JayKay

What they like?

My nephew has not long passed his test and has just got a MK4 Astra and is showing a keen interest in doing his own maintainence etc but his dad has no interest in this therefore meaning he has zero tools!

It's his 18th coming up and I was considering, being the good Uncle and all that buying him a set of tools than he can at least get basic maintainence done on his car. I've been looking at THIS tool set from Halfords, just wondering if anybody had an experience of Halfords tools, they any good or best to avoid?

Cheers folks

JK

Matt Evans

They're pretty good from my experience. have a look in machine mart, cos they do similar package deals using sealy tools which are again, decent quality.

Ridgey

iTrader: (5)

Would be beter to buy the Halford Professional tools IMO.
That kit is full of alot stuff you probably wouldn't use on a car.

Better getting a comprehensive:
Socket set.
Wratchet spanner set.
Screwdriver set.
If they are all from the Proffesional range then they will be replaced free if they break.

JayKay

Just had a quick look on the Machine Mart site and they have a Clarke 300 piece set for about £150; anybody know what these are like (i.e in comparison to the Halfords set above)

I want to at least get him something he can use time and time again and get some use out of as opposed to a one use spanner that snaps when you put the slightest pressure on

Don't really have a clue tbh as 95% of the tools i've got are what my dad has passed on to me and they are absolutly ancient but just seem to do the job over and over again so i've never actually been out and bought any tools in my life before!

Ridgey

iTrader: (5)

Thats the problem with many multi tool kits, they are full of poor quality kit.

JayKay

Yeah I suppose; end of the day as well it's worth the extra cash for premium stuff as you will still save really when you have to replace the knackered cheap stuff. I will have a look at the Halfords professional stuff when I pop down later!

Gazzonator

iTrader: (9)

Not got any Halfords tools myself but a couple of my mates have and I've always been impressed with them when I've used them.

saphycozzie-adz

iTrader: (10)

Halfrauds tools are really good quality but wait till they have an offer on. My pro set was the £200 set but they reduced it to £99 and my mate got me another 10% off as he works there. Bargain.
A Clarke set would be reasonable but I would replace the wrenches as they are turd.

snOOpy86

iTrader: (1)

Decent socket set
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165572

get some spanners and screw drivers, jack and axle stands and the basics are then covered.

Oranoco

I use some of their proffesional range of tools and they aint bad. Broken a couple of th eallen key attachments from my socket set but just took them back into store and they swapped them over with new ones.

cossie4i+

iTrader: (15)

I have had the Halfords proffesional socket set now for about 7 years, the only thing that has broke is the 3/4 rachet drive.

Steve.

It's Czech Mate

Halford Pro Tools are excellent, a lot better than you might imagine and have a lifetime warranty.

Some good offers on sometimes too!

Altratz

Halfords proffesional tools are awesome for the money to be fair lifetime warranty.its all i buy if i can help it and have had a large socket set for 8 years with no problems just keep the recipt hidden away incase you break something when you get pissed off and launch the tool!!!

scotty86d

halfords are great and when ive broken stuff they have replaced it without quibble.

make sure its professional. thats the only tool range with the warranty

costina

iTrader: (1)

very good used them for years now and they have replaced broken items too

Paul

Alps Pacino

Ye i have the halfords pro kit, its the biggest 1 they do and got it when they had a sale on. For a home mechanic you cant go far wrong imo fair does if your a mechanic for a living you would need better or more tools but for your normal bloke who wants to maintain a bike or car like me there ideal.

swebber23

I bought that one aswell ages ago, think they stopped doing that one now

How about this one

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165572

As said, lifetime warranty, if you break it they replace it

JayKay

That does look like a very good socket set for the money! Gonna have a pop down this afternoon and have a look round I think; worth it for a lifetime guarentee. Like said though now i've looked at that original kit again there is a hell of a lot of stuff he probably wouldn't use, plus anything he doesn't have he can always borrow anyway I guess; just means he can do the basics without borrowing!

Alps Pacino

the good thing about them kits to is there really compact so take up no room in the garage

RSandy

iTrader: (1)

best bet is to go direct to your local store/s, as a lot of the sale tool sets r store dependant, just going on stock levels n stuff that didnt sell over xmas etc

i worked there wen i was younger, n stocked up on the sale stuff along with sum staff discount n got great deals, like the full ratchet spanner sets, £100rrp down to like 24quid or something silly!

the lifetime warranty is great too, as they dont faff u around, basically u just show them the broken piece, and it gets replaced, much like if u break a snap-on tool and just take it to the man in the van and he swaps it there n then

also, find yourself a mate with a trade discount card, knocks wedge off halfords tools and service bits, can sometimes see up to 50% off the tool sets, on top of the sale reductions too!

JayKay

Unlike mine which is a huge black chest that takes up the full back wall of the garage and means when I put my MK3 Mondeo in, the back end sticks out by about 6 inches

swebber23

Reserve it online, if it is cheaper online that will be the price you pay instead of the instore price

rog

iTrader: (2)

The halford Professional tools are great, i've got almost the whole set, miles better than the other 5hite thats out there for the same price.

Less.

Had my set fro years only problem I hadf was the ratchet after I lent it to someone and they used a hammer on it

42Haya

I was sold on the life time warranty I've twisted a for Torx sockets before but the Halfords Pro tools are brilliant!

No complaints.

Tonyt1t

just so yas all know i work for halfords its good to see some good reports on the tools i always recomend most people agree that the warrenty sells them then i continue to impress them by explaining the professional range are all made by SNAP ON or the same companys they use for example snap on screw drivers are made by draper but relabelled its the same over and over so halfords pro range is exactly the same quality of SNAP ON tools but at a fraction of the price but i also have to mention trade cards dont take anything off of the half price sale prices so make sure u check the trade price and the instore price / online price befor paying as some times trade can acctually put the price up on tools that are on offer

if u know any of the staff that work in halfords ask them to have a check in the back room or the parts shelf racking because theres often old stock which is at silly low prices stacked up behind there just a lil helpin hand for my fellow ford friends

OldDan

Had no problems at all with them, love mine!

Use snap on most weeks but at home I use the halfords stuff, can't really tell that much of a difference

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

What about this: http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...kets-tool-sets ...to someone with a very limited knowledge of tools, this seems like a better deal than the 120piece Halfords Pro Set for £100 above??


Cheers,
Grant

Dangerous Malcolm..

I've got a Halfords professional socket set and it's awesome VFM. I've only broken a socket to date and that was because I was hammering it onto a damaged nut. I didn't try and get it replaced though, the hammer marks were a bit of a giveaway.

At least if you get him the socket set it's an excellent start to his tool collection and then he can just add as he goes along for whatever job he needs to do.

Chris69

another happy halfords professional socket set owner- i have the 150 piece i think, quite a large set but very good imo.
bought it during a sale so the VFM was excellant- great start for any person looking to do some DIY on the car imo

Phil

iTrader: (1)

I've used Halfords Professional tools for years, OK I have broken a couple of bits and bobs, but just pop into the store (without a reciept) and they will swap it for you

I couldn't ask for any more from them really and would recommend them to anyone!

fraser9764

iTrader: (3)

yep same here, got the £200 set for £99 in a sale, the only thing ive broken is a locking 1/2 inch extension bar, the lock stuck in and the release button bit fell out. couldnt get the 19mm deep socket off the bar, so i took it to the local store, with no receipt, they messed about trying to split them but then gave up and gave us the newer type extension with the wobble thing and a new socket!!!
normally cant stand halfrauds but the pro tools are unbeatable

whosyadaddy

Ive still got a halfords socket set i had 14 years ago when i started my apprenticeship and not broken a single socket and they have had some hammer with the air gun, 6 foot poles on breaker bars ect, so imo they're pretty good same goes for spanners.

TimC

iTrader: (1)

I have to say the Halfords Kits are quite good. The ratchets could be a bit better though. One thing that really winds me up is that some of the kits, including the one iv been using, dont contain a 15mm spanner, stupid considering its one of the most popular sized nut or bolt that is fitted to a car.

malcs-escort-cos

the halfords pro stuff is top notch plus if you snap a torq bit or socket they sell them seperatly,ive also have mac tools and snap on tools and would say they are as good as them.

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Halfords tools are worth it if you buy the Pro stuff - with which, most carries a lifetime guarantee. I have quite a few bits of Halford Pro stuff in my toolbox that I use on a daily basis - spanners (plain and ratchet-end) and a couple of their ratchets and sockets, and so far none of it has ever let me down..... I have a fair bit of Snap On stuff and I wouldn't bother changing my ratchets or sockets for Snap On equivalents. Maybe the ratchets if I got em cheap enough as the bearings in the Halfords ratchets aren't guaranteed for life (the ratchet it, just not the bearings inside) whereas Snap On's are (cos they are sealed units you can't oil)

JayKay

I got the £100 Halfords Pro set in the end; as said it's a good starter kit and he can add to it as and when he needs it!

I gave it to him this morning and he's made a prompt start by borrowing some breaker bars and is now attacking the front hub on my Volvo runabout which needs replacing

I could get used to it!

Cheers for the info folks.

Graceland

Don't even bother with that, It is the same set as Screwfix sell for half the price and the quality is shite - I bought the same kit ages ago as an intermediate "tool bin" and its useless for anything other than a door stop

Halfords tools all the way

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

ive had this set for about 8 years now and its seen some abuse

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165572

last year i bought this set, when it was reduced to £100. excellent bit of kit

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...3083&langId=-1

broken a few torx bits, but they have always been replaced FOC

cant go wrong with them imo

simon170

I have 6 draw chest full of Halfords Pro gear, it hasnt failed me yet, I think its good stuff.

Plus they have a life time warrenty for as long as you own the tool.