Thread: Sourcing Tools

Weight is usually a good measure of a tools "quality". Good tools usually have a bit of weight about them, cheaper versions don't. Comes down to what they are made from and how well they are made.

Cheaper spanners are okay if the nut is a little over hand tight. However when it comes to shackle bolts, lug nuts or the like we usually resort to a length of pipe on the end of the spanner as extra leverage as none of them undo easily the first time. Good spanner should not bend though should ( still ) allow good amounts of skin to be removed from the backs of the hands in most positions.

I've a mix from garage sales and markets of Kingcrome and Sidchrome, which works out a cheap way to stock up or build a good tool kit as good tools don't age if looked after. Takes a while but then most good things do.

Having said that, my tool kit began as a basic set from KMart for $40 and surprisingly only one spanner has broken in the 10yrs but you can guess the length of pipe I had on it. :roll:

Yes I too made the mistake of buying a supercrap socket set, broke the ratchet first use. Then I was stupid enough to go back for another to replace it, with the same result :roll: . Ended up buying a decent ratchet for more than the cost of the entire socket set.

Hi Vlad
I always check Cash Converter style shops.The trick is to know what you want and the real value,then when you see something you want offer them 1/2 the price they are asking,they usually settle around 1/2 way between there and their price.Swapmeets are also good places to pick up the odd spanner or 3.
Only buy good brands,you soon get sick of ill fitting cheap rubbish.
Andrew

If it has super in the name, it generally is not that good :wink:

Vlad, if you are going to purchase tools for the long haul then as others say don't waste good money on garbage tools, good tools may seem expensive now but when you don't need to replace them (other than when they get lost or the kids(?) "borrow" them) then they are cheap. I still have my original sidchrome socket set bought in 1964 and many of the spanners bought shortly after.
And as an after thought if a cheapie fails when you are dependant on it you'll never forgive yourself.
As for what I carry on a local trip
A/F 1/2" and 1/4" drive sockets, open enders and ringies up to 1"
1 1/4" and 1 5/16" sockets and open enders for the suspension
a selection of screwdrivers, pliers, sidecutters, vicegrips, multigrips, hammer, starter motor socket wrenches, multimeter, couple of files and other things which I may throw on impulse like a hacksaw.
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Just last few weeks ago I had to buy wide range of tools, for professional work. I have bought many Minimax sets and tools on Ebay. Minimax is professional quality (they are produced in Japan and Germany only, never China !) and it was time for them to reduce store, what resulted in very, very attractive prices. Unfortunatelly they just finished this sale (maybe I bought so much from them [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] ) and now its no longer so attractive. But still worth to try: Minimax on Ebay.
Snap-on or Blue-point: sure, very good quality, but they are not worth that crazy prices !
adam

I agree with all the other posts.
Bite the bullet, and get good quality.

I bought a set of sidchrome combination spanners about 20 years ago.
Cost about $100 each for A/F and Metric.
I still have them, and they look like they will last me for the rest of my life.

I have an ETC socket set which I bought about the same time.
Again they cost about $100, and a few years later ETC renown for making crap products. I think mine are good quality, and will also last a long time.

Be wary of "Life Time Guarentees". The guarentee is for workmanship only. If you break a tool, and it's not caused by a manufacture defect, then you lose.

Ahhh Tools grunt grunt grunt ,

Im the happy owner / user of a set of sidchrome. Did you know that KMart used to sell sidchrome - in the days when you could get a rifle from them too.....

I used to work there back then and when they cleared the tools i bought them - all!

I also have a set of 1/2 inch drive long sockets in both metric and Af - they are Repco brand we won them on this points thing they used to do when I was in the tyre industry.

The good tools discussion is a fave of mine, i genrally will buy good ones - but as I have a good base set i dont need to muy that many.

I would offer this bit of advice - Neither a borrower or a lender be - Eveytime I have borrowed a tool it has broken and then you have to buy two - one to replace the broken one and one for yourself.... and everytime I have lent tools out - they dont seem to come back

Mate shop round give glenfrds toold a look - I know they had a good Cresent set in a poxy plastice case a while back - it was a steal in price - cresents are commonly used in Kiwi land - not good but not bad quality. King chrome , Sidchrome, KC, Kokon, Stahl Willie, ETC (Old) are all good . Look for a replacement lifetime warranty. (which you will find all those ones do have)

Unless you have too much money - or want to get badly into debit buy Snap On / Blue point. They are great tools though a little sharp on the edges for my liking - i like to know im holding a spanna .

Any company that sucks in apprentices on pay by the week deals needs to be taken with caution and $300 + for a 1/4 drive socket set in my books is simply too much.

Be wary of "lifetime warranty claims - I know of a reputable van sales tool company that charge lots for 1/4 in drive socket sets who had a creeper on the market whos wheels couldnt handle the grime and oil off the workshop floor. They replaced them twice before no dbilling the warranty- so let the buyer beware.

When it comes down to it, if you arent a tradie - buy good tools and my friend they will see you out - thats why you see them in boxes at clearing sales and antique shops.

Tool kits - I have two a drawer system for home and a bren gun barrel bag that cost me $10 from a disposals it is the same width of the back of the disco and rolls out to give a good clean working area when im awar and god forbid I break down.. if ya like i can put up a photo.

Mick