DON'T have to buy Snap-On to get good/great tools.
I have a couple “Snap-Off” tools-they were literally found on the side of the road! Overpriced junk with a useless warranty (if you don’t have a truck rep, Snap-On isn’t warranting it)!
That’s a crazy price for what you get.
However, good tools are worth the price premium over Husky, etc. if you’re a serious mechanic.
Cheap tools do not perform as well as good tools. Cheap sockets and wrenches are fine on most work, but on some work, particularly with rusty or difficult fasteners, cheap tools will round out a bolt head, requiring welding or drilling, where good quality tools would have removed the fastener.
In those cases, cases that the serious mechanic often encounters, good tools are worth every penny of the price premium.
Stahlwille wrenches. Williams sockets. Hazet bits. Proto wrenches. Basically, every tool that @Trav has ever recommended, and that I’ve bought, have been worth the price premium over the cheap stuff, like Kobalt and Husky I bought years ago.
Ironically, the Sears Craftsman tools given to me by my father over 40 years ago remain in service because of their quality. But Craftsman tools that I bought several years ago are junk.
I regret my waste of money on tools like Kobalt and Husky, and recent Craftsman, I should’ve saved up for better tools. I wish I had Trav to guide me ten years ago.
However, good tools are worth the price premium over Husky, etc. if you’re a serious mechanic.
Cheap tools do not perform as well as good tools. Cheap sockets and wrenches are fine on most work, but on some work, particularly with rusty or difficult fasteners, cheap tools will round out a bolt head, requiring welding or drilling, where good quality tools would have removed the fastener.
In those cases, cases that the serious mechanic often encounters, good tools are worth every penny of the price premium.
Stahlwille wrenches. Williams sockets. Hazet bits. Proto wrenches. Basically, every tool that @Trav has ever recommended, and that I’ve bought, have been worth the price premium over the cheap stuff, like Kobalt and Husky I bought years ago.
Ironically, the Sears Craftsman tools given to me by my father over 40 years ago remain in service because of their quality. But Craftsman tools that I bought several years ago are junk.
I regret my waste of money on tools like Kobalt and Husky, and recent Craftsman, I should’ve saved up for better tools. I wish I had Trav to guide me ten years ago.
Overpriced unless you're in a business where you can write it off 100% on income tax.
you have to be a certain type of person to become a snap-on rep. they are trained to be vicious super predators.
You know how they say that drug dealers give it free to kids to get them hooked? It's obviously true.
one time my snap-on guy got his house door kicked in and 60k in cash stolen. the next day he was back in his truck on the same route like nothing happened, selling hopes and dreams to the young and ignorant
I'd pay double to triple the box store brand/grade tools, for uses where higher quality matters, or very frequently used tools, but snap on prices? Nope, never bought a single snap on tool in my life, though have inherited misc things like a screwdriver maybe wrench or something that never gets used because I have other full sets, that the orphan tool doesn't fit in. Mainly I like having at least two of the more common tools so if one breaks or gets lost, have a backup to use immediately.
They are professional tools. If you are making 100 bucks an hour, you don't really think too much about the price of tools.
Typically a dealer will come to your shop and sell you what you need.
Typically a dealer will come to your shop and sell you what you need.
I was given a used SO ratchet from a friend who is no longer doing his own work. The wrench was in good shape but the cover plate had a ding in it. I emailed SO and told them, they asked where I bought the wrench, and I told them it was given to me. A few days later I had a new cover plate in the mail.
I worked of forklifts and most of other brands of tools would not hold up. The new guys would soon have their Craftsman tools collection replaced with Snap on. Working with the Hydraulic hoses the Snap on angle wrenches were the cats meow in saving time on replacing the hoses.. There are some Snap on tools that are really good and others lesser quality brands work fine. There is little need for home mechanics to buy Snap on quality.
Snap on tools are pro level tools Home use will not put Snap on tools to the test.
Many of my wrenches and sockets are snap on that I bought new. But I didn't pay anywhere near that price. I do remember paying about $280 for my metric set of long pattern wrenches but the deal included the sae set too.
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AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Yeah I would not pay that for that kit. My thoughts are Snap-on chrome sockets are over priced. I learned you ask a price first now after I bought a $26 10mm socket and a $45 15/16 and 1 inch socket to complete my set I was thinking you know $10-$15 socket ok but when I seen that price on my receipt I almost fell over dead. I can’t even remember the price of a single 10mm wrench I bought either 
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My pawpaw worked his entire career with sears craftsman.
If I was a mechanic now I'd buy Carlyle because the napa courier is at the shop multiple times a day!
If I was a mechanic now I'd buy Carlyle because the napa courier is at the shop multiple times a day!
I have snap on flare nut wrenches, they work better that some older craftsman i had. They don't flex open.
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