Socket set, what and where?

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

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

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.

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

Kincrome 43pce Socket Set AF & Metric. #02043P
Kincrome 43pce Socket Set AF & Metric. #02043P

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!

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.

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..............

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!

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Originally Posted by 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!

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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.

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Originally Posted by MacMan

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.

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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.

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.