Thread: King Chrome tools

I used KC at school and thought they were okish. I like sidchrome but too expensive and apparently stanley are made in the same factory.
I stick with stanley as the price is pretty good and they have been good in the past and also have lifetime warranty on them, but i am yet to see what they would be like if they broke

warranty on Kingchrome is good if you have the reciept and get them from a reputable tool shop Bunnings, Supercheap and Repco dont count (supercheap maybe if you're friends with the manager)


I got a 3/8th drive set of kingchrome and used it for about 10 years Still got most of it, I lost a couple of the sockets after the plastic tray splintered away to nothingness and the 13mm socket has cracked apart which is more to do with the fact that its the most used size on jap cars and landrover brake caliper bihex bolts. (which are 110nm)

I recommend them as entry level tools and generally suitable for operator maintenance. (which includes occasional major overhaul work)

I have mostly stanley stuff, with the exception of a supatool 3/8 socket set that I have had for more than a decade. I haven't had an issue with their spanners, 1/2 socket set or ratchet ring spanners, and my typical home use is higher than average. I have some old sidchrome sockets and ring spanners too I got off ebay 2nd hand, but a lot of that stuff is bought by people who want to on-sell it for more $$$ so the prices aren't that great sometimes.

Have to say that i'v had a pretty fair run out of Kincrome stuff. Most of it would be 20+yrs old and the only thing I have broken is a 3/4 1/2"drive socket, too much time on a rattle gun, and a 1/2"drive ratchet that's fairly sloppy nowdays....

Never broken a spanner and most would have been linked with another at some point in their lives. Think a 10mm has a fair bend in it, but not broken. Have a few Repco/JBS spanners missing half a OE jaw from lesser use.....

They get used everyday at work, where a 7/8 or 1" spanner with 2' of pipe slipped over the ring end is not and uncommon thing to do....

My older stuff looks somewhat different to their new gear tho.

I actually prefer the one (current line) Kincrome spanner I own to the one (current line) Sidchrome spanner I own. After everyone I asked about local brands raved about Sidchrome I was very disappointed with the quality of the finish. Give me King Dick or Britool or Teng any day over either of these brands.

I think, as with many things, tools aren't made like they used to be. I've got a set of Draper sockets and spanners that are approaching 20 years old and not one of them are broken. However, I bought a large Sidchrome socket set from Bunnings 3 years ago when I was rebuilding my D1 as I needed some imperial sizes, and I took them back twice after breaking 3 sockets.

yes tools definitely are not what they use to be. one thing i hate about spanners when i was looking is that they are so chunky. I bought a big set 8mm-19mm and the same in imperial for $3.50 they work good have put a lot of weight on them no signs of breaking