Printable View
What do you guy's think of Matco tools? At my school for auto tech program the students get discounts on tools like 55 percent off the tools and all and I was checking them out. I never hear much about Matco so not sure if they are any good like their plain hand tools, air tools, etc. I know that Mac, Snap On are good and all but never hear nothing on Matco. The tool truck guy here I hear is good about replacements, etc.
Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Nothing wrong with Matco tools, Quality and Warrenty are about the same as Snappy and Mac and the price is usally lower!
all tool truck tools seem pretty good, some pieces better than others, if you know the matco guy will be around- go for it.
I am just trying to decide between Matco or Craftsman. Snap On and Mac are nice but to me I think you pay for the name more than anything else. Most Craftsman are still cheaper than the Matco even with the discount. What do you guys think about Craftsman? I have all craftsman right now and they aren't comfortable but work good enough for me and I use Snap On, SK, a few Mac, etc at school and they are really comfy and fit on bolts, etc a bit better but I don't see the big fuss over it. Poeple always tell me that you won't see many good auto techs out in the field with Craftsman. The Craftsman Professional sets seem nice, especially their combination wrenches with that smooth look and all.
Oppinions?
i personally like S-K wrenches, cornwell ratches, snap on sockets. whatever you do if you by angle wrenches, only by snap-on , they are the only ones with the right angles.
as for which tools to buy, i would take advantage of the 55% discount and get snap-on or matco or somthing because when your paying full price for them you can't hardly justify it and you'll never own many of them. craftsman tools are cheap enough out of the store where you can usually always afford them. FYI craftman rachets are a knuckle busting P.O.S. :CRY:
i'll add one more thing here, remember expensive tools don't make a good mechanic, it takes more brains than expensive tools to do the job right.
Personaly I love my Craftsman tools. One reason most "pros" or guys that have shops use Snap on is when you break one the Snap on guys will come by the shop to replace your broken ones compared to having to take Craftsman tool back to Sears yourself. For the Home mechanic though Craftsman make great tools. If Craftsman's are still cheaper even after your 55% discount then i'd say go for the craftsmans.
BG
No wonder why I barely have knuckles left. haha Yeah true. I might as well take advantage of it.
Thanks. More oppinions are welcome still as well. It will still be a while before I buy anymore tools. Next I will be getting a spray gun, DA, and a compressor.
Blowngoat, your right as well. I don't know. I think money issues is more of a problem for me at the moment and will be for the next few years. I can get I think it is 32 or 35 screwdrivers from craftsman for 50 bucks and get only 14 from Matco for 50 bucks. Not like more expensive tools will make me better. I don't plan to use them just for home either, I will be working for a shop in the next 4 months because in 4 months I graduate and will be working a full time job.
It's all about what you feel comfortable with and what tool does the work for you. When I started in the business, everybody used Snap-On. some Mac and very little Craftsman. Snap-On has become cheap (the broach of the wrench is thinner), and Matco has good tools and distribution. The Craftsman Professional series is close to what Snap-On made long ago. I compared a Snap-On and Matco Metric combiation wrench set for a year, and now have the Matco set at work and took the Snap-On set home. Then again I have a Great Matco dealer and a so-so Snap-On dealer, so that also has something to do with it. I don't like going to the mall and exchanging my wrenches when I need to - rather have the tools come to me (thus no Craftsman).
One of the other techs use Craftsman Pro series for all his wrenches - with no problems. Even his Gear Wrench type combiations are Craftsman Pros'. As far as ratchets go, almost everyone uses Snap-On, some use Matco. Again it's what you feel comfortable with, what you've seen break and how it's warrantied after the breakage.
As far as air tools, I still use a Snap-On IM-5 1/2" impact gun (gun was dicontinued 10 years ago), and a Matco 3/8" air ratchet for over 8 years with no problems (cleaned and oiled daily). I've had CP and Astro Pneumatic air tools that don't last a year. This is one area that a good, expensive name-brand tool seams to be worth the extra cost.
If you work on GM trim, you need a Posi-drive screwdriver. Guess what, Matco doesn't make one (only bits for 1/4" drivers), so you have to go to Snap-On for a #1 and #2 posi-drive. Always leave your options open on what brand of tool you want to buy.
Ask your toolmen if they have a set of loaner wrenches (and air tools) you can borrow for a week. If he does, it might give you a better idea of which wrench set / tools you want to buy. Good luck in the future .
Thanks for the info Dwayne. I will definetely look into it. I am still stuck between the two. It would be nice to have a nice brand of something for once, I always buy cheap stuff at first with everything of mine and now everything I own is broke basically and I take care of my stuff really well. Maybe I should spend the extra couple hundred bucks for Matco. I will check it out more and compaire prices, etc.
Couldnt agree more with what you said about air tools Dwayne. I have some good name Air tools as well as some cheaper stuff that cost a fraction of the name brand stuff and the cheap ones just dont last even if you oil them daily. I had 2 CP 7" air grinders go bad in less than a week if you can believe that. When it come to air tools the line "you get what you pay for" has never held any more truth!Quote:
Originally posted by Dwayne
As far as air tools, I still use a Snap-On IM-5 1/2" impact gun (gun was dicontinued 10 years ago), and a Matco 3/8" air ratchet for over 8 years with no problems (cleaned and oiled daily). I've had CP and Astro Pneumatic air tools that don't last a year. This is one area that a good, expensive name-brand tool seams to be worth the extra cost.
.
BG
Ah, tools, the eternal question. Snap on are generally overpriced for my tastes. Wrenches, sockets, even ratches arent snap on. I have a few screwdrivers, thats about it. I have a few (coveted) SK ratchets that just wont die. Many of my tools are craftsman. Sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, a few extensions. A surprise for me was actually Crescent tools. I have a number of extention from this company that will take anything I throw at them. And their replacable at my local hardware store/ Lifetime guarenteed. I was thinking of expanding my set with them. But anyway, theres my input:)
if you er getting a good discount then go for it , if not youer paying to much for them like all off the truck tools. nothing wrong with the tool you just pay them a lot to come to your door step. :(Quote:
Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
I am just trying to decide between Matco or Craftsman. Snap On and Mac are nice but to me I think you pay for the name more than anything else. Most Craftsman are still cheaper than the Matco even with the discount. What do you guys think about Craftsman? I have all craftsman right now and they aren't comfortable but work good enough for me and I use Snap On, SK, a few Mac, etc at school and they are really comfy and fit on bolts, etc a bit better but I don't see the big fuss over it. Poeple always tell me that you won't see many good auto techs out in the field with Craftsman. The Craftsman Professional sets seem nice, especially their combination wrenches with that smooth look and all.
Oppinions?
my dads a proud user of matco since the 80's and i personally love em. sometimes craftsman and snap-on. but 98% of toolbox it MATCO best dang tools made. we've known our matco man so long he comes to the front door every friday :3dSMILE: ......scooter
My Two Cents, I use Mac, Snap-on & Matco at work and Craftsman at home. I'm an Aircraft Mechanic by trade, I think the big 3 have better tolerances than Craftsman. Just my Two Cents...
It is very important to spend the extra money on the better screw drivers. Stanley, for example, makes an absolutely horrible screw driver. Their #2 phillips fits terrible and is more prone to rounding out the screw than any other driver I've used. The split if you hit them with a hammer. Craftsman, their thinner shank drivers are prone to spinning the shank in the handle. The handle is very impact resistant and you can hit the drivers with a hammer. The thinner flat blade drivers are prone to twisting the blade. On the #2 phillips, if you look closely after a few uses, you'll notice that the splines get twisted which makes the driver more prone to rounding a screw. Snap-on, they harden the tips of their screw drivers which is a big plus. Though, I have had the ends of Snap-on drivers break beacause they are brittle due to the hardening.
The round handle Craftsman ratchets are excellent. I really don't like the square handled quick release ratchets. Snap-on ratchets seem to have a little too coarse of a ratchet action for me, I actually prefer the craftsman round handle over the snap-on. Sockets are pretty much the same as long as you go craftsman or better.
For open end wrenches, do spend a little money there, too. It's no fun when you're wrenching real hard on a bolt and the jaws expand causing the wrench to slip and you to bust your knuckles on the nearest piece of metal. Also, stiffer jaws mean you're less likely to round nuts and bolts.
If you're looking for a high quality tool set, Proto is a seldom thought of name. They're a little pricey though, I think their lowest priced set (85 pieces) is around $500 and they go up to $13,000 for a 1000 piece set.
I really don't believe Snap-on is the best anymore. The best tools are those made by those small manufacturing companies that you've never heard of. I can't think of any names off the top of my head except for Kearney and Stott. They make files, which I believe to be superior to Nicholson who are pretty much the standard. Stay away from rubber gripped tools because the rubber will hold on to dirt and deteriorate quickly. I hate gimmicky tools, except for ratcheting combo wrenches.
I have done Marketing for several tool manufacturers over the last several years... That, along with being an all-around car guy and someone that wrenches on the weekends has given me a little insight into some of the major tool manufacturers... First off you should understand that like most industrys, handtools are acually only made by a few founderys around the globe... Much of the time competing brands are made at the same factories using either exclusive design or similar designs...
There are good tools out on the market that go highly unrecognized just as 76GMC1500 mentioned about Proto... Proto Tools are usually available through your local Granger or other Maintence supply stores... Mac, Proto, Husky, and Stanley Professional Grade are all produced by basically the same company and some of the lines are very similar if compaired side by side...
You may or may not know this but marketing studies show that the reason that most mechanics by tools "off-the-truck" is because the local distributors provide credit "off-the-truck" and collect on a weekly basis if needed... The main reason "off-the-truck" tool are priced higher is because of the high return rate of broken tools... Many brands like Craftsman have life time warranties but the actual exchange rate of tools is much lower...
Bottom line there are many great brands out there, just be sure to shop around for what you like...
Hope this helps...
Dave Brisco
I have Snap on triple boxes and a couple Craftsman double boxes. Some Snap on tools but most are Craftsman. I have never been a line mechanic,so if I had been I may feel differently about this. Every time I buy Snap on I feel like I just got reamed. I do think the snap on is a little better quality though. It seems to me there are 6 to 8 good tool companies out there that make quality tools. I buy Craftsman when they are on a real good sale. Example= Within the last 2 months I bought Craftsman professional 9 peice combination sets for 24.98 These wrenches have the open end on one end and box end ratchet on the other end, This sale was only until 11 A M. Ten minutes later they were 49.95. The next day they were 59.95. I dont think I could have bought more than 1 of these tools off one of the tool trucks for that price. At the same time I bought several other things at half price or less. When I was the service director in a major dealership I remember my younger mechanics were always married to the tool man. I wonder how many still have those tools today?Ive never taken a defective tool back to Sears that they didn't give me a new replacment.
Yeah Gassersrule, I hear the truck guy here is into old cars and was a mechanic and had a shop for like 30 some odd years and is really good and if he never shows when he says then it's because something happened to him my teacher said... Funny when he said that because a kid said that the truck probably could break down and needs to get towed. Why get it towed, he has every damn tool you need on it. This truck isn't one of those kinds of Snap On ones you see all the time, it's a HUGE one. But yeah my teacher said that the guy knows what he is doing and said there are some tool truck guys out there that have no clue what you ask for sometimes if you ask for a odd tool and will take forever to get it to you. Streets, I know there are other threads, I read two of them and they weren't just like this one. I asked if I should take the discount and buy Matco or keep buying Craftsman.
You might not get another chance to get a discount like that. Consider it an investment in your future. I've been looking into Cornwell tools. I haven't had any experience with them, but they appear to be on par with Snap-on and the others, just at a slightly lower price.
You usually get what you paid for.
I have a mixed collection of Snap On, Gray and Mastercraft tools. Nowadays I get my Snap Ons from e bay
I am going with Matco Tools. I can get a whole entire set with a 55" wide tool box customized with my name, any color I wan't, etc and then a whole set of tools with basically everything you need for $3,505 bucks. The tool box is regularly $3,800 and I will get it for $1,540 and then the other tools regularly cost over 3,900 bucks and I get them for $1,964. So I guess I would be dumb to pass this offer up.
This is what comes with the tool set...
FULL FLOW OSHA BLOW GUN V3150
1 16 OZ HAMMER BH16
1 22OZ SLIMLINE DEADBLOW HAMMER DB22SL
1 GAUGE-25 BLADE FG3
1 8MM LG MOD COMB WRENCH-12PT MCL8M2
1 9MM LG MOD COMB WRENCH 12PT MCL9M2
1 2-1/4" ROUND MIRROR MC2
1 MAGNETIC PICK-UP TOOL MPF19X
1 UTILITY KNIFE PK200
1 6" STEEL RULE-MATCO BRAND SR6CM
1 4PC UNIV PLIER SET SPU4T
1 33 PC RATCHETING SCREWDRIVER SRS330B
1 12PC LG MOD COMB WRENCH SET SMCL122T
1 15 PC ALLEN STD AW668
1 9-PC METRIC ALLEN WRENCH SET AM9MA
1 1/4 10-PC DP 6PT SKT SET SAD106TA
1 1/4 X 2 EXTENSION AX2K
1 1/4 X 6 EXTENSION AX6K
1 14PC 1/4 MM SKT ST SAM146TA
1 14PC 1/4 DP MM SKT ST 6PT SAMD146TA
1 ASTRO BLACK SAFETY SPEC-CLEAR SS135BLK
1 3/8,1/2 6PC TORX DRIVER SET SBC6TXA
1 1/2 10-PC 6PT SAE SKT SET SC106TA
1 1/2 8PC 6PT sae SKT SET SC86TA
1 3/8 13-PC 6PT SAE SOCKET SET SB136TA
1 3/8 13-PC DP 6PT SAE SKT SET SBD136TA
1 3/8 14-PC 6 PT MET SKT SET SBM146TA
1 3/8 14-PC MET DR 6 PT SKT SET SBDM146TA
1 3/8" DR x 3" EXTENSION BX3K
1 1/2 X 10 EXTENSION CX10
1 1/2" FLEX HANDLE C16FC
1 1/2 X 5 EXTENSION CX5
1 10" VISE GRIP V10R
1 3/8 DR X 10" EXTENSION BX10K
1 12PC PUNCH & CHISEL SET SPL12KA
1 4 PC COMBO 8" FILE SET ORANGE CF48SO
1 1/4 10-PC 6PT SKT SET SA106TA
1 HD FENDER COVER MFC5439
1 6MM COMBO WRENCH MC6M2
1 7MM LONG MOD COMBO WRENCH MCL7M2
1 10P LNG MOD COMBO WRNCH ST-6PT SMCLM106T
1 WIRE STRIPPER/CUTTER/CRIMPER MST46E
1 CIRCUIT TESTER W/5FT CORD MD113A
1 5PC HOOK/PICK/SCREWDRIVER SET HP5G
1 6" MATCO SPIN HANDLE A6DRA
1 17" PRYBAR GREEN-ANGLE TIP PBG17B
1 1"X3-3/4" SCRAPER SCG24A
1 1/4 UNIVERSAL JOINT A3UA
1 SPARK PLUG 2PC SOCKET SET SBD26PTB
1 3/8 X 3/8 MALE UNIV JOINT B3UA
1 SPARK PLUG GUAGE & GAPPER FG26
1 1/4 X 5" 60 TOOTH RATCHET AFR5T
1 3/8-8"(60 TOOTH)TEARDRP RACHET BFR8T
1 1/2"X 10"(60TH)RATCHET STRGHT CFR10T
1 GREEN 8 PC SCRWRVR SET SSPCG8C
The 1's in front mean how many of each thing. There is a ton of stuff that comes with it and sounds like a great deal to me.
FMXhellraiser This ant none of my bus. but i dont see but about a 256 piece tool set there. you need to take that list down to sears and compare some prices. 1500.00 will get you more tools at sears than you could get in that 48 chev. if its only 250 pieces that not many tools. all im saying check it out. if i missed counted there let me know. any work you gonna do right now sears tools will do fine :whacked:Quote:
Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
This is what comes with the tool set...
FULL FLOW OSHA BLOW GUN V3150
1 16 OZ HAMMER BH16
1 22OZ SLIMLINE DEADBLOW HAMMER DB22SL
1 GAUGE-25 BLADE FG3
1 8MM LG MOD COMB WRENCH-12PT MCL8M2
1 9MM LG MOD COMB WRENCH 12PT MCL9M2
1 2-1/4" ROUND MIRROR MC2
1 MAGNETIC PICK-UP TOOL MPF19X
1 UTILITY KNIFE PK200
1 6" STEEL RULE-MATCO BRAND SR6CM
1 4PC UNIV PLIER SET SPU4T
1 33 PC RATCHETING SCREWDRIVER SRS330B
1 12PC LG MOD COMB WRENCH SET SMCL122T
1 15 PC ALLEN STD AW668
1 9-PC METRIC ALLEN WRENCH SET AM9MA
1 1/4 10-PC DP 6PT SKT SET SAD106TA
1 1/4 X 2 EXTENSION AX2K
1 1/4 X 6 EXTENSION AX6K
1 14PC 1/4 MM SKT ST SAM146TA
1 14PC 1/4 DP MM SKT ST 6PT SAMD146TA
1 ASTRO BLACK SAFETY SPEC-CLEAR SS135BLK
1 3/8,1/2 6PC TORX DRIVER SET SBC6TXA
1 1/2 10-PC 6PT SAE SKT SET SC106TA
1 1/2 8PC 6PT sae SKT SET SC86TA
1 3/8 13-PC 6PT SAE SOCKET SET SB136TA
1 3/8 13-PC DP 6PT SAE SKT SET SBD136TA
1 3/8 14-PC 6 PT MET SKT SET SBM146TA
1 3/8 14-PC MET DR 6 PT SKT SET SBDM146TA
1 3/8" DR x 3" EXTENSION BX3K
1 1/2 X 10 EXTENSION CX10
1 1/2" FLEX HANDLE C16FC
1 1/2 X 5 EXTENSION CX5
1 10" VISE GRIP V10R
1 3/8 DR X 10" EXTENSION BX10K
1 12PC PUNCH & CHISEL SET SPL12KA
1 4 PC COMBO 8" FILE SET ORANGE CF48SO
1 1/4 10-PC 6PT SKT SET SA106TA
1 HD FENDER COVER MFC5439
1 6MM COMBO WRENCH MC6M2
1 7MM LONG MOD COMBO WRENCH MCL7M2
1 10P LNG MOD COMBO WRNCH ST-6PT SMCLM106T
1 WIRE STRIPPER/CUTTER/CRIMPER MST46E
1 CIRCUIT TESTER W/5FT CORD MD113A
1 5PC HOOK/PICK/SCREWDRIVER SET HP5G
1 6" MATCO SPIN HANDLE A6DRA
1 17" PRYBAR GREEN-ANGLE TIP PBG17B
1 1"X3-3/4" SCRAPER SCG24A
1 1/4 UNIVERSAL JOINT A3UA
1 SPARK PLUG 2PC SOCKET SET SBD26PTB
1 3/8 X 3/8 MALE UNIV JOINT B3UA
1 SPARK PLUG GUAGE & GAPPER FG26
1 1/4 X 5" 60 TOOTH RATCHET AFR5T
1 3/8-8"(60 TOOTH)TEARDRP RACHET BFR8T
1 1/2"X 10"(60TH)RATCHET STRGHT CFR10T
1 GREEN 8 PC SCRWRVR SET SSPCG8C
The 1's in front mean how many of each thing. There is a ton of stuff that comes with it and sounds like a great deal to me.
Yeah in a way your correct. But if I am going to start working full time in about 4 more months then I was thinking that maybe I should just go ahead and start getting good expensive tools and not ever have to worry about it later, just will have to keep adding on...
FMXhellraiser thats fine do what ever you wont to, but the tools dont make the mechanic. ill bet you ive made as much money turning bolts in my life time as anybody on this board and never bought a tool off of a tool truck, unless i couldnt get it no where else. **) :toocool:Quote:
Originally posted by FMXhellraiser
Yeah in a way your correct. But if I am going to start working full time in about 4 more months then I was thinking that maybe I should just go ahead and start getting good expensive tools and not ever have to worry about it later, just will have to keep adding on...
Yeah, your right man. I don't have to really worry about a tool box and tools right now, I am saving up for a compressor, spray gun, DA sander and a few other air tools right now so the other stuff will have to wait anyways. Who knows I could die in the next few months and then those tools would have gone to waste if I bought them. My dad would be happy to keep them so nevermind, not a waste. haha
Denny, that's a sweet box. I definetely wan't to buy a Matco tool box because the deal I get is really good and it would be stupid to turn that one down. I can always add onto the tools like you said but won't be able to keep buying tool boxes like I can hand tools, etc. If I started out with a real nice box and just had Craftsman tools, etc then that would be good enough. I think Matco screw drivers and all are too much money but I do wan't a Matco ratchet and sockets. Screwdrivers from Craftsman are good enough in my oppinion.
That Matco box is much bigger and it's 2 bay, etc for 1,540 though...
Haha, crazy that's all I can say. lol
In the same situation, I would have to have done the same thing. I hate people like that. They give the rest of us a bad name. As for 2 hours for a full brake job, thats good:). If you just replaced the rotors and drums, it Might take that long. At least when I'm doing it:p :LOL::LOL::whacked:Quote:
Originally posted by DennyW
Trust me, starting out, you don't know what they expect of you. You want to keep your tool box where you can move it easy. I once worked for a real douzy guy. I did a brake job on a full size gm wagon. Turned drums, rotors, replaced wheel cylinders, calipers, master cylinder, pads, shoes, and all the hardware. Took me 1hour and 40 minutes. He said I was to slow. Book time is 4.4 hours.
But when he sprayed oil on a guys front struts, and told me to tell him they were bad, I quit. :LOL: :LOL:
There is no need to buy a Snap On box. They are very expensive, I have 2 craftsman boxes and 2 no name boxes, all 4 hold my tools perfectly. The money you save on a Sears box can get you some good Snap On wrenches, sockets etc.
A Snap On sticker can't hurt