22 replies to this topic

[Nic]

thought i would ask on here as well, i have finished uni now and am now self employed. i am looking to build up a decent collection of tools, however i dont really know where the automotive trade buy there tools, such as sockets, spanners, pliers, screwdrivers etc. i am looking for any recommendations on what makes to buy and where abouts the shops are ( i live around oxford/wycombe/Aylesbury so any around here would be great) and any online shops. looking for good quality makes and tools. if anyone could be of any help that would be great.

cheers

[analogue_radio]

VAT free days at Machine Mart.

[lawnmowercrap]

thought i would ask on here as well, i have finished uni now and am now self employed. i am looking to build up a decent collection of tools, however i dont really know where the automotive trade buy there tools, such as sockets, spanners, pliers, screwdrivers etc. i am looking for any recommendations on what makes to buy and where abouts the shops are ( i live around oxford/wycombe/Aylesbury so any around here would be great) and any online shops. looking for good quality makes and tools. if anyone could be of any help that would be great.

cheers

Halfords are the best bet in my opinion. I'm a mechanic by trade so the stuff i use most is snap on but snap on is expensive. I have got quite a bit of halfords stuff and its really good. Best bet is to but the halfords proffesional range, as this has a lifetime gaurantee. And if you know someone with a trade card you can get a massive discount as well.

Machine mart is a good online trader.

Lee

[huntface]

thought i would ask on here as well, i have finished uni now and am now self employed. i am looking to build up a decent collection of tools, however i dont really know where the automotive trade buy there tools, such as sockets, spanners, pliers, screwdrivers etc. i am looking for any recommendations on what makes to buy and where abouts the shops are ( i live around oxford/wycombe/Aylesbury so any around here would be great) and any online shops. looking for good quality makes and tools. if anyone could be of any help that would be great.

cheers

Halfords are the best bet in my opinion. I'm a mechanic by trade so the stuff i use most is snap on but snap on is expensive. I have got quite a bit of halfords stuff and its really good. Best bet is to but the halfords proffesional range, as this has a lifetime gaurantee. And if you know someone with a trade card you can get a massive discount as well.

Machine mart is a good online trader.

Lee

Snap-on men/women will agree to fairly decent "tick" arrangements

[1275 SPRITE]

As said above, if you are going into the trade then find out where your local snap on dealer is based. Halfords is alright for diy at home etc, but not for every day use IMO. I started out with halfords, but phased about 90% out for snap on.

[lawnmowercrap]

As said above, if you are going into the trade then find out where your local snap on dealer is based. Halfords is alright for diy at home etc, but not for every day use IMO. I started out with halfords, but phased about 90% out for snap on.

You say that but I work for Vauxhall. So my most used socket is a T45 for the sump bung. My Snap On T45 snapped on me three times and then rounded off on me within the space of 4 months and it took me a week each time to get it replaced. So when it broke the fourth time I bought a proffesional one from halfords for around about £2 to last me until my snap on one got repaired. That was 3 years ago and ive not touched my snap on one since and the halfords one is still going strong.

Halfords professional is very very good. At the end of the day, its life time gaurantee. So even if it does break, its free to replace.

[Nic]

i already get the vat back when buying tools anyway. thanks for the suggestions so far and keep em coming

[crazycoleman118]

teng tools are quite good also sykes pickavant (not quite sure how thats spelt im sure google will help) do some quite usefull sockets such as allen keys and torx bits

[Darkscamp]

i swear by halfords professional, never had an issue in 6years with any of there tools, and considering i'm one of those heavy handed mechanics its pretty good going.


i did have one halfords ratchet that i broke by expecting it to do too much with a seized bolt, but to be fair it was my fault because i was too lazy to get the powerbar that was in the tool chest 10m away . Anyway, i took it to halfords to buy a repair kit as it was my fault, which i explained and they just took it off me, fixed it and gave it back with no charge. Quality service as far as i'm concerned.

[1275 SPRITE]

You say that but I work for Vauxhall. So my most used socket is a T45 for the sump bung. My Snap On T45 snapped on me three times and then rounded off on me within the space of 4 months and it took me a week each time to get it replaced. So when it broke the fourth time I bought a proffesional one from halfords for around about £2 to last me until my snap on one got repaired. That was 3 years ago and ive not touched my snap on one since and the halfords one is still going strong.

Halfords professional is very very good. At the end of the day, its life time gaurantee. So even if it does break, its free to replace.

I work for an aftersales Saab dealership, so use the T45 lots too (same chassis and engine as the vectra). Never really had any issues with the snap on ones, but did used to snap the halfords T30 quite a lot, thats when I went for the snap on set.

I suppose its just personal preferance really...

Do you do lots of inlet manifolds, EGR valves, alternators, dual mass flywheels on the DTH engines? We seem to be doing them all the time

[rosco454]

Just echoing what the others have said really but my advice would be halfords pro to get you a decent collection built up then upgrade as and when you have the cash or feel the need.I have had quite a bit of the halfords stuff and the only things ive managed to break were a ratchet mech and a ball bearing drawer runner from one of their top boxes - both sorted free of charge even with no receipts etc.

[lawnmowercrap]

You say that but I work for Vauxhall. So my most used socket is a T45 for the sump bung. My Snap On T45 snapped on me three times and then rounded off on me within the space of 4 months and it took me a week each time to get it replaced. So when it broke the fourth time I bought a proffesional one from halfords for around about £2 to last me until my snap on one got repaired. That was 3 years ago and ive not touched my snap on one since and the halfords one is still going strong.

Halfords professional is very very good. At the end of the day, its life time gaurantee. So even if it does break, its free to replace.

I work for an aftersales Saab dealership, so use the T45 lots too (same chassis and engine as the vectra). Never really had any issues with the snap on ones, but did used to snap the halfords T30 quite a lot, thats when I went for the snap on set.

I suppose its just personal preferance really...

Do you do lots of inlet manifolds, EGR valves, alternators, dual mass flywheels on the DTH engines? We seem to be doing them all the time

The inlet manifolds have died out now not done one for a couple of months. Used to be every other DTH that came in though. We're probarbly replacing about 5 or 6 EGR valves a day. Even the Z19DT's are going as well. Ive started refurbing the old units and selling them on ebay! Alternators on both the DT and DTH common as anything and same for the Dual Masses. You had a dual mass shoot off and fly through the bell housing yet? Makes a mess!

Also do you have any faults with Injector number 3 wiring going down? Thats a common one.
Diesel Particulate Filters are becoming an issue as well now. Had a Z19DTH in a Zafira try to do a regen the other week, but the oil life was around 7% so was way to thin. Ended up running away with itself. Had to put it into 6th and dump the clutch and pray that it stalled! Must have revved to about 14-15,000 RPM!!

I have noticed the the 9-3's rear suspension is different to the Vectra C's. So you lot arent replacing rear banana arms every 5 minutes!

[charie t]

Mac tools are also worth a look in, better quality in my opinion, i used to like the snap on stuff but their newer stuff is a bit cheap so i bought mac in its place
halfords is good for home diy too, some of it i would happily have in my tool box

[cookie4343]

Draper, halfords, sealy, clark tools ive never had proplems with any and i used to use my tools day in day out, snap on are overated and to overpriced.
It's possible to snap any rachet, breaker bar, tork bit and so on, if you are heavy handed and dont use the right tool to undo bolts and what not there break
regardless of make.

The more expensive the tools the more scared your be of giveing them a beating with a hammer, im not saying go buy £1 shop tools because they are crap.

[stevede]

Halford Professional all the way for me. Never had a problem and in my opinion, amazing value given the quality.

Are Snap on better? Don't know one way or the other but I've never felt the need to spend the extra to find out.

Avoid the cheap "My Mum's" brands whatever you do, you'll always end up buying twice.