Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,903
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Nov 12, 2021 17:48:09 GMT
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As above...assuming that the more bits and adaptors you get, the cheaper the quality (and I don't need all the different torx and splines etc), how would you spend £100 on a good, portable socket set?
Is Halfords professional still the way to go?
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Last Edit: Nov 12, 2021 17:49:30 GMT by Paul
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Nov 12, 2021 17:58:59 GMT
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Halfords advanced are fine the only downside is the sockets aren't 6 point, I've not bought anything from the snap-on man since they started the lifetime guarantee. I find it's better to buy what I need than one of the boxed sets. Draper expert are lifetime guarantee too.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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£100 for a good socket setDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Nov 12, 2021 18:12:16 GMT
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Its all down to what you actually specifically need, but bought these sealey premier sockets 4 years ago as I need something cheap in a hurry. My other criteria were 6 point, short and long sets in metric and AF. Literally no one else offered that without spending multiple hundreds. I have absolutely abused them, breaker bars with cheaters, the big uggadugga, etc. On some really crappy jobs. They’ve taken it all with no issue. Given they were 15-20 quid for each rail, I was impressed. I bought a halfords 1/2” pro ratchet and breaker to go with em and the whole lot came to about £100.
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6 months ago I had a similar thought and ended up buying a Bahco S106 set. Admittedly it has some bits I will never use but was still good value at £104. I've just had a look and the cheapest currently is £114 but with black friday coming up I'm sure there will be a discount code.
I've only had it 6 months so can't really comment on longevity but the sockets are good quality and I'm happy with it. The orange handle does discolour though and the allen keys/screwdriver bits I don't use but will still recommend.
Those sealey premier sockets sound like a good deal at 15-20 a rail, and theres nothing wrong with the halfords stuff.
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Mark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,097
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Nov 13, 2021 13:35:56 GMT
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,903
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Nov 13, 2021 15:23:46 GMT
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Yeah that definitely caught the eye...
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£100 for a good socket setballbagbagins
@ballbagbagins
Club Retro Rides Member 164
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Nov 13, 2021 16:35:24 GMT
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Yeah that definitely caught the eye... It's obviously not a deal breaker but those halfords boxes aren't the most well made things.
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Nov 13, 2021 20:39:28 GMT
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I find they've got £25 quids worth of junk in them, the hex keys and torx bits aren't worth having
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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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£100 for a good socket setmerryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Nov 13, 2021 21:15:05 GMT
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The older Halfords sets were better, before they started packing them with filler, as xbl says.
That said, I cannot overstate how little I've cared for my Halfords Advanced set. I've abused the hell out of it, hanging off the ratchets, leaving it out in the rain, dropping it, covering it in whatever chemicals I'm recklessly spraying about that day, and it's still pretty much as good as new.
They sell the bits separately so it may be worth pricing up buying what you need and a toolbox vs. a full set.
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,903
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Nov 13, 2021 21:17:43 GMT
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The older Halfords sets were better, before they started packing them with filler, as xbl says. That said, I cannot overstate how little I've cared for my Halfords Advanced set. I've abused the hell out of it, hanging off the ratchets, leaving it out in the rain, dropping it, covering it in whatever chemicals I'm recklessly spraying about that day, and it's still pretty much as good as new. They sell the bits separately so it may be worth pricing up buying what you need and a toolbox vs. a full set. Luckily enough I've got a brand spanking toolbox already...might take your advice and price up separates...
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pow
Part of things
Posts: 110
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Nov 14, 2021 10:26:08 GMT
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I've had this set: www.screwfix.com/p/bahco-s240-1-2-drive-socket-set-24-pcs/67315For about 7 years now, takes anything I've thrown at it. I broke the 15mm socket but then I do use the sockets in a rattle gun which I know you're not meant to. That set, coupled with a 3/8 reducer and a 1/2" breaker bar has removed engines, stripped down gearboxes, suspension changes, fitted towbars, heavy stuff. I seem to remember it being £49.99 7 years ago as well!
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Nov 16, 2021 10:33:51 GMT
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Last Edit: Nov 16, 2021 11:01:20 GMT by Soopahfly
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tofufi
South West
Posts: 1,452
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Nov 16, 2021 11:12:47 GMT
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I have both a cheap LIDL set (about £60 when I bought it) and a Halfords advanced set. The LIDL set is all 6 point sockets, and I've not broken a single thing yet. I use the sockets on an impact driver too. It's this one: www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/57069120257285827/The Halfords ratchets all feel much nicer to use and have finer teeth. I almost always grab the LIDL set, and the Halfords one sits in the boot of my long distance car for emergencies. If the ratchets in the LIDL set die I'd replace them with the Halfords ones
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Last Edit: Nov 16, 2021 11:13:16 GMT by tofufi
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gryphon
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 330
Club RR Member Number: 157
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£100 for a good socket setgryphon
@gryphon
Club Retro Rides Member 157
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Nov 16, 2021 13:10:03 GMT
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My halfords 200 piece set was £125 and has lasted 7 years of pretty regular abuse now.
I have managed to twist the end of the longer 3/8ths extension bar (definitely wasn't using it with a breaker bar), took it to halfords and it was replaced on the spot, no receipt, quibbles or questions asked.
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,983
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Nov 16, 2021 13:40:28 GMT
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My bahco stuff has held up over the last 8 years or so. I bought one of these basic 6-point Bahco sets on eBay when I urgently needed sockets after moving to Schotland and leaving all my tools in NL in 2009 (mine is branded Irimo IS24 (Irimo = Bahco in Spain)). I love it and I'd like to have an AF set as well, but I've never seen one (neither Irimo nor Bahco). If I were to buy a combined metric/ AF set now for under £100, I would snap up this one without hesitation.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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norm75
Part of things
Posts: 658
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Nov 20, 2021 17:07:31 GMT
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Yeah that definitely caught the eye... It's obviously not a deal breaker but those halfords boxes aren't the most well made things. you are kidding. I was lucky enough to get a small snap on socket set for my birthday. It cost in the region of £400 and comes in a plastic tray with a clear plastic cover in a cardboard box! Not even a hard case!
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Nov 20, 2021 18:37:03 GMT
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It's obviously not a deal breaker but those halfords boxes aren't the most well made things. you are kidding. I was lucky enough to get a small snap on socket set for my birthday. It cost in the region of £400 and comes in a plastic tray with a clear plastic cover in a cardboard box! Not even a hard case! That's because Snap-On's business model is to sell stuff that always needs an expensive upgrade; from sockets that don't come on a rail so you need to buy one, to a scanner costing several thousands that needs extra keys to use on different vehicles.
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Nov 25, 2021 21:47:21 GMT
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to a scanner costing several thousands that needs extra keys to use on different vehicles. That was just a restriction of the technology at the time. You've not needed the personality keys for about 7 years now.
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2021 21:48:02 GMT by Xenocide
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Sandro
Part of things
Posts: 17
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I've been using a Halfords Advance kit for a good few years now. It's all still good as new. Like mentioned they're generally 12 point sockets, but my set has a few impact sockets which are 6 point and cover the most important sizes. Also came with ratchet spanners too, which are amazing
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IG: @burnthismk2
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