Tool porn - halfords advanced be quick

[dave21478]

Hmmm, I am pretty unimpressed with that.

firstly, the last thing I need is to have black tools in a dimly lit garage, working in an oily engine bay.

 

Why do the deep 1/4 drive sockets stop at 9mm? why not 10 or 13?

Why do the 1/2 drive start at 15? My 10 and 13mm 1/2 drive are probably the most commonly used parts of the kit I have.

No 10mm impact socket either.

 

Verdict....all modern etc etc blah blah. The old sets were better.

[steveo3002]

no ones mentioned made in the snap on factory yet 

[Richard]

Hmmm, I am pretty unimpressed with that.

firstly, the last thing I need is to have black tools in a dimly lit garage, working in an oily engine bay.

 

Why do the deep 1/4 drive sockets stop at 9mm? why not 10 or 13?

Why do the 1/2 drive start at 15? My 10 and 13mm 1/2 drive are probably the most commonly used parts of the kit I have.

No 10mm impact socket either.

 

Verdict....all modern etc etc blah blah. The old sets were better.

 

I did say if you must As far as I can tell this is exactly the same as the normal 200 piece set but quite a bit cheaper. The omissions you mention are the reason why I don't buy into the hype about them. My advice for a newbie would be to wait until the £70 Lidl set comes along, then buy other tools as required or when you see them on offer.

 

 

no ones mentioned made in the snap on factory yet 

 

The most plausible theory I've seen is that they are made by a company that also supplies other premium brands.

[Kiltox]

Most plausible theory is that they're basically Draper Expert

[SiC]

Hmmm, I am pretty unimpressed with that.

firstly, the last thing I need is to have black tools in a dimly lit garage, working in an oily engine bay.

 

Why do the deep 1/4 drive sockets stop at 9mm? why not 10 or 13?

Why do the 1/2 drive start at 15? My 10 and 13mm 1/2 drive are probably the most commonly used parts of the kit I have.

No 10mm impact socket either.

 

Verdict....all modern etc etc blah blah. The old sets were better.

Those black sockets are the heavy duty impact driver rated sockets - standard impact stuff.

 

I have to admit, I've a mix of different sockets and tools all in a tool chest. I bought the Halfords set late last year and I find I always grab the Halfords set. Everything has a neat place for it and pretty much everything I need, without having to root around in the toolbox to find stuff.

[Kiltox]

Not all of the sockets in the special "black edition" set are impact are they?

 

MASSIVE downside to them if not - wouldn't want to be getting confused between what is and isn't impact

[fraser.innes.3]

Most plausible theory is that they're basically Draper Expert

All of Halfords ratchet spanners are made by gearwrench.

 

Sent from my HUAWEI M2-A01W using Tapatalk

[dave21478]

Those black sockets are the heavy duty impact driver rated sockets - standard impact stuff.

 

 

No, they are just normal sockets with a black finish.

 

There are only 7 actual impact sockets in the set.

[Kiltox]

No, they are just normal sockets with a black finish.

 

There are only 7 actual impact sockets in the set.

Dangerous that IMO

[AlabamaShrimp]

For me the big Halfords set is better than anything I've ever had and so far has had all the stuff I've needed.

 

So while it might technically not be the best it's still miles better than the tool chest I got from Makro years ago and the random collection of stuff in a tool box.

Only thing it doesn't do is that pound shop tools are for and that's leaving in various cars/garages for that one time you need to do something small.

[sierraman]

Used the Halfords Ratchet spanners today to relieve the spares Focus of its manifold. Ideal for this sort of job.

[drewd]

I've got one of the 120 piece sets that I bought for about £70 when it was on offer about 6 or 7 years ago and I've used it a lot on mine and friends cars in that time. There are a few things that have gone rusty from working on cars in the rain, and the socket that holds the screwdriver bits doesn't have the retaining ball so the bits fall out (which really gets on my tits). Other than that though it's been brilliant.

 

I've added other tools as I have required them, but I've not had to buy anything due to the Halfords ones being unfit for purpose. I have however managed to break numerous cheaper sockets and ratchets. The Halfords screw drivers and impact sockets are good for the cash too.

 

I'd have no problem recommending the kit I have, or the 200 piece one that we got my dad for Christmas a few years back, but if you only use metric I would take a look at the Bahco socket sets as they are 6 point sockets, the ratchets have nice  handles and they seem like good VFM. I've not got any myself but am tempted to get a set for the nicer ratchets and sockets.

 

The Aldi ratchet spanners I have are surprisingly good too, although do miss some commonly used sizes.

[twosmoke300]

Bahco is good gear

[17-Coffees]

Having gotten a Halfords trade card very into my apprenticeship 4 years ago I got near enough all my basic tools from them. The trade card gets me silly discounts on there tools! 

 

4 years later, I'm still using them. That is 4 years of hard work & abuse as a HGV mechanic. No spanners have broke, all the sockets are fine and the rachets are in good order! (1/2 one has needed taken apart & oiled a few times, but that's it).
 

Admittedly, the non advanced sets don't seem as strong, Got a set of the spanners (7 - 32mm) and have managed to bent the 26 & 27mm spanners...admittedly this was after having cutting the open ends off them and using a massive bar to undo a few bolts on for the rear Calipers of a DAF & MAN, so will easly take every day use on your car fine. 

[drewd]

Yeah, I've got a Bahco electronics screwdriver set and a hacksaw that is surprisingly nice to use. My previous one was a pound shop special though that twisted and was a bit crap. I would happily buy their tools again.

[overrun]

I love returning all the shit that I have destroyed by being a roughneck.

Best one was an 18mm spanner that I bent by sliding a scaffy bar over, and sheared off one of the jaws.

 

"What have you had on here? LOL"

"My hand."

 

Even ratchets etc can be changed if you find the noobie/employee that couldn't give a fuck. Love that lifetime warranty!

[AlabamaShrimp]

^^even ratchets? I thought everything could be exchanged? I took back the screw driver handle thing recently as the ball on the end had fallen out. Exact replacement they gave me was about £8 or so. They never asked any questions.

[17-Coffees]

Never though about returning them!
Until a few months ago my work had a policy where they'd replace tools for you (as long as not taking the piss), so just left said spanners with the stores and got draper ones in return. 

[overrun]

^^even ratchets? I thought everything could be exchanged? I took back the screw driver handle thing recently as the ball on the end had fallen out. Exact replacement they gave me was about £8 or so. They never asked any questions.

 

Stuff with moving parts are meant to be exempt.

[overrun]

Never though about returning them!

Until a few months ago my work had a policy where they'd replace tools for you (as long as not taking the piss), so just left said spanners with the stores and got draper ones in return. 

 

Aye, get them took back! IMO the torx bits etc (3/8" drive) are just as strong, or weak, as Snap-On, that I have used.

They both shear off and twist sometimes.

 

As long as I can exchange broken stuff and it is relatively hardy in the first place, I'll take the cheaper gear any day!

I do have some Snap-On gear, but you won't find me wearing their deer stalkers and using their seat covers etc.

[Kiltox]

Stuff with moving parts are meant to be exempt.

There's a revised policy now, changed about a year ago. Everything's covered.

[xkjagnz]

I've had my halfords 150 best part of 20 years now, I won a tool chest in an in store promotion and they let me swap for same or greater value so it actually cost me a fiver. I have used it on gas turbine and marine diesel changes and still have it all ( as you have to account for all tools on completion) in that time I have broken 2 screwdriver bits both replaced FOC. Would buy another if I wasn't in NZ

[SiC]

There's a revised policy now, changed about a year ago. Everything's covered.

I was going to say, as there was no T&C's on the box of my set saying what is and isn't covered - just a lifetime guarantee.

 

Now what does lifetime guarantee mean... the Lifetime of the product being on sale? (Like Fluke do).

[Richard]

After six months a socket shatters and slashes your wrist.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

gotten 

 

 

'Purchased/bought/acquired ', please.

 

[overrun]

'Purchased/bought/acquired ', please.

 

 

Boughten.

[overrun]

There's a revised policy now, changed about a year ago. Everything's covered.

 

Ace! 1/4" drive ratchet with a trolley jack handle extension without concern time!

[Richard]

It's only about £5 for the ratchet rebuild kits anyway.

[Kiltox]

Ace! 1/4" drive ratchet with a trolley jack handle extension without concern time!

To be fair they stand up to that too!

 

Ratchet is a bit stiff these days though

[xkjagnz]

Boughten.

Surely it's Boughterated!