Britool, What is in your box?

[Mee]

Or put it another way, how many unforeseen jobs disappeared, the local grocer, butchers, and bakeries as well as every other local shop which used to be commonplace on the local High Street, all too often forgotten and ignored.

 

[ronan]

Shotton Steelworks in 1980 when 6500 lost their jobs in one day, still to this day I think a record in Western Europe.

I think there is more to go in the steel industry. The wicked witch was saying pretty clearly that she wouldn't be doing anything to save it. You can get it cheaper from china dontcha know.

 

[ronan]

I often wonder what happened to all the people who had good well paid jobs at Britool?

Early retirement or if too young,the rock and roll . Imagine all the skills lost, and never passed on to the younger generations.

 

[brightspark]

Early retirement or if too young,the rock and roll . Imagine all the skills lost, and never passed on to the younger generations.

they never are passed on that's the trouble unless u go to china

 

[Rocketman]

Toolmaking is quite buoyant in the UK at the minute which is good. Hopefully the pound will stay at a reasonable value, getting up to 1.30-40 a pound to euro is really bad for our industries.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I can't be doing with car boot sales, if I'm not working I need to be resting when they're on.
Yes there is some stuff on eBay but spanners, sockets etc wear. I also prefer to have things matching. Plus, for spanners these days i'm mainly using flank drive plus or double flexi ratchet spanners - try finding good old versions of them
Torque wrenches can be stored incorrectly and unless you have a means of checking the calibration they're potentially going to do more harm than good.

 

[8ob]

All my 3/4" drive sockets and ratchets are Britool. Other than that I only have a 1/2" breakerbar in britool.

 

[brightspark]

I've got2 identical norbar torque wrenches so can just check them off each other. they cant both be wrong checking on different settings

 

[Bill Edwards]

So do I to a certain extent, but I don't mind making do with what I have for a (long) while.

I had to google "flank drive plus" and I've never seen a use for ratchet spanners. Being old fashioned clearly saves a lot of money!

You can have them calibrated (or calibrate them yourself). I can't afford a new Stahlwille or Norbar torque wrench and I need one every once in a while. So basically it's between the shiny Chinese type with photocopied certificate from Lidl/ Aldi that many seem to prefer and a freshly calibrated quality used one. I rather rely on the latter. For anything outside the working range of the Aldi c.s. ones there's not much of an affordable alternative anyway.

Flank drive spanners aren't necessary 95%+ of the time but once in a while you come across a rounded nut/union - even brass - that nothing else will touch and with no room for some powerful grips and flank drive plus removes it.

Ratchet spanners - I've done a vast amount of my work without (work doesn't possess a set) but they make a lot of the jobs I do quicker and far easier. There are some jobs where it's close to impossible to get a nut to turn because you don't have enough space to get onto the next flat - 30 degrees for an open ended spanner turned over each time or the ring end vs 5 degrees for a ratchet. Also double flexi head gives clearance for your knuckles and to get a spanner round obstacles.
On most jobs good tools make life easier, on some vehicles they're becoming pretty near essential.

Torque wrenches - I wouldn't touch anything offered by Aldi or other unknown or known to be poor makes for a torque wrench.
A good quality one is essential, if you can check the calibration then you're onto a winner with a cheap old one but if you can't it may be a mile off.

Brightspark. I'm not saying it likely but how can you know that both wrenches haven't been stored under tension for a similar amount of time and the springs thus weakened? Two unknowns agreeing isn't the same as a calibrated tester.

 

[brightspark]

both wrenches were bought from new and have never been left under tension so its hardly likely. one has only been used 4 times the other probably 20

 

[doubleboost]

both wrenches were bought from new and have never been left under tension so its hardly likely. one has only been used 4 times the other probably 20

I have a torque wrench calibration gauge that is still in test if you want to play with it , in fact you can have the thing
I tried my 30 year old snap on that has seen loads of use it was as near spot on as makes no difference

 

[Robotstar5]

Torque wrenches can be stored incorrectly and unless you have a means of checking the calibration they're potentially going to do more harm than good.

I took my torque wrenches into work as we have a few calibrated torque test rigs, even though they're nearly 40 years old they are still nearly spot on.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I took my torque wrenches into work as we have a few calibrated torque test rigs, even though they're nearly 40 years old they are still nearly spot on.

I have a Norbar one and took it to be tested, it's fairly close.
I suspect that most good quality ones will be but that's not the same as knowing that they are.
Particularly if they've been stored under tension as they're relying on a spring which can/will weaken.
At the end of the day if you trust something that is wrong you will unknowingly under or over tighten something which could have serious consequences.

 

[brightspark]

some people can be to critical no matter what they do and need to lighten up. no wonder nothing gets done I have a springer air rifle and I never leave it it cocked I get it cronied every year and its allways spot on . how accurate do u need it its not a formula one motor

 

[Bill Edwards]

Steady, i'm just pointing out that while they are probably near enough that's not the same as knowing they are.
Yes of course you're unlikely to be doing formula one work but at the same time if a head bolt needs tightening to 110ftlbs it needs to be 110, not 90 or 130. That's all.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Bahco adjustable spanners are the best you can get, as far as I know. I have been told that it's that which made Snap-on buy the brand as they didn't like being bettered, though I don't have proof of that.
The newer style Bahco adjustable spanners don't seem the same though, I have the old kind and they are brilliant. Funnily enough I also have an adjustable marked 'industrial' and wouldn't swap it for anything!

 

[brightspark]

probs left it to late and its gone pm a mod and get it adjusted

 

[Bill Edwards]

Why can't I edit my previous post? £7,85 = £7.85

I don't think it's necessary really, it's fairly obvious that it's £7.85, not £785 or more!