whensparksfly
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I'm looking for a new good quality or second handspanners 8 to 32mm I what a foam inlay for my box too.what ate you all using
- Thread starter whensparksfly
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Tinbasherdan
Bodger in chief
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I like the halfords professional stuff, comes in their own foam Inlays
Memmeddu
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Parkside Meister set and a good old model Beta 42 set
Both completed ranging from 6 up to 32mm.
I need bigger sizes though
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
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I have a complete Snap-on set, from 3mm up. A total waste really as I have used the 19mm spanner in the set ONCE. Bloody tragic but I just can't let go. I also have a Britool set bought for me for Christmas thirty years ago which hangs on the back tray of the lathe. Now I DO use these, all the time. When I finally move into my new workshop things will change though.
hotponyshoes
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What size drawer have you got?
I've got a couple of foam inlays for spanner sets that came from a Facom demo cabinet but they are quite large I think
I've got a couple of foam inlays for spanner sets that came from a Facom demo cabinet but they are quite large I think
hotponyshoes
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There are a few places online that will cnc cut foam for you, not cheap but nice..
Look up 'shadow foam' if you want to cut it yourself. Various other brands available.
I will say that I've never really been 100% happy with stuff I've cut myself though.
It's easy for bigger things like cases for equipment or power tools but if you are doing one for 20 spanners it's an awful lot of time and effort to get it 85% perfect.
You can get to 95% if you make a template and cut it with a rotozip.
You can also hotwire a single layer or 3d print cookie cutters then glue the 2nd layer on but having done it before, unless your time has no value (or its a custom case you don't wwnt to release the design for) I'd recommend spending the money just having it cnc cut.
Look up 'shadow foam' if you want to cut it yourself. Various other brands available.
I will say that I've never really been 100% happy with stuff I've cut myself though.
It's easy for bigger things like cases for equipment or power tools but if you are doing one for 20 spanners it's an awful lot of time and effort to get it 85% perfect.
You can get to 95% if you make a template and cut it with a rotozip.
You can also hotwire a single layer or 3d print cookie cutters then glue the 2nd layer on but having done it before, unless your time has no value (or its a custom case you don't wwnt to release the design for) I'd recommend spending the money just having it cnc cut.
hotponyshoes
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Regarding sizes,
8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 17mm and 19mm are my most frequent used for day-to-day messing.
I do have a full set of 6mm-36mm.
I only really use them for automotive stuff though.
The 7mm gets used a bit for jubilee clips. The 36mm gets used on the vicous fan on landrovers.
22/24mm suspension bolts.
I don't remember ever using some of the bigger sizes. For the price of good ones, unless you have a regular use, I'd just get one good quality adjustable to get me out of trouble.
It's nice to have a full set (and also ratchet spanners, stubby spanners and so on) but, in hindsight, if I was starting from scratch, I'd just buy the 8-19 in normal. Then get 10, 13, 17, 19 in short/stubby for doing nuts and bolts.
8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 17mm and 19mm are my most frequent used for day-to-day messing.
I do have a full set of 6mm-36mm.
I only really use them for automotive stuff though.
The 7mm gets used a bit for jubilee clips. The 36mm gets used on the vicous fan on landrovers.
22/24mm suspension bolts.
I don't remember ever using some of the bigger sizes. For the price of good ones, unless you have a regular use, I'd just get one good quality adjustable to get me out of trouble.
It's nice to have a full set (and also ratchet spanners, stubby spanners and so on) but, in hindsight, if I was starting from scratch, I'd just buy the 8-19 in normal. Then get 10, 13, 17, 19 in short/stubby for doing nuts and bolts.
hotponyshoes
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This holds normal, stubby and ratchet, 6-19mm
I've got another one somewhere, different, not sure what it's cut for. Other one is empty
I've got another one somewhere, different, not sure what it's cut for. Other one is empty
Wildefalcon
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Halfords professional in a cabinet. A very cheap Lidl set for abuse. A variety of imperial stuff, and a draper socket set. Plus random in the out and about box.
Melvyn Best
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I have several sets, mainly Snap On , that I use regularly, about the only one that gets very little use is my 20mm combination spanner which I’ve only ever used on Fiat track red end locknuts. I still have my first ever set of AF spanners that get used occasionally made by ETC Industrial, getting on for 60 years old
frank horton
V twins are great but 4"s rule.........
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a few on here will Poo Poo this but I found that all the fancy rollaway tool boxes by the likes of Snap on etc are overpriced and to fussy........
I want all my spanners n reg use stuff too hand......
as for the reg sizes of metric, I must have at least 10 different spanners for 8,10,11, 13 etc.....
all diff shapes, thickesses n manufacturers......
u dont get that with fancy inlay racks n foam...theres just not enough room.....Ok I suppose for occ diy use.....
after all my Snap on got nicked I just could not afford to replace all that stuff and now Snap On is not so special anyway.....
So after a lot of thought I went this route, still a rollaway but more pract and it cost only a few quid in ply and metal.....4'wide.....
I prefer function over looks....hahaha....
all the other drawers have various stuff plus each drawer is 19mm ply on rollers....U can and I have on occ stood on them.....
to the right is a rusty dull painted rollaway with a top box.....
the bottom has a full size drawer for 1/4, 3/8 n 1/2 drive sockets n gear.....the 3/4 is in the wooden rollaway.....the top box has sharp stuff, calipers and a spy glass amongst other very special delicate stuff...
everything is to hand and easy to spot missing stuff.....
I'd love a tool wall like 8ob but I need a lot more spanners.....plus I really need a combined bench and it must be moveable for sweeping up underneath...
I will add that the AF small stuff, upto 3/4" is next to the pipe spanners, bottom right is reserved for the popular Whit n BSF.....
U see I work mostly on tractors and vehicles of around 1920, with just a few semi modern vehicles.....
Every size needs to be easy grab.....
Yes I could have spent more time and money making this but I was working , needed money and all my stuff was everywhere....drove me nuts...
PS that rollaway is now 25 years old and I wont change it...
just to add the big spanners and special tools will be in the lower drawers and real odd ball stuff that used sparingly will be in a plywood cupboard....
I think its better to buy better gear than spend a fortune on fancy rollaways but I will add there was a ST/Steel rollaway on ebay years ago that took my fancy but I was already commited to the above.....
everybody has their own ideas and varying money supply when it comes to tool boxes and the filling of said piece.....
have fun Mr Sparks fly.....good luck...
just one other thing, I dont live in a damp envoirement so all my stuff is on view / get-attable all year.....
I want all my spanners n reg use stuff too hand......
as for the reg sizes of metric, I must have at least 10 different spanners for 8,10,11, 13 etc.....
all diff shapes, thickesses n manufacturers......
u dont get that with fancy inlay racks n foam...theres just not enough room.....Ok I suppose for occ diy use.....
after all my Snap on got nicked I just could not afford to replace all that stuff and now Snap On is not so special anyway.....
So after a lot of thought I went this route, still a rollaway but more pract and it cost only a few quid in ply and metal.....4'wide.....
I prefer function over looks....hahaha....
all the other drawers have various stuff plus each drawer is 19mm ply on rollers....U can and I have on occ stood on them.....
to the right is a rusty dull painted rollaway with a top box.....
the bottom has a full size drawer for 1/4, 3/8 n 1/2 drive sockets n gear.....the 3/4 is in the wooden rollaway.....the top box has sharp stuff, calipers and a spy glass amongst other very special delicate stuff...
everything is to hand and easy to spot missing stuff.....
I'd love a tool wall like 8ob but I need a lot more spanners.....plus I really need a combined bench and it must be moveable for sweeping up underneath...
I will add that the AF small stuff, upto 3/4" is next to the pipe spanners, bottom right is reserved for the popular Whit n BSF.....
U see I work mostly on tractors and vehicles of around 1920, with just a few semi modern vehicles.....
Every size needs to be easy grab.....
Yes I could have spent more time and money making this but I was working , needed money and all my stuff was everywhere....drove me nuts...
PS that rollaway is now 25 years old and I wont change it...
just to add the big spanners and special tools will be in the lower drawers and real odd ball stuff that used sparingly will be in a plywood cupboard....
I think its better to buy better gear than spend a fortune on fancy rollaways but I will add there was a ST/Steel rollaway on ebay years ago that took my fancy but I was already commited to the above.....
everybody has their own ideas and varying money supply when it comes to tool boxes and the filling of said piece.....
have fun Mr Sparks fly.....good luck...
just one other thing, I dont live in a damp envoirement so all my stuff is on view / get-attable all year.....
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I use a spanner rack in my toolbox drawer as it saves space.
whensparksfly
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I like them
MetalMonkey
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What type of spanners? Combination? Long, Short, Ring, Deep offset, Aviation?
There are dozens of different types so it is worth giving some thought as to what best suits your needs. I'm assuming you are just talking about combination, but its handy having a couple of different shapes and styles.
Unless they are really cheap and nasty, most half decent sets of combination spanners are going to be fine thesedays, even the chinese ones.
The Kennedy ones are pretty good for the money, as to are halfords.
I personally like the feel of Facom 440 series, and the Stahlwille open box. Elora 205 are also very nice.
Second hand you can often pick up quality brands like Hazet, Stahwille, Gedore, Old Britool (be careful as there are several britools and some are just chinese stuff rebadged), King Dick, Elora.
The difficulty will be finding a complete matching set if that is what you are after.
I personally wouldn't bother shadow foaming spanners, unless you only have a couple, its awkward to do and takes up far too much space.
Standing them up in a rack takes far less room in the toolbox and is quick to access.
Newlands
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I bought a Halfords professional socket set a while ago, along with a couple of moulded plastic inserts to fit the tool cabinet (also Halfords). All of was bought when they did their special offers. Previously I just had a couple of boxes of various tools all jumbled up together, so having a proper set in a cabinet is now luxury.
The only downside is that having an insert takes up more room, but it does make sure that all the tools have a proper place to live and are accessible. I like the idea of making foam inserts, but cutting the shapes out seems a bit tricky to do accurately - has anyone tried using a laser cutter on foam- maybe not a good idea because of nasty fumes??
The only downside is that having an insert takes up more room, but it does make sure that all the tools have a proper place to live and are accessible. I like the idea of making foam inserts, but cutting the shapes out seems a bit tricky to do accurately - has anyone tried using a laser cutter on foam- maybe not a good idea because of nasty fumes??
cheb
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I bought a set of Facom 75 tube spanners having used a 10mm one. I never really got on with them and sold them all except the 10mm. I covered that in heat shrink and use it on battery terminals, a tightwad's version of a fully insulated spanner
