halfords tools

[aidank]

Cant be bad, surely?

[http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...langId_-1_categoryId_165572_partNumber_370635

hi all,

new here, looking at building up a toolbox and looking for good quality at non-snap on prices, tools will be given plenty of hard use when the moment comes, but won't be used every day,

halfords always have good offers on prices so am not too worried about the 50% discount on this box

from what I've read they seems to be as good as anything else out there?

anyone got any expierence with halfords tools, halfords is a shop in the UK/Ireland the box in the above link seems like great value, nothing worse than a spanner snapping, not so sure if expensive with tools means excellent anymore, due to the Chinese Taiwanese factories

Does anyone know who makes Halfords rumours abound on the net, asked in the shop and sales assisant had no idea what I was on about, some say snap-on some say Sykes-pickerling, some say britool/facom?

all comments welcome

 

[billymade]

Maybe the UK crew around here can answer your question; I don't think they sell here in the USA. Are you from the UK? Can the UK crew help a mate out?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Wouldn't hurt to add your location to your profile. Makes it easier for everyone to see where you are and what kind of answer to give, if any.

Link doesn't seem to work, I get the 'ole 404 not found message.

This will get you close....

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...1_catalogId_10151_categoryId_165532_langId_-1

Charles

 

[ImportTuner]

Have never seen a Halford tool .. the UK guys can probably help out .

 

[krusty the clown]

i typed in halfords.com and looked at them..........i believe they are chinese knock ofs that look like craftsman's


i guess i missread......i looked at the boxes

 

[lbgradwell]

Hi,

I think you will find the Halford name to be unknown outside of the UK. My guess is that the "spanners" are contract-produced in Asia - Taiwan or China - and I suspect it might be by Danaher.

The packaging on the ratcheting wrenches (that "Try It" bit) is similar to the Mastercraft Maximum brand available at Canadian Tire here in Canada. I know those to be made by Lea Way.

Best guess: Lea Way or Sata

 

[ZRX61]

I have a pair of Halfords pliers, & after about 30 years they are still my "go to" pair... name on them wore off years ago....

Those rachet wrenches they have look exactly like Danaher/GearWrench

 

[ZRX61]

Here ya go:

 

[aidank]

hi all,

this looks like the same box, gearwrench are very well rated only this Halfords box is 50% cheaper

looking on the good old fleamarker, a great place I find to see how much things are


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Signet-Gearwr...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:3|39:1|240:1318

halfords must be good stuff I think

link editied in first post

 

[lbgradwell]

Man, that does look like the same set...

But I'd caution you against relying on eBay for consistent pricing for any product, especially a BIN deal... The fluctuations between sellers can be ridiculous.

Signet is a "Canadian" company; that is, the company is Canadian, but the product is not...

 

[Brookesy]

Halfords tools aren't that bad i think the spanners come with lifetime guarentee now. Their tools will take a lot of abuse. If you don't want to spend the money on snap on then these tools will be perfect & don't cost too much either.

 

[Alowes2837]

From my experience Halfords professional range tools are fine and have found them to be just as good as any others. The tool box's are a bit flimsy and not really upto serious profesional uses.

 

[Jononon]

Halfords tools aren't that bad i think the spanners come with lifetime guarentee now. Their tools will take a lot of abuse. If you don't want to spend the money on snap on then these tools will be perfect & don't cost too much either.

All their non-moving tools, plus their ratcheting wrenches, are lifetime warrantied. I don't know what the situation is with ratchets.

The spanners are visually identical to Gearwrench, logo aside, I think it's safe to assume they're sourced from Danaher. I've used them in my garden toolkit (the one I'm willing to treat as disposable if getting the mower blade off involves applying the BFH) for years without undue wear.

Although I'd keep in mind the idea that you might eventually want to buy some nicer ratchets, that box looks like a bargain.

 

[eschoendorff]

Those tools reek of what we know as GearWrench over here... except the ratchets. Those look like generic Taiwanese fare.

 

[chammyman]

Halfords stuff is great, I have a lot of halfords stuff and the only thing I have broken is a T40 torx bit and the crappy 1/4 ratchet but thats because the screws always work out of them even with loctite.

You can abuse them a lot, like putting 1/2 sockets with step down on a 1 inch air gun etc.

My spanners have evidence of being hit with hammers, levered with scaffold poles and so on.

When you do break one get it replaced no issues at the store.

I have nearly worn out my T20 1/4 bit, I think it needs to be broken to be warranted though, so that will be smacked with a hammer soon.

Halfords are as good as the top brands, their allen kepy bits last longer then SO for sure.

 

[Frank Elson]

Halfords, known as Halfrauds around here, have stepped up a gear in recent years. From cheap rubbish to reasonably priced stuff.
I went with a friend for a set of spring compressors the other day. £20 and well designed and well-made. From Taiwan, but that isn't as big an issue over here as it is in the US.
The Halfords Pro tools are lifetime guaranteed and I aim to test some quite soon.
50 % off the box - which did seem well made when I tried it at the weekend - has to be a good deal. I've watched a lot of Snap On boxes on Ebay and they go way higher than a new, guaranteed for life, Halfords Box.

 

[krazykev]

i typed in halfords.com and looked at them..........i believe they are chinese knock ofs that look like craftsman's


i guess i missread......i looked at the boxes

halfords tools are made in the far east. if you live in the USA dont underestimate Halfords tools. they are very good and take a lot of stick. the warranty is also the same as Snap on. i know of a few mechanics that swear by them. me included. they are not your average £1.99 FOR A 50 PIECE type set.

 

[bazzateer]

Another vote for the Halfords Professional range of tools. I tend to replace any of my cheap stuff with them.

 

[kered]

hi all,

new here, looking at building up a toolbox and looking for good quality at non-snap on prices, tools will be given plenty of hard use when the moment comes, but won't be used every day, ........

Hi Aidan,

Halfords tools, particularly the "pro range" aren't too bad at all. In fact they're pretty good. Not in the same league as Snap-on needless to say, but nothing wrong with them at all.

I bought my brother in law a set of Halfords tools a few years ago for Christmas, as he had just got a boat & I thought he might need some tools to "keep her goin'" He still has all of them & says he couldn't do without them now.

You should also take a look at Teng Tools, I have some of their stuff & find them very good. I consider them to be very competitively priced & they would be my fall back brand, when not laying down for Snap On.

 

[Krokodil]

Are halfords in any way related to kennedy from cromwells in the uk? I've got a few kennedy tools and are very happy with them!

 

[kpracing]

not sure if they still are but halfords pro tools were rebadged sykes-pickavant tools, excellent quality and if you do break them just take them back. i have a trade card as well so i get the bonus of cheaper tools

 

[kered]

Ah... rebadged sykes-pickavant tools eh ?

Nothing too shabby about Sykes at all

BTW welcome to GJ kpracing

 

[Tool Pants]

I remember Halfords from when I went to summer school in England a long time ago. At least I think it was summer, as I don't remember seeing the sun....

 

[UK Steve]

Hi Aidank,
At the first glance all looks well Halfords seem to be making all the right noises regarding warranty, Advanced Professional, quality, etc.
But personally I have a problem with a company that sells a set of tools quoting all these wonderfull sound bytes..............and then present the Profesional technician with a set of sockets that are all 12 point (fine if you work on VW Audi), no sign of a 7mm or a 9mm hex key, and when you start to look for the most popular Torx T30 & T40 they are also nowhere to be seen, the none existent XZN bit sockets speak volumes about a tool company (so you can't work on VW Audi)

Halfords tools quality? maybe they are, but they are not for the Pro technician they are made for the D.I.Y.er .........period............

 

[MattT]

not sure if they still are but halfords pro tools were rebadged sykes-pickavant tools, excellent quality and if you do break them just take them back.

IIRC SP only make automotive specialty tools and pullers.

 

[paul_f]

IIRC SP only make automotive specialty tools and pullers.

Maybe now, but I have had for 11 years or so , SP tools 1/2 sockets on rails (8 pt from 6mm to 32mm) and a 3/8 boxed socket set.

They have taken a lot of abuse and I haven't managed to damage them. I did replace the 3/8 ratchet with a finer toothed one though

 

[Sukh]

Halfords tools are generally ok, but with a no hassle life time warranty, national branches everywhere open 7 days a week, unless you have a serious fetish for the tool trucks, you can get along with them.
I would replace the ratchets with something else though.

 

[elvisslipperman]

halfords professional tools were very good 8 years ago until they changed supplier , new guy at the top is ex wallmart , old boxes were usa made but now china .

 

[Matt_C]

As far as handtools go, Halfords Pro range has served me well, professionally, for the past 10 years. Some of my Halfords Pro stuff is getting on 14/15 years old, and so far the only thing I've broken has been a 1/2" drive extension bar (wobble bar, the head snapped off). I've got a mixture of their stuff; 1/2" drive ratchet with 20-32mm sockets, extensions, uni joints, two sets of ratchet spanners (fixed and flexy), 1/4" drive ratchet and extensions, plus various adapters and sockets. Pretty much all the Pro stuff is lifetime warranty, although the ratchet part of the ratchet spanners isn't included in that (least that was what I was told when I bought my last set of ratchet spanners some 8/9 years ago). I've also used a ratchet screwdriver set they do, and whilst it's not Snap On quality/feel, it's still not bad.

Can't speak to their toolboxes, but having fumbled with them in the store, it's easy to tell they aren't the same quality, both construction and steel gauge, as the Snap On boxes. But they're nowhere near as bad as the Machine Mart "Clarke" stuff (I had one of those as my first van box, and it distorted badly pretty quickly. Binned it, bought a second hand Snap On box which I've had for a decade and it's still bang on)

For most day to day stuff like spanners, sockets, ratchets, etc, I'd not hesitate to go with the Halfords Pro stuff.

 

[Luke M]

I was bought a 170(?) price Halfords set around 8 months ago and have been very happy with it all the only thing I have broken was a T45 bit that broke (rounded) on a citreon c3 brake housing that was seized up. I took it to my local shop and it was replaced with no problems.
I'm just about to replace the ratchets with finer tooth ones. There's nothing wrong with the ratchets just personal preference.

I've also got their flexi head ratchet spanners which are spot on also.

 

[weegaz22]

Well i bought a Halfords pro socket and ratchet spanner set about 2003 ish, most of the stuff has lasted me well except i have broken the small ratchet and a wobble bar, i am looking to take the ratchet back and see how "lifetime" the warranty is or see if i try and get hit with some line about changes in the warranty now they have changed suppliers to a Chinese maker...which is what i dare say my busted ratchet will be replaced with

 

[Dave455]

Halfords tools, last time I looked, were average Taiwanese tools! No better or worse than any other Taiwanese tool! Weegaz22 reckons they are switching to Chinese! That doesn't surprise me, and won't be an improvement!

The only advice I'd give, is that you can get much better tools for the same money! Look online at makes like Beta, or even Gedore! This stuff is way ahead in terms of quality and no more money if you shop wisely! Best value in the U.K. at the moment is probably Ko Ken. Quality is pretty close to Snap On but it's a fraction (about a third) of the price! Contact Consolidated Tools in Manchester who specialise in it!

If you're happy with Taiwanese tools, then they can be had for less money than Halfords charge! Doubt you'll be happy with Chinese!

Britool don't exist any more! They were bought out by Facom and trashed. (i.e. the factory was closed, and the name was used on imported tools) Facom have also been bought out, and are also in the process of being trashed!

Halfords tools may well be made in the same factory that Britool 'branded' tools now are, and even some Facom, but that's a factory in Taiwan that makes low quality tools, not a factory in the Midlands making high quality tools!

Check the country of origin very carefully before you buy! Sadly, there are all too many firms who want to lift your hard earned off you, by selling you cheap Taiwanese tools and expensive ********!

Best advice is to read the threads on here! There is a lot of knowledge and good advice on this site! I've seen a lot of **** on other sites that's obviously written by old farts who havn't bought any tools in 20 years and don't realise that a lot of what they are saying doesn't apply any more!

 

[NorthSea92]

The spanners and sockets are made by gearwrench and the screwdrivers are made by someone in Germany

I've been using the ratchet spanners daily for about 3 years now and would have no hesitation in recommending them. The only other Halfords tools I have is a 3/8 socket set, not seen much use but I did really abuse it one day stripping an engine that had been lying outside for years and not a single failure. The ratchets are rubbish though

The torque wrenches cant be beat for the money, they are just rebranded Norbar

 

[SpannerMonkey]

Britool don't exist any more! They were bought out by Facom and trashed. (i.e. the factory was closed, and the name was used on imported tools) Facom have also been bought out, and are also in the process of being trashed!

Halfords tools may well be made in the same factory that Britool 'branded' tools now are, and even some Facom, but that's a factory in Taiwan that makes low quality tools, not a factory in the Midlands making high quality tools!

Just to correct some things here. Britool was bought over by Stanley not Facom. Stanley also own Facom so that's probably where the confusion has arisen from.

Some Britool stuff is pretty poor, just like Beta's Easy range. Facom quality is certainly not being "trashed". Some items, like the excellent 440 spanners I have, are made in Taiwan but most are made in Europe. IIRC, the spanner production has now moved from Taiwan to Europe? My screwdrivers, hammers, punches, pliers, etc are all made in France and those are recent purchases.

 

[north]

Just to correct some things here. Britool was bought over by Stanley not Facom. Stanley also own Facom so that's probably where the confusion has arisen from.

*snip*

Huh? What was the deal between Facom and Britool in the early 90's then? Stanley didn't buy Facom until 2006 or so.

 

[SpannerMonkey]

Ah, I stand corrected! According to:
http://www.britool-expert.co.uk/about/

Facom bought Britool in 1991. It looks like Stanley downgraded the brand in 2011 according this:

Today, in 2011, Britool has evolved into Britool Expert - the new range of hand tools from the Industrial and Automotive Repair division of Stanley Black and Decker. <snip> This new, mid-price range has been designed to meet these needs and requirements using specifications produced by Stanley Black and Decker's Industrial and Automotive Repair research and development department.

 

[north]

Gotta love the wording. Sounds better than "we now sell generic stuff of no heritage" I guess.

 

[Dave455]

Just to correct some things here. Britool was bought over by Stanley not Facom. Stanley also own Facom so that's probably where the confusion has arisen from.

Just to correct the correction, North is quite correct, as was I, Facom bought Britool before Stanley!

Sadly, the poor old Britool company have received quite a trashing over the years! Since the heyday of the early 70's, none of the owners has really set about improving the quality of the product!

James Neil tools, who acquired the firm in the mid 70's, while still producing some good quality British made tools, never quite matched the quality of the early 70's stuff!

Later owners (think there was a management buyout in the late 80's, only thing I'm not sure of dates on) hardly covered themselves with glory either. Every batch of tools seemed to be to a different style, some I recall with a chrome finish rougher then a bears ****! So they'd done a pretty good job of trashing the firm without assistance!

Facom bought Britool in '91! Facom were producing some really nice stuff at the time, and I remember when it first became available. I bought some, and still use it! Sadly, the Britool name was destined to be used on their cheaper DIY line! The sockets were Facom produced imitations of Britool patterns while the accessories were mostly Facom patterns with a poorer finish! The steel was pretty poor in that era too.

Well, what goes around comes around, and Facom were bought out by Stanley in '06! If you don't think the quality is being trashed, then take a close look at the tools! It has to be a close careful look, however, because many of the older French or Italian made items are still available.

The Taiwanese 'pear head' (?) ratchets are nowhere near the quality of the French tools they were intended to replace! In fact, none of the Taiwanese tools that I have seen are the same quality as the the patterns they are obviously intended to replace. Even the much renowned 440 wrench (which I'll admit I love the look of!) I doubt is as tough as the older 40 pattern which I own!

If Stanley halt, or even reverse the process, and continue producing good quality, then good luck to 'em, but that's not what Stanley have done of late! The Facom I currently see is a mixture of old European and new Taiwanese! I don't dispute the former is excellent quality, it is! The latter however, is not something I want to buy, and certainly not at Facom prices!

To get back on topic, it should be remembered that Halfords, at one time, tried stocking some Facom for their more serious users! Their prices were a good 50% higher than I could get Facom for anywhere else, which is an indication of the margins they, and indeed most other big retail chains, work to! Do a bit of research, buy your tools from a competitive online supplier, and you'll get a cracking deal!

I've used Halfords, great for getting you out of trouble on a Sunday afternoon, but I think they could do tools so much better!

 

[ZRX61]

Says on the Britool page that they are carried by MAC tool trucks in the UK.

 

[NorthSea92]

Says on the Britool page that they are carried by MAC tool trucks in the UK.

Along with Facom and Dewalt as well