I need help buying my tools for class at school

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

davbell22602

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Posts
5,617
Reaction score
23
Location
Bunker Hill, WV
First Name
David
Truck Year
I Dont
Truck Model
Have
Engine Size
One
What about the Allen sockets. They say made in the usa.
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,101
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
I have heard of SP but never experienced them so I can't comment.

USA Napa tools are made by Armstrong, a very good and reputable company.
 

davbell22602

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Posts
5,617
Reaction score
23
Location
Bunker Hill, WV
First Name
David
Truck Year
I Dont
Truck Model
Have
Engine Size
One
I have heard of SP but never experienced them so I can't comment.

USA Napa tools are made by Armstrong, a very good and reputable company.

Ok, What about Allen sockets that say made in the usa?
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,101
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
Allen is made by Danaher. Danaher makes Craftsman, Kobalt, K-D, Matco among others, of course. So they are the same as Craftsman and U.S.A. Kobalt.
 

davbell22602

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Posts
5,617
Reaction score
23
Location
Bunker Hill, WV
First Name
David
Truck Year
I Dont
Truck Model
Have
Engine Size
One
Allen is made by Danaher. Danaher makes Craftsman, Kobalt, K-D, Matco among others, of course. So they are the same as Craftsman and U.S.A. Kobalt.

Since all of those are made by Danaher. Which one is better made? If you didnt know snap on made the early years of kobalt but they werent up to spec like snap on. Thats why snap on didnt put there name on them along with Kobalt. Then later snapon lost kobalt to someone who under bid them for the contract. So who has the better contract spec with Danaher for quality and long lasting in sockets?
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,101
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
All those Danaher tools were made on the same assembly line so they were pretty much the same throughout. The ONLY difference is the Matcos are heat treated 3 seconds longer and given the highest price.

Snap On was pissed that Lowes employees were saying the Kobalts were the same as Snap On. On the packaging there was "A DIV. OF SNAP ON." Now they are made in Taiwan, so the point is moot. But the Snappy made ones are worth picking up.
 

davbell22602

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Posts
5,617
Reaction score
23
Location
Bunker Hill, WV
First Name
David
Truck Year
I Dont
Truck Model
Have
Engine Size
One
All those Danaher tools were made on the same assembly line so they were pretty much the same throughout. The ONLY difference is the Matcos are heat treated 3 seconds longer and given the highest price.

Snap On was pissed that Lowes employees were saying the Kobalts were the same as Snap On. On the packaging there was "A DIV. OF SNAP ON." Now they are made in Taiwan, so the point is moot. But the Snappy made ones are worth picking up.

So how you tell when looking at loose kobalt sockets?
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,101
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
The Snappy made ones have small hash marks at the bottom. They will also have a Snap On date code on them. Any tool with a Snap On date code is worth picking up. I've found John Deere, Caterpillar, Harley Davidson and others (can't think off the top of my head, just woke up) with Snap On date codes.

You must be registered for see images attach


I have two older CRAFTSMAN ratcheting wrenches with Snap On date codes!
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,101
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
Here's what a Snappy made Kobalt looks like, way different than newer ones.

You must be registered for see images attach


Package from a set of old Kobalt sockets.

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

davbell22602

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Posts
5,617
Reaction score
23
Location
Bunker Hill, WV
First Name
David
Truck Year
I Dont
Truck Model
Have
Engine Size
One
Here's what a Snappy made Kobalt looks like, way different than newer ones.

You must be registered for see images attach


Package from a set of old Kobalt sockets.

You must be registered for see images attach

The kobalt impact sockets I got from the pawn shop look simliar to that. Size is stamped big right before the kobalt name and then after the kobalt name this number#03722 is also stamped on it
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,297
Reaction score
24,601
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
The Snappy made ones have small hash marks at the bottom. They will also have a Snap On date code on them. Any tool with a Snap On date code is worth picking up. I've found John Deere, Caterpillar, Harley Davidson and others (can't think off the top of my head, just woke up) with Snap On date codes.

You must be registered for see images attach


I have two older CRAFTSMAN ratcheting wrenches with Snap On date codes!

Wow! I never knew they were coded like that. I found out my "old looking" SO 1/2 drive ratchet is from 1951. Now I want to go checking out the rest of my tools.
 

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,101
Reaction score
2,237
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
Not all SO tools will have date codes.

Dave - PM me your address. I still have to go through my impact sockets yet but I have a box of 40-50 sockets to send you.
 

davbell22602

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Posts
5,617
Reaction score
23
Location
Bunker Hill, WV
First Name
David
Truck Year
I Dont
Truck Model
Have
Engine Size
One
I guess an Auto Tech can never have too many sockets. I guess with most brands being made overseas doesnt hurt to have extra sockets and ratchets.
 

towman

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Posts
532
Reaction score
7
Location
harrisburg pa
First Name
jay
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
v10
Engine Size
5.0
i have two of just about everything and torx sockets i have three sets, i can;t wait for the tool truck to come around to get a job done, i work alone but if others in the shop you can always borrow to get something done, i have 18 three eighth drive rachets, all differant lenghts and shapes, really sad what you have to invest
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,448
Posts
916,259
Members
33,979
Latest member
Obullard74
Top