Tools! Where from and how much?

Just wondering where people buy there tools from normally and if the prices are resonable, eg. brand names and value for money!

cheers patch

Normal hand tools, I bought really cheap stuff a while ago and when something which is regularly used breaks, replaced it with a good quality item, either from Halfords Pro range or Sealey (from a local FLAPS). More specialised small tools, Halfords if it just has to do 1 job, or search around for something better/stronger if its a high force application, eg ball joint splitter.

For large tools, the biggest mistake I made was buying a SIP welder - rubbish and didn't last long. So tend to go to Machine Mart since their stuff (Clarke) is reasonable balance of quality and price, and also its easy to find a branch and get spares, etc. Nothing worse than having a ?100 tool, breaking a small spare part or wearable item on it, and struggling to find a spare.

TBH though a lot of my tools are now wearing out/worn out and I could do with a lot of reinvestment in them! So I too, am interested in others responses.

paul_c said

TBH though a lot of my tools are now wearing out/worn out and I could do with a lot of reinvestment in them! So I too, am interested in others responses.

Have you ever used draper tools at all, the reason being is i am trying to become a dealer for tools and at the moment i am looking into draper tools and clarke. But just interested what product more people would be interested in.

I thought maybe if i can get a site up selling either tool brand, then mk1oc members and forum users can get discounts. But at the moment its only in its first days.

buy cheap buy twice, or more.

Never used Draper. I thought Clarke were exclusively distributed/sold by Machine Mart? Yeah the buy cheap buy twice applies very well for "critical" tools like the main socket set, spanners, electrical stuff. But sometimes you just want the basic version eg a valve grinding stick and in this instance I try to find the cheapest. Also, has to be said, a lot of Halfords stuff is made out of cheese (quality seems to vary widely) but its easy and not too far to take something back there, even if it breaks.

paul_c said

 I thought Clarke were exclusively distributed/sold by Machine Mart? quote]

No theres two farm shops up the road from me that sells all there air, and welding tools!

The buy cheap buy twice applys to loads of things tho, i know the majority of things that costs that little extra are useually better, i have had draper tools and clarke tools in the past, never ever brought from halfords, the only thing i did was spring compressors and they where made by laser!

silverline tools for me

friend is a dealer for them cheap and lifetime garantee cannot go wrong really for hand tools

Some of the Draper professional stuff is ok, but I tend to pick and mix.
Snap on/Blue point for sockets and ratchets, i've had a Halfords pro 1/4 drive set for about 10 years, and it's still spot on.
I bought some Clarke slip joint pliers, and they are probably one of the most useful, and hard wearing tools I have ever used.

P.S  I work on Challenger 2 tanks, so my tools get a proper hammering. Usually literally  :twisted:

to be fair its tricky. we have a few van come round to our unit ie snap-on( lifetime garentee) mac tools and varius over vans with just lots of tools of all qualities.

my posh spanners and ratchet spanners and all my sockets are snap on,screwdrivers whia,ive got kennedy spanners which are fabulous,facom is exellent,britool,mac tools,hazet is quality,beta tools are quality,i buy snap on for the lifetime warrenty which ive used many times,as i use them 6 days a week  :wink:
Bert

Bert said

my posh spanners and ratchet spanners and all my sockets are snap on,screwdrivers whia,ive got kennedy spanners which are fabulous,facom is exellent,britool,mac tools,hazet is quality,beta tools are quality,i buy snap on for the lifetime warrenty which ive used many times,as i use them 6 days a week  :wink:
Bert

Borrow Berts, every one else does    and as your in Kinver…local-ish… ideal,save your money ! 8O    :wink:  :wink:  :wink:
27.50

Bert

My husband seems to collect Makita Drills. It seems you can never have enough of them.    Everything else he owns seems to be Snap-on, Sealey or Stanley.  He actually enjoys going to tool shops or B&Q.  :roll:

I teend to use rolson & draper tools :mrgreen:

i like makita tools  :wink:  was a chippy until last year.

Bert said

my posh spanners and ratchet spanners and all my sockets are snap on,screwdrivers whia,ive got kennedy spanners which are fabulous,facom is exellent,britool,mac tools,hazet is quality,beta tools are quality,i buy snap on for the lifetime warrenty which ive used many times,as i use them 6 days a week  :wink:
Bert

I am with bert on this one. Britool and beta, had a set of beta screwdrivers, best I ever lent out and never got back. Snap on, spot on. Bought a complete socket tool set from COSCO Cresent I believe, good quality and not let me down.    :wink:

Halfords pro stuff is reasonable quality, should be more than adequate for amateur use, has served me well and they have a lifetime guarantee.

anything that gives a lifetime guarantee should be alright.
i use snap on for work, but also reckon mac is just as goodas snap on but at half the price.

as previuos said, halfrauds professional if life time guaranteed and should suit pretty much anything you'll need for working on a mk1.
 
dan

Even regular halford's stuff's pretty good. I've got one of their big tool kits which has served me fine so far apart from some of the small things like the stanley knife and torch breaking. Everything else is easily tough enough though.

Saying that, whenever I buy stuff to add to it I always try and get the professional range as it's barely more expensive when buying individual tools.

i work for mac tools , facom , stanley, britool, bostich so get all mine at cost price