Where to buy QUALITY car maintenance tools

jon.bda said:
I'd remove Britool from that list if i were you...the Mac Tools van that comes to us now has Britool/Facom/Stanley/etc (all owned by Stanley) and he had a set of Britool spanners on offer and on display, they looked sooo cheap, nothing like tha Britool stuff i have from 15+ years ago.
:)
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I have some of the new Britool screwdrivers and they are good. Looks cheap doesn't always equate to being crap.
 
stulid said:
I laugh at the halfords suggestion, they wouldn't last two weeks of serious use. I hope they have lifetime warranty? You'll need it when you keep taking broken parts back.
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stulid said:
You probably don't do significant work, just an oil and plugs change.

Halfords stuff crumbles to dust with Trade/Motor manufacture work/Constant use.
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Stop trolling, Halfords Pro kit is known to be good, complete with lifetime warranty. In 6 years of using the stuff i managed to break two items, both replaced without question.

I have done significant work with Halfords tools and they have been fine.


GT3 said:
My mate is a mechanic for a Honda main dealer, worked there for about 4 years and a lot of his tools are Halfords Pro range and he has no problems.
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Oh look, i'm not the only one either!
 
SB118 said:
Stop trolling, Halfords Pro kit is known to be good, complete with lifetime warranty. In 6 years of using the stuff i managed to break two items, both replaced without question.

I have done significant work with Halfords tools and they have been fine.
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In 12 years of using snap-on and mac, I haven't broken any. That's why I prefer to use proper brands that are capable of standing up to constant use. Halfords stuff is ok for weekend mechanics and people who don't make a living out of their tools. It's nowhere near the quality of the professional brands though.
 
i just bought a socket set from halfords for £100 - in their half price sale.

not sure if it's still ongoing but it's all shiny and like porn. :D well it can twist nuts... ;) :D

i've got nother halfords socket set that's been going nigh on 20 years and still works!

this was shinier though and i bought halfords professional as it includes everything. and it was shiny. :D
 
Gav said:
I have some of the new Britool screwdrivers and they are good. Looks cheap doesn't always equate to being crap.
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Got some Britool torx screwdrivers (about 3 years old) that i haven't managed to break yet, it was just the finish on the spanners that i saw that really shocked me.
:)
 
Some people care how tools look ( that's what I think I made out of a post?) ?

Anyhow, Spending 200 more than needed seems silly to me, unless you work in a garage and need them 40 hours per week, okay, but if the Halfords ones have a lifetime warranty, why on earth would you throw away an extra 200 quid ?
 
Gav said:
In 12 years of using snap-on and mac, I haven't broken any. That's why I prefer to use proper brands that are capable of standing up to constant use. Halfords stuff is ok for weekend mechanics and people who don't make a living out of their tools. It's nowhere near the quality of the professional brands though.
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I've broken more Snap-On stuff than Halfords. Just ham fisted i suppose :(
 
User error usually..

Extending the handle on ratchets with a tube
Using Screw drivers as chisels or lever bars.
Using non impact sockets on the air gun.

etc etc
 
Phate said:
People using rachets to undo tight bolts when they should always use a bar...
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LOL, lad who works with me (helping me on a car i was servicing), tight wheelnuts on a Volvo V70, bar?, NAH!!!, 3/4" airgun...and then the locking key snaps. must have took me 2 hours to get 3 wheels off after that!.
:o
 
SB118 said:
using the stuff i managed to break two items,
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You wouldn't have any breakages if you used quality equipment.

P.s I work at hondas distribution center at avonmouth, we are constantly work on cars non stop, a bit more intense than just mechanic work at a dealers.

Cars get completely stripped for the body workshops, then rebuilt!

All optional extras are fitted as ordered when a unit is called of.
 
stulid said:
You wouldn't have any breakages if you used quality equipment.
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I disagree.

If you don't look after things and don't use them properly they will break.

Like people using rachets when a bar should be used for example :)
 
stulid said:
You wouldn't have any breakages if you used quality equipment.
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In fact, i'll clarify what've broken...

Halfords Pro.
T25 3/8" drive bit, siezed droplink and i put too much pressure on it causing the tip to snap off.
Lost the pivot pin in a 3/8" wobble head ratchet. Possibly my fault for using it as a hammer i suppose. Still replaced FOC though.

Snap-On
2 x 13mm 3/8" deep socket.
1 x 10mm 3/8" deep socket.
1/2" drive short extension, end sheared off.
2 x 1/2" drive splined unit for getting transit headbolts out. Rounded the teeth on two of them, made the guy with the snap-on van wait while i tried the replacement, which also rounded, 2nd replacement was fine though.
 
lordrobs said:
Depends what you mean by quality. The Halfords Pro ones are good for the money but I wouldn't want to rely on them to make a living.
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ive been a construction plant engineer for the last 10 years and most of my spanners and sockets under 22mm are halfords pro. ther cheap, reliabull and the finnish is just as good as the couple of snap-on spanners ive got. spanners over 22mm i use elora from the draper catalog.

my halfords pro kit has been used and very badly abused over the years and its taken it all in its stride, plus i dont mined cutting, bending and welding them to make a tool to do specific jobs, wear as i wouldnt do that to my £20 a time snap-on spanner
 
i broke my ratchet lastnight :(

ive had it for years. stupidly i was using it has a hammer, against a breaker bar, shocking a stubborn bolt out where i only had limited space. the anti/clockwise selector popped off so now its locked in both directions

RIP my big ratchet

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...socket-set/path/socket-sets-sockets-tool-sets

tempted to get this though

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...-polished-chr/path/ratchets-torque-wrenches-2

040215132.jpg
 
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