Tool Recommendations

[YGT04A]

I hope this is the right section

Hi I am looking to buy a good quality flare nut spanner, thread chasers/restorers etc and I was wondering what people’s opinions are.
I was/am thinking of going snap-on for the flare nut spanneras as I have heard reports of some opening, but at more than double the price of others I was wondering if it is really worth it

Cheers
Jono

[ra_28]

I buy a lot of snap-on tools, they're very good items, especially the screw drivers. Had no trouble with them opening up. Depends if they bought USA snap-on or tools like euro snap-on. Just like a lot of other big companies they have bought up other tool makers and label them as snap-on i.e Bluepoint. Which in my opinion are crap.

Also watch out there are quite a few tools with the snap-on logo which you can buy heaps cheaper under their original name i.e Eklind allen keys, which are made in the USA, you can buy both metric and imperial for the cost of only metric snap-on logo stamped allen keys.

In the way of flare nut spanners i use sidchrome and have no worries. Thread restorers are not cheap any direction you go but also look at sutton http://www.sutton.com.au/Industrial/Home you can buy complete kits.

Other means of thread restoration is thread files which is a lot cheaper but not as nice of a job. Like these http://www.transquip.com.au/productlist.aspx?ID=219

Cheers
Alex

[KARNAGE]

Yep i go for snap on stuff also but the bluepoint brand that snap on sells is good as well for a fraction of the cost

[Dieseltrain]

Or you could try T&E Tools . I have alot of their stuff and so does my mechanic .

[RA35GT]

I have KC tools flare nuts spanners, havent opened em up yet. then again i havent had stupidly joints to undo yet.

snap on do awesome thread chasers. but farkkkk its exxy.

[Fish]

i sell kinchrome and sp tools. sp have a nice range of pipe spanners and so do kinchrome.

bluepoint is snap on mplelevel tool range were some of it (spanners for example) are made in taiwan but there air tools are made in japan.

SP tools are having a big tool sale soon so keep your eyes out 302 pce tool kit for $1995

[boshy]

I also recommend if your only a hobbie mechanic buy your mid range tools ie sidcrome,sp,even kingcrome.. Span on tools are ok over priced & alot of their tools aren't life time warranty as what they were bout 15-10 yrs ago

[Fish]

if you are a back yarder like most of us supatool is agreat buy! made by he kinchrome group. Kinchrome is aimed at the professional. All of the mechanics were i work use Kinchrome and the rep looks after everyone of them (well you would too if you bought $30 000 worth of tools in a quarter).

[LT1986]

....just dont buy tools from Taiwan...not sure what it is but they seem to be rubbish (had a ratchet extender go last week and it gave me a black eye

[Disturbed1]

most of u will prob laugh, but if u have seen those "cresent" tool kits for $120, they are an awesome buy!!

need to buy another kit since ive lost som epieces of mine.

bought a kingchrome socket set and i have had to make use of the lifetime warranty, their rachets have been shit.

ive had meter long extension tubes on my cresent stuff with no dramas at all. best of all - if u need a custom short spanner - dotn feel quickly choppign a cresent 1 in half

[Fish]

....just dont buy tools from Taiwan...not sure what it is but they seem to be rubbish (had a ratchet extender go last week and it gave me a black eye

you would be suprised at how many leading name tools are made there. its more a case what you do and what you expected it to do. Kinchrome and sp tools all have lifetime warranty on there tools and there made there and china. Kinchrome boxes are in china.

the stanley black that supercheap sell are a good set and have lifetime warranty.

Chrometech on the other hand i would touch with insert random toymods name dick.

[Moppitt]

I've had these sidchrome flare nut spanners open up and try to round the nut on me when borrowing a snap on one, after the head was damaged by the sidchrome one got it undone without a problem. They were very very tight though (brake master cylinder on a Honda... something.)

They were these ones iirc. CBF going out to the garage to check...


I have the Snap-on thread repair kit. Goddamn thats a sexy collection of files, internal and external thread chasers (My vocabulary has completly deserted me, internal - similar to a tap but they cant tap threads from scratch, external - die.).

I guess it really depends what you're after. If you can get what you need undone with the sidchrome ones then great (and cheap), if they f*** the nut then things start getting more irritating to fix.

[the_random_hero]

I'm using all Kincrome stuff, just because I was getting it for cheap. I've broken a couple of Snap On bits (and yes, using them for something they were designed for), mobile dude had a bit of a whinge about replacing them but did in the end.

[parrot]

When I am buying, I get sidchrome or kinchrome as that seems to be all that is readily available these days.

Back in the good old days when W L Ryan was open, I spent more on quality. Mind you I have given my tools hell over the years, and only ever had trouble with the odd cheapo tool you never expected to last anyway.

I have a lot of snapon stuff I got off my dad who was an aircraft engine fitter. He only ever bought snap on.

[damo101]

my tool box is all kinchrome. my rattle gun is Chicago Pneumatic, never had an issue with it. my die grinder's are blue point. again never had an issue with them. if i did, the snap on rep would be fine with a replacement. have heard stories of other reps making it a hassle to get a replacement. in regards to the pipe spanners, my kinchrome ones open up, so i borrow my workmates snap on ones and they are the bomb. getting myself some when the rep comes around again.