48 thoughts on “Am I a Snap On salesmen? YOU decide!”
I feel the same, I own a shop now and I still can’t bring myself to buy a large Snap on tool box, I bought a Matco three bay teal/purple 4s tool box that was damaged. I have a very boring Snap on roll cart that cost way too much and never bought another snap on box again
My opinion is pretty simple. Snap-On makes great products, No doubt. Anyone that says otherwise is a moron. And SOME of their stuff is absolutely the best. I have several Snap-On tools (btw, I'm an IT guy, not a mechanic). I have three Snap-On torque angle torque wrenches, a few ratchets, a few sockets, the Snap-On HEMI valve spring compressor, and a few other things. However, the bulk of my tools are a mix of Proto, Wright, SK, old school Craftsman, old School Armstrong, a few Williams, old school KD Tool, and my split beam torque wrenches are Precision Instruments. My issue with Snap-On as a whole is that a lot of their products, while great, are no better than other top name American made tools yet cost 2-5 times as much. A perfect example is my combo wrenches are Wright Grip 2.0 by the Wright Tool Company. They are every single bit as good, or dare I say possibly even slightly better, than Snap-On Flank Drive 2.0 combo wrenches, but were 1/3 the cost of Snap-On. When the Snap-On tool is, hands down, the superior product, I buy Snap-On (as long as it's not so severely overpriced that it's just freaking stupid), but most of the time, they are of "equal" quality to other name brand USA made tools, but are way overpriced.
Your tools are your job you need good tools to last so you can work that's your choice of tools just because you have them doesn't mean everyone has to get what you can afford and what you need I'm an HVAC TECHNICIAN with my own tools get what you need and can afford I do have mechanics tools because I work on my own car that I use for racing it took me almost 20 years to build up my tools
The only people whining about this are the people who can't turn a wrench anyway.
To me, it makes sense to buy super high quality “things†that you use daily and especially if you use it daily TO MAKE YOUR LIVING. Cheap tools can become expensive if you are constantly replacing them because they break or tear up something you are using them on. For me, I buy Craftsman or DeWalt etc. they aren’t the cheapest but I only use them occasionally. They work well enough and with light use they will last for a long time (will probably go to my son when I am dead….most likely in the not too distant future because I’m already an old fart). Even the cheap Harbor Freight stuff is fine for some tools…..like a hammer, jack stand, tire chock, some wrenches and even sockets. Cheap socket wrenches tend to break. Maybe another way to say it is the quality of tools should reflect one’s span of knowledge and frequency of use.
I feel sorry for the people that envy your tool box. I know the feeling. Unfortunately we can not afford to buy tools that will not hold up to the job or cannot be replaced quickly.
Spent thirteen years building and remodeling. When I made my money with my tools I bought the best I could afford . When you make you living with tools you buy the best you can afford or what you like the best. When I hardly ever used a tool I went to harbor freight. Your videos teach so many skills what brand of tools you used is meaningless.
I'm a Gear-Wrench freak.
You know, it would be really great if you put together a ‘starter kit’ for newbies coming into the profession. Maybe a basic, get started in the workshop set, then a B set, a few essential add-ones.
Your tools are what make you money. As a woodworker tools I need I spend to get a good product. Mainly for longevity and warranty stuff. You do you and thats perfectly fine. I see a lot of tools on your channel I'd like (ratchets, sockets, wrenches etc) but me personally can't justify the price as I won't use it as often to warranty the cost. Keep on trucking!
I don’t buy anything I can’t justify. My neighbor got a new toolbox and put his old one in the trash, it ended up in my garage…
I'm 62, self employed and work on the railway in the UK. I buy my own tools. Like you, I now buy what I want, not what I need. However I'm comfortable with the tools I have. Most of mine are from a high street shop called Halfords. Their professional range of tools has a life time guarantee. Some is Snap On or Facom. But I use what works. To hell with what other keyboard warrior experts say. My tools, my choice
Damn right about the tool chest some of them are the price of a car and I don't mean a junker! As for the weekly or monthly pay scheme I agree as I did that back in the 80's when snap-on man came round and you end up spending back then hundreds on stuff you really didn't need
As a retired aircraft mechanic (80 years old), I regularly watch your channel. Your advice to newbie mechs was spot on. I worked alongside many mechs who were heavily in debt and owed most of their pay check to the “tool truck guy†. Keep up the entertaining and informative video, thanks.
Those electric wrenches must earn their money back in days, but there are a lot of good deals out there, and every mechanic has a view. if you can afford it, and it gives you pleasure to own it and use it, why not? everyone with a car makes a similar decision
Great advice, Ray.
You don't hype any tool outside of the one you use to make a repair.
Ray, your high level of common sense,is a rare quality these days.
Good tools = usually means good mechanic , If i had a choice between two mechanics, Id pick the snap on one every time.
Just curious what people would recommend for someone who doesn't have a tool truck service available or like myself that isn't a professional but has a weekend hobby of working on boat engines and project cars. Lately I have been looking at Tekton, Gearwrench, Dewalt and Milwaukee hand tools since I have not liked what I have seen from the new craftsman tools (cost vs value and quality).
You're doing great Ray in my book, I'm sorry people give you crap about tools, of your trade to do a better job, as a fellow mechanic I totally understand, I have good tools and awesome tools, and some fancy stuff, which replaced a good tool, or an awesome one, upwards and onwards. And like Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can please some of the people some of the time, you can please most of the people most of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." Some folks are jelly because they want what they don't work for this generation thinks they are entitled to or should just have by no work of their own. It's crazy. You offer a channel about your job and help people by showing not only what brake job looks like but what a good honest mechanic looks like and does. The tools you use I think are cool, am I jelly nope, do I think you are a salesman lol, nope. This isn't Rainman Ray's tool sales channel. You sir are doing a fine fantastic job and I hope you are having a fantastic day knowing you are doing good sir! And most importantly I thank you for the content and opening your life up and showing the job, the trade, and the tools. I say bravo Ray, I love your channel, positivity, humor good honest work, we do something's different but all is mechanics do lol, and that's okay as there are some gray areas in this field, but most things are plan as day. Thumbs up as always!
Preach
Retired career body&paint man. Pawned snapons for pennies on the dollar
loved this you are correct. I ws a auto repair tech way back.
For your work it's a tax write-off isn't it.
Cool, we finally get to see your face. Good information. I do think some of those tools makes you a faster worker. Until I saw your video I did not know they had a tool that looks like a drill but spins off and on the nuts and bolts with ease. I literally only used a ratchet set and having to use multiple back and forth motion to get that nut loosen; or tightened.
I have never thought that you were were pushing anything. I watch this channel to watch you using tools the brand is irrelevant to me. As a DIY, I spend on a tool to get the value I think I need to get. Sometimes that is very cheap sometimes it is less cheap. I have no need or desire for "Gucci" Level" anything, so I do not buy it. You get a higher level of value out of your tools so you justify that level to yourself, and yourself is the only one that matters here.
Watching 5 or 6 videos of yours each day, I’ve never felt that you were ever coming close to trying to sell the viewers those high end Gucci tools. In fact most of the “quick sales pitches†and “links in the description†are for cheaper knock off brands that essentially do the same job, ie. Caliper compressor, hose clamp pliers, angry pliers, etc. Keep up the great content. Your videos are very informative, honest and entertaining. Remember, have a great day.
Well said, Ray! Your 20+ year accumulation of tools isn't all SnapOn. They are all tools you've Needed at one point or another. And your "this is my money making drawer" from a different video. That'd be your "use from here everyday" drawer. Probly not all SnapOn either. As an electrician (my field) and an auto repair Craftsman in your field, by now you know what you "want," don't need to think about what others think about the brand you have Many reasons to prefer and desire and also can Afford. Your choice, go for it! I'll keep my couple of remaining SnapOn brand tools and continue to Never buy certain other "cheap" brand tools. You don't advocate "tool debt" (kudos to you!). Keep up the good work, tool "plugs" incuded! Thanks for showing how you "fix things when they are broke" and talking though that troubleshooting process! The answers to the troubleshooting questions can lead So Many Directions! Thanks for arriving at the correct answers that so often lead to the Correct answer/solutions.
I owned a construction company for over 40 years, I always spent based on what kind of use I anticipated for the tool. If it was infrequent light duty use, I spent accordingly. Same with heavy use. I was working on some doors and had an interesting conversation with one of my vendors, a HVAC guy. I had just purchased a new Makita cordless set, something I did every few years just because I gave them heavy use. He was admiring my new set. He said he sure would love to have some, but his wife insisted that he only buy the cheap Ryobi stuff. I was shocked, not once in my career did I ever feel the need to consult with my wife when I was buying something for my business. I never spent myself into debt. If I found a good deal on a used tool, I'd grab it. I used a $40 miter saw I bought at a thrift store.
LOL, this guy letting his wife dictate what he spent on his own business.
Very level headed coments.
Aaaaaaah your face…reeeeeee
So you don't have a Snap-On affiliates link for us to click? 😆😆
loved the video,, great advice to new comers to the trade thank you
Some stuff is worth it, ratchets for example. Cheap ones break and stop the work dead! Other stuff not so important . Choose wisely my friend!
Great point sir
Most important rule to the tool truck get one tool pay for it before you get anything else
Do it right, or do it twice.
You nailed it!
I find it humorous that most people who are critical of guys like me that spend money for American made high end tools are the same goobers that’ll pay $800 for a Chinese cell phone that costs about $5 for the communists to build with slaves. Strange that they have no sense of overpaying for something that will never make them a dime and will be outdated in two years. I started twisting wrenches for a living in the mid 80s and have several hundred thousand bucks in tools alone and I’ve never picked up one of them and wished that I had purchased a Wu-Han knockoff instead. Tools DON’T make the technician but I’ve never met a top shelf technician that wasn’t serious about having quality tools.
After 45 years of heavy duty semi truck repair I have a huge selection of Snap on ,Mac. S&K Marco match sets . I was 20 years before I bought a Match space saver box just di everything fit into one big rollaway. After another 25 and when I retired sold my box and a bunch of the big stuff to s new guy to help him get started without getting into a bunch of debt. If I had to borrow a tool more than 3 times I would buy it. Love the channel
I have never once heard you "promote" Snap-On. People that call you out as a salesman or a sales rep have never received sales training. Except this video, you don't call them an investment. You don't tout the advantages of Snap-on vs. Craftsman. You never mention their warranty or the payment plans. If you WERE a Snap-on sales rep, you'd have been written up for your terrible sales pitch, and DEFINITELY would've gotten a lot of $hit for your Amazon affiliate links selling their competitors products. If anything, you might be a Snap-on fanboy, but that's about it. Keep making great videos Ray, and YOU DO YOU. Buy whatever tools make you happy.
I'm still using the tools from a Channel Lock set my wife got me for $45 or something from Sam's Club back fifteen years ago. I've replaced the ratchets and a few other items from that kit but those wrenches and sockets and bits get used all the time because they work. When my current ratchets and other things break again I'm hoping I can afford something quality to replace it. If not, HF it is. Like you said, there's no sense backing into a debt corner over a tool. I don't see the point of going $300 into debt for a ratchet if I don't have the cash up front. I'd rather buy the $15 HF one a few times while saving for the nicer one. If that gets to be too tedious there's probably a $40 Craftsman one, or a Kobalt, or a Husky, or maybe I might see a used truck branded (Mac, Matco, Cornwall, Snapon, etc) one on FBM or at a garage sale.
But if I ever get this garage idea off the ground and I find I'm breaking a ratchet every couple of weeks…well first of all I better evaluate my tool handling and use procedures because that shouldn't be happening…but if I'm using that ratchet so much that I'm eating one up that often, then that would be a time to consider debt if I'm using it every day for income. It will pay for itself, and if it doesn't break then I'm avoiding downtime, or breaking extensions and adapters for other size tools to make it work in a pinch, and that's money saved/earned there too.
Sure tools are an investment. Back when I started buying Snap-Ons (early 1980s) my Snap-On guy was very easy. There were no "terms" as I recall. Most of the time his price was rounded down from the catalog list price. If I was short some weeks he would take as little as $20/week. It was pretty damn easy to accumulate some really good tools quickly. One key factor in addition to quality was support. If a wrench or socket failed on me a quick call (he had a pager. Remember those?) and he would come by within the hour with a replacement. He even dropped a big socket off once on a Sunday that I needed early Monday morning for a job. Snap-On will not warranty tools that have been abused. If you use a chrome socket on your impact gun and shred the chrome, wallow out the socket or crack it, tough. They would gladly sell you the black oxide impact set and they will warranty that for impact use. Snap-Ons weren't the best of everything. I don't know about now but back then their hex drive stuff was soft. Too soft for a lot of the fasteners on European cars. The German tool brands like Hazet, Dowidat, Belzer, and Stahlwillie were MUCH better than the Snap-Ons for hex, Torx, and a few other styles. Snap-On screwdrivers were good… but the German Wiha and Hazet brands are better. I don't care about the "no questions asked lifetime warranty" on Craftsman tools. It doesn't do me a damn bit of good if the tool breaks in the middle of a busy day. I didn't have time to run down to the local Sears to get a new one even if they had it. Cheap poor quality tools end up costing you more money than buying the right tool in the first place because once you get the right tool you are out the money for the cheap tool you bought the first time.
Ray I absolutely love your videos and could watch them all day. I do have one request, can you do a video on just your topdon scan tool? I’m currently enrolled to start auto tech school and I need a good scan tool that won’t break the bank. Thanks in advance.
It's also tax deductable I suspect at least it would be here anyway. Sometimes spending money makes more sense than paying more tax
Truth is, Snap-On and Blue Point are often just rebranded something else at 5x the cost. The only advantage to them is the "lifetime" warranty and the tool truck that comes around every so often, where you can "technically" get a free replacement. Although your mileage with the Strap-On "lifetime warranty" may vary, according to many mechanics out there… ðŸ˜
Pretty shocking that people are so stupid commenting on you thinking you're being an advertising guy when like you said it is your own choice to buy whatever you want I bought a nut driver socket for a rim from snap on because that was the only thing that was out on the market at that time most of mine is Stanley tools and it's not expensive or princess auto tools
I feel the same, I own a shop now and I still can’t bring myself to buy a large Snap on tool box, I bought a Matco three bay teal/purple 4s tool box that was damaged.
I have a very boring Snap on roll cart that cost way too much and never bought another snap on box again
My opinion is pretty simple. Snap-On makes great products, No doubt. Anyone that says otherwise is a moron. And SOME of their stuff is absolutely the best. I have several Snap-On tools (btw, I'm an IT guy, not a mechanic). I have three Snap-On torque angle torque wrenches, a few ratchets, a few sockets, the Snap-On HEMI valve spring compressor, and a few other things. However, the bulk of my tools are a mix of Proto, Wright, SK, old school Craftsman, old School Armstrong, a few Williams, old school KD Tool, and my split beam torque wrenches are Precision Instruments. My issue with Snap-On as a whole is that a lot of their products, while great, are no better than other top name American made tools yet cost 2-5 times as much. A perfect example is my combo wrenches are Wright Grip 2.0 by the Wright Tool Company. They are every single bit as good, or dare I say possibly even slightly better, than Snap-On Flank Drive 2.0 combo wrenches, but were 1/3 the cost of Snap-On. When the Snap-On tool is, hands down, the superior product, I buy Snap-On (as long as it's not so severely overpriced that it's just freaking stupid), but most of the time, they are of "equal" quality to other name brand USA made tools, but are way overpriced.
Your tools are your job you need good tools to last so you can work that's your choice of tools just because you have them doesn't mean everyone has to get what you can afford and what you need I'm an HVAC TECHNICIAN with my own tools get what you need and can afford I do have mechanics tools because I work on my own car that I use for racing it took me almost 20 years to build up my tools
The only people whining about this are the people who can't turn a wrench anyway.
To me, it makes sense to buy super high quality “things†that you use daily and especially if you use it daily TO MAKE YOUR LIVING. Cheap tools can become expensive if you are constantly replacing them because they break or tear up something you are using them on. For me, I buy Craftsman or DeWalt etc. they aren’t the cheapest but I only use them occasionally. They work well enough and with light use they will last for a long time (will probably go to my son when I am dead….most likely in the not too distant future because I’m already an old fart). Even the cheap Harbor Freight stuff is fine for some tools…..like a hammer, jack stand, tire chock, some wrenches and even sockets. Cheap socket wrenches tend to break. Maybe another way to say it is the quality of tools should reflect one’s span of knowledge and frequency of use.
I feel sorry for the people that envy your tool box. I know the feeling. Unfortunately we can not afford to buy tools that will not hold up to the job or cannot be replaced quickly.
Spent thirteen years building and remodeling. When I made my money with my tools I bought the best I could afford . When you make you living with tools you buy the best you can afford or what you like the best. When I hardly ever used a tool I went to harbor freight. Your videos teach so many skills what brand of tools you used is meaningless.
I'm a Gear-Wrench freak.
You know, it would be really great if you put together a ‘starter kit’ for newbies coming into the profession. Maybe a basic, get started in the workshop set, then a B set, a few essential add-ones.
Your tools are what make you money. As a woodworker tools I need I spend to get a good product. Mainly for longevity and warranty stuff. You do you and thats perfectly fine. I see a lot of tools on your channel I'd like (ratchets, sockets, wrenches etc) but me personally can't justify the price as I won't use it as often to warranty the cost. Keep on trucking!
I don’t buy anything I can’t justify. My neighbor got a new toolbox and put his old one in the trash, it ended up in my garage…
I'm 62, self employed and work on the railway in the UK. I buy my own tools. Like you, I now buy what I want, not what I need. However I'm comfortable with the tools I have. Most of mine are from a high street shop called Halfords. Their professional range of tools has a life time guarantee. Some is Snap On or Facom. But I use what works. To hell with what other keyboard warrior experts say. My tools, my choice
Damn right about the tool chest some of them are the price of a car and I don't mean a junker! As for the weekly or monthly pay scheme I agree as I did that back in the 80's when snap-on man came round and you end up spending back then hundreds on stuff you really didn't need
As a retired aircraft mechanic (80 years old), I regularly watch your channel. Your advice to newbie mechs was spot on. I worked alongside many mechs who were heavily in debt and owed most of their pay check to the “tool truck guy†. Keep up the entertaining and informative video, thanks.
Those electric wrenches must earn their money back in days, but there are a lot of good deals out there, and every mechanic has a view. if you can afford it, and it gives you pleasure to own it and use it, why not? everyone with a car makes a similar decision
Great advice, Ray.
You don't hype any tool outside of the one you use to make a repair.
Ray, your high level of common sense,is a rare quality these days.
Good tools = usually means good mechanic , If i had a choice between two mechanics, Id pick the snap on one every time.
Just curious what people would recommend for someone who doesn't have a tool truck service available or like myself that isn't a professional but has a weekend hobby of working on boat engines and project cars. Lately I have been looking at Tekton, Gearwrench, Dewalt and Milwaukee hand tools since I have not liked what I have seen from the new craftsman tools (cost vs value and quality).
You're doing great Ray in my book, I'm sorry people give you crap about tools, of your trade to do a better job, as a fellow mechanic I totally understand, I have good tools and awesome tools, and some fancy stuff, which replaced a good tool, or an awesome one, upwards and onwards. And like Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can please some of the people some of the time, you can please most of the people most of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." Some folks are jelly because they want what they don't work for this generation thinks they are entitled to or should just have by no work of their own. It's crazy. You offer a channel about your job and help people by showing not only what brake job looks like but what a good honest mechanic looks like and does. The tools you use I think are cool, am I jelly nope, do I think you are a salesman lol, nope. This isn't Rainman Ray's tool sales channel. You sir are doing a fine fantastic job and I hope you are having a fantastic day knowing you are doing good sir! And most importantly I thank you for the content and opening your life up and showing the job, the trade, and the tools. I say bravo Ray, I love your channel, positivity, humor good honest work, we do something's different but all is mechanics do lol, and that's okay as there are some gray areas in this field, but most things are plan as day. Thumbs up as always!
Preach
Retired career body&paint man.
Pawned snapons for pennies on the dollar
loved this you are correct. I ws a auto repair tech way back.
For your work it's a tax write-off isn't it.
Cool, we finally get to see your face. Good information. I do think some of those tools makes you a faster worker. Until I saw your video I did not know they had a tool that looks like a drill but spins off and on the nuts and bolts with ease. I literally only used a ratchet set and having to use multiple back and forth motion to get that nut loosen; or tightened.
I have never thought that you were were pushing anything. I watch this channel to watch you using tools the brand is irrelevant to me. As a DIY, I spend on a tool to get the value I think I need to get. Sometimes that is very cheap sometimes it is less cheap. I have no need or desire for "Gucci" Level" anything, so I do not buy it. You get a higher level of value out of your tools so you justify that level to yourself, and yourself is the only one that matters here.
Watching 5 or 6 videos of yours each day, I’ve never felt that you were ever coming close to trying to sell the viewers those high end Gucci tools. In fact most of the “quick sales pitches†and “links in the description†are for cheaper knock off brands that essentially do the same job, ie. Caliper compressor, hose clamp pliers, angry pliers, etc. Keep up the great content. Your videos are very informative, honest and entertaining. Remember, have a great day.
Well said, Ray! Your 20+ year accumulation of tools isn't all SnapOn. They are all tools you've Needed at one point or another. And your "this is my money making drawer" from a different video. That'd be your "use from here everyday" drawer. Probly not all SnapOn either. As an electrician (my field) and an auto repair Craftsman in your field, by now you know what you "want," don't need to think about what others think about the brand you have Many reasons to prefer and desire and also can Afford. Your choice, go for it! I'll keep my couple of remaining SnapOn brand tools and continue to Never buy certain other "cheap" brand tools. You don't advocate "tool debt" (kudos to you!). Keep up the good work, tool "plugs" incuded! Thanks for showing how you "fix things when they are broke" and talking though that troubleshooting process! The answers to the troubleshooting questions can lead So Many Directions! Thanks for arriving at the correct answers that so often lead to the Correct answer/solutions.
I owned a construction company for over 40 years, I always spent based on what kind of use I anticipated for the tool. If it was infrequent light duty use, I spent accordingly. Same with heavy use. I was working on some doors and had an interesting conversation with one of my vendors, a HVAC guy. I had just purchased a new Makita cordless set, something I did every few years just because I gave them heavy use. He was admiring my new set. He said he sure would love to have some, but his wife insisted that he only buy the cheap Ryobi stuff. I was shocked, not once in my career did I ever feel the need to consult with my wife when I was buying something for my business. I never spent myself into debt. If I found a good deal on a used tool, I'd grab it. I used a $40 miter saw I bought at a thrift store.
LOL, this guy letting his wife dictate what he spent on his own business.
Very level headed coments.
Aaaaaaah your face…reeeeeee
So you don't have a Snap-On affiliates link for us to click?
😆😆
loved the video,, great advice to new comers to the trade thank you
Some stuff is worth it, ratchets for example. Cheap ones break and stop the work dead! Other stuff not so important . Choose wisely my friend!
Great point sir
Most important rule to the tool truck get one tool pay for it before you get anything else
Do it right, or do it twice.
You nailed it!
I find it humorous that most people who are critical of guys like me that spend money for American made high end tools are the same goobers that’ll pay $800 for a Chinese cell phone that costs about $5 for the communists to build with slaves. Strange that they have no sense of overpaying for something that will never make them a dime and will be outdated in two years.
I started twisting wrenches for a living in the mid 80s and have several hundred thousand bucks in tools alone and I’ve never picked up one of them and wished that I had purchased a Wu-Han knockoff instead.
Tools DON’T make the technician but I’ve never met a top shelf technician that wasn’t serious about having quality tools.
After 45 years of heavy duty semi truck repair I have a huge selection of Snap on ,Mac. S&K Marco match sets . I was 20 years before I bought a Match space saver box just di everything fit into one big rollaway. After another 25 and when I retired sold my box and a bunch of the big stuff to s new guy to help him get started without getting into a bunch of debt. If I had to borrow a tool more than 3 times I would buy it. Love the channel
I have never once heard you "promote" Snap-On. People that call you out as a salesman or a sales rep have never received sales training. Except this video, you don't call them an investment. You don't tout the advantages of Snap-on vs. Craftsman. You never mention their warranty or the payment plans. If you WERE a Snap-on sales rep, you'd have been written up for your terrible sales pitch, and DEFINITELY would've gotten a lot of $hit for your Amazon affiliate links selling their competitors products. If anything, you might be a Snap-on fanboy, but that's about it. Keep making great videos Ray, and YOU DO YOU. Buy whatever tools make you happy.
I'm still using the tools from a Channel Lock set my wife got me for $45 or something from Sam's Club back fifteen years ago. I've replaced the ratchets and a few other items from that kit but those wrenches and sockets and bits get used all the time because they work. When my current ratchets and other things break again I'm hoping I can afford something quality to replace it. If not, HF it is. Like you said, there's no sense backing into a debt corner over a tool. I don't see the point of going $300 into debt for a ratchet if I don't have the cash up front. I'd rather buy the $15 HF one a few times while saving for the nicer one. If that gets to be too tedious there's probably a $40 Craftsman one, or a Kobalt, or a Husky, or maybe I might see a used truck branded (Mac, Matco, Cornwall, Snapon, etc) one on FBM or at a garage sale.
But if I ever get this garage idea off the ground and I find I'm breaking a ratchet every couple of weeks…well first of all I better evaluate my tool handling and use procedures because that shouldn't be happening…but if I'm using that ratchet so much that I'm eating one up that often, then that would be a time to consider debt if I'm using it every day for income. It will pay for itself, and if it doesn't break then I'm avoiding downtime, or breaking extensions and adapters for other size tools to make it work in a pinch, and that's money saved/earned there too.
Sure tools are an investment. Back when I started buying Snap-Ons (early 1980s) my Snap-On guy was very easy. There were no "terms" as I recall. Most of the time his price was rounded down from the catalog list price. If I was short some weeks he would take as little as $20/week. It was pretty damn easy to accumulate some really good tools quickly.
One key factor in addition to quality was support. If a wrench or socket failed on me a quick call (he had a pager. Remember those?) and he would come by within the hour with a replacement. He even dropped a big socket off once on a Sunday that I needed early Monday morning for a job. Snap-On will not warranty tools that have been abused. If you use a chrome socket on your impact gun and shred the chrome, wallow out the socket or crack it, tough. They would gladly sell you the black oxide impact set and they will warranty that for impact use. Snap-Ons weren't the best of everything. I don't know about now but back then their hex drive stuff was soft. Too soft for a lot of the fasteners on European cars. The German tool brands like Hazet, Dowidat, Belzer, and Stahlwillie were MUCH better than the Snap-Ons for hex, Torx, and a few other styles. Snap-On screwdrivers were good… but the German Wiha and Hazet brands are better.
I don't care about the "no questions asked lifetime warranty" on Craftsman tools. It doesn't do me a damn bit of good if the tool breaks in the middle of a busy day. I didn't have time to run down to the local Sears to get a new one even if they had it. Cheap poor quality tools end up costing you more money than buying the right tool in the first place because once you get the right tool you are out the money for the cheap tool you bought the first time.
Ray I absolutely love your videos and could watch them all day. I do have one request, can you do a video on just your topdon scan tool? I’m currently enrolled to start auto tech school and I need a good scan tool that won’t break the bank. Thanks in advance.
It's also tax deductable I suspect at least it would be here anyway. Sometimes spending money makes more sense than paying more tax
Truth is, Snap-On and Blue Point are often just rebranded something else at 5x the cost. The only advantage to them is the "lifetime" warranty and the tool truck that comes around every so often, where you can "technically" get a free replacement. Although your mileage with the Strap-On "lifetime warranty" may vary, according to many mechanics out there… ðŸ˜
Pretty shocking that people are so stupid commenting on you thinking you're being an advertising guy when like you said it is your own choice to buy whatever you want I bought a nut driver socket for a rim from snap on because that was the only thing that was out on the market at that time most of mine is Stanley tools and it's not expensive or princess auto tools