socket set advice

[Steve H]

I have two hundred pounds worth of halfords vouchers
and as the sales are on now is the time to treat myself. A big missing section of my toolbox I am starting to gather is a socket set. I have a S1 and so does anyone have any recommendations for a decent set which will help in the ongoing (and frustratingly inexperienced) attempts at keeping her on the road? I want to make sure I buy the right one
Cheers and happy christmas to you all
Steve

[Oldred_V8S]

Steve H said:

I have two hundred pounds worth of halfords vouchers
and as the sales are on now is the time to treat myself. A big missing section of my toolbox I am starting to gather is a socket set. I have a S1 and so does anyone have any recommendations for a decent set which will help in the ongoing (and frustratingly inexperienced) attempts at keeping her on the road? I want to make sure I buy the right one
Cheers and happy christmas to you all
Steve

Steve

Whatever you get from Halfrauds, make sure it is the Professional range; they are excellent and if I recall correctly, guaranteed for life.

[chiefyo]

Hello Steve
First recommendation would be get a Halfords trade card, or try and borrow one that will get you a discount off your tools purchase. As for selection stick with Halfords pro they are pretty good. And lastly if you are going to buy sockets for the first time don't buy a made up set, as you will end up with stuff you will never use. Go with individual items and make up your own set. Basic items would be 3/8 and 1/2 ratchet. 3,6and 12 inch extensions in 3/8 and 1/2 and a 18inch 1/2 drive breaker bar, and then add a range of sockets of your own choice. Hope this makes sense happy shopping, Dave

[Steve H]

thanks, never thought of buying individual before, makes sense. I do know the professional range is the one to go for. I already have the ratchet spanner set.
Steve

[Engineer1]

Personally I would get a set of sockets, occasionally a damaged metric nut or bolt can be forced into an imperial socket allowing you to remove the offending piece and replace the nut or bolt, also having a full set will mean other jobs can be done.

[mep12345]

Engineer1 said:

Personally I would get a set of sockets, occasionally a damaged metric nut or bolt can be forced into an imperial socket allowing you to remove the offending piece and replace the nut or bolt, also having a full set will mean other jobs can be done.

I'd concur and buy a set, supplimenting with individual items where required. I have found that if you bought all those you use regularly on an individual basis the cost is the same as the set (or about the same) and you've got less.

I do agree with OP though 3/8 and 1/2 inch drives are essential as is the breaker bar. Also go for wall drive sockets (I think that is the only type in the Halfrauds pro range though). I have also found a 3/4 drive set invaluable, but unless you are using these in the trade a cheap/second hand set of these will suffice. I got mine from ebay for under £40 and a second hand 3/4 drive torque wrench (needed for the wheel bearings on the S3) for £35 from agarage that had gone bust.

HTH

Mark

[magpie215]

The 150 piece possessional set is a good buy. Mine has suffered some serious abuse and keeps on coming back for more,ratchets are getting a bit tired now(8 years of fairly regular weekend use) but a service kit can be had for around £5.

[phillpot]

personnally I'd definately go for a decent (comprehensive) 3/8 set.

1/2" drive is really only needed for very tight stuff and 19mm-3/4" + sizes imho, so perhaps a set of metric single hex sockets (often called Impact sockets coz designed for use with air guns) an extension or two and a ratchet or just a "nuckle bar" (use 3/8 stuff once loosened).

Know its been said before but good tools ain't cheap tools but its always a balance between how much you're gonna use 'em and how much you wanna invest in 'em, but decent stuff (doesn't have to be Snap-On) will last a long time.

I've still got a lot of tools I had as an apprentice, and that was a long time ago !

[wizzer]

Happy New Year to you all. Along with that Halfords Pro set which are good I would add a good quality certified torque wrench, if you'v not got one and if your vouchers will go to it a good electrical test meter, the Gunson one is pretty good.

[Gerald-TVR]

I had a set of these last xmas - and very useful they are as well http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

some of my other spanners I have date back 30 years and include whitworth, unc/f, a/f, sae and british gas

[Steve H]

Thanks for all of the help and advice, as I said I am Frustratingly inexperienced but I do want to learn as much as I can. Can I ask, when you mention 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 I assume you are reffering to the size of the "Drive" if that is the right description. And so the bigger the better or just bigger the size the bigger the sockets?

Steve

Edited by Steve H on Sunday 26th December 17:00

[mep12345]

Steve H said:

Thanks for all of the help and advice, as I said I am Frustratingly inexperienced but I do want to learn as much as I can. Can I ask, when you mention 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 I assume you are reffering to the size of the "Drive" if that is the right description. And so the bigger the better or just bigger the size the bigger the sockets?

Steve

Edited by Steve H on Sunday 26th December 17:00

Yes it is the size of the drive, bigger does not mean better here it really just means how much force they are designed to take, i.e. you won't get 3/4 drive sockets in less than 19mm (possibly 17mm) sockets and they will go up to the 50mm+ whereas 3/8" will only go up to around 22-24mm but will start at around 8mm with 1/2" covering the gap in the middle overlapping both of the others and allowing more force to be applied than the 3/8 but being much much lighter and far more compact than the 3/4 drive (these are only really needed for specific or specialist jobs - hence my comment about keep an eye on ebay and buy second hand when a bargain is there for the taking). You can also get 1/4 inch but I have never found the need to use a 1/4 ratchet as I've always used my 3/8 with a step down for the smaller 1/4" sockets which I buy as they are needed.

HTH

Mark

[phillpot]

Steve H said:

Can I ask, when you mention 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 I assume you are reffering to the size of the "Drive" if that is the right description. And so the bigger the better or just bigger the size the bigger the sockets?

Steve

Yes, they are the drive sizes. As a rough guide I'd say 1/4" is good for upto about 10mm nut size, 3/8" is a good allrounder 10mm upto 17mm (most nuts on a TVR),1/2" is quite heavy and cumbersome good for wheel nuts, big suspension bolts etc 17mm (or imperial equivalent) upwards.

oh, and 3/4" drive is for the big hub nuts and trucks

[TurboTony]

Halfords do a boxed set which I think is about £89 at the moment. It is a professional set and includes 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch ratchets and sockets:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

They also do bundles of this with screwdrivers etc. You may wish to buy a good trolley jack and axle stands. However it depends on how much you want to / need to do to your car.

My son used to have a Saturday job at Halfords and bought a similar kit as a starter. I use it now for routine jobs. Lifetime warranty is OK but does not now include 'moving parts'.

Hope this helps. I have a Halfords trade card, which is great for discounts on spare parts, but we are a long way away!

If you need any more help let me know

Cheers
Tony

[Steve H]

Thanks for all the advice, what would I do without you? I already have the axle stands and trolley jack and have put these to good use.
I like the look of the £89 set
Steve

[Wiz]

I managed for years with a basic draper 1/2" and a cheap 1/4" set. Recently got a sealey 3/8 set which is rubbish. Treated myself to a halfords pro 1/4 set last christmas and it is very usefull for getting in confined spaces, especially good with jubilee clips. I'd avoid the sets with everything possible in them and just get the pro stuff. Simple uncluttered sets are the best. Ratchet spanners are ok but you can't beat a set of simple combination spanners, buy the best you can you won't regret it. Breaker bars 12" an 24" are very uefull.

[magpies]

I also found that their ratchet spanners are good especially in tight places - get the ones with swivvel ends - I think they are half price at mo (£40)

[magpie215]

magpies said:

I also found that their ratchet spanners are good especially in tight places - get the ones with swivvel ends - I think they are half price at mo (£40)

likewise I picked a set up they are great VFM and very usefull

[Steve H]

Well, visited 2 stores today to get the 120 piece set (and a compression tester) and in both stores they couldn't take gift cards as the system is not working! Got the stuff reserved and going back tomorrow
Thanks for all the advice
Steve