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[TheBoy]

£50, bringing it to £99.99

Picked one up yesterday (had a load of Halfords money off vouchers as well), and it seems OK. Halfords have lifetime warranty on their Professional range as well.

[tunnie]

damn just when i can't afford it!! - if its on offer again early next year i might get one for my road trip

[Markie]

so its £150 down to £99 ? does it have a torque wrench in it ?! :-/

just bought a cracking sealey long reach socket set....but could be tempted

[Del Boy]

The lifetime gaurntees are very good my case broke and they changed it for a newer 1

[Admin]

You got the case replaced?

If so, off to Halfords I go!

As for the kit, excellent quality (and especially at the price! I paid a total £14.99 for mine after using vouchers I had). Be careful though, there are 2 different kits. Pick the one that will suit you best.

[TheBoy]

so its £150 down to £99 ? does it have a torque wrench in it ?! :-/

just bought a cracking sealey long reach socket set....but could be tempted

No torque wrench

[Taxi_Driver]

I wonder if they will accept a Halfords Trade card to get a further 20% off??

Dont think they are suppose to on discounted items but you never know  :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its not bad stuff but, the spanners are bloody awful......the shafts are much to narrow and dig in like buggery when you apply any pressure......so you will struggle to break the spanners before the bones in your hands are damaged.

[TheBoy]

Its not bad stuff but, the spanners are bloody awful......the shafts are much to narrow and dig in like buggery when you apply any pressure......so you will struggle to break the spanners before the bones in your hands are damaged.

Stops them breaking though

[Marks DTM Calib]

Stops them being useful to !

[Jimbob]

I cant see this on the website?  got a link?
or is this seen in the flesh.

[TheBoy]

Stops them being useful to !

I reckon they are a little short as well, so can't get as much effort on it.

However, I got it because it was cheap (£50 off, and I had a load of vouchers), and it was a fairly comprehensive set I could carry around in a single box if necessary. Plus lifetime guarantee.

And mainly because my previous socket set is missing lots of bits....

[Jimbob]

ignore that, found it

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173083_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_33931_crumb_33958-33943_parentcategoryrn_33931

[TheBoy]

the website piccie is crap. I can take decent if you want...

[Jimbob]

tell me about it, thats the worst enlarge image button ever!
If its no trouble a higher res piccy would be nice.
If im gonna get my hand dirty my 9.99 little socket set will not cut the mustard.

[TheBoy]

[Jimbob]

Cheers matey, thats what I call service, Will pop along and look at one in the flesh.

On a different note, the reflection of your camera looks like an ixus 700, thinking of getting the new model for the wife as mine isnt really handbag sized, any complaints about it, or you happy?

[TheBoy]

Contents...

[TheBoy]

On a different note, the reflection of your camera looks like an ixus 700, thinking of getting the new model for the wife as mine isnt really handbag sized, any complaints about it, or you happy?

How the hell could you work that out from those photos!

You are correct though.  As a point and snap camera, its hard to fault. Doesn't have as many adjustments as more pro cameras, but is convenient and small. Had it since they first came out, and think it does just what it says on the box, though I am not a real photographer.  And if its for the missus, Mrs TheBoy has no trouble using it...

[Jimbob]

lol, just picturing you peering into the photo looking for a reflection!

I've a bit of software (Opanda Iexif) that shows the techy info from photos (photography being my other hobby).

Liked the quality of yours so looked what the camera was, shiny metal confuses so many cheaper cameras, metallic shine can go very purple.

thanks again

[Jimbob]

Youve listed all the important bits about the camera, exactly what the mrs wants, small, quick, easy, great for shots of the kids.

[Bo Bo]

lol, just picturing you peering into the photo looking for a reflection!

I've a bit of software (Opanda Iexif) that shows the techy info from photos (photography being my other hobby).

Liked the quality of yours so looked what the camera was, shiny metal confuses so many cheaper cameras, metallic shine can go very purple.

thanks again

That's a pretty trick piece of software (just downloaded it). Had a look at the pics I posted at Santa Pod & it told me the make & model of my phone too!

[TheBoy]

lol, just picturing you peering into the photo looking for a reflection!

I've a bit of software (Opanda Iexif) that shows the techy info from photos (photography being my other hobby).

Liked the quality of yours so looked what the camera was, shiny metal confuses so many cheaper cameras, metallic shine can go very purple.

thanks again

LOL, I did  

Forgot it would be stored in the Exif data.

Yeah, great little camera for the masses, not enough settings for a photographer.

[Marks DTM Calib]

The question I always have about digital cameras is 'how soon after pressing the button does it take the dam photo'?

I note that the kit has a limited range of Torx sockets i.e. none that would turn the crank during a cambelt change so it might be worth adding at least that.

[TheBoy]

The question I always have about digital cameras is 'how soon after pressing the button does it take the dam photo'?

I note that the kit has a limited range of Torx sockets i.e. none that would turn the crank during a cambelt change so it might be worth adding at least that.

E20 ain't it?

[TheBoy]

Ah yes, E20 is only 3/8 drive...

I keep a 1/4 E20 in my camlock kit...

[Marks DTM Calib]

So digital camers actualy produce a EXIF file which is a jpeg with image detail header....hence it knows what camera you used because your camera added the details to the file when it took it.....!!!

The programme simply extracts the details from the header....

I hope you actualy use a 1/2inch drive one and not 1/4inch.......3/8 should be ok

[TheBoy]

I hope you actualy use a 1/2inch drive one and not 1/4inch.......3/8 should be ok

Bloody fingers. You know what I meant....

[TheBoy]

The question I always have about digital cameras is 'how soon after pressing the button does it take the dam photo'?

As with most autofocus cameras, prefocus first, then take piccy if you are trying to get action shot...

[Marks DTM Calib]

The question I always have about digital cameras is 'how soon after pressing the button does it take the dam photo'?

As with most autofocus cameras, prefocus first, then take piccy if you are trying to get action shot...

Yes but, the active matrix read and processing can still take a second or so which can often mean the image has changed and the moment has gone by the time the image is captured....its my biggest gripe with cameras and why I still use my superb SLR for many shots.

[RonaldMcBurger]

Can I butt in here?

Canon Ixus is a superb camera. I wouldn't consider anything else for me unless it is a digital SLR, but then at £600 up that is out of my pocket money range - for now! My ixus50 is going strong despite the abuse it has had.

Now, thsi mickey mouse socket set from halfrauds? Don't like it at all for the following reasons:

SOCKETS are crap. Not all of them no, just 99% of them. I don't like them at all. They don't grip as well as hex sockets and they are also a bit shallow for my liking. The best sockets in the set are the black road wheel nut ones. The deep sockets are also quite good to be fair. Now, the spanners - I am with mark on this one. They are nasty to use. The other bits and bobs are not that great for my liking and the case locks are just appalling.

Alternatives? Well, the Halfords standard 1/2 drive socket set and the Halfords 3/8 + 1/4 in combination sets are very good. At around £45 for the 1/2 set and £30 for the 3/8, that is a good start. A decent set of combi spanners and some torx sockets is a bett path I think.

It is a bit like Hi-fi. Get seperates then yiou get the best of all worlds. £99 worth? Probably. Would I buy it? No chance. A, I have all the tools I could possibly want and B, Laidback has one that he splashed out £14.99 for.

There. Thats said it now.

[TheBoy]

Yes but, the active matrix read and processing can still take a second or so which can often mean the image has changed and the moment has gone by the time the image is captured....its my biggest gripe with cameras and why I still use my superb SLR for many shots.

Less of an issue for modern cameras from proper camera manufacturers - canon, nikon, fuji etc.  My brother Sony has a bit of lag, but what would you expect from such an up-and-over garage door outfit...

Even the best digital cameras will struggle to get close to a decent film SLR...

[STMO123]

Can I butt in here?

Canon Ixus is a superb camera. I wouldn't consider anything else for me unless it is a digital SLR, but then at £600 up that is out of my pocket money range - for now! My ixus50 is going strong despite the abuse it has had.

Now, thsi mickey mouse socket set from halfrauds? Don't like it at all for the following reasons:

SOCKETS are crap. Not all of them no, just 99% of them. I don't like them at all. They don't grip as well as hex sockets and they are also a bit shallow for my liking. The best sockets in the set are the black road wheel nut ones. The deep sockets are also quite good to be fair. Now, the spanners - I am with mark on this one. They are nasty to use. The other bits and bobs are not that great for my liking and the case locks are just appalling.

Alternatives? Well, the Halfords standard 1/2 drive socket set and the Halfords 3/8 + 1/4 in combination sets are very good. At around £45 for the 1/2 set and £30 for the 3/8, that is a good start. A decent set of combi spanners and some torx sockets is a bett path I think.

It is a bit like Hi-fi. Get seperates then yiou get the best of all worlds. £99 worth? Probably. Would I buy it? No chance. A, I have all the tools I could possibly want and B, Laidback has one that he splashed out £14.99 for.

There. Thats said it now.

Glad I didn't rush straight out and buy one. Phew!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yes but, the active matrix read and processing can still take a second or so which can often mean the image has changed and the moment has gone by the time the image is captured....its my biggest gripe with cameras and why I still use my superb SLR for many shots.

Less of an issue for modern cameras from proper camera manufacturers - canon, nikon, fuji etc.  My brother Sony has a bit of lag, but what would you expect from such an up-and-over garage door outfit...

Even the best digital cameras will struggle to get close to a decent film SLR...

My digital is also a Canon but, its the delayed shot that I hate....the SLR on the other hand will eat a role of film in 6 seconds all in perfect focus and focuses on what I look at......I would LOVE a Canon digital SLR but, they dont do the eye control focusing on the lower end models....ow well, will have to wait a while!

[Marks DTM Calib]

I suspect Mr McB is right.

You would be better to get:

Set of Torx sockets
Set of spanners (metric)
Set of sockets (metric)
Good ratchet and wobble bars
Pry bar
Pliers
Star bit set
Torque wrench
Spark plug socket

You can they by the odd item now every now and again without forking out in one go.

There are a lot of bits in the Halfords set you would probably not use (there is a lot of imperial sockets and I cant remember the last time I used mine!).

[TheBoy]

Can I butt in here?

Canon Ixus is a superb camera. I wouldn't consider anything else for me unless it is a digital SLR, but then at £600 up that is out of my pocket money range - for now! My ixus50 is going strong despite the abuse it has had.

Now, thsi mickey mouse socket set from halfrauds? Don't like it at all for the following reasons:

SOCKETS are crap. Not all of them no, just 99% of them. I don't like them at all. They don't grip as well as hex sockets and they are also a bit shallow for my liking. The best sockets in the set are the black road wheel nut ones. The deep sockets are also quite good to be fair. Now, the spanners - I am with mark on this one. They are nasty to use. The other bits and bobs are not that great for my liking and the case locks are just appalling.

Alternatives? Well, the Halfords standard 1/2 drive socket set and the Halfords 3/8 + 1/4 in combination sets are very good. At around £45 for the 1/2 set and £30 for the 3/8, that is a good start. A decent set of combi spanners and some torx sockets is a bett path I think.

It is a bit like Hi-fi. Get seperates then yiou get the best of all worlds. £99 worth? Probably. Would I buy it? No chance. A, I have all the tools I could possibly want and B, Laidback has one that he splashed out £14.99 for.

There. Thats said it now.

I just liked the idea of a simple single set I can pick up and through in car if I'm doing anything away from house, and this fits the bill.

I have some reasonable hex sockets, enough decent torx set for Omega, etc etc. But this makes a good comprehensive 2nd set. And I've found Halfords Pro to be quite strong as well.

For money I paid, it was good value. Even at £100, I'd say good value. At £150, bit too much imho....

[TheBoy]

My digital is also a Canon but, its the delayed shot that I hate....the SLR on the other hand will eat a role of film in 6 seconds all in perfect focus and focuses on what I look at......I would LOVE a Canon digital SLR but, they dont do the eye control focusing on the lower end models....ow well, will have to wait a while!

As said, small digitals are happy snappies, and not for a photographer, who a 'proper' film SLR is still the daddy....

[Jimbob]

Im on my 3rd Canon now, DSLR 20D, love it, eats memory if I keep my finger down at 5fps, no lag at all
Previos were G5 (now backup camera) before that and A40 before that (now the wife's) which needs replacing.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I think 100 quid is on the money.....not ideal as a main tool kit though.

[TheBoy]

(there is a lot of imperial sockets and I cant remember the last time I used mine!).

You don't have Rovers then?  

[bob.dent]

On a different note, the reflection of your camera looks like an ixus 700, thinking of getting the new model for the wife as mine isnt really handbag sized, any complaints about it, or you happy?

How the hell could you work that out from those photos!

You are correct though.  As a point and snap camera, its hard to fault. Doesn't have as many adjustments as more pro cameras, but is convenient and small. Had it since they first came out, and think it does just what it says on the box, though I am not a real photographer.  And if its for the missus, Mrs TheBoy has no trouble using it...

lol, just picturing you peering into the photo looking for a reflection!

I've a bit of software (Opanda Iexif) that shows the techy info from photos (photography being my other hobby).

Liked the quality of yours so looked what the camera was, shiny metal confuses so many cheaper cameras, metallic shine can go very purple.

thanks again

Wow, I'm impressed

[STMO123]

Wow, I'm impressed

I.m absolutely gobsmacked

[TheBoy]

I think 100 quid is on the money.....not ideal as a main tool kit though.

I've got some decent spanners (some chinese type make I've never heard of, but the have put up with 15 - 20yrs of my abuse, so can't be bad), a reasonable hex socket set (great for those really tight bolts like wishbone bolts), some Halfords Pro torx, a SP torque wrench, so can cover most bases.  One thing I'm missing is some decent screwdrivers (most of mine aren't really up to automotive type work). Any recommendations? Heard good things about JCB, any comments?

[CaptainZok]

Had my box robbed some years ago and as I'm getting back on the spanners so it seems, just got a cheapie Clarke set. £100 for a huge box (when you take the plastic crap out) I'll use the cheapos till they die and replace with decent kit as and when necessary.

[Markie]

(there is a lot of imperial sockets and I cant remember the last time I used mine!).

You don't have Rovers then?  

true  

[Markie]

Had my box robbed some years ago and as I'm getting back on the spanners so it seems, just got a cheapie Clarke set. £100 for a huge box (when you take the plastic crap out) I'll use the cheapos till they die and replace with decent kit as and when necessary.

sorry to hear about your box getting robbed - sounds nasty  

[CaptainZok]

Bout £300 quids worth of tools so yeah it was.

[Markie]

Bout £300 quids worth of tools so yeah it was.

yknow thats got me thinking and this may well be applicable to others on here as well, i must check contents insurance for out buildings cover as i reckon i have about £1000 of tools alone in the garage......or about £8000 if you take it all at sealeys rrp  

[Taxi_Driver]

My digital is also a Canon but, its the delayed shot that I hate....the SLR on the other hand will eat a role of film in 6 seconds all in perfect focus and focuses on what I look at......I would LOVE a Canon digital SLR but, they dont do the eye control focusing on the lower end models....ow well, will have to wait a while!

As said, small digitals are happy snappies, and not for a photographer, who a 'proper' film SLR is still the daddy....

I bought a Kodak Z740 last year.....ok its not up with the 'big boys' camera wise.....but does what i want...lots of functions on it i dont use.....yeah can be a pain sometimes, when you think hurry up and take the pic....even with auotfocus turned on all the time....it still with long range shots messes about before taking the pic. And takes a sec to save the pic, but you can put it in a mode where it will take about 10/12 pics (i think) withoutout the pause of saving inbetween each one.
I like it cause the mem card i got in it will take nearly 400 pics @4.3MP, will tho go upto 5MP, delete the ones you dont want and print on Kodak printer.....borderless photos....kodak quality  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

Downside ive found is when you have it on 10x zoom, theres no stability program.....so unless you have it on a tripod....it bloody hard taking shots.....tho i have found, just take loads like 20 or so   chances are one will be a good shot  

Good camera for the not so serious photographer i reckon.

Oh other gripe i have is not with the camera but printing software.....it will allow you to add a caption or note to the piccy on the pc but i havent found a way to get it to print the caption or note onto the pic  

[STMO123]

Bout £300 quids worth of tools so yeah it was.

yknow thats got me thinking and this may well be applicable to others on here as well, i must check contents insurance for out buildings cover as i reckon i have about £1000 of tools alone in the garage......or about £8000 if you take it all at sealeys rrp  

.....and where EXACTLY do you live Markie?
 [smiley=evil.gif]

[Jimbob]

Just been up to halfrauds, looks a nice set to me, asked what the trade club price was and got "its only a fiver off on that mate, £95" not sure of the truth in that though.

[sounds2k]

well I'd heard that you didn't get any trade discount on items that are already discounted ... so a further fiver off is better than nothing!!  

[TheBoy]

As others have said, its not the best set in world - spanners are indeed thin and dig in a bit. But its a big set, and at £100 I think its worth it.  Its normal price is a bit steep imho....

[sounds2k]

well I reckon it's a handy starting point, useful to have it all in one place too

[Jimbob]

Had a look at the set, more than good enough for my use....So I bought it.

Cheers for all the advice.