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[MarkG]

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_13778.htm

£12.99 for a set of 5 flexi head ratchet spanners this Thursday. What a deal!

[Jimbob]

Spotted those, I have a similar set, have been quite useful.

Paid about double from Helfrauds, but expect they will live somewhat longer than those..

[Marks DTM Calib]

Spotted those, I have a similar set, have been quite useful.

Paid about double from Helfrauds, but expect they will live somewhat longer than those..

I doubt it 

[Jimbob]

I knew that was coming 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Reality is that ratchet spanners are not designed to undo tight nuts/bolts.....and knowing the Halfrauds ones, the Aldi jobs are probably the same items

[MarkG]

Blimey! Went down to ALDI last night to find they had already sold out!

[Kevin Wood]

A mate of mine used to import a container full of tools to order directly from China once a year and organise a group buy amongst a few car forums.

He imported spanners identical to these. I have a set, except that it covers metric and imperial and about 20 pieces. IIRC, it was the same price as the ALDI set.

They can be useful if you bear in mind their limitations.

What this container load of tools taught me is that everything badged Halfrauds, clarke, sealey, draper, etc. just comes off the same boat from China but has a different name stamped into it.

Kevin

[Sixstring]

Got a set from the local store last night.....they don't appear too bad, but on inspection are ideally suited to "nut running" more so than "jeez, this is tight" applications. However.......perfect to keep in your boot for those " need a 10mm occasions" and for the price, perfectly OK.

Must have been popular, one set left when I bought mine.

[TheBoy]

A mate of mine used to import a container full of tools to order directly from China once a year and organise a group buy amongst a few car forums.

He imported spanners identical to these. I have a set, except that it covers metric and imperial and about 20 pieces. IIRC, it was the same price as the ALDI set.

They can be useful if you bear in mind their limitations.

What this container load of tools taught me is that everything badged Halfrauds, clarke, sealey, draper, etc. just comes off the same boat from China but has a different name stamped into it.

Kevin

I think all companies mentioned above do 'normal' range (as in poor) and a Pro/Advanced/Expert/SuperDooper range which are considerably more durable.

You get oddities - I have knackered a few Clarke Pro sockets, but can't break the Halfords ones (despite being abused more).  The Halfords 1/2" to 3/8" socket adpaters are made of cheese, but the Draper one I have I can't break.  The Halfords spanners take a lot of abuse with hammers, but the Clarke Pro ones don't.


I have the Halfords rachet spanners - the ones that retail around £80 for 8mm-19mm (all sizes), I picked up for under £30 a couple of years back.  I don't abuse them, but they do what they say on the tin.  I have some slightly older Clarke (not Pro) ones, they work, but are obviously cheap and nasty,

[TheBoy]

Oh, and Halfords Pro screwdrivers are horrid, even when on offer for a tenner.

For screwdrivers, I've found Draper Expert to be good and durable.  Look identical to the yellow/red ones at Wicks, but no idea if same.  May treat myself to a 2nd set.

[Sixstring]

TB.........
you've found something you can't break??



LOL!!!   (sorry mate, could't resist it!)

[pembsomega]

I find the advantage down here with halfrauds pro tools is the lifetime guarantee they offer, no quibbles just take it back to store and they swap it, no recepit needed. a friend has a teng set, broke an extension bar, took it back to motor factors, (there is only 1 halfrauds and 1 indipendant motor factors around here) and they had to send it off to teng, took him a month to get a replacement.

I went through 3 halfords breakers bars in a day once, they swaped it every time......... on the 4th visit i also went to motor factors and bought a drapper one, that one didnt break.....

[TheBoy]

I find the advantage down here with halfrauds pro tools is the lifetime guarantee they offer, no quibbles just take it back to store and they swap it, no recepit needed. a friend has a teng set, broke an extension bar, took it back to motor factors, (there is only 1 halfrauds and 1 indipendant motor factors around here) and they had to send it off to teng, took him a month to get a replacement.

I went through 3 halfords breakers bars in a day once, they swaped it every time......... on the 4th visit i also went to motor factors and bought a drapper one, that one didnt break.....

Can't complain at Halfords simply swapping stuff, though they did ask me both times for receipt (which I had taken just in case, so never argued the point).

Also, can't complain at Machine Mart - always just called them up, and a replacement arrives in post within a few days.

[pembsomega]

Can't complain at Halfords simply swapping stuff, though they did ask me both times for receipt (which I had taken just in case, so never argued the point).

Also, can't complain at Machine Mart - always just called them up, and a replacement arrives in post within a few days.

I was asked for a recpeit the first time, so I asked to see the manager, along he pops to be greeted by me, 6'6" in overalls and riggers, covered in dirt, weilding a broken braker bar and a few mullered extensions (id been savng them up), he says where is your recpeit so i told him ive had the set years, and pointed to a display saying lifetime guarentee on all halford pro tools, then showed him the 'halfords professional' stamp on the tools in my hand.

He didnt arguee id ive never had a problem since ha

[waspy]

I have some ratchet spanners at work, they're ok so long as you don't expect too much from them.
I use them along side my combination set, crack it un-done with the combi & then use the ratchet spanner. Saves alot of remove spanner, replace, turn, remove & so on.