I'm looking at maybe updating a tool collection as i have a big birthday coming up soon and don't know what else to ask for.

Halfords Professional/Advanced range seem cheap enough and decent quality.

Looking at mainly updating spanners,deep sockets,a few other odd bits and some form of larger storage box/chest.

What do people have and also recommend.

I'm looking at maybe updating a tool collection as i have a big birthday coming up soon and don't know what else to ask for.

Halfords Professional/Advanced range seem cheap enough and decent quality.

Looking at mainly updating spanners,deep sockets,a few other odd bits and some form of larger storage box/chest.

What do people have and also recommend.

ive got a full tool box at work doing vehicle engineering but for home you can't go wrong with the halfords advanced set, about £100 but spot on! Lifetime guarantee with halfrauds too

Edit: here's a link http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173083_langId_-1_categoryId_165572

Edited 8 September, 201015 yr by Lew_VRS

Got everything to completely strip a pedal cycle, but I don't think that's what you meant! My car tools are a mis-mash of decent quality hand-me-downs and new 'budget professional' stuff like you're looking at by the sounds of things. Make sure whatever you get has at least some 3/4" sockets, so you can use them with a torque wrench big enough for wheel bolts...

Just get good quality gear and it will last forever

A fekin huge Snap-On roll cab, middle box and top box which is full of their stuff, bought about 20 years ago after breaking cheap tat

The only Halfords stuff I have used was a Torx socket that lasted about 5 seconds until it shattered , so I took it back and bought a Snap-On set of Torx's.

FWIW I have only ever owned a 1/2" torque wrench and that has been ample for 150lbf job (= Very F'in tight).

Don't buy a 1/2" socket set though, as IMO 3/8" is ample for most jobs, bigger torque jobs are OK for 1/2" but they can be difficult to get into tight spaces.

To start with I would buy:

Quality metric spanners

3/8" deep 6 point sockets (metric)

3/8" torx sockets

3/8" allen head sockets (not needed often but are useful)

3/8" ratchet

Various sized 3/8"extensions and a knuckle joint

1/2" breaker bar (about 18" ish long)

1/2" torque wrench

1/2" impact (black ones) deep 6 point sockets for wheel nuts, hub nuts etc.

Quality screwdrivers

Pliers / mole grips

Hacksaw (junior and full size)

Big FO nylon hammer

Club hammer

Quality high lift trolley jack - look at the aluminium ones if you value your back

Pair of axle stands (Never go under a car purely on a trolley jack)

Then as and when needed:

Ball joint splitter

3 legged pullers

Rear calliper rewind tool

Easy bleed kit

etc

etc

etc

Edited 8 September, 201015 yr by Gizmo68

Most of my stuff is Stanley or Stanley Proto stuff. Primarily beacuse my sister used to work for them and got them cheap but also becuase in over 20 years of use I've not managed to break anything yet!

The general contents include a full set of metric and imperial combination spanners up to 25mm/1" supplemented by 3/4 and 1/2" socket sets and numerous screwdrivers, wheel wrenches and chisels etc. plus torx bits, torque wrench, mole grips, pliers, pipe wrenches, tap spanners, electric screwdrivers, jigsaws, blowtorches, heatguns, rivetters, crimps etc. and beyond.

Also, it may sound daft but recently one of the most useful things I've got is a tyre wrench - great as a breaker and for lifting manhole covers etc.

Basically I guess it depends what you want to do - is it primarily automotive or also for general DIY as the requirements are different.

I have a few odds and sods.

Mainly Snap-on and Mac stuff.

I have a few odds and sods.

Mainly Snap-on and Mac stuff.

NICE

thats if they full

Edited 8 September, 201015 yr by andy68

I'm after a set of combi ratchet spanners, 10 or 13mm to at least 19mm. I have seen some in Halfords, but don't want to pay that much, so £20 or less. Any Ideas where I could get them?

This is in your price bracket, but I've had varying levels of success / satisfaction with Argos's Challenge stuff. I guess it all depends how often you'll use it, and what for...

www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ArgosGSGiftModeExitCmd?action=StoreCatalogDisplay?langId=-1

A hammer.

What more could a man need for DIY.

I have mostley snap on and teng stuff, i like the teng gear because its reletivley cheap compared to snap on but of about the same quality, i also have some of the halfords pro stuff, in fact the only 1/2 inch breaker bar i've ever owned that hasn't broken is the halfords one, snapped 2 snap on ones(granted i had a large scafold pole on it both times, but i treat the halfrauds one no differently and its now done about 5 years of loyal service!!!)

NICE

thats if they full

All the gear and no idea.......

And remember the rules

Always use the right tool for the job.

A hammer is always the right tool for the job.

Any tool can be used as a hammer

If a hammer doesn't fix it, the problem is electrical.

Edited 9 September, 201015 yr by Lummox

I have a 3/8 Richmond Metrinch wall-drive socket set that has had some real abuse and never rounded a bolt head,, a stanley 1/2 inch set for bigger bolts, and a few larger sockets. For home use these days, Halfords pro range is unbeatable for price/quality, but if you have the cash, snap-on, teng, Mac or Britool are quality.

All the gear and no idea.......

And remember the rules

Always use the right tool for the job.

A hammer is always the right tool for the job.

Any tool can be used as a hammer

If a hammer doesn't fix it, the problem is electrical.

Amazing.

Eventually.. one day I will have something like that with a pitted garage to boot..! but first.. I need a house.....

I guess I am lucky as I work in the maintenance industry and have acess to all the tools I need

A hammer.

What more could a man need for DIY.

Oh yes...

If it moves and shouldn't - Hammer

If it doesn't move and should - Hammer

I have 3 hairdryers, a leatherman wave (with the hardened chrome steel blade jobbie) and some bits an bobs for my bikes. I can even just about change a washer on my own (it does need me to turn the water off in the street as no plumber seems able to fix my broken stop **** :( )

Oooooh I also have a brill OXO thing for getting the tops of jars and bottles..

and a potato ricer

do any of those count?

A guy I work with just treated himself to a Snap On top box with a basic socket set and stuff. Apparently 12 point combination spanners are the thing? They are horrendously expensive, but as he pointed out, they will last a lifetime and also carry a full lifetime guarantee, no questions asked.

I just have the one.............

.............but it's a very large one

And remember the rules

Always use the right tool for the job.

A hammer is always the right tool for the job.

Any tool can be used as a hammer

If a hammer doesn't fix it, the problem is electrical.

last line should read, "if a hammer doesn't fix it, use a bigger hammer, if it's still broke it's electrical"

anywho, in answer to the op's question. you don't really need the sort of tools that mr lummox has shown above, the likes of snap-on want over £120 for a bog standard 3/8 ratchet and quite frankly you don't need to spend that sort of money for home/DIY use, a £14.99 one from halfords will do exactly the same job, and besides i've had brand spanking new ratchets from snap-on that slip and the rep wont replace them!!..

what you should do is evaluate what tools you actually need to do certain jobs, you wont need any AF or imperial stuff to work on a modern car... start out with a simple socket set and ratchet and a set of ring spanners that go from 6mm to 19mm, that will see you through most simple DIY tasks, then build it up from there with torx bits and allen bits etc.. i bought a socket set from halfords which has spanners, short and deep sockets and 3 ratchets and extension bars for like £100 on special offer, i bought it mainly for taking up the scrapyard beucase the tools are so cheap i don't care if i loose them unlike my snap-on stuff, but i know for a fact you could remove and install an engine in a felicia using just those tools becuase i've done it!!

I used to have a Snap On screwdriver which said ‘do not use as a chisel or pry-bar’. It was the best chisel and pry-bar I ever had

I've hammered the hell out of various halfords pro bit and they all still work fine.

Another vote for the Halfords stuff here. Although I don't do a great deal of mechanicing ( I am almost terminally useless, and quite capable of killing myself to death trying to change a wheel..) I haven't broken anything yet, I've lost a lot of stuff, but never broke it.

Have looked at the Halfords Professional/Advanced range now and it does seem very good quality for the price.

Popped Halfords and now have Trade Card that will help on a few purchases.

Looking at sending £150-£200 on some more tools and then will splash out on another tool box/cabinet to store them in.Maybe the Industrial range black cabinet and box.

Also found a way to save another 15-25% on top of any savings i get.

List looks like this at the moment.

1/2" Deep sockets

1/2" Ratchet

Spanners

Flexible ratchet spanner

Torque wrench (maybe 2)

1/4" Socket set

Long breaker bar