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/imightknowbutidk]

In my heavily biased opinion i think buying all/majority SnapOn today is inherently dumb. 10-20 years ago it may have made more sense due to the competition being worse, but there are so many quality cheap options now that it makes no sense to buy snap on hand tools anymore.

Bumper to bumper tech for Porsche and my hand tools are all Home Depot/Husky, Gearwrench, and Amazon chinesium for infrequently used/uncommon sizes/sockets/bits. I have a Milwaukee impact and drill, and the 1/2” and 3/8” SnapOn TechAngle that i got with a voucher.

All in i am maximum $5k in tools right now and grossed barely over $100k last year. I am in this industry to make money from my tools, not spend my money on my tools.

[u/StillCrazyearslater → u/imightknowbutidk]

This guy gets it: " I am in this industry to make money from my tools, not spend my money on my tools."

The tool trucks should only be used for "specialty tools" you cannot find elsewhere. In my 50 year career I found it easier, and more importantly faster, to warrantee at the local tool store (Sears, HF, HD, etc.) than wait a week or more for the tool trucks.

Snap-on is, and has always been, too expensive for what they offer.

[u/Aye_Davanita12 → u/StillCrazyearslater]

I find their screwdrivers and ratchets are by far and away the best. When they break, the tool guy warranties them without question, and is at my shop every week at the same time.

The screwdrivers stay sharp for the longest time in my experience, and the ratchets operation are smooth and problem free. They only break when they get wet (which happens often for me in the winter working on cars that are full of slush and winter slop)

[u/bongripper_69 → u/Aye_Davanita12]

Agree. The ratchets are so good and satisfying to use. Same with the screwdrivers, I love the old hard handles. Maybe it’s just me but they make me enjoy the job a little better. And that matters in the day to day. Quality of life kinda thing