Want to buy a socket set... Any advice?

[DavidPartay]

I want to replace my $25 Kmart tool set thingy, with some decent tools.

My first stop will be at a good set of sockets.

Now, my being a tight arse means I hate spending money, and this purchase will probably be a couple of months away since I'm broke.

But, I just want a good idea of what brands to look for - Obviously I'll want value for money, so lots of sockets, but at the same time I don't want to get crap.

Also, would I get a good price at Bunnings? Or is this sort of thing overpriced there? I know Supercheap have some stuff there but I don't know how good it is.

[stocky]

sidchrome or kinchrome would be a good choice

[227shanno]

sidchrome or kinchrome would be a good choice

those two brand are the best of the best but incredibly expensive, worth it but

[DavidPartay]

Thanks, I will use that knowledge wisely

eBay may even turn out to be my friend...

[crazyspoon05]

I got a pretty decent socket set from Bunnings a couple of years back, it's branded 'Hevi' and haven't had any issues with it yet

[crewsy]

snap on tools = amazing. bit very expensive.
go with a sidchrome or kingchrome set as said. all my tools are in those two brands and you can feel they are good quality... also come with a lifetime warranty

[Haydz]

bunnings sell some decent tools. the one local to me. also sell kincrome sets.

in saying that super cheap tools have proved to be pretty sturdy for a few of my mates. for like half the price of the sidchrome etc. id say get that. and if they break. then you might want to get better ones. but you shouldnt break them unless your incredibly strong :P

[Stressball]

I got a pretty decent socket set from Bunnings a couple of years back, it's branded 'Hevi' and haven't had any issues with it yet

I have a small socket set from them, not bad tools but I dunno if I'd trust them on awkward spots + stubborn bolts underneath a car. Little bit too much play on the ratchet mech I think.

snap on tools = amazing. bit very expensive.
go with a sidchrome or kingchrome set as said. all my tools are in those two brands and you can feel they are good quality... also come with a lifetime warranty

As said, Snap-On tools are l33t, but very expensive. Not exactly necessary, nor worthwhile, for most home-mechanics. sidchrome and kidchrome are cheaper, but still fantastic tools. I decided to go on a budget and got a set of sockets by Stanley, they feel brilliant, no play in the ratchet mech etc etc. Definitely worth the price

[Troy711]

I bought a 148 piece Crescent set from Bunnings for about 138 bucks. Can't complain about the price and it serves my purposes.

[Grennan]

Yeah Supercheap tends to sell the "Home Brand" of tools. SupaTool and SCA tools. They are good for the odd job, but if youre going to be using them a bit and want them to last, steer clear.

Bunnings is pretty good price and range wise, last time I went in there they had lots of Sidchrome and Kinchrome sets out as well as a very good value for money Stanley set, was something like 90 bucks for a 100+ tool set or something there abouts.

[pow3rslave]

i've been using 2 supatool sockets for a while now, 3/4 drive and 1/2 drive. the 3/4 drive came with a screwdriver attachement and the 1/2 came with a breaker bar and a bunch of extentions and a uni joint.
they're sidchrome or kingchrome's pov brand but i havent had any issues with them. i've had socket wrenches lose their gear before or just burst appart, these are still going strong.

[DavidPartay]

Excellent, thanks for all the info, guys.

[crewsy]

I bought a 148 piece Crescent set from Bunnings for about 138 bucks. Can't complain about the price and it serves my purposes.

my mate bought that set as well and ive used them on my car... not bad quality for the price ay! I actually might go get myself a set

[shiftySLE]

KC Tools are Kingchromes cheaper version, still very good.

[Kal123]

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HOLDEN HSV TOOLS 27 PIECE 1/4" DRIVE SOCKET SET - eBay Hand Tools, Tools, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 30-Aug-09 21:49:22 AEST)

[shiftySLE]

Get HSV Tools!

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Looks good but not real practical, max socket size is only 12mm an 1/4" drive wouldn't last too long. As I said, looks good, be nice one to keep in the car for emergency.

[Kal123]

Yeah I'd only get it for wank factor lol. Not to practical.

[Tom_1569]

those two brand are the best of the best but incredibly expensive, worth it but

lol... They are far from the best, I would put them both on the cheaper scale of QUALITY tools.

Kincrome I find is the best value for money, and have a good warranty. Kincrome VS Sidcrome is like Holden VS Ford, so go play with both before buying and see which one you prefer. I tryed both and found Sidcrome ratchets to be loud, more free play and I didnt find them comfortable, but I know people who dont find my Kincrome ones comfortable.

All my tools are Kincrome, Sidcrome or Snap-on, and havent had a problem yet. Look to buy a socket set once, its cheaper in the long run then replacing cheap ratchets all the time.

Also KC Tools is not the cheap version of Kincrome, "Supatool" is the cheap version of Kincrome, and Blue-point is the cheap version of Snap-on. KC tools also are normally pretty good.

Price wise, it pays to shop around, but normally I find the local bearing shop to be the cheapest for me, even compared to Ebay, though Ebay and Transquip direct can be cheap at times to, so just keep a watch.

[DavidPartay]

Haha, nice. The Kincromes on Ebay are cheaper than the Sidcrome sets, but I'll do a bit of shopping around... I definitely only want to buy a set once, not interested in any more cheap tools. I barely trust my current ratchet on anything remotely stiff...

[shiftySLE]

My mistake, I mixed them up, still good tools, I wouldn't go past Sidchrome anyway, tools are something you buy to keep for a long time (if your mates return them), spend the dollars and get ratchets thats work, spanners that dont break and use the cheap stuff for when you need a second spanner of the same size.

[crewsy]

lol... They are far from the best, I would put them both on the cheaper scale of QUALITY tools.

Kincrome I find is the best value for money, and have a good warranty. Kincrome VS Sidcrome is like Holden VS Ford, so go play with both before buying and see which one you prefer. I tryed both and found Sidcrome ratchets to be loud, more free play and I didnt find them comfortable, but I know people who dont find my Kincrome ones comfortable.

All my tools are Kincrome, Sidcrome or Snap-on, and havent had a problem yet. Look to buy a socket set once, its cheaper in the long run then replacing cheap ratchets all the time.

Also KC Tools is not the cheap version of Kincrome, "Supatool" is the cheap version of Kincrome, and Blue-point is the cheap version of Snap-on. KC tools also are normally pretty good.

Price wise, it pays to shop around, but normally I find the local bearing shop to be the cheapest for me, even compared to Ebay, though Ebay and Transquip direct can be cheap at times to, so just keep a watch.

thats wierd coz kinchrome and sidchrome both come from the same factory and are made the same way, just have different names. should be pretty much on par...

[maginoodle]

you have the right idea buying a set to last a long time. I got given a set of meco brand sockets for my 21st. they are still as good as the day i got them(14 years ago) and i would do more work with them than most. I have a travel set which is sidcrome, its pretty good but you have to check which ratchet you get cause some of them are no good. I have about 5 sidcrome ratchets and a few of them need to be traded in for neweys.
My advice it to buy the best you can afford. Just make sure they are solid looking and you will find they will last. If you intend on adding to them cause you dont get all the sockets you need in a kit ie. 16,18mm are usually left out go for a brand that you know buy single sockets in.

[M01ST]

Sidchrome, Kinchrome, Kc pro tools, Repco Are all good as eachother. Repco and kc are cheaper and Im quite sure repco come with lifetime warranty.

[FusionX]

Kincrome dropped in quality when they moved their manufacturing from Japan to China, this happened about 2 years ago.

I use KC tools, never had an issue with them.

Sidcrome seemed to drop in quality control a long time ago. 5 1/4" ratchets later, I think I got one that might last the distance.

[Tom_1569]

tools are something you buy to keep for a long time (if your mates return them)

Dont lend your tools or your missus, they'll come back f*cked

thats wierd coz kinchrome and sidchrome both come from the same factory and are made the same way, just have different names. should be pretty much on par...

You sure? Go to some where that has both on display and you will soon notice the massive difference, especially in the ratchets. I wouldnt use a sidcrome ratchet unless there was no other choice, but the sidcrome torque wrenches are heaps better then Kincromes.
Also Sidcrome is owned under the stanly group, Kincrome is still independitly owned. Definitly not the same.
Can you tell I did my research before handing of the hard earnt cash lol.