Looking for a Decent Socket Set

[danward]

What do you guys think to this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_232745_langId_-1_categoryId_255215#tab1

I am after a decent socket set for working on the car. The vortex system on the link above seems like a great idea.

Anyone used these? Care to suggest any other decent sets?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...r||Price||1&cm_re=StaticMains-_-TOOLS-_-OFFER

Job done.

(what a ridiculously messy link, Halfrauds !! :S )

Also, buy a breaker bar while you're in there.

 

[djjonnibgood]

I know Halfrauds doesn't necessarly have the best reputation as a retailer, but i can't fault their own brand tools. Good quality at the right price (most of the time)

 

[Dan@SJM]

Depends on your budget really...

 

[dmallett]

I have a fair few teng sets, cant fault them for the price and the qaulity is decent too.

 

[Darklite]

Don't bother with the vortex system, the sockets are very thin walled and i have broken two ratchets.

Bahco do some very basic, but solid 1/2" sets for £55, likewise i rate facom ratchets and sockets.

The halfords professional range is far superior to the vortex system, which i believe is actually a gearwrench product.

 

[Owen92]

I swear by Draper Expert. Paid just over £100 on an offer for 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch socket set with deep and shallow sockets plus extensions. Had that for 2 years and used every day working on trucks and not had anything break. Well the case broke but that's because it was in and out of vans sliding about.

 

[danward]

The 150 piece Halfords set seems a good deal actually - I also like the lifetime guarantee. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Coops Mk1]

i bought a standard halfrauds set 5 years or so ago, still going strong, few casualties but i paid 99 quid for it and its lasted so so well. main issue is the torx bits are brittle and break. but i have been through and equal number of teng tools ones since as well. ratchet spanners wear out and the medium ratchet is dodgy as well now but for 20 quid a year its done very very well

bearing in mind i have had 6 clios in that time, all of them home maintained and i have stripped 3 of them for spares and done mand gearboxes, subframes, head gaskets, bottom end rebuilds and god knows what with them, so done some mileage too.

as BK say, thats a a lot of bang for anybodies buck

 

[peanuthead]

Got a halfords 150 set and it seem good enough, plus has a good selection of bits. They were doing them half price but not sure if the deal is still on

 

[Jonny Waugh]

Not sure what halfords stuff like, I got a set of my uncle for free called snap on he had them when he used to work at nissan, and there really good never broke one and I've had them for 3-4 years not sure if there cheap or expensive but always been good for me

 

[Camble]

Halfords 150pc socket set.
Job done.

Comes with a lifetime guarantee, however it doesn't cover moving parts (ratchets).

Make sure you keep your receipt an you'll never need to buy another set.

 

[Xanda73]

LOL at not sure if snap on cheap or expensive.

I find Teng to be fairly poor quality. Depends on how often you are going to use the tools. Halfords Pro is perfectly exceptable for home spannering IMO.

 

[NorthloopCup]

Snap on do blue point sets (cheaper version of snap on tools) which are excellent vfm. I have 3 sets, a 1/4,3/8 and a 1/2 for working on my car and they're covered under snap ons lifetime warranty to. I use snap on at work though! No comparison!

Halfords proffesional range is very good quality though, especially with it having a lifetime warranty.

 

[MicKPM]

Halfords Pro is a FACOM product from memory. They make Draper, MAC and a few others.

For the money they're excellent value and top quality. No flank-drive though which is IMO great even though its no longer a Snap-On only thing.

 

[Jonny Waugh]

No seriously I had no idea as I got them all for free and don't ever look at the prices of them sort of things, I've looked now and they are crazy money I'm going to take much better care of them from now on

 

[Adamm.]

I need to stock up on tools as I literally have nothing atm.

I like the look of the 150 piece set but was wondering if I would need this as well to do any jobs like removing spark plugs and plenum etc?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_178843_langId_-1_categoryId_165469#tab1

 

[Owen92]

I'd recommend everyone to have a torque wrench. At the end of the day every nut and bolt has a torque setting. Although that torque wrench in the link won't do your wheel bolts.

 

[danward]

Went for the Halfords 150 set - it was still at £99 so a bargain in my eyes. Hopefully I'll have years of use out of them. Thanks for your input guys.

 

[MicKPM]

They become even cheaper if you know someone with a Trade Card.

 

[Budgie]

They become even cheaper if you know someone with a Trade Card.

No they don't... As they're on offer already, you don't get any further.. So I was told last time anyway..

 

[stephen chadwick]

Snap on do blue point sets (cheaper version of snap on tools) which are excellent vfm. I have 3 sets, a 1/4,3/8 and a 1/2 for working on my car and they're covered under snap ons lifetime warranty to. I use snap on at work though! No comparison!

Halfords proffesional range is very good quality though, especially with it having a lifetime warranty.

same for me blue point at home snap on at work, worth it if you're using them day in day out, but if its only for now and again there's no point spending loads of money

 

[Owen92]

With the trade card you get what ever price is cheaper. If the offer price is cheaper then that's what you will pay.

 

[Scrooge]

Blue point sets. Bargains.

 

[Adamm.]

I'd recommend everyone to have a torque wrench. At the end of the day every nut and bolt has a torque setting. Although that torque wrench in the link won't do your wheel bolts.

Cheers yeah might get it as it has a lifetime guarantee anyway so I'm sure it'll make its money back eventually.

 

[Camble]

With the trade card you get what ever price is cheaper. If the offer price is cheaper then that's what you will pay.

If you go to use your trade card and the offer price is cheaper, you just get them to put it through as a normal customer.

Gutted I binned my trade card, I can't get it re-issued either as I haven't worked there since Uni -.-

I'll have to get my missus' Dad to get one

 

[mark smith87]

I've got a Halfords 150 pro set. Really good quality tools. You can always add to the kit if you need extra sizes and breaker bars etc.

 

[Adamm.]

I can get the 150 piece socket set and small torque wrench for £125 so its a no brainer really as they will come in very handy.

 

[danward]

Just a lil update to say I went with the Halfords set and I really recommend it. The kit is brilliant and the warranty aspect is great. One of the ratchets jammed up, I took it in and they pulled a brand new one off the shelf for me - happy days!

 

[rdoxenham]

I swear by Draper Expert. Paid just over £100 on an offer for 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch socket set with deep and shallow sockets plus extensions. Had that for 2 years and used every day working on trucks and not had anything break. Well the case broke but that's because it was in and out of vans sliding about.

^^ this... I've got all Draper Expert stuff, really decent in my opinion and doesn't cost the world.