Tools everyone needs but don't have yet for less than £25

[james butler]

I have had both types. A cheap one with the clevis on the bar but it just splayed out and was junk. A sealey which was I think the other kind (the type linked to) and it took years of use and only the actual square ever broke with my bouncing on it, but the bar was fine.

I have both designs from Snap On and both are fine, no complaints. I would say quality is more important than the design.

maybe snap-on have finally sorted the issue we were having out, but like i said my £20 halfords special with the clevis on the bar has had 6 foot scaff bars on it undoing transit/ldv wheel nuts and hub nuts and although the bar is a little bent now the end has never given up (apart from the bolt going through the knuckle snapping once).
albeit the halfords bar was bought as a stop gap to temporarily replaced the snap-off breaker bar but because its been so good ive never bought another.
then again maybe ive been lucky.
i agree that quality is more important than design but back in 2005-2006 i wasnt getting that from snap-on and was the main reason all the shop staff went over to MAC tools.

 

[steveo3002]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUT...693422?hash=item1c6b80e42e:g:BpUAAOSwZVlXmhnS

does the cv boot clips up proper tight

 

[Bill Edwards]

maybe snap-on have finally sorted the issue we were having out, but like i said my £20 halfords special with the clevis on the bar has had 6 foot scaff bars on it undoing transit/ldv wheel nuts and hub nuts and although the bar is a little bent now the end has never given up (apart from the bolt going through the knuckle snapping once).
albeit the halfords bar was bought as a stop gap to temporarily replaced the snap-off breaker bar but because its been so good ive never bought another.
then again maybe ive been lucky.
i agree that quality is more important than design but back in 2005-2006 i wasnt getting that from snap-on and was the main reason all the shop staff went over to MAC tools.

When buying bars my SO dealer told me that the fork type do occasionally break in cold weather, but it's not common - and of course it's warranty. Though if for whatever reason they're not giving the proper support then it's not surprising you left.

wouldnt the one with the handle having the fork just be trying to bust the handle instead of the knuckle? something will break given enough stick i guess the ends are more replacable ?

Well on one hand when you've got the fork type it's putting all the tension on one side of the fork and also on the pin which has to stop them splaying apart. But on the other kind it's just a single piece of metal which never looks like a strong design either.
Proof of the pudding though is in how well they actually last. I use my fork type less (shorter to fit in a box) but have no concerns about either kind, I always expect the square drive to break first.

 

[GW8IZR]

When buying bars my SO dealer told me that the fork type do occasionally break in cold weather, but it's not common - and of course it's warranty.

Funny you mention that, I have a snap-on forked splitter that a previous owner has welded, its a fantastic job and until I de rusted it you would never have known.. quite why they did it is beyond me as it would have been swapped for free if they had asked.. I've never used it but its an interesting thing / curiosity in the shed :-)

 

[Johnseat]

I've only ever had snap on knuckle bars as all the other I've encountered in my time (15 years to date) in the hgv game to have snapped and gave way compared to my snap on one which has been replaced once due to a snapped fork.
That was caused my my 15st hunk of a chassis bouncing on it with a scaffold tube and then it took years of abuse to eventually break it.

Saying that I'd be hard pressed these days to but anything snap on as it really has gone down hill in quality. The sockets and especially the standard 3/8 deep sockets are made of fudge, they supunflower at the sight of a tight bolt.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Funny you mention that, I have a snap-on forked splitter that a previous owner has welded, its a fantastic job and until I de rusted it you would never have known.. quite why they did it is beyond me as it would have been swapped for free if they had asked.. I've never used it but its an interesting thing / curiosity in the shed :-)

Possibly because they didn't know where to find a dealer or perhaps they needed it to finish a job.
Although replacements are warranty I actually bought a spare square for each type of bar because for some reason the SO van is never there in the middle of a field late one night when you snap it part way through the job! Now I can just put the new piece in then swap the broken one next time I'm on the van.

 

[GW8IZR]

Possibly because they didn't know where to find a dealer or perhaps they needed it to finish a job.
Although replacements are warranty I actually bought a spare square for each type of bar because for some reason the SO van is never there in the middle of a field late one night when you snap it part way through the job! Now I can just put the new piece in then swap the broken one next time I'm on the van.

Forked splitter and it was way too good of a job as a 'fix' - anyway it doesnt matter.

The long snapon fine ratchet bar that 'er brother bought snapped at the knuckle and I didn't think it was a particularly abusive use.. I was a bit disappointed by that. My 20 year old Facom wouldn't have broken.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Forked splitter and it was way too good of a job as a 'fix' - anyway it doesnt matter.

The long snapon fine ratchet bar that 'er brother bought snapped at the knuckle and I didn't think it was a particularly abusive use.. I was a bit disappointed by that. My 20 year old Facom wouldn't have broken.

I've had a couple of things go - like a prybar tip that just broke, peeling chrome on a socket, that kind of thing. Not often and I think most of the stuff is decent (though pricey...) with the odd hiccup but generally while ever a replacement is just handed over there and then I'm not unhappy.

 

[GW8IZR]

I've had a couple of things go - like a prybar tip that just broke, peeling chrome on a socket, .

I have a socket that did that, it was a deep 8mm I think, small anyway, I use the small ones sometimes as runner and this one was slicing the skin off my fingers.. it was so sharp I only realised when the job was covered in blood and it took days to work out which tool was causing it!

I like snap on stuff and tend to go that way for stuff I use a lot, sometimes its just the nice feel of it. Back in the day the man in the van used to swap stuff for me that they wouldn't today. Times change I suppose.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I have a socket that did that, it was a deep 8mm I think, small anyway, I use the small ones sometimes as runner and this one was slicing the skin off my fingers.. it was so sharp I only realised when the job was covered in blood and it took days to work out which tool was causing it!

I like snap on stuff and tend to go that way for stuff I use a lot, sometimes its just the nice feel of it. Back in the day the man in the van used to swap stuff for me that they wouldn't today. Times change I suppose.

Times may change, I keep hearing that SO dealers aren't very good with warranty. I've only ever dealt with one chap and (before I was a good customer) everything he said was warranty when I bought it was instantly sorted if taken back, he cannot be faulted.
But I do accept that they may not all be good to their word, but if this chap retires god help any that refuse to warranty anything which should be covered in the future - I pay serious money for the support and I'll make sure to always get it!

As to using chrome sockets in such ways you really ought to change that habit or use impact sockets. The chrome can come off in a long strip and go into your finger such that you'll have to take a pair of pliers to pull it out
Not my finger but I know someone who did this, hence I'm passing on the warning!

 

[123hotchef]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUT...693422?hash=item1c6b80e42e:g:BpUAAOSwZVlXmhnS

does the cv boot clips up proper tight

how do they work? i just normally use grips and a screwdriver

 

[optima21]

for tightening cv boot clips, a few years ago I modified the end of handles some Stanley pincers that I use to cut the end of mig wire with

to tighten cv boots with.

 

[steveo3002]

how do they work? i just normally use grips and a screwdriver

i find the modern plastic style boots need more than what pincher pliers can do , the ones in the link have a threaded rod that you crank with a ratchet and go way tighter than what you can do by hand

 

[winchman]

I too have noticed that Snap on quality isn't what it was but the prices are shocking, I sold some of mine and replaced it with cheaper stuff and still haven't broken anything as I was frightened by the replacement cost if I lost it

 

[123hotchef]

i find the modern plastic style boots need more than what pincher pliers can do , the ones in the link have a threaded rod that you crank with a ratchet and go way tighter than what you can do by hand

But how do they actually pull the band tight

 

[steveo3002]

i

its this type , pinches the square bit up super tight

 

[123hotchef]

Got you but when that bit is flat it is flat it will not go any tighter

 

[steveo3002]

yeah fine...just saying they work great for me on what ive struggled with , rubber boots have some give and will do up with pinchers , the modern hard plastic ones dont have much give in my experience

never have enough tools anyway ...look great in the drawer

 

[Bill Edwards]

I too have noticed that Snap on quality isn't what it was but the prices are shocking, I sold some of mine and replaced it with cheaper stuff and still haven't broken anything as I was frightened by the replacement cost if I lost it

That's the biggest fear with them for me, loss or theft.

 

[winchman]

That's the biggest fear with them for me, loss or theft.

Do you not feel some of the many other brands have upped there game and now make some stuff of equal quality?