Toolkit/Toolbox Recomendations
Discussion
Hi,
Looking at toolkits/toolboxes with a budget of up to £500 for working on my car.
Seen a few on Facebook Marketplace etc that seem to have everything I need, but I'm questioning the quality of them.
Works will be general servicing, working on brakes and suspension.
Recomendations will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
Looking at toolkits/toolboxes with a budget of up to £500 for working on my car.
Seen a few on Facebook Marketplace etc that seem to have everything I need, but I'm questioning the quality of them.
Works will be general servicing, working on brakes and suspension.
Recomendations will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
Your best bet would probably be to take a look at the Halfords Professional kits and get what you need from there. They usually have decent deals on socket sets etc adn you'd probably build a good kit for your budget.
If you know anyone with a Halfords Trade Club card then borrow that and you'll potentially save a bit more as well.
If you know anyone with a Halfords Trade Club card then borrow that and you'll potentially save a bit more as well.
I've got one of the Halfords pro socket sets, the small ratchet stopped working after a couple of years and they didn't even ask to see the receipt in order to replace it. I bought a set of their ratchet spanners which are decent too.
I'd say start with a decent socket set, screw/hex driver bit set, and a torque wrench, and then get extra individual bits as and when you need them. I think besides that list, the only things I really use are a 32mm 1/2"drive socket for my bike's front sprocket, and a set of 1/2" drive hex bits, plus a 3/8"-1/2" adaptor for my ratchet.
Teng are good if you want something a bit posher than Halfords.
I'd say start with a decent socket set, screw/hex driver bit set, and a torque wrench, and then get extra individual bits as and when you need them. I think besides that list, the only things I really use are a 32mm 1/2"drive socket for my bike's front sprocket, and a set of 1/2" drive hex bits, plus a 3/8"-1/2" adaptor for my ratchet.
Teng are good if you want something a bit posher than Halfords.
Invaluable tools are
2 sets of spanners, you will often need 2 the same size
A good socket set with hex bits
a 3 foot breaker bar
good set of screwdrivers.
The rest i would buy as and when needed. after 45 years of DIY and car mechanics I now have quite a few tools. Not to mention all the tools I acquired during my career as prototype technician building all kinds of stuff..
2 sets of spanners, you will often need 2 the same size
A good socket set with hex bits
a 3 foot breaker bar
good set of screwdrivers.
The rest i would buy as and when needed. after 45 years of DIY and car mechanics I now have quite a few tools. Not to mention all the tools I acquired during my career as prototype technician building all kinds of stuff..
ARHarh said:
Invaluable tools are
2 sets of spanners, you will often need 2 the same size
A good socket set with hex bits
a 3 foot breaker bar
good set of screwdrivers.
The rest i would buy as and when needed. after 45 years of DIY and car mechanics I now have quite a few tools. Not to mention all the tools I acquired during my career as prototype technician building all kinds of stuff..
Thanks for the tip of getting two spanner sets, would've forgotten had you not said!2 sets of spanners, you will often need 2 the same size
A good socket set with hex bits
a 3 foot breaker bar
good set of screwdrivers.
The rest i would buy as and when needed. after 45 years of DIY and car mechanics I now have quite a few tools. Not to mention all the tools I acquired during my career as prototype technician building all kinds of stuff..
Another thing is that I wouldn't worry too much about a fancy tool box to start with. As much as we'd all like a huge Snap On number they can eat up a huge chunk of your budget.
As I was told when I was an apprentice and started buying tools, "You can't fix **** all with a fancy toolbox!"
As I was told when I was an apprentice and started buying tools, "You can't fix **** all with a fancy toolbox!"
Thanks all for the replies!
Looks like I'll be getting mostly Halfords Pro tools, I've had friends and family members say the same too.
My father has a trade card for Halfords so that'll come in very handy.
Just wanted to get a broader view/different opinions in case we were missing something.
I've already got a nice Draper 1/2" socket set that I've had a few years so that's one thing off the list at least.
Any recommendations for a one man bleeding kit would be appreciated, as well any other tool recommendations or other advice you feel relevant.
Looks like I'll be getting mostly Halfords Pro tools, I've had friends and family members say the same too.
My father has a trade card for Halfords so that'll come in very handy.
Just wanted to get a broader view/different opinions in case we were missing something.
I've already got a nice Draper 1/2" socket set that I've had a few years so that's one thing off the list at least.
Any recommendations for a one man bleeding kit would be appreciated, as well any other tool recommendations or other advice you feel relevant.
gallopingclothespeg said:
Another thing is that I wouldn't worry too much about a fancy tool box to start with. As much as we'd all like a huge Snap On number they can eat up a huge chunk of your budget.
As I was told when I was an apprentice and started buying tools, "You can't fix **** all with a fancy toolbox!"
Yeah, definitely won't be going for Snap-on stuff.As I was told when I was an apprentice and started buying tools, "You can't fix **** all with a fancy toolbox!"
My dad has a massive Snap-on toolbox plus assorted tools for work, while it looks awesome I don't have the space in my house/soon to be built shed.
I'm not a brand/badge snob either, as long as it's good value and quality.
gallopingclothespeg said:
Another thing is that I wouldn't worry too much about a fancy tool box to start with. As much as we'd all like a huge Snap On number they can eat up a huge chunk of your budget.
I’d echo that thought.If I was starting off again, I’d buy a second hand box off of eBay, then new sockets and spanner’s from Halfords, ratchets from Machine Mart.
I’ve used the ones below in 1/2”, 3/8” & 1/4” for 15+ years with out any problems and they are almost the equal of Facom ones.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pro393-12pr...
Add to that a decent bit driver, some dirt cheap screwdrivers for abusing and a decent set of screwdrivers for non-abusing, (I’d recommend Facom), trolly jack and axle stands should see you pretty well set.
Edited to add: torque wrenches. The Halfords ones are pretty good. Maybe a good idea to get a 1/2” and a 1/4” torque wrench to give you the full range of torque settings.
If you haven’t got a Halfords trade card then if you’re local I’d be happy to lend you mine. If you can go though TopCashback then that should save you a few more quid.
Your £500 budget should get you almost all of the above. And even if you spend a bit more, you’ll soon get that money back by doing servicing jobs on your own car yourself.
Edited again to say maybe get a cheapish set of imperial spanners and sockets for slightly rounded off fasteners.
Edited by 105.4 on Wednesday 17th February 11:51
Edited by 105.4 on Wednesday 17th February 11:52
I use Halfords professional, old draper (not the newer poor quality items) and bahco for most of my tools.
Norbar for torque wrenches.
The sealey bleeding kit is good, had mine for years (needs an air compressor though)
Recently got a fluid suction kit from eBay, so able to pull oil/gearbox/diff fluid out without too much fuss.
I would also think about a good vernier caliper and voltmeter.
Norbar for torque wrenches.
The sealey bleeding kit is good, had mine for years (needs an air compressor though)
Recently got a fluid suction kit from eBay, so able to pull oil/gearbox/diff fluid out without too much fuss.
I would also think about a good vernier caliper and voltmeter.
I find one of these is really useful: https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/spanners...
te. I'd avoid.105.4 said:
If you haven’t got a Halfords trade card then if you’re local I’d be happy to lend you mine. If you can go though TopCashback then that should save you a few more quid.
This. Saved a few quid here and there and usually use the cashback as Halfords vouchers for stuff that isn't on the trade card.The Halfords Advanced toolboxes are pretty sweet but they discontinued the Industrial range a few years ago. I've been told these are the best units so if they pop up on FB or Gumtree in good condition at a decent price then you can't go wrong. Halfords Advanced Modular range is also a shout if you want things looking nice and tidy in the toolbox.
I have one of these from SGs https://www.sgs-engineering.com/sgs-1500-8-drawer-...
The OH bought it for me last year and been pretty good.
The OH bought it for me last year and been pretty good.
I’ve got mainly old and cheap stuff bought from machine mart but would go the Halfords route again based on the torque wrenches I’ve had from them and other sundries.
Echo the sentiment regards 2X sets of ring / open combination spanner’s.
If one set can be the ratchet type even better.
One thing I would suggest, large off cut of MDF drilled to the wall for £10 and hang as much up as possible.
You don’t need to shadow board it, I just used screws and hang items from them.
You can write the spanner sizes underneath ditto the socket sizes, buy a socket holder as these drill to the board also.
What I’ve found is that not only does it save space but it also means at the end of the day you can return all the tools back and ensure you haven’t left a spanner somewhere awkward!
I still have a tool box just to hold awkward bits and pieces but if I had the inclination, I’d board mount the whole lot.
Echo the sentiment regards 2X sets of ring / open combination spanner’s.
If one set can be the ratchet type even better.
One thing I would suggest, large off cut of MDF drilled to the wall for £10 and hang as much up as possible.
You don’t need to shadow board it, I just used screws and hang items from them.
You can write the spanner sizes underneath ditto the socket sizes, buy a socket holder as these drill to the board also.
What I’ve found is that not only does it save space but it also means at the end of the day you can return all the tools back and ensure you haven’t left a spanner somewhere awkward!
I still have a tool box just to hold awkward bits and pieces but if I had the inclination, I’d board mount the whole lot.
gallopingclothespeg said:
Another thing is that I wouldn't worry too much about a fancy tool box to start with. As much as we'd all like a huge Snap On number they can eat up a huge chunk of your budget.
As I was told when I was an apprentice and started buying tools, "You can't fix **** all with a fancy toolbox!"
Best thing I ever did was put. Board up anf out my spanners on that, all marked with the size, saves me ages looking for the right size.As I was told when I was an apprentice and started buying tools, "You can't fix **** all with a fancy toolbox!"
Sockets on those sprung bars and fastened to a shelf do the same.
All Halfords pro too
I have kept my tools in these boxes for a few years now. https://usprotoolboxes.com/product-category/econom... I bought them because of the small depth, they would fit in my garage easily. They are lasting well with no signs of wear, although they are not used everyday.
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