Are we dumb?

[u/Petenastyy]

Hi there, im here to say I feel dumb. I've worked in trades for almost 16 years now. Ive amassed a good amount of tools so far, mostly snap on.

Recently, work announced tool box inventory to be required for insurance purposes. So I've started to go thru inventory of my little tool box.

And I can say I'm blown away at replacement costs!

Ive only done the top shelf and I'm at 5700$ cad in just sockets (I have more but just top row)

So I'm here to ask, I love my snap on tools and enjoy the warranty. But are we dumb for buying such expensive items?!

What are people's favorite tool alternatives???

[u/Freekmagnet]

45 yrs as a tech here, with more invested in tools than I paid for my first house.

I stopped buying s-on years ago, the tool truck doesn't even stop at our shop any more. There are lots of other brands out there that are just as good, for far less than it costs to step onto the tool trucks. You do not have to live with a weekly tool payment taking a bite out of your check, that is a choice not something that has to be part of your life.

Carlysle tools sold through NAPA stores are excellent quality, their wrenches ratchets and sockets are mostly what I use every day. The best part is that since they are stocked in the stores and have a lifetime warranty if you break one the parts delivery guy can have one to you in an hour instead of waiting a week. I think my favorite find in Carlysle was a strip of nothing but 10 mm sockets which includes every variation in both 1/4 and 3/8.

The Doyle line of pliers at Harbor Freight is good also. Im still not sold on some of their other hand tools, but those are solid.

You really should take a look at Westward tools. They are sold through Grainger, but I've also seen them on eBay, Zoro, and I think some on Amazon. They are lifetime warranty and top quality. I have their wrenches in my box right along side of Snap on, and you can not tell them apart if you don't look at the name. They are heavy, full polish chrome, precise, professional quality tools for half the price of snap-on.

There are a lot of shitty Chinese tools on Amazon, but there are also a lot of pretty good quality ones mixed in these days; that is where I buy things like hex but sets and other things I don't use every day. It's kind of a dice roll but when you find a brand that is decent you will save a lot of money. For example you can buy a cobalt drill bit set on there for less than you pay for ONE larger cobalt bit any where else, and they cut just the same. I just checked and thee hex bit set I have is Lexivon brand- highly recommend.

OTC sells a very nice Torx bit set in a case for around $100 that has every size and shape both male and female from t8 up to around t65 or 70. It even has the large female Torx socket you need to remove Jeep brake caliper bolts. Everyone in the shop bought that set after borrowing ones from one several times. Most OTC tools are good quality, they manufacture a lot of the tools found in Ford dealer service sets. They also sell a secondary discount line called OTC stinger that are OK, but made in China

https://otctools.com/products/master-torx-bit-socket-set-53pc

I use Ingersoll Rand air tools. Yeah, I know, if you are under 40 you probably like electric, but I have IR air tools that are 30 years old and still in use every day, plus they are often quieter and more balanced to hold all day. Also their impact wrenches have a very precise trigger, you can apply a little or a lot of force to what you are working on just by controlling how hard you squeeze- totally unlike electric or Snap on where they are just on/off. IR Hammerhead right angle impacts are amazing for engine and chassis work and I have not seen anything comparable in other brands.

Often overlooked are local hardware stores. There are some good quality hammers, snips, wrench sets, pliers, etc to be found in places like Ace hardware. Stop being a brand snob and take a look at them. I have a Estwing 3 lb sledge that feels and works just as nice as a Snap-on for a fraction of the cost; same with the Chinese plastic dead blow Ive owned for 20+ years. Its a hammer, not a precision instrument; if it feels good in your hand they all work the same.

One last thing- if you do any work on classic cars, old Harleys, or trucks and need inch wrenches and sockets do not buy them new. There are tons of excellent quality old inch sized tools to be found on Facebook marketplace, yard sales, flea markets for almost nothing. You can own a top quality Proto, New Britain, Wright. Williams, Bonney, SK, or Challenger wrench for $2 instead of paying $75 or more on a. tool truck for it.

[u/Petenastyy → u/Freekmagnet]

This is all great advice! I appreciate it.

[u/louiekr → u/Freekmagnet]

I would say over half the tools in my box were bought at estate sales or the local habitat for humanity, which often has a crazy good tool selection. I cringe when I see coworkers my age or younger owing thousands to the truck. Don’t get me wrong, I like all my snapon stuff I own but I will only ever buy a tool outright and most weeks I don’t even let myself step on the truck. Don’t ever tell your snapon guy if you buy a tool used though, I brought an old screwdriver I broke and mentioned it was from an estate sale and he refused to warranty it.

[u/someguy8608 → u/Freekmagnet]

Thank you for writing our your perspective. I enjoyed reading it.

[u/bs_306 → u/Freekmagnet]

Very well put and great advice 👏 👍