daniel mason
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 10:47 PM |
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socket sets
which size of drive and brand of socket set would you guys advise for my first build. already have a full set of spanners/bush spanners but need a
socket set. nothing too spectacular and not too expensive, what are the most common sizes of sockets. i foun both bacho and draper 1/4" drive
sets on ebay but max socket is 13mm(bacho) and 14mm(draper) are they big enough?
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loggyboy
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 10:52 PM |
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I bought this
Halfords
socket set donkeys years ago and its still going strong. Great to use in the cold as its plastic edged handle doesnt turn your hand icy.
I also have the 3/8 rachet which is also going strong.
I would also recommend a set of Hex sockets (ie ones which JUST have a bare hex grip, not a multi tooth grip) these are great for stuborn or slightly
rounded nuts.
[Edited on 14/1/10 by loggyboy]
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austin man
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 10:53 PM |
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the majority of suspension bolts are 17 or 19mm. or 11/16 and 3/4 a 3/8 drive will do at a push but 1/2 drive is a lot sturdier. Halfords do quite a
decent range for the home .
Sealey , Stanley, Hilka also do decent hobby sets
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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gazzarose
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 10:54 PM |
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I havn't built a car (yet) but have done general car jobs, and I use a Halfords advanced set. They do a few, I've got the £200 on, but
around Xmas they put them to half price so you've just missed it. But they do a few smaller ones. The one I've got has sockets up to I
think 32mm as well as Imperial equivlents, as well as 8-19mm spanners, a few ratchet spanners, long reach sockets and 3 different ize ratchets, and
some star sockets. Best bet would be to ry your local Halfords and see what you can afford. Also they're Pro and Advanced range have a life time
warranty I think although I've never had to take anything back.
Gareth
This is the next one down from mine and its half price now, should be fine for most things,
Link
And some smaller sets are 1/2 price as well
link
If you've already got spanners, the 55 piece set looks good.
I'd also second the above post hat 1/2 is recommended, especially for undoing rusty nuts/bolts on the donor.
[Edited on 14/1/10 by gazzarose]
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skodaman
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 10:57 PM |
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3/8" and 1/2 drive sockets and 1/2" torque wrench unless you've got bike engine in which case a less crude torque wrench would be in
order.
Main thing is avoid the really cheap stuff. I'd rather get good old stuff from a car boot than new cheap stuff.
Skodaman
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GeorgeM
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 11:03 PM |
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Halford Professional.
worth the little extra, if they break they change them.
Wait for the half price deals
My conscience is clear - I drive a GREEN car
MNR Racing
essexkitcarclub.com
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daniel mason
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| posted on 14/1/10 at 11:13 PM |
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thanks for taking time out to help guys.i have ordered a 1/2" set!
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Peteff
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 12:03 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
thanks for taking time out to help guys.i have ordered a 1/2" set!
That's the way to go, they cover 10mm to 32mm usually and that's what you need. Keep an eye out for a bargain on ebay though, I bought a
Bahco S87+7 set for £50 including postage and the retail for them is anything up to £280  They are £177 on toolbay.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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designer
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 12:10 AM |
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Halfords Professional are good.
But, this Machine Mart, set gives you enough of everything for a starter kit.
Clarke PRO153 - 27pce 1/4" Drive Socket & Socket Driver Set
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/pro153-27pce-38-drive-socket-socket-driv/path/socket-sets-sockets-tool-sets
Then, when funds allow, go to a 3/8 set.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 10:21 AM |
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Another Vote for Halfords Pro Range tools.
I have the combined 1/4 and 3/8th socket set.
Excellent quality. Lifetime Guarantee.
Word of Warning.... KEEP THE RECIEPT, as they wont honour the guarantee without it.
other than that, excellent.
If you buy a cheap socket set, then when bits wear out, and its usually the 10, 13, 17 sockets and the ratchet. Replace those bits with quality ones.
The cheap sockets that dont get used much will last a good while due to lack of use.
This is what I do with my other tools.
ie you end up with good quality tools for everything you use a lot, and still have tools for the odd ocasion you need them.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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TimEllershaw
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 04:01 PM |
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some of the Halfords Pro ones are half-price at the moment : £109.99 down to £49.99 :
Link
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Rod Ends
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 04:28 PM |
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The're not really half-price - Halfords just double the price for a few weeks, then reduce them to ...
HALF PRICE!!!!!!   
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britishtrident
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 04:51 PM |
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You need 1/2" drive for stripping suspension.
3/8" is best for engine work on any engine built in the last 15 years.
Give Halfords sockets sets a wide berth especially the pro range flank drive.
If yo want the best buy Kamsa
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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daniel mason
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| posted on 15/1/10 at 06:18 PM |
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i actually went for a bacho 1/2" set with 10mm - 30mm sockets. i hope they are ok!
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Peteff
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| posted on 16/1/10 at 12:18 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
i actually went for a bacho 1/2" set with 10mm - 30mm sockets. i hope they are ok!
The quality is excellent, you have no worries there. Bahco is a reputable make with a good reputation.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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FazerBob
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| posted on 30/1/10 at 11:59 PM |
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socket sets
I have been making a living out of fixing cars for too many years now (about 45 ish). For everyday use a 3/8 drive is the most versatile. Slim
enough to get into awkward places, and strong enough to last.
I also have a Britool 1/2 inch drive set, with sockets from 10 to 33mm. When working on suspensions etc this set is invaluable. I have had the
Britool set over 25 years and it's still going strong, and never had to replace a socket, even though I frequently use a long breaker bar with
them.
Finally, the socket set I carry most places (on breakdowns etc) and also use most often in the garage, was a present from my two Sons about 15 -20
years ago. It's a Canadian brand called Metrinch. 3/8 drive, good solid ratchet, and specifically designed to fit both Metric and Imperial
fixings. It also has a lifetime, written, guarantee. Mine gets used for probably 3 or 4 hours solid every day and so far I have had to replace 3
sockets - when I lost them somewhere.
Sorry - another 'finally' - regardless of which socket set you buy, always have a couple of ratchets. A fine tooth one - usually
advertised as 72 tooth (or more). This will be able to move backwards to pick up the next tooth on the ratchet in areas with limited access. A
coarse ratchet of about 45 teeth will take more heavy use, at the expense of needing to move more to pick up the next tooth.
Bob
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Peteff
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| posted on 31/1/10 at 10:00 AM |
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Another thing you will need is a long handled tommy bar with a swivel on the end. I got a cheap extending one from a market 18" to 36"
ish. If something is really tight start it off before you try to use the ratchet on it, they are only going to take so much abuse.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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