Snap-On or Matco?
 

I'm in school right now to be a GM tech. So, i'm looking at buying tools and was wondering which kind I should get. I have narrowed it down to either Snap-On or Matco...So I'd like to hear some opinions from those of you who have used either one of them or both to help me decide which to get...

it really comes down to 2 things. which handle style do you prefer and can you afford snap on over matco. I am a chrysler tech (I hate chrysler) and I use snap on stuff, but thats partly because all the other tool guys dont come around too often or at all.

if you dont mind me asking, why didn't you consider mac?

Ive been in the business for 12 years and have aquired quit a bit of tools and you will see that there is favorites that you will come to find such as i will only buy snap on ratchets and wrenches but i will buy whatever screwdriver feels good. I have a ton of mac stuff and i love it. I get great deals from him as i have spent alot of coin with him. Heres some pics of my box for ya.

http://home.comcast.net/~ryan97812/toolbox_s1.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~ryan97812/toolbox_s2.JPG

CHAMPION AND GEAR WRENCH!! W000T!!
Id say Matco, but I have yet to really care which is better or worth the money. I still find it hard to justify paying 80 bucks for a wrench.

if you had to use the stuff for 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, you'd probably understand :wink:

I would have definetly considered MAC as well but I wouldn't get any deal on them....Anything from Snap-On or Matco I can get for 52% percent off because I'm in school...MAC doesn't offer any special deal like that so I'd be paying full price for them. BTW, nice lookin' box's SPRYN...

if you're getting the 52% deal, go with snap on! I was an idiot and didnt take advantage of that deal when I was in school, still kicking myself for that one.

If ya dont mind me asking, what school are you going to?

Thanks slayer, best of luck with your schooling. Def pick snap on with that deal and dont forget you only have to buy them once. Pick up a box with that deal. My box listed at $9750 and i bought it for $4000 with no intrest so i paid it off in less then a year, my truck guys gives me whatever i want on truck credit cause i wont deal with the tool companies directely.

i still have some of my original set bought for me in 1962 craftsman not the same sockets today -- and have always bought only what i needed not complete sets and SK - ARMSTRONG as well have pieces that snap on does not have -- the polished wrenches everyone makes and you will find all work -- and screwdrivers is a what fits your hand as has been said --- but the snap on ratchets and pulling special stuff -- you can get other than snap on you will try but in the end you will the see their quality -- remember the hand tools used all the time are the most important small wrenches, drivers, picks, pilers, punches, hammers, plastic - brass - metal of all types buy the real good stuff just my take been doing it a while -- jz

Ive been in the buisness for 9 years and all those tool trucks are rip offs. The only one that is decent is matco. I buy the majority of my tools at sears. you can buy a wrench for a couple dollars, get change back and still have a lifetime warranty, instead of spending 50 or more for a wrench. I never brought a Tool truck tool box, dont get me wrong they are nice boxes but to pay 4000 to 10000 for a tool box when you could get a similar quality box for about 1100 at sears. I looked at it this way the tool box is not going to make money for me.

Eh....Snap On stuff may cost much more up front than Craftsman stuff, but there is quite a big difference in quality. I have Craftsman tools at home, but whenever I have to work on my car, I take it to my dad's shop (he's been a mechanic for close to 30 years). His stuff is almost all Snap On, including the original two boxes he bought 26 years ago.

With a 50% discount, I say Snap On all the way.

- Justin

Yeah i have a 50% discount up here at school its evan cheaper than craftsman sometimes so SNAP ON FTW! But you can also talk to matco they wll give you a 50% discount to prolly cus i have about $1000 dollars worth of matco for $500

thats when i knew this post was :bs:

Oh, sorry. For clarification, I was referring to the Lumina. The camaro has never been to the station to have work done on it. :razz:

- Justin

:lol:

I'm going to Brookdale up in Lincroft...It's called the GM ASEP program. I'm definetly leaning towards getting the Snap-On stuff...BTW, for you guys who work as techs, what do you think of it? Thanks for the replies everyone.

Slayer, i talked to my mac guy today and mac also offers students 50% off ANYTHING out of their catalog and AS MUCH AS YOU WANT all for 50% off. It doesnt matter if your school is involved in MAC all you need is for your teacher to sign a paper and have a document stating that you attend the school and mac honors the 50%. If you are interested i will give you my mac guys email address and cell phone so that you can speak to him directely as i had talked to him about this for you today. He is around the brick area and will send you a catalog if interested. Pm if you would like Ryan

matco is the only brand of tool i have never broken. snap on stuff is cast really nice and it is definately easier to find a guy to exchange if you do have a problem. matco doesn't have nearly as many trucks around as snap on.

Its okay. I work for chrysler and I really dont like chrysler, so I dont think I'll ever love my current job. I do enjoy working on cars , but in a more perfect world I'd be working for a better car company/much larger dealership.

If you get hooked up with a really good dealership, they'll pay for your ASE certs and things of that sort. My dealership doesnt do that.

Brookdale student eh? Want a job?
Id say that the Brookdale program is one of the best out there. I have one kid that went there, and is now thinking of moving onto UTI or Wyotech.

wyotech either added a new course or split chassis fab and high performance engines into two classes. I was talking to a current student there and he said they just shelled out 1.5 million for an AWD dyno, two wheel drive dyno, a couple different stand alone fuel management systems, a bunch of turbochargers, a couple different kind of superchargers, nitrous kits (I think he said zex, but I could be wrong) and of course a few cars to try all that stuff out on. They bought a 2001 WS.6, a 2003 mustang cobra, a 2004 STI, a 2004 EVO, I think he said they bought a DSM and a MK IV supra too. I'm sure they bought a few rice cars too like ITR's, SI's and GTI's. in short, I wanna go back in the worst way :lol:

I say snap on...I too get that 52% off deal...and plan on dropping close to 8 g's before i'm out of school. I've used all of the above mentioned, and the feel and usefulness of snap on versus others is definitely superior. snap on sockets are thinner walled so they will get into more places, the wrenches arent nearly as thick as the competitors and with that flank drive nonsense the chances of rounding a bolt are slim to none...unless youve got the wrong size. I personally prefer IR air guns...but as far as hand tools...snap on for the win.

Thanks SPRYN, but I think I'm gonna' go with the Snap-On stuff...I'm gonna' talk to the Matco guy again though...He basically told me that if I ever break or wear out anything, (like a drill bit or hole punch), they would give me a new one no questions asked...I'm still pretty set on the Snap-On stuff though...

I was going to try to get a job at Pinebelt Chevy on rt. 88, but where do you work at Big Al?

BTW, thanks for the help everyone.

I work in Ocean Twp, which is between where you live and where you go to school. I dont work for a dealer, but if you are still interested, PM me.