Tool Kits

[(2much)]

So i figured that i have been working on cars far too long, not to have a good set of tools,

I want to get a kit with box and i'm looking so spend between 600-1000

What can you recommend? where can i get it cheap? any issues. I went to bursons, and they were trying to sell me some SP tools??? i haven't heard of them..

I'm basically looking to get something that is a good starter, and has most of what we need to keep working on lancers and evo's, i'll add things in the future as i need it, but i'd probably like to get something with form fitted trays so i can tell instantly if anything is missing.

Any ideas guys.
nick

 

[Lister]

IMO Go for a apprentice kit, anything industrial in design for working on these cars will be fine, eg Teng, SP, snap on, sidchrome, kinchrome, etc etc etc. Most apprentice kits start around the $900 mark. The majority come with lifetime warranty on tools.

 

[EVO-00X]

Ive got a 1/2" Stanley socket set the same as this http://www.justtools.com.au/prod281.htm . I also have a mixture of Sidchrome ratchet and sockets and a Kinchrome micrometer torque wrench and other bits and pieces Ive bought over the years.
I use the Stanley set all the time! Easily a few thousand hours worth of wrenching and Im really impressed with the quality and strength of the set. I havent cracked nor broken anything in 3 years worth of use and trust me I use them a fkn lot! lol... (thanks to my brother for them). If you are watching the budget for a set under $200 I recommend these. You can take the formed mould out and put it into a drawer if you want. Broken ratchets, sockets, bruised and battered fingers and knuckles are a thing of the past now lol

 

[BMGTZ]

I like the repco brand stuff. It seems to last well .........some ive had for ten years and they are still in good nick.

 

[turbovr4]

I have been a fitter/turner for 25years now,i personally use KC which is now Kinchrome.No problems with it,still use my apprentice tools which is the kc set at home now.Done many CV shafts and Flywheel bolts with the 1/2inch ratchet at home.still going at 25years later.
The new kinchrome is good,repco not bad,Sabre/Stanley good for home.
Geodore and Snapon too overpriced.
I now people that will have a $3000 snapon set at home and don't even change their spark plugs or oil.
for cars i would recomend 1/2 drive socket /spanner set up to 32mm(cv joints are 32mm),and a 1/4 drive socket set,this is good for tappet cover bolts and manifolds,hard to get places.and a set of stanley screwdrivers.

 

[JiMi]

all the above advice sounds good... i would add a set of kinchrome ratchet rings... mertric set cost me around 140-150 bought them around3 years ago and they have been used and abused and are still going strong, the 17 died not long after i got em and it was replaced with out question as soon as they glanced at it to make sure i hadnt been using a pipe/bashing it with a hammer

as for the "lifetime" waranty, nfi about kinchrome but with sidchrome its bs, i took a old sidchrome shifter of dads in one day that was prolly 10-15 years old and they looked at it and said its an old style shifter and not covered, was always gonna try another place but never got around to it so mebbe they were just being lazy

 

[BYBY5L]

+1 for kc
+1 for the spanners
an bayford have stuff cheapish, i use to get a discount but that was a few years ago now,

 

[ENGINR]

My KC Pro-Am 1/2" socket set and spanners have served me very well.

 

[gsr-mat]

Personally I use repco, main reason being they are good quality and there is no probs with warranty, because repco stuff isnt sold in any other shop like most others you dont even have to keep receipt. I have a few other kingchrome and stanley stuff and there is no problems all good quality. If you do buy kingchrome, go to the factory outlet off ftg road near carribean gardens and roller rama etc. Nearly every Friday they have a sale on, whilst most stuff is odd bits etc you can buy full apprentice sets.

 

[EVO-00X]

Here's a link to compare prices and how many pieces you get for your $$$.
http://www.justtools.com.au/category273_1.htm
If you budget $150-$250 a set you'll get something decent.
Remember to buy sockets with 12 pointed stars in them!. Cheap shit only comes with the 5 sided hexagonal sockets lol...

I also recommend buying an extra 12, 14 and 17mm 1/2" socket from Metrinch to add to your collection. They have saved my butt a few times from rounded heads on bolts

You got to stretch your budget as when you add up the cost of things like a gear spanner set, spanner set, large monkey wrench, breaker bar, some screwdrivers including right angle screwdrivers, decent set of allen keys, tubespanners, a telescopic magnet, some dial guage or digital vernier calipers, a decent torque wrench (Kinchrome micrometer is bang for buck), a good set of various pliers, wirecutters/strippers, multimeter, mallet, hammer, chisels, punches, easyouts, drill bits, helicoils,you name it... it all adds up! If you're an engine builder, keep going! :lol:

 

[JiMi]

Remember to buy sockets with 12 pointed stars in them!. Cheap shit only comes with the 5 sided hexagonal sockets lol...

i have been told by a fitter and turner that a good single struck (5 sided) socket is less likely to strip a nut than a star socket

 

[AdamD]

As far as socket sets, I use at work Repco 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 sets. I broke a 1/4 ratchet once in 7 years, and it was replaced on the spot when I took it to the nearest Repco to work -- and it was really my fault not the tool's!

If you're after a kit, go for Sidcrome. I paid $1,000 for a tool set for home a while ago, and I use a lot of their stuff at work too. The set came with trolley, top box, screwdrivers, spanners, pliers, punches/chisels, ball-pein, hex keys, 1/4 socket set, 1/2 socket set, tool tray and few other bits I can't think of off the top of my head. Trolley and box is awesome quality as are the tools. I saw the same set for $900 at Autobarn about 12 months later.

Seriously, the Sidcrome anti-slip spanners are the best. They weren't the most expensive but I cannot fault them.

i have been told by a fitter and turner that a good single struck (5 sided) socket is less likely to strip a nut than a star socket

The fitter and turner is right! If you ever start to strip a nut/bolt or you've got a dodgy one always use a single hex socket.

 

[EVO-00X]

Dont get me wrong, most of the cheapo brands come out with 6-sided hex sockets and they're shit lol. I have a trusty set of 6-sided hardened impact sockets that I whip out for the heavy duty jobs on big nuts/bolts. They're great for the hi torque stuff for sure. Big deep bolts = big biting surface and strength you can hang a breaker bar onto and bust a gut. But from my experience the normal 6-sided sockets on smaller hi-torque bolts fit very loosely and start to turn, lift and strip the bolt heads. Either that or if you do get some good bite the socket cracks and breaks at one of the 6 points. Perhaps it depends on the quality of your set but I found the same problem with various brands of hex's over the years.

The other problem I found with the 6-sided ones is that there is a good 2-3mm from the base of them before they actually start biting. Try to do a thin flywheel bolt with a 6-sided socket for example and you'll either round the corners off the bolt or slip and break your knuckles lol .

The 12 pointed ones Ive been using for a few years now havent been an issue thus far and do 99% of automotive torque requirments. Again, it could probably be a brand thing as Im very pleased with the set I have at the moment. My toolbox has a mix of hex and 12 star sockets in case I get a problematic nuts/bolt but the 12 star units usually do the job without fail - If they do I whip out the metrinch sockets if I have the right size! lol

 

[EVO-00X]

Dont get me wrong, most of the cheapo brands come out with 6-sided hex sockets and they're shit lol. I have a trusty set of 6-sided hardened impact sockets that I whip out for the heavy duty jobs on big nuts/bolts. They're great for the hi torque stuff for sure. Big deep bolts = big biting surface and strength you can hang a breaker bar onto and bust a gut. But from my experience the normal 6-sided sockets on smaller hi-torque bolts fit very loosely and start to turn, lift and strip the bolt heads. Either that or if you do get some good bite the socket cracks and breaks at one of the 6 points. Perhaps it depends on the quality of your set but I found the same problem with various brands of hex's over the years.

The other problem I found with the 6-sided ones is that there is a good 2-3mm from the base of them before they actually start biting. Try to do a thin flywheel bolt with a 6-sided socket for example and you'll either round the corners off the bolt or slip and break your knuckles lol .

The 12 pointed ones Ive been using for a few years now havent been an issue thus far and do 99% of automotive torque requirments. Again, it could probably be a brand thing as Im very pleased with the set I have at the moment. My toolbox has a mix of hex and 12 star sockets in case I get a problematic nuts/bolt but the 12 star units usually do the job without fail - If they do I whip out the metrinch sockets if I have the right size! lol

 

[rob323]

Another +1 for KC tools here. Trade quality gear at reasonable prices.
Had (and still have) Metrinch sockets as well which do come in handy sometimes, but generally there is too much slop in them for tight spots.

 

[SIVART]

I always go for kinchrome tools, there alittle more expensive, but when you use them you can see quailty and strength you get out of them, I also want a large kit but I have no garage at the moment to place them

 

[BYBY5L]

i have been told by a fitter and turner that a good single struck (5 sided) socket is less likely to strip a nut than a star socket

what the hell are 5 sided sockets :huh:, got a pic for me


an if ya feelin rich get some snap on, hands down the best, just a dam rip off

 

[kessen]

I like the repco brand stuff. It seems to last well .........some ive had for ten years and they are still in good nick.

+1 to that...

 

[JiMi]

what the hell are 5 sided sockets :huh:, got a pic for me


an if ya feelin rich get some snap on, hands down the best, just a dam rip off

sorry, 6, had a blonde moment.... it was after someone else said it as well tho

 

[blackers10]

I can highly reccomend the CGL brand of tools available only through Coventry Auto Parts and Coventry Fasteners

the tool box quality is awesome(in line with sidchrome etc)
the spanners are strong (cheap open ended spanners the end starts opening up and so slips on the nut/bolt where as the better quality items stay stiff and actually undo the bolt)

they also have life time warranty

the diesel fitters at work are fans of KC Tools (not kinchrome but the brand called KC Tools)

SP tools are ok
I know Brett Stevens was running SP Tools (their $$$ tool boxes look like stainless kitchen cupboards) just before he got busted for drugs