Sidchrome kit - is this good value?

[Scallops]

A Sidchrome 69 piece Kit - Metric/AF Socket and Roe Set 0.25 and 0.5 DR
(Part number 45344)

Comes in a Red Sidchrome tool box too

At Ipswich Truck Parts - $245.00

Seems a bargain price - am I right? :angel:

[abaddonxi]

A Sidchrome 69 piece Kit - Metric/AF Socket and Roe Set 0.25 and 0.5 DR
(Part number 45344)

Comes in a Red Sidchrome tool box too

At Ipswich Truck Parts - $245.00

Seems a bargain price - am I right? :angel:


http://www.justtools.biz/images/45344.jpg (http://www.justtools.biz/prod5765.htm)

[Scallops]

Hello abbadonxi - is that it? I haven't got a picture of the kit in question and I can't find the exact product on the web - but from looking at other kits, it seems to be a great price. I thought I'd arm myself with some quality tools as it's looking increasingly like I'm going to need them!

Do you think $245.00 is a good price for these Sidchrome tools?

[abaddonxi]

Not the foggiest, I just googled Sidchrome and the kit number, price was about the same.

$3.50 and a bit per piece, that sounds like a good price. Also looks like not too much stuff that wouldn't be useful.

[Scallops]

Can anyone else offer some advice before I hit the Ipswich truck shop tomorrow morning? :angel:

[slug_burner]

I doubt you would get it much cheaper. Each of the wallets of ROE would about $100.

[JamesH]

Is Sidchrome still as good as it was?

You hear talk that since it was sold overseas it went down hill, but that could just be talk.

[Disco_owner]

I personally think for a home mechanic Kinchrome is best value for money.

Edit

My understanding is that Sidchrome is now part of the Stanley's Empire. The stuff sold in Australia is under the Sidchrome banner , in other markets overseas as Stanley Proto which is supposedly Stanley's premium brand for sockets, spanners and the like.

[d2dave]

Sidchrome is nowhere near as good as it was years ago when it was made in Australia.
Having said that they are probably ok for the home DIY spanner.

Dave.

[weeds]

hey dan, on your way to the truck shop stop in at a repco/supercheap and compare prices

that price sounds good

sidchrome are still a reasonable for a home mechanic

[hodgo]

Grab it before it gets away, There is nothing wrong with sidchrome tools except the price I just replaced the long bar with a swivel head in my socket set retail price $74.00 my set is going on 40 yrs old and the nly other items I have replaced is the 1/2 & 9/16 sockets as I wore them out
sidchrome is still made to the same standards.

Hodgo

[Scallops]

Must have been a good deal - they sold the last 6 this morning - before 9.00am - so i mised out. :(

[Sprint]

Hodgo, some of the Sidchrome gear is nowhere near the quality it used to be, atm i own 3 1/4" ratchets from sidchrome, 1 that gets used, 1 thats faulty, and the third is sitting at my local sidchrome agent waiting for warranty approval..... when i talked to the sidchrome rep in june, even he aknowledged there was an ongoing issue witht hem and if i wanted a better quality item i should use a Proto ratchet.....

*meh* the rest of my gear is Sidchrome-Proto, Caterpillar, Stahwille and Minimax.... the 1/4" set is the only Sidchrome gear thats been made in the last 8-10 years

[Jock The Rock]

Hey mate

I bought my toolkit a while ago. I was looking at Sidchrome but quite a few fellas at work suggested not going there. Apparently the warranty is not as good as it used to be, and the quality has dropped

I think it's a much of a muchness

In the end I bought an SP kit. They had a 302 piece kit for a bit less than $2000. There's no way you can get that many tools for the same money with Sidchrome

SP also have a lifetime warranty

Have a look around theres a few different brands out there

[Armadillo]

I think Sidchrome is a bit overpriced these days. I have been quite impressed with the Supercreep stuff - not the cheap gear, but the tools locked in the cabinet. It is excellent quality and finish, good price (much cheaper than Sidchrome) and comes with a lifetime replacement. Each piece is stamped, and all supercreeps will replace it without question if it fails. I would suggest you compare (ie: handle each tool) before you buy - I couldn't find any difference in the quality, weight etc..
I recently bought some sockets, breaker and spanners to do the suspension. These tools stood up to very hard work that would have destroyed most cheap stuff.

[Jock The Rock]

I think Sidchrome is a bit overpriced these days. I have been quite impressed with the Supercreep stuff - not the cheap gear, but the tools locked in the cabinet. It is excellent quality and finish, good price (much cheaper than Sidchrome) and comes with a lifetime replacement. Each piece is stamped, and all supercreeps will replace it without question if it fails. I would suggest you compare (ie: handle each tool) before you buy - I couldn't find any difference in the quality, weight etc..
I recently bought some sockets, breaker and spanners to do the suspension. These tools stood up to very hard work that would have destroyed most cheap stuff.

I'd have to agree with you, I bought a 24mm spanner there a while ago, from memory was only $15 or so

[Scallops]

Thanks for the advice guys - but i still think at $250.00, a 69 piece kit in a tool box is good value - even if Sidchrome isn't what it used to be, its still not junk.

[austastar]

I bought my sidchromes back in the days when they put prices on printed catalogues, and the cost of the kits in boxes usually were more than the total cost of the individual items. I bought a better quality Rotax tool box and the same spanners for about the same price.
"If you can, check the individual prices of each item, deduct for any item you don't want/need and see what you come up with.
cheers

[mark2]

Another option is second hand - there are a few tool sellers who specialise in second hand quality tools for reasonable prices (British, American, Australian, German etc) and who do the swap meet rounds in SE QLD.

[Scallops]

OK it had....

1) 1 X Tool box cantilever
2) 7 X Metric 0.25" drive sockets 4 to 10mm
3) 7 X AF 0.25" drive sockets 2/16 to 3/8"
4) 15 X Metric 1/2" drive sockets 10 to 24mm
5) 10 X AF 1/2" drive sockets 7/16 to 1"
6) 2 X Ratchet 1/4 & 1/2" drive
7) 1 X Flex Handle 1/2" drive
8) 2 X Extension 1/4" dr. 50, 150mm
9) 2 X Extension 1/2" dr. 125,250mm
10) 2 X AF 1/2" drive spark plug sockets 5/8 & 13/16"
11) 1 X Universal joint 1/4" drive
12) 11 X Metric ROE 8 to 19mm
13) 8 X AF ROE 1/4 to 3/4"

These would cost much more than $250.00 - so I found the last kit available at Glenfords and bought it. :banana:

[Bigbjorn]

Another option is second hand - there are a few tool sellers who specialise in second hand quality tools for reasonable prices (British, American, Australian, German etc) and who do the swap meet rounds in SE QLD.

Call Tyron Saunders, aka "Jeckle", 07-3348-9859. He has an enormous selection of new and used tools covering a wide range of trades. Usually has Whitworth tools. He does most of the swap meets within 100 miles of Brisbane. He will be at Beaudesert swap on 13/9/09 as will I. Also at Gatton HMCC swap meet, 23 & 24/10/09.

[Scallops]

Call Tyron Saunders, aka "Jeckle", 07-3348-9859. He has an enormous selection of new and used tools covering a wide range of trades. Usually has Whitworth tools. He does most of the swap meets within 100 miles of Brisbane. He will be at Beaudesert swap on 13/9/09 as will I. Also at Gatton HMCC swap meet, 23 & 24/10/09.

Thanks Brian - there is plenty of room left in my new Sidchrome tool box so perhaps Tyron can help me fill it up - when I discover what else I need! :)

[Sketer]

My last experience with sidcrome has been when I broke something they would not honour their warrenty. The guy at the tool shop said "any other brand and I would give you a replacement now and wait for the rep to call in, with sidcrome I wont."

As a result I will NEVER EVER buy sidcrome again.

Cheers
Peter

[ramblingboy42]

Scallops , I think you bought well. I'm a 40yr veteran on spanners now. I too have broken a few siddies, more than a few kingchromes, and on some big construction jobs I've been on I have destroyed some of the "worlds best"...I'm talking 30-36mm spanners here with 4-5' of pipe on them, but I have never broken a Geodore spanner of any size. they are mostly what I use now.
I think youll be very happy with what you bought and unless you are a big bruiser or use pipe like me then youll never break them.

[Tote]

Scallops , I think you bought well. I'm a 40yr veteran on spanners now. I too have broken a few siddies, more than a few kingchromes, and on some big construction jobs I've been on I have destroyed some of the "worlds best"...I'm talking 30-36mm spanners here with 4-5' of pipe on them, but I have never broken a Geodore spanner of any size. they are mostly what I use now.
I think youll be very happy with what you bought and unless you are a big bruiser or use pipe like me then youll never break them.

Interestingly I bought a set of Gedore open end/ring spanners from Kmart in about 1983, still have them all and they are still in excellent condition.........
They were cheapies then.

Regards,
Tote

[d2dave]

Often cheaper spanners can be just as strong as expensive ones. This is achieved by making them a lot thicker. This sometimes means you will struggle to get it on a nut when in a tight space.

I am a retired spanner and I own a stack of old sidcrome but in the last 20 years I have been a big fan of Stahwillie. Very strong and thin around the head making for easy fit in tight spaces.

Dave.

[87County]

Must have been a good deal - they sold the last 6 this morning - before 9.00am - so i mised out. :(

tool resellers around here tell me that this set will be generally available at $249 from November

[Bigbjorn]

Thanks Brian - there is plenty of room left in my new Sidchrome tool box so perhaps Tyron can help me fill it up - when I discover what else I need! :)

Tyron tells me he will be at the Early Ford V8 Club swap meet and show this coming Sunday. Tully Park, Maclean Bridge, just before Jimboomba on Beaudesert Rd.