- Thread starter chunkolini
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Fazed
Member
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- 251
I've had a Draper set for 25 years! It's a mixed 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive set, metric deep and shallow sockets, 6 and 12 point. It gets hammered regularly and the only items I've replaced are 13mm and 17mm sockets due to them wearing out and the 1/4 drive ratchet exploded one day - replaced with a Mac tools 1/4" drive.
The 3/8 and 1/2 drive ratchets are nasty looking things with what feels like about 7 teeth in the mechanism, but this means i can swing off them all day without losing my knuckles.
The 3/8 and 1/2 drive ratchets are nasty looking things with what feels like about 7 teeth in the mechanism, but this means i can swing off them all day without losing my knuckles.
Have Britool(1/2") and Draper Expert(3/8") sets from years ago that have lasted well. Not in a commercial environment now so usually go for Halfords Pro/Advanced or even Clarke stuff from MM both of which are lifetime gaurantee.
Also have an Armstrong ratchet that is quite well made so assume their sockets would be good aswell. Bought it 20'ish years ago so cant remeber what sort of price though.
Also have an Armstrong ratchet that is quite well made so assume their sockets would be good aswell. Bought it 20'ish years ago so cant remeber what sort of price though.
adamsmitqc
Member
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- 252
I have used Teng, Britool, Bahco and Stahlwille extensively over the last 10 years or so. My personal collection is Teng and i cant fault it, seems to me to be of very good and have not suffered any of the problems others mention. Bahco are also good, but i dont like the ratchets, they dont last in my opinion, Britool ratchets also i have found dont last.
By far the best tools i have ever used is Stahlwille, they are very expensive but i feel they are the best out there.
Another option is Gedore, really like there tools, very robust!
By far the best tools i have ever used is Stahlwille, they are very expensive but i feel they are the best out there.
Another option is Gedore, really like there tools, very robust!
Simon-
Member
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- 178
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- Somewhere in wee Canada eh!
Draper expert, Halfords pro. Teng, britool, Kamasa and Snap-on if your wallet is gold lined.
Im fortunate that nearly all company tools in my job is snap-on.
Have seen some snap-on tools fail under normal wear and tear though. Duck bill pliers and soft mallets in particular.
Although my personal tools have very few Snap-on upgrades mainly due to price. Halfords pro and Teng mainly and the odd Sealey
Im fortunate that nearly all company tools in my job is snap-on.
Have seen some snap-on tools fail under normal wear and tear though. Duck bill pliers and soft mallets in particular.
Although my personal tools have very few Snap-on upgrades mainly due to price. Halfords pro and Teng mainly and the odd Sealey
gordon stephenson
Member
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- Skelton in Cleveland U.K.
Another vote for Stahlwille,I have used both normal 1/2" and 3/4" drive sets as well as huge steam turbine sizes, And they hold up very well to heavy use and abuse. Love their wording on most of the spanners "Stronger than any bolt"
surprised no ones mentioned Gedore , not got any myself but look the dogs and are the right price to be a quality buy 
Got a bit of a mix myself some teng which are fine , some old kamasa and a few halfraulds pro all of which are fine . Got some 3/8" drive lazer sockets which i havent managed to break yet
, althought i do prefer the 6 point sockets the lazers are 12 point tho .
cheers Mike
Got a bit of a mix myself some teng which are fine , some old kamasa and a few halfraulds pro all of which are fine . Got some 3/8" drive lazer sockets which i havent managed to break yet
, althought i do prefer the 6 point sockets the lazers are 12 point tho .cheers Mike
I have a few older Gedore items in my kit, very good quality. Also, I'll further reinforce my regard for Stahlwille, as good as Snap-On but I prefer the appearance, it's less shiny more serious looking !
Little tip, industrial finish Snap-On stuff, the matt black finish is an excellent idea. Chrome tools from any manufacturer become scratched, dull and look tatty after years of use, the black industrial finish stuff wears it's years better and develop a nicer patina ! They are also cheaper to buy both when new and used as most people go for chrome. I have a lovely set of long, metric combination wrenches in Industrial and they look really cool, even after 15 years of use ! I also have some sockets, extensions, a ratchet and a few other things in this finish. It also never seems to corrode !
Little tip, industrial finish Snap-On stuff, the matt black finish is an excellent idea. Chrome tools from any manufacturer become scratched, dull and look tatty after years of use, the black industrial finish stuff wears it's years better and develop a nicer patina ! They are also cheaper to buy both when new and used as most people go for chrome. I have a lovely set of long, metric combination wrenches in Industrial and they look really cool, even after 15 years of use ! I also have some sockets, extensions, a ratchet and a few other things in this finish. It also never seems to corrode !
sean-1
Member
- Messages
- 138
I agree I have snap on stuff in chemical black donkeys of years old and still perfect nick and they are very abused at work especially the long ring spanners as they are always having a length of scaffold bar slid over them for a lever. The sockets have been used more times than I can remember in the press for removing bearings. Been through a few ratchets but they get replaced FOC so whats the worry.
bahco is another division of snap on, they have 40 odd different brand names if i remember rightly!
I have a halfords pro socket set which i use at home, has 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2", havent broken anything as of yet!
at work i have a mixture of britool, teng and snap on, not a fan of the britool ratchets though
I have a halfords pro socket set which i use at home, has 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2", havent broken anything as of yet!
at work i have a mixture of britool, teng and snap on, not a fan of the britool ratchets though
One I forgot to mention is Stanley !! I have a few Stanley items amongst my stuff and it's proven to be good.
Have a look at this,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STANLEY-7...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e619d7654
Have a look at this,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STANLEY-7...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e619d7654
- Messages
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- Birmingham
Another vote for Gedore, bought a socket set in the 70's, has been used on cars, bikes and Land Rovers, still going strong. Still using older Britool sockets and spanners. Found a few Elora? spanners in bigger sizes are good.
and now for the funny bit, a friend bought a set of spanners from Tandy
(remember them?) in the 70's, first time he used them chipped the paint off the jaws and they were nearly a mm bigger 
and now for the funny bit, a friend bought a set of spanners from Tandy
(remember them?) in the 70's, first time he used them chipped the paint off the jaws and they were nearly a mm bigger 
outofthefire
Member
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- 2,881
Halfords, gordon, britool and facom for me. It makes me laugh when folk use the phrase Halfrauds then go on to say all they use is snap on, I dont care how good you think they are there's no way there value for money.
Yes, I'd put in a vote for Gedore, too.
Bought an 1/2" set s/h in 1982/3, having just been made redundant and going into working for myself. Still got it, all original except the much-used 13 mm, and that probably got pinched rather than worn out. Been used on 3/4" drive on occasion, too, through an adaptor. Tough kit.
Bought an 1/2" set s/h in 1982/3, having just been made redundant and going into working for myself. Still got it, all original except the much-used 13 mm, and that probably got pinched rather than worn out. Been used on 3/4" drive on occasion, too, through an adaptor. Tough kit.
chunkolini
celebrity artiste
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OI tink I will go for the Bahco S87+7 if Mr Satan will pay for it.
I have had my Bahco adjustable spanners for 20 something years. I bought them p****d and next day I was 'Like how much did I pay for these?' Now I know why, wonderful things.
I have seen the socket set mentioned from £112 to £250, seems to cover all the bases and it matches my nail varnish and welder.
I like to be coordinated.
Gedore? good grief a bit out of my range.
Halfors Pro? tempted.
Chunko'.
I have had my Bahco adjustable spanners for 20 something years. I bought them p****d and next day I was 'Like how much did I pay for these?' Now I know why, wonderful things.
I have seen the socket set mentioned from £112 to £250, seems to cover all the bases and it matches my nail varnish and welder.
I like to be coordinated.
Gedore? good grief a bit out of my range.
Halfors Pro? tempted.
Chunko'.
Not Halfords!
I used a brand new 3/8 ratchet from the 'advanced professional' range on Saturday morning just to tighten up an endshield of a tiny motor and it broke. I wouldn't have minded if it had just siezed enough to loosen on appyling a bit of force (like with most cheap ratchets), but it seems well and truely knackered. Feel like a mug for buying it now...Hope they give me a new one when I pop in after work!
I used a brand new 3/8 ratchet from the 'advanced professional' range on Saturday morning just to tighten up an endshield of a tiny motor and it broke. I wouldn't have minded if it had just siezed enough to loosen on appyling a bit of force (like with most cheap ratchets), but it seems well and truely knackered. Feel like a mug for buying it now...Hope they give me a new one when I pop in after work!
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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You will not be disappointed with the Bahco although I was lucky and got mine for £52. I bid on a smaller set and it went for more money, I had bid on both sets and at one point was worried I was going to win them both.
