Snap-On Tools?

[NWSCREW]

I'm an Airframe and Power plant tech. with an airline, have been in aviation for 27 years, lets talk torque wrenches, what kills torque wrenches, not returning the wrench back to the lowest setting after use, and dropping the torque wrench, we use both Snap On, and Craftsman, IMO they are equal, except in price...also, we have to have ours calibrated every year.

I cannot argue 27 years of experience - especially when I admittedly don't know a whole lot about it. Thanks for the knowledge!

Not knowing a whole lot about them myself yet, I've just been reading online as that's what I'm trying to get my folks to buy me for Christmas. The issue with the latest batch of Craftsman torque wrenches seem to be the handle slipping and thus losing it's accuracy with some folks reporting this happens after just one or two uses. I understand that dropping it, treating it like a ratchet, etc will make it lose calibration.

You are right on, and as for slipping, that is in the way you use it, all the ratchet type torque wrenches we have, have a locking feature, after you set the torque, I haven't messed with the new ones, next time I'm in sears, I'm going to have a look see!!

 

[tleach17]

I do not trust off brand torque wrench's. My Snap-on guy sent one out for calibration and it was way off and could not be adjusted. When I torque heads, rods, mains and cams I need it to be right. Those china torque wrench's suck.

 

[Wyley87]

I know this is an old thread but i just wanted to add my 2 cents in. Snap on torque wrnches are made by a company called Precision instruments. Google them, they sell that same TQ series wrench without the snap on name. Only difference other than brand is the plastic inlays. Snap On has red, PI has blue. Other than that they are the same.

Also Craftsman sockets and Made in usa Kobalt sockets are made by the same people. A company called Danaher.

Snap On ratchets are awesome, I like the smoothness of them. To me the ratcheting mechanisms in the craftsman ones are to "sloppy". Which is fine for lugs and other easy to get to areas but tight spaces aren't so forgiving.

I'm not claiming to know it all but what it really comes down to is preference. I like craftsman sockets and kobalt sockets. To me the snap on sockets just aren't worth it.

 

[nubuilder]

K-Mart and Ace Hardware also sell Craftsman tools.

I'll see if they have them too

I wouldn't go to Ace. They're expensive for everything. Doesn't Sears own K-mart or the other way around?

Fastenal (a company that's sort of regional) also carries some Craftsman.


I agree with everyone. I'm willing to pay Snap-On prices for specialty/unique tools that I can't find anywhere else, but Craftsman is great for at-home use.


I really wish I would have done my tool set differently. I bought a 263pc Craftsman set when I was 16. It was a great deal at the time. But now, I really want to complete the set (sockets and wrenches) and dawmn they're expensive individually!

Anyways, I'm Craftsman all the way. There's a Sears 10min from me and the lifetime warranty makes me feel much better.

Only thing I'll say is wait for stuff to go on sale!! They've almost always got the "mechanics sets" on sale every week.

 

[Carolinaboy]

Only thing that I'd be willing to pay Snap-On Prices for would be their pneumatic tools and their torque wrenches my best friend lives with a guy that sells them for a living so he said he would cut me a little bit of a deal. I don't have enough of a use for a $400 torque wrench at the moment ( IDK if that's what they go for)

 

[nubuilder]

Only thing that I'd be willing to pay Snap-On Prices for would be their pneumatic tools and their torque wrenches my best friend lives with a guy that sells them for a living so he said he would cut me a little bit of a deal. I don't have enough of a use for a $400 torque wrench at the moment ( IDK if that's what they go for)

I got my Craftsman for $40, reg $80.

 

[Carolinaboy]

I have a "Pittsburg" one but I doubt it's really any good

 

[Trent]

Only thing that I'd be willing to pay Snap-On Prices for would be their pneumatic tools and their torque wrenches my best friend lives with a guy that sells them for a living so he said he would cut me a little bit of a deal. I don't have enough of a use for a $400 torque wrench at the moment ( IDK if that's what they go for)

I got my Craftsman for $40, reg $80.

Same here, they always go on sale around Christmas time

I have a "Pittsburg" one but I doubt it's really any good

Yeah I have one too, I wish I had a machine that would test it to see how accurate it really is.

 

[Carolinaboy]

I have a "Pittsburg" one but I doubt it's really any good

Yeah I have one too, I wish I had a machine that would test it to see how accurate it really is.

That's exactly what I need too. 150 ft/lbs could be like 120 or 170

 

[tleach17]

If you are near a snap on dealer they can send them out. We have a tester at work so we can keep a tab on our wrenchs. If there is a tool store near by you could call and ask if they have a tester.