DIY mechanics take care....neighbour squished under car!
Discussion
Refer to my comment about buying s
t cheap tools.
If you bought a decent socket set in the first place, it would come with everything and avoid you having to buy twice.
Sealey tools are low to mid range. Still st, but better than the real cheap stuff. I've got a sealey socket set that came with the sockets you've mentioned. If you think they're expensive then I'd love to know your thoughts on a decent brand.
t cheap tools. If you bought a decent socket set in the first place, it would come with everything and avoid you having to buy twice.
Sealey tools are low to mid range. Still s
t, but better than the real cheap stuff. I've got a sealey socket set that came with the sockets you've mentioned. If you think they're expensive then I'd love to know your thoughts on a decent brand. hooblah said:
Refer to my comment about buying st cheap tools.
If you bought a decent socket set in the first place, it would come with everything and avoid you having to buy twice.
Sealey tools are low to mid range. Still st, but better than the real cheap stuff. I've got a sealey socket set that came with the sockets you've mentioned. If you think they're expensive then I'd love to know your thoughts on a decent brand.
Had this discussion before and then someone pipes up and says "Halfords are good", adn it all goes to sh*t.t cheap tools. If you bought a decent socket set in the first place, it would come with everything and avoid you having to buy twice.
Sealey tools are low to mid range. Still s
t, but better than the real cheap stuff. I've got a sealey socket set that came with the sockets you've mentioned. If you think they're expensive then I'd love to know your thoughts on a decent brand. My point is that the average home mechanic will struggle with modern cars for the reasons i've stated, the average home mechanic doesn't have £5000 worth of snapon tools.
I haven't got any halfords gear so I can't comment on the quality, but when I have used it it seemed ok.
Noone's saying spend snap on money. There's plenty of decent kit out there that's considerably cheaper. I've got a blue point socket set that cost £100 and comes with almost everything you'd need to tackle most jobs. I broke a couple of teeth in the ratchet once and a the local snap on man gave me a brand new one. The only snap on thing I own is a set of impact sockets I bought 2nd hand.
You could probably have most bases covered if you spent £1000 on quality tools. If you're serious about doing your own work then you'll recoup that money in no time with saved labour costs.
Noone's saying spend snap on money. There's plenty of decent kit out there that's considerably cheaper. I've got a blue point socket set that cost £100 and comes with almost everything you'd need to tackle most jobs. I broke a couple of teeth in the ratchet once and a the local snap on man gave me a brand new one. The only snap on thing I own is a set of impact sockets I bought 2nd hand.
You could probably have most bases covered if you spent £1000 on quality tools. If you're serious about doing your own work then you'll recoup that money in no time with saved labour costs.
Edited by hooblah on Monday 23 April 14:46
redandwhite said:
Saw something today which worried me. Bloke head and shoulders under the rear arch of his L200 painting his drums. Not a trolley jack or axle stand in sight , just his 'emergency use' widowmaker scissor jack!
Had I not been miles away from home I would have lent him my gear, which I have done before when seeing neighbours risking it like this ??
Why am I not surprised that somebody who wants to paint the drums of what I assume is a pick-up hasn't the brains to use anything other than the scissor jack? Had I not been miles away from home I would have lent him my gear, which I have done before when seeing neighbours risking it like this ??
lyonspride said:
Had this discussion before and then someone pipes up and says "Halfords are good", adn it all goes to sh*t.
Why would that happen?lyonspride said:
My point is that the average home mechanic will struggle with modern cars for the reasons i've stated, the average home mechanic doesn't have £5000 worth of snapon tools.
That would explain the first sentence; what a load of rubbish. A DIYer simply doesn't need £5k worth of Snap-on kit , not to mention that £5k wouldn't get you much of it anyway. One of the comprehensive Halfords sets has the majority of sockets/bits needed for DIY jobs, and the few special sockets that may be needed are usually available all the way from eBay Chinese to Snap-On quality. If you want the latest dealer grade diagnostic kit (that isn't a dodgy copy) it won't come cheap, but that's quite a different thing to the limitations of the sizes supplied in a socket set.
Mandalore said:
I was surprised to find this had reached page 2, before one of 'do as I think' brigade had used one of these cases as an excuse for never opening their own bonnet.
To the point in question, I have never known of anyone it has happened to personally, but everyone seems to be quick to point out that one jack is never ever enough.
Another internet badass here. Clearly it is common sense, and basic principles of safety to take sensible steps?To the point in question, I have never known of anyone it has happened to personally, but everyone seems to be quick to point out that one jack is never ever enough.
Cheap tools can be good.
My dad has a set of Draper sockets in their rusted out metal orange case, all perfectly fine to use. Probably 30 years old or more.
Saying that I have a £20 set of Argos screwdrivers and only 3 of the really small headed ones are ruined, larger ones just fine. Use extensively over the 10 years ive owned them.
My dad has a set of Draper sockets in their rusted out metal orange case, all perfectly fine to use. Probably 30 years old or more.
Saying that I have a £20 set of Argos screwdrivers and only 3 of the really small headed ones are ruined, larger ones just fine. Use extensively over the 10 years ive owned them.
As for Sealey being bad, I disagree. I have a torque wrench by them with a hand signed calibration certificate, works perfectly fine for several years and still going strong.
The only time you need very, very well made tools is for stubborn bolts or when the highest precision is required.
For things like oil changes, brake changes and other general services, your bargain basement tools will do just fine. Such as the Halfords 2 tonne jack lifting one side of a 1200 kilo car, well within its parameter.
The only time you need very, very well made tools is for stubborn bolts or when the highest precision is required.
For things like oil changes, brake changes and other general services, your bargain basement tools will do just fine. Such as the Halfords 2 tonne jack lifting one side of a 1200 kilo car, well within its parameter.
lyonspride said:
Had this discussion before and then someone pipes up and says "Halfords are good", adn it all goes to sh*t.
My point is that the average home mechanic will struggle with modern cars for the reasons i've stated, the average home mechanic doesn't have £5000 worth of snapon tools.
I’ve had the same halford socket set for roughly 8 years. Moderately used and never had a problem My point is that the average home mechanic will struggle with modern cars for the reasons i've stated, the average home mechanic doesn't have £5000 worth of snapon tools.
TriumphStag3.0V8 said:
motco said:
Manufacturers specify four points where a jack can be used quite often. Where can a support be placed to supplement a jack when the jack is already occupying the jacking point? Those skilled in the art may find a suitable alternative location, but it isn't always obvious just what may, or may not, cause damage.
That's true to an extent, but anyone who is competent enough to be under a car working on it should be competent enough to be able to identify a strong enough point to place a stand or other support. I always seem to manage this with my Mercedes which seems to be made entirely out of undertrays.Long and short of it (for me) is if you can't identify suitable points to place supports such as axle stands (manufacturer specified or not) then you should not be under a car working on it.
lyonspride said:
Ford seem to be obsessed with using fixings (nuts, bolts, screws) in odd sizes that the average home mechanic won't have tools for and i'm sure that has to be deliberate.
A typical socket set (for those who don't want to rebuy half the stuff they already own) won't have 15mm, 18mm or 20mm sockets (some do some don't), so Ford use these like they're going out of fashion, as well as odd numbered/sized hex screws, single use clips and TORX screws apparently anywhere they can't use plastic clips.
There was a time when you could dismantle most of a Ford with only a 13mm spanner.
I don't think it's the manufacturers though, I think it's the dealerships putting pressure on them.
Moral - don't buy a sA typical socket set (for those who don't want to rebuy half the stuff they already own) won't have 15mm, 18mm or 20mm sockets (some do some don't), so Ford use these like they're going out of fashion, as well as odd numbered/sized hex screws, single use clips and TORX screws apparently anywhere they can't use plastic clips.
There was a time when you could dismantle most of a Ford with only a 13mm spanner.
I don't think it's the manufacturers though, I think it's the dealerships putting pressure on them.
tty Ford!Christian85 said:
lyonspride said:
Had this discussion before and then someone pipes up and says "Halfords are good", adn it all goes to sh*t.
My point is that the average home mechanic will struggle with modern cars for the reasons i've stated, the average home mechanic doesn't have £5000 worth of snapon tools.
I’ve had the same halford socket set for roughly 8 years. Moderately used and never had a problem My point is that the average home mechanic will struggle with modern cars for the reasons i've stated, the average home mechanic doesn't have £5000 worth of snapon tools.
Mr2Mike said:
tannhauser said:
Disagree. The manufacturers absolutely should be specifying (and providing FFS!) jacking/supporting points. They're the ones designing the cars, knowing the strengths of particular structures etc.
Manufacturers generally DO specify jacking and support points.EazyDuz said:
Use the toe eye every car has one not rocket surgery
Pretty sure the towing eye isn't designed to carry the weight of a car. But let's say you did, and the towing eye slipped off the jack, and the jack embeds itself in your bumper and destroys your rad and whatever else... You're going to look like a right mug aren't you?
Edit: Just re-read your post. I see you lack mental capacity. Carry on.
Edited by hooblah on Monday 23 April 20:27
Edited by hooblah on Monday 23 April 20:28
hooblah said:
Pretty sure the towing eye isn't designed to carry the weight of a car.
But let's say you did, and the towing eye slipped off the jack, and the jack embeds itself in your bumper and destroys your rad and whatever else... You're going to look like a right mug aren't you?
That is literally what it is designed to do...not snap/bend when being towed with the weight of the car.But let's say you did, and the towing eye slipped off the jack, and the jack embeds itself in your bumper and destroys your rad and whatever else... You're going to look like a right mug aren't you?
And yea you would but you would only have yourself to blame for letting it slip. Lifted my car via front/rear toe eyes and its perfectly stable.
Some cars have towing points that are designed to be used as jacking points. Many do not.
I'm going to be the boring bd and say stick to the jacking points listed in the handbook/workshop manual unless you definitely know what you're doing and can make an educated decision on the suitability of things like subframe mounting points as a substitute.
I'm going to be the boring b
d and say stick to the jacking points listed in the handbook/workshop manual unless you definitely know what you're doing and can make an educated decision on the suitability of things like subframe mounting points as a substitute.InitialDave said:
Some cars have towing points that are designed to be used as jacking points. Many do not.
I'm going to be the boring bd and say stick to the jacking points listed in the handbook/workshop manual unless you definitely know what you're doing and can make an educated decision on the suitability of things like subframe mounting points as a substitute.
They all can be used as jacking points whether the manual states it or not. What use would a metal eye capable of supporting the cars weight be if it was welded to another piece of metal which cant support the cars weight? I'm going to be the boring b
d and say stick to the jacking points listed in the handbook/workshop manual unless you definitely know what you're doing and can make an educated decision on the suitability of things like subframe mounting points as a substitute.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff