A quality socket set for sub £60?

[Benengo]

With ratchet?... any recomendations? I borrowed a few tools from a friend the other day and it was a real joy to use! i want as good a set as possible so don't mind second hand... but I'm not sure on what's a good brand.

I'm looking to replace all my tools with some quality bits, so any other bargains spotted please post!

[hairykrishna]

The Halfords professional stuff, surprisingly, is very good. Often on offer too.

[scotty_d]

Halfords tools are very good if you can stretch to around £100 they do a 150 piece kit.

[turbopug]

Don't buy Sealey Premier. I broke the ratchet and 2 sockets, and all the chrome is starting to peel off the sockets, all in a space of 3 months.

[EDLT]

turbopug said:

Don't buy Sealey Premier. I broke the ratchet and 2 sockets, and all the chrome is starting to peel off the sockets, all in a space of 3 months.

Really, I've used the same set for years and it has been fine. The chrome came off a couple of sockets but that night have been because they got some abuse.

To the OP: Clarke and Laser tools are OK if you are just doing DIY work.

[mgroadster]

I built mine up by buying odd high quality ratchets and high quality sockets from boot sales. A mixture but all very high quality.

[listie]

Facom are pricey but excellent, a nice starter set on ebay at the moment

[Athlon]

Facom, Teng, second hand Snap-On, Mac all great and very nice to use.
The Halfords lifetime warranty is a laugh, I have a good few and if you can't show the receipt then no dice, despite the fact I am self employed and the accounts are with the accountant, even explaining it has HALFORDS stamped on the socket was no good so I went back to proper tool retailers that honour the warranty.

[turbopug]

EDLT said:

Really, I've used the same set for years and it has been fine. The chrome came off a couple of sockets but that night have been because they got some abuse.

To the OP: Clarke and Laser tools are OK if you are just doing DIY work.

How often do you use your socket set though? I use mines 6 days a week, sometimes 7. 3 months in unacceptable for something which is supposed to be a "quality" product.

[D1bram]

I have a halfords set, I started with the small 3/8ths set (around £40 iirc) and have added a 1/2 drive and loose set of sockets (bought new from eBay), a 1/2 breaker bar and a Torque wrench (again bought new from eBay). Recently I nipped down to Halfords and spent £15 on a 3/8ths extension set as I lost the small extension bar out of my set and found myself halfway through a job and in need of one.

All in all I think I've spent under £150, and I have a good set of tools which while I've looked after them I have used them well and they still look like new. Good kit in my opinion.

[DrDeAtH]

+1 for the Halfords pro range. Nice enough to work with and wont break the bank to replace... and the tray is comes in will sit nicely in your tool cabinet drawers....

[maniac0796]

Bergen do a great set of 1/2 deep impact sockets, and their 3/8 stuff is alright.

Just buy 6 sided if you're buying cheap.

The other thing is, all cheap ratchets suck. Go snap on for the ratchet.

[MX7]

turbopug said:

EDLT said:

Really, I've used the same set for years and it has been fine. The chrome came off a couple of sockets but that night have been because they got some abuse.

To the OP: Clarke and Laser tools are OK if you are just doing DIY work.

How often do you use your socket set though? I use mines 6 days a week, sometimes 7. 3 months in unacceptable for something which is supposed to be a "quality" product.

You're a mechanic?

[pidsy]

I have got a small stanley set for my bike which does the job but isnt great, my big 50 piece set is teng - bloody good! And picked up some long extension bars from ebay.

Go for tengs if you can find them. Or as someone else has suggested, have a look round the boot sales.

[B Huey]

I've got a Bahco set. Seem pretty good.

[Dog Star]

I was looking at the Halfords stuff the other day and what really pisses me off is that about 30% of the stuff you get is useless - who needs AF sockets? I don't think I possess one single thing with AF/Whitworth. Totally pointless. Why don't they do metric only sets?

[TheD]

B Huey said:

I've got a Bahco set. Seem pretty good.

I remember when I served my time I had loads of Bahco stuff that was great. The shifters could be used with a bit of pipe on the end for leverage (very much frowned upon but a quick fix) and they never let go.

[Mr2Mike]

Dog Star said:

I was looking at the Halfords stuff the other day and what really pisses me off is that about 30% of the stuff you get is useless - who needs AF sockets? I don't think I possess one single thing with AF/Whitworth. Totally pointless. Why don't they do metric only sets?

I use AF sockets, so do many other people - do you think Halfords should only make socket sets specifically for you?

BTW, Halfords do sell metric only socket sets, though only the smaller sets IIRC.

[turbopug]

MX7 said:

turbopug said:

EDLT said:

Really, I've used the same set for years and it has been fine. The chrome came off a couple of sockets but that night have been because they got some abuse.

To the OP: Clarke and Laser tools are OK if you are just doing DIY work.

How often do you use your socket set though? I use mines 6 days a week, sometimes 7. 3 months in unacceptable for something which is supposed to be a "quality" product.

You're a mechanic?

Technically I'm a breaker but I do servicing, MOT preps, engine swaps, restos etc. Anything that involves working on cars.

[mgroadster]

Dog Star said:

I was looking at the Halfords stuff the other day and what really pisses me off is that about 30% of the stuff you get is useless - who needs AF sockets? I don't think I possess one single thing with AF/Whitworth. Totally pointless. Why don't they do metric only sets?

My tool box is mostly AF which is needed to work on early British sports cars.
You can get metric only sets, no problem.
Why were you associating Halfords with quality? time for a rethink i reckon.