Socket set, what and where?

[TheEntertainer]

Hi guys,

The $30 socket set I bought from repco has now had it, not that I was surprised!! So, I'm looking at something that will last this time.

What can you guys suggest?

And where to buy?

Cheers

The Entertainer

[spudboy]

I know that the new Sidchrome aren't up to the original Australian Made Sidchromes of old, but they are still nicely made and have a good warranty.

You can go way upmarket and spend a bomb, but for general home mechanicing they are excellent.

That's what I think anyway, and I am starting to go 3/8" instead of 1/2" inch for general socket set stuff these days.......

[Redback]

Stanley or Kingcrome, good value for money and will last, if I was a professional I'd buy Snap On, but I'm far from being that;)

Baz.

[abaddonxi]

If it's Repco branded, and it's broken, they should replace bits. Lifetime guarantee.

Simon

[rick130]

Snap On is over rated.
I have quite a few Snap On bits including a 1/4" drive socket set (which is excellent) but like Stahlwille are just silly expensive.

Teng seem well made. I bought a combination kit of 1/4 and 3/8 drive allen, torx and posidrive bits a few months back and they are holding up ok.

Redbacks suggestion of Kinchrome or Stanley are good. I like Proto too (Stanleys upmarket brand) They feel and look like Snap On without the price.

[long stroke]

Kingchrome seem to be alright to;)

[TheEntertainer]

cool thanks guys,
one more q?
what is the min and max 8-32mm ok?

[JohnF]

If you look around pawn shops you might find some hardly used older Sidcrome, etc., and save yourself heaps.

[Utemad]

I like the Sidchrome socket sets. TradeTools seems well priced and is where I go mostly for tools.

I've got 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2in sets. All necessary but I think the 3/8in set is the best starting point for general use but it depends on what you are doing of course.

I actually got the 3/8 set off ebay second hand. Half the price of new and still in perfect nick as you would expect from these tools.

[Phoenix]

I have a set of the current sidchrome range in 1/2 in drive Hasn't faltered yet!

I think I may have gotten it from trade tools or similar at the time.

[d@rk51d3]

Had an old Sidchrome set for years, and when the sockets split I tried for warranty.

I got the old "lifetime warranty is just the average lifespan of the product. Not lifetime as such." So no warranty.:mad:

Went and bought an Eclipse 1/2" set from Spear & Jackson about 8 years ago, covered 8mm - 32mm, plus imperial equivalents, ratchet, bars, extentions. It's been a great set.

For all the small gear I have a Bahco 1/4" set which also inludes flat, phillips, allen and torx bits, flexible shaft, swivels etc. and is also a very handy kit.

I've just ordered a Fuller 3/4" set that covers 26mm - 60mm (I think, might just be 50mm) and imperial equivalents and associated bars, ratchets etc.

Should be a nice farewell gift for myself when I leave work a the end of the week.:angel:

I think that covers it.

[p38arover]

Redbacks suggestion of Kinchrome or Stanley are good. I like Proto too (Stanleys upmarket brand) They feel and look like Snap On without the price.

Is it still Sidchrome-Proto? Some of my later Sidchrome stuff is so labelled.

See also http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/50352-sidchrome-warranty-2.html

[BigJon]

Should be a nice farewell gift for myself when I leave work a the end of the week.:angel:



Where do you work? I have mates in Strathalbyn and I get down there every now and then. Might even end up there this weekend.

[D3Jon]

I wouldn't touch Sidchrome with a bargepole. I treated myself a 1/2" set just over a year ago (cost over $300). The ratchet's mechanism locked up within a week (no abuse), the replacement ratchet's black handle grip slips off just when you least expect it to, the ratchet mechanism is awfully notchy, and sometimes if the selector "button" isn't just in the right place the ratchet mechanism slips... bloody awful :mad:

The sockets themselves seem ok (so far) in the above set, but the ratchet is just plain cheap crap IMHO. I use the new sets sockets with an older 1/2" ratchet from another set that has a much better smoother precision ratchet mechanism.

When I bought mine they had an offer on of "buy this and get a long ratchet free by redemption", when it arrived I noticed it was posted from "The Stanley Works" (in Sydney IIRC).

Spend a little bit extra and get the Kingchrome stuff... that's my advice.

Jon

[rick130]

Is it still Sidchrome-Proto? Some of my later Sidchrome stuff is so labelled.

See also http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/50352-sidchrome-warranty-2.html

Don't know Ron, all I know is that I have a few ring spanners and they are Proto USA and that Stanley owns Proto.
They have the finish and feel of Snap-On, and IIRC I picked them up at Glenfords down your way.

Another nice brand is Kokon, made in Japan.
I have a 1/2" breaker bar that I bought after killing my Snap-On one.

[p38arover]

I've been using Sidchrome for nearly 50 years - from when I bought my first car in 1960. I bought my first Sidchrome tools in the mid-Sixties but Dad had them, too. I also have his Hazet socket set from the late Fifites. My preferred 1/2" drive ratchet is my Dowidat or Dad's Hazet. I don't like the Sidchrome rachets with their push button. I have three Sidchrome socket sets, two in 3/8" drive and one 1/2" drive.

My first 1/4" drive set is the Kokan given to me by my late son but I also have a couple of Stanley 1/4" drive sets since acquired from my son's estate.

My recommendation for a first set is to go 3/8" drive. I use them alomost exclusively now and rarely get out the 1/2" drive. I also have a 3/4" drive socket set.

I also have Sidchrome, Dowidat, and Stanley ring spanners but I prefer the Sidchromes I bought in about 1966. I've also got Stahlwille and Snap-On from my son's estate.

Funnily enough, I still have and use an old Japanese ETC 3/8" socket set I bought in 1968 - from the days when Japanese tools were not much to write home about. It has lasted exceptionally well.

So to answer your question, Jan, any of the name brands (even Sidchromne despite earlier comments) will do what you want - in a non-commercial application. I notice a few of my local mechanics like Kinchrome.

The reason some use Snap-On is, I'm sure, that Snap-On have a van that goes around the workshops and induces apprentices to buy their stuff on a plan. My son bought Snap-On from the van when he was an apprentice mechanic.

Do not waste your money buying cheap spanners from SuperCheap. I did (as they were for a one-way trip and I wasn't bringing them home on the plane). I broke one spanner the first time I used it.

[rick130]

I should just remember one day to get the Snap On reps phone number and try for warranty with the breaker bar as I still have it, even though I broke it about three years ago :o

[wardy1]

I bought a great kit from Bahco.... very well made single hex sockets, 1/2" and 1/4" drives plus a set of ring/open enders all in a great case which keeps them organised:). They probably aren't up there with Snap-On but like you, I'm not a pro either. These were plenty good enough for me to remove a tailshaft in the bush so I could get home. The kit is on special at Bunnings atm for $229..... about $25 less that I paid 6 months ago. They are we'll worth a look I reckon.

[waz]

I've been really happy with Repco branded tools. They are fine for what I do and they often have 20% off sales.

W

[MacMan]

If it's Repco branded, and it's broken, they should replace bits. Lifetime guarantee.

Simon

I tested this the other day. I bought a Repco 1/2" socket set about 14 years ago and just recently had an issue with the ratchet handle. The direction switch had a small thumb tab that broke off. Also had the 17mm deep socket which had started peeling chrome plating very early on (that stuff is SHARP!!!). I approached the local Repco and asked what the situation was and they told me they'd either replace the ratchet handle or put a kit through it, and the socket was a no brainer replacement. He even left me to take the handle home in case I needed it while they sort out the solution.

I've been wanting a decent spanner set, so after that experience I'll be buying Repco. Sidchrome needs to be sent away I am told. Repco will always swap on the spot if they have the stock, otherwise they'll order it in.

In terms of quality, the sockets have been superb apart from the 17mm deep socket. Absolutely no damage to any of them after some very heavy use of the usual sizes.

[Defender=1st]

I've got an SP socket set and i think its bloody good..a few of the blokes at work have sidchrome and the SP it alot more fine in the teeth where the sidchrome is very notchy as jon said..and if the bolt is slightly loose will not ratchet and just turn both ways..i thought being finner in the teeth the SP wouldnt be as strong but i have used mine with heaps of weight behind it and had no problem..also SP have a lifetime warranty
Just my views

[hodgo]

I have had a sidchrome 1/2 drive socket set since 1970 has done a stack work, been used and abused, had to replace the 1/2, 5/8 & 9/16 socket afew years a go as they were worn out but otherwise I can not fault them. I was luckey my set came with AF sockets and whitworth sockets which have come in very handy when working on landrovers I have since brought a few metric sidchrome sockets .
Might be a bit dearer but they are good value.

Hodgo

[MacFamily]

I bought a Supatool 1/2 drive socket set about 6 months ago and its been great.Havent heard anything bad about them, was told they are made in the same factory as Kingcrome if thats true.

But my dad has a Sidcrome set he bought back in the 70's which Iam waiting to get one day :D.

My brother has all Kingcrome sockets and spanners which he bought at trade price when he was working for a tool/trade shop he says they are real good.

[TheEntertainer]

Well thanks for all the replies. think I'm going for this one:

Kincrome 43pce Socket Set AF & Metric. #02043P (http://www.justtools.com.au/category273_1.htm)
Kincrome 43pce Socket Set AF & Metric. #02043P (http://www.justtools.com.au/prod1539.htm)

My dad has a Gedore, is the brand known in australia, it's germane made and a great set.
Cheers and ty for all the advise!

ps. it was a good topic!

[Bigbjorn]

I have a Britool 1/2" Whitworth set from 1957, Sidchrome 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" AF and metric sets from about 1970, and a Ying Tong 3/4" AF set bought for $49.95 from Crazy Prices about 1996. All are good. The cheap Chinee surprisingly so.

[RichardK]

I have a myriad of brands, my Sidchrome socket set I bought in 1963, still all intact even the metal box with METAL dividers...........not that plastic that doesn't last. have both metric and AF Kinchrome ratchet gear spanners (Xmas present) Sidchrome ring, OE and shifters, in fact ery rarely do I buy the cheapies unless it is because I can't get anything else on the day

The old maxim............You get what you pay for..............

[p38arover]

I also have a set of BA open end spanners and BA nut drivers from 1965 - they were part of my tool box as supplied by my employer. The spanners and the plastic wrap holder are like new!

[Bigbjorn]

I also have a set of BA open end spanners and BA nut drivers from 1965 - they were part of my tool box as supplied by my employer. The spanners and the plastic wrap holder are like new!

BA fasteners are rarely seen today in new stuff. Hardly used ever outside electrical items and instrumentation. I no longer bother stocking BA taps and dies. Demand is principally from restorers and hobbyists like model makers. A couple of years ago I bought a BA tap and die set, "LAL" brand, top shelf wooden boxed set 0-16 BA, three taps and a 13/16"die in each, all HSS, with tap wrenches, die stock, internal and external gauge plates. Garage sale, a retired pom fitter who migrated here in 1960 and brought every tool he could think of with him as he did not know what was available in the colonies. The set had never been used, taps still in plastic tubes and the dies in yellowed cellophane wrappers.

Bruce Gardner in Melbourne, trades as B.S.F. Bolts, 0408 056 255, can supply most BA fasteners and cutting tools.

[LRCounty]

I tested this the other day. I bought a Repco 1/2" socket set about 14 years ago and just recently had an issue with the ratchet handle. The direction switch had a small thumb tab that broke off. Also had the 17mm deep socket which had started peeling chrome plating very early on (that stuff is SHARP!!!). I approached the local Repco and asked what the situation was and they told me they'd either replace the ratchet handle or put a kit through it, and the socket was a no brainer replacement. He even left me to take the handle home in case I needed it while they sort out the solution.

I've been wanting a decent spanner set, so after that experience I'll be buying Repco. Sidchrome needs to be sent away I am told. Repco will always swap on the spot if they have the stock, otherwise they'll order it in.

In terms of quality, the sockets have been superb apart from the 17mm deep socket. Absolutely no damage to any of them after some very heavy use of the usual sizes.

x2....I was given a Repco 1/2" socket set 15 years ago as a gift. The only socket that failed was the 8mm. That was 2 years ago, and Repco swapped it on the spot with no receipt!

I also have a Repco 8-19mm spanner set. They've been great too.

[3toes]

My father used to have a hand tool supply / import business. His advise to me when I started looking was:

To spend the extra on a socket set as the cheap ones were a false economy. Price of a socket set is in the number of sockets they fail at quality control for not being right size. Also watch for the ratchet as these are easy to make cheaper but look good. Another point to watch on a socket is the thickness of the socket wall. Some are far too thick to be able to get into tight spaces. When inspecting remember sockets wear on the inside not the outside.

Spanners he advised to buy middle market and accept that they will still spring in the jaw and go out of size. Replace the individual spanner once this happens. Too many rounded bolts are due to this.

Keep all the old sockets / spanners as they are good for when you want to hammer a socket on or move a bolt which is no longer the shape it was when it left the factory. Keep good and old in seperate tool boxes.

Second hand shops / pawn brokers are good hunting ground for quality kit at rock bottom prices.

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

3toes x2 ;) Swap Meets and Sunday markets are the places to look, as a lot of the traders go to suburban garage sales just to buy late uncle's/father's tools = $50 the lot, and on Sunday $2-5 ea;) I have bought a lot of very good quality tools in specific sizes and types,1/2-9/16 Banana spanner (tappet adjusting spanner) usefull for all sorts of things, UJ nuts ;)and lots of stuff on series vehicles, I take a list of what I want and what type=IE deep socket and just cruise the sites while the Mrs does the plants etc. :)

My choices,OLD Sidchrome,Dufor,Bahco,ETC Industrial,Kingchrome,KC(was the other partner of Kingchrome before they split)STAHWYLIE,DOWIDAT,and anything branded as King-D*ck,or other US manufacturer. I also look for BSF & Whitworth as it is used on suspension/transmission stuff on Series.


cheers

[BlueBandit59]

Hi everyone .
Just thought I would put my 2 bobs worth in and say I am 58 and worked on all makes and models of vehicals from the age of 15 .
My first tool kit was my fathers I think mostly sidchrome and some whitworth.
Then I invested in a new tool kit all sidchrome and have not had a problem with any of them .
CHEERS NEV.

[Chucaro]

I used Stahlwille every day for more than 30 years and never have problem with them.
For casual use the Kincrome are good enough

[rick130]

BA fasteners are rarely seen today in new stuff. Hardly used ever outside electrical items and instrumentation. I no longer bother stocking BA taps and dies. Demand is principally from restorers and hobbyists like model makers. A couple of years ago I bought a BA tap and die set, "LAL" brand, top shelf wooden boxed set 0-16 BA, three taps and a 13/16"die in each, all HSS, with tap wrenches, die stock, internal and external gauge plates. Garage sale, a retired pom fitter who migrated here in 1960 and brought every tool he could think of with him as he did not know what was available in the colonies. The set had never been used, taps still in plastic tubes and the dies in yellowed cellophane wrappers.

Bruce Gardner in Melbourne, trades as B.S.F. Bolts, 0408 056 255, can supply most BA fasteners and cutting tools.

I have a complete BA tap and die set Brian, IIRC they are P&N dating from the sixties (probably older than me)
A bit like my 1/2"drive Ritch Tension Wrench. When it was last tested a few years back it was as accurate as the scale :eek:

[Bigbjorn]

I have a complete BA tap and die set Brian, IIRC they are P&N dating from the sixties (probably older than me)
A bit like my 1/2"drive Ritch Tension Wrench. When it was last tested a few years back it was as accurate as the scale :eek:

Suttons, who have owned P&N since about 2001, still list individual BA taps and dies in their catalogue. The prices beggar belief. You would be lucky to find one of their distributors who actually stock them. Major engineering suppliers today tend to stock only fast moving lines and show you pictures of anything else, say they can get it in for you, and then want to charge you the couriers invoice.

[Franz]

Hi guys,

The $30 socket set I bought from repco has now had it, not that I was surprised!! So, I'm looking at something that will last this time.

What can you guys suggest?

And where to buy?

Cheers

The Entertainer
Just puchased a 81 pce Kinchrome socket set with 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" sockets for $229. Liftime warranty. Bought from Cost Less Bolts.

Cheers,

Franz

[87County]

Suttons, who have owned P&N since about 2001, still list individual BA taps and dies in their catalogue. The prices beggar belief. You would be lucky to find one of their distributors who actually stock them. Major engineering suppliers today tend to stock only fast moving lines and show you pictures of anything else, say they can get it in for you, and then want to charge you the couriers invoice.

it is usually cheaper to purchase one-off items, eg. reamers, from tool suppliers in the US (even though our $ has dropped)... & I think our $ will rise again in this year so if you can wait....

[Bigbjorn]

it is usually cheaper to purchase one-off items, eg. reamers, from tool suppliers in the US (even though our $ has dropped)... & I think our $ will rise again in this year so if you can wait....

I import machine shop supplies from the USA and also China and India. If I needed stock of BA tools, I would have them made in China. I already get BSW, BSF, BSC, BSPT tools made there.

The USA is still the prime source of engineer's precision tools, particularly machinists tools. They are still the toolmakers to the toolmakers. The widest range of metric taps and dies are from US sources. Surprise you, that the non-metric yanks can do this? Excellent prices and superb quality. The Poms and Euros have priced themselves out of business (my business anyway). Pom and Euro postal charges are staggering, to make a bad thing worse. An example, A$220 air mail out of Poland for a set of books for a Stankoexport surface grinder.

[87County]

I import machine shop supplies from the USA and also China and India. If I needed stock of BA tools, I would have them made in China. I already get BSW, BSF, BSC, BSPT tools made there.

The USA is still the prime source of engineer's precision tools, particularly machinists tools. They are still the toolmakers to the toolmakers. The widest range of metric taps and dies are from US sources. Surprise you, that the non-metric yanks can do this? Excellent prices and superb quality. The Poms and Euros have priced themselves out of business (my business anyway). Pom and Euro postal charges are staggering, to make a bad thing worse. An example, A$220 air mail out of Poland for a set of books for a Stankoexport surface grinder.


Brian, I didn't know that was what you do.....

... I'll pm you next time I'm looking for something (I've had enough of b********s attitude towards the hobbyist)

[robert42]

Hi All, hope thing arnt to hot for you.44 c is just about it.. Johnf thats what my tool box is made up from . pick the eye out of the second hand joints tools . all good stuff if you know what you want.. the down side is half have some one eles name on them .. Smile the best for a lot less..robert42..

[seano87]

Today, I purchased a Bahco set from Bunnings $229, and it just got used as part of changing the tensioner pully bearing on my 300tdi, and also replacing 2 wheel bearings on my parents car, the ratchet handles are comfortable, and the uni-joint extensions were invaluable.

Comes with lifetime warranty, today I'm a very happy boy, I'd pretty highly recommend them for anyone who likes to do a fair bit of DIY. :D:D

[MacMan]

Just exercised the Repco on the spot warranty again with a tired old 14mm 1/2" socket that had started to walk off bolt heads. The gift that keeps on giving...

:p

[JohnF]

Hi All, hope thing arnt to hot for you.44 c is just about it.. Johnf thats what my tool box is made up from . pick the eye out of the second hand joints tools . all good stuff if you know what you want.. the down side is half have some one eles name on them .. Smile the best for a lot less..robert42..

do not worry about someone elses name as long as you keep your reciept [make sure it lists what you purchased.] Long time ago I purchsed Sidcrome ratchets that did not work and took them back to Sidcrome who gave me a new one on their lifetime warrenty. It will not work today. Today my son spends his tool alowance buying second hand tools from cash converters, etc.