It's my birthday shortly and I'm gonna be getting myself a set of decent ratchet spanners. I checked out halfords online and at my local store and the 33 piece set for £40 looks good:
here

But I noticed online this set has the wrong picture and is described as the flexi head style ones, though they weren't marked at the this price in my local store whereas the other set were:
here

So what's your opinions on which I should go for? More sizes in the fixedhead variety or loose a few sizes and get the flexi head ones?

I checked the packs at my local store and they are both marked as lifetime guarantee. Obviously I can pickup the fixed heads instore and save a fiver postage, but I know good tools are worth spending money on but are the flexi heads any better? I can see where you might use them and I suppose they could be handy but do the heads go floppy over time (I know they can be exchanged under warranty) or are they just a bit gimicky? Logic suggest that they won't take as much strain as the fixed ones with the flexi hinge bit on them?

cheers all,

Ned.

[Edited on 30/5/07 by ned]

I have both sets and if i'm honest i've never found a reason to use the flexi ones although if you choice is one or the other then why bother getting the set that i theory are less useful?

I've got the flexi ones. Its been useful on occasions, but not the end of the world if you don't have em.

I've got the Halfords flexi ones too. Most of the time the flexibility is not really needed (in fact sometimes it can be a pain as the head can work itself off the nut). However, it is often a bit useful to have a slight angle where there is a large surface to work on, and occasionally it is really useful, to be able to get into a space where there is no room for a standard spanner.

So... it depends

Edit: btw, I have found them very good quality

[Edited on 30.05.2007 by Humbug]

I have a set of the fixed headed ones, and they are very good. But as with any ratchet don't use the ratchet to fully tighten or undo unless you have to as this will ware them out quicker.. Can't comment though if flexy headed ones would be better..

Dan

Personally I find the flexi variety frustrating to work with and prefer the fixed version. Check out B&Q's 8-in-2 ratchet spanner set - probably the most used spanners in my toolkit now

I'd go for fixed head. You can buy the lexi head ratched separately anyway if you are so inclined. most setshave a flexi UJ extension piece anyway.

Can' think of a situation where I stopped and thought "oohj, I need a flexi head here".

I have been in a sitaution where I have undid a nut/bolt in a confined space and the ratchet came across an obstacle where I could not remove it or be able to reverse it - not sure if a flix wold have helpded there or not?

Raz,

I had done a search and seen your post but the halfords set inlcudes a few more sizes (every size 8-19mm!), are not reversible (you turn the spanner over!) so less mechanism to fail and have the peace of mind of the lifetime warranty for only £10 more.

cheers,

Ned.

i too have been contemplating the two types, think I'm going for the fixed.

Also, before you buy, have a look at getting one of these....

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10151&productId=264955&categoryId=3 1284

quote:

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Originally posted by ned
Raz,

I had done a search and seen your post but the halfords set inlcudes a few more sizes (every size 8-19mm!), are not reversible (you turn the spanner over!) so less mechanism to fail and have the peace of mind of the lifetime warranty for only £10 more.

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Fair point raz, for a portable kit (back of the car etc) I think you're right but for the garage/workshop I'd rather have the right tool for the job a short walk away in the toolbox than have the wrong size in my pocket

Ned.

quote:

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Originally posted by Humbug
I've got the Halfords flexi ones too. Most of the time the flexibility is not really needed (in fact sometimes it can be a pain as the head can work itself off the nut). However, it is often a bit useful to have a slight angle where there is a large surface to work on, and occasionally it is really useful, to be able to get into a space where there is no room for a standard spanner.

So... it depends

Edit: btw, I have found them very good quality

[Edited on 30.05.2007 by Humbug]

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Also have to agree that the flexi head onesthat i ahev, can be a pita. So i would go fixed head next time, they are however of good quality, and do exactly what they are supposed to do!

I went for a 8-19mm, 33 pc set. So so useful. Can't say i've used any of the little bits mind you.

I was talking to a friend the other day who works in a garage. He was saying that one of his colleages gave up with the snap-on version which kept dying and bought himself a set of halfords ones, with no breakages so far. Like you say, they have life time guarantee. So if they do break and their aren't obvious hammer dents in them you'll get a replacement!

You won't miss having the flexi heads until you *really* need them.

Couldn't have done my V6 omega DIS pack so easily without them...access to this is a prigging nightmare.

For 99% of jobs, the flexi bit isn't required. But for those other 1%, they're indispensible.

PS Had mine about 3 years and not gone floppy yet.

COSTCO do SET AT ABOUT 20 QUID ONLY PROBLEM IS THERE IS NO 17MM IN THE SET BUT YOU DO GET A 15mm ??

quote:

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Originally posted by ned
I had done a search and seen your post but the halfords set inlcudes a few more sizes (every size 8-19mm!), are not reversible (you turn the spanner over!) so less mechanism to fail and have the peace of mind of the lifetime warranty for only £10 more.

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Thanks for all the resposes chaps, I think I'm gonna go for the fixed head jobbies for now. Maybe get some flexi head ones at a later date if the need arises.

cheers all,

Ned.