Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are"quality"?
 

After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm
a very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix
I'm afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard
buying tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with
UK DIY, and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for £150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brandsare "quality"?
 

oh wrote:
After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm
a very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix
I'm afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard
buying tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with
UK DIY, and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for �63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for �150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around �150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!


Sounds like you've answered your own question -you've probably got
nothing likely to need imperial tools. I dont often use mine these
days.


NT

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

On Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:22:48 +0000, oh wrote:

After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm
a very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix
I'm afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard
buying tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with
UK DIY, and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for £150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!
==========================================
Of the four stores you cite I would suggest that Halfords is the one to go
for but I would also suggest a browse at: www.machinemart.co.uk where
there is a good range of almost every kind of automotive tool. It's
possible to build a good tool kit from Machine Mart by buying selectively
rather than buying a 'set' which often contains stuff you never need or
already have. I wouldn't buy Imperial unless you have a particular need
for it.

Cic.
--
==========================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
==========================================

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brandsare "quality"?
 

wrote:
oh wrote:

After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm
a very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix
I'm afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard
buying tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with
UK DIY, and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for �63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for �150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around �150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!


Sounds like you've answered your own question -you've probably got
nothing likely to need imperial tools. I dont often use mine these
days.


NT

Cant help re brands, I've used all sorts of different makes and not
experiecesd too much difference so far. With your budget I'd
definitely not limit myself to 1/2" sockets, they don't do all jobs. I
find a 3/4" set quite useful on occasion, and theyre not that
expensive. Also a little quarter inch set sees occasional use for tiny
stuff, and they cost peanuts.

There are also a couple of oddities that are handy to have: the main
one being parallel pliers. For a decent set of tools these unusual
things are amust hahve imho.

some of this may be useful too:
http://www.wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Spanner


NT

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

In article ,
oh wrote:
I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

I have a pretty comprehensive car tool set and find I use my 3/8 drive
socket set far more than the 1/2 one.

--
*The beatings will continue until morale improves *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brandsare "quality"?
 

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brandsare "quality"?
 

On 1 Dec, 10:22, oh wrote:

Screwfix etc.?

Teng is good kit and Screwfix were offering sets last time I looked.

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set.

I'd go for 3/8" drive (of decent quality), with a small set of 1/4"
drive for little stuff. 1/2" drive is only needed as a one-off for a
wheelbrace etc. That can be added to as you need itm, you don't need a
set.

I'd strongly recommend Facom (from Machine Mart or some Halfords) as
the ratchet maker, but they're probably more than you need for sockets
and spanners.

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

"oh" wrote in message
...
After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm a
very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix I'm
afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard buying
tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with UK DIY,
and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and bolts
and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die out
together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for £150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!

You say you are Scandanavian, hows about something a bit more familiar to
you then i.e Bahco (Sandvik).
Good quality stuff,

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

On Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:22:48 +0000, oh wrote:

After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm
a very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix
I'm afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard
buying tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with
UK DIY, and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for £150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!

=========================================
An additional suggestion about storage. Tool boxes and chests tend to be
quite expensive so you might consider an alternative to the conventional
offerings. Stationery cabinets like these:

http://tinyurl.com/6hvejg

can be useful if you prefer to keep your tools in a fixed location.
They're not cheap and they won't suit everyone but they can provide very
neat tool storage. Try googling for 'multi drawer cabinet' or '10 / 15
drawer cabinet'. A cheap 'yoga mat' from Lidl cut to size provides drawer
linings.

Cic.
--
==========================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
==========================================

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

On Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:22:48 +0000, oh wrote:

my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

If you buy a set of Imperial spanners you will probably never need
them. On the other hand, if you don't you will need one within a
month, on a Sunday evening, in the dark, while raining when every shop
is closed and with water/oil/diesel/petrol pouring out of whatever you
need it for.

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

In article ,
oh wrote:
I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Do you actually mean Imperial as in BSW and BSF, etc? Or are you including
the Unified threads where the spanners are labelled AF in inches?

--
*7up is good for you, signed snow white*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brandsare "quality"?
 

On 1 Dec, 10:22, oh wrote:
After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm
a very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix
I'm afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard
buying tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with
UK DIY, and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die
out together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for £150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!

Unless you have vintage UK or modern American, imperial is just added
weight.

Halfords Pro range of sockets and spanners is pretty much as good as
anyones with a lifetime warranty you can actually claim on......

Draper Pro, not just Draper thats the budget end, stuff is good other
high end brands include Gedore,Elora and King Dick.

Also agree that 3/8" drive is most convenient for majority of car /
household type stuff, 1/2" can be a bit chunky to get in some
places.Get 6 sided, hex or wall drive sockets, 12 point/ bi hex tend
to round things off too easily.

Facom make particularly nice 72 tooth ratchets.

Screwfix stock Wiha and Toolstation Wera screwdrivers, they are just
great and you won`t regret spending a few pennys extra on quality
drivers.

Mole grips should either be called Mole or Visegrip any other brand
will give you sore knuckles sometime.

Bahco invented and still make the best adjustable spanner and pricey
but the best parallel slip joint pliers, makes reaching plumbing
ftiings so much easier.

Tools that should fit fasteners really are worth spending a bt on, a
good spanner will grip and loosen a tight bolt without effort whilst a
budget one may well round it off before it will move, ditto with
screwdrivers.

Had a lot of luck on ebay with looking for above brands, now if you
search for Snap-On......

Adam

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

Peter Parry wrote:
On Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:22:48 +0000, oh wrote:

my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and
bolts and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they
die out together with the shillings?

If you buy a set of Imperial spanners you will probably never need
them. On the other hand, if you don't you will need one within a
month, on a Sunday evening, in the dark, while raining when every shop
is closed and with water/oil/diesel/petrol pouring out of whatever you
need it for.

Sometimes you need two spanners the same size, so having a "near-enough"
imperial can be useful. And sometimes an imperial spanner might fit a
damaged metric nut better than the correct metric one. (That nut might have
been rounded by some idiot using an imperial spanner on it)

--
Reentrant

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

"oh" wrote in message
...
After having had pinched from me a toolbox with a mix of metric/imperial
socket tools/ wrenches, spanners etc., I need to go shopping again. I'm a
very long way from the nearest physical B&Q/Homebase/Halfords/Screwfix I'm
afraid so I'll probably do the on-line thing, although it is hard buying
tools unseen ;-) ... I'm Scandinavian so not totally au-fait with UK DIY,
and most of my old tools were bought ~20 years ago...

I like decent tools to I'm a bit skeptic about things like a Screwfix
"Tool chest 235 pieces" for £63.61, particularly when it's half-full of
imperial tool sizes. Having a 2-year old house, 1998 car and a German
yacht, I doubt I will see an imperial sized screw very often. However I
could be wrong, so my first question is: are imperial sized nuts and bolts
and stuff something that still are in common use, or did they die out
together with the shillings?

Looking at various on-line cataloges, there are names like Draper and
Laser that ring bells, and Famex has an interesting kit for £150. Does
anyone know if these are the quality names I think they are, or should I
save a few pounds and get the more generic tools from Toolstation,
Screwfix etc.?

I'm leaning on around £150 for a well-stocked 1/2" socket set, torque
wrench and full spanner set. Pointers to good on-line vendors than the
usual big ones would also be very welcome!

Thanks in advance!!!


Buy what you need as you need it.
If you don't see a need for imperial tools, then don't get any at the
moment.
The most likely reason you'll come across for imperial tools is US kit. The
merkins still use it.

As regards brand names, I really like the Eklind allen keys. ( the workshop
sets of 10 t-handles ones in a stand ).

( I had to buy a 5/8 Whitworth spanner the other day! )

--
Ron

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

"Reentrant" wrote in message
...
And sometimes an imperial spanner might fit a damaged metric nut better
than the correct metric one. (That nut might have been rounded by some
idiot using an imperial spanner on it)

--
Reentrant



Ah, the 'Belt on the next-smaller socket with a big hammer' trick. An old
favourite!

Hand tools: any reason to bother with imperial, and what brands are "quality"?
 

On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 18:13:48 UTC, "Ron Lowe"
ronATlowe-famlyDOTmeDOTukSPURIOUS wrote:

"Reentrant" wrote in message
...
And sometimes an imperial spanner might fit a damaged metric nut better
than the correct metric one. (That nut might have been rounded by some
idiot using an imperial spanner on it)

Ah, the 'Belt on the next-smaller socket with a big hammer' trick. An old
favourite!

I thought that!

The OP might consider (as mentioned here recently) getting both metric
and imperial adjustable spanners...

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
http://www.diybanter.com

Thanks all, got me new tools :-)
 

Got a 1/2" spanner set, torque wrench and combo wrench kit from
Toolstation because they could deliver so fast (next day, free!), all
metric of course, for a grand total of £63! Got my eyes on a
well-stocked combo 1/4"-3/8" with loadsa bits for lighter work but for
heavier work particularly on the car I thought the 1/2" would be
compulsory.

Now, I almost threw the new ratchet tool away in anger. I was on the
boat tightening up the alternator belt and put a 13mm socket on the
ratchet. Afterwards couldn't get it off, no matter how hard I pulled! So
I dumped it in a bag and drove home ready to call and complain. Only
after starting to mess about with a flat screwdriver, trying to prise it
off with brute force, did I notice something looking like a small black
button on the ratchet head... "Click"! Didn't have that on my 20-year
old ratchet tool...!

And now off to get a couple of adjustable spanners, gonna insist that
they're metric ;-) ...

Thanks all, got me new tools :-)
 

On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 10:42:14 UTC, oh wrote:

Now, I almost threw the new ratchet tool away in anger. I was on the
boat tightening up the alternator belt and put a 13mm socket on the
ratchet. Afterwards couldn't get it off, no matter how hard I pulled! So
I dumped it in a bag and drove home ready to call and complain. Only
after starting to mess about with a flat screwdriver, trying to prise it
off with brute force, did I notice something looking like a small black
button on the ratchet head... "Click"! Didn't have that on my 20-year
old ratchet tool...!

I'm glad I'm not the only one to have been caught by that...!

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
http://www.diybanter.com