Tools advice

('_')Z3

('_')Z3

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At the ripe old age of 38 I have finally decided that I can no longer keep borrowing my Dad's tools :-o . I've got a reasonable set open spanners etc but I'm after a decent ratchet and socket set that I can steadily build. What's everyone's advice on size 3/8? And what makes? snap on? Teng etc?
Thanks for any help advice
 
To be honest I've always bought halfords range or stuff from machine mart and find both are good quality depends how much your going to use them. For your average joe snap on and teng seems a bit pricey and extreme :D 3/8 is a good starter but I also wouldn't be without my 1/4 and 1/2 halfords do some good sets so worth a look better if they've got an offer on.
 
The Halfords Professional range tend to be good for the diy mechanic

I think snap-on are good but would always get Britool before i bought snap-on

as for size it depense what you are doing, i use 1/4 and 1/2
 
I got a socket set from Halfords last year and it's pretty good for what it cost. Think it was around £50-60, and has at least 100 pieces, most of which are actually the size I need!

Otherwise it's been eBay recently for a low profile trolley jack, which at £43 including delivery is great quality. Got myself a pretty meaty torque wrench for around £20.

As an occasional mechanic, I can't justify expensive stuff...
 
Daz3 said:
To be honest I've always bought halfords range or stuff from machine mart and find both are good quality depends how much your going to use them. For your average joe snap on and teng seems a bit pricey and extreme :D 3/8 is a good starter but I also wouldn't be without my 1/4 and 1/2 halfords do some good sets so worth a look better if they've got an offer on.
Click to expand...

The spanners I have are from the Halfords the professional range, they were half price about £40 and they are great. The idea was that I would buy key quality pieces as I go rather than just jump in and buy everything. So what's the best starter size? Is it better to have fixed or flexible?
 
Halfords for me..just bought the 120 i think ..cant fault it and with a life time grantee
 
Halfords here too although the Mannesman looked v good to for the cash.
 
I got a 1/2" set from Halfords and a 1/4" set with normal and long sockets off EBay. The 1/4" tends to get used more both on the cars and around the house - fitting a new element to the oven and a new shock absorber to the washing machine. Then used man maths to try and get the saving of not replacing the oven and washing machine added to the car budget. ;) My other 1/2" set was bought in 1967 but the sockets are all imperial so will just have to get an older classic car as well as the Zed. :D
 
Yeah I'd go for a 1/2" first then get a 1/4" You could probably not even bother with 3/8. As Gaz says get a torque wrench too (1/2") a really valuable tool and for around £20 cheap enough. Torx bits always come in handy,depends what you want to do really I just tend to buy tools that I need for a job I want to do. Saves me a garage bill plus I've gained experience and some more tools :-bd
 
When buying tools i look for items made from forged alloy steels with Chrome or vanadium in them which gives them excellent shock toughness and resistance to bending once heat treated, as long as the tools fit this description i normally buy the most cost effective option, not the cheapest and not the dearest. Just beware of cheap tools made from standard carbon steels that are sometimes not heat treated. I think my largest cost item was £35, and i have built the majority up over a number of years with the rest since Zed ownership, my arsenal is as follows:

1/2 inch ratchet
3/8 inch ratchet
3/8 inch Ratchet Screw Driver
1/2 inch breaker bar
1/2 inch torque wrench
3/8 inch torque wrench
Full range of impact sockets 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch drive in metric and imperial
Set of flat ring spanners
Set of off set ring spanners (good for top mount nuts)
Set of ratchet spanners (these were an excellent investment)
Set of External Torx sockets
Set of internal Torx bits
Set of driver bits (Pozi, Flat etc)
Set of internal hex sockets (for diff drain plug etc)
Nylon Mallet
Pliers Set
Multi Meter
Air bag reset tool
Service light reset tool
Bush extractor
Spring compressors
Wire Strippers
Axle Stands
Ramps
Chocks
2 Trolley Jacks

I find that when you have the right tool for the job, the TIS instructions can be followed quite well and with little effort. The only thing i need really is a work bench and vice, but i also wish i had either a pit or a proper car lift, as it can be quite awkward to apply the correct pressure lying on your back.
 
I am still using a Britool Whitworth,Unified,Metric set that I paid £10 for 50 years ago.Still in good condition apart from a cracked 19mm socket.I also have an unused Britool deep drive set bought for me one Christmas plus 50 years of tool collecting.
Don't buy cheap tools,they are a waste of money.
 
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