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For reasons too dull to bother with, I'm in need of a new 'main use' socket set. I've always used 1/2" drive and having saved my pennies I was just going to splash out on a 'conventional' Halfords Pro set, however I cam across the 'Vortex' range 19 piece or 30 piece. Has anybody any experience of them? I assume they're reasonably robust being 'Pro' but could they replace a 'conventional' 1/2" set for everyday use? I'd still have my impact set of deep sockets and breaker bar etc, for really tough jobs. Any thoughts? TIA |
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Interesting....I have no experience of it, but it is rare to find 1/2 inch sockets that are basic 6 face hex style, rather than the multi pointy style whos name I don't know....  Impact sockets are always normal hex style, but they can be a bit bulky for access sometimes due to the thickness of them compared to normal sockets. The set starts at 14mm though....13mm must be one of the most common metric sizes ever used on every car ever.....that's a bit curse word. the 30 piece set you link to is 1/4" and 3/8" drive. I find 3/8 to be a bit pointless. A good 1/4" drive set will do for most small to medium stuff and a 1/2" set for the larger things. My 3/8 stuff rarely sees the light of day tbh. |
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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May 28, 2013 10:29:28 GMT
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It was more that the Vortex system seemed to be 'hollow'. I wonder how strong it is compared to conventional solid - the scientific bit of my brain 'knows' the strength is in the outside edge of things like socket extensions - the bit in the middle is more or less there to keep the two edges apart. But emotionally a bit of bar just seems stronger than a bit of tube!!
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
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May 28, 2013 16:29:35 GMT
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IMO you really need to have the need for one of these. The ratchets can bend but you can get a surprising amount of torque on thanks to the six sided sockets which seem to be a good fit on most things  . If it is impact stuff you are after look elsewhere. But I would not be without my Vortex set now. It has come in handy for many things (drop links with Allen Key inserts (rounding off the allen keys (I can now use an allen key attachment on a ratchet) has become a thing of the past), nipping up strut nuts etc. is all a piece of cake. On some cars where space seems to be non existant (where you would be there forever doing them with a spanner (MGB rear ARB bolts where they attach to the body for example) these make life much eacher (I did get a little brutal with the Vortex set there (I had a lack of space to move against me). Whilst the rubber of the ratchet got slightly damaged the ratchet itself has still been OK . |
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May 28, 2013 16:56:38 GMT
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IMO you really need to have the need for one of these. Sounds like you're suggesting they're not a substitute for a conventional socket set? I've got impact sockets and lots of spanners, so that angle is covered! |
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May 28, 2013 17:19:34 GMT
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- '88 MK2 Golf 1.3 c
- '07 BMW E91 335d
- '94 T4 1.9d
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,307
Club RR Member Number: 170
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IMO you really need to have the need for one of these. Sounds like you're suggesting they're not a substitute for a conventional socket set? I've got impact sockets and lots of spanners, so that angle is covered! To a degree yes. They are not the cheapest of socket sets (although mine did come with ratchet spanners), although in hindsight you can probably put on as much torque onto them as you can with normal ratchets come to think of it. On my Mondeo V6 there were not many things that could have helped me out (bar some 6 sided deep sockets; exhaust manifold studs (anyone who has worked on a V6 FWD Ford may sympathise!)). |
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