hi,

I'm looking to build up my mechanics tools, and want to buy some decent tools chest, but sadly only have a small (students) budget! I have seen some drpaer tools and chests for a decent price, and was wondering if anyone knew what kind of quality they are?

http://www.drapertools-online.com/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=78444

i am looking at these, but can get them cheaper than the £760 it says.

If not, any advice on others would be appreciated.

Thanks
Theo

Not Snap On quality but the Draper stuff I have had over the years has been O.K for the price. Wouldn't knock them.

Try to see their new ones, lots of "big name" companies have realised they can't economically produce stuff anywhere but China, hence some "decent" names quality has dropped off recently.

I'm not speaking about Draper specifically, just something to look out for.

look in to tengtools; cheaper than snap-on but close in quality and all for a similar prices to draper professional, I've got a couple of sets and they all have a lifetime guarantee, which has been tested (using screwdrivers as chisels etc and they honored it).

when you say 'not specifically draper' do you really mean draper is one?

Basically, i dont want to walk into a job after ive left uni, and get laughed at because of my tools

If draper are respectable then that wold be ok.

In particular im interested in the quality of the tool chest, i can gradually replace the tools over the years

Theo

Ive had some draper pro stuf and it was very nice. At the car shows you will see a brand called Bergen I find these these are also very good.

I have a Teng 3/8 set that I take to the scrap yard ect and can not fault it. It takes some punishment and its never let go. Even with a bar on the ratchet tut tut.

I've always had good service from Kamasa tools, with no failures despite all the abuse I've given them. They're not too expensive, but have a fairly good quality feel, well worth a look.

Dont overlook the Halfords stuff, their top end socket set (£99 if you get the right sale time) has saved me, my family and my extended family thousands of pounds over the last 7 years and nothing has broken.

Don't forget second hand tools. A few years back before everything was made in China a lot of the dubious brands today were making very high quality tools, Draper among them!

A good set of second hand tools also look like the owner has used them for a long time and therefore has mucho experience so has much more cred then a brand new set of anything!

Caber

I bought a load of Draper tools (sockets, spanners etc). I bought a cheapo value kit (for my friends to borrow!) and an expert set for myself. We sheared a wobble bar in the value kit, and they sent me an expert one free in the post. I would thoroughly reccomend the expert kit, but the value tools are a little weedy...

My son bought exactly the same set from www.toolsnstuff.co.uk for £281.45 delivered. He is using them every day working on tractors.

I'm a mechanic by trade too so good tools are a must.

For things like spanners, sockets and screwdrivers you will need really good ones. I have MAC or Snap-On.

For most other things I use Machine Mart, alot of their hand tools have a lifetime guarantee. I'm not for one minute saying that I've never broken a Clark tool. But atleast its replaced for free and they don't cost the earth to buy in the first place.

I personally highly recomend Machine Mart to anyone starting out in the trade as the tools are generally good and also at a very fair price. They also do starter kits like what you're looking for.

Second the halfords pro recommendation - top quality and no quibble lifetime guarantee.

Draper have never been great these days most thier stuff is just about OK.

Get to know the guy in your local specialist tool store -- where I live (Glasgow) we have a very good one. This the place to go for decent screw drivers, hammers and the like.

Halfords pro stuff looks great but can also vary a lot in quality -- bought some Halfords pro sockets for a major and found a couple were not the corect size. but any other stuf fromthem has been OK.

Kamsa -- good sockets and screw drivers.

Clarke & Machine Mart are usually pretty good but take care as the value for money varies. I usually buy semi-specialist stuff like brake pipe spanners, deep sockets, hammered impact drivers from Machine Mart.

King Dick is the brand of choice for big spanners and sockets.

Bacho is the only brand who make useable adjustable spanners --- ask any marine engineer.

Sykes-Picavant are best for really specialist stuff like valve spring compressirs and brake pipe flairing tools.

Don't over look cheaper brands it is worth having a cheap set of extra sockets and spanners --- Hilka brand are dirt cheap but very useable.

Aldi & Lidl are always worth a visit .

Thank for all your advice guys, thats really helpful

I shall start making my collection then!

Theo

quote:

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Originally posted by AdamR
Second the halfords pro recommendation - top quality and no quibble lifetime guarantee.

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quote:

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Originally posted by theohighland
when you say 'not specifically draper' do you really mean draper is one?

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Halfrauds card got me 25% off the Chris Gibbs book the other day, their spanners seem as good as other decent makes I have used, they had a big set on offer ina couple of boxes and trolleys the other week and we " cheekily" asked if discount card couldbe used, sadly not as takenat shop price less discount it was more than they were selling the whole thing for!!

I have an old set of draper spanners since my motorbike days (30years ago) and still fine- on the down side we bought a tall pillar drill bearing the Draper logo in a box with funny writing and the casting which holds the pillar to the base had a hair line crack in it- perhaps it was the shipping agent!!

Have bought a couple of sets of Kamaza socketsin recent years and they have been abused by a variety of users with no ill effects.

HTH
Mike

I sell loads of draper stuff and as long as you stay away from the value stuff you should be ok if any one wants a draper catalogue u2u me and I will put one in the post for you
ta

Rhys