Halford tools sets ???

I have all of their different socket sets and their three tier tool cabinets, cant fault them especially with a lifetime g'tee. the only thing I broke was my 1/4 ratchet which they replace with no qualms.

doriz said:

I joined the Halfords Pro Tool movement today. A mate won a set in a raffle and he had no interest in them so I got a 200 piece off him for a little over a £100. So tomorrow all my odds and sods sockets, ratchet spanner etc will be going. Hopefully it will reduce the time spent digging in the tool box for the wrong sized spanner or socket.

Well chuffed.

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Undoubtedly the biggest advantage of a properly organised set is being able to find the wrong size tool so much quicker

doriz said:

I joined the Halfords Pro Tool movement today. A mate won a set in a raffle and he had no interest in them so I got a 200 piece off him for a little over a £100. So tomorrow all my odds and sods sockets, ratchet spanner etc will be going. Hopefully it will reduce the time spent digging in the tool box for the wrong sized spanner or socket.

Well chuffed.

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I would not throw away your old tools as they will always come in handy at sometime

Arctic2 said:

I would not throw away your old tools as they will always come in handy at sometime

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I agree with your sentiment, but they are part of a greater psychological issue

doriz said:

I agree with your sentiment, but they are part of a greater psychological issue

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In that case then, sell them at a car boot sale all bloke love buying tools even if they do not want them

I have bought these in the hope that it can help me choose the correct tool first time. I have worked with so many folk that can choose the correct socket just by glancing at a nut it makes me sick.

So now, I just buy the right tool instead of trying to change a wheel with Stilsons for example

Davidspect said:

I bought a torx bit set, the professional range, and managed to snap one through my own stupidity. Took it back and the guy in the shop just said "no proble
m, lifetime guarantee" and handed me a new one.

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Same here - My Grand-daughter had exactly the same experience (mind you the breaker bar prolly didn't give it much chance (;-)) She is apprenticed to a truck servicing outfit and all the guys there swear by Halfords Professional range - and - even more than Landy stuff - it's much heavier work than your normal family saloon.

I've got quite an extensive range of tools. Some Halfords Standard, some Pro. I also have a 40+ year old Renshaw and newish Bahco socket set. I find the Bacho the best by a mile. The Halfords standard stuff is OK, but the Pro ratchets are always failing. The Rensure, being imperial, hasn't been abused in year's, but it's still as good as new.
I find myself reaching for the Bahco most often however.

Chosen correctly from your heap of junk there is no such thing as a bad tool - even a piece of crap will one day come in handy - to weld onto a piece of scrap to get at an awkward bolt - or make up a cambelt timing jig - or bang in a bearing square etc.
Stripped an old tractor a couple of years ago - encrusted in decades of cow**** - at one stage the trick was to stick weld a cheapo ring spanner onto the rounded bolthead - let it cool - then out she wound
I found a standard Halfords ratchet a bit light duty but had finer clicks than my meaty old Matador (52 years old that set) - it's horses for courses really

To add, i got given a trade card at a part time motor course in Cambs, guy came in to do a presentation about the trade card etc. Mainly talking about these tool sets. I already had the majority of tools so wasnt necessary buying a full set as i'm Bahco'd up, with a mix of other stuff including halfords 1/2" ratchet s n stuff.
But when you first get a trade card, you also get 20 percent off as well on first purchase, so he bought the big 200 piece set Adv Prof for i think less than £120 quid, stupid price it worked out at being only 50p a piece or something crazy. If i started again id get it, but bit late now! Doesnt represent the rest of the shop...

I simply don't have the room to keep old tools which is why i have bitten the bullet and finally invested in compact toolsets. Incidentally the new tools came in handy when i fitted my spot light brackets yesterday. Today the rear work light goes on.

doriz said:

I simply don't have the room to keep old tools which is why i have bitten the bullet and finally invested in compact toolsets. Incidentally the new tools came in handy when i fitted my spot light brackets yesterday. Today the rear work light goes on.

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I would be happy to offer your old tools a home

I've got a small 1/4 drive set which I bought at least 20 years ago and I think they were marked Expert in those days. Its really been through the mill on a variety of cars, bikes and printing machines but it's never let me down. I was honestly ready to slag it off when I bought it in an emergency, but I really can't find a fault.

DevonGuy said:

I've got a small 1/4 drive set which I bought at least 20 years ago and I think they were marked Expert in those days. Its really been through the mill on a variety of cars, bikes and printing machines but it's never let me down. I was honestly ready to slag it off when I bought it in an emergency, but I really can't find a fault.

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I bought one of the 1/4" drive pro socket sets thinking it would come in handy every few years but turns out to be one of the most useful things I have bought gets used all the time, pity I broke the box though.

I have the Halfords Professional 1/4" set and it probably gets used more than the 1/2" one. Great little box to have with you when working in the engine bay or on a lawn mower or quad bike. The sockets are six point so they don't strip bolt heads and there are enough allen/torx/screwdriver bits that don't need many other tools with you.

However,
The ratchet is very tired after only two years of use - there is a rebuild kit available
The bits aren't held in so if you tip the box EVERYTHING goes EVERYWHERE
You need to buy a little 2" extension to go with it as not included
The socket sizes aren't printed on the box so you're always guessing

You'd expect a set costing 50 quid not to have the above faults, but it was on sale for 25 when I bought it, so not too bad.

One of the best - now "got to" tools I have is a set of Halfords ratchet rings - or "rat sh*t" as I call them - so long as you remember to leave room to get them off after you wind out a nut or bolt - don't ask how I know this ............(;-((

one main thing i've learnt about tools

is never ever do i lend them out to anyone , even my brothers would be out of luck

gstuart said:

one main thing i've learnt about tools

is never ever do i lend them out to anyone , even my brothers would be out of luck

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Damn right - never a borrower or a lender be - if you lend it it either does not come back or comes back half broke. If you borrow kit it invariably breaks so you buy the guy a new one - give it back -and still don't have one yourself.

dfossil said:

Damn right - never a borrower or a lender be - if you lend it it either does not come back or comes back half broke. If you borrow kit it invariably breaks so you buy the guy a new one - give it back -and still don't have one yourself.

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oh yes, been there done that , lol

swore i would never lend tools again ,lent a float and trowel to my brother, he left all the cement and plaster on them

wasn't very happy. he didn't even clear the bucket out

that was the last straw, now if i go and use a tool i know where it is, won't be broke and make sure there all cleaned and put back in the right place

my son has also bought a collection of tools , he won't lend them either, even me, bloody miserable sod, how dare he say no,

i've taught him well

My first boss (a master plasterer) always taught the importance of keeping your trowel and hawk clean