Thread: Metric tool set

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

so you'd reccomend a full set of snapon, bluepoint and stahlwille then...

90% of the mid range tools now are all the same pattern parts including the sidchromes and stunningly the higher priced stuff

all the snapon stuff at work fits perfectly into the kingcrome/JBS boxes and vice versa

are you saying that they(the tools) are all coming from one or two factories?

With the change in production and ownership, going off what a person bought 10 or so years ago can not be applied nearly as much any more.

Sidcrome as sold at Bunnings is rubish!
Kingchrome has dropped its game quite a bit as well.

Regarding stanley, a chippy mate has a small stanley industrial set (current vintage) in the black chrome. Fit and finish seemed pretty good. Ratchets worked well on light and heavy work. Seemed like good bang for buck

for a while kmart specials, kingchrome and sidchorme all came from the same base casts.

tools that were +/- not very much got sent down the sidchrome lines
tools that were +/- a notciable but acceptable amount went down the kingchrome line and
tools that were obviously useless went onto become kmart 300 piece for $100 tool kits.

the main point was buy a moderately price cheap kit, the tools that break the fastest are the ones you use most so keep the kit and then replace them with the same tool from a better brand.

that way you dont spend $1200 on a 70 piece snap on kit in which you never use the $30 11/32 1/4 inch drive left handed flangy (or half of the rest of it very often) you have a (medium range brand name here) $200 70 piece kit with an $50 stahlwille ratchet and a $15 bluepoint 13mm 12point socket and a $22 snap on wobble bar extension that have replaced the tools you wore out from overuse.

Originally Posted by uninformed

are you saying that they(the tools) are all coming from one or two factories?

With the change in production and ownership, going off what a person bought 10 or so years ago can not be applied nearly as much any more.

Sidcrome as sold at Bunnings is rubish!
Kingchrome has dropped its game quite a bit as well.

Regarding stanley, a chippy mate has a small stanley industrial set (current vintage) in the black chrome. Fit and finish seemed pretty good. Ratchets worked well on light and heavy work. Seemed like good bang for buck

What do you base your statement on that Bunning's Sidchrome are rubbish, I have Sidchrome going back 50 years as well as some Bunning Sidchrome and I have not had any problems over the 10+ years that I have used and abused them, what seems to be the problem and how many have you returned to Sidchrome for replacement, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

What do you base your statement on that Bunning's Sidchrome are rubbish, I have Sidchrome going back 50 years as well as some Bunning Sidchrome and I have not had any problems over the 10+ years that I have used and abused them, what seems to be the problem and how many have you returned to Sidchrome for replacement, Regards Frank.

I agree. I have the same Sidchrome ratchet socket set from bunnings mentioned earlier in this thread and they have been well used and abused. Still in perfect condition. I'd buy another set tomorrow.

I have a set of these sitting in the back of the 4wd, strong enough to dismantle a toyota diesel without stripping or breaking anything, just needsa few common sized 12 point sockets to cover all situations.
https://www.tradetools.com/products/41421
I grabbed mine on special at a better price.

Originally Posted by Tank

What do you base your statement on that Bunning's Sidchrome are rubbish, I have Sidchrome going back 50 years as well as some Bunning Sidchrome and I have not had any problems over the 10+ years that I have used and abused them, what seems to be the problem and how many have you returned to Sidchrome for replacement, Regards Frank.

If you think the sidcrome of today is anything like that of days gone by you are blinded by your own emotional bias. How many times has it changed hands? how many times has it change manufacturing loctaions etc.

I dont own any (of coarse that will make any info I add not count right) But a few mates have/had it and all had ratchet problems and 2 had stripped sockets. No 3 foot water pipe added or used in a commercial enviroment, just DIY mechanics. I think one had a combination spanner brake and open end, but that may have been kingchrome?

I bought a kinchrome set from bunnings and it broke the first time i used it. I noticed this particular set was not available at the local tool shop and the kinchrome stuff the tool shop had was vastly better quality. YMMV.

Originally Posted by Judo

My 2 main purchases about 3 years ago were sockets and spanners. A sidchrome socket set that came with imperial and metric up to 32mm. Got it at Bunnings for maybe $150 IIRC? They've been bashed about and used on my press for changing suspension bushes as well. No damage to report.

I took a gamble with spanners and bought this:

Spanner Set - 25 Piece Combo Metric - Supercheap Auto Australia

They get used every few weekends for all my Landy work (among other things) on both DIsco and now 110. They were so cheap I'm not worried about breaking them and don't hesitate to add a long bar for leverage or hit with a big hammer. No damage to report!

Has anyone else has tried the SCA spanner set? Maybe it was too cheap for anyone to bother, but so far they've been great.

Yes I purchased some SCA and Tool Pro sockets and spanners as well as ratchet handles. Although I haven't tried to "murder" them they have stood up well to regular use.
Also Coventry Fasteners have a good range of CGL Tools which have a lifetime warranty IIRC. They had a very good promotion on a couple of years back and these tools were going out at exceptionally low prices to advertise the product. So far the ones I got have stood up well.


Cheers, Mick.