Recommendation for a 3/4"socket set (Ireland/UK)

[koshea]

Hi, I would like to get recommendations for a 3/4"socket set for work on agricultural machinery (occasional use). I am limited with my choice due to location (Ireland) and budget! The bigger brands e.g. Snapon are way outside my reach. a few I have looked at are:

https://www.bahco.com/int_en/3-4--s...-hex-profile-and-ratchet-head-pb_slx-17_.html

https://www.halfords.ie/tools/hand-...essional-21-piece-socket-set-3/4"-926360.html

https://www.gedore.com/en-de/produc...hluessel-satz-3-4--14-teilig/32-emz---6280180

(Gedore are more expensive but unsure of the quality to price).

Regards, Kevin

 

[Shelbylex]

Hi. What is your approximate budget?

How is the used tool market in Ireland? In USA you can buy them used and save a lot as less people use 3/4 drive sets.

I got 2 incomplete sets: PLVMB and Bon-E-Con for $90 (SAE, not metric). Not the prettiest ones, but in working condition. PLVMB had several newer sockets (different style, will have to replace once I start cleaning it).
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464727 (please look at post #6. Still did not have time to clean them up)

It all depends on luck and location - around 1.5 years ago I passed some random 3/4 impact Snap On sockets for $5/piece (did not get them as I was not interested in 3/4 sizes at that time). Right now there is a 3/4 SK breaker bar with a socket for sale of Craigslist for $25. This year I passed on PROTO 3/4 ratchet for $35.
One of the members mentioned a 1" PLOMB set which an owner could not sell for $200

If you do not need all sizes right away and can wait, get only what you need right away and then slowly add to the set. You can pick up random 3/4 set staff one at a time - just try to get a good quality ratchet and breaker bar to start with. For a user set that would be the cheapest way to acquire a set and then you can concentrate on making your set brand specific if you want.

Do you have Tekton in Ireland? Could be a good initial socket set.

Also look up E-bay: sometimes you can get great deals on older but good quality tools like Bonney, etc

 

[Lassen Forge]

I have had a number of Bahco tools and they have yet to let me down... that would be my first choice, followed by the Gedore set... Not too sure about the Halfords, there's a reason they're cheaper, and unless you REALLY need a 12 point 3/4" socket (for a 12 point head or really poor access issues) stick with 6 point.

Check the local "flea market" papers - I've gotten some good used tool deals from our "local" (in Italy) one (Cerco e trovo), sometimes you have to wait for the right deal to come along, however... it can be a waiting game doing it that way.

 

[koshea]

My budget would stretch to the Gedore set:
https://www.gedore.com/en-de/produc...hluessel-satz-3-4--14-teilig/32-emz---6280180
It retails at about €400.
However the Bahco seems better value.

 

[SpannerMonkey]

Keep an eye on Gumtree and Ebay and see what you can pick up. I'm of the opinion that you can get away with cheaper quality on the larger size sockets.

 

[Dave455]

koshea - where 3/4 drive is concerned you can do really well by buying used.

If you find, say, a used 10mm socket, there’s every chance it will be worn / worn out. If you’re looking at say a 36mm socket, you will very rarely find a worn one. Comparing “like with like” the bigger sizes just don’t wear. Factor in that they will not be used so much, and are very expensive new, and you have every incentive to buy used.

The only note of caution is that much of the used stuff will be A/F or Whitworth sizes. If that’s what you want, look for used without doubt. Look on ebay for the classic makes such as Britool, Gordon, King ****, Bedford etc etc, and the better foreign stuff such as Stahlwille, Hazet, Facom, and so on. If you want metric, you may have a harder search, but they are out there.

If you do decide to buy new you don’t have to buy Snap On to get quality, and you don’t have to buy locally. Have a look at the online suppliers. Even those in Europe will ship to you at reasonable cost, and the prices can be very competitive. Look at say TBS Aachen for ideas.

Of the brands you mention I’ve found Bahco to be very variable (at best). The Bahco we get this side of the pond is different from the Bahco available in the U.S. Theirs is Spanish made and quite decent. The stuff we get is rough Taiwanese. I’m not convinced it’s worth it.

Halfords is Taiwanese too. A bit better than the Bahco but still nothing special. You can get similar for less. With Halfords you pay for convenience.

Gedore is probably the best of the bunch you list. Of all the German makers it’s the one I like the least, but they seem to do bigger tools better than smaller ones, and it should at least be rugged.

 

[Dave455]

My budget would stretch to the Gedore set:
https://www.gedore.com/en-de/produc...hluessel-satz-3-4--14-teilig/32-emz---6280180
It retails at about €400.
However the Bahco seems better value.

This Gedore set for €400 is a very fair price, and good value. You would have to pay probably €600+ for a Stahlwille or Hazet. I’d be happy with this deal.

The Bahco just won’t be the quality of the Gedore.

If you’re only using it occasionally then the Bahco might do, or you might find something else comparable / better for less €€€

Edit - these KoKen sets are just £350 at UK Tools (online). I’d take KoKen over Gedore, though there’s probably not much to choose in 3/4 Drive.

 

[dutchgray]

I would get the Gedore from the options listed, they will be strong and work, their 3/4" round head ratchet is fine as well, quite a large head but it works and is strong.
My 3/4" stuff is a mix of brands some new some used, but I could afford to pick it up as I found it cheap.

 

[Ralf11]

If you already have a 1/2" ratchet handle, you can skip buying a 3/4" one - just get the fastener loose with a 3/4" breaker bar or T-handle, then use a 1/2" ratchet with an adapter.

That'll save a few pennies.

 

[930dreamer]

Can you buy in the US and have it shipped to your location?

 

[Professional Tool User]

Can you buy in the US and have it shipped to your location?

I'm assuming the OP doesn't want the hassle of buying used tools sight unseen from the other side of the Atlantic and end up paying more for shipping and duty than the tools, hence the thread is asking about his local options. I wouldn't advise Americans to buy and import a used Gray tools 3/4 dr set just because I was able to score a used one dirt cheap locally as a Canadian.

 

[koshea]

Thanks for all the responses. I will definitely have a look at the Koken 3/4"set. I have the Koken 1/2"extension bars and they are decent.

 

[richfinn]

uktoolsltd are the Ko-Ken guys

 

[timgunn1962]

The Bahco will do the job, assuming it covers the sizes you need.

A lot of guys I know, myself included, use the Bahco gear for site work. It's strong enough to do the job, even if the job involves a degree of abuse, while not being shiny enough to attract magpies. When a socket, or whatever, gets lost, replacements are easy to find and reasonably priced.

I've been using the 1/2" and 1/4" Bahco sets on site for about 20 years and have absolutely no complaints about the tools at all. The catches on the blow-moulded cases are pretty fragile though. My 1/2" set now has Velcro straps to keep it closed. The ratchets are pretty coarse-toothed, which makes them less user-friendly than finer-toothed ratchets in limited spaces, but they do keep working after getting dropped repeatedly in muddy puddles, which tends not to be the case with the fine-toothed SK and Facom ones I have. That said, an occasional strip, clean and lube pays dividends with any ratchet.

I have a few 3/4" Bahco sockets in amongst an assortment of mostly older Britool stuff and there's not enough difference between them to reach for one brand over another.

In the workshop, I have a 3/8" Halfords set and also bought a 3/8" Bahco set, which is the one I use most. I bought it because it "felt" better (which may just have been because I use Bahco every day on site) and for the 6-point sockets.

For any given budget, I'd take more Bahco over less Gedore any day.

 

[Mr_B]

Yeah, I wouldn't go paying out for gedore, well over priced.
used branded 3/4 sockets are everywhere (gumtree,facebook, ebay) so if you buy a basic kit or just the bars/extension you can build up sockets easily .
weak points are breaker bars and a ratchet so buy these decent quality and build your own set .
You need metric only or is some of your equipment needing specific A/F sizes .

 

[koshea]

I am leaning towards this set - they have it in 6 pt which is probbaly better:

https://www.uktools.com/koken-6212m-05-12piece-34drive-12point-socket-set.html

It's all metric I need.

 

[Alaniho]

Hi, I would like to get recommendations for a 3/4"socket set for work on agricultural machinery (occasional use). I am limited with my choice due to location (Ireland) and budget! The bigger brands e.g. Snapon are way outside my reach. a few I have looked at are:

https://www.bahco.com/int_en/3-4--s...-hex-profile-and-ratchet-head-pb_slx-17_.html

https://www.halfords.ie/tools/hand-...essional-21-piece-socket-set-3/4"-926360.html

https://www.gedore.com/en-de/produc...hluessel-satz-3-4--14-teilig/32-emz---6280180

(Gedore are more expensive but unsure of the quality to price).

Regards, Kevin

check out Toptul Kevin, excellent price performance ratio. BNR in Dublin are the wholesalers here
https://www.bnr.ie/categories.html?filter_set[]=2&filter_set[]=1,423

or else check out Motointegrator in Germany;
https://www.motointegrator.de/produkte/toptul.html

 

[Alaniho]

I am leaning towards this set - they have it in 6 pt which is probbaly better:

https://www.uktools.com/koken-6212m-05-12piece-34drive-12point-socket-set.html

It's all metric I need.

watchout for the hidden 'Brexit charge' though if getting in the UK now !!

 

[Dave455]

I am leaning towards this set - they have it in 6 pt which is probbaly better:

https://www.uktools.com/koken-6212m-05-12piece-34drive-12point-socket-set.html

It's all metric I need.

Go for it.

I doubt you will be disappointed with KoKen. They are first class tools, and if you need to get any more parts, such as more extensions or a longer handle, they are easily obtainable.

 

[Ralf11]

I am leaning towards this set - they have it in 6 pt which is probbaly better:

https://www.uktools.com/koken-6212m-05-12piece-34drive-12point-socket-set.html

It's all metric I need.

ko-ken is great stuff