Is it just me, or are Halfords Pro socket sets a bit silly?

miniyazz

miniyazz

miniyazz

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I bought the Halfords 150pc socket set recently and while using it today noticed something that seems remarkably silly.



I had a particularly tight 12mm bolt to undo, so I had two options - use the 6-sided socket or the 12-sided socket. Simple, use the 6-sided socket to reduce the chance of rounding off the bolt. I then discover that the 6-sided socket uses a 1/4" driver while the 12-sided uses a 3/8" driver (see red/green circles)

Why on earth do they give the socket intended for use with the greatest torque, a tiny driver? They only provide a screwdriver attachment and a tiny ratchet in that size!
And while we're on the topic, why do they only provide a breaker bar in 3/8" size? The only thing they provide in 1/2" size is a ratchet! Are we expected to have these things separately? (Not out of the question)

And the next question is, why don't they provide an adaptor to step up a 1/2" to a 3/4"? They have one the other way round (and I've already got a 1/4" to 3/8" - which I ended up using to undo the bolt) but don't seem to do one to step up to 3/4", which is a shame since I've got a lot of breaker bars in 3/4".

Rant over :p
 
Matt82 said:
12pt = fail

hope it came off though
Click to expand...

It came off - but I was using the 6pt socket with an adaptor to 3/8" and then the equivalent of a 2' breaker bar, which seems like a ridiculous amount of torque to go through a tiny 1/4" driver? Surely I'm going to warp it doing that?
 
Looks like they have changed the 150piece set around and what tools you get.

I love my set, one of the best things i have ever bought. A steal at £99.
 
I've got an older version of the set than this, mine goes up to 32MM 1/2" drive, but what really gets me and caused me to abort a brake bleed the other day because I thought the car was at fault: The 'DEEP' 3/8" inch drive sockets although 50+mm long only have the socket cut into them for the first few MM? So a 'DEEP' socket with only as much bite as a shallow socket? Talk about cheaping out...
An older Halfords set I've used has the deep sockets with them being machined properly all the way up the inside as they should be.

The shallow cut on the socket wouldn't go over the brake nipple I needed to undo. I assumed it was the wrong size though and din't look down into the socket at the time.

Otherwise, not to bad a set!
 
Funny you post this... I was thinking exactly the same thing yesterday as I was trying to fit sockets on the wrong ratchets!

In the end the damn thing was so rusted up (and only being disassembled to go to the tip) I just resorted to a hammer and angle grinder :p.
 
Yes, it's silly and you will break the adapter if you use it on a tight nut. The kit is cheap for a reason I guess.
Guarantee is good and well but when you are in the middle of a job and find out the tool isn't sufficient for the job, or it breaks, and your car is immobile? Irritating.

Saying that though, we engine swapped a BMW using only what is in this kit. Opinion = split.
 
Alright thanks for the opinions, glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's silly!

Next question is, anyone have any recommendations on what to buy for a decent quality 1/2" to 3/4" socket adapter (preferably with a store presence and lifetime warranty)?
Most of what I find seems to be the other way round :( I need the female bit to be 3/4".
 
I broke a 3/8.1/4 adapter, they wouldn't replace it.

Combine the Halfords 150piece set with a bunch of 6 sided 1/2' impact sockets and a 2" breaker bar and you can do pretty much anything.
 
I was once told that they don't replace 'moving parts', when I needed a new ratchet (it jammed), but the old lady behind the counter said she'd do it anyway as the boss wasn't in :confused:

I don't really get why the moving parts in the ratchet aren't covered but everything else is.
 
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