Tool porn - halfords advanced be quick

[hairnet]

Ends tonight 15% off

 

Not just tools either

[Mally]

£85 for the 120 piece set is cheap! I paid £99.99 years ago.

[overrun]

What happened to being able to get the 150pc Advanced set for £99?

Halfords gets shitter and shitter.

[fordperv]

Mrs fp has just bought me a 200 piece set for a valentines day pressie, im going to have to get her something better than a bunch of half dead flowers now

[Parky]

Get her a welder or a really nice hub puller, they are always useful

[3VOM]

What happened to being able to get the 150pc Advanced set for £99?

Halfords gets shitter and shitter.

I think it's just timing it right when they have a sale on tools.

I hope Ghosty is taking note and has some money.

[Mally]

What happened to being able to get the 150pc Advanced set for £99?

Halfords gets shitter and shitter.

 

Oh yeah that was it 150, I've lost 30 bits of mine though.

[Noel Tidybeard]

Mrs fp has just bought me a 200 piece set for a valentines day pressie, im going to have to get her something better than a bunch of half dead flowers now

 

mind you, you now at least have a full kit with which to give her a jolly good servicing

[sierraman]

Still got those bloody 12 sided sockets in it though!! That means they are only any good for assembling garden furniture. Laser do a really nice socket set for the £50-60 mark. The Halfords ratchet is very good though I've got to say.

[Richard]

Halfords tools seem to have been elevated to Holy Grail status. They're good but they aren't that good, and they aren't that cheap either. Rather like Hi-Fi, I think you're better off building up your collection from decent separates.

[dave21478]

True, but one of the big sets bought at sale price is a very good starting point for Johnny No Tools who wants to start fettling. It covers all the basics and they can then add or upgrade as they get a feel for things.

 

I do this a lot myself now. ie I bought a cheap ebay tap n die set. Yes, its 68% pish, so when the stuff I used most...M6 and M8 broke or wore out I replaced those parts alone with decent ones. The outlying sizes get rare use, so the chinese stuff is fine and there is no point in me spending big money on a superduper M12 tap when I use it once every two years or so.

[chodweaver]

Mmm. Dave_numbers the truth he speaks

 

</Yoda>

[The_Equalizer]

Very happy with my Halfords 150 piece set and I've had it for several years. The only downside is the case is a bit crap and the lid is now free of the bottom half. I think I saw somewhere that you can get new empty cases. Is this so?

[Ghosty]

 

I hope Ghosty is taking note and has some money.

Oh no, I was at work!

[fordperv]

Very happy with my Halfords 150 piece set and I've had it for several years. The only downside is the case is a bit crap and the lid is now free of the bottom half. I think I saw somewhere that you can get new empty cases. Is this so?

Yes halfords sell just the cases they are pretty cheap as well

 

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/storage/tool-boxes/halfords-advanced--150pc-blow-mould-case?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Storage-_-Tool+Boxes-_-665939&_$ja=tsid:60494%7Ccgn:GoogleShopping%7Ckw:665939&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=rwqpixitr&istBid=tztx&_$ja=tsid:35522|cid:344535484|agid:25437357364|tid:aud-80976661069:pla-211141092964|crid:89797547524|nw:g|rnd:13308250327735298070|dvc:m|adp:1o2&gclid=CK6UoK7c_dECFam17QodfCIP5A

[The_Equalizer]

Yes halfords sell just the cases they are pretty cheap as well

 

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/storage/tool-boxes/halfords-advanced--150pc-blow-mould-case?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Storage-_-Tool+Boxes-_-665939&_$ja=tsid:60494%7Ccgn:GoogleShopping%7Ckw:665939&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istItemId=rwqpixitr&istBid=tztx&_$ja=tsid:35522|cid:344535484|agid:25437357364|tid:aud-80976661069:pla-211141092964|crid:89797547524|nw:g|rnd:13308250327735298070|dvc:m|adp:1o2&gclid=CK6UoK7c_dECFam17QodfCIP5A

Magic. Thanks very much.

[overrun]

Very happy with my Halfords 150 piece set and I've had it for several years. The only downside is the case is a bit crap and the lid is now free of the bottom half. I think I saw somewhere that you can get new empty cases. Is this so?

 

Depends which version you have. Mine's ten years old and I think the mk1 150pc Professional set, but they have tinkered about (made worse) over the years, and I haven't been able to get a replacement case for mine for about 3 years iirc.

[The_Equalizer]

Depends which version you have. Mine's ten years old and I think the mk1 150pc Professional set, but they have tinkered about (made worse) over the years, and I haven't been able to get a replacement case for mine for about 3 years iirc.

 

After having a quick look at the link provide for a replacement case and reading the review I think we are in the same boat. My set must be about the same age and the replacement case for the 150 piece set would appear to be not the same as ours. Bit of a shame, but there you go.

[overrun]

After having a quick look at the link provide for a replacement case and reading the review I think we are in the same boat. My set must be about the same age and the replacement case for the 150 piece set would appear to be not the same as ours. Bit of a shame, but there you go.

 

Aye, shame, cos I have been through three cases already. Piano hinge time!

[Dead_E23]

I have improved my 150pc set quite considerably by sticking some silver gaffer tape to the underside of it.  

 

On it I have written 'Other way up', and this saves me having to put all the sockets back in their little holes every time I open the lid.

[The Moog]

I have sprayed mine green for the top....

 

Always a fun job that.

 

I have also removed all imperial and put them in a bucket in the garage. I never ever use them and makes it much lighter

[overrun]

Adding step down adapters has improved mine no end.

[Mally]

Halfords tools seem to have been elevated to Holy Grail status. They're good but they aren't that good, and they aren't that cheap either. Rather like Hi-Fi, I think you're better off building up your collection from decent separates.

 

But if you lose a piece you don't need a weeks wage to buy it.

 

 

Oh I'm deaf as well so same applies to Hi-Fi

[sierraman]

I've always found, stuff you use daily but the best you can afford. Sockets, spanners. Screwdrivers etc. Stuff you use once in a blue moon like caliper winders etc get the cheap ones. Some stuff is likely to be useable enough anyway with a cheapie like pry bars, water pump pliers etc...

[Anthony]

Halfords tools seem to have been elevated to Holy Grail status. They're good but they aren't that good, and they aren't that cheap either. Rather like Hi-Fi, I think you're better off building up your collection from decent separates.

I don't know about that - the "Professional" (called Advanced I think now) stuff I think is unbeatable for the money.

 

I bought mine back in 2003 and it's still going strong - the expected cosmetic marring from heavy use (and mis-use) over the years and the odd broken torx bit that's been replaced free of charge, but that's about it. I've acquired plenty more tools over the years, but that original Halfords Pro 150 piece socket set has stood the test of time and is probably my best ever purchase in terms of value and use.

 

To build an equivalent kit from the likes of Snap On would be horrendous money, and I'm not personally convinced that the quality is that much better to justify it - if your living depends on your tools then it's probably worth it, but for the average enthusiast I can't see it is.

 

The only thing I can think is that Halfords (or Draper, who I think make it) have reduced the quality in the years since I bought mine, as I know they've made various other changes that weren't for the better (removing various odd-sized sockets, replacing proper torx sockets with the box of swapable bits etc) where they've maintained the price despite inflation.

[omegod]

Only 2 Socket brands that I haven't managed to split are Halfords and Crescent,  

[nisfan]

I've had my Halfords advanced 120 pc set now for years and it's still going, now more a 73 pc set now as I've lost most of it

[Vince70]

I think these halfords sets can be had for less in the Easter sale if your prepared to wait as I got my 150 piece set for £79.99 well I think it was about £76 as you can also get a bit of money off going through one of those cash back sites.

But looking at the bill I've now had it nearly 4 years.

 

Mine is still as good as new and I've dropped the bars and ratchets etc onto concrete floors etc but I do coat the sockets etc with a bit of spray on grease or WD/40 to keep them as good as new.

 

I did take a brand new ratchet back once which I hadn't used when I first bought it as it was stuck solid and halfords just handed me another no questions asked plus I did manage to snap a torx socket trying to undo a bolt on a fence post but then again I put way to much pressure on it and it was exchanged no problem.

and no receipt needed these sets are bloody great value.

[Lacquer Peel]

I'm really impressed with the wee Aldi socket set that was recommended on here a while back, I put my most of my strength on the ratchet and an extension to remove a starter motor and it didn't break.

[Richard]

I still don't think Halfords tool kits are the be all and end all, but this looks like a good deal if you must http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/socket-sets/halfords-advanced-200-piece-socket-set-limited-edition-black

 

Looks gash but still has the lifetime guarantee so presumably isn't made of black cheese.