What tool kit?

[crankedup]

OK not a tech question, the last socket set I purchased turned out to be dross, breaking as soon as they were put to work.

So for a quality tool set (large sockets and a adjustable wrench) which manufacturer should I consider?

[tr7v8]

I like the Halfords Professional range. My set is a very geriatric Draper one brought 20 years ago, but as the frequently used bits are breaking/wearing out I'm replacing it with Halfords. Also have some Clarks stuff which is OK. But frequent very good deals on the Halfords stuff for sets. Know of several others with it and they're happy.
Be careful when buying new torque wrenches, one of the guys in the TR register just brought a new quite decent one and it had only one calibration scale and that was in something wierd. That got all the conversion tables out.

Jim

[crankedup]

Thanks Jim, the set that was no good was from Halfords, but I guess it was not the pro' range. I will have a look.

Any other recommendations please.

[nighthawk]

I'd question how much useage the tools will get.

Over the years I've seen tools made by the smaller/cheaper marques fail and cause the loss of enough skin to make Hannibal Lecter drool.

My personal weapons of choice are Snap on for hand tools and barring my 1/2drive air gun the rest of the air tools are by ingersol rand.


BUT........

I've watched over a fair few repairs where the tools have been sourced from Halfords pro range and their Facom siblings

Laser and teng also offer hard wearing chrome plating and sockets that'll take the torque.

Cheap torque wrenches all seem to suffer with odd scales of measure KG/M and ib" are popular ones when all the manuals quote Nm or lb/ft

[stevieturbo]

Obviously Snap on would be preferred, but they do tend to cost a bit, so only have a few items...


Ive found most of the Halfords Professional range to be quite good.

Or indeed most of Sealey's stuff is ok. I have used some Teng stuff, and its good too, or Drapers Expert range.
Or Taskmaster.

A lot of brands look as if they are all made by the same place anyway, with different etchings as per brand name.

I wouldnt entertain Laser products. Most Ive seen, are poo.

[eliot]

A friend got some halfords pro stuff, I used the allen headed socket to remove the flywheel on his RV8, I said "this is likely to sheer the socket straight off", but to my amazement It did the job perfectly. The handles on the ratches are very short though.

eliot.

[chris1roll]

I started off with a draper expert set, I broke the rachet handle about 18 months later (ok, so i was knocking a bolt through with it) - the direction switch snapped off. (sockets are all still fine though)I replaced the ratchet with a halfords professional one, which has a lifetime guarantee, but its been fine for 3 years, even with scoffold tubes slipped over it....
Recently acquired a single hex Britool socket set, of which the sockets are a joy to use, but the direction switch on the ratchet is prone to getting changed accidentally- rather annoying, although apparently itis the "old" model.
As for cheaper stuff, I bought a kamasa set of spanners for £10 from the market before I had een passed my driving test, must have been at least 5 years ago now, only manged to snap the 7mm open end by putting it on a screwdriver shaft, but all the rest are still going strong.

Chris

>> Edited by chris1roll on Wednesday 22 June 21:47

[sparkythecat]

Have a gander at this remarkably similar thread I posted only a few weeks ago

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=175498

[dilbert]

I've got a variety of stuff, kinda mix and match.

My 1/2 drive draper rachet wrench I've had for more than a decade. The 3/8 one regularly goes, it's usually the rachet it's self that looses it's teeth. It's because I try to push it too hard, many of my 3/8 and 1/2 drive sockets overlap in size, and the smaller wrench fits awkward spaces better. I keep meaning to get one with a friction clutch, but I never seem to be able to find one in a hurry when I need it.

The sockets are all draper, barring any odd big ones. They're as tuff as old boots. The only time I've had a problem with a socket fitment, was the 1/2 to 3/8 drive adaptor. I was stupidly using my four foot tommy bar through it because I couldn't find the 1/2 socket in the right size.

Basically you just need to think about what you're trying to achieve with the sockets, to prevent anything breaking. Sometimes, the wrench is unavoidably sacrificial.

Bahco make very nice adjustable spanners, and they're worth spending a bit of money on. Cheap sockets can still work well, cheap adjustable spanners are next to useless.





>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 22 June 22:59

[nighthawk]

the names given to the companies that made some of the OLD tools make me giggle. They must have been a bunch of retired porn stars

Stahwillie and king dick are 2 such makes that fill my dads tool kit.

[dilbert]

nighthawk said:

the names given to the companies that made some of the OLD tools make me giggle. They must have been a bunch of retired porn stars Stahwillie and king dick are 2 such makes that fill my dads tool kit.

Never heard of the first one, but I've inherited a few imperial king dicks!

[stevieturbo]

eliot said:

A friend got some halfords pro stuff, I used the allen headed socket to remove the flywheel on his RV8, I said "this is likely to sheer the socket straight off", but to my amazement It did the job perfectly. The handles on the ratches are very short though. eliot.

lol, then buy one with a longer handle !!!

Had a quick look at that other thread too...

I notice nobody has mentioned a 1/4" drive socket set.

Buy one and use it, you wont regret it. The only fault with the Halfords pro set, is the plastic case is a bit flimsy. But in general, it is superb. I think mine was about £20 or so when I bought it a few years back. I actually bought 2 or 3 of them, so i'd always have one handy !!! ( have a tendency to lose small bits )

You will find you use it for most minor jobs around a car, rather than the very bulky 3/8" stuff.

[dilbert]

stevieturbo said:

eliot said: A friend got some halfords pro stuff, I used the allen headed socket to remove the flywheel on his RV8, I said "this is likely to sheer the socket straight off", but to my amazement It did the job perfectly. The handles on the ratches are very short though. eliot. lol, then buy one with a longer handle !!! Had a quick look at that other thread too... I notice nobody has mentioned a 1/4" drive socket set. Buy one and use it, you wont regret it. The only fault with the Halfords pro set, is the plastic case is a bit flimsy. But in general, it is superb. I think mine was about £20 or so when I bought it a few years back. I actually bought 2 or 3 of them, so i'd always have one handy !!! ( have a tendency to lose small bits ) You will find you use it for most minor jobs around a car, rather than the very bulky 3/8" stuff.

If you get a 1/4 inch drive set make sure you get an adaptor so you can use it with a 3/8 wrench, a small tommy bar for awkward spaces, and a screwdriver handle so you can use the sockets as a nut runner.

[stevieturbo]

Halfords pro set comes with screwdirver bits, some torx, and some allen key bits, as well as the screwdriver handle.

I dont have a 3/8 to 1/4 adaptor ( well dont think I do lol ) but have never come across a situation where Ive felt it would be of help.

The only add-ons to the set I bought were some deep sockets, and a couple of extentions with wobbly ends.

A sturdy case would make it a brilliant set.

Another great couple of items...

Buy a high lift jack. Not the normal "big" jack of around 500-600mm, but a proper high lift circa 1m.

I bought this one 2-3 years back ( needed low entry, which is more expensive )
www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc.9/category.525/it.A/id.6814/.f
Worth every penny though, although I dont think I paid that much for it...think it was on offer, along with big axle stands.

Next up is this Draper transmission jack. I just changed the clutch in my car, and a T56 is heavy !!
No worries with this baby though....It is difficult to lift initially, but once up a few inches gets easier.
Having the high lift jack also makes moving teh gearbox to and under the car much easier.

www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc.9/category.209/it.A/id.12748/.f

damn...all this looking makes me want to buy stuff....

fancy another 1/4 set lol
www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc.9/category.662/it.A/id.5715/.f
or this one
www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc.9/category.1365/it.A/id.8188/.f


>> Edited by stevieturbo on Thursday 23 June 00:44

[dilbert]

stevieturbo said:

Halfords pro set comes with screwdirver bits, some torx, and some allen key bits, as well as the screwdriver handle. I dont have a 3/8 to 1/4 adaptor ( well dont think I do lol ) but have never come across a situation where Ive felt it would be of help. The only add-ons to the set I bought were some deep sockets, and a couple of extentions with wobbly ends. A sturdy case would make it a brilliant set.

It's funny that. I've never had a universal joint of any kind. I don't think I've missed it really, though not having one I'd not be able to say for sure.

I think I tried to use my Dads a long time ago, and got fed up with the socket lifting off the nut if you used a whole pile of welly at an angle to the nut.

I just got a set of plain/ring spanners instead.

Edited to add;

A spanner, you hit with a hammer. (Soft faced of course)

Further edited to add;

Rationalising this thread, I get the impression you have a paranioa about getting into small spaces. My own paranoia is getting b*****d tight nuts and bolts undone.

I guess this stems from the time before I got myself a blow torch. Sometimes you have to do additional prep if you want to use it. (Disconnecting fuel lines) It never fails though.

>> Edited by dilbert on Thursday 23 June 00:46

[stevieturbo]

Not a UJ. Not fussed on them myself either. Just the wobbly drive on the end of the extension....quite handy.

[dilbert]

In fact strange as it may seem I'd go as far as to state that the best socket of all is the Blow Torch!

[love machine]

Draper 1/2" met/imp 76 piece. Bloody brilliant socket set in a good case as well.

[Fatboy]

Another vote for the halford pro range here - used the 3/8" drive to remoce wheel nuts on a metro - the whole metro (almost) came off the ground, but the ratchet didn't complain a bit. Bloody good kit IMHO.

The sealey stuff is pretty nice too, and really good value - bought my brother a whole toolbox worth for Christmas last year from Tools-n-Stuff (see ad at the top of this topic) and it all seems to be pretty good stuff.

[crankedup]

For for that lot guys, Halfords Pro have my cash.
Interesting that Elora were not mentioned, this was my first socket set I purchased about 34 years ago still good and intact. So now they have company.