17 replies to this topic

[Matt Zane]

Hi Guys,

 

I hope this e-mail finds you well during these strange times.

 

I thought I'd drop you a line to see if I could get any recommendations. A friend of mine is just about to hit a big birthday, and he's been talking about buying himself a Mini this year as a present to himself. He seems to be quite invested in the idea. I want to encourage him, so I thought that I would buy him the basis of a tool kit (which he will invariably need at some point)

 

I've built up my tool collection over the years and inherited a load of tools from my Grandfather who worked for a racing team in the 50's and 60's  so I've not had to start from scratch, and when I need something, or need to replace something I tend to pick it up piecemeal.

 

I've looked at places like Halfords, and their professional line kits  looks good, but they don't seem to have an imperial set for working on classic British cars. Likewise amazon sets all seem to be metric. Ordinarily, I would have popped down to my local motor factors, and built him up a kit myself, but in the current climate, I'm forced to do my shopping from behind a computer and get it delivered to him, which is why the all in one is a preferable option.

 

So I thought I would ask you guys if you know of a good all in one box solution, I'm looking to spend maximum £250 on the kit. I'm looking for a decent home mechanics starter set. A good array of imperial sockets, with decent ratchets, the inclusion of combination spanners would also be nice, but not absolutely essential.

 

What are you recommendations?

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Cheers,

 

Matt

 

[Jase]

Funny enough I have been doing the same. The professional sets do have both in some instances. There is a good set with 1/2", 1/4" and 3/8" drives for £125 that covers both metric and imperial.

[nicklouse]

Halfords do do many AF sets. So maybe look at getting a few sets. Spanners, 3/8 drive ratchet and a set of standard and deep sockets. Actually make that two sets of spanners.

[bpirie1000]

The guarantee with halfords will keep you right for some time. Just make sure it is the professional range. Lifetime guarantee..

So long as halfords stays afloat in current climate...

They do imperial and metric.. just need to ask the right person. One guy I asked in halfords said they were all the same. Eh no... just no.......walked away in disgust...

[rich_959]

I have a mixed metric and imperial halford advanced set with three different sized ratchets, ring ratchet spanners (very, very useful) screw driver sets etc. I think it was £125 down to £62.50 in one of their half price sales.

 

It has done everything I needed in the strip down of my mini with the exception of the main hub nuts which I had to buy a socket and a strong arm for. This set, plus a torque wrench and basic other stuff like pliers etc has covered all my mini needs so far. 

[sonikk4]

Halfords Professional sets are fine and if you have a Trade card then nice and cheap.

[Quinlan minor]

Matt Zane it might be worth seeing if there's anyone on here, with a Halfords Trade Card, reasonably close to you. it does give a healthy price reduction.

[bpirie1000]

Or even the auctions sites..

[jt19]

I bought a DeWalt tool set from Costco. it's got metric and imperial sockets and spanners! Allen keys aswel ...very handy.

[MatthewsDad]

Machine Mart has a wide range of imperial socket and spanner sets.

[MikeRotherham]

If you need some odd bits and pieces I have bought a number of Silverline sockets and sets with a small number of sockets on a rail. They do imperial sizes and also some six sided sockets. Got a six sided oil sump plug and also a six sided socket for Rover 'minlite' alloy wheel nuts.Got mine from Ebay and Amazon.

Edited by MikeRotherham, 08 April 2020 - 06:14 PM.

[RustyAutoCityE]

Although not a big kit like you are after, I have been impressed with the Sealy "Wall Drive" sockets. Nice and tight, they have saved me a lot of hassle on the more exposed nuts and bolts. Also available cheaper then listed on the Sealy site.

[mm man]

Halfords historically have EGGCELLENT deals on bank holidays that even beat the trade card deals so with Easter on its way now is a CRACKING  time to buy .

[Tomm]

I knew fully well the halfords professional range will have already been recommended in here.

The below is very true.

The guarantee with halfords will keep you right for some time. Just make sure it is the professional range. Lifetime guarantee..

I must have been using this tool range for 10+ years. In the early days it was an pain to get anything replaced. You had to have the original bill of sale which would fade over time. Last year I broke a ratchet and put it in my pile of “broken halfords tools” don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a big pile.

Talking with the neighbour who’s daughter worked for halfords he told me that now they don’t need the receipt to replace the items, they just have to be branded “halfords professional”.

Took them all down, no questions asked, all swapped, on a ten year old set of tools. I can’t complain with that!

[hazpalmer14]

If they have a deal on and a trade card you can use both to get a bigger discount. Used that to buy my tool box and a 1/4 socket set I got for like a tenner