Which socket/tool set have you got?

[DeanR32]

Morning all

I need myself a nice range of sockets, spanners, ratchets etc and have been looking at a halfords advanced set. It doesn't look a bad set but is there anything else out there for that sort of money that is any better? What did you buy?

Price range is up to £150

Cheers

[kambites]

Is "Halfords Advanced" the new name for "Halfords Professional"?

[DeanR32]

I guess so mate. Not entirely sure but I'm sure it has a lifetime warranty on ratchets etc

[Toaster Pilot]

kambites said:

Is "Halfords Advanced" the new name for "Halfords Professional"?

I believe the full name is "halfords advanced professional" for the lifetime guarantee stuff.

Get the biggest set of that you can, normally half price or whatever.

I have a smaller set and it's great

[kambites]

In that case it's not a bad set for home use. Obviously not Snap-On quality, but a damned slight better than the budget stuff.

[Krikkit]

Toaster Pilot said:

kambites said:

Is "Halfords Advanced" the new name for "Halfords Professional"?

I believe the full name is "halfords advanced professional" for the lifetime guarantee stuff.

Get the biggest set of that you can, normally half price or whatever.

I have a smaller set and it's great

Agreed! They should be coming on offer soon, got mine half price two years ago and it's been fantastic so far. All the sockets are solid still, the ratchets are nice and tight etc.

[nails1979]

I bought a halfords advanced set last year purely as a mate has had a set for a good few years and have used it plenty and found it to be pretty good. However the newer range isnt as good. Sockets get stuck on the rachets and extensions. Less useful tools inside etc. Its still ok though just makes we wish I'd bought one earlier.

[JB!]

Had mine 9 years, halfords pro is fine.

HOWEVER - most of the kit is 12 point sockets, so invest in 6-points for specific sizes.

[Krikkit]

Just to add, the set that I bought is on half price at the moment, for £80 it's a steal. Obviously you need other tools etc, but one of those would be a great start.

[benters]

got me a standard multi piece halfords set with AF & Metric sockets together with their ratchet spanners, virtually finished my MG rebuild with it and have to say for the price its excellent. The metric stuff gets used too on my Esprit and VW Lupo and again, no problems and i would happily shop at Halfords for additional spanners and sockets of required.

[EDLT]

I've got a variety of Sealey, Signet, Clarke and other brand tools.

I'd get this: http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

If you don't need them straight away, join Machine Mart's 'club' and they send out vouchers for 20% off clarke tools several times a year.

[DeanR32]

Cheers for the replies lads

I think I'll take a punt on the halfords set. I'm thinking, as pointed out above that maybe I should invest in some six siders as this'll be the main set for the restoration on my E10

Thanks again

[PoleDriver]

I have a large selection of tools, Snap-on, Blue Point, Halfords, Hilka, Britool etc. The Halfords Pro range is not far off Snap-on quality and is very attractively priced, especially when they are available at 50% off!

[Krikkit]

DeanR32 said:

Cheers for the replies lads

I think I'll take a punt on the halfords set. I'm thinking, as pointed out above that maybe I should invest in some six siders as this'll be the main set for the restoration on my E10

Thanks again

One of the halfords sets and a good set of 6-pointers is a great start.

[SS2.]

Another vote for the Halford's pro range - must have had mine (150 pieces in a case) for 10 years plus now and it's been faultless..

Quality kit for the money..

[Sump]

Mix of Crescent, Halfrords pro, and my new favourite sockets by Bergen.

[leafspring]

Another for the Halfords Pro

90% of my stuff is Halfords Pro (including the big £200 socket+ratchet+spanner set) I've had it for over 13 years nothings broken yet.

Rest of my stuff is Hilka, King Dick, Draper Pro, Clarke Pro*... (mainly they're imperial stuff)

None of it is treated gently... none of those have broken yet either

* Clarke Pro from Machinemart is very reasonably priced, high quality and also has a lifetime guarantee


ETA Reading back: My big Halfords set is a 50/50 mix of Six and Twelve pointers... I don't know if the smaller sets are biased towards the twelve point side. Clarke Pro is also mostly six point.

Edited by leafspring on Tuesday 12th November 10:52

[CrutyRammers]

Had a Halford's set since '92/'93 and apart from the plastic hinges on the box giving up the ghost a few years back, it's all still going strong. Good stuff.

[benters]

CrutyRammers said:

Had a Halford's set since '92/'93 and apart from the plastic hinges on the box giving up the ghost a few years back, it's all still going strong. Good stuff.

mine has done this too. . .still its 10 years old now at least

[leafspring]

I highly recommend Halfords Pro Screwdriver sets with the rubber handles...

Added bonus, you can sometimes get a set of 8 for 'free' if you buy their engine oil.