Decent Socket Set

Draper Expert is good. And can be had very cheaply sometimes too. My Expert t-handles are some of my most used tools, and they're still faultless. Don't make the mistake of thinking the same applies to lesser Draper stuff though!
 
When I last looked at the halfords pro stuff, the socket sets aren't that great / useful. Ideally you want a socket that only has 6 sides so that it is much less likely to round off anything. That benefit FAR outweighs the convenience of it being easier to get the socket on quickly.
 
DRZ said:
When I last looked at the halfords pro stuff, the socket sets aren't that great / useful. Ideally you want a socket that only has 6 sides so that it is much less likely to round off anything. That benefit FAR outweighs the convenience of it being easier to get the socket on quickly.
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I dont have any experience working on cars but ive used sockets in a working environment on large pipe flanges etc and this man speaks the truth.
 
DRZ said:
When I last looked at the halfords pro stuff, the socket sets aren't that great / useful. Ideally you want a socket that only has 6 sides so that it is much less likely to round off anything. That benefit FAR outweighs the convenience of it being easier to get the socket on quickly.
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100% Disagree with the first bit, how does a 12 sided socket set make it less usefull than a 6 sided socket, if anything it makes it more usefull due to ability to get into tighter gaps with heads is various places than a 6 sided socket + breaker bar couldn't, the 150pcs kit contains just about everything you need to stip down an E36 or take my 1.8T apart, to boot the halfords stuff is very well made.

Never had any issues with socket slip but i do agree a 6 sided socket is less likely to cause head damage.
 
If I had a 150 piece socket set that was full of 12 sided sockets and I was looking at a rusted or potentially suspect nut, there is NO WAY I would attack it until I had got a 6-sided socket on the case. That on its own makes the set less useful, which was what I was getting at.

I have a set of Bergen impact sockets and just about every size of non-impact 6-sided sockets. I don't think I own ANY 12-sided sockets any more, too many tales of woe with them.
 
You want a mix of 6-siders and 12 siders ideally. 12 siders tend to be slimmer, better for awkward spots.

6 siders are ace for stubborn manifold nuts, anything old and rusted that looks like it's never been taken off.
 
I only really find the need to use my 6 sides impact sockets and airgun for things like the lower suspension strut mounting bolts / Hub nuts and pully bolts, tbh i don't think i've ever found anything that a 12 sided socket had an issue with, however when i do work i do tend to change out old bolts etc for new ones.

But then again i've never really worked on a old car with major rusted bolt problems so perhaps i have a different view on the situation.
 
Maybe it is because I mainly work on older cars of my own and for mates and stuff.

I'll accept that 12-siders are slimmer and for that yeah, but sods law will mean that it'll round the second you get a 12-sider within sight!
 
Mark A said:
Sealey stuff is good but might be a bit more than the Halfords range.
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Got a Sealey 3/8 set. Lovely bit of kit, sockets fit a treat. Nicer case than the Halfords one and I prefer the Sealey ratchet.
 
I only use Teng, I have a Teng mechanics 100 and something piece set that is the mainstay of my tool kit for the past 4 year years and the sockets, drives and spanners are like new despite getting some right old hammer.
 
I've always found the halfords pro stuff quite good, and anything that's not in there or I've wanted differently I've just bought seperate. i.e. some odd sized sockets and some other bits and bobs.
 
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