A Comparison of Major Automotive Tool Brands: Snap-on, Matco, MAC, Craftsman, and More

Perhaps you are a professional mechanic, or maybe you just work on cars as a hobby. Either way, you probably want high-quality, reliable tools. There are many brands available in a wide variety of price ranges, so how do you know which brand would be the best choice for you? I no longer work on cars as a profession, but I have a good amount of experience with various brands, and have seen how they performed in a professional environment.

At the pinnacle of the tool world is where you will find the most expensive brand, Snap-on. This brand of tools in designed with professional use in mind, and many professionals I know use this brand nearly exclusively. I have seen Snap-on tools break just like any other brand, but they are very durable and are crafted to precise specifications. Snap-on tools are sold from a tool truck that visits automotive shops, and they are also available online.

If Snap-on tools don't fit into your price-range, or if you just don't feel that kind of quality is necessary for your personal use, then you may want to look into Matco, MAC, or Cornwell's line of tools. They are generally a little cheaper, but I have used all three brands and found them to be quality products. Like Snap-on, these brands are also designed with professional use in mind and are sold off of a truck.

The next step down in my opinion is SK and Craftsman. I give SK the edge in quality, but they aren't as popular. These tools are affordable priced, and, like nearly all other brands, they carry a lifetime warranty on hand tools. Some specialty tools such as torque wrenches have limited warranties, but that's to be expected. I have had good luck with all my SK tools and most of my Craftsman. I have found Craftsman ratchets to be poorly made and no longer use them, but their sockets and wrenches are of decent quality. Craftsman are available at Sears, and SK can be found at some automotive parts stores.

Air tools are a must-have in my opinion, and I buy one brand nearly exclusively, which is Ingersoll Rand. Ingersoll Rand has a very broad range of air tools and compressors depending on what you are looking for. The quality varies from model to model, and the price generally reflects it. They include both low-end and top-of-the line options for nearly every kind of air tool made. I own their 2135Ti impact wrench, and it is by far the best I have ever used.

There are many other brands of tools out there to choose from, but these are some of the most popular, and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. There are a lot of very cheap imported tools becoming available with very inconsistent quality levels. I have had great luck with some and others were complete garbage, so they can go either way.

I have bought a very large portion of my tools used on eBay. I try to stick with the best brands, but I try to save money by buying used. Sometimes there is a lot of money to be saved, but other times it is really not worth the difference in cost. Shop around when buying tools and decide what level of quality you think suits your needs.