Draper Socket Set

[mia_clarke]

I was thinking about buying a Draper Socket Set… Does anyone have any recommendations / experience of using Draper?

[tapkaJohnD]

Why pick Draper? Nothing against them, but why pick them?

Halfords "professional" range has my recommendation.

JOhn

[brman]

If you want consistent quality then get the Draper Expert range. I think they are very good value for money.

A 1/2" draper socket set is what I have used for 30 odd years, not managed to break anything yet. I recently got a draper expert 3/8" set and the still appear well made. I have seen some of the cheaper draper stuff and not been so impressed.

That said, I also have stuff by various other makes that are better quality, Norbar torque wrenches, Halfords Pro spanners and 1/4" socket set, Bahco spanners and adjustable spanners. These are all better quality but also more expensive. You pays your money......

[DuraAce]

Halfords is great value but too many 12 point sockets. 6 point really is the way to go.

[E-bmw]

Standard Draper kit is also pretty much all 12-point, go for the Halfords Pro kit, 120 or 170 piece kits for £100 or £150 respectively, lots of kit for the money.

[Ynox]

I'm fairly sure Draper Expert kit is/was the same as Halfords Pro kit.

They're both reasonable quality but 12 sided sockets used to be the order of the day.

However I've recent-ishly bought a Halfords 1/2" set and this is 6 point, so maybe they've listened / supplier has a cheap load of 6 sided sockets!

[CoolHands]

I have a draper expert 1/2" set, it's different from the Halfords advance sets.

[foggy]

All my Bahco stuff is 6 siders, main reason I bought them. They're standing up well to general abuse.

[brman]

Interesting comments on 12 vs 6 sided sockets.

I am of the opinion that if you are going to damage a nut with a 12 sided socket then you are abusing it. Either it is seized on (so use heat or releasing fluid or an impact socket/wrench) or it is something specialist like a hub nut where you are not going to be using your standard socket set anyway.
Plus on any car I have worked on that is less than 20 years old the nuts aren't made of cheese like they used to be.

What I am saying is that all my standard sockets are 12 point, they are more convenient to use. 6 sided are the reserve of my impact sockets and stuff bigger than 23mm.

[PositronicRay]

I must agree with the above, I have a Halfords 3/8 metric/imperial 12 sided set I use for 95% of stuff. Then some Sealey "wall drive" 1/2" sockets (found on Amazon for a tenner) combined with some random rachets, bars, extensions, which I use for suspension and stuff.

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?id=20&am...

Not come across "wall drive" before but seems to work well, nice snug fit.

[sgtBerbatov]

DuraAce said:

Halfords is great value but too many 12 point sockets. 6 point really is the way to go.

^^ This, all day long.

I bought a Halfords toolkit about 5 years ago. I have most of it left, but I only ever used to do a service on my 2010 Peugeot 107. So didn't come across anything difficult etc.

I then buy a 1998 Corolla and I attacked it with my Halfords toolkit with it's 12 point sockets. Every nut that was rusted in place I managed to round the head off them. I was then told I should get some 6 point hex sockets and I'd have an easier job with it. And they were right. I haven't rounded the head off a bolt since using 6 point hex sockets.

I bought them from Amazon, a box of Sealey Impact Hex Sockets. Impact (which will be black) are good for when you have a stubborn nut and you need to smack it with a hammer. The Chrome ones (that come in the Halfords kit) can shatter if you hit them with a hammer.

Also, buy the biggest breaker bar you can get your hands on. Never be without a proper breaker bar.

[jeremyh1]

I have Halfords advanced with the lifetime replacement promise I have never heard of anybody going back for a new one

[tapkaJohnD]

I have! I abused a too small ratchet on too tight a nut and broke it.

"No probs, Sir! I'll get you a new one from the cabinet!"

John

[jeremyh1]

tapkaJohnD said:

I have! I abused a too small ratchet on too tight a nut and broke it.

"No probs, Sir! I'll get you a new one from the cabinet!"

John

Thats nice you have posted that up John I dont expect to do any damage but its good they stick to their word

[WilliamWallace]

I've got one of these Sealey sets that I got from Toolstop http://www.toolstop.co.uk/sealey-ak693-socket-set-...

The case is pretty neat, really helps with my tool OCD :P

I've had some draper sockets in the past but found then strip the heads, wouldnt put me off buying them again but never had that issue with sealey

[Ransoman]

Big fan of Draper expert here. Their sockets and spanners will take anything.

I would avoid the regular draper stuff as they are not as robust or strong and don't touch the draper "Red" line,

[Its_the_Dacia_Sandero]

12 pointers grab the nut points which can easily round off or have been previously been rounded off. 6 pointers grab the flats of the nuts which are a lot stronger and unlikely to fail. You can usually get a rounded nut off with a 6 point socket .

[Ed.]

I got the 120 piece socket set from Halfords which is fine but wanted a 3/8 6 point set for rusty cars.
I got this draper expert set and have no problems.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008H14QJA/ref...

I have a basic mastercraft metric/imp set that misses out some useful sizes and that is 6 point, seems to be more normal in the states.

[5harp3y]

Halfords professional will do the job for most home mechanics.

lots of their 1/2 inch stuff comes as hex not 12 point too

[robbo1959]

Hi Guys.
I have been doing a bit of research myself into socket sets, after many years of service my old socket set is dying the death. Has anyone on here had any experience with the toptul brand?
I found what looks like a decent kit at the right price whilst searching the web. Not sure if its worth investing or not.
Cheers