tools - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

ryan2l · 06-12-2004, 07:25 PM

Looking to buy some tools here pretty soon cause i get really good student discounts 50% off snapon and 62% off matco and not sure what it is on mac. I am looking into getting matco right now anyone have pro's and con's of each of these brands.

Any opinions or comments would be great.

frankenfab · 06-12-2004, 07:42 PM

I spent a few years as a professional mechanic. Some shops may have a MAC or a MATCO dealer make the rounds. Some shops may not. I haven't seen any shop that didn't have a Snap On dealer. I also think the quality is a little better with Snap On.

stunnin650 · 06-12-2004, 08:32 PM

ive been a mechanic for 5 years now i started with craftsman and have mostly mac tools they are really good to me, but for wrenches go snap on the have rounded edges more comfortable on the hands, mac is a little cheaper on there prices for the same quality

amsoil man · 06-12-2004, 08:57 PM

i own a matco box and almost all matco tools have had very little trouble with them i would recomend them over snap-on but thats just my $.02 thanks,jr

Toyota_Jim · 06-12-2004, 09:41 PM

ive bought several things off the matco guy here lately. I traded in my prybars and got the matco ones cause i can beat on the end of them with the handle.
i like matco's stuff but buy 99% snap on.

bobbed83toy · 06-12-2004, 11:00 PM

well since i turn wrenches for a living.. i have a snap on box, some snap on tools.. but most of my stuff is mac.. i have some of everything... but i like my mac stuff better.. i get 27percent off and no tax from mac.. and dont have to pay tax on snap on stuff

camo · 06-13-2004, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbed83toy

well since i turn wrenches for a living.. i have a snap on box, some snap on tools.. but most of my stuff is mac.. i have some of everything... but i like my mac stuff better.. i get 27percent off and no tax from mac.. and dont have to pay tax on snap on stuff

thats a real smart thing to post in a public forum

camo · 06-13-2004, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan2l

Looking to buy some tools here pretty soon cause i get really good student discounts 50% off snapon and 62% off matco and not sure what it is on mac. I am looking into getting matco right now anyone have pro's and con's of each of these brands.

Any opinions or comments would be great.

personally i prefer snap-on tools for there design and quality. buy a few from each and see what works best for you. snappys wrenchs and sockets are superior and when it comes to snap ring pliers you can't beat the snap on units. mac makes some nice screwdrivers. matco..... i can't think of anything they make that is better than another brand,

tool boxes, i think the snap on is the best but spendy. mac is a great box and probally the best value

stomper4x4 · 06-13-2004, 02:45 AM

I have used Snap-On, Craftsman, Ace, Napa, and Benchtop brand tools, have never had the chance to use Matco or Mac....I prefer Snap-On, over the others,,you can tell the diffrence in Quality in the way the ratchets sound, and the sound the wrenches make when ya tap them on something....

PTSchram · 06-13-2004, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camo

thats a real smart thing to post in a public forum

The tax forms I fill out have a box that states "sale of manufacturing machinery, tools and equipment to be used directly in direct production".

At least in Indiana, it's legal. While one is supposed to pay property tax on such purchases yearly, I doubt many do, and supposedly, this is going away in the next year (IIRC).

I used to get a 40% industrial discount on Snap-On stuff, but the shipping was horrible. I now get 25% off Snap-On and free shipping!!! But, I can't buy from the truck, catalog only to get that deal.

As for what Ryan should use his discount for-get the biggest roller cabinet they will give you the discount on. If you're gonna do this for a living, you have to be able to find the tools you have (voice of experience speaking).

Peace,
PT

bobbed83toy · 06-13-2004, 08:56 AM

because i work on a military base and my tools are used to work on government veicles.. i dont have to pay tax...

tbone420 · 06-13-2004, 08:50 PM

since ive been a ase master tech for 10 years ive seen alot of good and crappy tools. i think matco toolboxs are the best they use a frame. snapon and mac boxes use the draws as structure for the frame. matco sells alot of stuff that they dont make and doesnt hold up to everyday use. mac is even worse with selling off the wall shit. i prefer snapon tools they seem to hold up best. but they also sell bluepoint stuff that is often times junk. so look at what your buying and make your own choice.........Tbone

SR5Dave · 06-13-2004, 10:17 PM

I have a buncha craftsman stuff. Its not the best, but its great for me who is just a weekend wrencher, wont break the bank (although not HF cheap).

Thanks to my GF for picking up two huge full ball bearing chests and a full set of mechanics tools, all craftsman.. She loves me

Whats this about a student discount???

93sky4x · 02-09-2005, 09:01 AM

yeah, discount sounds really nice

!wayota · 02-09-2005, 10:13 AM

For the weekend wrencher Craftsman is the ticket, you can get a crap load more tools
going with craftsman than snap-on or mac.

mudhound72 · 02-09-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomper4x4

I have used Snap-On, Craftsman, Ace, Napa, and Benchtop brand tools, have never had the chance to use Matco or Mac....I prefer Snap-On, over the others,,you can tell the diffrence in Quality in the way the ratchets sound, and the sound the wrenches make when ya tap them on something....

I have a few strap-on ratchets 1/4 and 3/8 BOTH ARE JUNK!!!

The 1/4 gets repaired every other week 3/8 lasts a little longer I ended up trading both in for Matco ratchets. Other Strap-on wrenches and tools are ok but if it goes click click it will not last. BTW neather were used with cheater bars

NOT76 · 02-09-2005, 10:32 PM

I've got plenty of tools from both. Best advise I have is not to buy anything that doesn't have their name on it(on the tool not the box). Matco especially has alot of stuff they don't make, later you'll find it way way cheaper somewhere else and thats after the garbage broke. Matco's screwdrivers with the fuzzy grippy stuff on the grip is cool but is a pain to clean. Matco's ratching wrenches are great and alot cheaper than snapon.
I wouldn't buy any of their air tools: I've got a supposed powerful $300 snap on 1/2 impact that isn't as powerful as my home depot $100 impact, I've got a 3/8 matco ratchet thats in for warranty repair right now and a 1/4 snapon ratchet in for repair right now(2yrs on it and $75 to fix it). My cheapo air tools hold up just as good and they're so cheap I can throw them away when they screw up and get a new one cheaper than repair of the "good stuff". Now Ingersaw Rand, I've got a 3/8 impact with 7 yrs on it. It looks beat,lots of use, but still kicking butt.

SOBX2380 · 02-19-2005, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan2l

Looking to buy some tools here pretty soon cause i get really good student discounts 50% off snapon and 62% off matco and not sure what it is on mac. I am looking into getting matco right now anyone have pro's and con's of each of these brands.

Any opinions or comments would be great.

Lemme guess....MMI/UTI? If so what program are you in?

Nick

Just-fabricate-it · 02-20-2005, 11:41 AM

My son was in one of those programs and got the large discount from Matco. We spent about $2500 on $5K worth of top/bottom tool box. Should have even done more on the toolbox but there was about another $2500 we spent on tools.

06-12-2004, 07:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
ryan2l Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Member # 31897 Location: Washington Posts: 68	tools Looking to buy some tools here pretty soon cause i get really good student discounts 50% off snapon and 62% off matco and not sure what it is on mac. I am looking into getting matco right now anyone have pro's and con's of each of these brands. Any opinions or comments would be great.

06-12-2004, 07:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
frankenfab Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Member # 18989 Location: Utah Posts: 526	I spent a few years as a professional mechanic. Some shops may have a MAC or a MATCO dealer make the rounds. Some shops may not. I haven't seen any shop that didn't have a Snap On dealer. I also think the quality is a little better with Snap On. __________________ A flash of lightning illuminated the object, wretch, hideous, filthy daemon. A new species would bless me as its creator.

06-12-2004, 08:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
amsoil man Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Member # 31374 Posts: 3	tools i own a matco box and almost all matco tools have had very little trouble with them i would recomend them over snap-on but thats just my $.02 thanks,jr

06-12-2004, 09:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Toyota_Jim Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Member # 2967 Location: Down yonder Posts: 2,247	ive bought several things off the matco guy here lately. I traded in my prybars and got the matco ones cause i can beat on the end of them with the handle. i like matco's stuff but buy 99% snap on. __________________ Everyone said there would be bad days, I just never figured there would be this many.

06-12-2004, 11:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
bobbed83toy Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Member # 948 Location: Oceanside ca Posts: 1,983	well since i turn wrenches for a living.. i have a snap on box, some snap on tools.. but most of my stuff is mac.. i have some of everything... but i like my mac stuff better.. i get 27percent off and no tax from mac.. and dont have to pay tax on snap on stuff __________________ tin benders 2002 2003 carnage champs [URL=http://www.tinbenders.org] [B]TIN BENDERS[/B][/URL]

06-12-2004, 08:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
stunnin650 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 30115 Location: brentwood Posts: 210	ive been a mechanic for 5 years now i started with craftsman and have mostly mac tools they are really good to me, but for wrenches go snap on the have rounded edges more comfortable on the hands, mac is a little cheaper on there prices for the same quality

06-13-2004, 02:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
stomper4x4 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 22805 Location: Guam, USA Posts: 1,152	I have used Snap-On, Craftsman, Ace, Napa, and Benchtop brand tools, have never had the chance to use Matco or Mac....I prefer Snap-On, over the others,,you can tell the diffrence in Quality in the way the ratchets sound, and the sound the wrenches make when ya tap them on something.... __________________ [B][COLOR=Green][QUOTE] So you want all for yourself alone And you don't think about the other man Let me tell you my friend if you gonna live this life It's not good for you to build strife Robert Neshta Marley ; Cravin choke puppy[/QUOTE][/COLOR][/B]

06-13-2004, 08:56 AM	#11 (permalink)
bobbed83toy Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Member # 948 Location: Oceanside ca Posts: 1,983	because i work on a military base and my tools are used to work on government veicles.. i dont have to pay tax... __________________ tin benders 2002 2003 carnage champs [URL=http://www.tinbenders.org] [B]TIN BENDERS[/B][/URL]

06-13-2004, 08:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
tbone420 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17874 Location: American Canyon, CA Posts: 262	since ive been a ase master tech for 10 years ive seen alot of good and crappy tools. i think matco toolboxs are the best they use a frame. snapon and mac boxes use the draws as structure for the frame. matco sells alot of stuff that they dont make and doesnt hold up to everyday use. mac is even worse with selling off the wall shit. i prefer snapon tools they seem to hold up best. but they also sell bluepoint stuff that is often times junk. so look at what your buying and make your own choice.........Tbone __________________ '89 zuk -locked toys- 37s- and stuff -lots of dents why do i insist on rolling this thing?

06-13-2004, 10:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
SR5Dave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15697 Posts: 2,862	I have a buncha craftsman stuff. Its not the best, but its great for me who is just a weekend wrencher, wont break the bank (although not HF cheap). Thanks to my GF for picking up two huge full ball bearing chests and a full set of mechanics tools, all craftsman.. She loves me Whats this about a student discount??? __________________ Wait, what?

02-09-2005, 09:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
93sky4x Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Member # 32735 Location: Auburn, Al Posts: 87	yeah, discount sounds really nice

02-09-2005, 10:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
!wayota Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 42176 Location: College Place, WA Posts: 10	For the weekend wrencher Craftsman is the ticket, you can get a crap load more tools going with craftsman than snap-on or mac.

02-09-2005, 10:32 PM	#17 (permalink)
NOT76 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 4318 Location: california Posts: 40	I've got plenty of tools from both. Best advise I have is not to buy anything that doesn't have their name on it(on the tool not the box). Matco especially has alot of stuff they don't make, later you'll find it way way cheaper somewhere else and thats after the garbage broke. Matco's screwdrivers with the fuzzy grippy stuff on the grip is cool but is a pain to clean. Matco's ratching wrenches are great and alot cheaper than snapon. I wouldn't buy any of their air tools: I've got a supposed powerful $300 snap on 1/2 impact that isn't as powerful as my home depot $100 impact, I've got a 3/8 matco ratchet thats in for warranty repair right now and a 1/4 snapon ratchet in for repair right now(2yrs on it and $75 to fix it). My cheapo air tools hold up just as good and they're so cheap I can throw them away when they screw up and get a new one cheaper than repair of the "good stuff". Now Ingersaw Rand, I've got a 3/8 impact with 7 yrs on it. It looks beat,lots of use, but still kicking butt.

02-20-2005, 11:41 AM	#19 (permalink)
Just-fabricate-it Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13069 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 148	My son was in one of those programs and got the large discount from Matco. We spent about $2500 on $5K worth of top/bottom tool box. Should have even done more on the toolbox but there was about another $2500 we spent on tools.

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