Steve Campbell Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Just a quick one..is the Halfords Professional range still viewed as the best quality/value for money socket set ? I see the 150 piece is £99.99. Looking for a Xmas present of new set so wondered what the current wisdom is. I've managed for ages with a crappy Argos set I had for years but the ratchet is knackered and I'm fed up of skinning my knuckles 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Yes, very good stuff and the current deal on the 150 piece set is very good - better still if you add the club discount to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil G Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Best set - Snap-on without a doubt. big bucks!!! Best value is not so easy. In the old days I would have said Britool but now who knows?. Halfords represent good value for money under normal home garage use but I'm not so sure working mechanics would rely on their products. Edited by - Phil G on 11 Nov 2009 22:20:00 Edited by - Phil G on 12 Nov 2009 18:30:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Or better still Facom (Machine Mart carry a limited range) - always preferred the Facom range as the ergonomics of the tools and fine ratchet along with surface drive sockets - IMHO these make Snap On look like the typical US car, big heavy and crude. Snap On do make some nice kit which has found it's way into my tool box though For infrequent use though the Halfords Pro range is very hard to beat, I have quite a few of these bits and I've yet to see any fail . Too young to be old ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrelevant Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Or better still Facom (Machine Mart carry a limited range) - always preferred the Facom range as the ergonomics of the tools and fine ratchet along with surface drive sockets Agree . . Facom is lovely stuff 🥰 In spite of having a pretty substantial tool collection, I still mostly use my Halfords 150 piece set (supplemented with a couple of extras like the Caterham imperial allen keys you need). You can do most jobs on a Caterham with this kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Halfords will do fine. When you break he ratchet, get one of the Facom ones, which is a top bit of kit. I use the Facom surface drive six point sckets, with a facom72 tooth ratchet, and it works well,especially on the hard to shift nuts. No more rounded corners - just sheared fasteners! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randybugger Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I think the Halfords set has a life time g/tee Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Technically, the lifetime guarantee doesn't apply to ratchets. However, I got mine replaced when it jammed without any questions. I also got a spanner replaced FOC when I lost it. Now THAT'S an impressive guarantee! (Would never have occurred to me to ask, but it's one of the double-ended ratchet spanners which they don't seem to do as individual items). The best thing about the Halfords set, IMO, is that it's all in one place, you can instantly find anything, and you can see if anything's not been put back (which has often saved me from driving off with spanners on my scuttle or engine block). I always use it in preference to my motley collection of assorted Snapon, Facom and Britool stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Pee Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Phil G. Ah, Yes, Britool, used to be the best. I had one for my 21st and am now 66 and still blatting. Only replacement has been the ratchet. Updated I hasten to add with metric kit and lots of additions and a torque wrench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil G Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Facom forgot all about them. Phil “If you want a place in the sun, you have to expect a few blisters” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I found the Halfords tool kit to be very good value for money. Ratchets aren't covered under the lifetime guarantee, but a replacement mechanism for my 1/2" ratchet when it seized up/wore out was only £3 or so with a trade card. Only thing is that I've broken my plastic case so I have to lug everything around with a bungee cord holding it all together. And I'm not paying £40 for a new case from a seller on eBay who is cashing in on the whole kits being £100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grebby Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I'm sure JackMS got his case replaced under the guarantee, possibly twice. It might be worth asking about. Cheers Grebby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I've asked about it a couple of times. I think it depends on who you ask and how helpfuly they are feeling to be honest! My case is an old-style one and I'd probably take twice as long to do a job because all the tools will be in different places if I got a new case! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Wong1697456877 Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I put my sockets on rails and built up a trackday/roadside toolkit. It's stored in one of these. The beauty of this is that it fits like a glove between the two rear fixings of the roll bar. The bolts have to be turned around so that the nuts are on the outside. One luggage strap wrapped around the brackets for the roll bar holds it in absolutely rigidly. It bulges a tiny bit on the boot lid but not enough to hinder closing etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redmax Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 My case broke as well - the hinges are a weak point. They wouldn't replace mine as I didn't keep the receipt. I fixed mine by installing an M4 threaded rod from B&Q with a closed nut on each end through the hinge assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 My case also broke, F355GTS gave me a phone number to call who were very helpful and sent a new case in the post within a week Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Campbell Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 150 piece set acquired today 😬 Looks very good. As I'm removing the Diff at the moment I need the long ones to get the A frame off ...so good timing.. Thanks for the advice. Steve Campbell P889 GRR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now