[Craig-SM]

Halfords Advance or Professional as they used to be called are great for hand tools but the socket sets aren't that good. They'll exchange them without a problem but nothing more annoying than being unable to finish a job because a socket has snapped.

 

[charlie264]

Cutters, Knippex (Draper pro, Lyon in other countries). Precision cutters Lindstrom (expensive), I buy Japanese Micro Nippers, very good for the money.
Tools, Halfords Pro, been told they are Snap-On Blue point.....Don't know but they have lifetime warrantee and Ive taken a ratchets and adapter back and both replaced with no receipt.

 

[Ship]

Depends on the halfords branch. I had an 8mm ratchet spanner fail after 3 yrs. Store l bought from wouldnt exchange as didnt have reciept, but next nearest did. They wouldnt accept that reciepts fade, even if kept in a drawer. Twats.

 

[DAB]

I have a set of these, excellent quality and very useful SCREW REMOVAL PLIERS combi extractor gripping gripper ENGINEER PZ-58 neji-saurus | eBay

 

[mak24seven]

Tool chests, I don't think you can better this diy Halfords professional system for £315 with a life time guarantee.
Black Friday deal with the wrong price tag on in store, i purchased 2, even after logging in the scan codes that came up with a puzzled look the friendly lady put them through the till


They were actually falsley priced at £330, the said lady came rushing out to my van to ask if I needed a hand loading all these cabinets and handed me a £30 voucher for spending over £600, I still feel bad but I can sleep at night

 

[newsh]

I bought a set of those Halfords boxes when they were going half price a few years back. Nice ball bearing drawer sliders, solid enough.

 

[winger]

God knows how much i’ve Spent on tools in my life time, have to say a lot of the cheap shit is pretty good as well, you can certainly get away with such under 15mm.

Where things get complicated and the good stuff is needed,did a job a while back needed a 12 sided socket, but in general Halfords kit is more than good enough.

 

[Lark09]

Got a lot of Britool from 30 years ago excellent stuff and some Bedford spanner’s and sockets also very good.
Also ELORA 1/2”socket set I’ve had for 45 years
Komasa socket set has been good
Bohondas for hex keys
Wera joker spanner’s as said expensive but good.
Record for vice, stilsons and pipe wrenches
Halfords combination spanner’s are-average
Draper is made of chocolate and cheap chocolate at that
Snap on are superb but unless your reliant on tools for you lively hood Are very expensive and not worth the investment

Buy the best you can afford

 

[PH1969]

Bahco for saws
Halford Advance for socket sets, screwdrivers and spanner’s
Wera for socket sets, screwdriver, hex keys and spanner’s (Joker)
Draper expert for pliers/cutters
Teng for torque wrenches

Pretty much this is my kit

 

[Nokkaz]

Cheers all. I already have the Halfords Tool chest, sockets and torque wrenches which have all been fine and affordable due to trade card. Have ordered Knipex side cutters and Teng/Wera hex/torx bits.

 

[tl_z_bub]

Agree with the vast majority of the posts above. A few comments I'd add

• Best set of Allen "T's" I've ever owned are Beta Brand
• Agree with Snap On being top notch but overpriced, However. about £30 will get you the best set of pliers money can buy. God knows what they are made of but they last for ever and work better than anything else I've ever encountered. Same thing for Side cutters. I'm a big fan of Knipex as well - but it seems pretty much impossible to notch the blades of the Snap On ones .... even on Piano Wire.
• For the serious "toolaholics" out there try keeping an eye out for ex military stuff - Bomb disposal and Aircraft tools are my favorites - there's a few UK companies who were specialist manufacturers / suppliers to these areas and the stuff they made is truly wonderful. Not going to name names because I'd probably end up bidding against you on ebay. I've bought stuff for £5 that probably cost £500 when it was made - makes Snap On look like Fisher Price.
• Final one - If you want to cut things then look at Medical / Surgical stuff - Swan Morton knives and blades come in a huge variety of shapes / sizes. Cheap, Sharp as FCUK and far and away the best thing for decals and fine work.

 

[Monty]

I've had a Facom 1/4inch socket set since 1994, use it regularly, the ratchet still clicks as crisp as a new one, the finish is still perfect, even the metal case it lives in is still OK.

 

[tl_z_bub]

Something else no one seems to have mentioned so far

..... Best standard toolkit supplied with a bike ?.

No question about it. KTM every time.

There's even usually a bottle opener for gawd's sake

 

[Ship]

IIRC, the bottle opener also allows the use of a torque wrench / socket drive when doing up a certain 13mm nut (l forget which one though)

Agreed its a very good oem tool kit.

 

[Ship]

I've had a Facom 1/4inch socket set since 1994, use it regularly, the ratchet still clicks as crisp as a new one, the finish is still perfect, even the metal case it lives in is still OK.

A metal case! ....... like getting castrol gtx in a metal can

 

[Nokkaz]

Got my Knipex sidecutters and I will say the quality is noticeable against my old one run of the mill jobs. Also the Wera Allen keys are cut to give added contact and have a ball at the bottom like a ratchet drive. I had a 2.5mm grub screw(air screw mod) that I had damaged the head on, the Wera’s got it out no bother. Also bought Teng Torx and T bar Allen keys. Well happy, cheers for the guidance lads and Happy New Year all.

 

[Scuff]

a small Halfords 1/4” set that I use more than anything else.

Same here and the socket set i wouldn't be without.

Added a 1/4" drive T-bar ( Motion pro i think )and thats been a great add on.

 

[Bollocks]

I bought this blue tool chest today. Now I can find the shit I'm looking for! Love it.

 

[charlie264]

Got my Knipex sidecutters and I will say the quality is noticeable against my old one run of the mill jobs. Also the Wera Allen keys are cut to give added contact and have a ball at the bottom like a ratchet drive. I had a 2.5mm grub screw(air screw mod) that I had damaged the head on, the Wera’s got it out no bother. Also bought Teng Torx and T bar Allen keys. Well happy, cheers for the guidance lads and Happy New Year all.

My Lyon (knipex) side cutter Ive had for years, use them most days at work, still cut paper perfectly.

 

[tl_z_bub]

Another two pennyworth

For about 15 years I always bought Karcher pressure washers. Generally they lasted about 18 months then either the plastic pipe wore thin and kinked / cracked or the pump just failed.

About 3 years ago I got tired of replacing them and thought I'd buy a "cheapo" B&Q McAlister one. WHAT a revelation ! ..... It's MILES better. Rubber hose, better flow & pressure, Better Lance (with better Quick release system) and Better Detergent system. 1/2 the price of the Karcher equivalent.

Suffice to say, I'll never buy another Karcher.