What tools should I buy?

[Kieran]

My birthday present (a nice 2-piece red tool cabinet with draws, wheels and everything ) turned up at the weekend finally so now I would like to fill it with lots of nice tools.

My current inventory is rather haphazard and consists of

A set of 7-21mm 'Bergen' spanners
A set of Halfrauds 10-19mm 1/2" sockets (one missing... )
A 'Ross' branded 1/2" AF socket set (this was my Grandad's and I've only just had a socket go on me!)
some other odds and sods

I want to buy good quality tools that won't round off stubborn bolts because they're poorly cast and won't snap or distort either. I also am looking for a comprehensive range - nothing irritates me more than not having the right tool for the job!

Cost is an issue too - Snap-on would be lovely, but too expensive. I need a set that will put up with medium to heavy DIY use.

I'm thinking Draper, Halfrauds, Clarke (machine mart's brand)..... Any advice/recommendations from you lot?

[Nick Mann]

Had halfrauds and draper tools. Never had anything bad to say about halfrauds stuff. Always did what I wanted and never (yet!) broken anything from them. Had plenty of draper stuff over the years. The cheaper end of their market is not brilliant, but the quality end is good.

I would have a shop around in the new year and see what deals can be had!

[dickytim]

I have some kinchrome tools, didn't think ,much of them until the old office girl quit to work there, then I got them at a really good price, there spanners and sockets were designed to grip on the flat of the bolt not the edge, therefore not rounding them, I have never rounded a bolt with a (newer) kinchrome tool. They are not as expensive as snap-on, but not cheap either. When I upgrade my tools they will be Kinchrome.

[dickytim]

BTW their ratchet spanners are the best tool I have ever brought.

[psbarham]

for what you use them for mate you won't go far wrong with the halfords ones , i used to swear by snap-on and facom , but i tell you what i struggle to find fault with any of the halfords tools i have got , oh no tell a lie , there is on fault , the cases they come in are sh!te apart from that

[Wodjno]

These became an invaluable purchase recently, when making easy work of hard to reach nuts when changing my brake master cylinder..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5PC-11-LONG-PL...QQcmdZViewItem

Also agree with Halfrauds socket sets.. Brought 2 sets after i saw Pauls .. Cracking

[I-S]

For pliers, wire strippers, etc you can't beat knipex imo.

[Wodjno]

BTW their ratchet spanners are the best tool I have ever brought.

Totally agree with these to..

I only bought a cheap set from a market and i don't think there awesomely strong but still a great tool.. Sometimes tho they are a little to bulky to get in some of the tighter places ..

[The Vee]

for what you use them for mate you won't go far wrong with the halfords ones , i used to swear by snap-on and facom , but i tell you what i struggle to find fault with any of the halfords tools i have got , oh no tell a lie , there is on fault , the cases they come in are sh!te apart from that

Having used snap on and Britool for yonks, many have been lost or forgotten who I lent them to over the years since I left the "trade". Recent replacements have included the Halfrauds range (bought when I find I'm short of something) and to be fair, found them very good. As for the packaging, if the tools are as tough as that, they'll last a lifetime!! Think the tools are branded "Halfords professional" not sure.
If you want to be sure of not rounding off sh*ty bolts then hex sockets are good but may be more restrictive in tight spaces. Impact sockets are very tough, normally hex, but can be very bulky.

[Wodjno]

This is amazing .. Everyone that has answered Kierens question has been Honest and Genuine.. No Pi$$ taking just don't seem right

[The Vee]

Yeah because we all know where we can borrow some nice shiny clean spanners!!

[amsoil]

Halfords are fine , I found the bergen ones with the ratchety end crap; best I found was Ebay .com and get Snap on from America cheap and with little chance of getting vat or duty ; but keep away from UPS and the like cause they declare it all and charge a colection fee!

[psbarham]

the other thing you might find useful is a nice TIG welder very handy , and when you get it can i borrow it ? you can have it back as soon as it runs out of gas and wire it'll match the mig thats in my shed that someone borrowed and funilly enough retuned it with no wire and no gas while i was at work , terrible timing really , but i'll give them one thing they also borrowed my hacksaw with a very high qaulity blade in it , they broke the blade but they left me a brand new pack of blades to replace it , they must have cost a fortune at least a quid for ten of the fricking market , what i'm saying is don't lend out anything unless you trust them 100% , now about that tig ....................

[Big Ian]

"a good solid hammer" and an old tyre or chunk of solid wood? ive a selection of sizes mostley "stanley"....great for when it all goes wrong and you feel the need to get the anger out
yip! not very proud of this but ive put a hammer through a odd car window!.... also punched in the 1/4 panel and stuck a nice dent in a door with my head on my old Granada, put my foot through the grill and radiator on my old Mazdz, kicked in the grill and thrown a brick off the window (didn't break!?) on my old MK2 cavy and while doing a job on my old GLS i grabbed my brother by the throat and......well said thing's that i'd rather not repeat well.....he did lower it to the ground without putting an axle stand in place first!
rant over

so now i just hit seven bell's out an old tyre or chunk of wood when it's not going to plan!

"Ratchet spanner's rock" one of my best buy's also ive a good selection of "King Dick" tool's, great quality for not an over rated price long reach screw driver's come in handy to.

[Wouter]

Kieran, Snapon do a "cheaper" range called "Blue Point".

Maybe this is good enough for you...... and cheap enough!

[ritch_w]

"King Dick" tool's

[Big Ian]

Tiz true: cLiCkY ClIcKy

[psbarham]

Kieran, Snapon do a "cheaper" range called "Blue Point".

Maybe this is good enough for you...... and cheap enough!

eer blue point used to be their specialist stuff their cheaper range was called eurotool or something , same forgings just not polished

[Polabear]

My birthday present (a nice 2-piece red tool cabinet with draws, wheels and everything ) turned up at the weekend finally so now I would like to fill it with lots of nice tools.

My current inventory is rather haphazard and consists of

A set of 7-21mm 'Bergen' spanners
A set of Halfrauds 10-19mm 1/2" sockets (one missing... )
A 'Ross' branded 1/2" AF socket set (this was my Grandad's and I've only just had a socket go on me!)
some other odds and sods

I want to buy good quality tools that won't round off stubborn bolts because they're poorly cast and won't snap or distort either. I also am looking for a comprehensive range - nothing irritates me more than not having the right tool for the job!

Cost is an issue too - Snap-on would be lovely, but too expensive. I need a set that will put up with medium to heavy DIY use.

I'm thinking Draper, Halfrauds, Clarke (machine mart's brand)..... Any advice/recommendations from you lot?

Kieran
Having extensive knowledge in this department take a serious look at
'Teng' tools,....http://www.tengtools.com/ good kit, and they are guaranteed for life....

[psbarham]

Kieran
Having extensive knowledge in this department take a serious look at
'Teng' tools,....http://www.tengtools.com/ good kit, and they are guaranteed for life....

i've got to agree with that one , i've got a 1/4 drive rachet of theirs and so far its bomb proof and it gets used for everything