Silverline Tools

[Ashley Burton]

You pay your money you take your chance

I bought a workmate online for the total of £10 & do you know what, Its done what it needs to do!

I've been using some of their spring clamps today that literally cost a couple of quid

As I've said previously I don't believe in all their products. But some of them do the job for the low price point

 

[MattF]

I bought a Silverline ⅓ sheet orbital sander the other day. Wanted a cheap & cheerful one for one task alone as I didn't want to get my Bosch covered in that fine dust you get from filler. I can't fault it. Quiet, no excessive vibration, comfortable to hold, did the job I wanted it for, & the dust collection port fitted my vacuum cleaner with no bodging necessary, (a rare delight), & dust extraction worked well. I can see this one getting some future use.

 

[Carl Wilson]

I bought some small Silverline gear pullers for working on my mill restoration. Whilst clearly not the best in class, they are nonetheless perfectly serviceable and fit for purpose. In my view they've paid for themselves because they were inexpensive and I couldn't have done the job I was working on without them.

Quality is a hard word to define (if you don't believe me read Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" - it has a lot to say on the subject..) but I'd say fitness for purpose at a reasonable price must be one passable definition.

So I'd say these pullers were "good quality" in my application. I'm perfectly willing to accept that not all Silverline products would perform as well. It's highly subjective though. A lot depends on the environment they are used in.

 

[Keith 66]

A few months ago at school we had kids doing electronics, well very basic circuits! We had a stock of Antex soldering irons, good quality last for years jobbies.
Kids being kids attrition & old age meant we needed some new ones. I put in an order for 10 new antex ones at 20 odd quid a pop. I was then told, "Too expensive find some cheaper". And so one of the main online cheapy stores came up with some at 8 quid each, "Thats better" says finance dept.
They arrive a few days later, they are Silverline (not apparent on the picture or advert) I plug one in, within 1 minute its so hot that the whole metal bit is blue with temper colours & getting hotter, smoke starts pouring out with the awful smell. I try a few more & they are all the same.
They got sent back as not fit for purpose & dangerous.
Another order went in for antex ones, dont know if they got them as i left shortly after!

 

[Welderpaul]

A few months ago at school we had kids doing electronics, well very basic circuits! We had a stock of Antex soldering irons, good quality last for years jobbies.
Kids being kids attrition & old age meant we needed some new ones. I put in an order for 10 new antex ones at 20 odd quid a pop. I was then told, "Too expensive find some cheaper". And so one of the main online cheapy stores came up with some at 8 quid each, "Thats better" says finance dept.
They arrive a few days later, they are Silverline (not apparent on the picture or advert) I plug one in, within 1 minute its so hot that the whole metal bit is blue with temper colours & getting hotter, smoke starts pouring out with the awful smell. I try a few more & they are all the same.
They got sent back as not fit for purpose & dangerous.
Another order went in for antex ones, dont know if they got them as i left shortly after!

I remember using Antex soldering irons when i was at school, err, 30 years ago, mainly for writing my name in plastic.
I bought an Antex one ages ago and used it for the first time a week or so ago, much better than my old one.

 

[Rannsachair]

I bought some small Silverline gear pullers for working on my mill restoration. Whilst clearly not the best in class, they are nonetheless perfectly serviceable and fit for purpose. In my view they've paid for themselves because they were inexpensive and I couldn't have done the job I was working on without them.

Quality is a hard word to define (if you don't believe me read Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" - it has a lot to say on the subject..) but I'd say fitness for purpose at a reasonable price must be one passable definition.

So I'd say these pullers were "good quality" in my application. I'm perfectly willing to accept that not all Silverline products would perform as well. It's highly subjective though. A lot depends on the environment they are used in.

I used to do this in my job designing hydraulic components and systems: Value Engineering - looking to design the lowest cost solution that meets specification. Never came naturally me to me - even little things like moving from stamped aluminium product plates riveted on to plastic adhesive labels. Probably why I prefer a lot of 1950's engineering to today's.

 

[winchman]

10mm bluespot ordered to replace a lost decent quality wrench. Snapped after a few uses.

Managed to convert it into a bottle opener and hasn't broken with that task yet however wouldn't be surprised

Blue spot come with a lifetime warranty providing you fill in a quick online form
https://www.bluespot.uk.com/lifetime-guarantee

 

[Carl Wilson]

I used to do this in my job designing hydraulic components and systems: Value Engineering - looking to design the lowest cost solution that meets specification. Never came naturally me to me - even little things like moving from stamped aluminium product plates riveted on to plastic adhesive labels. Probably why I prefer a lot of 1950's engineering to today's.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, there will always be a scale of products from the very best to the worst. And it's down to budget and projected end use as to how we choose what to use I think.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Bluespot lifetime warranty

 

[SierraV6]

I don’t have any Silverline tools personally but it’s interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts and experiences. I suppose you get what you pay for but the main issue with the cheap brands may be quality control. In theory the tools should be ok for the price but it seems that more ‘rogue’ items slip through. I’ve experienced the same with Clarke power tools, I bought two detail sanders at just over £20 each and one developed a fault after a few minutes, the other is still going strong 4/5 years later. Whilst I’m not saying the same never happens with Makita (for example) I don’t think it’s as common; I’ve never had a faulty Makita or Bosch Professional but I’m sure it happens.

When it comes to hand tools I’m probably a bit of a snob, although having said that I really wouldn’t fancy a spanner breaking or a socket splitting when I’m battling with seized nuts and bolts. Plus I do find the tighter tolerances and slimmer designs you get with higher end tools essential for working it tight spaces.

 

[Wallace]

Bluespot lifetime warranty

Who's lifetime?

 

[Ashley Burton]

Who's lifetime?

Not mine, As I wouldn't go that low! Silverline is pushing it

Rolson & Amtech can stay where they belong

 

[SierraV6]

Not mine, As I wouldn't go that low! Silverline is pushing it

Rolson & Amtech can stay where they belong

On the shelf with the Blackspur rubbish?

 

[Ashley Burton]

@SierraV6 they shouldn't even exist

 

[Kram]

Silverline are ok. I got my router out this week, works perfectly. It was by lathe and covered in swarf since 2015. I purchased it 2009.

Bench grinder is painfully low on power, used it about 3 hours today almost continous.

Two of their heat guns. The first died when some orange hot coals melted the steel element tube but the other is working well.

 

[willie.macleod]

Didn't think I had any Silverline power tools but I used my biscuit jointer today and it is Silverline. I got it secondhand from a joiner who was going Festool - it did the job for him and it does the job for me. Effectively one of their grinder bodies with a different head but doesn't really get much of a chance to overheat as it is seldom under any real loads and the nature of the job means short bursts of activity.

 

[Gragson]

I have a Silverline circular saw been fine for years for DIY use, noisey as hell! Have a Silverline planer and its a bit rubbish even for DIY use.
Mrs does some picture framing and nicked my bradawls so I bought another same set recently. Bit of hardwood, brass and hardened steel - even Silverline can't get that wrong
For £10 a set they are pretty good

 

[brightspark]

Not mine, As I wouldn't go that low! Silverline is pushing it

Rolson & Amtech can stay where they belong

carboot tat. the Chinese are even copying them now didn't think it could get any worse . anyone remember screwdriver sets made in honkong the bit ends wouldn't fit the screws and if they did they went a figure of 8 the plastic handles were that hard they shattered stabbing u in the hand

 

[zx9]

carboot tat. the Chinese are even copying them now didn't think it could get any worse . anyone remember screwdriver sets made in honkong the bit ends wouldn't fit the screws and if they did they went a figure of 8 the plastic handles were that hard they shattered stabbing u in the hand

The ones that came in a little translucent plastic tub as part of a 1970's Christmas 'motorists' gift set', looked like six boiled sweets on assorted shaped cocktail stirrers.

 

[keithski122]

The ones that came in a little translucent plastic tub as part of a 1970's Christmas 'motorists' gift set', looked like six boiled sweets on assorted shaped cocktail stirrers.

The flat head ones were really good for adjusting carbs.