Would definatly rate the Halfords Pro stuff. Only thing I've managed to break is a T50 torx socket as it was on a 10ft scaffold pole :eek: :eek:

I pretty much walked round the hole store and got everything pro and rammed it into one of their industrial roller cabinets with top chest.

Also got some snapon stuff. Started to buy it before the Halfords stuff then realised there wasn't much difference in the quality, they both had a lifetime guarantee but the price gap was HUGEE!! Also, if you break a socket on Sunday afternoon, Halfords is open. Whereas the local snapon bus guy is in the sauna :rolleyes:
 
Oh and six point sockets are sooo much better than the 12 points. With a 6 point you'll either undo the bolt or snap the head off...... 2 choices. Very little agro then with using a bolt head extractor stupid thinggy.
 
I have a 3/8 yamoto set, has had some serious abuse over last 5 years, used it on cars, tractors, excavators, boat engines and it keeps going, not bad for 45 quid
 
i was taught many moons ago never to use the ratchet to start undoing a tight nut... use the tee bar or breaker bar instead..... ever wondered why its called a breaker bar?.....
i havnt bent a half inch tee bar since i bought a three quarter drive set and a three quarter to half inch converter, the scafold pipe bends before the three quarter tee bar does , have split a 19mm half inch drive socket down the side though.
 
I'm a mechanic by trade and like most young'uns started my career with Snap-on stuff, mainly because all the other mechanics had shiny Snap-on boxes they used to clean with pride and they came to us and could have them on tick!

After a few years experience I stopped buying the over-priced American stuff and started using Halfords Pro tools and have found them excellent, have broken a few things over the years(a lot down to abuse) and have had no problems returning them for a straight swap!
 
sykes pickavant are good too along with snapon britool and halfords pro. but we all know this lol
 
Thanks everyone for your help. I have decided to go with the britool set. I have placed my order so should receive it soon :)
 
Langers said:
I haven't actually tried to get them replaced yet, I know it's supposed to have a lifetime warranty on it, but I definitely don't have the reciept any more.

The bits I've broken are, in no particular order;

1/2 inch ratchet (ratchet broken, used it as a wheel brace :rolleyes:)
3/8 inch ratchet (ratchet broken, used it to try and undo a particularly tight head bolt :rolleyes:)
Miraculously the 1/4 inch has survived! :eek:

One of the 3/8 inch ratchet extensions, at the same time as the ratchet.
Think I've also broken the 3/8 inch universal joint thingy? Not sure.

I've replaced most of the broken bits with spares that I had lying around from old sets, didn't think to try and get them replaced, as most of the time I was abusing the tools when they broke :eek:
Click to expand...
If they wont replace the ratchets under warranty, ratchet repair kits are only £5.
 
I prefer to use Teng tools. I have found them to be more expensive than many other makes, but I have used them for over 10 years on my landrovers and other stuff and never had to replace any of them due to breakages.
 
having spent years working out the back of a van on site with other people running arround i get whatever is going for pennies at the local boot sale..... i dont cry so much if someones ot sticky fingers or i leave something behind........ had a few moments in halfords yesterday... their 99 pound tool sets would be a bargain if you had an empty toolbox but imho everythin else was too expensive.

in my view the biggest waste of money are those fancy multidraw tool cabinets, i just dont see how anyone can justify spending hundreds of pounds on a tool box.... it dont actually do anything o let you do a job you couldnt do without it.


best prog on telly is grumpy old men:)
 
ricc said:
having spent years working out the back of a van on site with other people running arround i get whatever is going for pennies at the local boot sale..... i dont cry so much if someones ot sticky fingers or i leave something behind........ had a few moments in halfords yesterday... their 99 pound tool sets would be a bargain if you had an empty toolbox but imho everythin else was too expensive.

in my view the biggest waste of money are those fancy multidraw tool cabinets, i just dont see how anyone can justify spending hundreds of pounds on a tool box.... it dont actually do anything o let you do a job you couldnt do without it.


best prog on telly is grumpy old men:)
Click to expand...

The reason for having the multi draw boxes is to keep expensive tools in order. so when you start a job you can put your hand on the right tool straight away, and when you finish you put everything back in it's place so you know if you've dropped something in the yard or in an engine bay if there's an empty space in the tool box. It's not such a big deal if you've only got cheap tools but if you've got the expensive stuff you need to keep it where you can keep track of it else it goes missing. and as one old chap once said to me, if you keep losing your tools you obviously aren't paying enough for them.
 
ive used halfords pro tools for years with no problems and was told by local snapon guy that they make them for halfords to the same quality standards as snapon. just keep your recipt and if you do break anything take it back under lifetime warranty.
 
dont know mate just going on what i was told ,and having looked at and used both types in the past there was very little if any difference between my halfords and my mates snapon and no difference in quality ,i doubt they are made in same place as snapon are usa but on wrenches and spanners the pattern was as good as identical when i got mine 8 or so years ago.either way they are good tools and have lasted better than my draper and kamsa sets have by a mile.
 
Sorry to disillusion you but much SnapOn gear is now made in the far east and the quality is no longer any better than the opposition. We use quite a bit of SnapOn gear where I work and to be honest is is pretty good, our friendly local SnapOn van man has just quit, "just got fed up of working for a greedy company selling overpriced goods to unsuspecting people and struggling to make a living" his words not mine. I'm sure we will get a new SnapOn man who will come and sell us what we need and replace anything we break no questions asked. However our old SnapOn man is setting himself up to do the same with a range of manufacturers gear and it may be that he will get the business, we'll wait and see.
 
yes blue point is snapon cheaper range but you can tell difference with proper marked snapon sockets ,ive used most over the years and mostly on battery or air guns ,and snap on apart from original britool are the best fit strenght to wall thickness that ive used
 
The Halfords Professional range is actually just re-branded Britool.

Excellent quality gear, and it's what I've used for a few years now. 99% of the stuff on the shelf is also ALOT cheaper if you have a trade card too.

I also get Sealey tools through trade at work, which works out nice to fill in all the little gaps that Halfrauds don't do.
 
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