18 replies to this topic

[Gingerjoe]

Looking to buy my first proper tool kit! finally started learning bits & bobs about my car & fixing stuff myself! learnt how to fit shocks! so would be rad to finally start doing myself at my house instead of going other places! Getting a jack with is 30 quid! from halfords, 2 ton! will be fine! Just want a real nice socket set.

Seen this box on halfords, was 200 quid now 97 .

but I dont know if its mm of metric? & I need metric.

Link

any suggestions would be rad!

[widerim_pickup]

That set is ok the spanners are metric (mm) and the sockets are metric and imperial (inches). You'll need imperial for minis, i bought mine from halfords as seperate bits that fit in my roll cab, you get more sizes and both types.

[Gingerjoe]

thats it! imperial, ones I need, cheers buddie, appreciate that, any suggestions of other sites with tools ect.

[Gingerjoe]

you recon it might be better buying all the bits seperate then? I dont want metric

[tomsbluemini]

I spent about £30 on a tool kit from screwfix, and about the same again on spanners... The only thing i've added to it is a brake bleed nipple spanner... Well worth the money

[Gingerjoe]

Just checked it out! nottt bad, found a well nice set on ebay, snap on, imperial! 100 odd quid! plus I want a 4 draw chest too. Just to keep it all tidy!

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...bayphotohosting

that one! thats all inperial aint it?

[WiredbyWilson]

No all the sockets are metric.

Ratchet sizes are always 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2

[Gingerjoe]

Ahh, I will learn, I well dont understand it yet, so you recon that halfords one will do the trick? Im also looking at there tool chests! look pretty reasonable! I know they aint gonna be as mint as a snap on! but will be fine for me.

[Marky Tizz]

http://www.theminifo...x...&hl=bargain



cheap and cheerful but IMO perfect for the first time home mechanic if you really havent done anything at home before! I use mine daily no problems as of yet. Great starting point as well, has metric and imperial. Admittedly not great quality but as I said its a start.

[Darkscamp]

Looking to buy my first proper tool kit! finally started learning bits & bobs about my car & fixing stuff myself! learnt how to fit shocks! so would be rad to finally start doing myself at my house instead of going other places! Getting a jack with is 30 quid! from halfords, 2 ton! will be fine! Just want a real nice socket set.

Seen this box on halfords, was 200 quid now 97 .

but I dont know if its mm of metric? & I need metric.

Link

any suggestions would be rad!

that tool kit has both metric and imperial sockets. i have the same set but looks like they have changed the box in the last 6 years. yes 6 years, and i'm still using every part of the kit on a mini. i know some will say that you shouldnt use metric but when i used to work on my ex's spi some of the imperials wouldnt fit but the metric would. thats rover for you i suppose.lol

as for the jack, spend a bit more and get a high lift one, you will think back to this bit of advice if you dont and wished you had listened. my jack was £80 but its ally, 2 tonne and lifts 760mm. the halfords one will probably be 300mm

[daveeeeee]

the halfrauds kits are actually alright, i got one as my first kit and used it at work for near a year, but ended up getting some britool imperial spanners, because all the spanners in the halfrauds kit are metric.

by the way, that halfrauds kit has ALWAYS been £100, one of those, always on sale things

to be fair i did ill treat my set a bit, but my wratchet no longer clicks n that, bit annoying, all the fittings are a bit wobbly compared to snapon etc. just dont leave the box open working in the rain haha.

you should get real good quality kits from britool or facom, britool do alot of imperial stuff http://www.britool.com/ and it's good value for money.

you'll definately want imperial spanners as well as the sockets for a mini, but you will need metric spanners, lots of minis have bits and bobs attached with metric bolts just from people modifying them or fitting new horns or something.

they dont give you any imperial deep sockets in the halfrauds set which is another reason for just buying an imperial set if you can find one. imperial sets normally known as AF sets.

*shrug* good luck!!

[Gingerjoe]

really appreciate the help people thanks! that 50 quid set looks mad! gonna carry on shopping around & see what I can find, but the halfords kit is probally gonna be the one! if its not clicking anymore, why dont you take it back? its got a lifetime guarantee! I would, gonna check the britool site out! tar!!!

[Gingerjoe]

Looking to buy my first proper tool kit! finally started learning bits & bobs about my car & fixing stuff myself! learnt how to fit shocks! so would be rad to finally start doing myself at my house instead of going other places! Getting a jack with is 30 quid! from halfords, 2 ton! will be fine! Just want a real nice socket set.

Seen this box on halfords, was 200 quid now 97 .

but I dont know if its mm of metric? & I need metric.

Link

any suggestions would be rad!

that tool kit has both metric and imperial sockets. i have the same set but looks like they have changed the box in the last 6 years. yes 6 years, and i'm still using every part of the kit on a mini. i know some will say that you shouldnt use metric but when i used to work on my ex's spi some of the imperials wouldnt fit but the metric would. thats rover for you i suppose.lol

as for the jack, spend a bit more and get a high lift one, you will think back to this bit of advice if you dont and wished you had listened. my jack was £80 but its ally, 2 tonne and lifts 760mm. the halfords one will probably be 300mm

dude you got a link to your jack?

[tsatchwell]

I ordered one of these yesterday. Only £27 delivered and has metric and imperial bits, along with loads of other really useful car related bits and pieces.

[Ethel]

I got a Draper set from Argos of all places, full range of imperial & metric - don't know if they still do it not bad quality for £50.

If it helps Metric = millimeters, mm, whole numbers and the bolt heads will usually be marked with an M and numbers like 8.8 or 10.9 which indicates their strength.

Imperial = inches,", fractions (64ths or their rationals i.e. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 etc). There are several different types of imperial threads (and more than 1 metric). The bulk of the Mini's are UNF or UNC with"tick marks" (lines that look a bit like spokes) on the heads to indicates their strength.

The square drive hole on sockets is either 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 inch regardless of whether they're for metric or imperial bolts. You can get 3/4 inch drive sockets too but they're not particularly common (for cars) and more expensive.