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[Webby the Bear]

Evening guys,

Seeing as there are a couple of tool threads at the moment I thought I'd post this now.

Having worked at a local garage for a couple of weeks I've found the other mechanics' views on tools and brands really interesting. Maybe snobbery is the wrong word. But I'll explain and you judge for yourself:

Me - my opinion on hand tools is hell frauds all the way. I used them at school and I'm now using them in the workplace.

Head mech. - Mac tools man all the way.

Full time mech. - uses a brand I've never heard of lol

Apprentice - uses all hell frauds stuff including roll cab and tool chest but has made it quite clear he wants to upgrade everything to snap off.

So. What's the OOF verdict? Are hell frauds hand tools the best or just as good? Or is there any real benefit of using snap off?

I've personally used a few snap off things. . . Ratchets, air guns, sockets and spanners. I've found no difference in feel or usage at all.

Discuss.

Ps,my impact gun is cordless Makita and I won't have a bad word said against it! 

[VXL V6]

Got all sorts:-

Hellfrauds
Teng
Snap On
Clarke
Sealey

Find the Hellfrauds sockets poor quality compared to others, quite like the Teng sockets and the Snap On ratchets and torque wrenches.

When I first started messing with things mechanical as a teenager I was told to buy a set of tools at a reasonable price (I guess like todays Hellfrauds sets when they are on offer) and then just replace the tools you wreck with top quality replacements as those are the socket sizes and key tools that you use the most.

[Webby the Bear]

That's interesting mate. In what way(s) do you find hell frauds sockets poor quality?

[ted_one]

Me....Poundland all the way

[Webby the Bear]

Got a sweet box cutter from there 

[flyer 0712]

Selling tools for 20 years i found that some would only buy..snap on..or mac..and would only buy from me if those brands did not produce a certain tool that i could supply in another brand,..   .it is being a snob but having said that it also was down to what a spanner or screwdriver felt like while in use.....also remember that different brands may be different thicknesses with spanners so the slimmer ones would get into tight places whereas a thicker one would not...as for halfrauds i.m.o.they are as good as any and their warranty is very good as i have found out when returning a faulty ratchet spanner,,no questions asked just exchanged it.....What does amaze me is the prices they pay for huge very expensive tool stack boxes that stand so high that they then go and buy a step to get to the top drawer...mind you they are very impressive...Surely if i was a mechanic the things i would need would be loads of tools and then keep them in a cardboard box at least that way i would have more money to spend on what earns me a living as a mechanic and then got the right tools for the job...but hey each to their own   

[YZ250]

I have a couple of Halfords socket/spanner sets but most of my sockets on the rails are Draper.

We use snap-on at work but I certainly couldn't justify their prices for the DIY mechanic, nor would I want to. I could get a more than adequate, far more comprehensive toolkit for the money we paid for our work snap-on tools and trolley/chest. Even with substituting some tools for snap-ons cheaper brand BluePoint cost us thousands, but we have to deal with certain suppliers so I had no say in it.

[VXL V6]

That's interesting mate. In what way(s) do you find hell frauds sockets poor quality?

I find their 12 point sockets aren't a defined snug fit and it can be easy to damage tight nuts and bolts, generally use 6 point ones from other manufacturers for the common sizes and use the 12 point ones where ratchet movement is restricted.

As mentioned above, I seem to have a few Draper tools as well. Often find the purchase of odd tools is more about availability at the time when you most need them!

[Webby the Bear]

Fair points mate. Having used other 12 points I personally found no difference. But I've not used other brands over a long period so perhaps I'd need to try the out for an extended period.

I suppose it also comes down to decisions you make at the time. I.e. If I had a 21mm rusty looking subframe bolt I'm not going to attack it with a 3/8 12 point, so I don't use them for something I think 'hmm bit iffy'.

I can tell you some things I definitely hate about snap off and mac. . . . The ratchets I used did not have the socket release button! Utterly useless when your paws are covered in oil! Surely that's unbelievably bad from a bloody expensive make?

[Sir Tigger KC]

I'm not convinced at the quality of Halfords tools as I've had my 170 set less than a year and already destroyed a couple of pieces! 

However they do replace without question, so that's good!    Not so good when your nearest Hellfrauds is 30 miles away! 

[Webby the Bear]

 

I've had mine about 4 years now and I've destroyed 2 torx bits and that's it. Maybe you're just a gorilla, Tig 

[andyc]

I use Sealey these days as i've not had a problem with any of there tools and if i do need to get any replacement parts like brushes for electric drills i can,

Also as a dealer i do get a very good discount and they deliver to me the same day and they are only a mile up the road.

One of our techs, one of the younger ones has just traded a roll cab and the difference to pay is still eight hundred quid, thats going to cost him just for the box hundred and twenty five quid a month, that's just crazy money.

If you want a BIG tool box check this guy out, i know a few guys in the trade who have these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/toolclub233/m.html?item=251810304614&hash=item3aa1105266&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

and i think Webby, this one is for you

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-US-PRO-Tool-Chest-Box-Snap-It-Up-2-side-cabinet-75-finance-available-/251810297876?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aa1103814


Andy

[Sir Tigger KC]

I've had mine about 4 years now and I've destroyed 2 torx bits and that's it. Maybe you're just a gorilla, Tig 

Darzet barn & Darzet bred.....   

[YZ250]

...........

I can tell you some things I definitely hate about snap off and mac. . . . The ratchets I used did not have the socket release button! Utterly useless when your paws are covered in oil! Surely that's unbelievably bad from a bloody expensive make?

Yet their cheaper version BluePoint does have the release button. 

[aaronjb]

If you want a BIG tool box check this guy out, i know a few guys in the trade who have these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/toolclub233/m.html?item=251810304614&hash=item3aa1105266&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Oh Andy, you're a bad, bad man.. Why did you have to show us those?