This is probably out of the price range of all but the most hard-core automotive DIYers, but it’s still extremely cool and useful: This tool from Snap-on fits in a small suitcase and is powered by a 12V tap from the test vehicle but still manages to deliver detailed vehicle emission specs regarding carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrous oxide.

Besides doing your own emissions testing before you take your newly-modified ride down for inspection, this type of measuring gear can also help you dial in your performance vehicle’s tuning options and diagnose engine problems.

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Rick says: “As for my favorite tool — That’s gotta be my ratcheting screwdriver…  Anytime something needs fixing, I grab that first to go check it out.  If a friend calls that they have a loose door, busted door knob, some electric problem, or that their refrigerator door opens the wrong way, I just grab that screwdriver and the figure what else (if anything) I might need.”

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For the pros out there — or the DIYers who’d like to have a couple of sweet tools in their kit — Snap-on’s holiday 10% off sale continues with items swapping in and out of the “sale bin” pretty regularly.  They’ve added a few more true hand tools in the latest round, including a 3-piece quick release ratchet set — 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ drive — for $92.66.

Current 10% Sale Items [Snap-on, warning: temporary link]

Ahhh — the season of buying.  The season of deals.

There’s starting to trickle out folks, and here’s another one from Snap-on.  They’re offering 10% off some of their “essential” tools.  See the link below for the full list, but my favorite item: a 12-piece set of metric combo wrenches for $237.06 (regularly $263.40).

10% Off “Essential Tools” [Snap-on]

This new release from Snap-on caught my attention because — as anyone who’s been in the Toolmonger shop can tell you — I love a clean and organized shop.  Add to that the fact that I’m planning on picking up a set of T-shaped hex wrenches this season, and this — or something like it — is just what I need.

Heck, even if I don’t purchase the wrenches from Snap-on, it’d probably be worth the $16 this thing costs just to not have to build one.

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Leave it to Snap-on to combine the torque wrench and angle gauge into a single very effective tool.  Their new TECHANGLE ratcheting wrench measures torque from 12.5 to 250 ft-lbs (for the 1/2″ drive model) with an accuracy of +/- 2% CW (+/- 3% CCW) and an angle accuracy of +/- 1%.  It sounds like a perfect solution for engine building.

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I realize that this isn’t something most of you are going to want to run out and add to your tool collection, but it’s such a nice solution to a common problem that I couldn’t help but share it here.  If you’ve ever seen an A&P perform standard maintenance on a light aircraft, you’ve probably seen a 1″ hex oil filter.  Now Snap-on’s created a special 3/8″ drive 1″ ratcheting box wrench just for that special application.

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You’ve probably seen these — or some like them — online and thought, “Why would I ever need a hex driver that big?“  Answer: To remove the sensor plugs on the top of a Chevy small-block intake manifold.  After those plugs’ve been sitting there happily Loctited in there for ten or eleven years, it’s going to take more than some kind of cobbled-together home tool to get them out.  Trust us; We just found out.

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At $25.45, this is probably one of the least expensive Snap-on tools you’ll ever buy.  Seriously, though, what a great idea: You simply pop your “C” battery-powered flashlight into the clip, attach the magnetic base to the car you’re working on, your toolbox, or whatever other ferrous metal you might find in the area, then swivel the light to face your work.

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Believe us when we tell you that when you need a crowsfoot, you need a crowsfoot.  You’ve found yourself in some kind of nasty situation where you can’t reach the bolt no matter what.  In those kind of cases, tools like this — that seem boring and unnecessary when you’re sitting around in your easy chair looking at the catalog — all of a sudden become really interesting.

We’ve seen — and used — crowfoot wrenches before, but this is the first adjustable crowfoot we’ve come across.  Sounds like a great idea to us. 

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If you’ve ever added braided hoses to your ride, you probably discovered that tightening those beautiful aluminum AN-style fittings is a bit of a trick.  Sure, you can just wail on them, but you’re going to scratch and/or mar the mess out of ‘em.  You can always try the low-buck solution of a bit of electrical tape on your standard adjustable, but if you’re going to do more than a few hoses, Snap-on’s got a better solution: an aluminum adjustable wrench.

They offer two, a 10″ designed for up to an AN #20, and an 8″ designed for up to an AN #10.  They’re not super cheap — what Snap-on product is — but they’re definitely the right tool for the job.   Beyond that, they’re pretty darn sharp with a red anodized surface.

We saw this in their most recent sales flyer, which (happily) means they’re on sale — in this case, 10% off — which places the larger one at $90.40 and the smaller one at $59.63.

Aluminum Adjustable AN Fitting Wrench [Snap-on]

When we saw something listed as “tool, air, crud removal” in the “new products” area of the Snap-on website, we just had to know more.

This new tool, the PT280THUGA Air Removal Tool, looks like a pneumatic angle grinder, but it’s actually designed to take a range of rotary stripping discs.  For example, a stainless steel “brush-style” disc helps remove PVC, seam sealer, rust, paint, and underbody protection.  An optional “rubber eraser” disc can be used to remove decals, pin stripes, double-sided tape, and other adhesives.

It uses Snap-on’s reliable existing planetary gear system, and spins at 3,500 RPM so it’s a little faster than your electric polisher but still slow enough to safely use with brush discs.  It routes cooling air for the motor between its housing and liner to keep its grip cool, and the grip itself helps isolate you vibration.  You can also adjust the air outlet at the rear of the tool to point it in different directions, and there’s a ten-position power/speed regulator.

When we asked, by the way, Snap-on said that the tool was originally called the “Crud Thug” — hence its unusual part number.  Personally, we love the name.  Names like this — and like Stanley’s Functional Utility Bar (”Fubar”) — stick with you and accurately describe the tool’s function.  Would you remember the “PT280 Air Removal Tool” or the “Crud Thug?”  We’d love to see more names like these.

It’s $380 from Snap-on, and it’s available now.

The PT280THUGA Air Removal Tool [PDF: Snap-on]

Sometimes getting at the spark plugs on modern cars (or older muscle cars as well) can be a real trick.  Along with the digital torque & angle wrench we wrote about yesterday, Snap-On recently released a low-profile spark plug socket that we’re definitely going to check out.

The idea behind the low-profile spark plug socket is that it’s not intended to be used with a standard ratchet.  Instead, both ends of the socket are open and the spark plug can extend right through the socket.  The end that would normally attach to a ratchet is instead cut to fit a 7/8″ external hex drive.  You could drive it with a 7/8″ socket, or in really tight quarters you can turn it with a 7/8″ open- or box-ended wrench.

Snap-On also touts the socket’s “patented tapered hex design” to retain the spark plug securely without a rubber insert or a magnet. 

Starting at $25, this will be a great tool to own.

The Low-Profile Spark Plug Socket [PDF - Snap-On]

 

Designed specifically to save time when tightening engine head bolts, Snap-On’s new TechAngle torque and angle wrench digitally displays torque in in-lbs., ft-lbs., and Nm as well as angles at the touch of a button. The wrench sports an angle accuracy of +/- 1%, a sealed keypad to keep out dust and grit, and a high-strength sealed flex-head ratchet that moves 15 degrees in both directions. 

Snap-On claims that this high-tech alternative to the standard torque/angle gauge can save you between two and five minutes per head bolt, which can mean money in your pocket if you’re making your living with it.  (Or, if you’re a hobbyist it means more time driving and less time rebuilding.)

List price is $405.

The TechAngle Torque & Angle Wrench [PDF - Snap-On]

Snap-On is giving away three prizes this Father’s Day:

• One 1/4″ drive Techwrench ($301 in the catalog)
• One five drawer roll cab ($795)
• and one set of seven open and flank drive box wrenches ($175)

As usual, you’re swapping your personal info for a chance to win, though there is an opt-out selection on the registration page.

You can register daily for Snap-On’s Father’s Day sweepstakes from now until June 18th, so don’t miss out.

Father’s Day Sweepstakes [Snap-On]

The new Snap-On Catalog 800 is out, and Snap-On claims that it contains more than 14,000 tools “designed to handle the challenges encountered by technicians, mechanics, engineers and inspectors - anyone who deals with the machinery that drives commerce and transporation.”

Be that as it may, this is toilet reading material not to be missed.  Sadly, it’s not free, but $1.89 (free shipping) isn’t that large a price to pay for this much dreaming and drooling.  Or alternatively you can just beat your local sales rep out of one.

Snap-On Tools Catalog 800 [Snap-On]