The dewalt and bostich are not knockoffs and they are poor examples of an “equivalent” water pump pliers. But your still right knipex is by far the best in its field.
I HATED the wobble plus extensions. They’re straight when you want wobble and they wobble when you want straight. Turned em back in and bought separate wobble and straight, no regrets at all. Yes, it’s $200 worth of extensions. When you use em every day all day it’s worth it.
Love your channel, really educational contents. I am a student at trade school and we get discount on Mac or snap on tools (about 30-40% compared to normal price). I bought a decent set of snap on tools for 3k, so far I think it worth every penny. Their sockets are well built , a little bit overpriced, but their ratchets and torque wrenches are the best ones I have ever put my hands on. No regret
A lot of these designs have had their patents run out. They aren't knockoffs or rebranded per se, the design just isn't protected anymore so companies make their own version of a lot of popular tool designs.
SK Wayne has always been a great option for guys looking for quality tools that won’t cost an arm and both legs. Their vintage stuff, pre 2000’s is much better though for some reason- I suspect possibly some offshoring most likely. Proto is another good one.
I have to correct you regarding the wobble-plus profile/feature, which was patented by a Japanese company caled Ko-ken. So, Snap-on, and many other companies that offer extensions with that profile/feature, had to gain the rights to produce them from Ko-ken. Ko-ken is a Japanese manufacturere that specializes in socketry items.
ChrisCas! Small world and 2 years later. I’ll be bringing a lot of my Japanese tools home with me when I move back. I bought a Taiwanese copy of the Ko-Ken wobble plus sockets by a brand called SK11 when I first moved to Japan. Was trying to get a cheap toolset together and ended up getting them in 3/8” drive, not knowing what they were. Fell in love with the feature and bought them in 1/4” and 1/2”, too. Gonna try to pick up some KTC Extra Long box end wrench’s before I come home. Great for old rusty suspension parts.
I can remember when I first started out as a mechanic in the early 80s, the mac truck only sold channel lock pliers with the blue grips for a higher price than you could buy them at a local hardware store, then in later years mac and snap on rebranded them and added red grips for twice the price. In earlier years snap on had the flank drive, but after their patent expired there are many companies today who make wrenches and sockets with equal or better quality for 1/3 of the price. I wasted a lot of money over the years on tool trucks
I have a set of those harbor freight wobble extensions, and I find myself reaching for them every single time I work on one of my cars...... they have held up great apart from when I loose them..........
I bought the Matco 10 pc screw driver set, then traded it in for a Snap-On 8pc set. the Matcos are nice, but the Snap-On screw drivers are much nicer, honestly.
For truck mechanics. The non self adjusting slack adjuster tool sold by Snap-on, MAC, etc, is made by lang. Buy the lang, it's a fraction of the price and your chances of breaking them is slim to non
I have been a diy mechanic all my life. I have only once ran across the need for a low profile socket set. It was on a 2010 Ford expedition, the blend door actuator is behind the radio in the dash. Ford says you have to disassemble the entire dash to get to it. But thanks to fordtechmakaluco, (I probably spelled that wrong) I found out you can do it with a low profile socket and ratchet, by just removing the radio. The one he recommended in his video is no longer available. I found a nice alternative at O'REILLY'S however, its their store brand, a very nice small low profile ratchet, you have to buy the sockets separately for some reason. Due to a steel cross member running over it and not enough swing room, it was the only tool I could find that would work. The ratchet and sockets have a very nice high quality feel. But they are much smaller than the one you presented in the video.
I was wanting to upgrade from DIY tools to something better but not pay the tool truck price. I found that website and it gave me confidence that I can fill my new tool box at home with something close to pro. And leave my old but still good starter brand tools in my truck box. You Earned a sub and we got the same husky box too!
I'm not positive but I think Gray pneumatic was the first one to come up with the wobble + design where it can be a wobble extension and then snap it in and it's like a regular extension. They first offered it with their thin-walled impact socket sets
My low profile sockets are used to put in really shallow screws on undersheilds. I put the super low profile sockets on the 1/4 impact and can zip them all up super quick without hand threading. Saves alot of time, and can save your butt when your trying to do a big shild and your struggling with it, much easier. That ratchet has come in handy a few times when clearance was an issue too. I certainly don't regret my snap on purchase. If I had to do it again, I might say go with the Ko-ken zeal sockets with the super compact 3/8. The sockets seem higher quality and the ratchet looks like it would be more useful on a wider verity of jobs.
All of Matco's tools are made for them by another company (wrenches, ratchets sockets etc.) or are a rebrand. A good Knipex Cobra knockoff is made by Irwin. They work great for the price.
Craftsman 'Made in Germany' Push Button Knipex Pliers. It's stamped right on the pliers. I own the 2 pc set. The Craftsman version has better cushioned grips and they are 'Made in Germany' by Knipex. Less in price, better cushion. Like most companies today, they don't make anything- they pay to put their name on it, different color scheme and decals.
Yes, they are produced by knipex in Germany but the craftsman have about half as many adjustment points as the knipex, you are crazy if you think knipex is going to make something for somebody else at the same high tolerances they make them for themselves and let them sell them cheaper.
Knipex makes Mac branded pliers, they just put the Mac logo on the red handles and remove the Knipex barcode. Of course they're cheaper on Amazon or through a Knipex distributor than they are off the truck.
Like your vid, however- I use my ultra low profile snap-on (Rat 72) ratchet and socket set all the time when working on motorcycles. There are several applications where they come in extremely irreplaceable when working on low clearance areas on bikes. Just a little constructive criticism. For whatever it’s worth.
I was driving down the highway with my 10x10 trailer to pick up some wood and off the side of the hill down a gully I seen a old 3 tier toolbox I turned around and went back to get it for scrap metal . When I went to lift it and could not . When I pried it open it was loaded with matco tools and air tools all in great shape I priced them out at over 12k its been 4 weeks and nobody has called me as I put a ad in the paper of course 5 guys called but could not tell me what was in the toolbox So i guess I have a lot of matco tools to add with my dads tools that was left to me. He was a master mechanic for over 57 years. His tools were most craftsman back when they were made in the USA
StanleyBlack&Decker owns a lot of Brands who used to be proprietary. Expert I'm not sure of, but I know is sold rebranded as Britool and both made in Taiwan. They also own Irwin I do know for sure. They have done a lot to pull most everything offshore. They call it an international brand, when it's really all just made in southeast Asia. Thanks a lot Stanree.
Officially they don't own Black and Decker (who have owned DeWalt for decades), they joined together to make a new company Stanley Black and Decker. A bit like a marriage, officially my wife doesn't...hmm, thinking about it that’s not a good example!
Man my Cromwell tool guy sold me some straigh jaw vice grips for 24$ I got mad after seeing the same ones on amazon for 11 in fact looked more original(shinier) then the ones I got !
If an item is made to a standard, it doesn’t matter where it is made. As a young Bloke I bought a set of 1/2 inch drive sockets in 1965, they were made in India. I still have them ( although underused now due to metrication), apart from the one which rolled under the bench, and they worked perfectly. A lot of blokes get overexcited about their tools, it’s a kind of envy thing……….mine’s better(bigger) than yours!!! My advice is- buy tools as you need them, at the best price you can afford…………….no one needs 13 spanners of the same size…………….you can dismantle most cars with five spanners. Roll around toolcarts are good for resting your beer can!!! Stavros
The green set on the thumbnail I bought it at lowes for 29.99 it’s the exact same set expect it says mac on my mac truck 159 lmao I'll buy that knockoff comes with lifetime warranty and they are my goto set
When I worked part time in highschool at A Duie Pyle the mechanics had expensive tools. But the large wrenches they had came from Craftsman. Unfortunately Craftsman turned to crap and got sold off. You can't even service the ratchets any more they don't have a snap ring or screws to pull them apart.
Nice video and breakdown although there are some inaccuracies. Wobble extensions are not a "Knock-Off" of the Snap-On Wobble Plus which is a new concept and design with an element of a past design. Wobble extensions are produced or rebranded by many because the wobble Patent is expired. The Snap-On Low Profile was a Snap-On design, however they actually have manufactured overseas therefore their Patent Protection is compromised. (Remember if it is not stamped USA, it is not solely made in the USA). Matco rebranded Apex tools, they are not part of Apex Tool Group, There was a time when Danaher (Who owned Matco since it was owned by itself), had a development agreement and helped form Apex Tool Group. You'll find most tool brands rebrand from Apex, Wilmar, and Lisle (and others) and then you'll find that even those will rebrand from each other. Each tool company, whether they manufacture some of their line, or none of it, have to make financial decisions for each category. If they can make more profit rebranding as opposed to building it themselves, they must do so. People forget or many are too young to remember that Craftsman was the preeminent tool brand in America until the early 2000s. Their tools were made by USA Manufacturers such as Moore, Western Forge, Pratt Read, SK, and Danaher. No one cared because it was quality steel and design, Made in USA tools that Professionals used. The perception changed once production moved overseas. I predict that once it becomes more obvious that Snap-On has put their name on more tools produced overseas, their "Moral Superiority" will diminish. We are seeing that happen with Matco and MAC. Cornwell who imports a higher percentage than those three is part of the reason they never grew beyond a certain point. To be clear, no one makes better Made In USA Sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and their screwdrivers and hammers are at the top. But, how long will the hype carry them? Then again today's society is easily fooled by marketing and listen to only those who share the same opinion.
halfords over in the UK use that exact same bit driver box (the orange one from the mac bit driver set) with there tool kits i assume all made in the same factory
Ya I agree. A pass thru set is more useful and can be used as a low profile set. My pass thru was actually more low profile then the low profile set lol
Who is the "Originator" of the "Pass-through Socket" like the Gear Wrench Series? I absolutely LOVE my Gear Wrench Set, but I hate how easily the Sockets "POP-OUT" when pressure is applied on the backside of the Ratchet... Thanks for sharing this video with us all! Take care, 🤓-Thomas
When I was a kid I worked for a shop and was first exposed to the tool truck culture. I thought for sure in this day and age, with so many reviews available and the internet shopping that people would not still be foolish enough to mortgage their future earnings for overpriced hand tools...........cannot believe this is still going on!
I very nearly bought a Snapon franchise many years ago. During my due diligence, I got to know and understand the process. At the time, the recommended mix of credit to cash customers was an 80:20 ratio. The concept being that the technician might not have $500 in his pocket but he could easily accept another $20/week payment. Every week when he got on that truck to make the payment was another opportunity to make another sale. Rinse and repeat. Snapon tools are great tools even if the are a bit pricey.
Every tech I have ever known has had a blend of everything from truck tools to harbor freight, I’m not sure where these Snap-On Puritans are but I never met one in real life lol. I was always very mindful of what I was buying from the trucks, usually specialty tools or something my research or experience said they did better than other options, these days many box store brands have improved to the point that the lines are very blurry indeed. Still, I’m going to track down at least one of my old truck guys and see if they can come by my new shop sometimes. I certainly won’t be putting their kids through school but I’ll buy some stuff every once in a while. Yeah, my new shop doesn’t get visited by ANY trucks right now🤷♂️
If you remove the privot and handle covers from the Knipex, the Jaws can't cass through the yoke, but then handle can. :-D Are mass-produced Chevrolets and Chryslers , Ford "knockoffs"? Are new-design Phillips screwdrivers JIS knockoffs (The JIS design is older than the original Phillips by more than 20 years). ? The first to market of a new design isn't necessarily the best that can be built. If I needed a truly low profile ratchet, I'd use a box end ratchet or a passthrough ratchet.
P Schmied your absolutely right the first design isn’t always the best but it would still make it the original design which means others still used that design to make there own. And your right the first design isn’t always better then others. And ya I have both a low profile ratchet set and pass through set and don’t find either of them useful. I always just grab a ratcheting wrench. I have a video on those coming out soon lol
Thanks for posting this video. Iam out of the trades now. Iama big DIY, and wood working man.ToolsI use a lot I spend more money for that tool. But most tools are occasional, so I go Harbor Freight. Cheers ! time for a cold bottle of beer.
Sadly the old wuality Craftsman tools cost as much if not more than tool truck tools. People miss the old Craftsman quality at affordable pricing. Currently on ebay the Craftsman brand is $110 for single plier. Buy the Knipex
Hey Tony this was a good video i think a lot of people get knock off and rebranded tools with Clones that are really made by other companies after the patents run out and often do not have the quality and/ or integrity of the originals I know in todays language they are often Labeled Chinese Clones my experience has been in Woodworking Machinery And available at a much lower cost but fo many reasons like not machining As many parts and using a lot of plastic parts instead of hardened metal plus lower quality or even no bearings on parts that spin many of those items look the same From the exterior as the people that make them try to reproduce them to do that often they do work but not with the same quality and precision as the original in my experience and because i have freinds in the Metalworking industry i know for a fact that feild has had the same thing happen as well especially in the Machinist trade with things like their Milling equipment and Vises as ive heard the stories of a Family owned Machine Shop and know they rather buy a older machine at a auction or Estate sale instead of the Brand New one that is a Clone especially with their lathes and the tooling
2 me a (real) knockoff is a blattant copy and is poorly made. I find that rebranding can work both ways sometimes it more rebranded sometimes it's less or even the same price. Same can hold true for warranty and service. You would be surprised who makes what and who owns who.
Not all the way. Not unless you are just a DIYer. As a professional, some of their stuff just isn't up to par. That being said, as a professional, I do use quite a bit of Harbor Freight stuff.
@@dylanandersen9318 Is rather use a broom stick than their pry bars. Pittsburgh pliers are also trash. A little more, you can get Quinn (much better). Even more will get you Doyle, also very good.
@@JakeNaughtFromStateFarm I just got rid of a set of their garbage pry bars, their pliers are junk but I have some of the Doyle ones and they aren't bad. Screwdrivers are also garbage
Sorry everyone i had to delete and upload this video again bc youtube took the video from 13 min down to 1 min in length after a week of being posted. so if you tried to watch this video previously and it was cut short I apologize and I hope you enjoy
I'm thinking low profile sockets would be better than a wrench when you need to use a torque wrench, right? I have some 1/2" nano sockets from Sunex and some 3/8" from Astro (or vice-versa) and I really like them. It's also pretty handy that you can drive them with a 22mm wrench for the 1/2" and a 17mm wrench for the 3/8". This was super helpful when my impact was struggling on some lug nuts. I added the 22m wrench to the mix and the lug nuts came off just fine. Yeah, being stubby/nano, in most cases they aren't going to be deep enough for lug nuts but in my case they were.
Is it just me or on the low pro socket set. The ratchet handle seems to be the only thing low pro about it. And my long extensions I bought snap on. They just sound different even. My dealer told me they were so strong because they were 1" slugs welded together not a solid pc
Good video ! You know your tools and offered good tips on buying I’m a big advocate for knowing rebranded tools and saving a few bucks as it was something my father taught me growing up with Craftsman power tools in the 70s and 80s mostly with their woodworking tools and saws
Craig Monteforte thank you and ya I think it’s great whenever you can get a quality product and save money at the same time. Thanks for watching and commenting!
What's the lesson we learned... buy the cheaper tools and save your money. Some of the store brands are 1/4 the price of the truck brands and have lifetime warranties too
asemastertechl1 that’s a pretty good deal for that set through snap on. That’s a good idea for the air ratchet. I work on the napa funny car. For drag racing
You can always sell the knipex and get some money back. The knock offs not so much. So at least you'll have stored value if you need to sell it and it'll perform the job top notch.. Something to think about also. For screw drivers... never thought about them much until I started using good screwdrivers. Wera and JIS Vessels to name some. Use to think a screwdriver was a screwdriver but man these ones are nice a lot like your Matco.
Nappering pliers that are universal that come with the different tips for internal external snap rings is an exact clone of another brand in harbor freight has one that is an exact clone several companies do I think identical literally
Joe jones I have a video on that as well but also keep in mind as of right now all of these tools are used at home and under a year old. But they do get plenty of use on my wife’s car, my project car, my daily driver and many friends vehicles. Thank you for watching and commenting
Wipe your hands before put your hand to grab a tool, use a tool cart to keep used tools, end of the work wipe the tools back and put in to the tool box. Simple and easy , after years of usage your tools and tool box will be look like brand spanking new.
I hate the tool trucks last snap on truck I delt with ripped me off it was awhile ago before I had a good knowledge of tools, brands, and what they are worth I'll stick with tekton, gearwrench, sunex, and anything else that gets the job done I'm a heavy equipment mechanic so my tools get abused but they get the job done
Just 1 ya that sucks. Some tool trucks are shady like that and yes most of the time always over priced. Im glad to hear your tools are working great for what you need. That’s all that matters
I have a few friends who are heavy equipment tech's, and are absolutely loving the tekton and gear wrench stuff. I was surprised at the tekton comfort ratchets.
Aaron Anderson ya I was surprised with them as well when I first got them. I have been really happy with them. I’m glad to hear it from you as well. Thank you
@@TonyTheTechnician I went down a rabbit hole last night. If you Google tool truck equivalents and you should find it. Huge knowledge base. Thanks for the show. Good day sir
They put them up for black fryiday keep an eye out I got a set this year ..they ran out in like 3 weeks though.. So like I said keep an eye out around that time
ChrisCas - Tool Aficionado true they weren’t the same handle design But I’m pretty sure they both were made in the same factory same screwdriver shaft and foam tray with a different handle design.
Could have cut this by a half or two-thirds and gotten the message across just fine. Information was great and I do thank you for it but that was a long-winded explanation. Also, I prefer old Groot to Baby Groot T's (okay, now I'm just pulling your chain for the fun of it). Have a great day!
Steven Bastian haha ya this is one of my older videos and I talked a lot. I’ve been trying to do better about that. Lol I couldn’t find a grown groot 😂
I did not know that you didn't know about the garage journal page or I would have sent you there years ago... There is also a page on toolguyd that tells you what company owns which tool brands. Matco doesn't make shit except for their tool boxes. Matco was originally the company that made Mac tools, tool boxes. They had a falling out in the 90's and Matco started putting their names on tools and putting trucks on the streets to 'get even' with Mac tools. Matco used to buy tools from USA suppliers but have taken 90% of their business overseas, a lot of that was Apex tools fault because they are cheap asses. There isn't a company out there that makes all their own tools anymore. Only a handful that I know of anymore that's even all American manufacturing are SK, Proto, Williams and Wilde. One of the reasons they haven't gone Asian is they just make hand tools. Armstrong and Allen used to be the same but Apex shut them down to expand their Asian Gearwrench line.
Hard Knocks Forge ya I had known about garage journal it's a great place but never came across that list before. Pretty nice. And ya not many companies make there stuff in the good ole USA anymore. And ya even though matco doesn't make there tools I still find some of them very nice. Not talking about there ratcheting wrenches lmao. Thank you hard knocks forge.
Loyalty to a tool truck or brand. Only thing a tool truck or brand is loyal to is the all mighty green.
Justin bustin lol I meant the customer to the truck not the truck to the customer haha very good point though
The tool truck guys aren't getting as rich as you think they are, and the service they provide is useful to many professionals.
The dewalt and bostich are not knockoffs and they are poor examples of an “equivalent” water pump pliers. But your still right knipex is by far the best in its field.
@@addisonsteiner6473 thats true, but their tools mostly aren't worth the price.
I HATED the wobble plus extensions. They’re straight when you want wobble and they wobble when you want straight. Turned em back in and bought separate wobble and straight, no regrets at all. Yes, it’s $200 worth of extensions. When you use em every day all day it’s worth it.
Lol ya I've ran into that issue before
Love your channel, really educational contents.
I am a student at trade school and we get discount on Mac or snap on tools (about 30-40% compared to normal price). I bought a decent set of snap on tools for 3k, so far I think it worth every penny. Their sockets are well built , a little bit overpriced, but their ratchets and torque wrenches are the best ones I have ever put my hands on.
No regret
A lot of these designs have had their patents run out. They aren't knockoffs or rebranded per se, the design just isn't protected anymore so companies make their own version of a lot of popular tool designs.
I am a fan of SK ratchets and sockets.
Michael W I agree
SK Wayne has always been a great option for guys looking for quality tools that won’t cost an arm and both legs. Their vintage stuff, pre 2000’s is much better though for some reason- I suspect possibly some offshoring most likely. Proto is another good one.
I have to correct you regarding the wobble-plus profile/feature, which was patented by a Japanese company caled Ko-ken. So, Snap-on, and many other companies that offer extensions with that profile/feature, had to gain the rights to produce them from Ko-ken. Ko-ken is a Japanese manufacturere that specializes in socketry items.
ChrisCas - Tool Aficionado ya I found that out about 2 weeks ago. Thanks for the info 👍🏻
Kobalt now has the wobble plus feature for $20 a setand is available for 1/4 3/8 and 1/2
ChrisCas! Small world and 2 years later. I’ll be bringing a lot of my Japanese tools home with me when I move back. I bought a Taiwanese copy of the Ko-Ken wobble plus sockets by a brand called SK11 when I first moved to Japan. Was trying to get a cheap toolset together and ended up getting them in 3/8” drive, not knowing what they were. Fell in love with the feature and bought them in 1/4” and 1/2”, too.
Gonna try to pick up some KTC Extra Long box end wrench’s before I come home. Great for old rusty suspension parts.
thought this was going to be another fanatical Snap On commercial. Was pleasantly surprised for an honest review. Good job!
The CADD Monkey thank you I always do my best to be unbiased and honest during my reviews and videos. Thank you for watching and I’m glad you enjoyed
Irwin tools makes really good stuff and alot for Snap-On
I can remember when I first started out as a mechanic in the early 80s, the mac truck only sold channel lock pliers with the blue grips for a higher price than you could buy them at a local hardware store, then in later years mac and snap on rebranded them and added red grips for twice the price. In earlier years snap on had the flank drive, but after their patent expired there are many companies today who make wrenches and sockets with equal or better quality for 1/3 of the price. I wasted a lot of money over the years on tool trucks
Lol. I bought a set off the matco truck in 89 .. still have em. :)
I have a set of those harbor freight wobble extensions, and I find myself reaching for them every single time I work on one of my cars...... they have held up great apart from when I loose them..........
newSogn haha that’s great to hear. Well not the losing them part. 👍🏻
I bought the Matco 10 pc screw driver set, then traded it in for a Snap-On 8pc set. the Matcos are nice, but the Snap-On screw drivers are much nicer, honestly.
Chase Hewett okay.
Matco screwdrivers are rebranded Witte screwdrivers. They even say Witte on the handle. I think they're made in Germany.
For truck mechanics. The non self adjusting slack adjuster tool sold by Snap-on, MAC, etc, is made by lang. Buy the lang, it's a fraction of the price and your chances of breaking them is slim to non
Michel Reineking thank you for sharing!!!
Thank you I'm just starting out as a trailer mechanic and I need one
got one at O'Reillys for $40
Thank you !!!!!!!!
Lang also makes hose crimp pliers that many rebrand. Buy the Lang
I have been a diy mechanic all my life. I have only once ran across the need for a low profile socket set. It was on a 2010 Ford expedition, the blend door actuator is behind the radio in the dash. Ford says you have to disassemble the entire dash to get to it. But thanks to fordtechmakaluco, (I probably spelled that wrong) I found out you can do it with a low profile socket and ratchet, by just removing the radio. The one he recommended in his video is no longer available. I found a nice alternative at O'REILLY'S however, its their store brand, a very nice small low profile ratchet, you have to buy the sockets separately for some reason. Due to a steel cross member running over it and not enough swing room, it was the only tool I could find that would work. The ratchet and sockets have a very nice high quality feel. But they are much smaller than the one you presented in the video.
Luke Grady very nice glad to hear it. Thanks for sharing that with everyone 👍🏻
Need more people like you in the world.
Gray Hartzog thank you. I hope you enjoyed the video!! 👍🏻
Everything matco sells is rebranded. Besides there tool boxes
And ratchets 😉
And ratchets 😉
Duralast at autozone sells small head 3/8 ratchets that I highly recommend i think their thinner than the ratchet in the low pro ratchet in the video
I was wanting to upgrade from DIY tools to something better but not pay the tool truck price. I found that website and it gave me confidence that I can fill my new tool box at home with something close to pro. And leave my old but still good starter brand tools in my truck box. You Earned a sub and we got the same husky box too!
Marcus Blanco nice!!!! Thank you!!! And I’m really glad that site helped you out. Lots of great deals. Hope your enjoying your box.
thanks dude! and it's the best box for the money I love it!
Marcus Blanco ya same here. I love it
I'm not positive but I think Gray pneumatic was the first one to come up with the wobble + design where it can be a wobble extension and then snap it in and it's like a regular extension. They first offered it with their thin-walled impact socket sets
cptdavidwebb very nice I did not know that. Thanks for sharing. I guess it will take some research
Loyalty to the warranty not the brand.
I found a set of wobble plus extentions on Amazon made by ARES. At first I thought they were poorly made junk but the reviews are very good.
Very nice I have seen alot of those tools. Never used them but they seem decent and usually well organized
I have several Ares tools and they are of great quality.
My low profile sockets are used to put in really shallow screws on undersheilds. I put the super low profile sockets on the 1/4 impact and can zip them all up super quick without hand threading. Saves alot of time, and can save your butt when your trying to do a big shild and your struggling with it, much easier. That ratchet has come in handy a few times when clearance was an issue too. I certainly don't regret my snap on purchase. If I had to do it again, I might say go with the Ko-ken zeal sockets with the super compact 3/8. The sockets seem higher quality and the ratchet looks like it would be more useful on a wider verity of jobs.
Also the locking wobble was invented and patented by Koken. Anyone using that style is paying royalties to Koken.
All of Matco's tools are made for them by another company (wrenches, ratchets sockets etc.) or are a rebrand. A good Knipex Cobra knockoff is made by Irwin. They work great for the price.
I wana check those Erwin ones out , the other knockoffs were decent but didn't have the quality
Cornwell also rebrands Witte screwdrivers and picks
Chris Oakley nice to know. Thanks for sharing
Craftsman 'Made in Germany' Push Button Knipex Pliers. It's stamped right on the pliers. I own the 2 pc set. The Craftsman version has better cushioned grips and they are 'Made in Germany' by Knipex. Less in price, better cushion. Like most companies today, they don't make anything- they pay to put their name on it, different color scheme and decals.
Tony R nice I'll have to check those out I haven't seen those yet. Thank you for sharing
Yes, they are produced by knipex in Germany but the craftsman have about half as many adjustment points as the knipex, you are crazy if you think knipex is going to make something for somebody else at the same high tolerances they make them for themselves and let them sell them cheaper.
Knipex makes Mac branded pliers, they just put the Mac logo on the red handles and remove the Knipex barcode. Of course they're cheaper on Amazon or through a Knipex distributor than they are off the truck.
Thanks for this video man! I'm about to order some witte screwdriver now
👍👍👍
I've borrowed the low profile sockets to use on my electric ratchet for interior work on Honda's as I'm a Honda tech.
Very nice 👍
Well done!
Thank you
Like your vid, however- I use my ultra low profile snap-on (Rat 72) ratchet and socket set all the time when working on motorcycles. There are several applications where they come in extremely irreplaceable when working on low clearance areas on bikes. Just a little constructive criticism. For whatever it’s worth.
Perfectly understandable. Can definitely be useful in many other types of jobs I'm sure. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts
I was driving down the highway with my 10x10 trailer to pick up some wood and off the side of the hill down a gully I seen a old 3 tier toolbox I turned around and went back to get it for scrap metal . When I went to lift it and could not . When I pried it open it was loaded with matco tools and air tools all in great shape I priced them out at over 12k its been 4 weeks and nobody has called me as I put a ad in the paper of course 5 guys called but could not tell me what was in the toolbox So i guess I have a lot of matco tools to add with my dads tools that was left to me. He was a master mechanic for over 57 years. His tools were most craftsman back when they were made in the USA
ncrdisabled Submarine vet wow that is crazy!!! I feel bad for whoever lost it but hey you did what you could to try and find the owner.
So it fell of a truck heh wise guy ; )
Lucky man!
did you know stanley owns Dewalt, Bostich, Mac, Porter cable, Black and Decker, Expert, Proto and craftsman
StanleyBlack&Decker owns a lot of Brands who used to be proprietary. Expert I'm not sure of, but I know is sold rebranded as Britool and both made in Taiwan. They also own Irwin I do know for sure. They have done a lot to pull most everything offshore. They call it an international brand, when it's really all just made in southeast Asia. Thanks a lot Stanree.
Phillip Bainbridge yea they own expert
Don’t forget Irwin too
DeWalt? Didn't... of that one!
Officially they don't own Black and Decker (who have owned DeWalt for decades), they joined together to make a new company Stanley Black and Decker. A bit like a marriage, officially my wife doesn't...hmm, thinking about it that’s not a good example!
I bought a set of extensions from cornwell with 1/4,3/8,and1/2 for 175$ and they are amazing
Man my Cromwell tool guy sold me some straigh jaw vice grips for 24$ I got mad after seeing the same ones on amazon for 11 in fact looked more original(shinier) then the ones I got !
Ya it happens to the best of us lol
snapon uses Williams, sunex, gearwrench. Matco uses Ingersoll Rand.
If an item is made to a standard, it doesn’t matter where it is made. As a young Bloke I bought a set of 1/2 inch drive sockets in 1965, they were made in India. I still have them ( although underused now due to metrication), apart from the one which rolled under the bench, and they worked perfectly.
A lot of blokes get overexcited about their tools, it’s a kind of envy thing……….mine’s better(bigger) than yours!!!
My advice is- buy tools as you need them, at the best price you can afford…………….no one needs 13 spanners of the same size…………….you can dismantle most cars with five spanners. Roll around toolcarts are good for resting your beer can!!!
Stavros
The green set on the thumbnail I bought it at lowes for 29.99 it’s the exact same set expect it says mac on my mac truck 159 lmao I'll buy that knockoff comes with lifetime warranty and they are my goto set
When I worked part time in highschool at A Duie Pyle the mechanics had expensive tools. But the large wrenches they had came from Craftsman. Unfortunately Craftsman turned to crap and got sold off. You can't even service the ratchets any more they don't have a snap ring or screws to pull them apart.
Thanks for all the links, very helpful.
Calvin Kramer thank you I’m glad you find them helpful!
Nice video and breakdown although there are some inaccuracies. Wobble extensions are not a "Knock-Off" of the Snap-On Wobble Plus which is a new concept and design with an element of a past design. Wobble extensions are produced or rebranded by many because the wobble Patent is expired. The Snap-On Low Profile was a Snap-On design, however they actually have manufactured overseas therefore their Patent Protection is compromised. (Remember if it is not stamped USA, it is not solely made in the USA). Matco rebranded Apex tools, they are not part of Apex Tool Group, There was a time when Danaher (Who owned Matco since it was owned by itself), had a development agreement and helped form Apex Tool Group. You'll find most tool brands rebrand from Apex, Wilmar, and Lisle (and others) and then you'll find that even those will rebrand from each other. Each tool company, whether they manufacture some of their line, or none of it, have to make financial decisions for each category. If they can make more profit rebranding as opposed to building it themselves, they must do so. People forget or many are too young to remember that Craftsman was the preeminent tool brand in America until the early 2000s. Their tools were made by USA Manufacturers such as Moore, Western Forge, Pratt Read, SK, and Danaher. No one cared because it was quality steel and design, Made in USA tools that Professionals used. The perception changed once production moved overseas. I predict that once it becomes more obvious that Snap-On has put their name on more tools produced overseas, their "Moral Superiority" will diminish. We are seeing that happen with Matco and MAC. Cornwell who imports a higher percentage than those three is part of the reason they never grew beyond a certain point. To be clear, no one makes better Made In USA Sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and their screwdrivers and hammers are at the top. But, how long will the hype carry them? Then again today's society is easily fooled by marketing and listen to only those who share the same opinion.
No weak points in those wobble plus extensions. I don’t regret buying those wobble plus extensions
Hated em. Had to swap them for separate sets of regular wobble and straight extensions. No regrets since. The s/o extensions really are worth it.
halfords over in the UK use that exact same bit driver box (the orange one from the mac bit driver set) with there tool kits i assume all made in the same factory
Instead of low profile socket set, get a pass through socket set. Some are made pretty low too and they have the added benefit of pass through :)
Ya I agree. A pass thru set is more useful and can be used as a low profile set. My pass thru was actually more low profile then the low profile set lol
ive heard a rumor that napa brand plier sets (4) are rebranded matco pliers for about 60 bucks!
alberto laureano ya Carlyle has the same set as matco. Very good example
Matco is the re-branded tool. Not the other way around.
Doyle pliers (I believe they're called) at harbor freight are almost identical to an older design of matco pliers
Tom Cieminski yes indeed. Sorry this video was made before those pliers were available. Good example though 👍🏻
Tom Cieminski you mean Mac
That low-profile ratchet sounds more like a 36t.
Who is the "Originator" of the "Pass-through Socket" like the Gear Wrench Series?
I absolutely LOVE my Gear Wrench Set, but I hate how easily the Sockets "POP-OUT" when pressure is applied on the backside of the Ratchet...
Thanks for sharing this video with us all!
Take care,
🤓-Thomas
I'm not exactly sure who the original maker is but I know what you mean. I'll have to do some research. Thanks for watching I'm glad you enjoyed
I believe O-Ratchet was the 1st. Armstrong's Eliminator has been around for a long time also.
I've got the Knipkek cobra. They are amazing...got the VISE GRIP as a back up but they're so much widerand can't get into places the cobras can.
Very nice and ya I agree. Same with mine 👍
I bought the low profile snapon set 4 plus years ago and never used it yet
Ron Reinski ya I have the powerbuilt one and never use it. Thanks for sharing that with us!!
Wish I would have seen this video and the description/tool list before I went on a tool buying bender.
Chris T haha ya that happens to the best of us
When I was a kid I worked for a shop and was first exposed to the tool truck culture. I thought for sure in this day and age, with so many reviews available and the internet shopping that people would not still be foolish enough to mortgage their future earnings for overpriced hand tools...........cannot believe this is still going on!
sean flesch ya and it’s bigger then ever.
The other day, I watched a tool review. The man had spent $1,000 on a socket set!
I Flick ya I see that stuff pretty often. It’s crazy
I very nearly bought a Snapon franchise many years ago. During my due diligence, I got to know and understand the process. At the time, the recommended mix of credit to cash customers was an 80:20 ratio. The concept being that the technician might not have $500 in his pocket but he could easily accept another $20/week payment. Every week when he got on that truck to make the payment was another opportunity to make another sale. Rinse and repeat.
Snapon tools are great tools even if the are a bit pricey.
Every tech I have ever known has had a blend of everything from truck tools to harbor freight, I’m not sure where these Snap-On Puritans are but I never met one in real life lol.
I was always very mindful of what I was buying from the trucks, usually specialty tools or something my research or experience said they did better than other options, these days many box store brands have improved to the point that the lines are very blurry indeed.
Still, I’m going to track down at least one of my old truck guys and see if they can come by my new shop sometimes. I certainly won’t be putting their kids through school but I’ll buy some stuff every once in a while. Yeah, my new shop doesn’t get visited by ANY trucks right now🤷♂️
Knippex even rebranded the witte screwdrivers them as well
If you remove the privot and handle covers from the Knipex, the Jaws can't cass through the yoke, but then handle can. :-D
Are mass-produced Chevrolets and Chryslers , Ford "knockoffs"? Are new-design Phillips screwdrivers JIS knockoffs (The JIS design is older than the original Phillips by more than 20 years). ? The first to market of a new design isn't necessarily the best that can be built. If I needed a truly low profile ratchet, I'd use a box end ratchet or a passthrough ratchet.
P Schmied your absolutely right the first design isn’t always the best but it would still make it the original design which means others still used that design to make there own. And your right the first design isn’t always better then others. And ya I have both a low profile ratchet set and pass through set and don’t find either of them useful. I always just grab a ratcheting wrench. I have a video on those coming out soon lol
Great video thanks for sharing #smallenginenation #keepwrenchin
Very good content, thanks for putting in the time.
Ice Bru thank you I’m glad you enjoy 👍🏻
The snap-on pwz line is made for them by their European subsidiary, Bahco. 50% markup when it gets the snap-on name.
Ya I have seen that 👍
@@TonyTheTechnician glad they're introducing the product in America though. It is a great tool design.
@@maxwellschmidt235 ya for sure!!
Thanks for posting this video. Iam out of the trades now. Iama big DIY, and wood working man.ToolsI use a lot I spend more money for that tool. But most tools are occasional, so I go Harbor Freight. Cheers ! time for a cold bottle of beer.
RONS BEERS & TOOLS nice. Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed. Thank you for watching
For the knipex pliers you’ll find a Craftsman 45433 2 pc. Adjustable Pliers Set exactly the same
Where can you find those pliers at?
Sadly the old wuality Craftsman tools cost as much if not more than tool truck tools. People miss the old Craftsman quality at affordable pricing. Currently on ebay the Craftsman brand is $110 for single plier. Buy the Knipex
Somebody set us all straight, but I think koken invented the wobble extension?
I believe I have heard that as well
Hey Tony this was a good video i think a lot of people get knock off and rebranded tools with Clones that are really made by other companies after the patents run out and often do not have the quality and/ or integrity of the originals I know in todays language they are often Labeled Chinese Clones my experience has been in Woodworking Machinery And available at a much lower cost but fo many reasons like not machining As many parts and using a lot of plastic parts instead of hardened metal plus lower quality or even no bearings on parts that spin many of those items look the same From the exterior as the people that make them try to reproduce them to do that often they do work but not with the same quality and precision as the original in my experience and because i have freinds in the Metalworking industry i know for a fact that feild has had the same thing happen as well especially in the Machinist trade with things like their Milling equipment and Vises as ive heard the stories of a Family owned Machine Shop and know they rather buy a older machine at a auction or Estate sale instead of the Brand New one that is a Clone especially with their lathes and the tooling
2 me a (real) knockoff is a blattant copy and is poorly made. I find that rebranding can work both ways sometimes it more rebranded sometimes it's less or even the same price. Same can hold true for warranty and service. You would be surprised who makes what and who owns who.
Damon Reuning very true 👍🏻
Carlyle tools makes Snap on wire strippers...But the Carlyle cost $19.00
Napa Carlyle brand has a plier set called the P-Rex which I believe is actually a rebranded Knipex for a few dollars cheaper and lifetime warranty.
SBeckerDTD very nice I’ll have to look into that. Thanks
Pittsburgh all the way
Not all the way. Not unless you are just a DIYer. As a professional, some of their stuff just isn't up to par. That being said, as a professional, I do use quite a bit of Harbor Freight stuff.
Well I’m a DIY guy sooooo
You'll be fine then
@@dylanandersen9318 Is rather use a broom stick than their pry bars. Pittsburgh pliers are also trash. A little more, you can get Quinn (much better). Even more will get you Doyle, also very good.
@@JakeNaughtFromStateFarm I just got rid of a set of their garbage pry bars, their pliers are junk but I have some of the Doyle ones and they aren't bad. Screwdrivers are also garbage
Sorry everyone i had to delete and upload this video again bc youtube took the video from 13 min down to 1 min in length after a week of being posted. so if you tried to watch this video previously and it was cut short I apologize and I hope you enjoy
Wtf. That sucks.
Mike's Tool Shed ya man I was pretty upset
TonyTheTechnician I thought I watched this haha
Walter Welch haha ya 😂
I still use chanel lock pliers till this day i just like them more
Nothing wrong with that. I have channel lock as well and have no problems 👍
The nipex plyers husky makes one that auto adjusts no button I like them
michealhasspoken those self adjusting styles suck even more ass that the nipex ones. Can’t beat a god damn set of channel locks
@@65sgboogieman8 they work fine for me although I have both but never had a problem them
I'm thinking low profile sockets would be better than a wrench when you need to use a torque wrench, right? I have some 1/2" nano sockets from Sunex and some 3/8" from Astro (or vice-versa) and I really like them. It's also pretty handy that you can drive them with a 22mm wrench for the 1/2" and a 17mm wrench for the 3/8". This was super helpful when my impact was struggling on some lug nuts. I added the 22m wrench to the mix and the lug nuts came off just fine. Yeah, being stubby/nano, in most cases they aren't going to be deep enough for lug nuts but in my case they were.
Is it just me or on the low pro socket set. The ratchet handle seems to be the only thing low pro about it. And my long extensions I bought snap on. They just sound different even. My dealer told me they were so strong because they were 1" slugs welded together not a solid pc
shawng7902 ya the low profile handle is not comfortable at all lol
the snap on low profile ratchet is like 60$ with my student discount
Year1994 is that the ratchet by itself or with sockets
Great vid helping everyone to save some cash
John Gibson thank you John!!
Do anyone knows where I can buy the green kobalt screwdriver set
tonyM 02 as far as I know Lowe’s isn’t selling them anymore or atleast at this time. Your best bet right now is like eBay and sites like that
Good video ! You know your tools and offered good tips on buying I’m a big advocate for knowing rebranded tools and saving a few bucks as it was something my father taught me growing up with Craftsman power tools in the 70s and 80s mostly with their woodworking tools and saws
Craig Monteforte thank you and ya I think it’s great whenever you can get a quality product and save money at the same time. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I like it buddy
Juan Esparza thank you
Knipex rebranded the cobras to both Mac and craftsman
James F and many others
Your videos rule man! Thank you for reviewing everything you have. I loom to your UA-cam channel for advice when buying new tools for work.
Beastamongst HumanSheep thank you and I’m really glad you enjoy the content!!! 👍🏻
I never seen anyway wobble plus other than snap on I see plenty wobble but not wobble plus! That's why I would snap on
matthew placencia ya I have seen a couple other brands of other the wobble plus design but they don’t work nearly as good as the snap on ones
What's the lesson we learned... buy the cheaper tools and save your money. Some of the store brands are 1/4 the price of the truck brands and have lifetime warranties too
What do you work on tractors? I got my lo pro set for 159.00 from Snap On on special.I use the sockets on my air ratchet.
asemastertechl1 that’s a pretty good deal for that set through snap on. That’s a good idea for the air ratchet. I work on the napa funny car. For drag racing
Very similar. Oh but there not. And this is why I always stay Loyal to the USA Craftsman tools.
I own this set I I got it clearance for $19 I should of bought all of them. I have yet to break one.
Very nice!!!!
You can always sell the knipex and get some money back. The knock offs not so much. So at least you'll have stored value if you need to sell it and it'll perform the job top notch.. Something to think about also. For screw drivers... never thought about them much until I started using good screwdrivers. Wera and JIS Vessels to name some. Use to think a screwdriver was a screwdriver but man these ones are nice a lot like your Matco.
ZDriver1996 yes that’s a very good point thank you for pointing that out
No Groot, you can't borrow my cold beer.
Haha 😂😂👍
Mac ratchet screwdrivers are identical to Trident ratchet screwdrivers - apart from the price.
doesn't tech ton make some of the sockets for those guys
I find it amazing that people dont get how the cobras are put tohether
Any experience with Teng tools?
No unfortunately not. I have seen them and many other brands similar but for what you get the price has always seemed high to me
Okay thanks
Mac quiet drive sure tools are all sunnex. List goes on and on
Nick Donn ya for sure. It’s a very long list
The head doesn't have to slip through lol, the handle will.
Nappering pliers that are universal that come with the different tips for internal external snap rings is an exact clone of another brand in harbor freight has one that is an exact clone several companies do I think identical literally
I heard Craftsman might be a rebrand of knipex
BADD400 CB700 drums I believe craftsman also has a similar pair to knipex
Damn well I watch it again great video bro again...lol
BEARDED YAKIN haha thanks bro!!
How do you keep your tools so clean they look like they’ve never been used
Joe jones I have a video on that as well but also keep in mind as of right now all of these tools are used at home and under a year old. But they do get plenty of use on my wife’s car, my project car, my daily driver and many friends vehicles. Thank you for watching and commenting
Wipe your hands before put your hand to grab a tool, use a tool cart to keep used tools, end of the work wipe the tools back and put in to the tool box. Simple and easy , after years of usage your tools and tool box will be look like brand spanking new.
Does anyone make a thin wall socket set?
A few companies make thine wall sockets. I have a set from harbor freight actually that is for lug nuts and they have worked well
The gearwrench tap an die almost looks like a matco set I have the gearwrench one way cheaper
Hi can any one buy tools from the tool trucks or do they only sell 2 the dealerships
nobber d robber anyone can purchase from them if you get to know them and give them some information.
@@TonyTheTechnician thank u
Tool trucks will sell to anyone I seen a snap on truck at a gas Stanton and I stopped in asked him nicely we went in I got a hat and a driver bit set
I hate the tool trucks last snap on truck I delt with ripped me off it was awhile ago before I had a good knowledge of tools, brands, and what they are worth I'll stick with tekton, gearwrench, sunex, and anything else that gets the job done I'm a heavy equipment mechanic so my tools get abused but they get the job done
Just 1 ya that sucks. Some tool trucks are shady like that and yes most of the time always over priced. Im glad to hear your tools are working great for what you need. That’s all that matters
I have a few friends who are heavy equipment tech's, and are absolutely loving the tekton and gear wrench stuff. I was surprised at the tekton comfort ratchets.
Aaron Anderson ya I was surprised with them as well when I first got them. I have been really happy with them. I’m glad to hear it from you as well. Thank you
@@TonyTheTechnician I went down a rabbit hole last night. If you Google tool truck equivalents and you should find it. Huge knowledge base. Thanks for the show. Good day sir
Aaron Anderson thank you. Have a great weekend
You being you...LOL that is hysterical. Making fun of yourself is a great quality.
Emery chiszar haha thank you!
Damit lowes dont sell that screwdriver set any more
Orlando Renteria ya I noticed. It was a great deal too
They put them up for black fryiday keep an eye out I got a set this year ..they ran out in like 3 weeks though.. So like I said keep an eye out around that time
Ed Ward nah discontinued never to appear again they got in trouble for copy right
@@weldingjunkie Wow that’s crazy I still have my said it’s awesome only broke one miss using it
@@flexapex9801 I’m still using mine too I love them sucks we can get anymore
You compared the older MAC screwdriver set with the Kobalts.....but they surely aren't the same!?
ChrisCas - Tool Aficionado true they weren’t the same handle design But I’m pretty sure they both were made in the same factory same screwdriver shaft and foam tray with a different handle design.
ChrisCas - Tool Aficionado so basically instead of being a rebrand it’s more of a knockoff.
Could have cut this by a half or two-thirds and gotten the message across just fine. Information was great and I do thank you for it but that was a long-winded explanation. Also, I prefer old Groot to Baby Groot T's (okay, now I'm just pulling your chain for the fun of it). Have a great day!
Steven Bastian haha ya this is one of my older videos and I talked a lot. I’ve been trying to do better about that. Lol I couldn’t find a grown groot 😂
I did not know that you didn't know about the garage journal page or I would have sent you there years ago... There is also a page on toolguyd that tells you what company owns which tool brands. Matco doesn't make shit except for their tool boxes. Matco was originally the company that made Mac tools, tool boxes. They had a falling out in the 90's and Matco started putting their names on tools and putting trucks on the streets to 'get even' with Mac tools. Matco used to buy tools from USA suppliers but have taken 90% of their business overseas, a lot of that was Apex tools fault because they are cheap asses. There isn't a company out there that makes all their own tools anymore. Only a handful that I know of anymore that's even all American manufacturing are SK, Proto, Williams and Wilde. One of the reasons they haven't gone Asian is they just make hand tools. Armstrong and Allen used to be the same but Apex shut them down to expand their Asian Gearwrench line.
Hard Knocks Forge ya I had known about garage journal it's a great place but never came across that list before. Pretty nice. And ya not many companies make there stuff in the good ole USA anymore. And ya even though matco doesn't make there tools I still find some of them very nice. Not talking about there ratcheting wrenches lmao. Thank you hard knocks forge.
TonyTheTechnician Lisle. I forgot Lisle as a still all made in USA company also.
Hard Knocks Forge oh ya very true. I own a little bit of lisle
Proto is Stanley and Williams is snapon
Hard Knocks Forge i