i know its not diesel related but i wanted to see how much my fellow diesel heads spend on tools a year. in the last year i have probly spent 2-3 grand on tools. i just ordered a streamlight tonight . http://mypolicestore.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=43&products_id=574
in the last six months i have been ordering several expensive tools. such as a welder,weller soldering station and several new tools to take to work.
so post your list

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

Roughly $3,000.00 every year for the last thirty two years.
As a working mechanic, a percentage of my tools = wear out, break, are stolen and lost every year.
The most I have spent in one year was $7,800.00 USD on tools..
The least I spent in one year was $150.00 USD on tools..

That sounds about right!

My current tool truck balances:
Snap-On: $1,578
Burnt Images: $3,800 (My tool box was about $3,000 of that).
Store bought: ~$1,000

Tool trucks are such a bad idea. They are like toy stores for mechanics! I get on the Snap-On truck to give him my $40 weekly payment and end up walking off with another $150 in tools.

I know snap-on is top of the line, but why dont you guys go for craftsman?
I mean its more affordable then snap-on and no matter what happens to the tool wether it cracks in half or it grinds out return it to sears and they will upgrade you to the latest one for free with no receipt or questions asked.

I had a 18mm wrench crack on me recently and took it to sears and they replaced it with a new one on the spot. When my dad had his old vw beetle he was trying to untighten something on the car cant remember what exactly but he had to put his foot on the tool to give it more force and snapped it, returned it to sears bada bing bada boom new upgraded tool.

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

Those are EXACTLY the reasons I choose Snap-On. (1) I have yet to break any Snap-On ratchets, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, or air-tools. You know their motto "There is a difference." (2) I don't go to them, they come to me!

I keep telling everyone, if Sears would start a "Craftsman truck" (Like Snap-On, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, etc.) they could make HUGE $$$$$$$! It would never put the others out of work but it would sure give them a run for their money.

I think I've broken one Craftsman socket in the last ten years or so. It was a 17mm deep well, 3/8" drive twelve point. Crushed my hand against the Z71's frame during that... didn't feel too nice!

Also I have quite a few of the Husky ones from HomeDepot, very pleased with them for the cash.

No clue on yearly spending on tools, probably $2-400

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

For people who wrench on the side, occasionally stopping your job to replace a broken tool isn't a huge deal. That's why I buy a lot of Craftsman tools. If you need the tool to make your living, it's another story.

I spend about $400 or so per year on tools. Of late, I've been buying M/B specific tools when I find them at a good price.

I recently found the RIV timing light over in Great Britian for $60.00!!!!!

It appears to be an older model of the current one..........hopefully it works when it gets here.

Craftsman and Husky tools have proven to be more than acceptable. IMHO, handing a pile of money to Snap-On for the tool to sit in the toolbox 99% of the time doesn't make any sense.

I do need a new 1/4" drive ratchet and Craftsman sucks. Teeth too coarse and too much friction. So, I've got my eye on a used snap-on on e-bay.

You answered your own question. Had that 18MM wrench been a Snap On, it would NOT HAVE CRACKED!!!!! If it had cracked, you would have had the same warranty except he would come to you, you would not have to go to the Sears store.

Anyone who recommends Craftsman tools over SnapOn has very obviously never used both brands of tools on a daily basis.

The problem is that Snap On has gotten even crazier with their prices and have started moving away from their old warranty. Hard tools such as wrenches and sockets are no trouble on warranty, but things that can wear such as screwdriver handles and ratchets, they don't deal with the same as they used to. I expect that there will be a class action suit against Snap On at one point by some of the older customers who bought their tools under a different agreement than what Snap On now honors.

I had some Snap On screwdrivers that were about 35 years old and I finally took several to the tool truck for warranty with handles worn out and slipping off. He would only warranty them by charging me the difference of the handles. Since they were such expensive pieces to buy new, I did it, but this was in violation of the warranty under which they were purchased new.

If I were a young tech starting out, I'm not sure if I would be buying from the Snap On man or not, but the fact remains, they are THE BEST HANDTOOLS, PERIOD, END OF STORY. Now whether or not they are worth todays prices with todays warranty is a different matter.


As far as $3K worth of tools go, if they are Snap On, it will only take one trip from the tool truck to the toolbox to haul $3K worth of tools.

What I WON'T buy from Snap On is their toolboxes. I agree that there are no boxes any better, but those big fancy toolboxes cannot make you a DIME. More often than not, when I see a $10K Snap On toolbox it is either full of junk tools or it is nearly empty. OCCASIONALLY you will see a tech with a BIG Snap On box, packed with Snap On tools but that is rare, and if you do find one he will not be a young guy. I have yet to see anyone use a toolbox to loosen or tighten a fastener.

My $0.02,

haha i see that all the time. both of the tech's at work have 7k tool boxes and alot of their tools are craftsman. for a tool box i think craftsman is as high as i need to go and i cant even afford that.

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

I spend at least 3000.00 to 5000.00$ a year easy.Mig's plasma,tigg etc etc...and there's no end in sight!

While I agree that Snap On are the best tools out their and I have used them extensively. I know how sweet they are. For the weekend diy'er I just cannot justify the cost to upgrade from Craftsman to Snap On. Many of the Craftsman tools I use today my dad purchased 20 years ago and they still work perfectly fine. If one breaks I take a quick ride to Sears and get a replacement.

If I worked on cars everyday for a living I would invest in Snap On tools, but considering I may only use my 1/2 drive a couple of times a month it just isn't worth it.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If I had $3000 to spare, I'd be all over a plasma cutter. Goodbye die grinder!

AFAIK, Snap-On won't come to your home.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

If you are a for real customer, the Snap On guy will stop by your house, or meet you somewhere, no problem.

Good luck,