Apprentice's First Tools, - Stahlwille? Repco? or ???

Great stuff ! :)

Had a chat to the Boss, and they are'nt going to let him (too) loose on client's cars with spanners, so he suggested to relax till end of year. - Phew!

At the same time, had a look in Masters / Woolies... and they had some pretty good value Top-Boxes for $299. - Drawers ran smoothly and came all the way out...
They have - the store I visited - a limited range of Stahlwille spanners and sets, but was impressed with their reasonable prices for single spanners. (short or 'normal' length.)

One of the reasons I was inclined to Facom or Stahwille, Unobtanium etc.... and not Snap-On, - none of the other mechanics there have them ! :p

I've still got an old "Elephant" brand 10" shifter that I bought when I was xx, around 42 years ago. Still works fine, barely marked despite being used as hammer, lever, shovel...and spanner.
As well made as BAHCO, which shows that the Chinese can do it if they want to...

I have a bit of everything here that I have picked up over the years but mostly sp and kincrome a hand full of specialty tools from strapon but there's a few stand outs that have already been mentioned koken ratchets only way to go solid good feel and I haven't destroyed one yet and there impact drivers are also great. Knipex side cutters and pliers I use side cutters ALOT removing and fitting drum brake return springs current pair have nearly 8 years of daily use and miss treatment and will still cut a 10c coin in half in the blink of an eye Chanel lock multi grips also good the best pipe spanners going are hazet if you can find them . Someone mentioned craftsman tools from sears in the u.s. these are great my old boss had these he wore out an Allen key and when I went over to the u.s on holiday I took it with me and they replaced it no questions asked .

But don't get me started on strapon great tools but the rep here is hopeless and I'm fighting with them to get the trigger replaced on my cordless gun. I really shouldn't complain its had 4 years of 3 or more blokes using it flat out day in day out with out a problem just poor support at times

Where do you get Facom in Oz, please?
And does anyone know of a Britool distributor? For that matter, do those that know the brand still rate them, or are they no better than Draper nowadays?
I bust a no. 2 VDE Phillips last week & need a better replacement. That was about £25 from Haymans iirc - about 2 or 3 years ago!!! :mad:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dougal

My advice.

Buy a different brand to the people you work with. It makes it much easier to identify your tools and thus much easier to make sure they remain yours.

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And also paint them as best as possible bright red or yellow.
Makes them easier to see and harder to lose.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ratel10mm

Where do you get Facom in Oz, please?
And does anyone know of a Britool distributor? For that matter, do those that know the brand still rate them, or are they no better than Draper nowadays?
I bust a no. 2 VDE Phillips last week & need a better replacement. That was about £25 from Haymans iirc - about 2 or 3 years ago!!! :mad:

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Have a look at Big red toolbox au.:D

This is what happens when you buy cheap tools.Sure we were swinging on them,but i have swung a lot harder on my quality set i have had for over 20yrs and they are still ok.




http://[URL=http://picturepush.com/public/13680733]https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...13/09/1141.jpg[/URL]

Ouch!

lol... yea, we've snapped a couple of cast alloy Stillsons as well, my steel "Stillson" brand are still going strong after some 30 years in my hands and about 20 odd in my fathers hands before that, there heavy but I have had a 1 meter extension on them and they didn't break, just bent slightly

Can anybody advise on where and what brand pipe wrench to buy I would like a set to use at work. :D

Ridgid still make good pipe wrenches, in both steel and Alloy. Trade link and some other plumbing supplies will sell them, as well as Total Tools.