Cheap Tools

[Dave_Askham]

I knew that would get most of the forum users attention.

I've just read a thread by Daveluck regarding a broken pulley and he was pleased with the fact that he may have a great excuse to buy some additional tools.

I just thought it was worth mentioning to the group, for if you don't have all day everyday to sit in front of a computer (like myself) that Halfords are doing a half price sale on most of their socket sets both on-line and in store.

The Halfords advanced stuff has a lifetime guarantee which I can vouch for as I have broken and swapped a number of items with them historically with no fuss what so ever.

I know they are not the best quality tools, but when a £300 comprehensive socket / spanner set is coming in at £150 then it can't be sniffed at I don't think and makes a great start to a good set of tools.

It may be worth leaving the home PC / tablet logged on and the web page set to the preferred socket set of choice to see if the other half may take the hint for a Christmas gift...

I hope someone finds this info useful.

[Fez_uk]

They always seem to be half price.

Good socket set, I bought the largest set you can and has always been great. Shame I lost a few bits from it in the past years. But I think you can buy sockets etc separately if you do loose anything.

[Dave_Askham]

I have just recently gone down to get a few bits n pieces that I have lost out of my tools and I could not have had a better service from my local Halfords.

I wanted a 1/4 drive 8mm shallow socket and a 8mm ratchet spanner. amongst a couple of other bits.

Sadly they didn't sell the 8mm socket separately, so said they would order one, the guy on the tools counter took one of their socket sets from the back of the counter which they use for replacing broken items and asked if any of the bits I wanted were available in them, fortunately they both were, then the chap did no more than simply give them to me free of charge !!! I couldn't believe it. I even pointed out to him that he was not charging me for them as I paid for my other bits (about £10 worth of tools) and he said that it was his pleasure to help me out !!!

What a service.... he's clearly been to the Halfords customer service excellence course !!!

[emjaybee]

I have also had good service from Halfrauds, I bought a 1/2" drive socket set about 25+ years ago. They have replaced the 17mm socket after sending back to HQ, and I latterly took in the U/J which fell apart whilst fitting new shocks, and they replaced it there and then with a professional one.

The socket set doesn't have any brand markings on it.

On neither occasion have I had the receipt, which probably decayed away 15 years ago, and with the U/J I was going to buy a replacement and happened to mention what occurred. The lad dealing with me, who was a few years younger than my socket set, wouldn't let me pay for one.

All hail Halfrauds service.

[Dave_Askham]

Originally Posted by emjaybee

On neither occasion have I had the receipt, which probably decayed away 15 years ago, and with the U/J I was going to buy a replacement and happened to mention what occurred. The lad dealing with me, who was a few years younger than my socket set, wouldn't let me pay for one.

All hail Halfrauds service.

Likewise.... I was once asked for a receipt, I mentioned to the chap that my socket set was older than him... he laughed, and promptly replaced the part FOC !!!

[firebobby]

I don't really have issues with tools breaking, I look after them and treat them as best I can (not saying you guys don't ) I do have issues with the plastic cases though, stupid clips break off after time and then I have to use a band to hold them closed.

[Daemo]

I have two sets of tools and possibly almost three ( thats just what happens when you move countries and have to get jobs before tools arrive ) one set at home and one set at work, my tools are a mix of reasonable gear, bluepoint,mac,snapon, and other makes but the last stuff i bought was halfords advanced, i bought the big socket set 1/4 3/8 1/2 drive set for around £150 and it came with the professional range of spanners up to 32mm.. I cant fault them, used all day 4 days a week nothing ever broken so far.. i do love my 1/4 drive snapon ratchet though its lovely....

Whilst we are talking tools i have just started using a milwaukee battery drill m18hd at work which is absolutly superb with 3ah batteries, i liked it so much ive ordered one, nothing else compares to what ive used in the past dewalt,makita,bosch...

[terranosaurusdoug]

Originally Posted by Daemo

I have two sets of tools and possibly almost three ( thats just what happens when you move countries and have to get jobs before tools arrive ) one set at home and one set at work, my tools are a mix of reasonable gear, bluepoint,mac,snapon, and other makes but the last stuff i bought was halfords advanced, i bought the big socket set 1/4 3/8 1/2 drive set for around £150 and it came with the professional range of spanners up to 32mm.. I cant fault them, used all day 4 days a week nothing ever broken so far.. i do love my 1/4 drive snapon ratchet though its lovely....

Whilst we are talking tools i have just started using a milwaukee battery drill m18hd at work which is absolutly superb with 3ah batteries, i liked it so much ive ordered one, nothing else compares to what ive used in the past dewalt,makita,bosch...

Hiya, I use Milwaukee stuff, 12v and 18v, I love it and its bloody tough stuff too, mine gets used quite hard, especially my impact driver and they just keep performing! Someone told me they went online to register for warranty and they filled out a satisfaction form or summat and they sent him a free battery a 4ah one too, I'll be checking that out next time I buy summat, Mark

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by firebobby

I don't really have issues with tools breaking, I look after them and treat them as best I can (not saying you guys don't ) I do have issues with the plastic cases though, stupid clips break off after time and then I have to use a band to hold them closed.

Glad it's not just me with bungee cords around my socket set cases

[Fez_uk]

Their largest 200 piece set is currently 125 pounds over the next few days! Bargain!!

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-too...et-spanner-set

130 pounds with a set of scredrivers:
http://www.halfords.com/workshop-too...ver-set-bundle

[quixote]

Originally Posted by Daemo

i do love my 1/4 drive snapon ratchet though its lovely....

I have one of those! I bought it 20-odd years ago when I worked for Kwik-Fit. Cost me £18 back then It's a beauty though, and still sounds like a Swiss watch after all these years.

My tools are a mixture of Teng, Draper, Snap-On, Halfords, etc. And the Halfords seem to last just as well for the most part

[AlexD333]

you think you guys have problems, try driving over your entire toolbox

left it underneath the Terrano one sunny day....

only I could manage that, it's still in one piece... just

[Dave_Askham]

Originally Posted by AlexD333

you think you guys have problems, try driving over your entire toolbox

left it underneath the Terrano one sunny day....

only I could manage that, it's still in one piece... just

i'm lucky I guess, my tool box won't fit under the terrano, unless it's on the car ramp, but well done and good effort !!!

[emjaybee]

Originally Posted by AlexD333

you think you guys have problems, try driving over your entire toolbox

left it underneath the Terrano one sunny day....

only I could manage that, it's still in one piece... just

That's funny. I'm sure it wasn't at the time though.



Some years ago, I had a new mobile phone, went home to empty the wife's muck trailer. On my return, I found my new phone with a rear tractor tyre mark straight through it.



The phone company said it was a record. That phone was active for a total of 12 seconds.

[don simon]

Some years ago, I had a new mobile phone, went home to empty the wife's muck trailer. On my return, I found my new phone with a rear tractor tyre mark straight through it.

I think this is a family forum, old chap...