Tools for home use - which brand?
Discussion
The Vambo said:
Draper Expert, very importantly not just Draper.
Draper don't actually make anything and just import and re-brand. The expert range is often Teng, Wera and Bahco.
Not really: Halfords professional (or whatever theyre branded as now) tools are Draper Expert. Confirmed by Halfords when they gave me a Draper part number for a replacement component that they couldn't supply.Draper don't actually make anything and just import and re-brand. The expert range is often Teng, Wera and Bahco.
Quality costs but it's being sensible about it.
I bought a basin wrench from Poundland a couple of years ago. Similar product in B&Q/Homebase/Screwfix/Toolstation was £6.99 and a better design was £14.99 upwards. The Poundland one was chunkier and clunkier but I've only ever used it once, it did the job, took a few minutes longer to do the job and realistically it may never be used again.
I bought a basin wrench from Poundland a couple of years ago. Similar product in B&Q/Homebase/Screwfix/Toolstation was £6.99 and a better design was £14.99 upwards. The Poundland one was chunkier and clunkier but I've only ever used it once, it did the job, took a few minutes longer to do the job and realistically it may never be used again.
GC8 said:
The Vambo said:
Draper Expert, very importantly not just Draper.
Draper don't actually make anything and just import and re-brand. The expert range is often Teng, Wera and Bahco.
Not really: Halfords professional (or whatever theyre branded as now) tools are Draper Expert. Confirmed by Halfords when they gave me a Draper part number for a replacement component that they couldn't supply.Draper don't actually make anything and just import and re-brand. The expert range is often Teng, Wera and Bahco.
Draper expert ratchets and sockets are mostly made by Elora and Elora have definitely supplied Halfords, so you could have a Pro part replaced with the identical Expert part.
Edited by The Vambo on Sunday 17th July 10:35
It's a years since I've had a Snap-On 1/2 ratchet in my hands, but I'd be surprised if it was as heavy as the equivalent Halfords Pro version I've got. I could see that may be a disadvantage if someone was using it for their living. The 3/8 and 1/4 Halfords Pro ratchets seem fine though.
I can't see how any home mechanic can look past the Halfords stuff. The quality is great, i've had a set that's worked hard, they are abused, left in the damp, use the sockets to hammer/press bearings in, etc. No problems apart from a few of the Torx and Phillips bits breaking on me. There is a lifetime warranty and you can pick up replacements at 7.45pm. Also, most of the kit is sold separately so if you lose something or if you are half way through a job and you need to cut down a spanner or socket, it can be replaced easily. My only criticism is the case isn't great quality. It's a complete no brainer for me.
Bacho socket sets are great quality for the price, very nice to use.
I have a mix of Facom, Snap on, Teng & some of the Wera ratchets, all very nice (Wera being my favourite)
Pick up some Wera screwdrivers too, always on offer on amazon. Go for the yellow handled versions as they have hammer tops & hex shafts (to put a spanner on if required).
Sealey stuff is nice too, the walldrive sockets are cheap & very good.
I have a mix of Facom, Snap on, Teng & some of the Wera ratchets, all very nice (Wera being my favourite)
Pick up some Wera screwdrivers too, always on offer on amazon. Go for the yellow handled versions as they have hammer tops & hex shafts (to put a spanner on if required).
Sealey stuff is nice too, the walldrive sockets are cheap & very good.
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.
My "decent" sockets and spanners are a mix of Halfords Professional, Kennedy and Yamoto. You won't go far wrong with any of those brands for sockets, spanners etc. I've been using my Yamoto 1/2" drive set for 13 years with no problems.
Also have some cheapo stuff that I treat as disposable, some of which is true dross (Black Spur), but I've found Am-Tech sockets are actually very robust.
Also have some cheapo stuff that I treat as disposable, some of which is true dross (Black Spur), but I've found Am-Tech sockets are actually very robust.
When I got my MG ZR it needed fixed up so I bought a socket set from B&Q called Torque or Torx, something like that and they have held up fine. Used obviously on a DIY level but I've had the set for 3 years now and worked on several cars. These have worked for me on a lower level but for work tools, I only buy higher end gear such as Fluke and now moving into Hilti (Network engineering so lots of installations). Some great tool review channels on YT. Tools in Action is great.
Edited by burritoNinja on Sunday 17th July 13:12
The Vambo said:
GC8 said:
The Vambo said:
Draper Expert, very importantly not just Draper.
Draper don't actually make anything and just import and re-brand. The expert range is often Teng, Wera and Bahco.
Not really: Halfords professional (or whatever theyre branded as now) tools are Draper Expert. Confirmed by Halfords when they gave me a Draper part number for a replacement component that they couldn't supply.Draper don't actually make anything and just import and re-brand. The expert range is often Teng, Wera and Bahco.
Draper expert ratchets and sockets are mostly made by Elora and Elora have definitely supplied Halfords, so you could have a Pro part replaced with the identical Expert part.
Edited by The Vambo on Sunday 17th July 10:35
I'm aware of Elora (and Kappro & Knipex), but I thought that Draper were their UK agents.
ZX10R NIN said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'd say go for the 200 piece Halfords set it's £150.00 at the moment, which means you end up with a comprehensive wrench set.
I'd love one, except much stuff would never get used, and doesn't include the torque wrench that OP wants.Mines a bit of a hotch potch of stuff, I started with a Halfords 3/8" set and buy bits and pieces as I need them. Sometimes I'm at a show or something and I see a "wow that'd be handy" tool, it ends up sitting unloved at the bottom of the tool box.
I like Cromwell tools, very handy if you want a particular unusual size in a hurry. They've even split a set before to sell me one socket.
I'm using Sealey "Wall Drive" sockets, from an Amazon seller a bargain (the price doubled after I bought them)
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?id=20&am...
They seem to grip well, I've had nothing round off so far!
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?id=20&am...
They seem to grip well, I've had nothing round off so far!
Edited by PositronicRay on Sunday 17th July 16:55
I have this one nothing to say apart from the fact it works 
http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=1044X509854&si...
http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=1044X509854&si...
Its an alternative price list, rather than a discount percentage. When the 1`50 piece was the largest I bought one and the trade card price was still about £5-£10 lower than the half price sale amount.
This isn't always the case though and TC price on a set of screwdrivers a few years ago was far dearer than the discounted till price.
This isn't always the case though and TC price on a set of screwdrivers a few years ago was far dearer than the discounted till price.
Can't go wrong with the Halford's stuff. My set is 25 years old now, it's built one car, a couple of engines, and worked on plenty of others. Great for your core set of tools, then add to it with other bits as and when you need them.
The hinges on the box did break after about 17 years, other than that it's still going strong. And I've not been gentle with it.
The hinges on the box did break after about 17 years, other than that it's still going strong. And I've not been gentle with it.
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