All in Toolkits

[andrewg1323]

Remember there was a discussion on here a few weeks back about buying tools in bulk sets.
Basically i;m about to start looking for jobs as a mechanic and need my own tools whilst i already have most i need i need to buy a nice tool cabinet to keep em all in and figure i may as well buy one of these bulk deals and keep the crapest stuff for the occasional use at home
Anyone got any recommendations of company's to look at for such deals? Would love something like the teng stuff but thats a bit out of my budget just yet...

 

[Shug]

The halfords pro stuff is quite good. I've put some of their tools through serious abuse. I've had cheaper tools that fell apart with a fraction of use that the halfords stuff has done.

 

[rusty69bus]

try your local machine M**t as mine has seconds in the tool chests (small dent here and there) could give yourself a saving

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'd be reluctant to buy a bulk set for pro use, you'll get stuff you don't need and will probably never use, and unless you spend really good money, the quality probably won't be too special. Buy the basics then whatever else you need as you need it. The other mechanics will be happy to lend you specialist kit until you get your own. As Shug says, Halfords pro won't do you far wrong, it's not got the snobbery factor that snap-on or similar has but it'll do the job and last! Clarke pro stuff isn't bad either, nor is the draper expert range. I think most of both their pro stuff is lifetime guarantee. I bought a slightly damaged clarke rollcab from MM and it's ok but not the best quality but then it's from their budget range. If you intend to become a full-time mechanic, you want tools to last you a lifetime. When I was a mechanic, in my youth, we had the snap-on van round once a week. We had a buy-one-get-one-free deal with the guy in as much as I would buy something and my 'light-fingered' mate would get one free if you get my drift. I could always hear the 'ting' of it landing in his pocket. Lovely quality stuff but very expensive and heartbreaking if you leave a ratchet under a bonnet! I've got very little snap-on stuff left now as most of it got lost over the years.

 

[andrewg1323]

Most of my stuff at the mo is halfords pro and thats the stuff i;d intend to use probably end up buying mainly halfords pro stuff just for the sheer cheapness and a lifetime guarentee!
Trouble with moving all my stuff to a workplace leaves me absolutely nothing to work on the car at home with!

 

[Shug]

If you don't already, try get a halfords trade card.
20% off tools

 

[Wozzaaah]

I never even knew there was a Halfords trade card. Hmmm, do you think my city and guilds certificate from 1986 would count? I can't see why they wouldn't accept it as it just says 'bring your motor industry qualification'.

 

[andrewg1323]

Round here they want a payslip from a motor related business too but yup its on the to get list!

 

[DuncanCallum]

Sealy do runs like this from time to time,

they might be ok to get you going but you'd soon find yourselve replacing ratches sockets ect in a short space of timing

 

[Hitch]

Snapon prefered customer card.....?
Seriously, I wouldnt even bother with anything less than teng if you plan on using it full time.

 

[Trev]

Ive worked in the motortrade for 21 years working my way up from very dirty workshop cleaner to YTS to Technician to technical expert and for my sins(Ex as in 'has been' spert 'as in drip under pressure) Service manager with a major manufacturer
from the tender age of 16 I started spending more than I could afford on tools, although the competition has got better I still stand by this today if you wish to make a living out of them
There definately is a difference and if anyone thinks its snobbery they most definately are using cheaper tools
spend what you can on your core tool set which mainly are:
a full set of spanners
go easy on the screw drivers although they look pretty and several sets look lovely in a large drawer you can generally get away with very few
a good set of long and standard lenth sockets 3/8 and 3/4
3 or 4 extensions and 2 good ratchets
a breaker bar a very good 19mm socket and a very good 3/4 drive torque wrench
knipex do superb side cutters/pliers/long nose pliers
if its a french company a 20/30/40 torx screwdrivers and sockets
a good hammer (a must have in every toolbox)
after this little lot its generally buy as you need....quality over quantity everytime

Mrs Trev and I recently went though and added up my hand tool bills (not just Snap-on) as my nephew has come into the trade including my Toolbox we came to just over 32K in 21 years.....No regrets at all as the amount they have returned and the reliabillity they have given is superb....if I only still had them all
(bloody tool magpies)

My Dad is to blame for my 'problem' as I remember buying a cheap set of spanners and showing them to my Dad he went absolutely Bananas (Ex-mechanics ... within a couple of day he took them off me and gave me £100 which would have been over a weeks wages for him at the time this went towards my first RA account with Snap-On

If you intend to stay with the Trade it really is a matter of 'you pay your money'
you dont have to skint yourself anymore the big names all do tools now at a price I could only dream of as a youngster use the halfords/draper tools only on less frequently used kit if you really have to



Trev

 

[andrewg1323]

Cheers trev i'm also not sure of what to have and that guide makes me feel more confident as i already have good quality of all that stuff!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Trev, 'Snobbery' wasn't really the term I should have used, 'Prestige' is more appropriate . I've gone through the stages of buying top-name stuff when I was in the trade to handy-bendy stuff to replace missing kit since I left and now am slowly going back to decent quality stuff again as I can afford it. I'll never go to the extent of snap-on or the like again as I can't justify it for the amount I use it but stuff like Halfords pro or clarke pro will last me years now. We used to have the 'Beta' rep round as well, Italian stuff, very nice quality and considerably cheaper than Snap-On from memory. Their ratchets weren't very good though, the teeth were cut into the head so when they wore, even a new set of innards wouldn't repair it. I'll second you on knipex stuff, it's excellent and very well priced!

 

[andrewg1323]

Well i got the job, let the wallet pain commence!

Trying to work out what tool cabinet/chest thingy to buy at the mo!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Congratulations Andrew, I wish I'd stayed in the trade as I really enjoyed it but the place I worked in was going down the pan so I had to jump ship and have worked in a factory ever since . The only good thing is I work a 7 day shift pattern which gives me lots of time off to do what I enjoy doing and that's You should be able to pick up a decent quality toolbox for reasonable money but beware of the real cheapy's, they're very thin and the drawer runners are poor. Again, if you want it to last, spend good money. Ebay's worth a look, loads on there.

 

[JimM]

I'm looking for a new toolbox purely for home use. Seen these on Ebay

http://tinyurl.com/28oe9h

Anyone got one or seen one in the flesh ?

Cheers

Jim

 

[weldequip]

Don't know anything about the tool box itself but they are topping you up on carriage costs... £65! I can send a 120Kg. welder to you for less than that!
weldequip

 

[amh82]

I'm an electrical engineer by trade so mainly have preference with electrical stuff but would echo what Trev has said.

Spend your money on the core tools.

I find that Britool make some nice stuff (spanners, sockets, etc) that isn't badly priced, also like the Facom stuff.

For cutters, pliers, etc it would have to be Lindstrom for me, expensive but so nice, although maybe not all of it best suited to neglecting conditions I'm not such a fan of Knipex stuff but I have only ever tried the older stuff, for middle road stuff Bahco make some OK stuff.

A decent roll cab is a must, we have Kennedy ones at work and they are ****e, Bott make nice ones, and obviously Snap-On.

As far as home use is concerned I bought a Clarke Pro 1/2" driver socket set and that has lasted me very well.

 

[JimM]

Don't know anything about the tool box itself but they are topping you up on carriage costs... £65! I can send a 120Kg. welder to you for less than that!
weldequip

Yeah the £65 is a bit steep but they are happy for me to collect. They're also willing to do a deal for cash, so it's looking good. From the specs seems to be comparable to the MachineMart Pro stuff (at least if weight is anything to go by) Sure it's not going to be Snap-On quality but it should be OK for my use

Jim

 

[andrewg1323]

American Pro is made by Sealey i do believe