Go snapon if you have the money, otherwise any of those brands you listed are great, I used a SP kit for over a year every day at work till I got my too allowance, then I retired that one to home and bought a KC 270 piece metric only tool kit and have been using it for nearly 6 months and its great, can't fault any of the tools.

 

The only tools I'm not to keen on are kinchrome and maybe teng tools, but only because there not shiny, haha.

Depends on the purpose for what you want to use it.

 

My work tool box is a mix of snap on and stahlwille. Stahlwille tools feel a little unusual to use initially, but you get used to them, and they make some great specialty tools. I need to be able to go anywhere anytime so my tools are all in a stahlwille 5 tray cantilever box that locks up nice and tight. Never had a problem with either warranties for these two, and I've broken some stuff over the years.

 

For home I have a kincrome wallmount which does the job. If I had my time again I'd probably buy a force set. Force are the trade tool brand in qld.

 

I do have a issue with Sidchrome these days in that I have had difficulties with their warranties. Often they won't warranty "fair wear and tear" which is a cop out.

 

Buy the best you can afford. When I was an apprentice I started with Sidchrome and over the years replaced with better stuff. The gear I have now will do me until retirement.

I agree with RED. Get the best you can afford. You can always upgrade as you go. Started with a K Mart cheapy when I was 18 and I think I killed every tool in the kit. Upgraded to a Repco kit when I was 21 and still have that. Also have some Powerbuilt tools and they are nice to use as well for what I do, although I did break one of there drive adaptors, trying to get the wheels of the people mover after some nufty had done them up with the rattle gun.

ive always just used sidchrome. i got a reasonable size socket set about 6yrs ago, and then i got a nice sidchrome spanner set about 3yrs ago.

 

ive never broken anything so not had to worry about warranty.

 

then i have the toolbox which has various screwdrivers/pliers that do the job.

 

no need to go too fancy on tools for backyard use, look after any remotely decent tool and it will last a long time.

Ive bought several different brands.

 

I still use 40 year old Sidchrome stuff that dad gave me, I have new sidchrome 1/2 drive sockets and spanners. The sockets rock but the spanners are shitty. They are the long reach ones, and the 12mm is jacked, the jaws have opened up enough that it can slip. I don't rate their shit anymore. that was with fairly appropriate use too.

 

Ive got a Force slide hammer and balljoint seperation attachment for it, a toledo diff syringe, force impact driver, flare nut spanners, and 1/2 inch drive allen keys. Its amazing stuff dor the money. Chinese I think but its really good. I was tempted by their spanners but barely was able to resist.

 

I don't think one brand makes the best evertything.

 

I like SP ratchets, I have 3/8 and 1/2. I prefer Urwin vice grip tools. Just depends what your buying.

 

My Warren and Brown Torque wrench is great. Highly reccomended.

I havnt used snap on much but a friend uses it in there workshop and swears by it

I have a sidchrome socket set and a kingchrome rachet ring spanner set and I'm happy with both id recomend both those brands

I've only been into cars for a little while so my opinion probably doesn't really matter here, but anyway I've been using Force tools, they seem good and come with a lifetime warranty but the main thing is that they are about a third of the price of something like snap-on. When you think about it, the price of a tool and the difference in price between brands of tools may seem large initially, but the way I justify spending heaps of money on tools is to think about how many hours of use you will likely get out of a tool, and what you will be able to accomplish with that tool, then you can consider the cost of the tool against the amount of time you will have it, or the time you will spend using it. I think if you could compare the cost of a tool divided by the hours of usage you would get from that tool, and did this for different brands, the price differences between the brands would become minimal. Therefor it wouldn't matter too much what you bought as long as you were happy with it, because I'd say it's likely that with all the top of the line tools, you are going to lose them before you break them, unless you're super tidy and organised with your tools and don't leave them in your engine bay after working on your car and then go for a drive :bash: and unless you're a mechanic and use them every day an are actually likely to wear them out. That's just how I think about it anyway.

Edited April 20, 201115 yr by rianwest

I am not a mechanic/ nor do i work on my car or use tools everyday. I'm 19 and i'm going to be buying a Blue Point 100pc set including sockets and ratchets. It may be expensive now but i figure id rather get quality now and it will last me a lifetime than bothering with lesser quality just to save a dime now. And when you know you're buying quality tools, you WILL respect them and make sure you don't loose anything etc.

I've had a Supatool tool chest for about 3-4 years now, and lets face it there a joke haha and i've lost that many sockets and spanners over the years as it's just untidy and nothing fits.

My mate at work also swears by snap on and he has rarely ever had a fault, i think once with a torx head driver which he got replaced, obviously, through warranty NO questions asked.

 

My 2 and half cents.

snapped my blue point torx socket today (its 1/4 drive LOL), gave it back to my local dealer and warranty ftw!

i love sidchrome... also i have used snapon and its is real nice...

 

i agree with lukeae71 about the sidchrome ratchet.. too clunky but at least its strong... mine is starting to seize but belting it with hammers and using it as a hammer won't help matters.

 

also i bought a set of kinchrome ratchet spanners and they have put up with some real punishment... was $90 for 7 spanners... once i had a 1 metre bar on the the 12mm. the ratchet end was on the bolt and it didn't give in.. after much straining the bolt came loose and the spanner was fine and is still goin well 4 yrs later... putting up with similar abuse many times.

alot of it comes down to personal preference and affordability.

 

i don't like TTI i have their small kit... i forget the size (small) anyway the ratchet forever slips... jumps out of position... the extensions and the sockets all feel sloppy.. but... for the money they are ok i guess.

 

oh btw I AM THE BEST TOOL!!!!! haha

Started with a K Mart cheapy when I was 18 and I think I killed every tool in the kit.

 

Yay, I'm not the only one! :laff: Maybe the ones I have that survived are just the ones I don't use all that often? :hmm:

anyone use fragram?

Bargain here.

China United tools, best qwarity. wink

the old sidchrome is the best, had them since i done my apprenticship. proto is very good snap on looks a lot like it

,had them for 43 years red how can you warranty wear and tear. i have worn out my lawn mower do i get a replacement

cheers mick

Got a Sidchrome 1/2" socket set and the ratchet handle is starting to die. Same issue as quite a few people i know with sidchrome stuff.

 

Got a Big Teng box at work. Havent had an issue although the 1/2" ratchet is giving me the shits and i've barely ever used it in over 3 years.

 

Work has a KC Tools 1/2" socket set, gets used and abused daily by the fitters department. Been there since before I started and not one issue.