Why are expensive hand tools better than cheaper ones?

[BNielsen]

I just like using my nice tool truck tools.
Most of my MAC and Snap-On stuff is used, and a good portion of it is from my mechanic buddy; a majority, of not all of my Matco stuff is brand new. I know most stuff from Matco is just rebranded tools, but I can get more stuff cheaper wheeling and dealing with the Matco man.
I'm trying to get myself over wanting a Snappy or MAC toolbox since it'll just be going in my shop; but I still want a quality box. Milwaukee boxes look sweet AF, and the Husky Industrials feel solid for a big box store brand, anyone got any experience with either?

 

[Hipster]

I just like using my nice tool truck tools.
Most of my MAC and Snap-On stuff is used, and a good portion of it is from my mechanic buddy; a majority, of not all of my Matco stuff is brand new. I know most stuff from Matco is just rebranded tools, but I can get more stuff cheaper wheeling and dealing with the Matco man.
I'm trying to get myself over wanting a Snappy or MAC toolbox since it'll just be going in my shop; but I still want a quality box. Milwaukee boxes look sweet AF, and the Husky Industrials feel solid for a big box store brand, anyone got any experience with either?

Not familliar with those boxes, I have a sizeable Matco box I've had for a long time that I custom ordered drawer sizes etc. in. I bought my Matco at a time when new Snap-ons boxes were falling apart on people.

Another avenue if looking for a truck box(Snap-On , Matco, Mac) is that those dealers are quite often sitting on used ones. Trade in's, repo's, etc. They wheel and deal on used units.

 

[BNielsen]

Not familliar with those boxes, I have a sizeable Matco box I've had for a long time that I custom ordered drawer sizes etc. in. I bought my Matco at a time when new Snap-ons boxes were falling apart on people.

Another avenue if looking for a truck box(Snap-On , Matco, Mac) is that those dealers are quite often sitting on used ones. Trade in's, repo's, etc. They wheel and deal on used units.

I didn't think of that, I'll have to hit up my tool guy to see if he's got anything repo'd or traded in, I know he can get me a brand new flip top roller for like $1200, but I really want a larger roll cab or something

 

[Hipster]

I didn't think of that, I'll have to hit up my tool guy to see if he's got anything repo'd or traded in, I know he can get me a brand new flip top roller for like $1200, but I really want a larger roll cab or something

I doesn't hurt to ask or put the word out you're looking for a used unit and price range. They're always trying to talk someone out of a used one to put them in a new one.

 

[skylark]

Our Snap On guys do one heck of a business selling boxes. Part of that is because they know that if they almost cut their throat selling a box that you're more likely to fill it up with their tools. Don't be afraid to work a deal.

 

[Erik the Awful]

If you google search, you can find a chart of the stampings on Snap-On tools to see when yours was made. My go-to 1/2" ratchet and breakover bar are Snap-Ons handed down to me after my grandfather passed. They're '50s models. I put a cheater pipe on the ratchet last weekend and didn't think twice about it.

 

[thinger2]

As others have mentioned, it really just depends what you need them for. For instance, if you're just wrenching on your own cars in your spare time, then you get the cheaper stuff. If you use your tools every day to make a living, you get the good stuff. Of course quality tools almost always feel better in the hand as well, and when you use them every day, that makes a difference.

That being said, for some things it's not necessary. Like a hammer for example, no need to buy a Snap-on hammer, pretty much any hammer (the right type of hammer of course) will do the same job just as well. I have a generic 2 pound hammer I got on sale from some local tool store that I use all the time, and it's better than any other hammer I've seen on the Snap-on truck. Other stuff, like screwdrivers for example, it pays to get something really good like Snap-on ones. The cheap crap just strips out the screws, or won't bite into them the same way.

Yep. And I always advise young guys to go hit every garage and estate sale you can.
Many times some old hot rod guy has accumulated some really high quality tools and his kids just dont care.
They want them gone and I am more than happy to do that for them.
And always buy any odd shaped odd angled wrench that youve never seen before.
Many many times I have run in to a situation where I cant get at the bolt with a normal modern wrench but a Ford model T wrench or an old Packard wrench fits right into the space and does the job.
Plus, they are just friggen cool to own.
Buy the old quality tools whenever you can.

 

[Erik the Awful]

A guy locally passed last year, and his family was selling what they didn't want from his hobby shop. Dude had a distributor dyno! They had no clue what it was, so I chatted with his son a bit and explained it. He tried to convince me I needed to buy it, and it was cheap enough that I should have, but I honestly have no need for a limited use tool that's gonna take up a filing cabinet's amount of space.

 

[thinger2]

Our Snap On guys do one heck of a business selling boxes. Part of that is because they know that if they almost cut their throat selling a box that you're more likely to fill it up with their tools. Don't be afraid to work a deal.

A few years ago, we cut a 1974 peterbilt cabover in half and streched it to a "Truck Trailer" with a 24 foot bed
Pretty damn involved.
The friggen cornwell guy came buy to sell us his ******** and hooked his truck on the end frame of the pete, knocked it off of the stands.
And tried to square it up by offering us a tool discount.
When that didnt work he wanted us to write a fake estimate for his insurance.
You guys just dont really understand how tough it is when you have a mini mansion and a boat payment and all the kids are in college.
What a gig.
250 grand to get in the door.
Rip off every young mechanic.
Make sure the old mechanics are big fans by sucking out all of their money so they put downward pressure on the younger guys in order to let themsevles feel better about being schmucked by the the guy who owns the mansion
Awesome.
Its all a scam.
Its just Mary Kay Cosmettics for men.
Expensive financed male Tupperware with "free" hats

 

[thinger2]

A guy locally passed last year, and his family was selling what they didn't want from his hobby shop. Dude had a distributor dyno! They had no clue what it was, so I chatted with his son a bit and explained it. He tried to convince me I needed to buy it, and it was cheap enough that I should have, but I honestly have no need for a limited use tool that's gonna take up a filing cabinet's amount of space.

Damn, you should have bought that.
A working distributor dyno is absolute gold in the old car world.