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View Full Version : Investing in some decent tools...



white16valver
21-06-2007, 15:54
... as I can't afford to keep taking it to a garage... lol

This Halfords set (click me) (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_17 3083_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76863_crumb_33958_parentcategoryrn_7 6863) appears to be good for a socket set, and it has a lifetime guarantee

and this Halfords set (click me) (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_22 9913_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76864_crumb_33958_parentcategoryrn_7 6864) seems to be the best spanner/ratchet set they do.

Would they be good? Would I only need the socket set?

This (click me) (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_16 5418_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76867_crumb_33958-76859_parentcategoryrn_76867) seems to cover more things but not be as relevant to motors...

All recommendations much appreciated! :)

an02rew
21-06-2007, 15:58
A Torx key set wouldn't go a miss either as most of the clio parts are torx screws. The toex set can be picked up on ebay for cheap. Apart from that, looks like your gonna have yourself a good set :)

white16valver
21-06-2007, 18:34
Yep, have got a halfords set of those already! lol

Had to get them when I was brave and got stuck in to change the thermostat myself :)

If anyone has a yay or nay to the most expensive of those sets above then let me know! :D

katbloke
21-06-2007, 19:36
Torque wrench is a must 3/8" & 1/2", 1/2" been the most important

katbloke
21-06-2007, 19:37
those ratchet spanners are excellent, their bluepoint/snap on equivalent are approx £140-£200 depending on wether they are swivel head or not

Coops
21-06-2007, 20:43
ai, halfords stuff is spot on, altho other week i did snap my 6mm alan key attachement on the top mounts, but av still not been able to get them off even with a breaker bar and an alan key so am guessin impact wrench job! :oops:

Ollyb16v
21-06-2007, 21:15
ai, halfords stuff is spot on, altho other week i did snap my 6mm alan key attachement on the top mounts, but av still not been able to get them off even with a breaker bar and an alan key so am guessin impact wrench job! :oops:

I know what you mean i did exactly the same, Tried heat, didn't work either, in the end got the hump :evil: Got a club hammer out and bolster. then thought about it and drilled it out. Bought a new kit from renault £30. Got to do the other side yet and that is solid too.

katbloke
21-06-2007, 21:28
battery impact gun 1/2" drive 21mm socket, no need for allen key then until do up time

Coops
21-06-2007, 22:59
ai, halfords stuff is spot on, altho other week i did snap my 6mm alan key attachement on the top mounts, but av still not been able to get them off even with a breaker bar and an alan key so am guessin impact wrench job! :oops:

I know what you mean i did exactly the same, Tried heat, didn't work either, in the end got the hump :evil: Got a club hammer out and bolster. then thought about it and drilled it out. Bought a new kit from renault £30. Got to do the other side yet and that is solid too.

not puttin a drill anywhere near me coilovers! :wink: it can stay seized, bloody moody damn renault! :lol:

BRUN
22-06-2007, 00:46
ive got the 150 piece and its spot on, use it all the time

Tullyvernon
22-06-2007, 10:36
I use halford profesional rachet spanners 4 work, thev lasted me well.
Im told halford profesional is made for them by draper, i compaired mine to draper 1s and they look identical! unless for the name :shock:

white16valver
22-06-2007, 10:52
Cool, think I will invest then :)

Had a look at the Draper stuff - it's quite expensive :shock: lol

Swervin_Mervin
22-06-2007, 10:54
Most of my stuff is Halfords and it's ok. Broke a few 6mm Hex bits though so now I keep a stock of them. :lol:

Breaker bar is also useful as is torque wrench. You'll also need to make sure you've got 16mm and 18mm sockets and so on.

There'll alawys be something else you need though. :P

Swervin_Mervin
22-06-2007, 10:55
Worth trying Machine Mart for a lot of stuff as well. Got my torque wrench, trolley jack, axle stands, breaker bar etc, etc from there.

Chris H
22-06-2007, 16:01
I broke my second halfords socket a few weeks back, a 19mm job, at the time the breaker bar to which it was attached was bent like a bannana.

Anyway point is, I have broken maybe 25 snap on sockets and roughly the same amount britool ones.

Only tools I would use and trust not to break really ar halfords gear.

Snap on is the dearest and crappest gear I have ever used.

Halfords when I snapped the 2 sockets (3/8 T40 and 1/2 19mm deep) they were replaced no quiblle quickly.

I did tear the head off a 1/4 inch extension, but I had 'excessive' force on it :lol:

Swervin_Mervin
22-06-2007, 16:40
I torn an extension as well. TBH I reckon using it to wind the tensioner arm on a Xsara block did for it. :lol:

Halfords are also great for batteries. Just got 2 replacement ones for each car without the need for a receipt. 8)

Are Teng any good?

Chris H
22-06-2007, 16:43
Teng are another well priced one, I think their stuff is pretty good but prefer the halfrods gear tbh.

Rich
22-06-2007, 17:16
Teng are another well priced one, I think their stuff is pretty good but prefer the halfrods gear tbh.

i have a lot of teng stuff what i use and tbh i cant fault it! i've only ever broken the ratchet handle when i had a 3 foot brass bar attached to the end of it trying to undo a demper bolt! aside from that i've never broken anything branded teng.
the halfords stuff is good too like and the flexi head ratchet spanners are worth their weight in gold!

Ollyb16v
22-06-2007, 18:14
ai, halfords stuff is spot on, altho other week i did snap my 6mm alan key attachement on the top mounts, but av still not been able to get them off even with a breaker bar and an alan key so am guessin impact wrench job! :oops:

I know what you mean i did exactly the same, Tried heat, didn't work either, in the end got the hump :evil: Got a club hammer out and bolster. then thought about it and drilled it out. Bought a new kit from renault £30. Got to do the other side yet and that is solid too.

not puttin a drill anywhere near me coilovers! :wink: it can stay seized, bloody moody damn renault! :lol:

Smae here i was removing the standard for coilovers so not bothered about battering it a bit.

Rob72
23-06-2007, 10:42
I broke my second halfords socket a few weeks back, a 19mm job, at the time the breaker bar to which it was attached was bent like a bannana.

Anyway point is, I have broken maybe 25 snap on sockets and roughly the same amount britool ones.

Only tools I would use and trust not to break really ar halfords gear.

Snap on is the dearest and crappest gear I have ever used.

Halfords when I snapped the 2 sockets (3/8 T40 and 1/2 19mm deep) they were replaced no quiblle quickly.

I did tear the head off a 1/4 inch extension, but I had 'excessive' force on it :lol:

do you work for halfords ..?

if you broke that many snap on / britool your not using them properly

every good mechanic has a box full of snap on tools

Chris H
23-06-2007, 11:34
lol yeah I work for halfords I'm the ripspeed nova development specialist :lol:

Every good mechanic eh? you clearly don't know many mechanics.

So I'm not using the tools properly is that it? Despite having worked on cars for more than half my life?

Ok I accept I clearly don't have the power to simply stand there, look at a socket get it to fly over and go on a bolt or nut then using my mind tell it to undo the fastner and make sure it doesn't shatter itself.

The snap on 3/4 inch gear is the worst I have ever used, the sockets just shatter.

Also anyone else not find that the snap on van mans not only arrogant but doesn't really know his own tools.

I got my money back so I ain't bothered, they do have some nice stuff but general sockets etc I have seen too many snap or heads twist off breaker bars.

BTW if you Rob172 can telepathically get nuts and bolts to undo then i will give you a very well paying job, I'm fed up of getting manky fixing cars, porting heads, doing engine conversions etc. A man with those talents is just what I need.

Swervin_Mervin
23-06-2007, 14:25
I know many people that think Snap-On is either distinctly average for its price or just plain old shit.

katbloke
23-06-2007, 17:11
Only thing i dont like about teng are the design of the ratchets, for me snap-on/bluepoint everytime, sorry if that offends

Clio_GTT
23-06-2007, 18:48
Halfords = Teng not draper.

They come with a lifetime guarentee on the good stuff, which is what i use, can't complain so far, i used a 16mm deep socket to remove my locking wheel nuts when i lost the key and the socket is still perfect whereas the wheelbolts are not 8)

Rob72
23-06-2007, 20:50
chris h ...no need to get rattie !

imo opinion snap-on is the best and i believe 99% mechanics would agree.

maybe your the best mastertech in the world ...if so ill believe you.

BigBoreBri
23-06-2007, 22:00
If yoiur buying tools i would say buy em right first time and they will last you forever, Halfords and Draper etc will see you good but expect some things to need replacing; ratchets in halfords stuff are especially bad!

If your looking for some top notch stuff that doesn't cost a fortune have a look at facom or if your on a budget try kennedy...

mon
23-06-2007, 22:22
... as I can't afford to keep taking it to a garage... lol

This Halfords set (click me) (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_17 3083_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76863_crumb_33958_parentcategoryrn_7 6863) appears to be good for a socket set, and it has a lifetime guarantee

and this Halfords set (click me) (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_22 9913_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76864_crumb_33958_parentcategoryrn_7 6864) seems to be the best spanner/ratchet set they do.

Would they be good? Would I only need the socket set?

This (click me) (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_16 5418_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76867_crumb_33958-76859_parentcategoryrn_76867) seems to cover more things but not be as relevant to motors...

All recommendations much appreciated! :)


i have that 149 socket set got it on offer wass £100 but i had £50 of tokens got it for £50 but have heard the torx bits are a bit crap snap alot you can change them but no good on a day they are closed also copy your recet if you get it

Swervin_Mervin
24-06-2007, 00:01
chris h ...no need to get rattie !

imo opinion snap-on is the best and i believe 99% mechanics would agree.

maybe your the best mastertech in the world ...if so ill believe you.

Well all the garages that I've ever frequented, and other spanner monkeys I know must make up that 1% miraculously.

Chris H
24-06-2007, 11:00
lol Rob chill brotha, take it easy my man.

bigbore bri, the ratchets, I have to say I have also noticed the rathet thing,. I used to have a couple of the ratchets with the slide handle, they were great, then I loaned them to someone, never came back, got a coupel of others (1/4 and 3/8's, I have anothe rmake 1/2 cannae mind what at the mo) and the new halfords ratchets jam and click nastily, the older ones were much better. Quality control must have dropped.

white16valver
25-06-2007, 13:33
woah, this thread's all kicked off! lol

I spent £200+ at the weekend in halfords - that 150 piece tool set, axle stands, trolley jack, coolant, power steering fluid, swarfega...

Sounds like the halfords stuff is good though so thanks for all the recommendations :D

Now I just have to have a go at fixing it lol

Rob72
27-06-2007, 22:07
chris h ...no need to get rattie !

imo opinion snap-on is the best and i believe 99% mechanics would agree.

maybe your the best mastertech in the world ...if so ill believe you.

Well all the garages that I've ever frequented, and other spanner monkeys I know must make up that 1% miraculously.

obviously u tale your motor to back street cowboys..

next time i watch the grand prix racin ill look out for all the halfords toolboxes in the pit garages... :roll:

Swervin_Mervin
27-06-2007, 23:40
Yes obviously I do. Instead I should take it to the professionals at Renault or perhaps the F1 team headquarters. The independent Renault specialists are clearly dodgy. :roll:

summeh
27-06-2007, 23:59
halfrauds are selling a ratchet spanner set at the moment for 29.99 (i think), which is 20quid off the normal price... think it was a 10 piece set, professional range... well worth having.

Coops
28-06-2007, 00:11
ai the halfords ratchets are a bit pants, altho i've only ever had an issue with the 3/8" ones, been through 3 of them, the smaller unit and the 1/2" fitments have never been an issue and have had a good innings so far! :lol:

am forever misusing the extender bars and bending them n all, but thats my fault, nothin to do with quality of the tools! :lol:

MatBrown
29-06-2007, 12:35
chris h ...no need to get rattie !

imo opinion snap-on is the best and i believe 99% mechanics would agree.

maybe your the best mastertech in the world ...if so ill believe you.

Well all the garages that I've ever frequented, and other spanner monkeys I know must make up that 1% miraculously.

obviously u tale your motor to back street cowboys..

next time i watch the grand prix racin ill look out for all the halfords toolboxes in the pit garages... :roll:

I would think that is more down to sponsoring and product placement?


Mat.

MAXIBOY
29-06-2007, 13:04
there halfords tool boxes in the touring cars garages 8)

Swervin_Mervin
29-06-2007, 14:08
there halfords tool boxes in the touring cars garages 8)

Cowboys. :lol:

summeh
29-06-2007, 14:45
I used to have a couple of the ratchets with the slide handle, they were great.

Is that the one with the plastic outer casing? Also used to have one of these but it's now on its way out, so had to buy a new one (all metal), quality is not as good, the switch always gets in the way when using it.

Rob72
29-06-2007, 21:24
ok lads youv,e convinced me...halfords tools are the best money can buy.

always thought snap-on was best ..im proved wrong. :bowdown:

MAXIBOY
29-06-2007, 21:39
never said they we,re not good but when i started in the trade they were the only ones with a lifetime guarantee. now halfords offer the same at a third the price. why pay more. they might break but they replace them and halfords usually do so with as much of a problem as snap-on. not worth paying more in most cases. mine was all snap on now when it breaks or i need a new piece i use others halfords teng etc

stan
30-06-2007, 10:59
Snap-on are good, and the quality is second to none....ive never had a problem with it. However, i think the main reason its common place in garages is more convenience than anything else...i.e you have the snap on man who comes round and sorts you out...you dont have to **** about sourcing bits and bobs as you go along. simply ring him, he gets it, he drops it off, you pay...easy.

As for price...its is top end usually...a mate of mine has just bought a new rollercab toolbox....best part of £4000. Thats for JUST the box!

bradharding
01-07-2007, 10:57
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_22 3049_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varien t__categoryId_76867_crumb_33958-76859_parentcategoryrn_76867

235 items including 3 socket sets in this chest for 50 sniffs bargain!

MatBrown
01-07-2007, 11:43
Don't think they are from the professional range tho, so not guaranteed for life.


Mat.

Winston
01-07-2007, 12:30
As above

Halfords Pro for me too.... but imo the quility has dropped in the last year....my new wrenches feel shit in my new kit