Socket set advice?

[Strudul]

Trying to decide on a starter socket / spanner set and would like some opinions. Can't seem to find anything that ticks all the boxes - just want something that will cover most jobs in 1 box.

Was pretty set on the Halfords 200 one as everyone on here seems to rave about it, so was waiting for it to drop, but now the time has come, I think I'd like to avoid 12-sided sockets, and I'm not a fan of how wobbly the sockets are on the ratchets and all the useless imperial bits.

Guessing it's best to avoid cheaper ebay / amazon sets, but was considering Bahco or Teng?

Bahco S103 - no 3/8", but slim ratchets with decent amount of teeth and plenty of useful sockets.


Bahco S138 - Comes with 3/8" and crows feet (will they ever get use?) over the S103, but only has deep sockets for 1/4" and the ratchets aren't as good?


Teng TM095 - Better quality than Bahco? Less extensive kit though, with only 1/4" deep sockets, no 3/8", and less spanners.


Any suggestions / recommendations? Looks like I'll need to complement any kit with a set of ratchet spanners to match the Halfords one.

Cheers

[steveo3002]

does it have to come in a boxed set ? ive always bought what i liked so a ratchet from here and sockets from there and so on

make sure whatever you get isnt missing sizes in the sockets

worth looking for ratchets with a high tooth count like 70-80 ish

[anonymous-user]

I've broken a few teng items, although that is on steam heating not cars, have yet to break a bahco item.

Would also check on draper.

[raddog]

Bahco are now our tool of choice in the workshop, for price v. quality they are excellent and the plastic boxes are solid too.

[steveo3002]

https://www.consolidatedtools.com/

they do some nice stuff...koken is very good for the most used stuff ££

[Strudul]

steveo3002 said:

does it have to come in a boxed set ? ive always bought what i liked so a ratchet from here and sockets from there and so on

Yup. Will hopefully build an array of standalone tools to fill up a chest one day, but for now I just want a comprehensive, self-contained, organised, portable set.

Edited by Strudul on Tuesday 27th November 08:44

[Mroad]

I settled on the Bahco S106 set as it had the best all round parts included. I got a set for work about 15 years ago and still going strong today. I was so impressed by it I bought a set for home mechanic use.
They have taken some abuse and the only things that have broken in all that time are a flat driver bit which was being very abused at the time, a plastic finger off the spanner holder in sub zero temperatures and the catches of the box come away now and again once they have had a lot of use (just re-attach and screw back in).
A fantastic kit and highly recommended and to me is a better quality than a mates Halfords Pro set who has replaced several ratchet mechanisms and bits after breaking on a set he hardly ever uses. It's great that Halfords have a lifetime warranty and no doubt people have had better luck than him with them but I would rather spend time fixing something than trips replacing broken stuff.
Snap-on thought Bahco were good too so they bought out Bahco/Sandvik in the mid 90's forming part of SNA Europe.

If you have 1/4in and 1/2in there is no real need for 3/8in which is just a half way house between the two, nice to have (I have a load of impact sockets in 3/8in) but not essential and has never been a problem.
Crows foot spanners are also not really essential...until the one job you need them for! Having said that I still don't have a set and never really missed them.

[GregorFuk]

I always buy Teng. I have several sets of their tools. I find them very good quality at a reasonable price.

[tapkaJohnD]

Strudul,
Have another look at Halfords - saw a special offer tool set there yesterday that was a bargain.

Some socket extensions are supposed to be wobbly, helps if the line to the nut isn't quite vertical.

AND! I'll have your Imperial bits, if you don't want them!

John

[Krikkit]

raddog said:

Bahco are now our tool of choice in the workshop, for price v. quality they are excellent and the plastic boxes are solid too.

I've bought 3x Bahco sets and numerous other tools of theirs so far and they're fantastic for the money. A real step up compared to the Halfords Pro but not much different in price.

[Mignon]

Female Torx sockets are bound to be needed at some point. Lots of bolts use male torx heads these days.

[Aphex]

Has the Halfords stuff not got a lifetime guarantee anymore? It comes in very handy when smashing the wrong size bit on a head bolt

[Krikkit]

Mignon said:

Female Torx sockets are bound to be needed at some point. Lots of bolts use male torx heads these days.

I wouldn't be bothered about them not being in a set though - £10 gets you a rail full of 'em as an accessory for those rare occasions.

[curlyks2]

The Halfords 200 Piece Socket Set is less than half price until 2nd December according to their website.

[Strudul]

curlyks2 said:

The Halfords 200 Piece Socket Set is less than half price until 2nd December according to their website.

Aye, though the special black one has sold out.

Can't bring myself to settle for the 12 point sockets and 45-tooth ratchets though...

[ninjag]

The favourite at work are BETA sockets and tools which are used daily on trucks and heavy plant. Not cheap but they hold up to some heavy abuse, lock together nice and tight and the grip is also spot on with no slippage or movement.

There's a reasonably priced set on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beta-Tools-903-C98-Quality/dp/B01F27D0I4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543596355&sr=8-3&keywords=beta+socket+set) although the price point makes me wonder if they are a consumer grade set? I'm sure they will still be excellent quality though.

[161BMW]

Hi OP

I have also been looking at a starter socket set or toolkit with pretty much everything I need ideally in 1 case.

Halfords 200 piece has a lot of recommendations but the case looks and feels pants and 12 sided sockets.

Sealey AK7980
Mechanic toolkit
This has 1/4, 1/2 sockets, combination spanners, pliers, screwdrivers, Allen keys and a very pukka case

BAHCO S138
I never considered this before as it didn’t have pliers which the Sealey had. However has all ratchets 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 great selection of sockets, combination spanners, screwdriver bits and very tough case. Plus they are owned by SNAP ON. Pretty much all the reviews for this toolset and for most of BAHCO products are very good. Excellent case too.
I would need to add pliers and adjustable spanner and torque wrench to this set though.

Mannesmann 215 socket set
Was looking at it as great selection and made in Germany. The key down for me is the pathetic case which is not very strong.
I would need to add pliers and adjustable spanner and torque wrench to this set though.

Left field choice
SNAP ON Bluepoint https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[Bodo]

161BMW said:

...
Mannesmann 215 socket set
Was looking at it as great selection and made in Germany. The key down for me is the pathetic case which is not very strong.
I would need to add pliers and adjustable spanner and torque wrench to this set though.
...

these are not made in germany - gebrüder mannesmann are just tool traders, who import everything from lowest-cost-countries. if we were looking at german tools who are made in germany, then the choices are the traditional. here#s the biggest three who have their own forgeries in or around remscheid -
http://kataloge.stahlwille.de/katen18/#page_98
https://de.gedore.com/en/products/our-tool-range/t...
https://www.hazet.de/en/products/hand-tools/socket...

the tool cases alone will cost more than the 215pc-mannesmann-kit though, so not a recommendation in the sense of this thread...

[ninjag]

Bodo said:

these are not made in germany - gebrüder mannesmann are just tool traders, who import everything from lowest-cost-countries. if we were looking at german tools who are made in germany, then the choices are the traditional. here#s the biggest three who have their own forgeries in or around remscheid -
http://kataloge.stahlwille.de/katen18/#page_98
https://de.gedore.com/en/products/our-tool-range/t...
https://www.hazet.de/en/products/hand-tools/socket...

the tool cases alone will cost more than the 215pc-mannesmann-kit though, so not a recommendation in the sense of this thread...

I've noticed this quite a lot with tools and power tools, they often say things like "German engineered" or "designed in Germany" with Head Offices often addressed in Germany. Also with American stuff like DeWalt. But if you look hard enough you'll always find that ubiquitous text "Made in PRC"

I did read somewhere though that DeWalt were trying to bring back all production to five big factories in America or something like that. I bought some reciprocating saw blades which were made in USA after the Chinese bendy junk that came with the saw lasted a few cuts. The USA ones are solid and near unstoppable through wood, screws, nails etc. I really hate Chinese crap.

[Tony1963]

Chinese crap is only crap because someone has specified crap quality. They’re quite capable of making extremely good items if that’s what someone wants.

Saying that I avoid when possible