Thread: Metric tool set

Originally Posted by Tank

I'm blinded by your ignorance, you don't own any Sidchrome tools yet you quote as fact that they're rubbish because a mate of a mate who knows someone down the road....., c'mon if you have no idea why make broad comments like that, Regards Frank.

Re read Frank, My mates have them, i.e. Me in their sheds, helping with their first hand experience. I use to own Sidcrhome from the 60/70s that were my fathers, I passed them on to my neighbour.

I have also make my living using tools (for over 20 years now) and have a fairly good feel/idea of whats good or not.

If it works for you, great. There is no way I would recommend it to anyone.

Originally Posted by AndyG

Found a nice Stanley Metric set 68 piece in Super Cheap, plus a long lost mate who get's staff discount. Maaaaaaaate.

A good starting point.

I assume you not a tradie wanting to swing these spanners all day every day........so if you are just servicing you own rig with the odd repair or fitting an after market item than pick a price range you can afford...if say your 13mm gets used a lot and it wears out you can just replace the one spanner with either the same quality or better

sounds like you are on your way

yep i can say sidcrome are not what they used to be. i bought a 7/16 ratchet spanner and it was only 4 months old when the ratching stopped working just froze up. was'nt abuseing it at all. took it back and they give me a kingcrome one to replace as they were out of stock on the other. i would have waited untill they did get back in stock, but needed it as was useing for the rebuild of the series 3. not over happy with it but we shall see. then i took a 1/4 drive ratchet back for warrenty (25) years old as it wore out sidcrome and had a s**t fight to get a new one. needless to say i got a new one, but not happy with them saying life-time warrenty. snap on is over rated for the price. when i was part of the U.S.N. we used all craftsman tools and never damaged any, check out sears as they have a good sale on and i will be stocking up on my brocken and split sockets that are in the replace drawer. cheers all

Uninformed, I find the biggest problem with Ratchets (all kinds) is that the ones that break are the ones that are used to tighten or loosen bolts/nuts.
Breaker bars are for undoing and final tightening, not a ratchet, I used to have a 3/4 drive Snap-on (30 years ago) ratchet bar. Until one day it was destroyed by a brainless truck driver trying to undo a left hand thread wheel nut, he had a 5' length of pipe on the ratchet and was amazed when it broke after he jumped on the end of the pipe.
Snap on refused the warranty because the pipe left a mark and the handle was bent, that cost the truck driver a weeks wages to replace.
I have a full set of Sidchrome spanners and sockets replacing tools that were stolen from me, the only problem I have with the OE/Ring spanner set is that they are not round enough where your hand applies the pressure, on heavy duty stuff I need to use a rag, but I'm getting old and soft.
My favourite Sidchrome tools are the Rotating Handle Ratchet and a 50+ year old 9/16"x1/2" ring spanner, it is a bit bent and no chrome left, but it will still undo any 9/16" nut on a tailshaft.
I will sing the praise of new and old Sidchrome, BECAUSE I have used them for over 50 (and 5 years with the new) years and I can rely on them, which I cant say about some other more expensive brands, Regards Frank.

The guts of the Snapon ratchets are easily replaced - you don't need to replace the whole thing. I've had my 1/2 inch done a couple of times under warranty, but the last one I had to pay for. All of $32 I think...

Nice that you could hit the truckie up for the entire cost of a new one though...

Originally Posted by bacicat

The guts of the Snapon ratchets are easily replaced - you don't need to replace the whole thing. I've had my 1/2 inch done a couple of times under warranty, but the last one I had to pay for. All of $32 I think...

Nice that you could hit the truckie up for the entire cost of a new one though...

It not only destroyed the ratchet pawls and teeth it demolished the body of the ratchet as well, beyond repair, Regards Frank.

Worthwhile searching out the older Sidcrome tools from trash & treasure markets or swap meets although the prices are steadily rising.

Kincrome is sourced mainly from Taiwan (they are also responsible for Super Tool & Chrometech). I visit their outlet shop in Scoresby and occasionally a bargain crops up but there is a lot of Chinese stuff turning up there now. Some are samples, some is just imported for the shop, not sure if any of the Kincrome range is from China.

I'd guess Sidchrome is made in Taiwan as well.
Looking at some of the rubbish with the Stanley name on it I'd guess it's mostly from China but could be Taiwan.

I have an Elora socket set I got when I was a young fella back in the UK (a long time ago). I have mistreated the ratchet for many years and can't break it. I got a replacement socket set because I thought the Elora wouldn't last, the replacement set is still unused (can't remember the brand). It came with MM, AF & Whitworth sockets which dates it......

Not too many brand names you can trust nowadays, most have outsourced their tool manufacture.


Sidchrome - part of Black & Decker http://www.sidchrome.com.au/cms/sbd
Kincrome - doesn't make tools http://www.kincrome.com.au/faq



Colin

And a torque wrench of reasonable quality would be "............ ..?