CORNWELL OR SNAP ON
#21
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Yooper
Posts: 168
The biggest thing I have seen with matco, snap on, mac, and cornwell is alot of the tools are the same just rebadged. Plus if any of you seen the episode of hows it made you would of seen waterloo tool box companys assembly line and when they get to the trim department they were not getting waterloo badges. I will tell you this my buddy has a custom snap-on box with a made in waterloo Ia sticker on it, same goes for my mac tools cart. I beleive all tool boxs come from the same place but each manufacturer requires different quilty when built! As for sockets I only buy snap-on but keep in mind that blue point which is sold by snap-on is made in china or someplace like that.
#22
Junior Member
SHOW GUEST
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4
I still have some of the Craftsman tools my Dad used over 40 years ago and haven't broken one yet, maybe I'm not trying hard enough. I still think Snap-On is the best. I have lots of their sockets and haven't broken one of them, but they are so expensive.
#23
Originally Posted by coolracing
The biggest thing I have seen with matco, snap on, mac, and cornwell is alot of the tools are the same just rebadged. Plus if any of you seen the episode of hows it made you would of seen waterloo tool box companys assembly line and when they get to the trim department they were not getting waterloo badges. I will tell you this my buddy has a custom snap-on box with a made in waterloo Ia sticker on it, same goes for my mac tools cart. I beleive all tool boxs come from the same place but each manufacturer requires different quilty when built! As for sockets I only buy snap-on but keep in mind that blue point which is sold by snap-on is made in china or someplace like that.
#24
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: kingsport tn
Posts: 1,729
ok ive got snap on mac craftsman and some matco and stanley yes stanley few yrs back it was like mac or matco that bought stanley ive had my stanleys for about 4 yrs and havent broke a one now my favorite snap on ratchet has been repaired or replaced 5 times in less then a yr and local snap on dealer is a smug jerk thats me .02
#27
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 143
I do beleive all Sears just puts in a kit and gives the same one back.
1 thing I notice is the craftsman has a wide clicking area which is hard to get the sockets to turn in tight spaces, where some of the higher priced socket wrenches have tighter sprockets and work better in tight places.
I have several "blackhawk" wrenches and they are indestructible.
1 thing I notice is the craftsman has a wide clicking area which is hard to get the sockets to turn in tight spaces, where some of the higher priced socket wrenches have tighter sprockets and work better in tight places.
I have several "blackhawk" wrenches and they are indestructible.
#28
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Montvale, VA
Posts: 1,431
Does anyone remember yeeeears ago when Walmart used to sell Popular Mechanic tools? I bought a very complete ratchet and socket set from there right before I started driving,which would have been early 1996. Havent lost or broken a single piece yet! I did break a snapon pivoting head ratchet ,though.And a Craftsman breaker bar.But have never broken any of the PM stuff.Being a Chevy guy with the same set of sockets for over 15 years I have wore the engraving plum off my 9/16 socket. It's just smooth now
I'm a big fan of Kobalt right now.
I'm a big fan of Kobalt right now.
#29
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 628
For years, Craftsman, Snap on, Matco, S&K and several other premium brands of wrenches, and other steel hand tools were made at Western Forge in Colorado Springs. They all came out of the same foundry using the same equipment. The only difference was the design specs from each retailer . . and how shiny they were. The shinier, the more expensive . .
At one time, I had a huge tool box full of Snap On and Matco hand tools . . then I got clear out of the business and hobby . . since then, in the last 30 years I've built two race cars and a street rod with mostly Craftsman Tools . . can't really complain about any of them, other than the old fine ratcheting Ratchets, both Snap On and Craftsman wear out faster than they used to . . And, I haven't "Broken" any of them . . Use 'em as they were designed to be used and you won't . .
But then again, to each his own . . . . .
At one time, I had a huge tool box full of Snap On and Matco hand tools . . then I got clear out of the business and hobby . . since then, in the last 30 years I've built two race cars and a street rod with mostly Craftsman Tools . . can't really complain about any of them, other than the old fine ratcheting Ratchets, both Snap On and Craftsman wear out faster than they used to . . And, I haven't "Broken" any of them . . Use 'em as they were designed to be used and you won't . .
But then again, to each his own . . . . .
#30
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Montvale, VA
Posts: 1,431
I broke my 1/2" Craftsman breaker bar and the Snap-on ratchet using one hand on it. My PM 1/4" has seen more pressure than that Snap-on 3/8 did. Sears exchanged the breaker bar with no questions.Snap-on was not so nice and therefore has never sold me another tool. :wink: