'Professional' vs DIY Tools - Are Snap On Tools Worth The Money?

Are expensive tools like Snap On, MAC and Matco worth the money for an advanced DIYer or even a professional or is there a diminishing point of return on an investment premium tools? I will give you my opinion on this from my perspective in my garage.

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[martinschaffmeir]

Hello sir fine post. Yeah I have some high end tools but I also like to brag about some deals I got also. Like a gearwrench set for 15. Bucks just a 5pc set but that's 3. Dollars a wrench

[RIDEONDIRT]

But snap on comes with cool plastic trays with all their tools and that 2 cent tray is worth the 300% up charge. Plus it takes up more room so you can have an excuse to buy the bigger snap on box to look cooler.

[wyattoneable]

All good points Tom. I don't blame the professionals who want the best, but for the rest of us who use tools less often, middle grade and sometimes cheap brands do just fine. I do however pick up the higher end tools used when I can find them. Save some money for prepping. :)

[Toolaholic]

Problem with the cheap sets is size skipping, leave out sizes that are commonly used a lot.My dad watched a Snap On puller set go more than retail at an auction once.Some people are this way, pay more than retail on Snap On tools

[BeardedSeabee]

"Do you have girl hands?" Lmao, like the great point on ratchet wrenhes, had my GW set for almost 7 years and still going strong, alot does have to do with frequency, force, specialty, etc. I haveplenty tools from menards, amazon what not, everyones hands different too lol. But of we got a new mechanic in shop tomorrow and he rolled in with hft toolbox, filled with hodgepodge tools that WORK and is able to do job, who cares, getting job done well and tool doesnt break or slip when you really dont want to is what matters.

[ohhowhappygardener]

LOL... good advice... kind of like buying groceries... You can go to Aldi's and spend about 50% less but get the same amount of food with same or better quality than the big box grocery stores.

[IrishLizard]

I don't have a problem with cheaper tool brands or people using them. That being said, I own mostly snap on tools. I am a professional technician and have been for the last 15 years. I don't think of myself as a Snap On fan boy (but I probably am). I like Snap On because a huge amount of their tools (around 80%) are made in the USA. Including electric tools(corded and cordless), air tools, electronics (scanner and DMM's), testing equipment(fuel pressure testers, compression gauges, etc) and almost all of their hand tools.(with the snap on brand, not blue point). I prefer to buy a product made in the USA when ever possible, not because "It is the best". I like to know my purchase is going towards company that respects the people in the factory. And that those factory workers are making a decent living and can provide for his or her family. I sell my labor, I think my labor and knowledge has a value. How can I then look at the people who make my tools, that I make a living with, and say their labor is worth less than mine. I just wanted to give you my reason for why I prefer Snap On.

[ifitsnotbrokenfixit]

Love me some Rural King. Did you get there GW sets they had after the holidays they were less than $15.00
Thanks for the video Tom.

[BruceLyeg]

Get out of my head! I've had this discussion with Snap On users/fanboys about diminishing returns and they just look at me with a glazed over look in their eyes and start saying all the phrases their S.O dealer has been telling them for eons "buy quality buy once" and "you're paying for the service and convenience". What convenience? waiting a week for the tools truck to come around, only to find out he doesn't have the replacement on the truck and has to order it, then shows up a week later without it anyway?
I rarely break any tools...cheap, expensive or middle of the road... simply because I use the right tool and method for the job. I had some turd telling me that I obviously don't break tools because I must not work on rusty stuff, hahahaha! I work in northwest Canada! The home of rusty shit! I just don't use my 1/4" drive stuff for everything I do.

[WarblesOnALot]

G'day Tom,

Yay Team !

I fully agree mate.

I know that "Snap-On" has a highly-revered Brand-Mystique..., but I've never noticed any functional difference between them and Sidchrome..

Some Cheapie-Chinee Screwdrivers & Drillbits are designed to be only ever looked-at, rather than being used ; but if you buy 5 Tools at $2 each & two or three of them fail, you're still getting 2 or 3 which work..., so if the "Genuine Item" is priced at only $10 then the Cheapies are 200% or 300% more efficient use of the Money...

How did you like the Monocoque Shell-Repair to the Elna Overlocker Machine's Foot-Control/Cutoff Lever ?

I told my son about how there are no US Federal or State Government-regulated Professional Standards for Trades (outside Medicine, Nursing, Aircraft Maintenance..., and I'm guessing Food Preparation ?) ; and it stopped him in his tracks, just trying to get his head around the concept of no Apprenticeships, no Government Techical Colleges, and no Qualifications required to practice a Trade...

I'm guessing that perhaps the famous AmeriKan tendency to launch Lawsuits at the drop of a Hat may have evolved as being the Social Response to Incompetance, Charlatanry, and Sloppy Workmanship...; whereas here one has to prove their Competance to earn the right to Charge the Public - and they risk losing their Licence if they fail to meet Gov't Regulated Standards, under the US Paradigm it's only the fear of being sued for Negligence which keeps the system safe & honest (?).

Are you required to carry Malpractice, & Public-Risk, and Workers' Compensation Insurance to run a Business in the US, or is that open-slather as well ; and if Malpractice Insurance is required then how do the Insurance Companies figure out who's not fit to write a Policy for...?

Anyway, have a good one.

;-p

Ciao !

[danedewaard]

Who wouldn't agree with that argument! You should be a lawyer! Many of the HF Pittsburgh brand tools are guaranteed for life! Just bring them in and swap them! Go HF Go!!!

[MikesToolShed]

I think people look for quality that isn't there to justify the hefty price. SO is good shit. But at the very most, they are twice as good as GW yet they are 5X more expensive. They might be the best but if anyone thinks they are actually worth what they cost they are lying to themselves

[mdlee]

Thanks, Tom. It's not a fashion show: If it works, it works.

[tombob]

Good video, Will Rogers said common sense just ain't all that that common any more

[rustybrowneye]

I think something you're failing to realize and why you're having a hard time understanding why people buy Snap-on is because of all the off brand names we have now that are quality tools weren't available years ago. If you bought cheap tools in the past they were just complete shit and everybody knew it. It's going to take time for the stigma of Cheaper tools being pieces of shit to go away and be more accepted

[Johnkb]

No offense buddy but you can't work flat rate with those cheap tools

[TheBgred]

I agree, altho some speciality tools, I’ll pay more for, but I’ll buy matco, or otc or some others, never snap on, you were killing me in your one vid, all that money in machine work, parts etc on your engine rebuild, and you use the cheapest crapiest torque there is?!?, find something used in good condition, even an older craftsman, while I like and use some harbor freight tools, not their torque wrench on a rebuild