Laser 1/2 drive socket set

[sierraman]

I've decided to retire my 30-40 year old 1/2 drive socket set, some of the sockets are missing, the ratchet is tired and box falling apart. Seen a decent one by Laser. Any experiences?

[bigfella2]

Can't really comment on the laser kits as I have never tried one. But the halfords kits are very good for the money, and I think they have lifetime warranty if you keep the receipt.

[sierraman]

My quibble with Halfords are their sockets are 12 point, which while it's easier to get on, more likely to round off.

 

This is it...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-3284-32-piece-socket-set/

[jonny69]

Laser is at the budget end of the market. Have a look at the Sealey 3/8" sets as I think they're excellent value and are really tough. Mine are as strong as a cheap 1/2" drive but much slimmer. Makes a huge difference when you're using them.

[gordonbennet]

I was tempted by a new socket set, then when i looked at me own kit realised it was just i'd lost and buggered (rounded) quite a few of my sockets, and they were 12 sided and i'd had the buggers for 30 years or more.

Then had a look at the rest of the kit, Teng ratchet still working well after 30 years, extensions in good order, i use an old Britool torque wrench as a breaker bar, so got me sensible head on and bought a large set of 12 sided Britool sockets on a bar.

Meant i could spend more on what i really needed to get top quality, and you just can't beat 6 sided sockets.

 

Made doing jobs much easier, now i just grab me ratchet, couple of extensions and the bar of sockets, job done...no bloody great socket set to hump about.

[passmethegun]

I've had a laser 3/8" set for 15yrs and it's brilliant. The double deep single hex sockets are tough and pretty thin walled. The ratchet has stood up to a fair bit of abuse (scaffold poles & wheel nuts) without issue.

 

I bought a full halfords pro set recently and was dissapointed when compared to the laser set.

[simmo]

I think Laser are great value for money but I would buy a more expensive ratchet when the Laser one gets a bit aggy.

[Wilko220]

Don't know how they compare cost wise but I have two Draper socket sets - one fairly new and one very old - and both are great.

[myglaren]

I was tempted by a new socket set, then when i looked at me own kit realised it was just i'd lost and buggered (rounded) quite a few of my sockets, and they were 12 sided and i'd had the buggers for 30 years or more.

Then had a look at the rest of the kit, Teng ratchet still working well after 30 years, extensions in good order, i use an old Britool torque wrench as a breaker bar, so got me sensible head on and bought a large set of 12 sided Britool sockets on a bar.

Meant i could spend more on what i really needed to get top quality, and you just can't beat 6 sided sockets.

 

Made doing jobs much easier, now i just grab me ratchet, couple of extensions and the bar of sockets, job done...no bloody great socket set to hump about.

I had no idea that Teng had been around for so long.  I lived not too far from Trollhättan and passed through it occasionally, never saw any sign of them (or noticed the SAAB works )

Bought a torque wrench for my son and a replacement ratchet for myself, subsequently bought him a small socket set, all good.

Bought myself a small Bahco set and the Teng is better.

[omegod]

I tend to pick up odd bluepoint/old snap on sockets off fleabay and have built up a decent set for not much cash. These go well with a Halfords ratchet 

[sierraman]

I also like the Sealey AK693, looks a proper top quality set. Unsure whether to go with the Laser or that? Must have six sided sockets.

[lisbon_road]

Good experience of Laser stuff generally.  And absolutely share the love for six sided sockets.  

[saucedoctor]

I have a Jefferson USA Pro something set, and it's nice. Not had it long (2 years) but it seems pretty good. I think it's the same as Sealey?

 

this one

 

http://jeffersontools.com/hand_tools/category/socket_sets/45/123/

 

Got the same in half inch.

[twosmoke300]

Laser are very very good these days - much better than sealey junk . Laser do some brilliant special tools too

[Kiltox]

Laser and Sealey are both budget brands

 

I have a set of Laser impact sockets and they're excellent

[Richard]

Halfords don't seem to do just a socket set with a decent range, it's mostly tool kits and all but the biggest have glaring omissions.

 

They also seem to include imperial sockets, probably an advantage for some people on here but I feel the weight and cost of them would have been better used filling in the gaps in the metric sockets. They could then market an imperial "Cla**ic" range with a picture of an MGB or something on the packaging

 

I'd agree with the idea of buying a good ratchet and buying a rail of sockets. Sockets on a rail are easier to keep track of and don't get scattered if you kick them, although that Laser set does look ok if you want a set in a box.

 

There must be a law of diminishing returns with tools once you get to the "good enough" level, especially for DIY purposes.

[Eddie Honda]

There must be a law of diminishing returns with tools once you get to the "good enough" level, especially for DIY purposes.

I think there is a flat-line point, after which there are no returns for any extra spent. Now this varies with (type of) tool to tool, but either it does the job or it doesn't.

 

Here's an example of a piece of bollocks - A Halfords Advanced Pro 3/8" drive TX-55. Having a Torx bit with a bigger head than shaft is a recipe for breaking:

 

IMG_20150313_145816_695 by E Honda, on Flickr

IMG_20150313_145838_657 by E Honda, on Flickr

 

(To be fair, Halfords didn't complain in replacing it - twice.)

 

Now you might say I was abusing it, but they shouldn't make stuff for a fastener size that it can't handle. So while it might be part of a 170 piece set (bottom right corner):

 

 

I'd counter it's just one of a number of chocolate filler items that are in the set.

 

A TX-55 should have a straight shaft, like this Laser Tools one. It doesn't need to be this long (unless you are taking off a XUD head), just of uniform cross-section:

 

 

 

The other nice Laser Tools bit of kit I have is

 

 

Bought as I needed some 5-point security screws to get past to enter a Honda airbag ECU.

[sofarsogood]

Got a few Laser bits for work spanners and odd sockets. No trouble here. I would like to also speak up for Signet socket sets I have had the 3/8 6 sided set for about 15 years of amateur spannering on old crocks no problem here. I use Halfords pro stuff most days at work ratchet spanners an 1/4 socket set again good but have had a few warranty claims in about 8 years. Never had a problem swapping the Halfords stuff and its mainly trinkets that break like in Eddie Hondas Post.

Anyone buying Halfords always wait for the half price sales.

[jonny69]

Check the AK692 if you're going to go the Sealey route. It's got imperial sockets in there as well.

 

Yep, 6 sided. It's their Wall Drive shape and I can confirm it'll get quite rounded stuff undone and they'll take being hammered over stuff.

[Kiltox]

Speaking of Halfords tools I just bought a lovely "spark plug service kit" - 2 spark plug sockets, 2 3/8" extension bars, a flexible 3/8" ratchet, wire brush and feeler gauge

 

£22.50 with lifetime guarantee and the quality is superb although my experience with the spark plug sockets like all others of their type is that the rubber insert gets loose after a bit

[sierraman]

I like the look of the sealey kit but a lot say they are piles of shit. Am I better off the Laser set then? Don't want the Halfords kit for the sheer fact they are 12 pointers.

[Noel Tidybeard]

i've had a Clarke pro 3/8 drive socket set for donkeys and its been fine

[beko1987]

The imperial sockets in my cheapy Halford socket set get used mainly on old proper Hoovers. And on a 'nearest size to metric' basis when I need something that isn't a spanner when working on the car

[gordonbennet]

I had no idea that Teng had been around for so long.  I lived not too far from Trollhättan and passed through it occasionally, never saw any sign of them (or noticed the SAAB works )

Bought a torque wrench for my son and a replacement ratchet for myself, subsequently bought him a small socket set, all good.

Bought myself a small Bahco set and the Teng is better.

 

Got me wondering if i'd got the timeline out, had a look on Teng Tools site and they say they've been going 30 years.

Seem to recall they were actually made in Taiwan, i bought my set from the local motor factor probably about the same time i bought me Sealey trolley jack (that was over £100 then and still doing sterling service with my lad), Teng must have shipped loads out on an offer price to get themselves established, i don't recall the set being cheap but then neither was it in Britool/Gedore price range either.

Never expected it to last so long, and it has seen a lot of abuse.

 

I've bought various Laser special tools as and when needed over the years, not one has broken.