Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
- DefTrap
- Posts: 4495
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
- Has thanked: 2259 times
- Been thanked: 2190 times
Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Need a new, starter size, socket set (as as gift) and want to spend between 50 and 100 gbp.
Spec -
- 3/8 drive ratchet
- metric
- roughly 8mm - 17mm sockets
- some sort of extension bar
- knuckle joint is a nice to have
My benchmark is Teng - unbelievable quality (my own set is knocking 35 years and other than the plastic case not doing the distance, it's been completely faultless)
Obviously also Facom.
I also bought a 1/4 drive Bahco recently - very good quality.
Any new players I should be aware of / avoid?
Anyone know of any super bargains around?
Spec -
- 3/8 drive ratchet
- metric
- roughly 8mm - 17mm sockets
- some sort of extension bar
- knuckle joint is a nice to have
My benchmark is Teng - unbelievable quality (my own set is knocking 35 years and other than the plastic case not doing the distance, it's been completely faultless)
Obviously also Facom.
I also bought a 1/4 drive Bahco recently - very good quality.
Any new players I should be aware of / avoid?
Anyone know of any super bargains around?
- Rockburner
- Posts: 4375
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
- Location: Hiding in your blind spot
- Has thanked: 7814 times
- Been thanked: 2527 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
I've still got a Draper Silver set I bought at least 30 years ago and it's still fine - but I very much doubt you'll find one now.
The Halfords Pro tools get good reviews?
The Halfords Pro tools get good reviews?
non quod, sed quomodo
- weeksy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23416
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
- Has thanked: 5450 times
- Been thanked: 13085 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
They're hard to beat really. Do everything well enough.Rockburner wrote: ↑Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:07 pm I've still got a Draper Silver set I bought at least 30 years ago and it's still fine - but I very much doubt you'll find one now.
The Halfords Pro tools get good reviews?
- DefTrap
- Posts: 4495
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
- Has thanked: 2259 times
- Been thanked: 2190 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Are they called Halfords 'Advanced' now or is that something different?
-
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:41 am
- Location: Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 705 times
- Been thanked: 701 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
They are, and this is hard to fault in your budget:
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-too ... 35948.html
-
- Posts: 11233
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:40 pm
- Location: The road of many manky motorcycles
- Has thanked: 607 times
- Been thanked: 4124 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
The good quality Halfords ones are good value
Honda Owner
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
I've been abusing a halfords set (similar to the 150 piece set on their web site now) for over 20 years. the only thing that has caused issue is the ratchet handles, but quick strip down, clean and oil had them working well again
- Skub
- Posts: 12167
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
- Location: Norn Iron
- Has thanked: 9819 times
- Been thanked: 10144 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
I've had a Teng for yonks too. I daresay it'll do me my time.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
-
- Posts: 854
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:53 pm
- Has thanked: 143 times
- Been thanked: 497 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Another vote for Halfords Pro / Advanced which are cracking value in any case but often even better if you know someone with a trade card.
Sadly, I no longer have mine
Sadly, I no longer have mine
Last edited by Silly Car on Thu Jan 14, 2021 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Mr Moofo
- Posts: 4620
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:41 pm
- Location: Brightonish
- Has thanked: 1829 times
- Been thanked: 1469 times
- DefTrap
- Posts: 4495
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
- Has thanked: 2259 times
- Been thanked: 2190 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Thanks chaps
Halfords is a no-go really as I need home delivery, they don't seem to do it for those.
Probably the winner so far, and closest to my spec, is one of these Teng
Halfords is a no-go really as I need home delivery, they don't seem to do it for those.
Probably the winner so far, and closest to my spec, is one of these Teng
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Wera are good quality tools. This one is just about in budget and offers free delivery
https://www.mad4tools.com/hand-tools/sp ... t-29-piece
https://www.mad4tools.com/hand-tools/sp ... t-29-piece
- KungFooBob
- Posts: 14197
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
- Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
- Has thanked: 539 times
- Been thanked: 7526 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
I've broken a few bits in my 200pc Halfrauds set, mainly by using them wrong or being hamfisted.
I take the broken bits back to the shop and they replace them with parts from the one on display... every time I go in the display one is missing a couple of bits
I take the broken bits back to the shop and they replace them with parts from the one on display... every time I go in the display one is missing a couple of bits
- DefTrap
- Posts: 4495
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
- Has thanked: 2259 times
- Been thanked: 2190 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Lolz!KungFooBob wrote: ↑Thu Jan 14, 2021 5:09 pm I've broken a few bits in my 200pc Halfrauds set, mainly by using them wrong or being hamfisted.
I take the broken bits back to the shop and they replace them with parts from the one on display... every time I go in the display one is missing a couple of bits
Trying to find 'a set' that includes all the parts you want and not include a dozen you want is a pain in the arse. Of course you can buy them separately but then you don't get a case and you're down the rabbit hole of foam lined pukka toolboxes ....
-
- Posts: 3028
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:30 pm
- Location: Less that 50 miles away from Moscow, but which one?
- Has thanked: 1346 times
- Been thanked: 1722 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
I'm a bit late to this but Britool and Facom are owned by Stanley now (or were a while ago anyway) and the quality has slipped a fair bit.
The 3/8ths Britool sockets I bought a few years ago are a bit soft and wear fast compared to the Sykes Pikavant (spelling?) 1/2" drive ones Ive had since I was 17 or so.
Gearwrench make some nice ratchets and like many others on here the Halfords Pro stuff I've bought over the years has been good enough.
The 3/8ths Britool sockets I bought a few years ago are a bit soft and wear fast compared to the Sykes Pikavant (spelling?) 1/2" drive ones Ive had since I was 17 or so.
Gearwrench make some nice ratchets and like many others on here the Halfords Pro stuff I've bought over the years has been good enough.
- mangocrazy
- Posts: 6892
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:58 pm
- Has thanked: 2402 times
- Been thanked: 3625 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Another vote for Bahco here. I believe they are owned by the same conglomerate that makes Snap-on. I have their 1/2" set and a couple of 1/4" sets and they are excellent. I also like Facom, but they are rather more spendy.
-
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:03 pm
- Has thanked: 264 times
- Been thanked: 191 times
Re: Best vfm or genereally reccd sockets sets
Another vote for Halford pro/advance.
Started with a 1/2" set , which I've had must be getting on for 20 years and have added 3/8 and 1/4" over the years. 1/4" gets the most use these days , I've added a 14mm socket to help cover most things and the 1/2" drive stuff is used for the larger nuts or things that are tight tight.
I prefer single hex sockets and use them where ever possible.
Use Halford ratchet spanners too.
Nothing has ever broken or become faulty so I can't comment on their warranty.
For the price I think there fantastic value.
Started with a 1/2" set , which I've had must be getting on for 20 years and have added 3/8 and 1/4" over the years. 1/4" gets the most use these days , I've added a 14mm socket to help cover most things and the 1/2" drive stuff is used for the larger nuts or things that are tight tight.
I prefer single hex sockets and use them where ever possible.
Use Halford ratchet spanners too.
Nothing has ever broken or become faulty so I can't comment on their warranty.
For the price I think there fantastic value.