Silverline tools

[Faker]

I started buying tools professionally in '88 when I began serving my time. I bought draper expert everything. Even then when draper were thought to be good, I managed to break numerous ratchets and sockets soon after, and had to buy new inners for the ratchet on a regular basis. That ratchet was retired when I bought a Mac 1/2" job. It too proved to be shite, although was repaired free of charge a couple of times. I eventually bought a decent teng ratchet which has stood the test of time. I've got a draper expert 3/4" which is massive and is rarely used, however it's never let me down.

 

Over the years I've been upgrading my arsenal. I bought a lot of Sealy professional tools which I'd say were pretty decent. I've also bought a lot of teng tools which are brilliant.

 

About 15 odd years ago I bought a halfords 3/8 socket set for fiddly work. It's without doubt the best socket set I've ever used. It has never let me down. I've used it for everything and it's the only set I reach for unless it's a big undertaking to begin with. Don't know what halfords stuff is like now, but my 3/8 set has fairly earned its keep.

[brickwall]

You've heard of Blue-point, but I bought a Blue Spot ratchet and it has been great over the last 5 years considering the price. Very comfy piece for not too much money with a lifetime guarantee.

[sierraman]

I wondered that, they offer a lifetime warranty so can't be that shit.

[alf892]

  On 03/02/2016 at 10:02, garbaldy said:

You are not a true shitter if you only stock single spanners in every size.

 

I have never been able to find good mole grips and was going for these ones until some doubts over the brand.http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOCKING-PLIER-SET-by-BERGEN-TOOLS-Curved-Jaw-Straight-Long-Nose-mole-grip-clamp-/252161273562?nav=

Vise grip mole grips are good...............and as a bonus the release arm works in the direction that doesn't always take your fingers off

[Guest bangerfan101]

Any spanner that has drop forged written on it should come with a warning it will snap. Silverline socket extentions are utter shite, snap at the ratchet end for fun. Just what you don't need when your knuckles are rite by a cut down tiewrap

[twosmoke300]

A tie wrap cut at 45deg by some utter cockwomble ?

[Guest bangerfan101]

  On 03/02/2016 at 19:45, twosmoke300 said:

A tie wrap cut at 45deg by some utter cockwomble ?

Yes. Sharpest thing known to man. The twats that do this need said tie pulling tight round their windpipe

[Richard]

  On 03/02/2016 at 16:41, alf892 said:

Vise grip mole grips are good...............and as a bonus the release arm works in the direction that doesn't always take your fingers off

 

As far as I can tell Irwin took over the company (Petersen?). They seem decent enough but inevitably there are people who think they aren't as good as they used to be.

[HH-R]

I don't know who made tools for Woolworths in the mid 90s, but the grief that the socket set my brother has got when trying to take off a 15 year old exhaust that had been through 15 northern winters was nothing short of amazing.

 

I only insist on genuine Woolworths nowadays.

[Bstardchild]

  On 02/02/2016 at 22:26, cobblers said:

Bergen tools are 100% just the usual chinese stuff. The name is German but that's where it ends - I've got a set of Bergen mole grips which are the absolute worst I've ever experienced. I've only kept them for the sheer novelty value.

 

I've got a load of bergen tools - I've had none fail ever

 

I purchased 3 stubby gearless ratchets 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 - no idea how they wrok but they are superb - if a little short on handle length so I figured they'd not cope with too much pressure

 

The larger one has been extended for a bit more leverage on many occasions

[Uncle Jimmy]

Siegen...made by Stanley, probably in far east but I've found their spanners to be good.

Wiha...German quality, excellent screwdrivers.

Record...g cramps still the best.

[LC Torana]

I buy my tools from old giffers at what you lot call "auto-jumbles"   (We call them "swap meets" here, presumably following yank nomenclature.)

 

It is the only place to buy whitworth spanners, which I find myself using more than SAE and metric put together.  And why pay full retail when you can buy even BA-size spanners for loose change?

 

I like the quality Australian brands best (old Sidchrome and Dawn in particular), but  some of the UK brands are great:

 

Reform, Shelley, Gregory and whoever it is that has that snail logo on the shaft.

[PiperCub]

^^ Autojumbles (& boatjumbles too if you have any in your area) are great for picking up older top quality tools for bargain prices. Go to the less well known/smaller ones especially those that are part of a car or motorcycle show - you may be surprised. 

 

I've picked up amazingly good tools at stupidly low prices that needed no more than a quick clean up. 

 

Although not popular on here for car selling, Gumtree throws up some bargains too. 

[fordperv]

I have a few cheaper tools which have never let me down which I only bought to get me out of the shit when doing jobs and that is giving them proper abuse, i have an old hand held silverline pipe flare set, I've had it some years now and it is great, as are the rounded nut removers, i bought them about 5 years ago whilst working on my mates car at his house which is about 10 miles from my house and he had a small parts shop a mile away, someone rounded the caliper bolts before he had the car, so they got us out of the crap, they have removed everything I've ever put them on

[LC Torana]

The point I want to make is

 

Don't buy cheap, buy old second-hand.

[Guest bangerfan101]

What should I buy for hammering on of a smaller socket incedents.?

[AlabamaShrimp]

Silverline of course

[twosmoke300]

  On 03/02/2016 at 20:01, bangerfan101 said:

Yes. Sharpest thing known to man. The twats that do this need said tie pulling tight round their windpipe

Or three lashes on the end of the cock ( foreskin pulled back where reqd) with the buckle end of a 500x10mm cable tie .

 

This is my policy where customer supplied parts are incorrect . 😄

[sierraman]

Bought the Clarke version of the impact wrench yesterday instead. £20 more but worth it in guessing. Best purchase I've made tool wise in years. Should make suspension work a good deal easier...

[noseypoke]

  On 02/02/2016 at 11:09, garbaldy said:

What's a wheel lug mister.

 

I've used silver line tools before but wouldn't use my own money to buy them.

Lug....it's a wheel nut with a neck (I prefer wheel nuts tho) so the studs stick out of ya hub when wheels removed)

[conkerman]

Thread Hijack Ahoy!

 

I need a new trolley jack to replace the venerable Halfords one that is getting a bit old and leaky (like me).

 

Only required for normal servicing work, doesn't need to be 15T Uber pro High rocket lift racing model

 

Anyone know of any decent deals??

[fordperv]

Can't go wrong with a Clarke low entry jack, lifts to a decent height as well, I've got this it's great.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ctj2250lp-2-25-tonne-low-profile-trolle/

 

If your after one that's a little cheaper this one isn't a bad buy at all, lifts to about the same height, just isn't as low

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/ctj2l-2-tonne-long-diy-trolley-jack/

 

got mrs fp's dad one I've used it more than he has its a really good jack

[sierraman]

Machine mart Clarke 2 tonne job. Good jack, comes with overhaul kit. For usual servicing work or DIY you don't need to go crackers and start looking at Webers

[AlabamaShrimp]

I want a long reach trolly jack for the Frontera but they don't seem to do one that isn't a fortune

[Guest bangerfan101]

Bottle jack out a scrap Van. I pulled a beauty out of a merc sprinter. Only cost a fiver