Reccommend a socket set

[SJShaw672]

Hi Guys,

Been reading the forums for a while now and wow, what a lot of nice tools Until a month ago I was still working on stuff from wilko (No decent tool shops nearby).
I have been trying to cobble together a quality toolkit, picking each tool company's specialities (wera screwdrivers, knipex pliers etc...). I now need some advice on a socket set.
I need a fairly comprehensive one with multiple drives in metric (with or without imperial) with E-torx and bit sockets. The only thing I've found so far is this (from a company I've never heard of):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yato-prof...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item27c7c0398c
I'm from the UK so shipping from America could be an issue with Craftsman and similar.
Any thoughts?

First post

 

[willhollin]

Never heard of them but their website seems to suggest they are part of jet Machinery.

http://www.yato-professional.com/

Seems like a reasonable price for all those items, only concerns may be on any warranty issues?

 

[SJShaw672]

Never heard of them but their website seems to suggest they are part of jet Machinery.

http://www.yato-professional.com/

Seems like a reasonable price for all those items, only concerns may be on any warranty issues?

I agree, they don't say anything about a warranty.

 

[dandan111]

I bet sears would ship some craftsman to you. The hassle would be getting the ratchets fixed on warranty. The basic ratchets that come in a craftsman kit need rebuilt from time to time. You could buy a craftsman set and pick up some quality ratchets,that's what I did anyway. I'm very happy with my socket set.

 

[concealer404]

That stuff looks like Facom and/or Jonnesway... i dig it.

 

[Notwerk]

Man, being as you're near the European mainland, I'd think you have more options than we do on the other side of the pond.

Bahco, Accessa, Stahlwille, Facom, Beta, Hazet, etc. Probably a bunch of other Euro brands that can be thrown in there.

Monty should be here any minute. I swear, he's got some sort of Euro tool detector or something...

 

[plinker]

Ihave used Toptul and have seen some Jonnesway wrenches, they are pretty decent for the money. If you were in the US, I'd say get a S-K box set for 1/4 & 3/8 drive's, they have pretty nice set's.

 

[smothers33]

Not sure if anyone makes a kit of different drive sizes with the e torx. I would get some socket set then buy the bit sockets and such separate. Itll cost more but you'll have complete sets instead of a bunch of skipped sizes. Not sure about euro brands though. Good us ones are sk, wright, Armstrong, but I dunno if you have access to any of them or not

 

[shoturtle]

Are you looking for high end expensive or just a good all around kit?

 

[shoturtle]

OP is in the EU, the UK it seems. I would skip the bits they have, and spend money on really good bits and a bit driver like wiha or pb swiss. That kit is made in taiwan I suspect. The sockets, ratchets and wrenches are good, but the loose bits are soft compare to wiha, pb swiss, wera and a host of other European brands made in the EU.

I would get this, and used the saving to get a good bit driver. And a nicer wrench set.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001ILG27K/?tag=atomicindustr-21

 

[Monte]

what do you want to spend....

 

[Rico.]

For socket sets in the UK if you want to go high end you have quite a choice...

Facom
Stahlwille
Beta
Snap on
Hazet
Elora
King **** (Made in England)
Gedore

For the best value for money in the UK specifically I would go for Facom.


For the best bang for ones pound.... ie. lifetime warranty, very good
quality, next step down from high end tools there is a massive choice.

Halfords Advanced Professional (Really good quality, fantastic price, easy to warranty)
Draper expert
Britool expert
Teng Tools (Really good quality, some would argue they should be in the high end list)
sealey Premier (Amazing range of tools, both hand tools and specialist stuff, great price)
Clarke Pro from Machine Mart (Great price, but some tools are rubbish, some are great)

There are lots of others, but for ease of access and warranty I would go with Halfords
Advanced Professional hand tools.... They really are good quality and made by the same
Taiwanese factory that makes Draper expert, Signet and bluepoint tools I believe. Very
easy to warranty, open 7 days a week and some people even use them Professionaly.

Sealey are great for specialist tools on a budget and eBay has a million sellers so that
keeps the prices keen. Other than that any hand tools from any name on these lists will
serve you very well. Good luck.

 

[shoturtle]

Just a note, with the high end brands, 190 pounds will not get all 3 dr size ratchet and socket, plus bit sockets and e-torx, extensions in all 3 sizes. You will need to spend closer to 600lb to get everything.

 

[richfinn]

For socket sets in the UK if you want to go high end you have quite a choice...

Facom
Stahlwille
Beta
Snap on
Hazet
Elora
King **** (Made in England)
Gedore

For the best value for money in the UK specifically I would go for Facom.


For the best bang for ones pound.... ie. lifetime warranty, very good
quality, next step down from high end tools there is a massive choice.

Halfords Advanced Professional (Really good quality, fantastic price, easy to warranty)
Draper expert
Britool expert
Teng Tools (Really good quality, some would argue they should be in the high end list)
sealey Premier (Amazing range of tools, both hand tools and specialist stuff, great price)
Clarke Pro from Machine Mart (Great price, but some tools are rubbish, some are great)

There are lots of others, but for ease of access and warranty I would go with Halfords
Advanced Professional hand tools.... They really are good quality and made by the same
Taiwanese factory that makes Draper expert, Signet and bluepoint tools I believe. Very
easy to warranty, open 7 days a week and some people even use them Professionaly.

Sealey are great for specialist tools on a budget and eBay has a million sellers so that
keeps the prices keen. Other than that any hand tools from any name on these lists will
serve you very well. Good luck.

This about covers it if you are in the UK

For Craftsmans equivalent look at the Halfords pro stuff its quite decent when they have a half price sale on.

I too like Facom, its really cheap to buy in the UK

Although you can get good deals from Snap On if you use the BOGOF deals

 

[shoturtle]

If I were the op, and had summer holiday coming. I would jump over to the continent and buy a set there. It is a bit less especially in a lower vat rate country.

 

[Monte]

Sometimes they sell kits which looks like the Yato set at the Aldi or Lidl store under the name of "Powerfix" (Lidl) for example.

 

[SJShaw672]

I went through the socketry section of the Facom catalogue and drew up this list (more aspirational than realistic):

1/2"
SM.161PB Ratchet
S.206 Extension 52.5mm
S.208 Extension 75mm
S.210 Extension 130mm
S.215 Extension 250mm
S.217 Extension 500mm
S.208S Wobble Extension 75mm
S.210S Wobble Extension 130mm
S.215S Wobble Extension 250mm
S.234 Offset Adaptor
S.110 Speed Brace
S.240A Universal Joint
S.120 T-Handle
S.40E Metric Sockets 8-16mm
S.41E Metric Sockets 17-24mm
STX.40 Torx Sockets
ST.40 Hex Bit Sockets
SX.41 Torx Bit Sockets
SV.40A Spline Bit Sockets

3/8"
JM.161PB Ratchet
J.208 Extension 50mm
J.209 Extension 75mm
J.210 Extension 125mm
J.215 Extension 250mm
J.217 Extension 500mm
J.209S Wobble Extension 75mm
J.210S Wobble Extension 125mm
J.110A Speed Brace
J.240A Universal Joint
J.120 T-Handle
J.40E Metric Sockets 7-16mm
JL.40E Deep Metric Sockets 7-15mm
JL.41E Deep Metric Sockets 16-24mm
JTX.40 Torx Sockets
JT.40 Hex Bit Sockets

1/4"
RM.161PB Ratchet
R.209 Extension 55mm
R.210 Extension 100mm
R.215 Extension 150mm
R.217 Extension 250mm
R.209S Wobble Extension 55mm
R.210S Wobble Extension 100mm
R.236 Spinner Handle
R.110 Speed Brace
R.240A Universal Joint
R.120 T-Handle
R.40E Metric Sockets 3.2-14mm
RL.40E Deep Metric Sockets 3.2-9mm
RL.41E Deep Metric Sockets 10-14mm
RTX.40 Torx Sockets

D.169 Set of Adaptors 1/4" to 3/8" to 1/2" to 3/4"


Rico, if I sent this list to PrimeTools do you think they would give me a quote for the price (and if I decided so, ship it to me)?
If not, anyone else know somewhere I could get this stuff?

Thanks for everyone's help .

 

[willhollin]

I'm sure any Facom dealer would be happy to quote for all that stuff!

Better off buying the bulk of the items in sets already though to save money.

 

[Rico.]

I went through the socketry section of the Facom catalogue and drew up this list (more aspirational than realistic):

1/2"
SM.161PB Ratchet
S.206 Extension 52.5mm
S.208 Extension 75mm
S.210 Extension 130mm
S.215 Extension 250mm
S.217 Extension 500mm
S.208S Wobble Extension 75mm
S.210S Wobble Extension 130mm
S.215S Wobble Extension 250mm
S.234 Offset Adaptor
S.110 Speed Brace
S.240A Universal Joint
S.120 T-Handle
S.40E Metric Sockets 8-16mm
S.41E Metric Sockets 17-24mm
STX.40 Torx Sockets
ST.40 Hex Bit Sockets
SX.41 Torx Bit Sockets
SV.40A Spline Bit Sockets

3/8"
JM.161PB Ratchet
J.208 Extension 50mm
J.209 Extension 75mm
J.210 Extension 125mm
J.215 Extension 250mm
J.217 Extension 500mm
J.209S Wobble Extension 75mm
J.210S Wobble Extension 125mm
J.110A Speed Brace
J.240A Universal Joint
J.120 T-Handle
J.40E Metric Sockets 7-16mm
JL.40E Deep Metric Sockets 7-15mm
JL.41E Deep Metric Sockets 16-24mm
JTX.40 Torx Sockets
JT.40 Hex Bit Sockets

1/4"
RM.161PB Ratchet
R.209 Extension 55mm
R.210 Extension 100mm
R.215 Extension 150mm
R.217 Extension 250mm
R.209S Wobble Extension 55mm
R.210S Wobble Extension 100mm
R.236 Spinner Handle
R.110 Speed Brace
R.240A Universal Joint
R.120 T-Handle
R.40E Metric Sockets 3.2-14mm
RL.40E Deep Metric Sockets 3.2-9mm
RL.41E Deep Metric Sockets 10-14mm
RTX.40 Torx Sockets

D.169 Set of Adaptors 1/4" to 3/8" to 1/2" to 3/4"


Rico, if I sent this list to PrimeTools do you think they would give me a quote for the price (and if I decided so, ship it to me)?
If not, anyone else know somewhere I could get this stuff?

Thanks for everyone's help .

Sorry for my delay in response.... As Will said, any Facom dealer will be happy to quote
you for that little lot, Primetools is a good dealer and I have bought a couple of grands
worth of stuff from them and they have always delivered. Sometimes they don't have an
item in stock, and if Stanley UK don't have it there can be quite a lead time before you
get it.

Be aware that list you wrote is going to cost a fair few quid and I would go shopping on
the primetools website, put in all that lot and you'll be surprised how much that will add
up too, also be aware that the primetools list prices do not include VAT...

There are loads of new old stock 1/2" Facom socket sets on ebay right now for very
good prices, Some are less than £90 which is an absolute bargain for the quality you get
and some good deals on the 3/8" sets too, also the new NANO 1/4"
sets, some dealers on ebay are doing them for about £60, again very good value.

If I were you, I would buy the main sets from clearance dealers on ebay and buy all the
odd bits and pieces you want from Primetools to fill up your kit. If you want to do it all in
one hit, then give Mr. Candy at primetools an email and see what he can do for you.

Good luck, I know you'll be delighted with the Facom stuff, but just be mindfull of what
it's going to cost, it's at least 3 times more expensive than Halfords Pro, and in some
cases 10 times more expensive. Their individual deep sockets for example are actually
more expensive than Snap-On. If you have loads of money good on ya, and show us
pics when you get all this stuff, but if not buy good, but buy wise, it's easy to get hooked
on the quality of a tool manufacturer and buy everything from them, but for some things
the absolute cheapest will be just as good as the most expensive.... Use your head.

All the best Bud,
Rico.

 

[svranjic]

The tool dealer I mainly deal with in the UK stocks a great range of low, mid and high range socket sets including Facom.

Anything not in stock is usually only a day or two away.

www.primetools.co.uk

Also check out their sale selection and I have built up part of my collection from the Gedore Magic yearly sales catalogues with some great deals in my opinion.

 

[willhollin]

Check out the SK Tools at "Consolidated Tools" Ebay shop too.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CONSOLIDATED-TOOLS/_i.html?_nkw=SK&submit=Search&_sid=68547593

I've bought loads of stuff I don't need!

 

[svranjic]

I like my eBay specials but be careful as I found some UK Tool distributors arent interested in providing warranty unless you purchased it from an approved dealer even if the item is brand new.

Recently had experience in this and so think twice now depending on the saving..

Also as Rico pointed out Mr Candy is always helpful on pricing in my experience and does look after you. He provides what I call old school customer services and prides himself on ensuring his customers are happy which many companies are failing to provide today.

 

[bart1]

Good UK dealer here:

http://www.tradesmanschoice.com

He is a member here and I have bought some Stahlwille from him.

 

[SJShaw672]

I went on Primetools and added the stuff to basket. OUCH!
As I DON'T have near that much money (student) I have decided to start with an SL.DBOX1 (1/2") and RL.NANO1 (1/4")(I found an offer where you get the nano free with the dbox) and add stuff as I need it (no point in having stuff you don't need/use).

Again, thanks loads to everyone

 

[svranjic]

Nice choice and your off to a good start.

It's taken me many years to build up my collection of tools and dont worry about rushing as there are always good deals to be had.

I received an order today from Primetools. Some Gedore goodness thats been on my list for a while

 

[willhollin]

I went on Primetools and added the stuff to basket. OUCH!
As I DON'T have near that much money (student) I have decided to start with an SL.DBOX1 (1/2") and RL.NANO1 (1/4")(I found an offer where you get the nano free with the dbox) and add stuff as I need it (no point in having stuff you don't need/use).

Again, thanks loads to everyone

Where did you buy from mate?

 

[SJShaw672]

Where did you buy from mate?

I found the offer on PrimeTools. Here's the link: http://primetools.co.uk/getinfo.php?product=4665

 

[Rico.]

I went on Primetools and added the stuff to basket. OUCH!

Yep, You're not the first person to have a moment doing that, and you won't be the last.


Great start on what you did buy though, look after them and they will last for decades. Just
add a bit at a time here and there, keep an eye out for deals and before you know it you'll
have more tools than you need..... Like probably most of us on here. But I have to say,
for a student, you really are off to a flier.... Nice one.

All the best,
Rico.