Quality sockets and spanners

[Jixer]

I haven’t bought many tools for decades.
During my opulent Formula Ford days it was all SnapOn, which are still going strong.! (50yrs)
Now I am a lowly pensioner with 2 bases of “operations“ I find myself in need of another set of tools.
The question is, who makes good tools these days.? Is Bahco or Werea a worthwhile investment?, who else is there.?

thx
Jix

 

[dobbslc]

Bahco and Wera are both good but also have a look at the Halfords Professional range. There tools are excellent for the money and have a lifetime guarantee.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Off the top of my head

Top tier:
Koken (Japan)
Nepros/KTC (Japan)
Snap-On (USA)
Stahwille (German)
Hazet (German)
Gedore Blue (German)

Mid tier:
Toptul / Facom / USAG (all made by toptul in Taiwan)
Teng (Taiwan)
Wera (mostly Taiwan pretending to be Czech)
Bahco are decent (was Taiwan, might be moved to China)

Elora (German) also good
King Dick were U.K made but possibly no longer.

Lots of other decent stuff in this band, mostly Taiwanese and rebadged - e.g. Gearwrench, Gedore Red, Britool, Halfords, etc.
The Kennedy own brand stuff from zoro. Some of the stuff from Laser

Lower tier:
US Pro (China), Sealey etc.
Lots of rebadged brands generic chinese stuff usually very similar or identical.
Mostly pretty serviceable thesedays unless it is the really cheap rubbish.

Hopefully that should give you something to start having a look at anyway - it mostly depends on budget and what you need, as past the basic function of the tool you are paying for the fit and finish or minor feature improvements.
My stuff is mostly a mixture of Koken, Stahwille and Toptul, with some vintage Elora, King dick and Britool - and Norbar all the way for torque wrenches.

 

[dan treg]

halfords advanced i have not bad

 

[Brad93]

Avoid Facom gone right downhill in my opinion.

Gedore
Stahlwille
Snap-On

People slag snap on off but they are my favourite tools to use.

 

[Bullet2012]

Once you have used snapon then nothing comes close, and as you state 50 yrs and counting shows the quality.

 

[Dickthedark]

Beta are good quality professional tools and not ridiculous money. I really like the beta 42 combi spanners. As said before the German stuff ( elora, gedore, stahlwille etc.) I think king dick still make stuff in the UK. Britool has been taken over and is the lower end of one of the bigger company's ranges, I bet they're still alright though. Wera screwdrivers are fantastic in my opinion and bahco gear is alright too. Ridgid for pipe tools are good, knipex for pliers and cutters. Moore and wright/ mitutoyo measuring gear.

In reality I reckon most manufacturers tools would be fit for purpose though. It's about getting the job done, not how expensive your toolbox is ( something I learned later than I should have ).

 

[charlysays]

Hard to go wrong with Halfords advanced if you want good but cheap with excellent product support.
Tbf most of the Lidl tools are excellent value for money too and mostly do the job fine. Halfords lifetime warranty is much better than the snapon one in my opinion which is surprising given that the snapon stuff is generally much better quality. Unless you post your broken snapon stuff to somewhere central, you're at the mercy of the local franchise and they can be highly variable. Some are amazing but my experience is he is happy to sell you stuff then you never see him again when something breaks. In fact the last warranty return I did with him is still outstanding 10 years later and I've given up trying to get him to return my calls let alone actually call round and replace my broken water pump pliers lol.

 

[tom2207]

kennedy tools , very very good and reasonably prices ,,, be very hard to go past draper expert too . Halfords is a wise option .
some outstanding deals to be had on second hand snap on from time to time ,, and some bluepoint can be worth the money , [ snap on budget ish range , not blue spot junk} ..

 

[frank horton]

Kamaza are really good and not mad money....
they do a cheaper range and the factory / distribushion center isin Brum....

for sockets i bought the Kennedy pro series....mixed Metric x AF x Whit.....they were expensive when I got em years ago at £160,,,,now £418......ooooops....

 

[tom2207]

Kamaza are really good and not mad money....
they do a cheaper range and the factory / distribushion center isin Brum....

for sockets i bought the Kennedy pro series....mixed Metric x AF x Whit.....they were expensive when I got em years ago at £160,,,,now £418......ooooops....

good grief ,,, I bought two complete sets of af spanners off them up to two inch af and kept them in my boat toolbox , one set fell off the fuel tank and into the bilge and lay in seawater for a month or two ,,, after a wipe with an oily rag they were back to looking like new ,,,

 

[Agrismith]

Off the top of my head

Top tier:
Koken (Japan)
Nepros/KTC (Japan)
Snap-On (USA)
Stahwille (German)
Hazet (German)
Gedore Blue (German)

Mid tier:
Toptul / Facom / USAG (all made by toptul in Taiwan)
Teng (Taiwan)
Wera (mostly Taiwan pretending to be Czech)
Bahco are decent (was Taiwan, might be moved to China)

Elora (German) also good
King Dick were U.K made but possibly no longer.

Lots of other decent stuff in this band, mostly Taiwanese and rebadged - e.g. Gearwrench, Gedore Red, Britool, Halfords, etc.
The Kennedy own brand stuff from zoro. Some of the stuff from Laser

Lower tier:
US Pro (China), Sealey etc.
Lots of rebadged brands generic chinese stuff usually very similar or identical.
Mostly pretty serviceable thesedays unless it is the really cheap rubbish.

Hopefully that should give you something to start having a look at anyway - it mostly depends on budget and what you need, as past the basic function of the tool you are paying for the fit and finish or minor feature improvements.
My stuff is mostly a mixture of Koken, Stahwille and Toptul, with some vintage Elora, King dick and Britool - and Norbar all the way for torque wrenches.

I don't think any of it is that simple.
I don't think many manufacturers stick to one country of origin or even one level of quality control. Far better to pick through individual tools than go by brands.
Even the mighty snap-on has tools in its range that let them down.

 

[Brad93]

Kennedy are not bad spanners, i have a set any they've stood the test of time

 

[Barking Mat]

Avoid Facom gone right downhill in my opinion.

Really ?

 

[keithski122]

All depends on how often and what you're using them for. I used to be a mechanic and my day to day spanners were snap on, still good today 33 years on.For stuff I don't need often such as long reach or stumpy spanners then my us pro ones have done the job fine.

 

[Jixer]

Thanks guys, lots of food for thought there.
I have found my snapons fit in places no other tool would go, so, it’s a difficult decision to consider other brands. As has been said, perhaps it’s time to pick and choose the best of various brands,

 

[MetalMonkey]

Once you have used snapon then nothing comes close, and as you state 50 yrs and counting shows the quality.

Honestly, try Koken or Nepros - I know several dyed in the wool hardcore strap-on fanboys who have changed their tune once they got some. They are certainly equivalent IMO.
Koken Zeal is on another level.

Kamaza are really good and not mad money....

Kamasa used to be pretty good and were originally Japanese many years ago, I've got older stuff marked west germany which is decent, but they were bought out in 2003 by the same outfit that does Laser and Gunson - it is just generic stuff now as far as I'm aware.

Avoid Facom gone right downhill in my opinion.

They used to be made in France and were top quality, but all their sockets and spanners are now made in Taiwan by the Rotar Group (Toptul), they also make the same spanners for Mac.
I actually quite like them, they seem pretty solid, but really you are overpaying for the Facom branding now.

I don't think any of it is that simple.
I don't think many manufacturers stick to one country of origin or even one level of quality control. Far better to pick through individual tools than go by brands.
Even the mighty snap-on has tools in its range that let them down.

I'd agree with you if you are looking at the entire catalogue of tools, but if we are just talking sockets and spanners, then the COO is currently as I've stated to the best of my knowledge.
As you say, you do have to be quite careful - for example Gedore have two lines, blue for the German & European made tools, and red for their Asian ones, so you have to be quite selective. Not everything Snap-on is made in the USA either. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with Chinese or Taiwanese tools, but if I’m paying a premium for tools, I want a premium tool!

 

[brightspark]

Bahco and Wera are both good but also have a look at the Halfords Professional range. There tools are excellent for the money and have a lifetime guarantee.

halfords pro are real good i have them along with snapon kenedy and britool .got the snapon given i wouldnt pay there stupid prices i mainly only use the halfords spanners along with kenedy professional ones

 

[indy4x]

Got a right mix, Snap On from 30yrs ago, still going strong, more recently Kennedy Pro have been good along with Halfords Advanced

 

[Domdom]

I posted this a while back. Explains who owns which brands.