Tools for home use - which brand?
Discussion
It depends on what sort of home use you envisage tackling. I was a professional mechanic when I left school and had 5 figures of Snap On sitting at home at one point, back in those far off days when we were called mechanics and not techs.
These days as a hobby type I buy a lot Teng as it's good kit and well priced. In fact the torque wrench I used today when I changed a mates wheel bearings on his TT is a Teng brand and it's great as it has the built in angle gauge which you need for a lot of head bolts now.
The other recommendation is a good impact driver. I have the 18v Dewalt and it's as good as my mates more expensive Ingersoll rand. Have a look on youtube for side by side comparisons.
Good luck and get ready to spend money.
These days as a hobby type I buy a lot Teng as it's good kit and well priced. In fact the torque wrench I used today when I changed a mates wheel bearings on his TT is a Teng brand and it's great as it has the built in angle gauge which you need for a lot of head bolts now.
The other recommendation is a good impact driver. I have the 18v Dewalt and it's as good as my mates more expensive Ingersoll rand. Have a look on youtube for side by side comparisons.
Good luck and get ready to spend money.
I used to do a lot of home mechanicing on mine & others cars. Most of my old (35+ yrs) stuff is still going bit the stuff that wore out or broke or when I needed new was Halfords. More than adequate for home use. And for Torque wrenches I have a clarke 3/8th one & a Halfords Pro 1/2 one. One kit that is good is a Clarkes impact socket set. That & a knuckle bar have rescued many a dodgy situation.
Brand isn't everything, ive abused my halfords stuff for about 10 years, sat in my dads damp garage for half that time and still as good as new. I popped a couple of torx bits this year but that's probably user error as much as anything else!
Snap on is good as the warranty is handy but you'll pay for it.
Are you tinkering or rebuilding an engine that's been diesels since the stoneages?
Snap on is good as the warranty is handy but you'll pay for it.
Are you tinkering or rebuilding an engine that's been diesels since the stoneages?
For home use I don't see the point of going top end, bottom end and it's just rubbish, so I just go for mid range. I've Halfords, Draper, Sealey, Kennedy (quite good actually) Clarke, Gunson and some cheapo unbranded stuff that's never been heard of.
Halfords stuff is ok value, sometimes if you're prepared to do some homework branded bargains pop up on Amazon.
If it's a one off/little used item I don't see the point in spending loads.
Halfords stuff is ok value, sometimes if you're prepared to do some homework branded bargains pop up on Amazon.
If it's a one off/little used item I don't see the point in spending loads.
Hainey said:
The other recommendation is a good impact driver. I have the 18v Dewalt (Black & Decker, really!) and it's as good as my mates more expensive Ingersoll rand.
It isn't. It probably does the job fine but it will not last like a Rand will. I even use a Dew
k every day, and every day I prefer my Makita.grkify said:
Ive just bought halfords professional 200pc set £150 I got it for £120 with trade card. Supposedly got lifetime warranty. Cant fault the quality specially in comparison to the odds and sods set that I was previously using.
This.. Pretty much built my car with it!!I've given it abuse along the way and the one 'bit' that broke (the bit that holds the screw it's) was replaced with zero fuss.
Halfords Pro torque wrenches are very good. I have the small and large one.
Good discounts available with the trade card, I saved approx 40%.
I had them tested for accuracy at work and they're spot on.
Halfords Pro tool/socket sets are good value for home use, I just wish they'd use 6 point sockets rather than the 12 points that feature more often.
Good discounts available with the trade card, I saved approx 40%.
I had them tested for accuracy at work and they're spot on.
Halfords Pro tool/socket sets are good value for home use, I just wish they'd use 6 point sockets rather than the 12 points that feature more often.
ikarl said:
grkify said:
Ive just bought halfords professional 200pc set £150 I got it for £120 with trade card. Supposedly got lifetime warranty. Cant fault the quality specially in comparison to the odds and sods set that I was previously using.
This.. Pretty much built my car with it!!I've given it abuse along the way and the one 'bit' that broke (the bit that holds the screw it's) was replaced with zero fuss.
http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/socke...
la-211141362484|crid:89797547524|nw:g|rnd:7725164598559932739|dvc:c|adp:1o1&gclid=CLnxjvXk-M0CFcsW0wodlE0DiALarge local motor factor stocks a lot of Laser Tools. i did some work in their place as it was being built, and the MD (at the time, as I think it's been taken over) was a petrol head , and their quality manager was very particular.
Point to think of is- how often will I use that tool ,when deciding what to buy. And if you'll be doing a lot of work on cars. if so - buy the best. For one of jobs- either hire or buy cheaper.
Point to think of is- how often will I use that tool ,when deciding what to buy. And if you'll be doing a lot of work on cars. if so - buy the best. For one of jobs- either hire or buy cheaper.
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