Socket set - up to the task

The halfords sets fit the bill pretty well as an all rounder, I bought one of the 120 piece sets last year to keep on the truck and its got me out of a few tight spots. The one gripe I have is that it's orientated towards 3/8th sizes so the likes of suspension work can be difficult due to lack of leverage on the shorter ratchet. also they include a full imperial set of sockets which are pretty useless unless, the space could have been filled with a few 1/2 inch sockets. Also no 1/2 inch 18 socket!

That chest looks pretty good value though, you could hardly go too far wrong with it.

Id go for the the 120 piece myself the chest has a lot of useless bits in it to just fill the space id go with that and finish it off with a good seperate set of socket bits hex,torx etc

The Chest isn't actually Halfords stuff, I've one here the missus bought me and its all pretty shit, ratchets dont last, sockets split and extention bars bend.

Either of the other 2 are very decent, I have the 2nd one here but as already mentioned, the sockets up to 19mm are 3/8 which is a pain in the arse and the ratchets are smooth so with wet or oily hands its hard to get a decent grip but all round, they're a pretty decent set.

I'll throw another couple of spanners in the works, I have also got a Teng Set and a Bacho set. Both have a lifetime warranty, not just on non moving parts like Halfords, and I've never damaged anything yet, bar the ratchets but anywhere that sells the sets will supply you with a ratchet repair kit, free of charge. My ratchets also double as hammers if theres nothing else handy. lol

Great info. as always lads thanks. Regarding the 120 piece set, which one of the 2 posted up are you leaning towards? Also Gar, any suggestions on additional set(s) I need to complete?

Have the second set. It's good, have taken apart an E36 with it but to be honest it's missing a few different sizes of spanners and torx heads that you'd need for a beemer. But sure if you wanted to pick these up as well by themselves you'd be winning.

On a side note anyone know where I'd get an e21 socket to take the diff out of an e36?

Gar said:

Id go for the the 120 piece myself the chest has a lot of useless bits in it to just fill the space id go with that and finish it off with a good seperate set of socket bits hex,torx etc

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Also had one of these when I was younger not exact same model but think these chest deals are all popped out of the same place. The tools in the 120 piece set will be of much better quality and when it's Halford Professional range you get the lifetime warranty I think.

As another option for you Ferax do decent run of the mill tools that can take a serious pounding at a very reasonable price, I use these at home when not at the workshop and there has not been anything yet they couldn't do. The finish is decent but prone to surface rust although after a good wiping down it's gone again.

If you could stretch the extra 50 quid, or 35 if you have a discount card - go for this set:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_862463_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

Its hard to see it, but there are black high impact sockets there too, its just difficult to see them in the picture.

Picked it up myself over the Xmas period and its a much better piece of kit over the 120pc. I originally got the 120 piece kit as an xmas present but returned it for the larger one as it has all sockets up to 32mm and a decent variety of most things you'd ever need.


The chest is just muck, don't waste your money.

I bought the 90 piece set ciars as i felt i could make up a better overall kit with it by not spending extra on the others that had bit i didn't need, i will pick up a set of something like these soon very happy with the kit so far although i haven't got it long , the ratchet repair kits are 7.50 if a rachet craps itself also with regard the 3/8 sockets i got a snap on adaptor so i can use the 3/8 socket on the bigger 1/2 ratchet , one thing it could do with is some kind of rubber grip on the handle but that can be easily added on im sure

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuild...1&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16&fulltext=0


http://www.assetfixings.co.uk/power...pc-torxsplinehex-socket-bit-set-seaak219.html

Halfords all the way for me. If i was professional id get better makes but for garage and hobby stuff they're perfect. I would get a good set of screwdrivers though.

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Got the halfords kit similar to the 170 piece set now on offer .for the money brilliant set can't realy fault it ,done lots of work for me only thing I could find wrong is the bit holder socket but its hardly worth mentioning .in my day job we use snap on and other expensive brands , the halfords professional gear is close enough in quality for the diyer.for the price you will find it hard to beat especially when on offer

Blue point gave a 3/8 and 1/4 set .. Breaker bars and spanners 10 to 19 also torxs. Hex. Star heads. Flat heads absolute great set and full life time warranty.. Halfords will only give wareanty if you have reciept good luck on finding that in 5 years time ill try and take a pic if the set tommorow for you

Got a lend of a bluepoint set from.valdas before i picked up my own excellent bit of kit everything you could need in it there snap ons value range is well i believe i think its about 250e for a set from them

I got the 170 piece Halfords advanced kit in September after weighing up my options for a good while.

The quality is close enough to Snap-On/Teng tools but without the associated cost.
The clincher for me though was the warranty and availability of replacement tools and spares.
They carry the same lifetime warranty as Span-On and Teng but the difference is that if a tool breaks when I'm mid-repair and I can't continue without it,
replacing the tool is just a matter of cycling to my nearest Halfords and replacing it on the spot.
Teng and Snap-On tend to take a few days in my experience; still good but a bit of a pain if my car is rendered useless waiting on a tool.

10% off with Axa card in halfords too. dont forget that

listermint said:

10% off with Axa card in halfords too. dont forget that

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15% with axa, 10% with group schemes

Bigboned said:

15% with axa, 10% with group schemes

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is it 15%? i thought they renegotiated it down to 10 ?

Codarsnacht said:

I got the 170 piece Halfords advanced kit in September after weighing up my options for a good while.

The quality is close enough to Snap-On/Teng tools but without the associated cost. .

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A halfords tool kit coming close to snap on and teng in terms quality. Really????

Venom said:

On a side note anyone know where I'd get an e21 socket to take the diff out of an e36?

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Its an E12 you need not E21.

I bought a set in my local agri auto parts. Tried to sell me a teng tools set for €50 but another brand next to it was only €15! It'll do for the amount of times i'll use it. Also, they only had a 3/8 drive so a quick spin to a friend and borrowed his 1/2 to 3/8 adapter and away I went