Micro torque wrench

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IMHO. . the Snap On dealer who doesn't take care of a customer has no business selling the tools... so what if once in a while a guy uses the tool wrong, sometimes you have to. . the company doesn't look at the broken stuff to see if the dealer was right or wrong. . they give him credit for it no questions asked... ratchets can and are repaired on the truck or a rebuilt one is traded for the bad one. . same with screwdrivers. . it's a foolish dealer that will turn down a replacement/repair for improper use... some things are not covered in lifetime warranty such as torque wrenches. . however they can be rebuilt and recalibrated for a fee. . ratchet head models that break ratchets can be repired on the truck at no chg... I was a dealer for several years some time ago. . customer service is the most important job a dealer can do !!
also fyi the issue on the chrome used on a impact gun is 1. chrome steel is harder than the anvil of the air tool and WILL cause premature wear on your non warrantied gun and, 2. that if it's cold enough the steel will explode on the socket when you pull the trigger on the gun. . so it's a safety issue. .
hope my little essay helps. .

 

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Dave and illflem, I have purchased Snap-On tools through AT LEAST 10 different Snap-On dealers over the last 25 years... NOT ONCE have I ever had a problem with warranty. Case in point; a VERY SMALL piece of chrome plating flaked off my 1 1/4" combination wrench... the dealer gladly exchanged it. That's about a $100. wrench now! #ad
#ad
I have had countless ratchet rebuilds and screwdriver tips replaced... FOR FREE, without ANY problems. And neither has anyone else I know. I've even seen abused tools (non impact sockets used in impact situations, that fractured. . or worse for instance), that have been gladly exchanged. Say what you want about their pricing however, their customer service is excellent.

TowPro, Snap-On builds ALL their own tools... that say Snap-On on them. All Bluepoint tools sold by Snap-On are designed by Snap-On and manufactured by a vendor.

BobV, you are correct... you can save quite a bit of money by purchasing tools with the black (industrial) finish. However, all the dealers I have dealt with never have them on the truck, nessitating a special order.

 

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John,I too have never had a problem with replacements from Snap-On,but I know that certain tools warranties are voided with impact use,it all depends on the salesman.

 

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I, too, am in the market for a 1/4" drive inch/lb. torque wrench. I priced one with my Snap-on guy, but it was more than I could justify for no more than I would use it.

Ebay usually has several of them offered, but I've never seen one sell for less than $50, which is about my limit on a tool like this.



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99 3500 QC 4X4 5sp 3. 54 K&N air filter, DiPricol gauges, 275 hp injectors, Pacbrake, Westin nerfs, GN hitch, Tekonsha Brake controller, Mopar seat covers, Husky mats, silencer ring removed, Draw-tite front receiver, Rancho 9000's

 

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Both my 1/4 drive in. /lbs. and 3/8 drive ft. /lbs. torque wrenches are Snap-On... I bought them through my employer's tool purchase program, at a substantial discount. The two together cost me about $260, not bad. I used them for an injector installation, they were a real joy to use...
I have mixed sets of Craftsman and S-K in my big Craftsman rollaway at work, and 2 sets of Metrinch that ride along in the truck with me. I'm not pleased with the quality of ANYTHING with the Craftsman name on it, but prefer the convenience of dealing with them, open Saturdays & Sundays. All my power tools are anything except Craftsman, I've had too many of those fail on me, but every other brand has lasted, even Makita, and DeWalt...
Kobalt & Husky ? They're okay, but the looks of them, they're so ugly they look like they were designed by GM #ad



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Tom
GLTDR B. A. D. Boys
www.lubedealers.com/meers/html

 

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Saw a program on the History Channel,the history of power tools. Said that Craftsman makes absolutey zero in the way of tools,it's all farmed out. Most of their power tools are low end Porter-Cable made. Craftsman is fine for the homeowner or weekend mechcanic,but not for someone who depends on them. Didn't used to be this way,ten years ago Craftsman was a name you could trust,then along came the Chinese.

 

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Tool mystery;


Last summer, I stopped at a "yard sale", and there was what I thought was a 3/8 socket set-complete with ratchet, breaker bar and a full set of sockets but missing the 7/16. It was Blackhawk brand. Think I paid $10. Thinking I would stick it in the 5th wheel so I would allways have a set along. When I got home, I dug out an extra 7/16 socket to put with it, and for no good reason tried it on the ratched---wouldn't go???

Got to checking and it was significantly larger drive than 3/8, but much smaller than 1/2. Nope, not metric either. All sockets were marked with sae sizes. Just the drive is different.
Anyone run onto such a thing??
An older NAPA sales guy told me that he seemed to remembered something about a big push a long time ago by black hawk to introduce a new drive??

Vaughn

 

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I'll second illflem's comments on Craftsmen. 10 years ago they were good - I even have a couple of ratchet's that are snap-ons with the craftsmen name on them. I broke my 3/8" ratchet (one of the snap-on ones) earlier this year and went to sears to exchange it and got a chinese made one in exchange - it broke the 3rd time I used it. A lifetime warranty isn't any good if you're in the middle of nowhere and break the wrench that you need to get out of there! I'm looking at Mac and Snap-on now.

-Steve St. Laurent

 

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Steve, according to EVERY Snap-On dealer I have EVER dealt with, Craftsman has NEVER made tools for Snap-On or vice versa... . that includes tool boxes too.

Regarding the quality of Craftsman tools 10 years ago... in a pinch I had to purchase 3 or 4, 3/4" drive sockets around 1 1/2" to 2"... I needed them in a hurry so I bought them at Sears. All of the aforementioned sockets were made in Taiwan. That's right, Taiwan! I just went out to my garage for verification. Anyway, I can substantiate that at least one of them was good for over 600 lb. ft. of torque (no typo. . 600 lb. ft. ). So to sum this up, I would respectfully say Craftsman tools took the plunge from being one of the very best, in the late 60s/early 70's. Craftsman used to sell a set of wrenches that looked very similar to Snap-On back in that era. VERY high quality.

PS: I have never liked Craftsman wrenches (other than the set stated above) or (especially) their screwdrivers! I used to build wooden boats when I was in junior high and high school, installing all the screws by hand... Craftsman screwdrivers were brutal on the palms of your hands! The best I found for this application (other than the obvious. . now, a drill driver) was the teardrop shaped, 3-sided, transparent smoke and (solid) yellow handle Stanley screwdriver (and I tried them all).

illflem, to clarify, have you ever heard of a Snap-On dealer that wouldn't warranty a "slightly" abused tool (i. e. , non-impact socket used in an impact situation)? I haven't... in fact, I've witnessed MANY warranty replacements due to obvious "abuse" of non-impact sockets.

Here's another example: I purchased a trick 7/8" impact socket that had a hard anodized aluminum insert which would not mark up my expensive McGard lug nuts. It worked very well EXCEPT, I had to be EXTREMELY careful with that large diameter socket otherwise I would dent the polished aluminum center cap on my M/T Alcoa wheels. When I presented this scenario to my Snap-On man he recommended I use a 7/8" NON-impact, 6-point socket. The slimmer O. D. works very well for my application. When asked about possible warranty given my intended usage he commented, no problem. #ad
Works for me! #ad


Sometimes one (even a purist) has to use a tool outside of its intended working parameter.

[This message has been edited by John (edited 12-19-2000). ]

 

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John,my Snap-On dealer even replaced a feeler gauge for me where the numbers could no longer be read due to rust,clearly not the tool's fault,,just depends on your dealer and your relationship with him. For screwdrivers,pliers,wire stripers,cutters etc I've been using Channel-Loc brand,high quality and the blue handles make them easy to spot.
If you want a good deal on higher quality tools try the auction at Granger.com(can't give the link,it goes to my account). They have incredible deals at times,and it's easy to bid just once and not check back. I won a new Milwaukee 1/2"chuck 18 volt cordless drill that will twist your arm off if you let it for $57. They recently sent me a tackle box sized tool box full of tools free as a thank you. The tools were a Chinese brand called Westward that looked to be of high quality. I gave the box to a guy who works for me who only had a Crescent wench & hammer and was always borrowing tools,he says they work good for him.

 

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For anyone who can't find a snap on dealer you can now buy at www.snapon.com

 

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illflem,
It's Christmas time,
#ad
share the link #ad
share the link #ad

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Caleb Reese

[This message has been edited by boatpuller (edited 12-20-2000). ]

 

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I was looking a Sears tools last year and they said NO warrantee. I bought one off their board and she said "No warrantee". I looked her in the eye and said "read on this package that contains the tool. It said guaranteed. She said better keep the package in case it breaks. I will and if it breaks I will be back, GUARANTEED!

PRETTY SAD WHEN THE MANUFACTURE DOES NOT THINK MUCH OF THEIR OWN PRODUCT TO REPLACE IT IF IT BREAKS. Sorry, but I think the same about extended warrantee.

 

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Originally posted by QRTRHRS:
I am in the market for a 1/4" drive torque wrench for those low specs like the fuel return lines.

I think the 1/4" drive is a must have for adjusting transmission bands. That's why I got mine.

 

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My 3/8"drive Snap-On goes down to 10 in/lbs,works for my AT,which needs 72 in/lbs. IMHO a 1/4" drive is only nessary for working on watches.

 

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I have a pretty new 3/8". It does not go low enough so I need to buy another anyway. That is why I thought the micro would be the way to go.

 

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illflem, that's why I purchased the Snap-On 40-200 lb. in. torque wrench I did... it has the exact same specs. as the 1/4 drive unit (including head size) except it has the 3/8 drive. Perfect for me! One of the reasons I purchased it this way is because my favorite ratchet is a 1/4 clone except for the 3/8 drive. This has worked very well for me in hard to reach places (it's not as bulky as their stubby 3/8).