Halfords tools- help to purchase the right set for the fella
Discussion
Hi all,
Apologies for hijacking your forum, but I’m really in need of some help.
Now I know nothing about car maintenance, but my partner on the other hand has been tinkering around with cars for a while now at a family members garage. He now wants a socket set to be able to do basic servicing and whatever else he learns on our car.
Anyway he helpfully hinted that Halfords Advanced was a good starting point, however he didn’t point out which set he would need, and I don’t want to ask as that would mean he knows what his Xmas present is going to be.
So will 90 piece be enough? Should I go higher? Or will that mean there will be tools he’ll never use? If anyone can help I’d really appreciate it, thanks in advance
Apologies for hijacking your forum, but I’m really in need of some help.
Now I know nothing about car maintenance, but my partner on the other hand has been tinkering around with cars for a while now at a family members garage. He now wants a socket set to be able to do basic servicing and whatever else he learns on our car.
Anyway he helpfully hinted that Halfords Advanced was a good starting point, however he didn’t point out which set he would need, and I don’t want to ask as that would mean he knows what his Xmas present is going to be.
So will 90 piece be enough? Should I go higher? Or will that mean there will be tools he’ll never use? If anyone can help I’d really appreciate it, thanks in advance
90 sounds like a good starting point to me. He will have the basics covered and can buy anything he actually "needs" after that.
Most of the guys on here spend hours arranging their shiny tools but rarely use them in action.
If you wanted to add a "bonus prize" I'd suggest a modest torque wrench. These look like "just another spanner" but can save the major and expensive grief which follows "over-tightening" with the other 90 pieces. Halfords range starts from £33,
http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/spann...
Most of the guys on here spend hours arranging their shiny tools but rarely use them in action.
If you wanted to add a "bonus prize" I'd suggest a modest torque wrench. These look like "just another spanner" but can save the major and expensive grief which follows "over-tightening" with the other 90 pieces. Halfords range starts from £33,
http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/spann...
Imho I'd go with the 120 piece set as a starter gift set and let him add to it as a when required. No matter which you get, there'll still be additional tools that he'll need depending on the task.
The 170 and 200 piece sets are quite a lot more but I wouldn't say they were twice as useful. That price difference can go a long way towards getting the extra bits and pieces that he might actually need, rather than the ones that Halfords have worked out fit nicely in the case. If it were me and I was feeling generous, I'd spend the difference on a torque wrench to go with it. I'd also chuck out the standard 3/8 bit adaptor and replace it with the Draper equivalent which is much better. The Halfords one is quite weak with no retaining ball bearing and deforms easily, so your hex bits end up falling out of it (invariably into the most inaccessible reaches of the engine bay).
The 170 and 200 piece sets are quite a lot more but I wouldn't say they were twice as useful. That price difference can go a long way towards getting the extra bits and pieces that he might actually need, rather than the ones that Halfords have worked out fit nicely in the case. If it were me and I was feeling generous, I'd spend the difference on a torque wrench to go with it. I'd also chuck out the standard 3/8 bit adaptor and replace it with the Draper equivalent which is much better. The Halfords one is quite weak with no retaining ball bearing and deforms easily, so your hex bits end up falling out of it (invariably into the most inaccessible reaches of the engine bay).
Hi, I’d just like to say thank you to you all for the replies, wish I had a trade card as i’d get the 200 for him at that price, (Shame really as he’d probably qualify for one in his own right) but like you say if the 120 piece is good enough I’ll get him that and a decent torque wrench.
You’ve all been more than helpful, so thank you very much
You’ve all been more than helpful, so thank you very much
I can’t message as I’ve not been a member of the forum long enough haha. Although since you’re all such a friendly bunch I may stay longer and keep the tools for myself lol.
I’d be able to get to chesterfield Halfords today as I have the car... if that suits you obviously? Otherwise I’m either at work, or he has the car in the evenings for work. I don’t want to put anyone out, you’ve all been more than enough help already.
I’d be able to get to chesterfield Halfords today as I have the car... if that suits you obviously? Otherwise I’m either at work, or he has the car in the evenings for work. I don’t want to put anyone out, you’ve all been more than enough help already.
steveo3002 said:
or photoshop a copy of your proof of employment at the local garage and claim a trade card there and then
It’s not me unfortunately that works at a local garage and my photoshop skills are terrible lol.My mums partner who owns a garage doesn’t use Halfords for his tools, and I don’t want to put him out by dragging him along just to register. Like I say it’s not the end of the world (they’re on sale) and I appreciate everyone’s help.
I’ll just remember to tell my other half to go and register for a trade card after Christmas, telling him now would probably give the game away that I’m getting him some tools lol.
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