| Author | Message | ||
     Matthew D. Shearin (Chuee) New Member Username: Chuee Post Number: 11 Registered: 03-2003 |
I have been using my old craftsman tools for basic stuff. Now I want to build a nicer tool set. I know this is Snap-On country and John said Matco was far behhind Snap-On but how far behind and what are the major differences? Also our company gets a 20% discount on Matco tools. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 2281 Registered: 02-2002 |
Matthew, There is nothing wrong with Matco or Craftsman. if I got a 20% discount, I would be all over Matco. | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 719 Registered: 03-2003 |
Matthew, There is absolutely nothing wrong with Matco. Matco makes very fine tools. And if you get 20% off, that is another reason for you to buy Matco instead of Snap-on. These professional-grade tools are very pricey, and 20% off on these items will seriously add up. I don't remember saying Matco was far behind Snap-on. I think I said something to the effect that my general personal preference is for Snap-on, with Matco way back in second place. And the main reason I prefer Snap-on to Matco is that I think Matco tools are generally ugly and don't look as nice as Snap-on tools. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Matco makes lots of things that are even nicer than Snap-on. Matco's new swivel impact sockets are much nicer than anything Snap-on makes. These impact swivels have a pin-less design and the finish looks like the bluing on nice guns. Snap-on's impact swivels have a pin and an industrial finish. Snap-on even recently copied Matco and now laser-etches its impact sockets with patently visible numbers. This was a Matco thing before but I guess too many Snap-on customers requested it because it makes selecting sockets so much easier. Matco's U-jointed chrome swivels are nicer than the Snap-on ones. They feature bolted hinges, so you can tighten them as they wear out with use and torque loads. The Snap-on swivels are pinned together and then peened in place so you can't take up the slack on them as they suffer wear and tear. Also, Matco now makes standard fine-reset ratchets if you're into these. I think the new Matco's reset at 5 or 6 degrees instead of the traditional 10 degrees. Unlike other fine-reset ratchets, the new Matco ratchets feature the ergonomic selectors that let you reverse with your thumb and don't require you to turn a bezel or switch to change directions on the ratchet. Matco ratchets aren't sealed though, if this matters to you. Peronally, I prefer Snap-on's sealed feature over the fine-reset of the Matco ratchets, but the fine-reset ones are definitely easier to use and feel nicer when you're ratcheting. I also think Matco's line of Knipex pliers is nicer than Snap-on's line of Snap-on and Blue-Point pliers. Also, Matco has a nicer line of ratcheting box wrenches than Snap-on does. We have several Matco items in our tool box. My favorite Matco item is probably the color-coded plastic socket rails. These blow away anything available from Snap-on. My only reservation about Matco is to watch out what items you're buying. Matco sells everything under the "Matco" name. This means could be buying a very nice Matco ratchet or socket or a Taiwanese-made Matco screwdriver bit that is the same junk you can buy from Sears. Both of these items will be sold under the "Matco" name. Snap-on doesn't do this and usually rebadges these cheaper items under the "Blue-Point" name. Snap-on won't put the "Snap-on" name on cheaper items or items that are not made in the USA. (This doesn't mean Blue-Point is shit; some Blue-Point stuff is better than the Snap-on stuff.) | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1185 Registered: 02-2002 |
Do you own all the snap-on line John?  | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Senior Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 270 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi I would add that the pro swing wrenches are far better than any ratchet wrench that snap-on make. Also I would do a search on any generic item in either catalogue, might find it cheaper elsewhere, especially things like Knipex. Buying tools is a personal thing, sometimes all that seperates them is something as silly as the colour. 20% discount would soon add up though, and would make me think. Pete | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 724 Registered: 03-2003 |
Peter, Did you end up getting the Matco Pro Swing's for your tool box and dumping the Blue-Point's? | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Senior Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 273 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi John Yes I did, I never had a full set of the Blue-Points, just ones I had bought over the years, gave them to my Father! He gets all my rejects and never complains. I really fancy an extra drawer unit to put on the side of my KRL1001, but that may have to wait, I keep leaning on my Snap-On guy, but he`s not moving on the price. Pete | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 726 Registered: 03-2003 |
Sweet, I'm glad you like the Pro Swings. They're nice. Right now I'm waiting to see how the new Snap-on ratcheting Flank Drive Plus wrenches will be. They're due to be out in a month or two. If they're good, I'll get those for the tool box. If not, we'll stick to the Pro Swings. | ||
| Matthew D. Shearin (Chuee) New Member Username: Chuee Post Number: 12 Registered: 03-2003 |
Thanks alot. Im going to start with some basic Matco stuff and see if I like the feel and look. I didnt realize they branded everything and will definently double check before purchasing. Now if I can only get them to do a monthly tool deduction along with benefits and 401K. | ||
| Leo (Leo_hallak) Member Username: Leo_hallak Post Number: 152 Registered: 02-2003 |
Matt I love my Matco tools and I would recommend them to anyone. But each have there strong points and my tools run about 70% Matco at the moment. Here at work I usually only use impact sockets and I have those swivel impacts John Mentioned earlier and I love them (http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2199&select=&pag e=4) But for my 1/4 Drive I use Snap-on, I love the finish and I love the swivel head 1/4 ratchet. (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/pro_det.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=67352&group_ID= 107&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog) The Snap-on torque wrench seems to be a lot tougher and cleaner looking then the Matco version. I dont think you can go wrong with either. -leo | ||
| Ryan Graham (Ryangraham) New Member Username: Ryangraham Post Number: 10 Registered: 01-2004 |
Take a close look at Matco...then Craftsman. Matco makes Craftsman tools. It is very apparent in some of their tools (thin profile ratchet). Matco makes some good tools, I have their bolt grip puller set and their claw harmonic damper puller. If you are getting wrenches, get Flank Drive Snap-On. They will break things that you wouldn't believe. If you get the black finish they are a little cheaper ($600 something for both sets instead of $700 something) and not many other people have them so they wont be trying to claim yours. |
