Anyone recommend a good socket set?

Its horses for courses,you get what you pay for.I've found Snap On to be over rated although others swear by them.I've found expensive tools tend to get lost or stolen just as easily as cheap ones.
I bought a set of Britool spanners when I was an apprentice (i'm now close to retiring) and I still use them.I doubt the name British Tool still applies to them though.
My sockets are now all King Dick,I sell them and reckon for quality they take a lot of beating.
Tools are like cars though,personal choice.
 
Been looking at quite a few.
Havent found anything I like yet.
Once you go 1/2 in drive, price escalates....
 
hairyrover said:
I bought a set of Britool spanners when I was an apprentice (i'm now close to retiring) and I still use them.I doubt the name British Tool still applies to them though.
Click to expand...

Me too. Britool are know owned by Facom, along with Stanley.
 
Its horses for courses,you get what you pay for.I've found Snap On to be over rated although others swear by them.I've found expensive tools tend to get lost or stolen just as easily as cheap ones.
Click to expand...
More expensive = more easily lost or stolen I reckon :LOL: .

Does anyone rate Deltec?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELTEC-1-2-DRIVE-SOCKET-SET-29-PIECE-SET-NO-C29-/160867707876
I have been eyeing up the same set at the same price on the above eBay item in a local tool store for a while. The quality of the sockets certainly looks nice and they are of the "rounded-hex" type that drive on the nut flats which I always prefer. I would have probably bought it if it wasn't metric only - I don't have too much need for metric sockets these days as I am trying to avoid modern stuff :wink: .
 
As far as I'm aware King Dick are the only tool makers who can claim to sell sockets and spanners that they make themselves in this country.Deltec and Thomas Meldrum make some of the stuff they sell but also import and just stick a label on it.
They have that "old fashioned" look to them and most of the tools I sell I use (and sometimes break) so that I can give a more informed opinion of their strength etc,the King Dick stuff has stood up well (although I don't like the feel of the cheaper ratchets) and the Koken stuff is excellent too.
Sad to think of all the British makers that have gone down the Khazi over the years.
 
Bit the bullet, and purchased a set last week.
Had to take off the a/c compressor and thought I would spend the money on tools rather than a mechanic.
Decided on these Metrinch things...which I think are a sort of Snapon copy.


http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct. ... de=091.303

Bought them on the promise of being able to handle different sized nuts and semi rounded ones.
With taking out the a/c compressor, it turns out I had to remove a good degree of the radiator, and shroud.
During this process, it was evident that the sockets have a degree of "take up".
It could be termed "slack", but I don't think this is an accurate description.
Its more to do with the initial movement of the tool moving onto the flat edge...its working edge so to speak.
Once this occured, the tool felt very very secure and strong.
The downside was if you needed to work in a small space area...of limited ratchet turn...this takeup factor precludes tiny movements.
So that said. in such environments, a tight fitting, tiny turn increment ratchet and socket would be the best bet.
As such, was starting to feel a little gypped.
Until it came time to remove the last bottom bolt of the compressor.
Just COULD NOT access this mother...
Tried every which way.
Then I happened to notice this universal joint looking thingy in the box.
Combined with the long extension, it allowed me to enter from underneath the bolt and angle up towards it from an otherwise remote entry point.
I couldn't believe it when I was able to work the ratchet handle and watch it undo the bolt all the way up there to the left of where I was actually situated.
4 hrs to undo 3 bolts.
That would have been about 300 readies at the mechanic!!
My old set simply would have not got that bolt because it would have remained inaccessible.
Now to find a replacement compressor and make a bracket...and fit it up...get a belt...fit it up...regas...etc etc
 
The ratchet and extensions do look similar to Snapon. I hope it lasts well. Those universal join gadgets can indeed be a life saver sometimes.
 
Personally I don't rate these one socket fits all sets at all.
My old foreman used to have a thing about adjustable spanners,if he saw you using one he'd take it and throw it out the window.He must now be turning in his grave at about the same revs as a mazda rotary on full throttle.
 
hairyrover said:
Personally I don't rate these one socket fits all sets at all.
Click to expand...

Time will tell.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to remove some parts from a p6 which was being wrecked.
In removing the front shocks, the top nut (or was it bolt?) was very tight.
The ratchet removed it no problem...and with no inkling of slippage.
 
Its personal choice really,I've spent most of my working life messing about with engines and machinery and for me a 1/2 inch af spanner or socket fits a 1/2 inch af nut or bolt and a 1/2 whit by a 1/2 inch whit etc,etc.
If they're tight,worn or rusted then maybe a 'foreign' sizes tool the next size down might be used to shift it.
Horses for courses again.
 
If my boss saw me with metric tools on one of his airframes, I doubt my feet would touch the ground en-route out the door. :mrgreen:

There is some really nice stuff out there, I have sockets and accessories by Beta, Palmera, Snap-On, Snap-On Eurotools, Stahlwille and Facom and cannot say without lying that any of them are bad.
Palmera is Spanish, but is a "budget" line of Snap-On, hence it carries the usual support and guarantees. My 1/4" drive shallow 12 point sockets are Palmera and get the most use by far in my toolbox and they have not let me down in any way so far, so you could do a LOT worse than Palmera in my opinion.
 
Hi Brenten,

Sorry to hear about your socket set and the worthless rubbish that stole them.

The good thing about Sidchrome is that they come (or they used to) with a lifetime warranty. I had a 5/8" socket of theirs that was no longer functioning as it should, when to Sidchrome, gave them the socket and they gave me a new one.

As Scott from W.A mentioned, Repco have their own range of tools, I have a number of their extension sockets and so far they seem really good.

Ron.
 
Hi Ron.
Yes, I was aware of that warranty...I remember as a kid how universally admired Sidchrome socket sets were for that very reason...people 'Ooohed and Ahhed" if you had a Sidchrome set.
The one that was stolen was given to me by a friend who purchased it in the late 70's or early eighties (cant remember quite), so it was a real shame to have it taken like that.
What I didn't mention, is the thieving hounds came back a few days later and then stole the spare wheel and cover out of the boot...I mean "why"?
It wont fit virtually anything else...I couldn't believe it.
The replacement tool set I got is the Metrinch one, which I know isn't everyone's cup of tea.
TBH, I had some initial doubts, but so far they have performed absolutely faultlessly...totally impressed with them.
Now I know HOW they work I have FULL confidence when using them...not one slippage or even the feeling of impending slippage...only limitation is the arc they ratchet within is a little more than a normal fine movement set.
For the money (GRR...MONEY!!!), I couldnt be happier. :) (Although I would have rather not purchased them in the first place)
 
One thing I have noticed is that I can order tools from Japan,Germany the USA and just about anywhere in the world and they arrive quicker and with far less hassle than ones from this country.
It sometimes makes me wonder if some companies over here actually want to sell anything when they mess and faff about when they do get an order.
 
I ordered the SU seal kit from the U.K just recently...in 48 hrs it was at my door.
At first I didnt know what the parcel was because i simply wasnt expecting it that quickly!
 
billoddie said:
I ordered the SU seal kit from the U.K just recently...in 48 hrs it was at my door.
At first I didnt know what the parcel was because i simply wasnt expecting it that quickly!
Click to expand...

SydneyRoverP6B said:
That is seriously quick Brenten. Was it delivered by international courier or through the mail?
Click to expand...

I err...upon opening it was another package from the U.K which I had forgotton about and thus assumed it was the gaskets. :oops:
 
Kinchrome are pretty decent as are Blue Point (Industrial snap on); you can often pick up either relatively cheaply on eBay or similar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top