After getting my Halfords Pro set a couple of Christmases ago I have been steadily building up a range of the best/best for price tools for Omega work I can find. All bought new, as I've not got any tools inherited, aside from an old battered toolbox and some incredibly useful Whitworth spanners.
My experiences are as follows...
Sealey 3/8 Drive long pivot head ratchet - £20 and a shade cheaper than the Halfords one. Sorry to report, in spite of lots of positive reviews on here regarding sealey ratchet/other stuff, really unimpressed.
Gave it away in the end to a mate after using it a couple of times.
5/10 Ok for the price, but vs...
Halfords 3/8 Drive long pivot head ratchet - gaining a pivoting head over the Sealey, it's the same drive as most of my sockets. Only a shade dearer than the Sealey, and
double the quality. Has become my 'go to' ratchet.
10/10Halfords 9 - 12mm flare spanner - basically the only thing to use on brake unions. The union may still round even if you use this, but at least when it does, you know you used the right tool and could do no more. Had one round on me, but maybe a dozen others haven't. Can't really mark it any less than
10/10, it does the job flawlessly, what else can I say?
Bahco adjustable spanner - excellent, Sadly no longer made in Sweden (this made in Spain) quality, when compared with my old man's donkeys-years-old Bahco the quality seems the same, sharp jaws, no play, beautiful finish and comfy to use. Only slight seed of doubt that they're not 'proper' Swedish Bahco means a
9/10Irwin Vise grips - because Mole England don't exist any more, the Irwins seem to be the best you can get. Jaws are engineered like a swiss watch, and these are the super comfy rubber-grip handled ones where you simply push them apart with a finger to release.
10/10Faithfull Mutimeter - one above the 'cheap n cheerful' B n Q ones, several steps below a Fluke, which made me cry when I saw the prices. Have tested the battery/alternator health so far, and very happy with. Would appreciate some crocodile clips, which I'll get off heebay at some point.
7/10 wish I had carrycase and croc clips
Ring RIL4000 - the
best light for working on a car I have
ever used. Top spotlight, that cuts through steel and a larger, wider-angle front light, which illuminates an entire concert hall with ease.
Strong magnets and hooks. Rechargeable. I ordered a sexy black one, a baby blue one arrived instead. Seller hasn't even responded to my messages
. Not Ring's fault.
10/10 for Ring 2/10 from ebay seller
Ring twin LED magnetic tool light - the stupidest thing in the world. But costs £2.99. And then you try and adjust the handbrake shoes on an Omega, and realise you have this stashed in your toolbox. And wonder how you ever did without it. On off activated by simply clicking it on your screwdriver/socket extension. Only drawback - keep in in a small plastic bag in your toolbox, otherwise something will magnetise to it and your batteries will go flat! A tiny on/off switch would solve this.
8.5/10Irwin Folding Knife - used by my mate in the warehouse at work. In spite of repeated hints, he refused to give it me, claim it lost, and get another.
In the end bought one myself. Stanley Fatmax are similar, but use plastic locking mechanisms for the blade. These eventually (and unsurprisingly) fail after a while. This Irwin model has so far lasted a year in the warehouse, being mistreated daily. Folding design means nowhere internally to keep blades, unlike classic Stanley design. Compact, all-metal.
9/10Starwhille 3/8 drive 3/4 inch extension - Because no-one seems to do a super-short extension, and sometimes you do need one this short, found this in a trade catalogue. Satin chrome finish, excellent Made in Germany quality. Used it the other day on a mate's slam panel, no complaints. Feels like this will last forever.
10/10Halfords 2.5 Ton trolley jack - this is a fat boy. Maybe if I were beefier I'd be able to pick it up easier. It's never intended as a 'keep in in your boot/casual maintenance' jack, but that's how I use it; so perhaps a little unfair to criticise its weight and lack of a carrycase of some sort, vs smaller trolleyjacks; though it would still be nice. I picked up a holdall from BnQ which fits nicely. The saddle is a little small for some bits, I'd like a second large one for crossmembers etc. Long handle and quicklift, which has come in a couple of times. Standard Vx wheelbrace fits perfectly as a shorter handle!
8/10Minus the Sealey,
all of the above I can confidently recommend that anyone should buy. As far as I'm aware, there's no better quality available for less £.
