GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => The garage => Topic started by: Bandit127 on 15 June 2012, 20:11
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I have 2 sets of 3/8" sockets from Halfords - 1 'professional'. They are pretty good, but I need a 1/2" set too. The rusty nuts and bolts on my Mk3 need a good quality fit or I will round stuff off left right and centre. No need for Snap On stuff for though - and sadly I cannot afford Facom which I use at work and are very good.
So I am after suggestions for a good, but cheap 1/2" socket set for the tough stuff.
I found these and they seem OK for the money.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-194650-Socket-2-inch-Pieces/dp/B002HMXR6I/ref=sr_1_5?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1339786789&sr=1-5 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-194650-Socket-2-inch-Pieces/dp/B002HMXR6I/ref=sr_1_5?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1339786789&sr=1-5)
What else would you recommend?
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there will only be a few uses for a 1/2 drive.
only time i do is for 13 mm PLUS socket
then the impact sockets come out with a small breaker bar and one rachet . flat sided and tough, espeically if they need hammering on
maybe a different route to take rather than a whole 1/2 socket set :smiley:
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I like the way you're thinking...
I will never break an impact socket - even with a breaker bar... And a 450 Nm electric impact driver can be had on Amazon for £50 or so too (when I can afford it). http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clarke-CEW1000-Electric-Impact-Wrench/dp/B0039BQRUO/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1339790638&sr=8-13 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clarke-CEW1000-Electric-Impact-Wrench/dp/B0039BQRUO/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1339790638&sr=8-13)
Would just need a quality ratchet plus some extension bars for a really good set.
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halfords pro or draper expert seem to be good value budget ranges that are reasonably tough.
six sided sockets are good for shifting stubborn bolts but a 19mm bihex is vry usefull for spinning the cranck round if your ever pissing about with that.
tho for marine work an oxygen spanner may be a far better investment
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buy cheap buy twice :) haha i bought halfords.. now im moving onto snap on for a fair few reasons. sick of breaking rachets so instead of having to buy a repair kit snap on just change no questions asked. same for sockets, you can really feel the quality in snap on tools imo, plus i have to try and be cool at work......... :)
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snap on isn't all that.
there lifetime warranty is not all it's cracked upto be and they make you pay for ratchet repairs as the ratchet mech is called a wearing part now.
far better quality avalible on the market for simalar money
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halfords pro or draper expert seem to be good value budget ranges that are reasonably tough.
six sided sockets are good for shifting stubborn bolts but a 19mm bihex is vry usefull for spinning the cranck round if your ever pissing about with that.
tho for marine work an oxygen spanner may be a far better investment
Totally agree, I've a plethora of tool brands and the Halfords professional 1/2 ratchet set my old man bought for me about 15 years ago is still going strong. I've simply built on it and purchased additional bigger sockets etc over the years. Superb value for money imo.
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In regards of rusty and damaged bolts I would highly recommend investing in a set of Irwin bolt exstractors. These come in 3/8" and bailed me out numerous times.
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Teng 1/2 EGAY £20.00 odd still have mine after 12 odd years and bearings just started to slip on grip?
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Britool also make some decent stuff.
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Good advice, thanks all.
I think it is Teng that make Halford's professional socket sets.
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Oh really, this would explain why they've lasted so well then.
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Teng are the only ones that use a hard polyplastic grip and after 12 years of everyday hard abuse its lighter than any solid metal one! Plus I seem to torque things up quicker with it, than my other heavier sets.
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ive had a teng socket set i use it everyday had it for years.
from 8mm to 19mm
useful : D
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Cant go wrong with halfords pro IMO I use them everyday at work so they do last and when something has gone wrong they will do a straight swap out of the cupboard,wratchet spanners with the flexi head I've had 2 replaced with no problems at all oh and a U.J,even silverline spanners are good I've had a couple of big spanners 27 and 30 mm that have been used for 3 years,often belted with a hammer and even the Crome finish is still intact so I'm impressed with them I don't own any silverline sockets though but am pretty impressed with the quality. Chambo
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Halfords pro gear is draper expert. Most of it looks exactly the same too. Nothing wrong with it, equally up to snap on standards (which in my opinion is overpriced average quality gear for the grease monkey who needs to buy it on a payment plan).
Benefit with halfords gear is if it's broken you can take it back to the shop 7 days a week and there is a spotty youth ready to swap it 7 days a week.
I have gear from facom, teng, draper, wera, britool (now called britool expert), laser, Kennedy....
A good mixture. I can't fault any of the gear, it all serves its purpose.
If you want sockets for undoing rusty bolts, make sure you get 6 point (high torque) if available. They apply pressure on the flats of the hex rater than the 6 edges. The 12 point or multi point sockets are usefull only for fasteners that are clean and regularly undone.
I just bought a britool expert rail of sockets. £20 from eBay 10mm through to 32mm. I really can't fault them.
If people are busting the 1/2 inch drive ratchet then they aren't using them as intended. Get a decent strong arm/breaker bar around a meter long.