It's Christmas time, and I've decided to purchase some goodies for myself....looking at buying metric and SAE wrench sets, can't decide between Snap On Flank drive + or Matco's wrenches.....so, lets here the opinions on which set to buy..

BTW won't buy MAC, already have craftsman prof....just time to upgrade

matco is craftsman. Period. They are the same wrench, polished a bit differently and stamped different. Mac is NOT craftsman, much nicer. Snapon is good as well. I prefer mac over snapon due to the flat edges being more comfortable than the sharper rounded snapon ones when pulling hard. Mac wrenches also offer their version of the flank drive, which Mac actually introduced first is im not mistaking.

I'm not sure how current this is anymore, but here is a good read.

Who Makes What Tools (http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html)

I would visit some repair shops and get my hands on the tools, see what I like, and talk to technicians about their preferences. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the major tool suppliers.

I would visit some repair shops and get my hands on the tools, see what I like, and talk to technicians about their preferences. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the major tool suppliers.


The best advice yet.
I've used Matco, Snap-on, and Craftsman. My uncle uses a bit of every comapny's tools(40K in tools). We have had no problems with any of them. I just get what I want, at the price I can afford. If Matco has an item I want more than Sears, I get it when the Votech rep comes through. If I want a Craftsman, I just go to Sears and get it. Yes we depend on tools for our income, but we don't argue on a silly issue such as a brand. How much a person likes a tool is not as important as a brand as much as it is how well it feels in your hands, and how it performs with your jobs that you do.

I prefer mac over snapon due to the flat edges being more comfortable than the sharper rounded snapon ones when pulling hard.

I find this comment really interesting. I have been using snap on wrenches for 10 years now, and prefer them then the Mac, as the Mac's square wrenchs are uncomfortable(ie painful almost) for me. I guess its just whatever your used to. I usually buy snap on, as the snap on guys in my area always show up to sell tools, where as the Mac, Matco, etc, are hit or miss and they turnover guys a lot.

Either way I don't think you will go wrong.

Michael

MAC for wrenches ;) Nicest wrenches I've ever turned.

Snap-On wrenches suck IMO... Handles are too sharp, not so nice on the ole fingers.

Matco? Come on....... :flipoff2:

I've got a mixture of pretty much every brand imaginable and when it comes down to the choice between the mac and the snapon, i choose the snapon .

Personally, I'd stay away from any one that uses "Strap on's" That flat scares me :flipoff2:

for wrenches I would actually prefer craftsman over snap-on.

I find the snap-on wrenches to be uncomfortable when pulling hard because of their "sharp" edges.

I have Snap-On wrenches. I think the Professional model Craftsman are comparable to the Snap Ons, I do not like the original Craftsman. I have used the Matco wrenches and like them also, no experience with the Macs.

i have SK and i love them..

Facom !!

I have Craftsman Pro long and short , with Snap-On mid length as my work set.
Snapper long and Craftsman Pro and Old Blackhawk mids at home.

I find this comment really interesting. I have been using snap on wrenches for 10 years now, and prefer them then the Mac, as the Mac's square wrenchs are uncomfortable(ie painful almost) for me. I guess its just whatever your used to. I usually buy snap on, as the snap on guys in my area always show up to sell tools, where as the Mac, Matco, etc, are hit or miss and they turnover guys a lot.

Either way I don't think you will go wrong.

Michael

Yeah its totally personal preference on what ones more comfortable. Both are very high quality.

i used to work at Peterbilt and was changing out a thermocouple on the exhaust outlet close to the turbo on a KW. i figured i would use my craftsman flare nut (brakeline) wrench on it. as i tried to break the fitting loose, to my amazement, i watched the wrench fingers elongate or stretch around the fitting!!! no shit. after that happened i noticed the corners on the 'couple were slightly rounded. so out came my old trusty SNAP-ON black oxide flank drive open end wrench and as i started to pull i watched the wrench bite in break the fitting loose. no shit. now i own both metric and standard sets. i got em in black cause they're cheaper and i can paint em.
so i used to be a "pro wrench" but i learned the hard way that there aint enough money for me in this field. i wish someone would have slapped me and made me not tur:flipoff2: n a hobby into a job.

i figured i would use my craftsman flare nut (brakeline) wrench on it. as i tried to break the fitting loose, to my amazement, i watched the wrench fingers elongate or stretch around the fitting!!!Oh yeah, flare wrenches are one thing where you just gotta get the good stuff.

Well I like wally world's stanley wrenches, they seem to be good quality and are cheap enough. And as long as there is a wal-mart they have a lifetime garentee. Hell I am sure stanley has a lifetime garentee any way

Snap On wrenches suck to use, period. Handle is flat and thin, and the edges are sharp. They fit well, but what does it matter if you cant stand using them? Just my preference.

If you want really comfortable wrenches...

Proto Series 500 full polish. Proto is just as good as ANY automotive brand, marketed as an industrial brand. They are used in heavy industry and stuff, competing directly with Snap On and Armstrong. Wrenches are the nicest Ive ever used, I plan on eventually getting a set or two. I just got a proto torque wrench today, and its a click type advertices to 3% accuracy, calibration certificate shows is only off by no more than 1.055% (and on one reading .83%). Thats better than any other clicker I have ever seen, including snap on.

If you havent used a snap on before, Id say absolutly do not buy them until you have, and can see for yourself what we mean by comfort.

Jim