Budget tool brands...

[Matthew92]

I started work as a mechanic 10 years ago, going to autojumbles and vintage tractor shows I came across a lot of Bergen and US Pro tools. So I started to build my tool kit from there, my spanner set is US Pro cost £35 and it is top quality, 3/8 socket sets deep and shallow are Bergen, I think those are about £15 each, again top notch. Ratchets, extensions, breaker bars etc, I’ve had them all from the beginning and they’ve hard a hard life, how many times do you put the ring end of one spanner on the open end of another spanner to get that extra leverage? I’m sure I’m not supposed to but I do and in 10 years of ownership I’ve never broken one.

Torx bits I struggle with, I’ve had Bergen, Halfords and even Snap on. Anything under T40 will break at some point, Snap on you get a replacement, but you’ve probably paid as much as you would for 20 Bergen sets anyway, Halfords now seems to do the same life time warranty as Snap on though and I’ve already had a broken torx bit replaced so that’s where my money would be.

I know not everything from Bergen and US Pro is good quality, some of it turns out to be rubbish, some of it I wouldn’t even try, but (and this is where a Snap on fanatic will laugh at me) the good bits, in my opinion are as good as Snap on at a fraction of the price.

 

[Ashley Burton]

I would love to know where the Bergen stuff is made? Can only assume China/Far east?

 

[brightspark]

I would love to know where the Bergen stuff is made? Can only assume China/Far east?

dunno but a lot of it is good gear at a good price

 

[Kayos]

what did they ask for recipt ,how where you using it ,your full meaasurements inc inside trouser leg and for you to be accompanied by your 88 year grandmother?

Nope, just swapped it

Once had some hassle with a ratchet and when I pointed out it was older than the spotty oik serving me the manager swapped it without issue

 

[Bill Edwards]

well that makes sense, i just ground it flat and use it as normal for the price you cannot go wrong they are stamped s2 doesn't that mean its a harder steel?

I'm not aware of an s2 stamp denoting a harder steel.

 

[winchman]

I would love to know where the Bergen stuff is made? Can only assume China/Far east?

I used to sell Bergen & US Pro many years ago, I believe one man imports it but has it made in Taiwan to a very high standard, its sold direct to tool dealers and selected wholesalers, I sold loads of it and never had anything returned.
I feel Halfords offer some excellent value stuff

 

[Ashley Burton]

I'm not aware of an s2 stamp denoting a harder steel.

S2 is a harder quality of steel

 

[gavcarter]

I can tell you from direct experience the Draper Expert Torx sets are superbly strong. I had the need for a T30 to drive concrete screws, opened my Sealey kit, fitted the T30 driver and it promptly shat the bed. A bit disgruntled, I tried the Draper kit, and the T30 drivers (long and short) in that between them went on to drive in hundreds of screws in the next few years. I only bought replacement bits recently because the originals were starting to get a bit squinty looking - they hadn't snapped and were still driving ok.

The whole kit is about £25 or so.
You can buy the individual bits seperately if you wish.

Excellent. This is ideally small and light too being mobile.

I'm still trying to balance between too much gear and not enough.
I have a Motamec case with extra middle section so about 8 drawers but they are only small.
I have standard combi spanners 6-21mm I've just today took 22-32mm out as they are probably just dead weight.
I like options so im planning ( once I get a few replacements)
1/4 socket 4-15mm stubby and long
3/8 sockets 8- 21mm ish stubby and long.
1/2 sockets 10-24ish mm long (impact) and 10mm to about 36mm stubby also impact...
Ratchet and t bar for each size aswell as a selection of adapters joints and extensions.
I have a good range of external torx sockets.

I'm looking to add some open ended ratchet spanners, Chicago or similar, and some standard ratchet spanners in common sizes.

Decent pliers and cutters, selection of locking pliers, oil filter / drain sets.
Range of screwdrivers and Allen keys or hex sockets. I will try and squeeze in circlip pliers and fuel line pliers
A mulitmeter and a couple of hammers and it should be 99% covered.

 

[Bill Edwards]

S2 is a harder quality of steel

Didn’t know that was applied to tools.

However...
The Chinese will print/stamp anything that their buyers ask for on their merchandise so on cheap tools I wouldn’t pay much attention to it.

 

[Farside]

I'm looking to add some open ended ratchet spanners,

I've been adding some Yato ratchet spanners. They're a Polish brand, but whether the tools are made in Poland or Taiwan, I don't know.
Whatever their origin, they're nice to use and seem tough enough.