Need a new socket set. Any ones to look out for?

[Robinxr4i]

Can only echo what others have said, Halfords Professional/Advanced is very good, lifetime warrenty and excellent build quality. Got the 150 piece set myself and several other bits and pieces too.

I work at Halford, there are criteria for the trade card but most staff have no idea and if you turn up in dirty overalls and say you work at a local garage you should get a card. Plus you get vouchers in the post for 5 pounds off here and there, and info on deals on tools ;D

[surprisingskoda]

Jul 17, 2009 9:34:20 GMT markbognor said:

Another vote for the Halfords Professional range here.

Hopefully someone who works for 'em can clear this up for me though.

I bought an extended socket the other week, that was branded slightly differently (I cant remember whart now), but still displayed where all the other Professional stuff was. Is the Halfords Professional branding changing, and will the new stuff be under the lifetime warranty?

I've used the lifetime warranty as well, the supervisor just checked that it was a Halford Professional socket and gave me another one. Excellent stuff.

its not changing, no. at a guess somebody has put a cheaper socket onto the tab, or one out of a different set so keep the tab in case it breaks.
if it says halfords, professional, or advanced on the side, it'll be OK but if not and you have the tab, get a pic up and you might want to exchange it.

and guys, recommending making up a headed document on the computer or just convincing them your a mechanic is just plain old Fraud.
Three receipts for a good quantity of parts etc from us/another factors within the last month/6 weeks is proof enough to show you're a man with a need for a card. If you cant prove that, or don't have a trade qualification, you aren't entitled to one, simple enough. Yes they are checked, and only a duty manager can set one up so cretinous staff should be somewhat bypassed.

Charlie, 20%! I've pointed that out before.

[markbognor]

Ah nice one, It was Advanced it had on it, now you said it I remember.

[berendd]

got a set branded Omega Tools, excellent set and it set me of +/- 50 quid

dunno where to get it..

[Mystery Machine]

Jul 17, 2009 9:21:54 GMT Lankytim said:

That looks the best all round package, but its now £135 odd? If I could get it for £95 I think we could have a W1NNAR!

And I thought all halfords stuff was rubbish?

If you haggle a bit, you might be able to get it cheaper? Or go for the trade card option?

I forgot to add that it also has impact sockets too (and probably a few more bits I failed to mention!)....it really is a lot of kit for the money. As for the quality, I was always sceptical about Halfords stuff until I bought a set of their ratchet spanners a few years back (flex head ones) and they have been absolutley superb - even with the abuse I've given them.

One other point. Someone mentioned the catches/clips on their case breaking.....well I don't know about the other sets, but the 150pc one has metal catches that really do feel like they'll last - just like the tools themselves.

Even at £135 it's a good set to own, but if you can get if for £95 then it's prob the best value bit of kit you'll have bought for working on a car.

[jrevillug]

I've a Kamasa 1/2" 42-piece drive set, with AF and Metric sockets. It cost me £25 or £30 a few years ago, and while not the very best quality it does seem as though it will last quite well - my Dad has one from about 20 years ago and it's still fine. They do also have a lifetime warranty, but I haven't used it.

[dubzi]

I have a Metrinch set.
Not cheap but I think it's great. No need to worry whether you're dealing with Imperial or Metric stuff which is especially useful on the CF which has both. Also very good at undoing seized/rounded bolts as it grips the flats rather than the corners. Only thing it's not so good at it is undoing bolts in confined spaces as there's a fair bit of play owing to the rounded profile of the sockets.

It's this one, although mine's a few years older: www.directsupplyukltd.co.uk/products/met-0076-metrinch-30-piece-combination---socket-set/264/

[datman]

Can I just say, GET HEXAGONAL SOCKETS. If you're dealing with old cars with rusted fastners you need all the help you can get, and one of those mickey mouse 12 pointed sockets really isn;t going to get the job done as the fastners will have lost a bit of their size due to corrosion.

A lot of socket sets seem to have 12 pointed sockets , I just can't see the point of them!

Machine mart do some reasonable little rails of sockets (proper hex ones)

Bought a 'halfords professional' spanner once. It was RUBBISH. It was so springy it would change from a 12mm spanner into a 12.5mm one when you put it under load. Kinda put me off their stuff.

[Lankytim]

Yeah I remember reading in PC that the hexagonal sockets were much better than the 12 point ones. But then the hex type are normally in the really expensive kits.

[popuptoaster]

Black sockets (designed for impact guns) are normally 6 sided, and yes they do grip the nut better, but they still act on the corners, usually have thicker walls so wont go down on some nuts 'cos of space reasons and depending on your ratchet can be a pain in tight spaces, they are good to have but 12 pointers are not the work of the devil, i use em just fine most of the time and only resort to the impact ones when i have to, like anything, a decent quality tool, used right should do the job in most cases.

[scaryoldcortina]

Lol..... I think I might go apply for a trade card at halfords then! Even if I never use it its another bodge spreader

I'm gonna take february's "retro cars" as proof. Think I'll get one?

[david6214]

I use a CK 1/2 inch drive hex set for most things and a little draper expert 1/4 drive for the fiddly stuff (like recaro bolts)

the CK has been hammered onto things, had scaffolding bars added for extra leverage and still going strong after 20 years. I have replaced the 19mm and 17mm sockets. (and the driver last year - although that was my fault for getting a latex glove stuck in it!)

Another dolomite fanatic mate uses the halfrauds one though and its a good piece of kit.

[david6214]

PS I got a trade card by applying properly and it really was quite straightforward, a few decent receipts did it (and a bit of chat and all that!)

[Deleted]

so many things to consider on this..

personally, I would get some Facom ratchets
then any decent brand of a wall drive sockets (they drive rounded off nuts pretty well and some even double as torx sockets too)

[berendd]

I had facom, but that was broken within a year..

get a ratchet with one of those flip switches for forward and reverse, not those twist or other systems, it'll get greasy and stop working over time..

hexagon works best, never have any problems with bolts i can reach with my ratchet set..

[rob0r]

Jul 18, 2009 1:51:47 GMT datman said:

Can I just say, GET HEXAGONAL SOCKETS. If you're dealing with old cars with rusted fastners you need all the help you can get, and one of those mickey mouse 12 pointed sockets really isn;t going to get the job done as the fastners will have lost a bit of their size due to corrosion.

A lot of socket sets seem to have 12 pointed sockets , I just can't see the point of them!

I have to agree and at the time the Halfords stuff seemed to be mainly 12 sided which again I find fairly pointless. I have this Clarkes 3/8" set from Machine Mart. The fact you have as many deep as normal sockets is incredibly handy. Thumbs up from me and you can get them on a VAT free day, like me!

www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/pro123-55pce-38in-saemetric-socket-set

[Deleted]

Sealey 3/8 drive range in the metal tin. It's got a much nicer ratchet than the Halfords pro range in my opinion. And the case is better.

This is the one I've got: Sealey AK692

Metric and imperial, deep and shallow sockets, indestructible metal tin. Takes a regular proper lambing with a club hammer. Win.

Lifetime warranty.

[dclane]

I used to sell Taskmaster, Britool and Kamasa tools in another life.

Of those, Britool were by far the best - with lifetime guarantees for both Britool and Taskmaster.

I still use the Britool sets now.

[popuptoaster]

Still think Halfords pro range has the massive advantage of there always being a halfords nearby thats open on a sunday, thats always when you break something you need to finish the job.

[Deleted]

I don't like the click their ratchet makes. It was a dealbreaker