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

Stahlwille tools are used to build the Bugatti Veyron, so they must be ok. Repco are great, as is Sidchrome and Kinchrome. Go for something with a replacement warranty, and you'll be fine. Snapon are for the super rich, their Bluepoint stuff is just as good, and with the same warranty. But it's good to buy nice, rather than to buy twice. Get it right the first time, and they'll serve you your whole career.

I have a variety of different brands - Snapon, Sidchrome, Kinchrome and all good - personally I think the Snapon spanners feel the best to use.

However I just lashed out and bought a complete kit of SP tools, as I've never had a full set of any one brand, and I needed a new box and roller cabinet. They are very nice to use, and were priced better than Kincrome stuff, and I would rate them similar quality and feel. Pretty happy with them. This is the setup I just got. My son thinks its what the Death Stars tool boxes must have looked like...



Not top shelf, but would last for years in anyone's hands I would think.

I have a set of Stahlwille tools that I bought in 1975 and they are still going today,as good as the day I bought them,I used them every day for over 30 years.They are thinner than a lot of other brands and therefore fit into places that others can't get into.The only problems I have had is a 10mm 3/8th socket that I rounded by putting a 1/2" adaptor on and using too much force and a 3/8 ratchet that the mechanism failed in,which I just bought a ratchet mechanism for.You won't go wrong.I believe in buying once and forget,rather than buying cheaper and wishing later

something he can replace without a mortgage,, He'll have lost most of them in 4 years anyway--

Have a look at Beta from Italy. Five Star in my opinion. Snap On are overpriced by miles due to their pyramid marketing structure. If you are into heavy duty work rather than motor parts replacing then Armstrong Bros. of Chicago are the only choice. Allen of Allen head bolts make glorious socket sets and are not overpriced. Does anyone in Australia sell Sears Craftsman? Worth looking into.

I would reccomend he use a kingchrome setup to start with and then as he breaks the high usage items he replace them with either sidchrome, snap on, bluepoint or stahlwille

I also strongly reccomend that he go for a decen box straigh up with good foam inserts.

X 2 for SP tools. I got a huge discount recently on their Field Kit. And although they've only had light use so far I'm happy with them.

This one. It's a heavy bugger of a thing. Needs a roller cabinet so I can get back some bench space...

The Beta link got me onto an Aircraft Mechanic forum. Beta gets a reasonably good write up, along with th American 'Craftsmen' range.
Snap-On for their thin-walled sockets score a guernsey as well. - But the consensus is very much overpriced for the level of quality.

Consensus is you get what you pay for, and easy to over-pay...

Will run this thread past the Master Mechanic to give him food for thought. Bit of a cruel trick to get him to read something positive from "Land Rover".

- The SP set certainly looks the part....

Many thanks to all of you, - Nice to get Professional viewpoints as well as spanner-swinger enthusiasts.