|
|
Post by quazi on Feb 25, 2016 14:38:54 GMT
This is always a busy subject but given the ability of folk on this site and others, I'd like to know your own thinking when it comes to tools. Now lets not post any "knob waving pictures" just you own personal philosophy on your tools and why you purchase what you do. I have a fairly mixed bag myself, and adding to them almost weekly, be it a socket rail, air tool, punch, or something less significant. My own take on it, is I do like a certain quality of tool and I doubt if anybody could question the quality of Snap On but they come at a high price for the hobbyist/ home mechanic so alternatives but quality alternatives can be as good or fairly equal to Snap On at a reduced cost. My tool boxes contain Teng Tools, Snap On, Franklin, Sealey, AC Delco, Bergen, Draper, Ingersoll Rand, Dewalt, Bosch, Beta and along with some unknown/Chinese one offs, I'm sure there are others which don't spring to mind at the moment. My choices are generally chosen on need and importance, how many times am I likely to use/need them tends to be my order of quality as a purchase. So I do buy Snap On if I decide it has to be as it could be costly if it isn't type of tool, the rest ends up being on a sliding scale of use/need. I'm not keen on Draper, Sealey or Bergen but they do have their place and I will buy them at the right price for the right job, as many tools are just not worth the money for the piss poor quality they end up being. I of course base my own opinions on my own experiences at home and in work, so I'd be interested to hear what most of you guys think about your tool choices. (I realise I could have left myself wide open with that statement!) ha ha. This could be a sticky where we could pass on any comments about recent tool purchases and recommendations. Or not!  |
|
|
|
Post by rusty on Feb 25, 2016 16:06:46 GMT
I agree with what you say about snap on tools...they are really good but the price doesn't always justify the purchase of your only gonna use it once lol
My tool box is a halfords professional cabinet and chest and it contains a mixture of facom, draper, halfords advanced and professional tools plus some cheap crappy one's that I am slowly replacing when money or the need arrises
As for power tools, I have a few Bosch items including a really cool oscillating saw but I tend to follow my dad in buying black and decker
I don't have any air tools as I don't have a compressor.....yet;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Feb 25, 2016 16:17:49 GMT
I'm a Halfords pro range fan boy but I only have a few sockets couple of spanners and two torque wrenches of that range but given that they are lifetime guarantee at a reasonable cost I think they're great. I do however have a couple of very old german mahoosive spanners (well 20 odd mm and up) which were my grandads that are so solid,,really can tell they're German. All the rest of my sockets and stuff was my grandads which built up over the years. Next on the list will be a new ratchet oh I have a Clarke pro mini extendable ratchet which is quite handy.
|
|
|
|
Post by antiks on Feb 25, 2016 16:54:46 GMT
I've got a vast array of old and new tools from imperial and whitworth to metric sizes.
I never get cheap tools but I can't afford snap on prices so a happy medium being halfords professional range.
I got a socket set that's close to 40 years old now and still got the original ratchet and sockets although the extension bar has been bent over the years, this sits along side my newer socket set made up of 90 pieces.
Any job I undertake that involves me purchasing a new tool I'll do a bit of research on the different makes available and purchase the one with best reviews.
I own about 7 different types of hammer, over 50 various screwdrivers and I have plenty of spanners imperial and metric and about 3 of every size.
I got a lot of this given to me when my dad sold his house and moved into a motorhome so he had to down size his belongings in a big way.
Picked up a decent bench pillar drill from an auto jumble last year for a tenner, think its a machine mart one but it works and meets my needs.
I buy tools that do a job more than once and come recommended, not fussed on names as long as it does the job it's designed to do I'm happy.
|
|
|
|
Post by gsexr on Feb 25, 2016 18:34:08 GMT
hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm.... lot,s and lot.s some snap-on till my mate threatened too pull him out of his truck and batter him ? Mac our tool man is very good and does good deal,s with new seconed hand as well... britool and some teng ?......they earn me money and pay for the slabby,s......... so buy what you can afford......  |
|
|
|
Post by bluedog59 on Feb 25, 2016 19:57:35 GMT
Halfords Pro.
Never had one fail, they've survived various monkeys (ab)using them over many seasons racing including walking in the garage and finding one twat using the 1/2" ratchet as a hammer !!! Good on price, good quality and feel "right" when you're using them.
Clarke ratchets a poo and I don't rate their other stuff.
Snap on ? Had a Snap on kit for a year with work and not over impressed with the price/quality equation.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigkenxx on Feb 25, 2016 21:22:55 GMT
Old snap on was the best as new stuff not made in USA !! Any more my tools I evaluate the same buy the best for long term and cheap screwdrivers for hammering , I had a another set of tools mainly snap on and teng tools and King dick from when I worked on hgvs but it got nicked gutted I was.
|
|
|
|
Post by kokolis on Feb 25, 2016 21:36:28 GMT
Middle price, not cheap not very expensive, 2 sets of rachets and spanners (and lots more), never had issues with them, screwdrivers and cutting pliers are the first tools that fail.
|
|
|
|
Post by quazi on Feb 25, 2016 22:34:34 GMT
Interesting to see most think the same way when buying tools. I know we all have a different degree of use in/from them, some professional some home use and everything else in between. We're spoilt for choice on the available options nowadays, but I'd say none of us like to waste money on shit quality tools unless for a disposable need/use. One manufacturer I was very disappointed with was Beta, the majority of the tools I've seen and used had a poor quality feel to them, but are not that cheap to buy. The only tool I was impressed with, was a 1/2 Air Impact that claims to go up to 1000nm for a small tool. I can verify it is as good as it claims, we had to use it on a mechanical shredder, changing teeth every week, the little gun did a cracking job and was a good price. I don't use air tools enough to justify an expensive model, so the little Beta tool is a great compromise. Halfords Professional I know have a good following, I have a couple of their make which do have a good hard chrome finish and seem to be very good quality for the money. Torque wrenches for me have to be Snap On, nothing else can be relied upon to the same degree. I am one of these people that will buy a tool to do a job regardless if I'll need it again in the next 5 years, because if I have a need it is reason enough to pay out for it, rather than a want. I've just bought a fuel pressure test kit, not top quality but a useful compromise because of the motor problem I'm still pissing about with. I suspect the gauge won't be that accurate, but that is not the important thing is it, if the gauge moves and holds that is good enough. So it goes back to the quality for the need and the price. |
|
|
|
Post by rusty on Feb 26, 2016 10:18:11 GMT
One tool I am looking to buy is a set of carb balancers...I've seen cheap ish ones that will do the job for around £40 but I don't know if it's worth waiting to get a more expensive set that might be better/more accurate  |
|
|
|
Post by quazi on Feb 26, 2016 10:32:48 GMT
One tool I am looking to buy is a set of carb balancers...I've seen cheap ish ones that will do the job for around £40 but I don't know if it's worth waiting to get a more expensive set that might be better/more accurate That Rusty, is one tool that needs to be fairly accurate otherwise you could be suffering unknowingly with what you think are balanced carbs. Morgan Carbtune are about as reliable as you can get, not everybody's favourite but very tried and very tested, used them for years and have always worked for me. There used to be a cheaper set with dial gauges, I seem to remember them being made by "Davida" or something like that, they also worked but you are solely dependant upon the guages being equally accurate, which is why Morgan's doesn't rely on gauges only vacuum. If you're feeling adventurous, you could also invest in a "Synchrometer" with the correct rubber cone size, but you need to have room at the rear of the carb to measure. They also give an accurate reading of the draw through of a carb, telling you which throttle slide needs adjustment/balancing. |
|
|
|
Post by bonzo on Feb 26, 2016 13:22:22 GMT
I really like my 3/8 Facom socket set. Nice feel to the ratchet and snug fitting sockets.
Mixed feelings about Halfords advanced/pro.
The 1/4 socket set is handy and small enough around the bike and the ratchet spanners are good too.
As for the 3/8 set......not good. Sticky ratchet and ill fitting 12 point sockets, and the screwdrivers aren't much better.
I even get 'em a bit cheaper with a trade card but I think I'll spend my money elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by rusty on Feb 26, 2016 14:14:29 GMT
I really like my 3/8 Facom socket set. Nice feel to the ratchet and snug fitting sockets. Mixed feelings about Halfords advanced/pro. The 1/4 socket set is handy and small enough around the bike and the ratchet spanners are good too. As for the 3/8 set......not good. Sticky ratchet and ill fitting 12 point sockets, and the screwdrivers aren't much better. I even get 'em a bit cheaper with a trade card but I think I'll spend my money elsewhere. Not had any problems with my 3/8 socket set...but I've not used it much I bought a 1/2 socket set from lidl years ago which has been abused and had everything thrown at it and it's never let me down, even the brushed alloy still looks as good now as when I bought it |
|
|
|
Post by gsexr on Feb 26, 2016 18:25:44 GMT
I have some beta ? A tool trolly for when i was racing still got it as well......as for there socket,s i have broke them ?  |
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Feb 26, 2016 18:44:53 GMT
My helicopter head can only read kasama...regardless of how many times I read it lol. Just so you all know here is a Kasama srimok  |
|
