Recommendations (Tools)

[ChrisQP09]

As a mechanical novice, can anyone recommend any affordable brands/makes of the below which will enable me to cover service items as well as other bits and bobs:

1/2" torque wrench (with bits) up to 200 lb/ft
3 tonne axle stands
3 Tonne Jack (low enough to get under a QP)

 

[2b1ask1]

Find a good motor factors that will sell to individuals too, Motex are who I use but they are south east based. Talk to them but Sealey product is good, laser too but only their professional range, the stock stuff is cheese. Avoid machine mart for the most part as they sell pure Chinesium... if your pockets are deep you can go for quality like bacho or Snap-on. German made stuff is generally excellent but watch out for Chinesium dresses up as German.

 

[UlstermanAbroad]

I've been looking for similar stuff, off and on this year. If you're open to used kit. There's usually some advertised locally on Gumtree or your local Facebook Buy and Sell groups. You can post wanted posts on the latter and these groups tend to have members numbering into five figures.

 

[ChrisQP09]

Find a good motor factors that will sell to individuals too, Motex are who I use but they are south east based. Talk to them but Sealey product is good, laser too but only their professional range, the stock stuff is cheese. Avoid machine mart for the most part as they sell pure Chinesium... if your pockets are deep you can go for quality like bacho or Snap-on. German made stuff is generally excellent but watch out for Chinesium dresses up as German.

Thanks man. Didn't expect the price range of these tools to be so vast! Just looking something to change a wheel and do a service without snapping in half.

 

[philw696]

I know a lot of people rate the Halfords Professional gear and I have some in with my Snap on work gear.
Another good one is Beta and they are Italian I have some of theirs too.

 

[philw696]

Thanks man. Didn't expect the price range of these tools to be so vast! Just looking something to change a wheel and do a service without snapping in half.

To put it into perspective my tools were insured for £40,000 when I shipped them to France from NZ a year ago.

 

[rockits]

Second what Phil has said about the Halfords Advanced stuff. All lifetime warranty and decent stuff for a hobby or amateur mechanic. I've bought a fair bit with some storage chest as well.

I get a trade price with a Halfords Trade Card. Also often there are voucher code deals. You also get another 10% off for AA Members.

I bought a new decent Yuasa battery for the Vantage last week and it was so cheap it was almost embarrassing. With trade discount, another discount and also the AA discount it was £143 on their site and ended up being £95.04

 

[ChrisQP09]

Cheers fellas. Any suggestions for axle stands etc?

 

[rockits]

I got some nice ones from SGS that weren't that expensive.

I've got a pair of Halfords axle stands and a trolley jack I won't use now if you want them cheap as replaced with bigger more expensive SGS ones. I also have the two lifts now so can't see.me ever needing to use them again.

 

[allandwf]

I've used an Arcan low entry trolley jack for years, it has been excellent so would recommend. Axle stands , buy sturdy, I have two sets one the usual tripod design with pins , but my others which I prefer have four feet, and a flip up ratchet design that holds them at the correct hight. This has been really handy as you can adjust them one handed. Unfortunately I cant remember who makes them, Hilka perhaps?

 

[Hawk13]

I have SGS axle stands - very good and reasonably priced.

Re tools, you cannot go wrong with Halfords Pro range. Lifetime guarantee, decent quality and pretty much bomb proof.

 

[Hawk13]

And collection only items on ebay often reveal some bargains .... you may find a trolley jack local to you.

 

[GeoffCapes]

I bought some Sealy 7.5 tonne axel stands, I know I won't ever need them for anything that heavy, but I prefer to err on the side of caution when laying underneath a car.
Think they were £110

 

[Charlesmaserati426]

I did the same, I had mine on 3 tonne axle stands but when i ran the car on them it’s shaked too much for my liking.

 

[midlifecrisis]

SGS for workshop stuff, I have a tool chest from them. It matches my Kawasaki!
Their axles stands and lifts are equal to SnapOn, and I've seen a few dotted around in mechanics garages.

In my book a hobbyists doesn't need SnapOn unless he's suffers from a heavy wallet but avoid cheap tools.

 

[conaero]

Dare I say Halford Professional?

Had my socket sets for decades and been epic. Broke the mid socket ratchet and took it in and they still do it and replaced it FOC under their lifetime warranty. I think its all Draper Expert underneath.

No complaints here...and remember, buy cheap, buy twice!

 

[Mattp]

I'll have to agree, Halfords pro for good quality hand tools... I've the 3tone SGS twin piston jack and ratchet axle stands, they are really nice for the money

 

[philw696]

After Newton mentioning clutch alignment this morning here is my Snap On set over 40 years of age like new and the cheap Draper one which I rate 5 stars.

 

[2b1ask1]

Ha, you will not be surprised that mine is the vastly cheaper draper/laser one, I'm sure you will finish the finance on the snap-on soon Phil!

 

[conaero]

Something to note, Ash has all SnapOn, me Halfords Pro. We both break stuff, its the nature of the job, him prob more than me.

Both our tools have lifetime warranties.

When Ash brakes something he has to wait for the weekly visit of the SnapOn van. It’s ordered, and 1-2 weeks later comes back repaired or replaced.

When I brake something, I jump in the car and drive 5 mins to my local Halfords where it is replaced on the spot or ordered and comes in the next morning.

Take from that what you want.