Looking for a good range socket set...

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

I've got the Halfords large set as well -it's good but I paid I think £100 on sale, which I still thought was a bit steep (bought them when I moved here and was still comparing prices to home - £100 is about 3x what I'd have paid for something similar in Canada -should have shipped all my tools over ).

If you can get into Costco they have a similarly large set for £50 IIRC. Nice big stainless tool cabinets in there as well...

Costco set:

I love costco's, my parents are both members, i will have to nip too the one i know... but i ain't got a card myself and i am never off when my parents are off as i work when they dont! :P but i'll see what i can wangle.

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by ManxMatt34

I love costco's, my parents are both members, i will have to nip too the one i know... but i ain't got a card myself and i am never off when my parents are off as i work when they dont! :P but i'll see what i can wangle.

I had a membership at home and didn't realise they had stores over here when I immigrated, so didn't bring my card. I was kicking myself as it seems more difficult to get a membership here, but my wife recently started a gov't job so we joined up here. First time I went in it was a bit surreal - just like I'd stepped through a portal into a Costco back home as it was exactly the same.

If your parents are both members and they don't go seperately, they could probably name you on the 2nd free card, so you can go on your own. I did that in Canada for a while, as I didn't go often enough to warrant a membership of my own.

Halfords do some good stuff, but if you want stuff that lasts, and a lifetime warranty, buy the Snap-On or Bluepoint stuff. It's expensive (I just got a 3/8 ratchet, 6" and 4 " extension, and a 3/8 breaker bar. The bill for those items was £85. Don't even start me on the price for deep metric hex sockets (Never use the multihex el cheapo sockets - they just screw up the heads of the bolts....)

Then again, I use the tools daily, and they've got to stand up to some serious abuse, so I buy the best I can afford.

Only buy the stuff you need, or use the most, anything else is just a waste, and will gather dust.. And a good tool cabinet is a must along with solvol, WD40, and coppaslip... the most commonly used stuff on a bike..

[timwilky]

Agree with Snap On if you need professional quality tools, most people don't. I have acquired most of my stuff loose as I need it.

However, the question is sets, I have a couple, they languish in a drawer to be pulled out when I get phone calls and have to take tools. I do not have an all encompassing set, but a 1/4" britool, 3/8" Teng, 1/2" Bahco, 3/4" Britool. plus specialist sets for torx, allen and impact drive etc fitting.

For best value (quality, price, functionality, usability) I would have to recommend Bahco. I bought them when not exactly flush and needed 6 point flank drive sockets. Best set I have ever bought. 2 people whose stuff I worked on were so impressed they bought similar Bahco stuff.

Then again I have paid over £100 for a 1/2" drive snap on ratchet.

[Viney]

Teng tools are not as expensive as Snap on but just as good quality IMHO. Another brand to throw into the mix is Calrke Pro. I have a set and used a lot, and still working happily after a few years. The set i have cost about £35 or there abouts.

I think in general i use the 10,12,13,14,15,17,22mm sockets and thats it. I use 3/8 size, and i also have a 1/4" drive set as well, again clarke pro. Thats never been out of the bix as i have a Draper pro handle and some cheap sockets 4-10mm that i use and a samll set of Hex bits. A 3/8 set of hex bits is handy as well.

[Bibio]

dont buy the sets. you will only be paying for stuff you will probably never use.

halfords:
3/8 drive
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 22, 24mm
ratchet 72 tooth
small torque wrench
large and small extensions
hex drivers set
spark plug socket 10mm
universal joint

spanners (combination)
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 22, 24mm

BTW ebay has some good deals on halfords stuff.

bits and pieces:
oil filter wrench (pliers type)
engineers pliers
feeler gauges
chain breaker/riveter

ebay: (optional)
swingarm removal tool
headstock nut tool
engine nut tools

ABBA stands:
sportsbike stand
swingarm removal adapter

wherever:
front paddock stand

should cover most jobs on a bike, if you need anything else then buy it as you go.

Slightly old thread I know, but I went in to Halfords looking for some new tools and a new chest to sit on my roll cab.

Found this deal which is a 150 piece ratchet/spanner set with a nice solid 7 drawer chest for £199

I've already got the same chest up at the farm and it cost me £150 on its own a couple fo years ago. Comes with roller bearing drawers and srawer liners. Nice box.

Tool kit covers most things, 1/4" 3/8 AND 1/2" decent set of spanners, torx, allen etc. And considering the chest, £50 for a semi decent socket sets not bad, I believe halfords do a life time guarantee too

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by jimmy4237

Halfords do some good stuff, but if you want stuff that lasts, and a lifetime warranty, buy the Snap-On or Bluepoint stuff. It's expensive (I just got a 3/8 ratchet, 6" and 4 " extension, and a 3/8 breaker bar. The bill for those items was £85. Don't even start me on the price for deep metric hex sockets (Never use the multihex el cheapo sockets - they just screw up the heads of the bolts....)

Then again, I use the tools daily, and they've got to stand up to some serious abuse, so I buy the best I can afford.

Only buy the stuff you need, or use the most, anything else is just a waste, and will gather dust.. And a good tool cabinet is a must along with solvol, WD40, and coppaslip... the most commonly used stuff on a bike..

Er

a) Halfords professional has a lifetime warranty
b) My set is 16 years old, in that time I've had one 3/8 ratchet replaced[1], one 17mm spanner and one 3/8 to 1/4 adapter.
c) Plus Gas is what you want not WD40 (WD40 lives under the seat for emergencies).

Druid

[1] The ratchet mechanism wore out, normally ratchets are excluded as you can get the repair kit but unfortunately they'd redesigned the ratchet so rather than get the repair kit ordered they just swapped the ratchet.

Gonna consider that Halfords one 7755 Matt said about, especially with that lifetime warranty, i hope they deliver to the Isle of Man as we don't have a Halfords here.

I'll deliver it for the cost of the set, diesel, ferry (car and trailer) plus beer :P