Socket set

[Doobedoo]

They are expensive, but their quality and warranty is second to none.

Maybe so but for the price they charge I could buy multiples of the same item and still have multiples left untouched.

£100’s of pounds for Allen key sockets, I paid about £20 for a draper set which included torx and spline sets. Just as an example.

Edit. I brought this back in 2014 and I still have it minus 1x short 6mm Allen key I lost.

Draper 33323 Torx Tx-Star Spline XZN Hex Mechanics Bit Set, 40 Pieces : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Draper 33323 Torx Tx-Star Spline XZN Hex Mechanics Bit Set, 40 Pieces.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[lordrobs]

Pointless anecdote of the afternoon....

While on an installation in Oman we were working with a lovely chap who was involved in the automotive sector in one form or another for his whole life. His wife came over and we were all out for a meal when she starts telling quite a touching story about how he was extremely ill and she nearly lost him just a few years ago. She recalled how at the point where they both thought his time had come he beckoned her closer. Expecting to be told how much he loved her or to pass on his love to the children she leaned in and in a breathless whisper he uttered...

"Make sure you sell the snap on tools individually."

Thankfully he made a full recovery because that wouldn't have been a great parting statement

 

[red eye]

Recommendations?

Just casual use. Oil breaks etc.

Halfords pro sets are good, if you got trade card then best time to get them is when there on offer.

Best sockets for diy is sealy lock on.
Even at rrp it’s way cheaper than mac tools precision torq which have the same flutes

Sealey Lock-On Socket Range

Demonstration of how these revolutionary Lock-On Sockets are able to grip damaged fixings without causing further damage. View the full range on our website:...

m.youtube.com

If you go sealey then check their special offers grab the part numbers and google it, you’ll always find it well below rrp.

 

[j.col]

I bought the Bahco S330 3/8 socket set on Amazon for £30. Really good quality imo.
I also bought the 1/4" Lidl socket set for smaller sockets for £14, this also seems to be good quality

 

[bainbridge]

I've got a full set of Halfords 1/2 inch drive 6 point sockets and a 1/4 inch set too. My first cheap socket set was 1/4 inch and I replaced it with the Halfords set, and then bought a 1/4 set for smaller jobs. I just didn't end up getting anything 3/8 drive.

 

[jpaul]

Best sockets for diy is sealy lock on.
Even at rrp it’s way cheaper than mac tools precision torq which have the same flutes

.. yes that's the issue with 12pt, and, if the ratchet has lots of graduations do you need 12 ?... 1st rule don't nack the bolt -

I've principally a facom 1/2" & miscellaneous facom 6+12 sockets, I've picked up as needed ... in a 100pc set how many would you use regularly ..
but, you might find you need a 7mm hex socket say for brake calipers or a 40star which wouldn't be in the 100
you can wail on a 1/2" I've extended it with a steel bar in the past

 

[bm_999]

halfrauds like the others have said, lifetime warranty aswell and you dont need reciept pretty much just the tool

 

[red eye]

.. yes that's the issue with 12pt, and, if the ratchet has lots of graduations do you need 12 ?... 1st rule don't nack the bolt -

I've principally a facom 1/2" & miscellaneous facom 6+12 sockets, I've picked up as needed ... in a 100pc set how many would you use regularly ..
but, you might find you need a 7mm hex socket say for brake calipers or a 40star which wouldn't be in the 100
you can wail on a 1/2" I've extended it with a steel bar in the past

Lock Ons are not necessary but handy especially £21 for short rail currently on the rain forest
For hex and torx I used to use a sealy

AK21974​

bitset. A 7mm short bit and a 10mm ratchet spanner will get into limited space like some vw rear calipers.

These 100pc sets look nice and good value but 9/10 the ratchet is crap, the only decent ratchet I had in a set was £50 sealy with the lever not the twist top.
Yes I had loads of sealy tools, I brought a tool chest bundle for £450 with over £300 worth of tools that lasted me for years

 

[red eye]

Halfords pro sets are good, if you got trade card then best time to get them is when there on offer.

Best sockets for diy is sealy lock on.
Even at rrp it’s way cheaper than mac tools precision torq which have the same flutes

Sealey Lock-On Socket Range

Demonstration of how these revolutionary Lock-On Sockets are able to grip damaged fixings without causing further damage. View the full range on our website:...

m.youtube.com

If you go sealey then check their special offers grab the part numbers and google it, you’ll always find it well below rrp.

Just to add for oil filter get the right cup type for spin on or socket for the element type. The pliers and seatbelt types are rubbish

 

[jpaul]

For hex and torx I used to use a sealy

AK21974​

thanks - yes I forgotten that solution - individual hex/torx bits do, only, have a separate bit embedded in the socket body anyway/not a unibody.

 

[Doobedoo]

Draper expert I’ve had for easily 10 years, used pretty much daily. I’ve replaced the ratchet once which cost £20 odd, more my fault as it was dropped from height one too many times. One of the reasons I don’t spend silly money is because from time to time I end up leaving things on site, like my 10mm deep socket. Boss just replaced my Milwaukee impact gun with the newer version. Wasn’t turning that down despite loving the earlier version.

1/2” Draper set brought at the same time. All original but not used quite as much these days.

Irwin bolt remover set. Managed to remove a locking wheel but that a garage couldn’t or wouldn’t do. Good bit of kit.

 

[mollymoo]

I also have some Draper expert stuff and can recommend them. You can buy a lot of what you need cheap second hand. I got a set off Draper expert deep impact sockets for £20 which have became my go to sockets.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

+2 for halfords professional, but get a smaller 6 pointed set as well as the bigger sets are 12 point, there not great at times. unless they have changed that in recent years?

12 point hex sockets are fine for normal duties. Six point for anything really stuck and a set of deep/long wall sockets in the most common sizes (10-14mm inclusive plus 17mm and 19mm).

Don‘t forget that modern vehicles use Torx pattern fasteners instead of or in addition to traditional hex ones.

You’ll also need a reasonable set of regular and Torx spanners.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Bahco and Wera are a step up from Draper in my experience, but then I have several old Kamasa socket sets which I’ve failed to break over decades of use and they’re supposed to be junk tier.

 

[ianh]

Had Halfords Professional for years and rate them highly but, for the love of god, do not ever, EVER get Stahlwille (green/black) as these are worse than the stuff you get in a child's toy set!

 

[Thebug]

For cheap stuff try us pro on ebay - very good quality, I have had 2 draper expert sets for 15 years and nothing has ever broken.

Cheap to expensive - us pro, draper expert, Halfords , britool, snapon

 

[snapdragon69]

Check out Toolstation, Screwfix, Machine Mart and they mostly have reviews on their products. Also check ebay for top end used ratchetless drivers and such like.