tool kit

just been looking at buying some more spanners and sockets and screwdrivers sound easy. i already have some air impact 1/2 sockets but what sort of selection of sockets and spanners looking for them is cases idealy so easy to store in back of the car. is it better buying seperat parts of buying sets form halfords screwfix machine mart etc

something like this 1/2 inch britool of is this a bit to small of a selection

You cant go wrong with halfords, something like this if you have the money.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165572

Though I have a trade card and get it cheaper.

This

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165572

Ive had this set many years, and added lots to it.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165572

Must all depend on what you do. At least 3/4 of all my socket sets are un-used. Working on cars and bikes you tend to come across the same widely used sizes. Only ever seem to use 5 or 6 sizes per vehicle. A small high quality set is probably better value than a large cheap one full of sockets you won't use.

I learnt the lesson a long time ago with cheap sockets, I even keep a split socket in my tool box just incase Im ever tempted to buy cheap again.

As for spanners, you can buy a full set of metric combination spanners from Machine Mart & Screwfix that come in a plastic cover that rolls up and ties shut. Ideal for storage. Thats what I go for as it saves carrying bulky toolboxes if you use them as mobile tools.

being really cheeky ste hou much discount do you get for trade you can tell me to keep my nose out if you wish

It depends but some times it can be as much as a third cheaper, but the last ting I bought was the tool box I think in was £37 and I got it for £29, but filters and stuff tend to be near half price.

Call halfords up and ask how much the set your thinking of buying will be with a trade card discount, maybe we can work something out :wink:

Pretty sure here, that even with discount, they will probably be dearer than Screwfix and Machine Mart.
Send my teeth to the back of my head if i'm wrong Ste.

Your spot on Keith, but the quality is a lot less :wink:

Ive still got the scar from when sockets split :lol:

Yeah you've got to watch with sockets. They do sell good spanners though, cover most makes.
Been there with the cheapo sockets too bud, its not funny eh?

I got a real nice Bahco set of sockets and spanners for £60, shouldve been 4 times that. There are some good bargains out there at the mo at the DIY and car spares places as wholesalers try to turn stock into cash. Have a good look round in person for the bargains as they will be around a while longer.

Ive got the roll up set of spanners from screwfix £6 had to be worth a punt and they have done very well

I'm another who's learnt the lesson of cheap tools, split sockets and spanners with half a jaw, extension bars turned into corksrews and large chunks of my knuckles left on the corners of engine blocks!

Over the years I've built up a selection of Snap-on stuff - they are very expensive but I'm yet to break any of it, the sockets and spanners fit well and don't round off nuts and you can put an incredible amount of force on them.

8,10,12,13,14,17 and 19mm combination spanners and 3/8 drive sockets of the same size, a wrench and and 3" and 6" extension bar will sort out most of your problems. With 10 & 12mm being the most common sizes in the my Fronty engine bay.
Other suggestions are decent PH2 and 5mm flathead screwdriver an old knackered 1/2" wood chisel, a 2lb engineers hammer, a soft faced mallet, a 24" breaker bar, combination pliers and a a pair of long nose pliers.

Regards

TFB