Halfords Advanced Pro tools

bitslice said:
It would help if you posted the links... :p

Halfords Advanced Professional 170 £124.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_862463_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

Halfords Advanced Professional 150 £99.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_862421_langId_-1_categoryId_255215


They are probably good value, but I doubt you'd use a tenth of the sockets in there. The plus is that they are all in one box which is probably the best reason to buy the 170 one.
Click to expand...
I bought the 150 piece one, I prefer it to the 170 one because although ratchet spanners are cool, they are useless for the occasional mechanic.

I replaced the control arms on my e46 and I had to buy some additional combination spanners as you can't get a socket + ratchet or breaker bar on the right hand side ball joint.
I would have had to buy a lot more if I had the 170 kit because there is no whey in hell a ratchet spanner would withstand the amount of torque needed to undo the nuts for the ball joints. It will take a bit longer to do some jobs without them but for occasional use I wouldn't pay money for them considering that they are rather fragile and their moving parts won't be covered by the warranty.
 
I have the 170 set. Good selection of tools.

I managed to get them slightly damp one day when it was drizzling though, they ended up rusting :o
 
£85 is a very good deal. But it is a slippery slope. After getting the 150 piece set I went on to buy a decent trolley jack, axle stands, some specific tools for the Corrado, a torque wrench and then the top and bottom cabs from the black advanced cabinet series when they were on offer (they really are good compared to the standard and pro range). For the first time in my life I get exited when buying tools.
 
They're ok, getting any duffed ones replaced is quite easy.

I dislike the Halfords Pro / Advanced mix in my tools largely because of ocd, but I've started getting other gear for my 20mm+ so it's just something I have to live with.

The only reason I still shop at Halfords is use of a friends trade card otherwise I wouldn't bother at all.
 
Scottland said:
To be honest, I just started with a socket set and pickup the rest as and when I need them.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I did 15 years ago and my basic Halfords 1/2" socket set is still good apart from the ratchet which got replaced a couple of years ago. A basic set of metric spanners is useful to start with as well and then use the money saved to buy a trolley jack and some good axle stands.
 
With the 170 piece you gain the highlighted parts in red below.

3PC Rachet Handle: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2
10PC 1/4" Drive Regular Socket mm: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13mm
10PC 1/4" Drive Regular Socket SAE: 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2
6PC 1/4" Drive Deep Socket mm: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9mm
1PC 1/4" Drive Wobble Extension Bar: 100mm
11PC 3/8" Drive Regular Socket mm: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19mm
9PC 3/8" Drive Regular Socket SAE: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8
8PC 3/8" Drive Deep Socket mm: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19mm
2PC 3/8" Drive Wobble Extension Bar: 75mm, 150mm
1PC 3/8" Drive Breaker Bar (new type) 200mm
7PC 1/2" Drive Regular Socket mm: 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 30, 32mm
4PC 1/2" Drive Regular Socket SAE: 15/16, 1, 1-1/16, 1-1/4
4PC 1/2" Drive Deep Socket mm: 20, 21, 22, 24mm
7PC 1/2" Drive Impact Socket: 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23mm
1PC 1/2" Drive Wobble Extension Bar 125mm
1PC 1/4" Drive Spinner Handle
8PC E-Torx Socket: 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20mm
2PC Spark Plug Socket: 10, 14mm
6PC Accessories 3/8" UJ, 1/2" UJ, 1/4" Bits Adaptor, 1/4"Fx3/8"M, 3/8"Fx1/4"M, 3/8"Fx1/2"M Adaptor
30PC Screwdriver Bit: Slotted 4, 5.5, 6.5, Hex 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, Phillips 1, 2, 3, Pozi 1, 2, 3,Torx T10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 40, Tamper Torx T10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 40
20PC Bit Socket: TX-10, TX-20, TX-30, TX-40, TX-45, TX-50, TX-55, TX-60, HW-3, HW-4, HW-5, HW-6, HW-8, HW-10, Phillips 1, 2, 3, Slotted 4, 5.5, 6.5
10PC Hex Key: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6, 8, 10mm
9PC Ratcheting Combination Wrench: 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19mm


And lose:

8PC Combination Wrench 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19mm*
3PC Double Box Ratcheting Wrench 8x10, 12x13, 17x19mm*
Screwdriver Bit Slotted 4.5, 6

* In place of these you get the 9PC Ratcheting Combination Wrenches instead.


So it depends if you value the extra bits above in the 170PC set for an extra £24.99 over the 150PC. If I was buying right now my first good socket set, I'd probably get the 170PC. In my experience you can never have enough tools and you will always end up using the extra bits at some point. Be warned, though as said above already, there will always be jobs you come across where despite owning one of the above sets, you will still need to go out and buy a specific "odd" sized, or larger sized specific socket.

I prefer the older version of the 150PC that I own where the bits are not inside that pull out tub. I like them all presented open in the main tool case, but it's not a big deal.

I rate the Halford Pro stuff. Never had a problem getting a couple of bits replaced either. Even the ratchets, which some say should not be covered as it is a moving part. I just wondered in without a receipt and it got swapped there and then for my old. Easy. On a Sunday too. Very handy when in the middle of a big job.
 
Both sets are easily worth the money, my only gripe is i'd have preferred more 6 sided sockets instead of the imperial sizes as lets be fair they may as well be scrap metal for most people. but thats just being wishfull! :D

Ratchet wrench's are a god send though!
 
Just thought i'd add, you get another 10% off if you use the code A13CM03 at checkout!

Im tempted to pop down and buy the 170pc at lunch now as im missing a couple of pieces from my 150pc. (weak reason i know, tools just do it for me!) ;)
 
LizardKing said:
Both sets are easily worth the money, my only gripe is i'd have preferred more 6 sided sockets instead of the imperial sizes as lets be fair they may as well be scrap metal for most people. but thats just being wishfull! :D

Ratchet wrench's are a god send though!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd have 6 sided sockets any day of the week.
 
Poppy said:
Just thought i'd add, you get another 10% off if you use the code A13CM03 at checkout!

Im tempted to pop down and buy the 170pc at lunch now as im missing a couple of pieces from my 150pc. (weak reason i know, tools just do it for me!) ;)
Click to expand...

Do it! Bargain with 10% off tbh.
 
I have the £99 one, great tool set.

Make sure it's always closed properly when you move it, not fun having to put 30 sockets back in the right place :o
 
gillywibble said:
I have the £99 one, great tool set.

Make sure it's always closed properly when you move it, not fun having to put 30 sockets back in the right place :o
Click to expand...

Mine is the older 150PC maybe 5 years old now. When I first got it, it came with a very thin piece of material that you crush in between the two sides when you close the case up. This has obviously worn now and things move about more inside even when I use it. I need to really cut a new piece of material to fit it.
 
jaybee said:
Mine is the older 150PC maybe 5 years old now. When I first got it, it came with a very thin piece of material that you crush in between the two sides when you close the case up. This has obviously worn now and things move about more inside even when I use it. I need to really cut a new piece of material to fit it.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. Just cut a piece of cardboard to size.
 
gillywibble said:
Make sure it's always closed properly when you move it, not fun having to put 30 sockets back in the right place :o
Click to expand...

This man speaks the truth. Not me, but I was with a friend who borrowed mine in a breakers in Crawley, he thought he had closed it but ended up throwing half of it in an Astra.

Think I went to get a cup of tea at that point.

Halfords Pro is no Snap On, but it's done me proud over the last 5 or so years.

All manner of brake and suspension work, clutch change on the Evo, Cambelt service on the MX5. Sure you'll always need extra specialist tools, but in all that time, my 3/8 ratchet has only started to give out and that's because I've hit it with a club hammer for the last 3 years. Replaced it on saturday with a new one - Just the ratchet costs 33 euro, or a 18 piece socket set with it included costs 24 euro. Go figure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom