Socket set for basic work at home

[anonymous-user]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 03 April 2023 at 23:22

[PositronicRay]

I started off with a Halford 3/8 set. Other stuff I added as req, 3/8 set does most stuff, it's my go to.

[thebraketester]

Cannot go wrong with the Halfords stuff to be honest.

Their 36 piece 1/4" socket set which is brilliant, I carry one in the glove box just in case.

[tapkaJohnD]

I doubt if anything outside 10-17mm soclets would be needed, and if they do, you can buy them as required at Halfords on yiur card. 2300+ piece sets include thinsg no one ever uses, or are most unlikley to. Get a small set, and ad to it as required. No need to spend more than £100 as a starter.

JOhn

[GreenV8S]

CWFN2 said:

Other than that are torx screwdrivers, spanners etc likely to come into need for oil changes/gearbox changes/brake work?

The brand name you need there is Wera (hex-plus L-key).

[Mikey G]

Can I suggest having a look at the 150 piece Halfords set? It contains a few more sockets and bits that would be handy but also contains separate ratchet and combination spanners which may be handy as the 200 piece contains only open end/ratchet spanners and the 90 piece only contains a few combination only.
Having maybe 2 13mm spanners in both combination and ratchet is always a handy thing to have, I know you can use a proper ratchet and spanner on bolts that turn but access doesnt always lend itself to a full size one.
Just thinking of future use.

[Mikey G]

Which ever way you look at it you are going to get pieces you dont use in any of the sets, the fact you have 2 types of spanners in the 150 set sets it apart from the others. You'll never know what tools you will need till you need it and in my opinion this set reduces the chances of being caught short a little less. I have £1000's of tools at home half I never used for probably 10-15 years, but I needed them that day and never got rid of them just in case. But my friend has one of the Halfords cases and swears by it as its all he uses and he has done major engine work, suspension rebuilds and also stripped and refitted interiors in his cars and only has a hammer, jack and screwdriver set alongside his 200 piece kit.

You can do it either way, buy individual sets when you go along but you'll pay more in the long run if you get hooked on tinkering.

[bennno]

Halfords Advance (was professional) stuff lasts and they will replace if you break it.

Bahco is better for a little more, can find it on line.

Biggest problem with the big sets is you end up with a load of imperial sized ste, which if you dont work on classic cars just gets in the way.

Bennno