halfords pass/fail thread

[merbie]

well why not? halfords is equivalent to harbor freight over here in the uk so why not try out a pass fail thread for it, so far iv tried out the screwdrivers and there great for the price

PASS

okay then lads what has passed or failed for you?

 

[NorthSea92]

Halfords professional tools are really good value for money, if you look closely you will see that those screwdrivers are made in Germany.



I've got the ratchet spanner's and have been impressed with them. Definitely a pass, also have a few socket sets for out in the field and they would be a pass too.

 

[top drive]

professional VDE screwdrivers failed me.

tips brittle and broke during normal electrical use. (not opening paint tins and torquing down on screws)

their ratches are nice - their sockets could be better.... they only do 6 point in 1/4 or impact. i like my 3/8s to be 6 point as well im afraid.

bahco can fufil that for a similar price.

their flexy ratchet spanners are AWESOME when you work on french cars and the first step for an alternator swap is - remove front wheel and wing from drivers side.

their flexy ratchet in their spark plug socket is good.

their pro tool boxes have held up for me - their industrial ones are nice too but i dont like the latching drawers.

the inlays for their socket sets - 180/200 piece sets at 9.99 are a great way of getting rid of the stupid blow mould case.

 

[Robbie UK]

All the Pro / Advanced sockets = Pass

Not had a ratchet fail on me but given the coarse ratchet and large head I would say = Fail

Norbar torque wrenches dressed in Halfords colours = Pass

Ratchet spanners (Gearwrench design) = Pass

Flex ratchet spanners = Pass

Not had a good experience with their screwdrivers = Fail

Pro tool boxes (when on sale or on trade card) = Pass

Punches = Fail

Hex keys = Fail

Vortex socket set = Pass

 

[top drive]

agree on the courseness of ratchets - but the big head and courseness + how cheap they are meanss i dont feel bad about hauling on them.

treat my bahco 80s like they are gold

 

[merbie]

Anybody tried there portable tool boxes?


Sent from the sticks

 

[Robbie UK]

Not sure I know what product you mean by 'portable tool box' - do you have a link?

 

[merbie]

This box for a little kit for my morris minor

Sent from the sticks

 

[Robbie UK]

If I recall correctly that box is not the same quality as the black pro range. It is a bit lighter as a result.

 

[firecracker]

Your Disco would swallow that up Robbie but its handy size

 

[merbie]

Well when I get the engine back in the minor I'm going raid halfords for a car kit, what are te punches like?


Sent from the sticks

 

[-Z-]

Experience with these? They come in the big socket sets.

Primarily interested in the durability/strength of the Torx bits.

 

[top drive]

T27 is stronger than my wera torx tht snapped when removing the dickie seats in my land rover

 

[Robbie UK]

Your Disco would swallow that up Robbie but its handy size

I keep a tool bag in the car, stored under the rearmost seats. Tools rattling around in a metal box would drive me nuts!

Do we know each other?

 

[merbie]

Experience with these? They come in the big socket sets.

Primarily interested in the durability/strength of the Torx bits.

had the same 1/4 inch set with the plastic ratchet, the nut spinner handle didnt fit the sockets i had to grind it to mate it fit wouldnt recommend it

 

[top drive]

anyone tried the hammer hit impact driver.....

i need one for a job NOW . reviews are mixed at best - doesnt sound like it has hardened bits and they like to shatter

Ideally id have stretched for the TENG at 27 quid but i dont have time to wait for delivery - i need my brake drums off this weekend.

I guess ill go buy and use it for my job .... if it breaks ill return it ... if it doesnt then ill be happy.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

I've got the 1/4 3/8 & 1/2" drive torx socket drivers, like most other tool manufactors they twist & break from time to time, but they do the job.

 

[top drive]

reserve and collect gets a big fat fail from me.

reserved said impact driver online at 9.45am this morning..... recieve email saying ready to collect.

arrive at halfords at 12.20.

sorry sir its not been picked nor do we have it in stock .....

what a bunch of BS. lucky im going to glasgow tomorrow so pass a few halfords where i can collect one so i can get the job done on sunday.

 

[wild cowboy]

Robert = Pass

 

[top drive]

im not sure my neighbours appreciate him though.

 

[elvisslipperman]

Interesting new topic , halfords advanced / pro range of tools has gone down in quality over a number of years with a change of country of manufacture for for the the sockets and ratchets . The Germany on the screwdrivers is 100% not their country of manufacture . To be clear about this I can confirm this having unboxed tens of thousands of these whilst employed by the said company .I started working for them when Facom was ranged in store . I still use the older (made in USA) tool boxes that were identical to craftsman .Its a shame the company has progressively become weaker , favouring Far East suppliers over others .

 

[elvisslipperman]

Interesting new topic , halfords advanced / pro range of tools has gone down in quality over a number of years with a change of country of manufacture for for the the sockets and ratchets . The Germany on the screwdrivers is 100% not their country of manufacture . To be clear about this I can confirm this having unboxed tens of thousands of these whilst employed by the said company .I started working for them when Facom was ranged in store . I still use the older (made in USA) tool boxes that were identical to craftsman .Its a shame the company has progressively become weaker , favouring Far East suppliers over others .

 

[merbie]

There black industrial box with crumple over time guy at my work has one and it's buckled


Sent from the sticks

 

[top drive]

Well i got an advance pro impact driver.....

While it works its 17.99 worth....

You open the cardboard box and find a far east generic tin box with a generic impact driver in.

Very very stiff out the box..... Opened it up to find no grease.

Gave it a grease , reassembled and used it to take off my drums and then strip all the feeds and senders off my old fuel tank - thus saving me about 80 quid in parts save 10 ba3 x9/16 screws that got destroyed.

Worth 17.99 but not worth the advanced pro box.

 

[merbie]

good to know^ think ill stick with my old west germeny draper

 

[-Z-]

A poster over on pistonheads, ‘Lugy’, is claiming the individual small Pro sets are of a higher quality than the large Pro combo sets, despite the items looking the same. I think Lugy can only be referring to the socket sets. Is this correct?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...074&mid=0&i=20&nmt=Halfords+socket+sets&mid=0

 

[merbie]

Since my new job a guy I work with uses exclusively halfords stuff and to be fair it works for him so that's all that matters, I do like the Allen sockets though

I'd rather close my **** in a car door than wear a headlamp.

 

[Harrison2]

Halfords is not a equivalent to harbor freight, halfords is a auto store which would be equivalent to autozone or advanceauto parts.

The UK equivalent to harbor freight would be machine mart.

As for tools, I know people with the socket sets, theyre good. The ratcheting wrenches are a good by, id say there the same as gearwrench and the same as those screwdriver bit sets posted above.

the boxes are okay for home use. Some of it is overpriced considering what you can get on ebay.

 

[alfazer]

I picked up top and bottom industrial rollcab and chest on the £299 deal. For that money, I don't think I could find any better value, especially with the top chest bring full size depth to match the rollcab. The gauge is light but they have pressed pattern in the drawers which helps a little.

 

[udderlyoffroad]

The UK equivalent to harbor freight would be machine mart.

'cept MachineMart charge full-fat prices for variable quality. My (limited) experience of Harbor Freight (at least the Phoenix, Az. branch near the airport) is they at least charge peanuts for variable quality kit.

It could be that my experience was just a 'holiday romance' of course...

Back on topic, Halfords 'pro' topchest, 2005 vintage. For hobbyist spannering, perfect. It appears to be better made than the Clarke professional roll cab it sits on.

Matt

Edited to add: Screwfix pass/fail thread?

 

[Harrison2]

yes there is a difference in prices however I was more commenting on sold products. most harbor freight tools would be like the tools found at qd. brands like rolson and am tech.

 

[steveo3002]

do thier sale special tool sets still include dozens of random whitworth and imperical sizes that almost no one in the uk will ever use?

 

[Tronyadorable]

Halfords professional tools are really good value for money, if you look closely you will see that those screwdrivers are made in Germany.



I've got the ratchet spanner's and have been impressed with them. Definitely a pass, also have a few socket sets for out in the field and they would be a pass too.

Jonnesway.Same thing. Great stuff.

 

[Tronyadorable]

The Taiwanese don't compete. They work toward the greater good for all.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Umm, isn't a Halford a cow or something?

Just teasing our cross the pond brothers. Merry Christmas! - Paul

 

[minimowog]

i bought 2 sets of the very same screwdrivers posted for £6.30

the screwdrivers themselves say Germany on the handle (not made in btw) except for the 2 stubby ones and the back of the box says made in taiwan.

after opening them and looking at them, im going for taiwanese, however they have a lifetime guarantee as long as the ink stays on the receipt

 

[fraser innes]

Halford ' receipts are printed on thermal paper so don't leave them in the sun. I always scan them into the computer.
All of my tools bought in the last 15 years are all halfords pro. Just bought some vortex sockets which I use exclusively over my old standard sockets.

 

[merbie]

Anyone had any experience with a the torque wrenches?


Merb

 

[Ruffgeezer]

I got a half inch one on trade, £46 as I recall. It does the job fine.

I don't rate the small electrical screwdrivers, I bought one when wiring my garage and broke it on the first screw I tried to undo.